U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today delivered keynote remarks at the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and College Board Symposium at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. She discussed the importance of high-quality assessments in helping students and schools improve under No Child Left Behind.

"Measuring student achievement is key to ensuring equal opportunity in education," Spellings said during her remarks. "You know as well as anyone what potential testing and accountability hold to help students and schools improve." She encouraged ETS and College Board officials, and educators, legislators and policymakers to take every opportunity to help guide states in developing the best assessments that serve children as effectively as possible.

Spellings also discussed No Child Left Behind's data collection requirement and the need for strong accountability systems to spotlight where students stand and how best to help them improve, and to dramatically improve the lowest performing schools.

The one-day symposium brought together nationally renowned testing experts, legislators, policymakers and educators to discuss ways to improve tests and assessments in order to bridge the achievement gap between minorities and other students.

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