Brian Stecher is a senior social scientist and the associate director of RAND Education. Stecher's research focuses on measuring educational quality and evaluating education reforms, with a particular emphasis on assessment and accountability systems. During his 20 years at RAND, he has directed prominent national and state evaluations of No Child Left Behind, Mathematics and Science Systemic Reforms, and Class Size Reduction. His measurement-related expertise includes test development (prototype performance assessments for teacher certification, hands-on science tasks for middle school students), test validation (the quality of portfolio assessments in Vermont and Kentucky and new assessments in Washington), and the use of assessments for school improvement (formative and interim assessments, quality of classroom assessments). He has presented findings to policymakers at the state and national level, to practitioners, and to the public. Stecher has served on expert panels relating to standards, assessments, and accountability for the National Academies, and is currently a member of the Board on Testing and Assessment. He has published widely in professional journals and is currently a member of the editorial boards of Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis and Educational Assessment. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles.

ABOUT TEDx

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)