Students collaborating on mathematics

Rethinking What Math Assessment Measures

For over a century, math assessment has focused on what students can recall.
We believe the next century must focus on what students can do.

21st Century Math Assessment is a national movement to transform how mathematics is measured, taught, and experienced. We're building a future where assessments capture the full richness of mathematical thinking — reasoning, creativity, problem solving, and communication — not just right answers.

We envision a world where:

  • Students show their reasoning and creativity on rich, multi-step tasks.
  • Teachers are free to focus on thinking over testing.
  • Technology amplifies teacher insight rather than replacing it.
  • Assessment becomes a tool for growth and understanding, not judgment.

This movement brings together educators, researchers, and technologists who share one goal:

To make mathematics more human, more relevant, and more inspiring.

Our Thinkers

Jay Meadows

Chief Executive Officer, Exemplars

Jay Meadows is the Chief Executive Officer of Exemplars, a leading force in redefining how students learn to think mathematically. With over 30 years in education, Jay brings a rare blend of classroom insight and research-driven innovation. A former middle school math and science teacher, he holds advanced degrees in both Teaching and Mathematical Pedagogy—credentials that reflect his deep commitment to meaningful, effective math instruction.

At Exemplars, Jay is not only a primary author of performance tasks but also a national thought partner for educators. He leads dynamic professional development experiences across the United States, helping teachers transform their classrooms with problem-solving, authentic assessment, and the practices that research shows make the biggest difference. His mission is bold: to cultivate a generation of learners who can tackle any challenge with confidence and grit.

Jay's impact extends far beyond U.S. borders. Before his teaching career, he facilitated diplomatic exchange programs for the U.S. State Department, partnered with international nonprofits, and served in the Peace Corps in Kazakhstan. This global lens continues to shape his belief in education as a force for empowerment and equity.

"When AI can do the calculations, let's inspire humans to do the creating." — Jay Meadows

Steve Leinwand

Principal Research Analyst, American Institutes for Research

Steve Leinwand is a principal research analyst at AIR (the American Institutes for Research) in Arlington, VA, and has more than 40 years of leadership experience in mathematics education. He serves as a mathematics expert on a wide range of AIR projects that focus on high-quality instruction, turning around underperforming schools, improving adult education, evaluating programs, developing assessments, and providing technical assistance for school improvement.

Before joining AIR in 2002, Steve spent 22 years as Mathematics Consultant with the Connecticut Department of Education, where he developed and oversaw statewide programs in K–12 mathematics education, including assessment design, professional learning, and program evaluation.

Steve has served on the NCTM Board of Directors and as President of the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics. He is a prolific author and speaker whose work has shaped modern math education reform. His books include:

  • Accessible Mathematics: 10 Instructional Shifts That Raise Student Achievement (2009)
  • Sensible Mathematics: A Guide for School Leaders in the Era of Common Core (2012)
  • Invigorating High School Mathematics: Practical Guidance for Long-Overdue Transformation (2021, with Eric Milou)

Steve has received the 2015 NCSM Glenn Gilbert/Ross Taylor National Leadership Award and the 2021 NCTM Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to the field.

Ross Brewer

Founder and President, Exemplars

Ross Brewer founded Exemplars in 1993 with a vision to transform assessment from a score into a story — one that captures how students think, reason, and apply what they know. His work has shaped national conversations on performance-based assessment and continues to influence educators seeking more authentic ways to measure learning.

Before founding Exemplars, Ross served as Director of Planning and Policy Development for the Vermont Department of Education, where he was the architect of Vermont's groundbreaking Portfolio Assessment System — one of the first large-scale efforts in the United States to assess student understanding through real work rather than standardized tests.

A pioneer in standards-based assessment, Ross has consulted with school districts, states, and major foundations, including the Rockefeller Foundation, Panasonic Foundation, Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, Education Trust, Council on Basic Education, California School Leadership Academy, and the Third International Mathematics and Science Study. He was also appointed to the Advisory Board of Performance Assessment Collaboratives in Education (PACE) at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

As President of Exemplars, Ross oversees the development of the organization's renowned performance tasks and directs its professional development programs. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and remains driven by the same conviction that inspired Exemplars' founding — that meaningful assessment is the key to meaningful learning.

Join the Movement

If you believe it's time for assessment to reflect the world students are entering — not the one they're leaving — you're in the right place.

Explore our ideas. Share your stories. Help us build an assessment system worthy of our students' potential.

When AI can do the calculations, let's inspire humans to do the creating.

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