Beth Tarasawa

Beth Tarasawa is relentlessly committed to using data-driven insights to transform education and eliminate structural barriers to achieve equitable outcomes for all students. She leads NWEA’s Research team that is devoted to advancements in assessment and growth measurement, answering fundamental questions to inform policy and practice, and driving educational innovation.

Dr. Tarasawa's research focuses on issues related to educational equity, particularly those concerning social class, race, and linguistic diversity. Her work has been featured by The New York Times, The Washington Post, PBS’s NewsHour, NPR, The Associated Press, CNN, The Atlantic, Education Week, The 74, Children’s Institute, and New America among other outlets. She also teaches in the College of Education at Portland State University.

Prior to joining NWEA, she was a faculty member at Washington State University and St. Norbert College. She earned her PhD and MA in the sociology of education with a concentration in education policy at Emory University.