Test Development Coordinator

The University of Kansas; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 59,850 - 73,150; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

176 hours of paid vacation per year

96 hours of sick leave per year

10 paid holidays

Medical and dental insurance

Retirement program

Life and disability insurance

Educational opportunities

Job summary

The University of Kansas is seeking an English Language Arts Test Development Coordinator who will support operational assessment production. Focused on ensuring item quality and adherence to the Next Generation ELA Standards, this role is ideal for professionals with experience in standardized assessment development.

Successful candidates will contribute to test designs, collaborate with teams, and enhance item validity, while benefiting from excellent employer-sponsored health insurance, paid leave, and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• 3 years of experience in standardized assessment development or teaching.
• Experience in designing standardized assessments.
• Excellent reading skills for technical and literary texts.

Responsibilities

• Review and refine assessment items according to established standards.
• Coordinate workflow for ELA content during test development.
• Contribute to innovative ELA assessment designs.

Skills

Next Generation ELA Standards

Standardized assessment development

Excellent written communication skills

Technical reading skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in English Literature or related field

Master’s degree in related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Zoom

Skype

Job description

Position Overview

Accessible Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Systems (ATLAS), a research center at the University of Kansas (KU), is seeking an English Language Arts Test Development Coordinator on our Test Development Team. The Test Development Coordinator will support and guide the production of operational, standards‑based assessments by participating in test development efforts. These efforts span from initial item authoring through all stages of item refinement, review and field testing to final operational test forms construction. The Test Development Coordinator will primarily focus on ensuring that ELA assessment items support valid interpretations of test scores, adhere to industry best practices, and appropriately elicit observable evidence of targeted cognition as described by curricular standards for both general populations and for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.

Successful applicants will demonstrate deep and thorough expertise with the Next Generation ELA Standards and will be familiar with a range of either classroom approaches and/or standardized assessment approaches to collecting evidence of student mastery of curricular standards. ATLAS applies principles of Evidence Centered Design (ECD) to its test design and development processes. Therefore, expertise and the ability to provide thought leadership to other members of the ELA team with regard to these principles in an assessment context is a plus.

About ATLAS

ATLAS promotes learning and improved outcomes for all students, with a focus on students with disabilities and struggling learners. ATLAS creates technology‑based learning and assessment systems that are accessible and academically rigorous. Dynamic research on skill development, assessment design, and teacher professional development informs the center’s map‑based learning systems.

With a diverse portfolio of grant‑funded research projects and operational alternate assessments, ATLAS is a leader in educational research and innovation. ATLAS drives progress through partnerships and collaborations with organizations that share its focus and commitment.

ATLAS is committed to creating policies and practices that foster a culture in which all employees feel they belong and can succeed.

Benefits

• 176 hours of paid vacation per year
• 96 hours of sick leave per year
• 10 paid holidays
• Medical and dental insurance
• Retirement program
• Life and disability insurance
• Educational and professional development opportunities

Immigration Sponsorship

KU is not able to provide immigration sponsorship for this position.

Remote Work and Location

Due to complex state employment laws, the University of Kansas may be unable to hire fully remote workers for this position outside of Kansas. Specifically, we cannot currently offer employment to candidates residing in the following states: California, Delaware, Idaho, and Minnesota. We appreciate your understanding and invite interested individuals from eligible states to apply.

Job Description

Responsibilities

55% - Item Quality and Validity

• Review and refine items written by external item writers in accordance with established standards of quality and internally and externally imposed deadlines.
• Contribute to the development of task models and construct definitions based in Evidence Centered Design principles, and guide the ELA team to apply the task models consistently when reviewing items.
• Help resolve external, expert feedback on test items and test forms.
• Contribute to the design of trainings and orientations for item writers, internal staff, and external reviewers.
• Contribute to the identification, analysis, and improvement of existing processes and documentation to improve content validity.

35% - Test Development Coordination

• Collaborate on test and item designs for innovative ELA assessments.
• Coordinate workflow for ELA content at multiple stages of the test development process.
• Contribute to the management of the test item pool.
• Assemble and review field test and operational test forms to meet blueprint, test design, and psychometric criteria.
• Contribute to the identification, analysis, and improvement of existing processes and documentation to improve efficiency or meet best practice standards.
• Prepare, review, and edit test blueprints, performance level descriptors, responses to RFPs, and technical reports.
• Collaborate with the psychometric and technology teams to create ancillary testing materials, such as interpretive guides, score reports, and website documents.

5% - Grant‑Supported Projects

Contribute subject matter expertise to grant‑funded projects led by Lead Researchers and Principal Investigators.

5% - Special Projects / Other Duties

Contribute to special projects or other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, Comparative Literature, Writing, English Language Arts education or related field AND three (3) years standardized assessment development, teaching, large‑scale assessment, or curriculum development experience OR master’s degree AND one (1) year of standardized assessment development, teaching, large‑scale assessment, or curriculum development experience.
2. One (1) year of experience applying knowledge of the Next Generation ELA Standards (such as the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts/Literacy) to instruction, curriculum or assessment.
3. One (1) year of experience designing or developing standardized assessments in an item management and delivery platform that includes functionality for item authoring, editing and review.
4. One (1) year of experience using technology including Microsoft Office products, Skype, Zoom, and/or other web‑based systems as evidenced in application materials.
5. Excellent close reading skills as applied to a wide range of textual materials, including but not limited to technical materials, literature appropriate for all grades K‑12, and theoretical research as evidenced by work history and relevant coursework.
6. Excellent written communication skills in English as evidenced by application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Graduate degree in English Literature or related field and two (2) years of standardized assessment development, teaching, large‑scale assessment, or curriculum development experience.
2. Three (3) years of experience applying knowledge of the Next Generation ELA Standards (such as the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts/Literacy) to instruction, curriculum, or large‑scale assessment.
3. One (1) year of experience teaching and/or developing assessments for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
4. One (1) year of experience with peer‑to‑peer mentoring.

Additional Candidate Instructions

1. The University of Kansas online application.
2. A cover letter that describes how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
3. A Resume or CV.
4. Contact information for three (3) professional references.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application review begins Tuesday, July 7, 2026 and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.

Contact Information

ATLAS HR
[e-mail]

Advertised Salary Range Minimum $66,500, commensurate with experience and education.

Anticipated Start Date Monday August 31, 2026.