Joseph E. Betts, MMIS, Ph.D., NCSP, is the former senior measurement statistician at Renaissance Learning. His research has focused on the development of growth norms for evaluating student growth relative to similar performing peers and the use of technology-enhanced progress-monitoring tools. In addition, he has done research on the moderating role of language proximity between the development of oral fluency and reading comprehension, and he has investigated the structure of student engagement subtypes across the middle and high school grades.

Betts has also participated in the development of measures of early literacy and numeracy for use in kindergarten as well as a preschool screening measure to help with the early identification of students in need of special services. Betts has specialized in the statistical analysis of longitudinal and time series data, latent variable modeling, item response theory, and computerized-adaptive testing. At Renaissance Learning, he contributes to the ongoing development of the STAR assessments for mathematics, reading, and early literacy along with research lines associated with the developmental trajectories of early math and literacy skills. He has contributed to numerous professional papers in peer-reviewed journals, technical reports, and professional presentations.

Consulted on STAR Enterprise