Rethinking Standardized Tests, Oversight in the 177th Congress, and More

Understanding China's motives regarding Taiwan, recent congressional oversight actions, and how academic tests can exacerbate problems.

View in browser April 1, 2021 Standardized tests aren't the problem, it's how we use them   Standardized testing is a necessary inconvenience to help education leaders address structural racism, academic disparities, and student learning loss amid COVID-19. But in many cases, these assessments are used for more than what they were designed to do. Andre Perry explains why it's time for a rethink.   Read more Early oversight in the 117th Congress   From passing a historic stimulus package to confirming President Biden's executive branch nominees, the new Congress is off to a busy start. It is also engaging in oversight that has not always made the headlines. Kennedy Teel, Jackson Gode, and Molly Reynolds provide three takeaways from congressional oversight actions over the past few months.   Read more Understanding Beijing's motives regarding Taiwan, and America's role   How exactly does China view Taiwan? How is Taiwan responding to rising pressure from China? What can America do to support Taiwan while also advancing U.S. interests? Ryan Hass discusses these issues with former CIA Officer John Culver.   Read more Help support Brookings with a donation   Brookings is committed to making its high-quality, independent policy research free to the public. Please consider making a contribution today to our Annual Fund to support our experts' work. The conclusions and recommendations of any Brookings publication are solely those of its author(s), and do not reflect the views of the Institution, its management, or its other scholars. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brookings Institution campus in Washington, D.C. is currently closed and all events are virtual only. For more information on the Institution's response, read our full guidance here. The Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 Unsubscribe Manage your newsletter preferences | Receive the Brookings Brief less often