ADE Summit 2026

How much assessment is enough — and what actually moves instruction forward? Join cadre leaders and a representative from Public School Accountability for a candid conversation about balancing accountability requirements with meaningful classroom practice. This panel will explore how to right-size assessment systems so they reduce noise, elevate clarity, and position formative assessment as the primary driver of daily instructional decisions. Participants will also learn about statewide opportunities to engage in ongoing conversations throughout the year and preview learning modules currently in development to support this work. Walk away with practical insights for building coherence between state measures and classroom moves that accelerate student growth.

This session highlights Arkansas’s AI-supported alignment study comparing Arkansas Academic Standards with the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) frameworks, conducted in partnership with Prometrics. Holly Morado, NAEP State Coordinator, along with Kisa Morman and Amber Pirnique from Learning Services will walk participants through the alignment process, including how artificial intelligence was used to examine content coverage, cognitive demand, and progression across grade levels. The session will identify where Arkansas standards show strong alignment with NAEP, discuss the importance of alignment for understanding national assessment results, and explore how these findings can inform curriculum decisions and classroom instruction. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how standards alignment supports instructional rigor and helps ensure students are prepared for both state and national expectations.

Set your students up for success on the ATLAS screener by bridging the gap between preschool and kindergarten. This session breaks down how to use CDELS standards and HQIM curricula to target essential readiness skills. We’ll also show how CLASS interactions turn everyday moments into powerful learning opportunities that ensure every child walks into kindergarten confident and prepared. - Wendy Green

Join us for an engaging educational summit introducing the new ATLAS Assessment Writing Rubric—a shared framework designed to bring clarity, consistency, and rigor to student writing. Together, we’ll explore how the rubric can strengthens instruction, support meaningful feedback, and elevates expectations across classrooms.