Educators participating in a standard setting workshop, symbolizing performance level setting and defensible results.

nexxus is your partner

Standard Setting

Defining what proficiency means is one of the most critical decisions in assessment and accountability systems. Nexxus helps education agencies, certification bodies, and vendors design and implement standard setting studies that are technically rigorous, transparent, and defensible.

What partnering with Nexxus could look like

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Designing and facilitating standard setting workshops using Angoff, Bookmark, or other recognized methods

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Training panelists and facilitators to ensure valid, consistent judgments

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Developing technical documentation that meets peer review and accreditation standards

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Providing policy guidance to connect cut scores to accountability and reporting frameworks

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Supporting certification and licensure bodies in setting and validating performance levels

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Creating communication materials to help explain cut scores to educators, policymakers, and the public

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Group of four women having a discussion at a table in an office or classroom setting.

For states, we guide standard setting processes that meet peer review requirements and build public trust. For certification and licensure clients, we design and document defensible performance standards that hold up to accreditation and legal scrutiny. Across contexts, our approach blends technical precision with stakeholder engagement—ensuring results are both credible and usable.

Be Rigorous

Cut scores must withstand scrutiny. Nexxus applies psychometric expertise and proven methodologies (such as Evidence-Based, ID-Matching, Angoff, Bookmark, and Body of Work) to ensure standard setting processes are reliable, valid, and transparent.

Be Defensible

Beyond numbers, standard setting must inspire trust. We help leaders facilitate stakeholder panels, document methods clearly, and communicate results in ways that policymakers, educators, and the public can understand. Our approach ensures decisions hold up to peer review, audits, and real-world impact.

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We partner with leaders to ensure cut scores reflect policy goals, stakeholder expectations, and psychometric best practices.