National Assessment for Education Progress (NAEP)

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas. Assessments are conducted periodically in mathematics, reading, science, writing, the arts, civics, economics, geography, U.S. history, and in Technology and Engineering Literacy (TEL). In 2017, NAEP began administering digitally based assessments (DBA) for mathematics, reading, and writing, with additional subjects to be added in 2018 and 2019. Only a small sample of Tennessee fourth, eighth, and twelfth graders will take this test. The representative sample group is chosen by NAEP each year. NAEP alternates sample sizes every other year, with even-year assessments being a national sample, and odd-year assessments being state samples. 
 
Required
Yes 
 
 
Applicable Federal/State Law
Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, districts and states receiving Title I funding are required to participate in the biennial NAEP mathematics and reading assessments in grades 4 and 8.

 

Purpose & Use
NAEP assessments are administered uniformly using the same sets of test booklets across the nation. NAEP results serve as a common metric for all states and selected urban districts. The assessment stays essentially the same from year to year, with only carefully documented changes. This permits NAEP to provide a clear picture of student academic progress over time. In even-numbered years, NAEP measures Tennessee students’ academic achievement against students in other states also taking this test.
 
 
Administration Window

No Knox County schools are scheduled for this test administration this year. (given to selected 4th and 8th grade students at selected schools in Knox County)

 

Looking ahead: 

  • Test schedules are dependent on the testing windows issued by the Tennessee Department of Education and will be updated by July 31 of each year. They will likely mirror the dates above, but cannot be confirmed until after the information is released by TDOE.

 

 
Length of Assessment
NAEP is designed to be minimally disruptive to students, teachers, and schools. Students spend up to 90 minutes on most NAEP assessments. This includes setting up, taking the assessment (up to 60 minutes), and getting back to instructional activities.
 
Results to Parents & Students

NAEP is not designed to show individual results. Since the first NAEP assessment in 1969, students’ names have been kept completely confidential. After students complete the assessment, their names are physically removed from the booklets and never leave their schools. Instead of reporting individual scores, NAEP reports overall results for the nation, the states, and demographic groups of students.

 
 
For more information go to TDOE NAEP