Dr. Julio Caesar, Executive Director of Research, Evaluation and Assessment for Bloomington Public Schools (BPS), has been appointed to a 28-member statewide task force to review and modernize Minnesota’s standardized testing and assessment framework.

The task force was formed by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) in response to statewide feedback emphasizing the need for a more informative assessment system that can help educators take action and promote alternative pathways to learning. Working alongside students, families, teachers, school leaders and education experts from across the state, Dr. Caesar will represent BPS in reviewing and identifying recommendations for a more adaptive and timely assessment model.

“Statewide assessments should answer one question well: what do students know and what are they able to do relative to academic standards,” said Dr. Caesar. “When a student sees no reason to take a test seriously, the score can’t answer that question. Students deserve tests that mean something to them, and teachers deserve results that show where each student stands while there is still time to act.”

MDE is accepting applications for the remaining task force seats reserved for four students and four parents or caregivers. Applications are due Oct. 9. The task force begins meeting later in October.