Amy Clark

Amy Clark
  • Associate Director of Operational Research

Contact Info

Biography —

Amy Clark, Ph.D., has more than 12 years of experience working to improve outcomes for struggling learners and their teachers. Her research interests include assessment validation, score reporting, and operationalizing diagnostic assessment systems.

Clark is the associate director of operational research at Accessible Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Systems (ATLAS), a research center at the University of Kansas with more than 150 staff and more than $20M in annual revenues. She leads researchers and psychometricians who conduct studies and produce technical documentation in support of the ATLAS research agenda.

Clark began her career as a classroom teacher and developed an interest in teachers' use of assessment results for improving student outcomes. She received both her M.S. and Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Kansas, specializing in research, evaluation, measurement, and statistics with a minor in curriculum studies.

She has coauthored more than 75 books, chapters, technical reports, journal articles, and conference papers on applied educational measurement topics.

Selected Publications —

JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS

Karvonen, M., Ruhter, L., & Clark, A. K. (2023). Data to inform academic instruction for students with extensive support needs: Availability, use, and perceptions. [Manuscript submitted for publication].

Clark, A. K., Kobrin, J. L., Karvonen, M., & Hirt, A. (2023). Teacher use of diagnostic score reports for instructional decision-making in the subsequent academic year. [Manuscript accepted for publication].

Thompson, W. J., Nash, B. L., &, Clark, A. K. (2023). Using simulation to evaluate retest reliability of assessment results[Online prepublication]. Journal of Educational Measurement.

Kobrin, J. L., Karvonen, M., Clark, A. K., & Thompson, W. J. (2022). Developing and refining a model for implementation fidelity for an instructionally embedded assessment system. Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation, 27, Article 24. 

Clark, A. K., Nash, B., & Karvonen, M. (2022). Teacher assessment literacy: Implications for diagnostic assessment systems. Applied Measurement in Education, 35(1), 17–32. 

Clark, A. K., & Karvonen, M. (2021). Instructionally embedded assessment: Theory of action for an innovative system. Frontiers in Education: Assessment, Testing, and Applied Measurement.

Karvonen, M., Clark, A. K., Carlson, C., Wells-Moreaux, S., & Burnes, J. (2021). Approaches to identification and instruction for students with significant cognitive disabilities who are English learners.Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 46(4) 223–239.. 

Clark, A. K., & Karvonen, M. (2020). Constructing and evaluating a validation argument for a next-generation alternate assessment. Educational Assessment, 25, 47–64.

Thompson, W. J., Clark, A. K., & Nash, B. (2019). Measuring the reliability of diagnostic mastery classifications at multiple levels of reporting. Applied Measurement in Education, 32, 298–309.

Bechard, S., Clark, A. K., Swinburne Romine, R., Karvonen, M., Kingston, N., & Erickson, K. (2019). Use of evidence-centered design to develop learning maps-based assessments.International Journal of Testing, 19, 188–205.

Karvonen, M., & Clark, A. K. (2019). Students with significant cognitive disabilities who are also English learners. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 44, 71–86.

Clark, A. K., Nash, B., Karvonen, M., & Kingston, N. (2017). Condensed mastery profile method for setting standards for diagnostic assessment systems.Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, 36(4), 5–15.

Kopriva, R., Thurlow, M. L., Perie, M., Lazarus, S. L. & Clark, A. (2016). Test takers and the validity of score interpretations.Educational Psychologist, 51, 108–128.

Thompson, W.J., Nash, B., Clark, A., & Karvonen, K. (2016). Gallery of top submissions for the 2016 cover graphic/data visualization competition: Dynamic assessment routing.Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, 35(2), 29–35.

Clark, A. K., & Whetstone, P. (2014). The impact of an online mathematics tutoring program on math achievement.The Journal of Educational Research.107(6), 462–466,

Whetstone, P., Clark, A. K., Wheeler Flake, M. (2014). Teacher perceptions of an online tutoring program for elementary mathematics.Educational Media International, 51, 79–90.   

BOOKS AND BOOK CHAPTERS

Clark, A. K. (2022).  Dynamic assessment. In S. Brookhart (Ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Education: Assessment.

Clark, A. K. (2018). Minimum competency testing. In B. Frey, (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of educational research, measurement, and evaluation (pp. 1059–1061). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications. 

Kingston, N. M., & Clark, A. K. (Eds.). (2014). Test fraud: Statistical detection and methodology. New York, NY: Routledge.

Clark, A. K. & Kingston, N. M. (2014). A brief history of research on test fraud detection and prevention. In N. M. Kingston & A. K. Clark (Eds.), Test fraud: Statistical detection and methodology (pp. 4–7). New York, NY: Routledge.

Kingston, N. M., & Clark, A. K. (2014). Introduction. In N. M. Kingston & A. K. Clark (Eds.), Test fraud: Statistical detection and methodology (pp. 1–3). New York, NY: Routledge.

Clark, A. K. (2014). Validation of a cognitive diagnostic model. Germany: Scholars Press. ISBN 978-3-639-66161-3

 

Selected Presentations —

Clark, A. K., Gholson, M., Denne, J., Poage, T., Kobrin, J., & Landl, E. (2023, June 26–28). Instructionally useful assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities. [Coordinated session]. National Conference on Student Assessment, New Orleans, LA.

Gholson, M., Howley, L., Adkins, D., Clark, A. K., Albee, T., Jaquith, J., Gooley, T. (2023, June 26–28). Designing early childhood assessments: Improving student learning for all in grades K-2. [Coordinated session]. National Conference on Student Assessment, New Orleans, LA.

Clark, A. K., Kobrin, J., Mulvihill, M., & Hirt, A. (2023, April 13–16). Promises and challenges in teacher implementation of instructionally embedded assessments. [Paper session]. National Council on Measurement in Education, Chicago, IL.

Thompson, W. J., & Clark, A. K. (2023, April 13–16). A simulated retest method for estimating classification reliability. In M. Madison’s Diagnostic measurement: Operational and implementation issues. [Coordinated paper session]. National Council on Measurement in Education, Chicago, IL.

Ruhter, L., Karvonen, M., Clark, A. K. (2023, April 13–16). Current practices in instructional decision-making for teachers of students with extensive support needs. [Poster session]. American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.

Kobrin, J., & Clark, A. K. (2022, June 27–29). Theory of action for DLM instructionally embedded assessments. In A. K. Clark’s Theories of action for innovative assessment systems: Considerations for development, refinement, and evaluation. National Conference on Student Assessment, Atlanta, GA.

Clark, A. K., Mulvihill, M., Kobrin, J., & Thompson, W. J. (2022, April 21–24). Visualizing validity evidence: Considering strength of evidence following disrupted administration. National Council on Measurement in Education, San Diego, CA.

Clark, A.K. (2022, April 9). Validation of Dynamic Learning Maps instructionally embedded assessments. In E. Sato’s The viability and validity of through-year assessments for instructional and summative uses. [Coordinated session]. National Council on Measurement in Education, virtual.

Karvonen, M., & Clark, A. K. (2022, April 21–24). Lessons learned from Dynamic Learning Maps Alternate Assessment System. In. A. K. ClarkInnovative assessment systems: Informing the future of educational measurement. [Coordinated session]. National Council on Measurement in Education, San Diego, CA.

Kobrin, J. L., Karvonen, M., Clark, A. K., & Thompson, W. J. (2022, April 21–24). Developing and refining a model for measuring implementation fidelity for an instructionally embedded assessment system. National Council on Measurement in Education, San Diego, CA.

Kobrin, J. L., Clark, A. K., Beitling, B., & Thompson, W. J. (2022, April 21–24). The impact of COVID-19 on education for students with significant cognitive disabilities. American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA.

Schuster, J. G., Kobrin, J. L., Clark, A. K., & Swinburne Romine, R. (2022, April 21–24). Evaluating text complexity at different writing development stages for students with significant cognitive disabilities. American Educational Research Association, San Diego.

Karvonen, M., Clark, A. K., Kavitsky, E. & Burnes, J. (2021, June 21–24). Alternate academic achievement standards to support readiness for postsecondary opportunities: Expanding opportunities for students with significant intellectual disability [Poster presentation]. American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 145th Annual Meeting, Virtual.

Thompson, W. J., Clark, A. K., & Nash, B. (2021, June 8–11). Technical evidence for diagnostic assessments. In W. J. Thompson (Chair), Diagnostic assessments: Moving from theory to practice [Symposium]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, Virtual.

Kobrin, J., Karvonen, M., Clark, A. K., Thompson, W. J., & Burnes, J. (April 8–12, 2021). Developing and refining a model for measuring implementation fidelity for an instructionally embedded assessment system [Poster presentation]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Virtual.

Schuster, J., Swinburne Romine, R., & Clark, A. K. (2021, March 8–13). Developing effective writing instruction for students with significant cognitive disabilities [Multi-presentation session]. Council for Exceptional Children Annual Meeting, Virtual.

Clark, A. K., & Karvonen, M. (2020, September). Constructing a validity argument for large-scale instructionally embedded assessments [Conference paper]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, Virtual.

Hoover, J., Thompson, W. J., Clark, A. K., & Nash, B. (2020, September). Diagnostic assessment: DIF detection from binary and aggregate mastery classifications [Conference paper]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, Virtual.

Thompson, W. J., Nash, B., & Clark, A. K. (2020, September). Comparing reliability methods for diagnostic mastery classifications [Conference paper]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, Virtual.

Forbes, S., Clark, A. K., Jacobson, I.., Gholson, M., Weigert, S. (2019, June). Measuring college and career readiness: How do we know if our alternate academic achievement standards are challenging and aligned? [Conference presentation].2019 National Conference on Student Assessment, Orlando, FL, United States.

Clark, A. K., Nash, B., Burnes, J., & Karvonen, M. (2019, April). Teacher assessment literacy: Implications for diagnostic assessment systems [Conference paper]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Clark, A. K., & Kingston N. (2019, April). Instructional uses and potential pitfalls. In M. Karvonen (Chair), Supporting teacher action based on diagnostic assessment results [Symposium]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Nehler, C., & Clark, A. K. (2019, April). Evaluation of resources to support diagnostic score report interpretation. In M. Karvonen (Chair), Supporting teacher action based on diagnostic assessment results [Symposium]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Karvonen, M., Clark, A. K., Swinburne Romine, R., & Kingston N. (2019, April). Development and evaluation of diagnostic score reports: Process and recommendations. In M. Karvonen (Chair), Supporting teacher action based on diagnostic assessment results [Symposium]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Wells-Moreaux, S., Clark, A. K., Karvonen, M., & Nehler, C. (2019, April). Instruction and assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities who are English learners [Conference paper]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Schuster, J., Swinburne Romine, R., & Clark, A. K. (2019, April). Writing instruction and assessment for struggling learners [Conference paper]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Ketterlin-Geller, L. R., Clark, A. K., Duke, D., & Rogers, C. (2018, October). Supporting teacher use of score reports [Conference presentation]. National Council on Measurement in Education Classroom Assessment Conference, Lawrence, KS, United States.

Clark, A. K., & Karvonen, M.(2018, June).Identifying English learners who take DLM assessments. In A. K. Clark, M.Gholson, J. Christmus, & P. Winter, (Chairs), What do we know about students with significant cognitive disabilities who are English learners? [Session].2018 National Conference on Student Assessment, San Diego, CA, United States.

Clark, A. K., Karvonen, M., Swinburne Romine, R., & Kingston, N. (2018, April). Teacher use of score reports for instructional decision-making [Conference paper]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, New York, NY, United States.

Clark, A. K., Karvonen, M., Wells-Moreaux, S., & Erickson, K. (2018, April). Characteristics and performance of students with significant cognitive disabilities who may be English learners [Conference paper]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, New York, NY, United States.

Thompson, W. J, Nash, B., & Clark, A. K. (2018, April). Measuring reliability of student mastery classifications at multiple levels [Conference paper]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, New York, NY, United States.

Nash, B., Clark, A. K., & Thompson, W. J. (2018, April). Using simulation to evaluate retest reliability of assessment results [Conference paper]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, New York, NY, United States.

Karvonen, M., Wells-Moreaux, S., & Clark, A. K. (2018, February). Teacher choice within an instructionally embedded assessment and its implications for instruction [Conference presentation]. Council for Exceptional Children Annual Convention and Expo, Tampa, FL, United States.

Clark, A. K., Karvonen, M., Swinburne Romine, R., Nash, B. (2017, April). Exploring teacher choice when using an instructionally embedded alternate assessment system [Conference paper]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, United States.

Karvonen, M., Swinburne Romine, R., Clark, A. K., Brussow, J. & Kingston, N. (2017, April). Promoting accurate score report interpretation and use for instructional planning [Conference paper]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, United States.

Swinburne Romine, R., Karvonen, M., & Clark, A. K. (2016, April). Validity evidence to support alternate assessment score uses: Fidelity and response processes [Conference paper]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., United States.

Karvonen, M., Clark, A. K., & Kingston, N. (2016, April). Alternate assessment score report interpretation and use: Implications for instructional planning [Conference paper]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., United States.

Swinburne Romine, R., Karvonen, M., & Clark, A. K. (2015, April). Gathering evidence of response processes for alternate assessments (AA-AAS) [Conference paper]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, United States.

Clark, A. K., Templin, J., Bradshaw, L., & Kingston, N. (2015, April). Psychometrics in a learning maps environment [Conference symposium]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, United States.

Chen, F., Clark, A. K.,& Swinburne Romine, R. (2015, April). Analysis of learning map structure for a dynamic assessment [Conference paper]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, United States.

Clark, A. K., Karvonen, M., Kingston, N., Anderson, G., & Wells-Moreaux, S. (2015, April). Designing alternate assessment score reports that maximize instructional impact [Conference paper]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, United States.

Whetstone, P. J., Clark, A. K., Joannou Lyon, K., & Bladford, J. (2015, March). Challenges of college for a student with significant disabilities [Conference paper]. American Council on Rural Special Education Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, United States.

Karvonen, M. & Clark, A. K. (2014, June). Computer-based testing for students with significant cognitive disabilities: Challenges and opportunities in the next generation [Conference presentation]. 2014 National Conference on Student Assessment, New Orleans, LA, United States.

Marion, S. & Clark, A. K. (2014, April). Common assignment study: A theory of action. In C. Vignola (Chair), Tools to support the Common Core State Standards: Implementation, impact and next steps for the Literacy Design Collaborative [Symposium]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

Ferster, A. E., Zhao, F., & Clark, A. K. (2014, April). Understanding the academic profiles of students participating in the AA-AAS: A cluster analysis [Conference paper]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

Chen, F. & Clark, A. K. (2014, April). Exploration of subgroup equating invariance on elementary reading assessments [Conference paper]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

Clark, A. K. (2014, April). Parameter drift methodology and operational testing application [Poster presentation]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

Clark, A. K. & Kingston, N. M. (2014, April). Comparison of attribute coding procedures for retrofitting cognitive diagnostic models [Poster presentation]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

Clark, A. K., & Kingston, N. M. (2013, April). Validation of a cognitive diagnostic model of reading comprehension [Conference paper]. National Council of Measurement on Education Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States.

Clark, A.K., & Kingston, N. M. (2013, April). The effect of item ordering on examinee performance: A synthesis of 60 years of research [Conference paper]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States.

Clark, A. K., & Kingston, N. M. (2013, April). The impact of poverty on English language proficiency assessment performance[Conference paper]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States.

Bowen, K., & Clark, A. K. (2013, April). Predicting text complexity when students read orally for fluency and recall for comprehension. In E. Hiebert (Chair) Beginning-reader text complexity: Scale development and best-predictor text characteristics [Symposium]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States.

Clark, A. K. & Kingston, N. M. (2013, April). Understanding the meaning of slippage and guessing parameters in cognitive diagnostic models [Poster presentation]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States.

Kingston, N. M. & Clark, A. K. (2013, January). Understanding the meaning of slippage parameters in cognitive diagnostic models. In Cognitive diagnostic models in educational assessments [Symposium]. University of Kansas School of Education Faculty Research Conference, Lawrence, KS, United States.

Schuster, J. G., Clark. A. K., Mark, C., & Shin, S. (2012, October). Creating the Dynamic Learning Map: Representing how concepts influence language development [Poster presentation]. 2012 Mental Lexicon Conference, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Clark, A. K., & Kingston, N. M. (2012, August). Identifying sources of differential item functioning on an English language proficiency assessment [Poster presentation]. American Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, United States.

Kingston, N. M. & Clark, A. K. (2012, April). Instructionally relevant item types. In M. Thurlow & A. Sheinker (Chairs), The future of alternate assessment: Preliminary directions and findings of the two common core based alternate assessment consortia [Demonstration session]. National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Schuster, J. G., Clark, A. K., Mark, C. A., & Shin, S. (2012, April). Multiple pathways to literacy: The dynamic learning maps alternate assessment system [Conference presentation]. Council for Exceptional Children Annual Convention and Expo, Denver, CO, United States.

Awards & Honors —

  • AERA Division H Outstanding Publication Award: Advances in Methodology for Visualizing Validity Evidence: Strength of Evidence Following Disrupted Administration (2023)
  • AERA Inclusion and Accessibility in Educational Assessment SIG Award for Excellent Research for Impact of COVID-19 on Education for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (2022)
  • Nominee: Alicia Cascallar Early Career Scholar Award, NCME (2018)
  • AERA Division H Outstanding Publication Award: Advances in Methodology for Condensed Mastery Profile Method for Standard Setting (2017)
  • Nominee: Outstanding Dissertation for the School of Education, KU (2014)
  • Doctoral Dissertation received Honors, KU (2013)
  • Research Fellowship Award, College Board (2012 – 2013)
  • Covington Award for Research on Testing, National Conference of Bar Examiners (2013)
  • Nominee: Outstanding Thesis for the School of Education, KU (2012)
  • Master’s Thesis received Honors, KU (2011)
  • Nominee: Distinguished New Teacher of the Year Award, Wichita Public Schools (2009)

Memberships —

Professional Affiliations
  • NCME Alicia Cascallar Award Committee (2019–present)
  • AERA Div. D Annual Reception & Business Meeting Committee  (2020–present)
  • measr IES Grant Project Advisory Committee (2021–present)
Reviewer
  • Frontiers in Education: Assessment, Testing & Applied Measurement (2019–present)
  • Educational Assessment (2021–present)
  • Journal of Special Education (2019–present)
  • Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice (2017–present)
  • Educational Psychology (2017–present)
  • Action in Teacher Education (2013–present)
  • Computers and Education (2013–present)
  • Language Assessment Quarterly (2012–present)
  • AERA Div. D Graduate Student In-Progress Gala (2014–present)
  • AERA Div. D conference proposals (2015–present)
  • NCME conference proposals (2017–present)