At the Nexus of Strategy and impact

From assessment design to full-scale program transitions, Nexxus provides end-to-end support for the assessment lifecycle for building and maintaining high-quality assessment systems. We can map entire systems and find efficiencies in program and project management, content development, psychometrics, scoring, data and reporting, and education technologies. We are intimately familiar with every component of the assessment lifecycle and can support providers in improving performance. We understand the complexity of moving from vision to execution, especially when programs must be secure, accessible, valid, and reliable. Whether you’re designing a new assessment, transitioning to a new vendor, or strengthening test security, Nexxus helps you manage risks and ensure smooth operations.

We bring decades of operational and psychometric expertise to every phase of program delivery, helping states and vendors anticipate challenges, minimize disruption, and achieve technical and policy alignment.

In practice, this might look like:

Designing a readiness plan for a state moving its large-scale assessment to a new vendor

Creating security protocols and statistical monitoring procedures to safeguard test integrity

Developing accessibility standards and accommodations frameworks aligned with UDL and IDEA

Serving as interim assessment operations leadership during a system transition

Review and evaluate personnel and processes in assessment providers to identify and implement efficiencies for enhancing services and saving money

Technical quality is at the heart of every reliable, valid, and fair assessment. Nexxus offers psychometric and measurement services that provide the confidence leaders need to make defensible decisions. From IRT modeling and equating to standard setting to AI scoring validation, our work ensures that every score reported reflects real student learning in a reliable and equitable way.

Our psychometric expertise goes beyond calculations—we help leaders, boards, and TACs understand what technical results mean in context. This translation of rigor into action empowers stakeholders to use data with clarity and confidence.

We have decades of experience in designing and facilitating standard setting, standards validation meetings to determine appropriate cut scores. We have also designed and support norm-referenced studies.

In practice, this might look like:

Design, overseeing, and conducting equating and scaling studies to support operational assessments

Designing and supporting norming and criterion referenced studies, including setting standards.

Research and psychometrics to transition assessment from an old to new assessment or between assessment providers.

Running fairness and DIF analyses to ensure fairness in score interpretation

Validating AI scoring engines against human scoring to ensure reliability

We help states, districts, institutions, and organizations design systems that are transparent, fair, and actionable. With deep experience in accountability frameworks and state/federal compliance, Nexxus supports leaders in balancing technical rigor with stakeholder usability. From peer review readiness to long-term strategy development, we ensure that your policies and systems reflect both compliance requirements and your unique vision for student success.

Our expertise bridges the gap between federal mandates and local realities, giving decision-makers the tools to communicate clearly and build trust with educators, policymakers, and the public.

In practice, this might look like:

Developing a peer review evidence plan for a state’s assessment system

Designing or refining an accountability model with multiple indicators (growth, absenteeism, CCR)

Facilitating stakeholder sessions to align state board, district leaders, and legislators on new accountability metrics

Creating plain-language reporting tools to help families understand system results

Good decisions require good evidence. Nexxus designs and conducts research and evaluation studies that go beyond compliance to answer critical questions: Are systems working as intended? Are students learning more? Where are the gaps? We provide rigorous analyses paired with clear, practical recommendations so leaders can make informed choices about policy and practice.

We also specialize in pilot studies, validity research, and longitudinal evaluations that help states and vendors build confidence in new initiatives. Our team blends strong statistical methods with real-world applicability, ensuring findings are both credible and usable.

In practice, this might look like:

Conducting a validity study on a new through-year assessment model

Running a pilot and cognitive lab for innovative item types in an online platform

Designing and analyzing educator surveys on the usability of classroom diagnostic tools

Evaluating the long-term impact of accountability measures like chronic absenteeism

Nexxus helps education agencies and organizations strengthen their people and processes to sustain long-term improvement. From training psychometric concepts for non-statisticians to coaching executive leaders through organizational change, we build the internal capacity needed for teams to thrive.

We also partner with EdTech and assessment vendors to enhance their competitiveness through RFP support, proposal development, and team coaching. Our approach is collaborative, practical, and focused on equipping teams to carry the work forward long after our engagement ends.

In practice, this might look like:

Leading professional development sessions for SEA staff on assessment literacy

Coaching a state assessment director in leading cross-agency teams through a system redesign

Supporting a vendor in developing a competitive RFP response and capture strategy

Facilitating organizational design sessions to strengthen internal processes and accountability

Navigating the intersection of policy, funding, and implementation requires both technical expertise and political awareness. At Nexxus, we support states in developing and advancing plans that align with federal requirements, local goals, and student needs. From crafting waiver requests to writing state plans, we help leaders position their initiatives for approval and success.

We also guide states and organizations in identifying and securing funding opportunities—from federal formula and competitive grants to state-specific initiatives—ensuring strategies are aligned with policy priorities and program capacity. For vendors and nonprofits, we provide insight into how states operate, helping them position their products, services, and proposals to address real challenges.

By blending practical system knowledge with policy strategy, Nexxus helps clients bridge the gap between vision and execution—fostering stronger relationships, unlocking resources, and driving sustainable growth.

In Practice, This Might Look Like:

Developing a federal waiver request that reflects state context and priorities while meeting compliance requirements.

Supporting the creation or revision of a state ESSA plan or other federally required submissions.

Building a grant strategy for states or districts to pursue discretionary funds that align with long-term goals.

Helping vendors or nonprofits map their services to state policy priorities, improving competitiveness in RFPs or grant partnerships.

Supporting providers in responding to RFPs, from solution design to reviewing responses and evaluating against requirements.

Facilitating strategy sessions with SEA leadership to align legislative mandates, board goals, and federal opportunities.