John Easton has been executive director of the Consortium on Chicago School Research since 2002 but has been affiliated with CCSR since its inception in 1990 and led its first research study and became deputy director of the Consortium in 1997. Much of Dr. Easton's research at the Consortium examines trends in achievement test scores and the use of test scores in school improvement and school accountability efforts. Among his many publications, Dr. Easton coauthored a recent study on the relationship between freshman-year academic performance and high school graduation.

Dr. Easton also has had a long association with the Chicago Public Schools. He has twice served as director of the department of research, analysis, and assessment, first from 1994 to 1997 and most recently from 2001 to 2002. From 1989 to 1994 he was director of research at the Chicago Panel on School Policy, where he led a study of the effects of decentralization on Chicago Public Schools. Throughout his career, Dr. Easton's work has focused on providing useful information to help school leaders and the public assess and advance school change and improvement. Dr. Easton served on the National Assessment Governing Board, the independent 26-member board that sets policies for the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as "the Nation's Report Card," from October 2003 to September 2007. Dr. Easton holds a PhD in measurement, evaluation, and statistical analysis from the University of Chicago.