Surfacing Brilliance Through Meaningful Science Assessment

Surfacing Brilliance Through Meaningful Science Assessment is the assessment guide we’ve been waiting for. Aneesha Badrinarayan offers a clear, compassionate, and visionary roadmap for designing assessments that affirm student brilliance, honor cultural assets, and spark real sensemaking. Grounded in both research and practice, this book translates equity into action—making it an essential companion for educators, leaders, and developers who believe science learning should be rigorous, relevant, and relentlessly student-centered. -- Linda Darling-Hammond * Stanford, CA *
This book is grounded in ′the fierce belief that all students are capable of brilliance.′ Badrinarayan’s passion, expertise, and humility shine through her writing. She expertly balances providing practical strategies for assessment design and carefully crafted opportunities for deep personal reflection. Her thoughtful approach to assessment inspires educators to see and nurture the potential in every learner. -- Tricia Shelton * McLean, VA *
This book is an essential resource for anyone involved in designing science assessments. It presents a clear, accessible approach that makes complex concepts easy to understand and apply. Unlike other resources, it bridges the gap between theory and practice, offering valuable insights and practical strategies for realizing a better future for students through improved assessment practices. A must-read for science educators and designers. -- Daniel Alcazar-Roman * Belmont, CA *
Rooted in how we learn, Badrinarayan masterfully weaves together research, practical tips, classroom scenarios, design examples and non-examples in a book that is sure to become a foundational text for assessment developers, teachers, and anyone interested in creating meaningful learning experiences. Anchored in science, Badrinarayan′s advice will engage, push, and excite anyone working to understand and build upon student′s brilliance. -- Sasha Klyachkina * Chicago, IL *
After years of wrestling with science assessments, this book is the one-stop shop we’ve all been waiting for. Whether you’re designing tests, analyzing data, or looking to make assessments more equitable and engaging, this book covers it all. Packed with actionable insights, real-world examples, and practical tools, it’s the ultimate guide to transforming every aspect of classroom science assessments. If you’re serious about improving science education, start here! -- TJ Heck * Durand, MI *
Badrinarayan is somehow both visionary and practical in ways that will challenge the reader and help them to advance their practice forward. This book will serve as an anchor point as we claw our way forward toward better teaching and learning experiences for all students. -- Matt Krehbiel * Derwood, MD *
Surfacing Brilliance Through Meaningful Science Assessment is Aneesha Badrinarayan’s "love letter to science assessment," and it is a refreshing and insightful read. Based on her two decades of expertise, she proves science assessment can be meaningful for students and approachable for educators. Her book will help science educators better understand assessment systems for the Next Generation Science Standards, including innovative uses of GenAI, and put this knowledge into practice. -- OkHee Lee * New York, NY *
Given contemporary expectations for students’ science achievement, no one has thought more deeply about science assessment design and use than Badrinarayan. She elevates the discussion by emphasizing the role of assessment in surfacing student brilliance. She details what that implies and the many challenges that need to be overcome to attain that vision, while simultaneously providing examples of tasks and design principles to advance the effort.  -- James W. Pellegrino * Chicago, IL *
This book is designed to impact how we surface brilliance in our students, and I think at the same time it helps surface brilliance in its readers, making it both immediately useful and something educators will come back to again and again to spur important conversations about what science assessment can and should be now and into the future. -- Katie Van Horne * Lynnwood, WA *
This book shows what high-quality three-dimensional science assessment can and should be. In doing so, it sets the standard for all future development efforts. It summarizes, synthesizes, and builds on the varied efforts in the field, including the authors’ own pioneering work. This book is a must read.  -- Nathan Dadey * Dover, NH *
Badrinarayan is fierce in her belief in all students. This is a must-read for anyone interested in unlocking the transformative power of assessment. With her engaging tone, timely ideas, and relevant examples, Badrinarayan’s contributions transcend science. This is a much-needed guidebook for addressing the enduring challenge of re-imagining assessment to better serve learners. The future is bright!  -- Susan Lyons * Wayland, MA *