The National Assessment
of Educational Progress
Sierra Thiede
What is the NAEP?

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is an assessment that
measures what U.S. students know and can do in various subjects across the
nation, states, and in some urban districts.

NAEP is a congressionally mandated project administered by the National
Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the U.S. Department of
Education and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES).
Historical Overview of the NAEP

1990- Voluntary assessments for the states were made a permanent feature
every 2 years

2002- Trials for selected urban districts (Trial Urban District Assessment)

2009- Science assessment started to move towards computer based.

2011- For grades 8-12 the writing assessment was completely computer based

2014- The technology and literacy engineering assessment was also
completely computer based.
Historical Overview of the NAEP

1960- First idea of a national assessment

1963- The national assessment gained incentive

1964- Planning began which led to a grant from the Carnegie Corporation.
Resulting to the Exploratory Committee for the Assessment of Progress in
Education (ECAPE)

1965- Appointment with the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

1969- First national assessments were held
The subjects assessed at grades 4, 8, and 12:

Mathematics

Reading

Science

Arts: Music & Visual

Civics

Economics

Geography

U.S. History

Technology and Engineering Literacy
The 2018 NAEP

Currently in 2018 the NAEP is being
used to assess different grades in
different subjects

Misuse: Data is collected and
conclusion are drawn from data
about race and uncorrelated
information

The data does not represent
progress of an individual
throughout their schooling but one
student at one instance
Limitations

The entire population of students are not represented because schools only
select representative samples of students.

There are no individual score

Education is State-based

Students are sampled from different areas with different socioeconomical
statuses
State vs. National Assessment

State Level:

Each state score represents students in that state

Results mostly come from public schools

Results are reported at the national level also
State vs. National Assessment

National Level:

Results include samples at the state level public/non-public schools

There are assessments that are specifically made at the national level which
represent the entire nation

Information on other differences are found at NAEP Sample Design
Test day


NAEP is administered to students during regular school hours.
Each student is assessed in one subject area.

Students spend between 90 and 120 minutes taking the assessment, including
time to complete a survey questionnaire.

NAEP representatives will bring all necessary materials, including tablets or
laptops for digitally based assessments, to the schools on assessment day.

Allowable accommodations are provided as necessary for students with
disabilities and/or English language learners.
Interpreting Results

Average scale score represent the performance on each assessment

Basic, proficient, and advanced are achievement levels that provide what
students know

Proficient and above displays that the student shows solid academic
performance at a challenging level

The achievement level does not display grade level proficiency
How Educators Can Use the Results

They can become aware of where students are struggling state and nationally

They can become aware of what areas they need to focus on more

They can evaluate student achievement on a large scale
How Policy Makers Can Use the Results

The data from NAEP is used to inform education, policy, and practice

The data also helps explore changes and practices that improve the
achievement of students

Lastly, the data can be used to compare and understand the performance of
demographic groups within states, at the national level, and everything in
between
References:
NAEP Nations Report Card - National Assessment of Educational Progress - NAEP.
(n.d.). Retrieved Nov 14, 2018, from http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/