National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the nation’s largest assessment of student achievement, gathering data since the 1970s. Often called the Nation’s Report Card, it provides a common measure of what students know and can do, allowing comparisons across states and the nation.

NAEP assesses subjects including reading, mathematics, science, and writing. Additional assessments, including civics and expanded science reporting, are expected to be added to NAEP future assessments cycles, pending final federal decisions.

Federal law requires states receiving Title I funds to participate in NAEP reading and mathematics assessments for selected students in grades 4 and 8.

NAEP assess a representation sample of students rather than testing every student. Schools and students are randomly selected to ensure results accurately represent all students across Nebraska, while minimizing testing time for schools.

NAEP does not report results for individual students, schools, or districts. Instead, results are combined to provide reliable state and national measures of student achievement, making it a low-pressure way to get honest data.

Participation is important because NAEP is the only common, ongoing yardstick used to measure student achievement across the entire United States. When a school participates, it helps ensure that students with similar backgrounds and communities are represented in the results. Without their participation, the picture of student achievement across the nation would be incomplete.

QUESTIONS?

If you have questions, please contact Dr. Anne Harley at anne.harley@nebraska.gov.