Joshua Sussman is a researcher at the Berkeley Evaluation and Assessment Research (BEAR) Center where he uses data-driven approaches to improve assessment, policy, and practice in early childhood education. His research examines the design, implementation, and effects of large-scale assessments; in particular those assessments that help teachers understand and support learning and development in early and middle childhood. He uses generalized latent variable modeling and hierarchical modeling in quantitative studies that aim to translate basic knoweldge about children's learning and development into reccomendations for more effective and more just systems of early childhood education.
Interests and Professional Affiliations
Assessment, Measurment, and Evaluation
Educational/School Psychology
Early and Middle Childhood Learning and Development
Outcome Measures
Education Policy
Publications
Recent publications
Sussman, J., Draney, K., & Wilson, M. (2023). Language and literacy trajectories for dual language learners (DLLs) with different home languages: Linguistic distance and implications for practice. Journal of Educational Psychology, 115(6), 891–910. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000791
Sussman. J., Melnick, H., Newton, E., Kriener-Althen, K., Draney, K., Mangione, P., & Gochyyev, P. (2022). Preschool quality and child development: How are learning gains related to program ratings? Learning Policy Institute. https://bit.ly/3GhWLOs
Chen-Gaddini, M.; Sussman J., Newton, E., Ruiz Jimenez, G. S., Kriener-Althen, K., Gochyyev, P., Draney, K., & Mangione, P. (2022). DRDP Technical Report: Validity in Relation to External Assessments of Child Development. WestEd. https://www.desiredresults.us/research
Chen-Gaddini, M.; Sussman J., Newton, E., Ruiz Jimenez, G. S., Kriener-Althen, K., Gochyyev, P., Draney, K., & Mangione, P. (2022). DRDP Technical Report: Interrater Reliability. WestEd. https://www.desiredresults.us/research
Draney, K., Sussman, J., Kriener-Althen, K., Newton, E. K., Gochyyev, P., & Mangione, P. (2022). DRDP technical report for early infancy through kindergarten: structural validity and reliability information for the Desired Results Developmental Profile. Report prepared for the California Department of Education. https://www.desiredresults.us/research
Other peer-reviewed articles
Saxe, G. B.*, & Sussman, J.* (2019). Mathematics learning in language inclusive classrooms: Supporting the achievement of English learners as well as their English proficient peers. Educational Researcher, 48(7), 452 – 465. * Equally contributing authors
Sussman, J., & Wilson, M. (2019). The use and validity of standardized achievement tests for evaluating new curricular interventions in mathematics and science. American Journal of Evaluation, 40(2), 190 – 213.
Sussman, J., Beaujean, A. A., Worrell, F. C., & Watson, S. (2013). An analysis of Cross Racial Identity Scale (CRIS) scores using classical test theory and Rasch item response models. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 46(2), 136 – 153.
Sussman, J., & Tasso, A. F. (2013). The Mesulam Continuous Performance Test: Age-related and gender differences in the sustained attention of elementary school children. The New School Psychology Bulletin, 10(2), 1 – 13.
Didonna, A., Sussman, J., Benetti, F., & Legname, G. (2012). The role of Bax and caspase-3 in doppel-induced apoptosis of cerebellar granule cells. Prion, 6, 309 – 316.
Stöhr, J., Watts, J. C., Legname, G., Oehler, A., Lemus, A., Nguyen, H. O. B., Sussman, J, Wile, H., DeArmond, S. J., Prusiner, S. B., & Giles, K. (2011). Spontaneous generation of anchorless prions in transgenic mice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108, 21223 – 21228
Benvegnù, S., Franciotta, D., Sussman, J., Bacchi, A., Zardini, E., Torreri, P., Govaerts, C., Pizzo, S., & Legname, G. (2009). Prion Protein paralog Doppel Protein interacts with α2-macroglobulin: a plausible mechanism for Doppel-mediated neurodegeneration. PloS One, 4, e5968.
Shtivelman, E., Sussman, J., & Stokoe, D. (2002). A role for PI 3-kinase and PKB activity in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Current Biology, 12, 919 – 924.
Sussman, J., Stokoe, D., Ossina, N., & Shtivelman, E. (2001). Protein kinase B phosphorylates AHNAK and regulates its subcellular localization. Journal of Cell Biology, 154, 1019-1030.
Other evaluations, technical reports, and research briefs (major contributions only)
McCarthy, E., Morgan, C. & Sussman, J. (2021). Growing strong learners in Galt Joint Union Elementary School District: Year 2 Evaluation. WestEd.
WestEd & University of California – Berkeley Evaluation and Assessment Research (BEAR) Center. (2020). High-quality preschool promotes learning and development for California’s children. Research brief prepared for the California Department of Education.
WestEd & University of California – Berkeley Evaluation and Assessment Research (BEAR) Center. (2020). High-quality preschool reduces the readiness gap for California’s preschool dual language learners. Research brief prepared for the California Department of Education.
McCarthy, E., Morgan, C. & Sussman, J. (2020). Growing strong learners in Galt Joint Union Elementary School District. WestEd. https://www.wested.org/resources/growing-strong-learners-in-galt-joint-u...
McCarthy, E., Morgan, C. & Sussman, J. (2020). Growing strong learners at Robla Preschool. WestEd.
DRDP Collaborative Research Group. (2018). Technical Report for the Desired Results Developmental Profile (2015). Report prepared for the California Department of Education. Retrieved from https://www.desiredresults.us/sites/default/files/docs/resources/researc...
Sussman, J., Diakow, R., & Saxe, G. (2013). The efficacy of the Learning Mathematics through Representations (LMR) lesson sequence using California Standards Test (CST) as an outcome measure. Unpublished technical report submitted to IES at close of research grant.
Book chapter
Eisen, A. R., Sussman, J., Schmidt, T., Mason, L., Hausler, L. A., & Hashim, R. (2011). Separation Anxiety Disorder. In D. McKay & E. A. Storch (Eds.), Handbook of child and adolescent anxiety disorders. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
Presentations
Sussman, J. (2024, April). Cultural sensitivity of assessments based on learning progressions within early childhood assessment systems. Individual paper presentation accepted to the 2024 annual meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education.
Sussman, J. & Melnick, H. (2023, August). Preschool quality and child development: How are learning gains related to program ratings? Invited presentation at the Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) Mixed Delivery Quality and Access Workgroup, California Department of Education.
Sussman, J., & Draney, D., & Gochyyev, P. (2023, April). A construct modeling approach to diagnostic assessment. Paper presented at the 2023 annual meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education.
Sussman, J. & Melnick, H. (2022, December). Preschool quality and child development: How are learning gains related to program ratings? Invited presentation to Strong Start California.
Sussman, J., & Wilson, M. (2022, April). Examining differential rates of progress along an early childhood learning progression. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education.
Sussman, J. (2022, April). Supporting developmentally, culturally, and linguistically responsive practice in early care and education with a balanced early learning assessment system. Invited poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association.
Sussman, J., Gochyyev, P., & Draney, K. (2021, April). Generating performance levels for a developmental assessment using construct mapping and Rasch methods. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (online).
Foster, M., Caemmerer, J., Hennesey, B., & Sussman, J. (2021, April). Development of scientific thinking: the role of parent practices, language, cognition, math, and reading skills. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development (online).
Sussman, J. (2021, February).The Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) large scale assessment: A case study.Poster presented at the bi-annual meeting of the International Objective Measurement Workshop (online).
Sussman, J. (2020, April). Modeling and characterizing the emergence of kindergarten readiness gaps: Early language and literacy development in dual language learners (DLLs) and their English monolingual (EM) peers. Invited presentation at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. San Francisco, CA [Meeting Cancelled].
Sussman, J. (2020, April). Examining the Early Language and Literacy Trajectories of Dual Language Learners. In K. Draney (Chair), Communicating Psychometric Information to Diverse Audiences: From Early Childhood Teachers to Policymakers. Presentation accepted to the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, CA [Meeting Cancelled].
Sussman, J., & Gochyyev, P. (2019, April). Multidimensional IRT analyses support formative, longitudinal assessment of early childhood development. In K. Draney (Chair), Supporting children’s early learning and kindergarten goals with a standards-aligned assessment: Effective practices in statewide aggregate reporting. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Freund, R., Sussman, J., & Morrell, L. (2019, April). High quality individual and group reports for early childhood development. In K. Draney (Chair), Supporting children’s early learning and kindergarten goals with a standards-aligned assessment: Effective practices in statewide aggregate reporting. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Saxe, G. B., & Sussman, J. (2019, March). Mathematics learning in language inclusive classrooms. Paper presented at the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education & Yandex Technology and Psychology for Mathematics Education Meeting, Moscow, Russia.
Sussman, J. (2018, April).Differential Item Functioning (DIF) for special education populations in the Desired Results Developmental Profile Assessment: The impact of DIF and what we can (and should) do about it. Paper presented at the bi-annual meeting of the International Objective Measurement Workshop, New York, NY.
Duckor, B., Sussman, J., & Sellars, B. (2018, April). To validate or not to validate the internal structure of connectedness, empowerment, and meaning scales: The meaning and results of a multi-dimensional item response model study. Paper presented at the bi-annual meeting of the International Objective Measurement Workshop, New York, NY.
Sussman, J., Freund, R, & Feuerstahler, L. (2018, April). High quality score reports from a multidimensional assessment of early childhood development. In R. Diakow (Chair), Communicating complex psychometric information to teachers, parents, and other less technical audiences. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the National Council on Measurement in Education, New York, NY.
Sussman, J., & Wilson, M. (2016, December). The prevalence of “off-label” assessment. Paper presented at the Institute of Education Sciences, Principal Investigators Meeting. Washington, DC.
Sussman, J., & Potter, A. (2016, October). Healthy family boundaries around young children’s use of electronic media: Research-based recommendations. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Special Meeting on Technology and Media in Children’s Development. Irvine, CA.
Sussman, J. (2015, April). Outcome assessment for evaluation of educational interventions: state assessments and the concept of alignment. Poster presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL.
Sussman, J. (2015, April). Outcome measurement in educational evaluation: A simulation of assessment-intervention alignment. Poster presented at the National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL.
Schwarz, C., Kirst, C., Berland, L., Toyama, Y., Sussman. J., Draney, K., Reiser, B., & Kenyon, L. (2015, April). Personally and scientifically meaningful engagement in the scientific practices. Paper presented at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL.
Buchanan, N. L., & Sussman, J. (2014, May). Progressive coordinations: A learning progression for rational number based on students' partial understandings. Poster presented at the Jean Piaget Society Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA.
Sussman, J. (2014, April). Evaluating educational interventions with state-administered proficiency assessments: validity issues. Poster presented at the National Council on Measurement in Education Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA.
