TACtics: The Present and Future of Technical Advisory Committees for State Testing Programs

Abstract

State Technical Advisory Committees (State TACs) play an important and often unrecognized role in the improvement and monitoring of state testing programs across the United States. This article presents the first empirical portrait of State TAC membership and structures, describes the roles and dynamics of TAC meetings through a three-role framework, and offers recommendations for strengthening State TAC practice. Drawing on results from a 2025 initiative that identified 161 unique TAC members serving 48 states and three jurisdictions, we document variation in TAC size, composition, and governance. We argue that State TACs are at a critical juncture, facing new challenges from federal flexibility, technological advances like Artificial Intelligence, and aging membership. We provide operational recommendations for State TACs and strategic recommendations for the field.