Appendix J2 2018 Communication Materials

Appendix J2 NAEP 2018 Communication Materials.pdf

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2017-2019

Appendix J2 2018 Communication Materials

OMB: 1850-0928

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NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS
NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS

Appendix J2
Communication Materials To Be Used in Early
Stages of NAEP 2018 Recruitment

Request for Clearance for
NAEP Assessments for 2017-2019

OMB# 1850-0928 v.4
Revision to a previously approved package (1850-0928 v.3)

April 2017

Note that the numbering of Appendix J2 materials is not sequential. The numbers reflect the corresponding
previously used version of the communicaiton material contained in Appendix D (e.g. Appendix J2-3 is the
2018 version of Appendix D-3).

Table of Contents
Appendix J2-1.a: NAEP Participation Letter for Chiefs from NCES Commissioner ............................................. 2
Appendix J2-1.b: NAEP Participation Letter from Chief State School Officer to District Superintendent ...........5
Appendix J2-3: NAEP State Coordinator Selection Notification Letter to Principal ............................................ 8
Appendix J2-4: NAEP Facts for Districts Brochure ............................................................................................ 15
Appendix J2-5: NAEP Facts for Principals Brochure .......................................................................................... 18
Appendix J2-9: NAEP Save-the-Date Letter from NAEP State Coordinator to School Principal ...................... 29
Appendix J2-10: NAEP in Your School Brochure ...............................................................................................31
Appendix J2-11: NAEP in Your Private School ...................................................................................................42
Appendix J2-12: NAEP Assessment Details Letter from NAEP State Coordinator to Principal ........................47
Appendix J2-13: NAEP Assessment Details Letter from NAEP State Coordinator to School Coordinator ........50
Appendix J2-14: School Coordinator Responsibilities: A Guide to MyNAEP.....................................................53
Appendix J2-17: NAEP Sample Parent Letter ....................................................................................................58
Appendix J2-23: Initial Recruitment Private School Letter ...............................................................................65
Appendix J2-24: NAEP to Diocese Superintendent Letter ................................................................................68

Appendix J2-1.a: NAEP Participation Letter for Chiefs from
NCES Commissioner

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES

NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS

NAME
TITLE
ADDRESS 1
ADDRESS 2
CITY, STATE, ZIP
Dear NAME:
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has begun preparing for the 2018 cycle of the
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), and I would like to inform you of assessment
activities that will be taking place in your state. Because the NAEP assessments will be conducted at the
national level only, there will be no state level results reported; the national results for these assessments
will be available in 2019.
From January 29 through March 9, 2018, the following NAEP assessments will occur:
 Technology and Engineering Literacy (TEL) at grade 8
 U.S. History, Civics, and Geography at grade 8
 Field and pilot testing at grades 4, 8, and 12 and special studies
Participation in these components is voluntary, but as each state’s participation in NAEP is essential for
providing a national perspective of how students are performing in U.S. history, civics, geography and
technology and engineering literacy, I respectfully encourage your support. Your NAEP State
Coordinator will receive the sample of schools selected for these assessments in May of this year. Also,
for your information we have included a one-page chart of the activities currently taking place in your
state for the NCES assessments.
Frameworks for the U.S history, civics, geography, and technology and engineering literacy assessments
can be accessed at www.nagb.org.
NCES is also exploring the feasibility of linking the National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS),
which collects data on core topics such as classes taught and school characteristics, with student
performance on NAEP. In 2018, NCES will explore the operational feasibility of linking the two studies.
In a couple of weeks, you will receive a letter with more detailed information and a request for state
volunteers to participate in this study.
The following international assessments will also occur as part of our 2018 cycle: the Program for
International Student Assessment (PISA), the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS), the
International Computer and Information Literacy Survey (ICILS), and the International Early Learning
Study (IELS). If interested, states have the opportunity to participate and receive results for these
international assessments. Please see the enclosed information sheet that outlines the necessary
information, if interested in state level participation.

Each of the NCES assessment program areas will contact states with more detailed information about the
assessments, including further description of the program and specifics for when administration will
occur. We will continue to keep you informed of NAEP activities and notify you of any changes to the
NAEP assessments. If you have any questions or if you would like additional information about the
assessments, please contact Holly Spurlock, Program Director, Assessment Operations, at
[email protected] or (202) 245-7132, or Gina Broxterman at [email protected] or (202) 2457791. Further information is also available through the NAEP website at www.nationsreportcard.gov.
Thank you for your continued support of NAEP.
Sincerely,

Peggy Carr, Ph.D.
Acting Commissioner
National Center for Education Statistics
CC:

State Assessment Director

Appendix J2-1.b: NAEP Participation Letter from Chief State School
Officer to District Superintendent

Early May NAEP 2018 Notification Letter From
CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICER TO DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT
Red text should be customized before mail merge: highlighted text represents mail merge fields
Dear District Superintendent name,
I am pleased to notify you that number schools in your district have been selected to participate in the 2018
administration of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). NAEP is the largest nationally
representative and continuing assessment of what students in the United States know and can do in various subjects.
Selected schools represent schools across the nation, and their participation provides NAEP an accurate picture of
student performance. School District will play an important role by participating, and I know that we can count on
your full support to make this a meaningful experience for your schools and students.
Selected schools are notified in advance so that principals can place the assessment window (January 29 to March 9,
2018) on their calendars and incorporate NAEP into the planned school program. A few additional schools within
School District may also be selected at a later date; your NAEP State Coordinator will contact you should this
happen. Starting in June, each school will receive its assessment date. Schools may work with the NAEP State
Coordinator if there is a conflict with the scheduled assessment date.
The NAEP 2018 administration will include two main assessment programs. The attached list of district schools
selected for NAEP shows the assessment program for each selected school.
 Operational Assessments
o Grade 8: Civics, geography, and U.S. history
o Grade 8: Technology and engineering literacy
 Pilot Assessments and Special Studies
o Grades 4, 8, and 12: Reading special studies and science pilots
o Grade 4: Oral reading fluency study
o Grade 12: Mathematics and reading pilots
For the operational assessments, NAEP will administer civics, geography, and U.S. history assessments to grade 8
students. Most students will take the assessment on tablets provided by NAEP representatives, while a small subset
of students will take paper-and-pencil versions of the assessment. NAEP is administering these assessments via both
tablets and paper booklets to evaluate any differences in student performance. The technology and engineering
literacy assessment will be administered via laptops to maintain compatibility with previous years. National results
will be released as The Nation’s Report Card.
NAEP will also administer pilot assessments and special studies on tablets. Reading special studies and science
pilots will be administered at grades 4, 8, and 12. Grade 12 students will also participate in mathematics and reading
pilots. Results will not be released but will be used to inform NAEP assessments.
Some grade 4 students may participate in a small oral reading fluency study that collects information on basic
reading skills, such as decoding, word recognition, and fluency. Other special studies may occur in a few schools as
well. As in previous years, NAEP representatives provide significant support to schools: they bring all necessary
materials and equipment, including tablets and laptops, and administer the assessment.
Please include the NAEP assessment window (January 29 to March 9, 2018) on your district test calendar.
Information about NAEP can be found in the enclosures listed below and at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard.
Name, our NAEP State Coordinator, will contact your staff with additional information.
Thank you for supporting this important assessment and for helping accomplish our goal of 100 percent
participation.

Sincerely,
Name of Chief State School Officer

Enclosures:

List of district schools selected for NAEP
Facts for Districts

CC:

State Testing Director
District Testing Director
NAEP State Coordinator

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct NAEP by the National Assessment of
Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. §9622) and to collect students’ education records from
education agencies or institutions for the purposes of evaluating federally supported education programs under the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(3)(iii) and 99.35). The information each
student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information
Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws,
student responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than
employees or agents. By law, every NCES employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP
coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she
willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about students. Electronic submission of student information will be
monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance with the
Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce
statistical reports.

Appendix J2-3: NAEP State Coordinator Selection Notification
Letter to Principal

May NAEP 2018 Notification Letter From
NAEP STATE COORDINATOR TO SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: For TEL Schools
Red text should be customized before mail merge; highlighted text represents mail merge fields
Dear Principal,
I am pleased to inform you that school name has been selected to represent schools across the nation by participating in
the 2018 administration of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). NAEP is the largest nationally
representative and continuing assessment of what students in the United States know and can do in various subjects. It is
administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S. Department of Education. As part of the
NAEP 2018 program, selected grade 8 students will participate in the computer-based technology and engineering
literacy (TEL) assessment.
The TEL assessment will measure students’ capacity to use, understand, and evaluate technology, as well as to
understand technological principles and strategies. Students will use NAEP-provided laptops to complete problemsolving tasks based on interactive scenarios reflecting realistic situations, along with multiple-choice and short-answer
questions. The results from this assessment will be released as The Nation’s Report Card, and results from the 2014
assessment are available at https://nationsreportcard.gov/tel_2014.
For now, I am writing only to notify you of the assessment. In June, I will send you an assessment date. If the date
presents a conflict for your school, we will work together to identify an alternate. Our goal is to schedule the assessment
prior to the beginning of the school year so that you may include it on your 2017-2018 school calendar.
At the beginning of the school year, I will send you detailed assessment information and will ask you to identify a
school coordinator, provide a student list, and submit additional information. As in previous years, NAEP
representatives provide significant support to schools: they bring all necessary materials and equipment, including
laptops, and administer the assessment. Outlined below is a broad overview of the assessment:





Subjects:
Grade:
Sessions:
Session duration:




Assessment administrator:
Assessment window:

Technology and engineering literacy
8
Two sequential sessions of approximately 15 students each
Approximately 120 minutes per session (including transition time
and instructions)
NAEP representatives
January 29–March 9, 2018

More information about NAEP can be found in the enclosures listed below and at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/schools.asp. If you have questions, please contact me at telephone number or
via email at email address.
Our chief state school officer, name, and your district superintendent, name, support NAEP and look forward to your
school’s participation. We know that we can count on you to help reach our goal of 100 percent participation.

Sincerely,

NAEP State Coordinator
Enclosures:

Facts for Principals – Link for electronic mailing

CC:

District Test Director

Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(3)(iii) and 99.35). The information each student
provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection
provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student responses will be kept
confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than employees or agents. By law, every
NCES employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP coordinators, has taken an oath and is
subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable
information about students. Electronic submission of student information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and
other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015.
The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports.

May NAEP 2018 Notification Letter From
NAEP STATE COORDINATOR TO SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: For Social Studies Schools
Red text should be customized before mail merge; highlighted text represents mail merge fields
Dear Principal,
I am pleased to inform you that school name has been selected to represent schools across the nation by participating in
the 2018 administration of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). NAEP is the largest nationally
representative and continuing assessment of what students in the United States know and can do in various subjects. It is
administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S. Department of Education. As part of the
NAEP 2018 program, students will participate in civics, geography, and U.S. history assessments.
Most students will take the assessment on tablets provided by NAEP representatives. A subset of students will take
paper-and-pencil versions of the assessment. NAEP is administering the assessments via both tablets and paper booklets
to evaluate any differences in student performance. Each student will be assessed in only one subject. The results from
these assessments will be released as The Nation’s Report Card, and results from the 2014 assessment are available at
https://nationsreportcard.gov/hgc_2014.
For now, I am writing only to notify you of the assessment. In June, I will send you an assessment date. If the date
presents a conflict for your school, we will work together to identify an alternate. Our goal is to schedule the assessment
prior to the beginning of the school year so that you may include it on your 2017-2018 school calendar.
At the beginning of the school year, I will send you detailed assessment information and will ask you to identify a
school coordinator, provide a student list, and submit additional information. As in previous years, NAEP
representatives provide significant support to schools: they bring all necessary materials and equipment, including
tablets, and administer the assessment. Outlined below is a broad overview of the assessment:




Subjects:
Grade:
Tablet sessions:



Paper booklet sessions:




Assessment administrator:
Assessment window:

Civics, geography, and U.S. history
8
One or two sessions of about 25 students each. Each session
will last approximately 120 minutes (including transition time and
instructions).
One or two sessions of about 25 students each. The session(s) will last
approximately 90 minutes and must be conducted in a separate space from
the tablet sessions.
NAEP representatives
January 29–March 9, 2018

Sincerely,

NAEP State Coordinator
Enclosures:

Facts for Principals – Link for electronic mailing

CC:

District Test Director

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct NAEP by the National Assessment of
Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. §9622) and to collect students’ education records from education
agencies or institutions for the purposes of evaluating federally supported education programs under the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(3)(iii) and 99.35). The information each student
provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection
provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student responses will be kept
confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than employees or agents. By law, every
NCES employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP coordinators, has taken an oath and is
subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable
information about students.. Electronic submission of student information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and
other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015.
The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports.

May NAEP 2018 Notification Letter From
NAEP STATE COORDINATOR TO SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: For pilot assessment schools (all grades)
Red text should be customized before mail merge; highlighted text represents mail merge fields
Dear Principal,
I am pleased to inform you that school name has been selected to represent schools across the nation by participating in
the 2018 administration of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). NAEP is the largest nationally
representative and continuing assessment of what students in the United States know and can do in various subjects. It is
administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S. Department of Education. As part of the
NAEP 2018 program, students will participate in mathematics, reading, and science pilot assessments and special
studies. Results will not be released but will be used to inform NAEP assessments.
Students will use tablets provided by NAEP to complete the assessment. Each student will be assessed in only one
subject. As NAEP transitions to digitally based assessments, results from these assessments will help determine how to
maximize the use of tablets.
Include following paragraph for grade 4 ORF schools only. A subset of students may be selected to participate in an
oral reading fluency study, which offers students an opportunity to put their basic reading skills into practice. The
module allows students to read a series of passages aloud and assesses their aptitude in decoding, word recognition, and
fluency to yield descriptive data on how well students respond to oral reading challenges. The recorded student
responses are confidential*, and they provide context and meaning to the assessment results.
For now, I am writing only to notify you of the assessment. In June, I will send you an assessment date. If the date
presents a conflict for your school, we will work together to identify an alternate. Our goal is to schedule the assessment
prior to the beginning of the school year so that you may include it on your 2017-2018 school calendar.
At the beginning of the school year, I will send you detailed assessment information and will ask you to identify a
school coordinator, provide a student list, and submit additional information. As in previous years, NAEP
representatives provide significant support to schools: they bring all necessary materials and equipment, including
tablets, and administer the assessment. Outlined below is a broad overview of the assessment:





Subjects:
Grade:
Sessions:
Session Duration:




Assessment administrator:
Assessment window:

Mathematics, reading, and science
4 or 8 or 12
Two sequential sessions of approximately 25 students each
Approximately 120 minutes for students, including transition time
and instructions
NAEP representatives
January 29–March 9, 2018

Sincerely,

NAEP State Coordinator
Enclosures:

Facts for Principals – Link for electronic mailing

CC:

District Test Director

*National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct NAEP by the National Assessment of
Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. §9622) and to collect students’ education records from education
agencies or institutions for the purposes of evaluating federally supported education programs under the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(3)(iii) and 99.35). The information each student
provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection
provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student responses will be kept
confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than employees or agents. By law, every
NCES employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP coordinators, has taken an oath and is
subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable
information about students.. Electronic submission of student information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and
other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015.
The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports.

Appendix J2-4: NAEP Facts for Districts Brochure

NAEP 2018

Facts for Districts

NAEP is an integral part
of education in the
United States.
Elected officials, policymakers, and
educators all use NAEP results to
develop ways to improve education.
NAEP is a congressionally mandated
project administered by the National
Center for Education Statistics, within
the U.S. Department of Education and
the Institute of Education Sciences.
NAEP serves a different role than
state assessments. While states have
their own unique assessments with
different content standards, the same
NAEP assessment is administered
in every state, providing a common
measure of student achievement.
Depending on the type of NAEP
assessment that is administered,
the data can be used to compare
and understand the performance
of demographic groups within your
state, the nation, other states, and
districts that participate in the Trial
Urban District Assessment. NAEP
is not designed to collect or report
results for individual students,
classrooms, or schools.
To provide a better understanding of
educational experiences and factors
that may be related to students’
learning, students, teachers, and
principals who participate in NAEP
are asked to complete survey
questionnaires.

National Assessment of
Educ ationa l Prog ress

“The NAEP representatives were informative and provided specific
instructions when administering the assessment. Their professionalism
and knowledge before the assessment ensured that the students had
a positive experience with NAEP.”
- Amneris Montalvo, NAEP School Coordinator, Citrus Grove Middle School, Miami, FL
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally
representative and continuing assessment of what our nation’s students know and
can do in various subjects such as mathematics, reading, science, and writing, as well
as civics, geography, technology and engineering literacy, and U.S. history. The results
of NAEP are released as The Nation’s Report Card.
District staff play an essential role in NAEP. Superintendents and district staff can
work closely with principals to explain the importance of the assessment to teachers
and participating students. When students take part in the assessment and give their
best effort, NAEP gets the most accurate measure possible of student achievement
across the country. The table below shows which subjects will be assessed in 2018.
National results will be released for the civics, geography, U.S. history, and technology
and engineering literacy assessments—information collected from pilots is used to
prepare for future NAEP assessments.

The NAEP 2018 Program (January 29 to March 9, 2018)
Grade

Grade 4

Grade 8

Grade 12

Subject

Format
Tablet

Reading (Special Studies)

√

Science (Pilot)

√

Civics, Geography and U.S. History

√

Technology and Engineering
Literacy

Paper/Pencil

√
√

Reading (Special Study)

√

Science

√

Mathematics (Pilot)

√

Reading (Pilot/Special Study)

√

Science (Pilot)

√

For more information about NAEP, visit
www.nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

Laptop

It’s important to know...
NAEP was first administered in 1969 to measure student achievement nationally. In 1990, NAEP was administered at the state level
for the first time. Students in grades 4 and 8 are currently assessed at the national and state levels in mathematics and reading
every two years and in other subjects in alternating years. In 2002, NAEP began the Trial Urban District Assessment program,
which measures student achievement in some of the nation’s large urban districts. Students, teachers, and schools are asked to
complete a survey questionnaire in order to provide valuable contextual information about participating students’ educational
experiences and opportunities to learn both in and out of the classroom.
Special studies are also conducted periodically. They are administered as part of NAEP and often involve special data collection
procedures in the field, in-depth analyses of NAEP results, and evaluations of various technical procedures. For more information
about NAEP special studies, visit https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies.
NAEP is considered the gold standard of assessments because of its high technical quality. From the development of
assessment frameworks and questions to the reporting of results, NAEP represents the best thinking of assessment and content
specialists, state education staff, and teachers from around the nation. NAEP is a trusted resource that measures student progress
and helps inform policy decisions that improve education in the United States.
NAEP reports on results for different demographic groups rather than for individual students or schools. Within a school, just
some of the student population participates, and student responses are combined with those from other participating students to
produce the results. Student responses on NAEP are confidential*, and the privacy of each participating school and student is
essential. Names of participating students never leave the school and are not associated with the digital or paper test booklet after
the student takes the assessment.
NAEP uses a carefully designed sampling process. This process ensures that the schools and students selected are
representative of schools and students across the United States. To ensure that the sample represents all students in the nation’s
schools, NAEP allows a broad range of accommodations for students with disabilities and English language learners.
NAEP is designed to cause minimal disruption of classroom instruction. Including transition time, directions, and the completion
of a survey questionnaire, it takes approximately 120 minutes for students to complete digital assessments and up to 90 minutes
for students to complete paper-and-pencil assessments. Each student will be assessed in one format and one subject only.
Teachers do not need to prepare their students to take the assessment but should encourage them to do their best. NAEP
representatives provide significant support to your district’s schools by working with the designated coordinator in each school to
organize assessment activities. NAEP representatives will bring all necessary materials and equipment to schools on assessment
day. Schools will only need to provide space for students to take the assessment, desks or tables, and an adequate number of
electrical outlets in the assessment location—schools will not need to provide internet access.
NAEP items can be used as a helpful educational resource in the classroom. Teachers and district staff can use the NAEP
Questions Tool at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nqt to see how students’ performance compares nationally on specific
items. Released NAEP items come with a scoring guide, sample student responses, and performance data.
District and school staff can also
view results, depending on the type of assessment, for the nation, states, and selected urban districts over time;
compare results for various demographic groups; and
access information designed for teachers, students, and parents.
Visit the NAEP website at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard to access this information and more.
*The information each student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V,
Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone
other than employees or agents. By law, every National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP
coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about
students. Electronic submission of student information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance
with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports.
Get NAEP on the go with the NAEP Results mobile app
Download it today on Google Play

Find us on:
17

This publication was prepared for the National Assessment of Educational Progress by Hager Sharp under contract ED-IES-13-C-0025 to the National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education.

Appendix J2-5: NAEP Facts for Principals Brochure

NAEP 2018

Facts for Principals
National Assessment of
Educ ationa l Prog ress

Technology and Engineering Literacy

NAEP is an integral part
of education in the
United States.
Elected officials, policymakers, and
educators all use NAEP results to
develop ways to improve education.
NAEP is a congressionally mandated
project administered by the National
Center for Education Statistics, within
the U.S. Department of Education and
the Institute of Education Sciences.
NAEP serves a different role than
state assessments. While states have
their own unique assessments with
different content standards, the same
NAEP assessment is administered
in every state, providing a common
measure of student achievement.
Depending on the type of NAEP
assessment that is administered,
the data can be used to compare
and understand the performance
of demographic groups within your
state, the nation, other states, and
districts that participate in the Trial
Urban District Assessment. NAEP
is not designed to collect or report
results for individual students,
classrooms, or schools.
To provide a better understanding of
educational experiences and factors
that may be related to students’
learning, students and principals
who participate in NAEP are asked to
complete survey questionnaires.

“Informational assessment materials were accessible and
easy to understand. The NAEP representative assigned to
our school was supportive and very knowledgeable about
assessment protocols and what our school needed to do
to be well prepared. On testing day, the NAEP team was
organized and administered the assessment efficiently.”
- Ronda E. George, Assistant Principal, Noe Middle School, Louisville, KY
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally
representative and continuing assessment of what our nation’s students know and
can do in various subjects such as mathematics, reading, science, and writing, as
well as civics, geography, U.S. history, and technology and engineering literacy. The
results of NAEP are released as The Nation’s Report Card.
NAEP is designed to be minimally disruptive to schools, and NAEP representatives
will provide significant support to your school on assessment day. As principals, you
make an important contribution to the program by selecting and empowering a
NAEP school coordinator, meeting with teachers and participating students, and
encouraging your students to participate and do their best. You are essential
partners in NAEP. When students participate and give their best effort, NAEP gets
the most accurate measure possible of student achievement across the country.
In 2018, the NAEP technology and engineering literacy assessments will be
administered on laptops to students at grade 8. There will be two sequential
sessions of students taking this assessment. Results will be released at the national
level. NAEP representatives will bring all necessary materials and equipment to
schools on assessment day. Schools will only need to provide space for students to
take the assessment, desks or tables, and an adequate number of electrical outlets
in the assessment location—schools will not need to provide internet access.

For more information about NAEP, visit
www.nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

It’s important to know...
NAEP was first administered in 1969 to measure student achievement nationally. In 1990, NAEP was administered at the state level
for the first time. Students in grades 4 and 8 are currently assessed at the national and state level in mathematics and reading
every two years and in other subjects in alternating years. In 2002, NAEP began the Trial Urban District Assessment program,
which measures student achievement in some of the nation’s large urban districts. Students and schools are asked to complete a
survey questionnaire in order to provide valuable contextual information about participating students’ educational experiences
and opportunities to learn both in and out of the classroom.
Special studies are also conducted periodically. They are administered as part of NAEP and often involve special data collection
procedures in the field, in-depth analyses of NAEP results, and evaluations of various technical procedures. For more information
about NAEP special studies, visit https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies.
NAEP is considered the gold standard of assessments because of its high technical quality. From the development of
assessment frameworks and questions to the reporting of results, NAEP represents the best thinking of assessment and content
specialists, state education staff, and teachers from around the nation. NAEP is a trusted resource that measures student progress
and helps inform policy decisions that improve education in the United States.
NAEP reports on results for different demographic groups rather than for individual students or schools. Within a school, just
some of the student population participates, and student responses are combined with those from other participating students to
produce the results. Students responses on NAEP are confidential*, and the privacy of each participating school and student is
essential. Names of participating students never leave the school and are not associated with the digital or paper test booklet after
the student takes the assessment.
NAEP uses a carefully designed sampling process. This process ensures that the schools and students selected are
representative of schools and students across the United States. To ensure that the sample represents all students in the nation’s
schools, NAEP allows a broad range of accommodations for students with disabilities and English language learners.
NAEP is designed to cause minimal disruption of classroom instruction. Including transition time, directions, and completion of a
survey questionnaire, it takes approximately 120 minutes for students to complete digital assessments. Teachers do not need to
prepare their students to take the assessment but should encourage them to do their best. NAEP representatives provide
significant support to your school by working with the designated coordinator in your school to organize assessment activities.
NAEP items can be used as a helpful educational resource in the classroom. Teachers and district staff can use the NAEP
Questions Tool at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nqt to see how students’ performance compares nationally on specific
items. Released NAEP items come with a scoring guide, sample student responses, and performance data.
District and school staff can also
view results, depending on the type of assessment, for the nation, states, and selected districts over time;
compare results for various demographic groups; and
access information designed for teachers, students, and parents.
Visit the NAEP website at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard to access this information and more.

*The information each student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle
A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than
employees or agents. By law, every National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP coordinators, has
taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about students. Electronic
submission of student information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance with the Cybersecurity
Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports.
Get NAEP on the go with the NAEP Results mobile app
Download it today on Google Play

Find us on:
20

NAEP 2018

Facts for Principals
Civics

Geography

U.S. History

National Assessment of
Educ ationa l Prog ress

“Informational assessment materials were accessible and
easy to understand. The NAEP representative assigned to
our school was supportive and very knowledgeable about
assessment protocols and what our school needed to do
to be well prepared. On testing day, the NAEP team was
organized and administered the assessment efficiently.”
- Ronda E. George, Assistant Principal, Noe Middle School, Louisville, KY
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally
representative and continuing assessment of what our nation’s students know and
can do in various subjects such as mathematics, reading, science, and writing, as
well as civics, geography, U.S. history, and technology and engineering literacy. The
results of NAEP are released as The Nation’s Report Card.
NAEP is designed to be minimally disruptive to schools, and NAEP representatives
will provide significant support to your school on assessment day. As principals, you
make an important contribution to the program by selecting and empowering a
NAEP school coordinator, meeting with teachers and participating students, and
encouraging your students to participate and do their best. You are essential
partners in NAEP. When students participate and give their best effort, NAEP gets
the most accurate measure possible of student achievement across the country.
In 2018, the NAEP civics, geography, and U.S. history assessments will be
administered on tablets to students at grade 8. A small number of students, in a
session separate from those taking the assessment on tablets, may take paper-andpencil assessments in these subjects. Administering these assessments via both
tablet and paper and pencil will help NAEP evaluate any differences in student
performance between the two types of administration—each student will be
assessed in one format and one subject only. Results will be released at the national
level. NAEP representatives will bring all necessary materials and equipment to
schools on assessment day. Schools will only need to provide space for students to
take the assessment, desks or tables, and an adequate number of electrical outlets
in the assessment location—schools will not need to provide internet access.

For more information about NAEP, visit
www.nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

It’s important to know...
NAEP was first administered in 1969 to measure student achievement nationally. In 1990, NAEP was administered at the state level
for the first time. Students in grades 4 and 8 are currently assessed at the national and state level in mathematics and reading
every two years and in other subjects in alternating years. In 2002, NAEP began the Trial Urban District Assessment program,
which measures student achievement in some of the nation’s large urban districts. Students, teachers, and schools are asked to
complete a survey questionnaire in order to provide valuable contextual information about participating students’ educational
experiences and opportunities to learn both in and out of the classroom.
Special studies are also conducted periodically. They are administered as part of NAEP and often involve special data collection
procedures in the field, in-depth analyses of NAEP results, and evaluations of various technical procedures. For more information
about NAEP special studies, visit https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies.
NAEP is considered the gold standard of assessments because of its high technical quality. From the development of
assessment frameworks and questions to the reporting of results, NAEP represents the best thinking of assessment and content
specialists, state education staff, and teachers from around the nation. NAEP is a trusted resource that measures student progress
and helps inform policy decisions that improve education in the United States.
NAEP reports on results for different demographic groups rather than for individual students or schools. Within a school, just
some of the student population participates, and student responses are combined with those from other participating students to
produce the results. Students responses on NAEP are confidential*, and the privacy of each participating school and student is
essential. Names of participating students never leave the school and are not associated with the digital or paper test booklet after
the student takes the assessment.
NAEP uses a carefully designed sampling process. This process ensures that the schools and students selected are
representative of schools and students across the United States. To ensure that the sample represents all students in the nation’s
schools, NAEP allows a broad range of accommodations for students with disabilities and English language learners.
NAEP is designed to cause minimal disruption of classroom instruction. Including transition time, directions, and completion of a
survey questionnaire, it takes approximately 120 minutes for students to complete digital assessments and up to 90 minutes for
students to complete paper-and-pencil assessments. Teachers do not need to prepare their students to take the assessment but
should encourage them to do their best. NAEP representatives provide significant support to your school by working with the
designated coordinator in your school to organize assessment activities.
NAEP items can be used as a helpful educational resource in the classroom. Teachers and district staff can use the NAEP
Questions Tool at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nqt to see how students’ performance compares nationally on specific
items. Released NAEP items come with a scoring guide, sample student responses, and performance data.
District and school staff can also
view results, depending on the type of assessment, for the nation, states, and selected districts over time;
compare results for various demographic groups; and
access information designed for teachers, students, and parents.
Visit the NAEP website at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard to access this information and more.

*The information each student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A,
Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than
employees or agents. By law, every National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP coordinators, has
taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about students. Electronic
submission of student information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance with the Cybersecurity
Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports.
Get NAEP on the go with the NAEP Results mobile app
Download it today on Google Play

Find us on:
22

NAEP 2018

Facts for Principals
Grade 12

Mathematics

Reading

Science

National Assessment of
Educ ationa l Prog ress

“Informational assessment materials were accessible and
easy to understand. The NAEP representative assigned to
our school was supportive and very knowledgeable about
assessment protocols and what our school needed to do
to be well prepared. On testing day, the NAEP team was
organized and administered the assessment efficiently.”
- Ronda E. George, Assistant Principal, Noe Middle School, Louisville, KY
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally
representative and continuing assessment of what our nation’s students know and
can do in various subjects such as mathematics, reading, science, and writing, as
well as civics, geography, U.S. history, and technology and engineering literacy. The
results of NAEP are released as The Nation’s Report Card.
NAEP is designed to be minimally disruptive to schools, and NAEP representatives
will provide significant support to your school on assessment day. As principals, you
make an important contribution to the program by selecting and empowering a
NAEP school coordinator, meeting with teachers and participating students, and
encouraging your students to participate and do their best. You are essential
partners in NAEP. When students participate and give their best effort, NAEP gets
the most accurate measure possible of student achievement across the country.
In 2018, NAEP will administer mathematics, reading, and science pilot
assessments on tablets at grade 12. Each student will be assessed in only one
subject. Results from these pilot assessments will not be released but will be used to
inform NAEP assessments. Science pilot assessments will include hands-on tasks
where students use materials and laboratory equipment to perform actual science
experiments. NAEP representatives will bring all necessary materials and equipment
to schools on assessment day. Schools will only need to provide space for students
to take the assessment, desks or tables, and an adequate number of electrical
outlets in the assessment location—schools will not need to provide internet access.

For more information about NAEP, visit
www.nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

It’s important to know...
NAEP was first administered in 1969 to measure student achievement nationally. In 1990, NAEP was administered at the state level
for the first time. Students in grades 4 and 8 are currently assessed at the national and state level in mathematics and reading
every two years and in other subjects in alternating years. In 2002, NAEP began the Trial Urban District Assessment program,
which measures student achievement in some of the nation’s large urban districts. Students, teachers, and schools are asked to
complete a survey questionnaire in order to provide valuable contextual information about participating students’ educational
experiences and opportunities to learn both in and out of the classroom.
Special studies are also conducted periodically. They are administered as part of NAEP and often involve special data collection
procedures in the field, in-depth analyses of NAEP results, and evaluations of various technical procedures. For more information
about NAEP special studies, visit https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies.
NAEP is considered the gold standard of assessments because of its high technical quality. From the development of
assessment frameworks and questions to the reporting of results, NAEP represents the best thinking of assessment and content
specialists, state education staff, and teachers from around the nation. NAEP is a trusted resource that measures student progress
and helps inform policy decisions that improve education in the United States.
NAEP reports on results for different demographic groups rather than for individual students or schools. Within a school, just
some of the student population participates, and student responses are combined with those from other participating students to
produce the results. Students responses on NAEP are confidential*, and the privacy of each participating school and student is
essential. Names of participating students never leave the school and are not associated with the digital or paper test booklet after
the student takes the assessment.
NAEP uses a carefully designed sampling process. This process ensures that the schools and students selected are
representative of schools and students across the United States. To ensure that the sample represents all students in the nation’s
schools, NAEP allows a broad range of accommodations for students with disabilities and English language learners.
NAEP is designed to cause minimal disruption of classroom instruction. Including transition time, directions, and completion of a
survey questionnaire, it takes approximately 120 minutes for students to complete digital assessments. Teachers do not need to
prepare their students to take the assessment but should encourage them to do their best. NAEP representatives provide
significant support to your school by working with the designated coordinator in your school to organize assessment activities.
NAEP items can be used as a helpful educational resource in the classroom. Teachers and district staff can use the NAEP
Questions Tool at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nqt to see how students’ performance compares nationally on specific
items. Released NAEP items come with a scoring guide, sample student responses, and performance data.
District and school staff can also
view results, depending on the type of assessment, for the nation, states, and selected districts over time;
compare results for various demographic groups; and
access information designed for teachers, students, and parents.
Visit the NAEP website at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard to access this information and more.

*The information each student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V,
Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone
other than employees or agents. By law, every National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP
coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about
students. Electronic submission of student information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance
with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports.
Get NAEP on the go with the NAEP Results mobile app
Download it today on Google Play

Find us on:
24

NAEP 2018

Facts for Principals
Grade 8

Reading

Science

National Assessment of
Educ ationa l Prog ress

“Informational assessment materials were accessible and
easy to understand. The NAEP representative assigned to
our school was supportive and very knowledgeable about
assessment protocols and what our school needed to do
to be well prepared. On testing day, the NAEP team was
organized and administered the assessment efficiently.”
- Ronda E. George, Assistant Principal, Noe Middle School, Louisville, KY
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally
representative and continuing assessment of what our nation’s students know and
can do in various subjects such as mathematics, reading, science, and writing, as
well as civics, geography, U.S. history, and technology and engineering literacy. The
results of NAEP are released as The Nation’s Report Card.
NAEP is designed to be minimally disruptive to schools, and NAEP representatives
will provide significant support to your school on assessment day. As principals, you
make an important contribution to the program by selecting and empowering a
NAEP school coordinator, meeting with teachers and participating students, and
encouraging your students to participate and do their best. You are essential
partners in NAEP. When students participate and give their best effort, NAEP gets
the most accurate measure possible of student achievement across the country.
In 2018, NAEP will administer reading special studies and science pilot
assessments on tablets at grade 8. Each student will be assessed in only one
subject. Results from these pilot assessments and special studies will not be
released but will be used to inform NAEP assessments. Science pilot assessments
will include hands-on tasks where students use materials and laboratory equipment
to perform actual science experiments. NAEP representatives will bring all
necessary materials and equipment to schools on assessment day. Schools will only
need to provide space for students to take the assessment, desks or tables, and an
adequate number of electrical outlets in the assessment location—schools will not
need to provide internet access.

For more information about NAEP, visit
www.nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

It’s important to know...
NAEP was first administered in 1969 to measure student achievement nationally. In 1990, NAEP was administered at the state level
for the first time. Students in grades 4 and 8 are currently assessed at the national and state level in mathematics and reading
every two years and in other subjects in alternating years. In 2002, NAEP began the Trial Urban District Assessment program,
which measures student achievement in some of the nation’s large urban districts. Students, teachers, and schools are asked to
complete a survey questionnaire in order to provide valuable contextual information about participating students’ educational
experiences and opportunities to learn both in and out of the classroom.
Special studies are also conducted periodically. They are administered as part of NAEP and often involve special data collection
procedures in the field, in-depth analyses of NAEP results, and evaluations of various technical procedures. For more information
about NAEP special studies, visit https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies.
NAEP is considered the gold standard of assessments because of its high technical quality. From the development of
assessment frameworks and questions to the reporting of results, NAEP represents the best thinking of assessment and content
specialists, state education staff, and teachers from around the nation. NAEP is a trusted resource that measures student progress
and helps inform policy decisions that improve education in the United States.
NAEP reports on results for different demographic groups rather than for individual students or schools. Within a school, just
some of the student population participates, and student responses are combined with those from other participating students to
produce the results. Students responses on NAEP are confidential*, and the privacy of each participating school and student is
essential. Names of participating students never leave the school and are not associated with the digital or paper test booklet after
the student takes the assessment.
NAEP uses a carefully designed sampling process. This process ensures that the schools and students selected are
representative of schools and students across the United States. To ensure that the sample represents all students in the nation’s
schools, NAEP allows a broad range of accommodations for students with disabilities and English language learners.
NAEP is designed to cause minimal disruption of classroom instruction. Including transition time, directions, and completion of a
survey questionnaire, it takes approximately 120 minutes for students to complete digital assessments. Teachers do not need to
prepare their students to take the assessment but should encourage them to do their best. NAEP representatives provide
significant support to your school by working with the designated coordinator in your school to organize assessment activities.
NAEP items can be used as a helpful educational resource in the classroom. Teachers and district staff can use the NAEP
Questions Tool at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nqt to see how students’ performance compares nationally on specific
items. Released NAEP items come with a scoring guide, sample student responses, and performance data.
District and school staff can also
view results, depending on the type of assessment, for the nation, states, and selected districts over time;
compare results for various demographic groups; and
access information designed for teachers, students, and parents.
Visit the NAEP website at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard to access this information and more.

*The information each student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V,
Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to
anyone other than employees or agents. By law, every National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors
and NAEP coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable
information about students. Electronic submission of student information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and
contractors in accordance with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical
reports.
Get NAEP on the go with the NAEP Results mobile app
Download it today on Google Play

Find us on:
26

NAEP 2018

Facts for Principals
Grade 4

Reading

Science

National Assessment of
Educ ationa l Prog ress

“Informational assessment materials were accessible and
easy to understand. The NAEP representative assigned to
our school was supportive and very knowledgeable about
assessment protocols and what our school needed to do
to be well prepared. On testing day, the NAEP team was
organized and administered the assessment efficiently.”
- Ronda E. George, Assistant Principal, Noe Middle School, Louisville, KY
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally
representative and continuing assessment of what our nation’s students know and
can do in various subjects such as mathematics, reading, science, and writing, as
well as civics, geography, U.S. history, and technology and engineering literacy. The
results of NAEP are released as The Nation’s Report Card.
NAEP is designed to be minimally disruptive to schools, and NAEP representatives
will provide significant support to your school on assessment day. As principals, you
make an important contribution to the program by selecting and empowering a
NAEP school coordinator, meeting with teachers and participating students, and
encouraging your students to participate and do their best. You are essential
partners in NAEP. When students participate and give their best effort, NAEP gets
the most accurate measure possible of student achievement across the country.
In 2018, NAEP will administer reading special studies and science pilot
assessments on tablets at grade 4. Each student will be assessed in only one
subject. Results from these pilot assessments and special studies will be used to
inform NAEP assessments. Science pilot assessments will include hands-on tasks
where students use materials and laboratory equipment to perform actual science
experiments. NAEP representatives will bring all necessary materials and equipment
to schools on assessment day. Schools will only need to provide space for students
to take the assessment, desks or tables, and an adequate number of electrical
outlets in the assessment location—schools will not need to provide internet access.

For more information about NAEP, visit
www.nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

It’s important to know...
NAEP was first administered in 1969 to measure student achievement nationally. In 1990, NAEP was administered at the state level
for the first time. Students in grades 4 and 8 are currently assessed at the national and state level in mathematics and reading
every two years and in other subjects in alternating years. In 2002, NAEP began the Trial Urban District Assessment program,
which measures student achievement in some of the nation’s large urban districts. Students, teachers, and schools are asked to
complete a survey questionnaire in order to provide valuable contextual information about participating students’ educational
experiences and opportunities to learn both in and out of the classroom.
Special studies are also conducted periodically. They are administered as part of NAEP and often involve special data collection
procedures in the field, in-depth analyses of NAEP results, and evaluations of various technical procedures. For more information
about NAEP special studies, visit https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies.
NAEP is considered the gold standard of assessments because of its high technical quality. From the development of
assessment frameworks and questions to the reporting of results, NAEP represents the best thinking of assessment and content
specialists, state education staff, and teachers from around the nation. NAEP is a trusted resource that measures student progress
and helps inform policy decisions that improve education in the United States.
NAEP reports on results for different demographic groups rather than for individual students or schools. Within a school, just
some of the student population participates, and student responses are combined with those from other participating students to
produce the results. Students responses on NAEP are confidential*, and the privacy of each participating school and student is
essential. Names of participating students never leave the school and are not associated with the digital or paper test booklet after
the student takes the assessment.
NAEP uses a carefully designed sampling process. This process ensures that the schools and students selected are
representative of schools and students across the United States. To ensure that the sample represents all students in the nation’s
schools, NAEP allows a broad range of accommodations for students with disabilities and English language learners.
NAEP is designed to cause minimal disruption of classroom instruction. Including transition time, directions, and completion of a
survey questionnaire, it takes approximately 120 minutes for students to complete digital assessments. Teachers do not need to
prepare their students to take the assessment but should encourage them to do their best. NAEP representatives provide
significant support to your school by working with the designated coordinator in your school to organize assessment activities.
NAEP items can be used as a helpful educational resource in the classroom. Teachers and district staff can use the NAEP
Questions Tool at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nqt to see how students’ performance compares nationally on specific
items. Released NAEP items come with a scoring guide, sample student responses, and performance data.
District and school staff can also
view results, depending on the type of assessment, for the nation, states, and selected districts over time;
compare results for various demographic groups; and
access information designed for teachers, students, and parents.
Visit the NAEP website at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard to access this information and more.

*The information each student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V,
Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone
other than employees or agents. By law, every National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP
coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about
students. Electronic submission of student information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance
with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports.
Get NAEP on the go with the NAEP Results mobile app
Download it today on Google Play

Find us on:
28

Appendix J2-9: NAEP Save-the-Date Letter from NAEP State
Coordinator to School Principal

NAEP 2018 Save-the-Date Letter From
NAEP STATE COORDINATOR TO SCHOOL PRINCIPAL – For All Sampled Schools
Red text should be customized before mail merge; highlighted text represents mail merge fields

Save the date! NAEP is coming on (assessment date).
Dear Principal:
In May, I notified you that your school was selected to participate in the 2018 administration of the
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This letter includes the scheduled assessment date
for your school.
Your school’s grade (4 or 8 or 12) students will take the assessment for about 90 to 120 minutes on
(assessment date). Please place the NAEP assessment date on your 2017-2018 school calendar.
Approximately (estimated student sample) students from your school will be selected to participate, but
that number will vary, depending on actual fall 2017 student enrollment. NAEP representatives will
provide significant support to your school, bring all necessary materials and equipment, and administer
the assessment.
If you have questions or a conflict with the scheduled assessment date, please contact me at (telephone
number) or (email address) by (date). I will send you more information about preparing for the
assessment at the beginning of the school year.
NAEP provides a common measure of student achievement across the country and is used to inform
education policies and practices. Schools and students have an important role in ensuring that NAEP
provides accurate results. Our goal is 100 percent participation in this important assessment, and we know
that we can count on you to help us reach it.
Sincerely,

NAEP State Coordinator
CC:

District Test Coordinator

Enclosure:

NAEP in Your School 2018

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct NAEP by the National Assessment of
Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. §9622) and to collect students’ education records from
education agencies or institutions for the purposes of evaluating federally supported education programs under the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(3)(iii) and 99.35). The information each
student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information
Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student
responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than employees or
agents. By law, every National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) employee as well as every NCES agent, such
as contractors and NAEP coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of
$250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about students. Electronic submission
of student information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and
contractors in accordance with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be
combined across respondents to produce statistical reports.

Appendix J2-10: NAEP in Your School Brochure

NAEP 2018

In Your School
Technology and Engineering Literacy

What is NAEP?
The National Assessment
of Educational Progress
(NAEP) is an essential
measurement of student
achievement in the
United States.
First administered in 1969,

NAEP is the largest continuing
and nationally representative
assessment of what our nation’s
students know and can do
in various subjects such as
mathematics, reading, science,
and writing, as well as civics,
geography, U.S. history, and
technology and engineering
literacy.

National Assessment of
Educ ationa l Prog ress

NAEP will be administered on laptops to a sample of
eighth-grade students in your school between January
29 and March 9, 2018. Students will be assessed in
technology and engineering literacy. This assessment
measures students’ capacity to use, understand, and
evaluate technology, as well as understand technological
principles and strategies.
National results will be reported for grade 8. The results of NAEP
are used by teachers, principals, parents, policymakers, and
researchers to assess students’ progress in various subject areas
and develop ways to improve education in the United States.
What is involved?

The schools and students
participating in NAEP represent
schools and students across the
country.

Students will spend approximately 120 minutes completing the
assessment, including transition time, directions, and completion
of a survey questionnaire. The questionnaire aims to get a better
understanding of students’ educational experiences and
opportunities to learn both inside and outside of the classroom.

NAEP is considered the gold
standard of assessments because
of its high technical quality.
From developing frameworks
and questions to the reporting
of results, NAEP represents the
best thinking of assessment
and content specialists, state
education staff, and teachers from
around the nation.

The school principal will also complete a questionnaire. These
questionnaires are designed to help provide contextual
information for the assessment results, as well as information
about factors that may be related to students’ learning.
Additional information will be collected about how students with
disabilities and English language learners will participate in the
assessment and the accommodations they will receive.

NAEP monitors academic
progress over time and reports on
student achievement nationally.
The results are released as The
Nation’s Report Card.

How many students will be assessed?
Nationally, approximately 16,000 eighth-grade students will be
assessed in technology and engineering literacy.

For more information about NAEP, visit
www.nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

It’s important to know...
Who will be responsible for coordinating and administering NAEP?
Your NAEP State Coordinator, NAEP representatives, and school staff will work together to coordinate and administer the
assessment. A member of your school’s staff will need to be assigned to serve as the school coordinator and be the primary
contact for the assessment. This person should be:
familiar with how students participate in statewide assessments; and
comfortable using a computer to collect and enter student information online.
The NAEP State Coordinator works at your state department of education and will be responsible for:
working with schools to confirm the assessment date;
communicating with principals about the importance of NAEP and student participation;
providing schools with instructions for preparing a list of eighth-grade students and information about notifying parents of
participating students;
providing guidance for including students with disabilities and English language learners; and
responding to questions from the school community throughout the assessment period.
NAEP representatives employed by a U.S. Department of Education contractor to work directly with schools will be
responsible for:
selecting a random sample of students from the school list of eighth-graders;
verifying information that the school coordinator has provided via the MyNAEP website, which will serve as the primary resource
and action center throughout the NAEP assessment process;
working with the school coordinator to finalize assessment logistics;
bringing all assessment materials to the school on the scheduled day; and
conducting the assessment.
Each principal will be responsible for:
assigning a school staff member to serve as school coordinator;
including the NAEP assessment date on the school calendar;
empowering the designated school coordinator to work with the NAEP representative and NAEP State Coordinator to prepare for
the assessment; and
informing school staff and students about NAEP and why student participation is critically important.
The school coordinator will be responsible for:
confirming the scheduled assessment date with the NAEP State Coordinator;
registering for the MyNAEP website and providing information about the school;
overseeing the submission of an electronic list of eighth-grade students;
using the MyNAEP website to prepare for the assessment;
informing parents of the assessment (more information will be provided on how to complete this task);
communicating with the NAEP representative to finalize assessment preparations;
organizing the availability of school space for the assessment, including room(s), desks or tables, and an adequate number of
electrical outlets in the assessment location (the school will not need to provide internet access); and
collaborating with school staff to ensure a high rate of student participation.
Detailed information about the school coordinator’s responsibilities will be sent at the beginning of the school year.
The information each student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle
A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than
employees or agents. By law, every National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP coordinators, has
taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about students. Electronic
submission of student information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance with the Cybersecurity
Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports.
Get NAEP on the go with the NAEP Results mobile app
Download it today on Google Play

Find us on:
33

NAEP 2018

In Your School
Civics

Geography

What is NAEP?
The National Assessment
of Educational Progress
(NAEP) is an essential
measurement of student
achievement in the
United States.
First administered in 1969,

The schools and students
participating in NAEP represent
schools and students across the
country.
NAEP is considered the gold
standard of assessments because
of its high technical quality.
From developing frameworks
and questions to the reporting
of results, NAEP represents the
best thinking of assessment
and content specialists, state
education staff, and teachers from
around the nation.
NAEP monitors academic
progress over time and reports on
student achievement nationally.
The results are released as The
Nation’s Report Card.

U.S. History

National Assessment of
Educ ationa l Prog ress

NAEP will be administered on tablets to a sample of
eighth-grade students in your school between January
29 and March 9, 2018. Students will be assessed in civics,
geography, and U.S. history. A small number of students
may take paper-and-pencil assessments in these
subjects. Administering these assessments via both
tablet and paper and pencil will help NAEP evaluate any
differences in student performance.
National results will be reported. The results of NAEP are used by teachers,
principals, parents, policymakers, and researchers to assess students’
progress in various subject areas and develop ways to improve education in
the United States.

What is involved?
Each student will be assessed in one format and one subject only. It takes
approximately 120 minutes for students to complete digital assessments
and up to 90 minutes for students to complete paper-and-pencil
assessments, including transition time, directions, and completion of a
survey questionnaire. The questionnaire aims to get a better understanding
of students’ educational experiences and opportunities to learn both inside
and outside of the classroom.
The school principal and grade 8 teachers of the subjects being assessed will
also complete a questionnaire. These questionnaires are designed to help
provide contextual information for the assessment results, as well as
information about factors that may be related to students’ learning.
Additional information will be collected about how students with disabilities
and English language learners will participate in the assessment and the
accommodations they will receive.

How many students will be assessed?
Nationally, across tablet and paper-and-pencil formats, approximately 52,000
eighth-grade students will be assessed in civics, geography, and U.S. history.

For more information about NAEP, visit
www.nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

Find us on:
35

NAEP 2018

In Your School
Grade 12

Mathematics

What is NAEP?
The National Assessment
of Educational Progress
(NAEP) is an essential
measurement of student
achievement in the
United States.
First administered in 1969,

Reading

Science

National Assessment of
Educ ationa l Prog ress

NAEP will administer mathematics, reading, and science
pilot assessments on tablets to a sample of twelfthgrade students in your school between January 29 and
March 9, 2018. Science pilot assessments will include
hands-on tasks where students use materials and
laboratory equipment to perform actual science
experiments.
Results from these pilot assessments will not be released but
will be used to inform NAEP assessments.
What is involved?
Each student will be assessed in only one subject. Students will
spend approximately 120 minutes completing the assessment,
including transition time, directions, and completion of a survey
questionnaire. The questionnaire aims to get a better
understanding of students’ educational experiences and
opportunities to learn both inside and outside of the classroom.
The school principal will also complete a questionnaire. These
questionnaires are designed to help provide contextual
information for the assessment results, as well as information
about factors that may be related to students’ learning.
Additional information will be collected about how students with
disabilities and English language learners will participate in the
assessment and the accommodations they will receive.
How many students will be assessed?
Nationally, approximately 34,700 twelfth-grade students will
participate in mathematics, reading, and science pilot
assessments in 2018.

For more information about NAEP, visit
www.nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

It’s important to know...
Who will be responsible for coordinating and administering NAEP?
Your NAEP State Coordinator, NAEP representatives, and school staff will work together to coordinate and administer the
assessment. A member of your school’s staff will need to be assigned to serve as the school coordinator and be the primary
contact for the assessment. This person should be:
familiar with how students participate in statewide assessments; and
comfortable using a computer to collect and enter student information online.
The NAEP State Coordinator works at your state department of education and will be responsible for:
working with schools to confirm the assessment date;
communicating with principals about the importance of NAEP and student participation;
providing schools with instructions for preparing a list of twelfth-grade students and information about notifying parents of
participating students;
providing guidance for including students with disabilities and English language learners; and
responding to questions from the school community throughout the assessment period.
NAEP representatives employed by a U.S. Department of Education contractor to work directly with schools will be
responsible for:
selecting a random sample of students from the school list of twelfth-graders;
verifying information that the school coordinator has provided via the MyNAEP website, which will serve as the primary resource
and action center throughout the NAEP assessment process;
working with the school coordinator to finalize assessment logistics;
bringing all assessment materials, including science materials and laboratory equipment, to the school on the scheduled day; and
conducting the assessment.
Each principal will be responsible for:
assigning a school staff member to serve as school coordinator;
including the NAEP assessment date on the school calendar;
empowering the designated school coordinator to work with the NAEP representative and NAEP State Coordinator to prepare for
the assessment; and
informing school staff and students about NAEP and why student participation is critically important.
The school coordinator will be responsible for:
confirming the scheduled assessment date with the NAEP State Coordinator;
registering for the MyNAEP website and providing information about the school;
overseeing the submission of an electronic list of twelfth-grade students;
using the MyNAEP website to prepare for the assessment;
informing parents of the assessment (more information will be provided on how to complete this task);
communicating with the NAEP representative to finalize assessment preparations;
organizing the availability of school space for the assessment, including room(s), desks or tables, and an adequate number of
electrical outlets in the assessment location (the school will not need to provide internet access); and
collaborating with school staff to ensure a high rate of student participation.
Detailed information about the school coordinator’s responsibilities will be sent at the beginning of the school year.
The information each student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V,
Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone
other than employees or agents. By law, every National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP
coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about
students. Electronic submission of student information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance
with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports.
Get NAEP on the go with the NAEP Results mobile app
Download it today on Google Play

Find us on:
37

NAEP 2018

In Your School
Grade 8

Reading

What is NAEP?
The National Assessment
of Educational Progress
(NAEP) is an essential
measurement of student
achievement in the
United States.
First administered in 1969,

Science

National Assessment of
Educ ationa l Prog ress

NAEP will administer reading special studies and science
pilot assessments on tablets to a sample of eighth-grade
students in your school between January 29 and March
9, 2018. Science pilot assessments will include hands-on
tasks where students use materials and laboratory
equipment to perform actual science experiments.
Results from these pilot assessments and special studies will not
be released but will be used to inform NAEP assessments.
What is involved?
Each student will be assessed in only one subject. Students will
spend approximately 120 minutes completing the assessment,
including transition time, directions, and completion of a survey
questionnaire. The questionnaire aims to get a better
understanding of students’ educational experiences and
opportunities to learn both inside and outside of the classroom.
The school principal and grade 8 teachers of the subjects being
assessed will also complete a questionnaire. These
questionnaires are designed to help provide contextual
information for the assessment results, as well as information
about factors that may be related to students’ learning.
Additional information will be collected about how students with
disabilities and English language learners will participate in the
assessment and the accommodations they will receive.
How many students will be assessed?
Nationally, approximately 18,100 eighth-grade students will
participate in reading and science pilot assessments in 2018.

For more information about NAEP, visit
www.nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

It’s important to know...
Who will be responsible for coordinating and administering NAEP?
Your NAEP State Coordinator, NAEP representatives, and school staff will work together to coordinate and administer the
assessment. A member of your school’s staff will need to be assigned to serve as the school coordinator and be the primary
contact for the assessment. This person should be:
familiar with how students participate in statewide assessments; and
comfortable using a computer to collect and enter student information online.
The NAEP State Coordinator works at your state department of education and will be responsible for:
working with schools to confirm the assessment date;
communicating with principals about the importance of NAEP and student participation;
providing schools with instructions for preparing a list of eighth-grade students and information about notifying parents of
participating students;
providing guidance for including students with disabilities and English language learners; and
responding to questions from the school community throughout the assessment period.
NAEP representatives employed by a U.S. Department of Education contractor to work directly with schools will be
responsible for:
selecting a random sample of students from the school list of eighth-graders;
verifying information that the school coordinator has provided via the MyNAEP website, which will serve as the primary resource
and action center throughout the NAEP assessment process;
working with the school coordinator to finalize assessment logistics;
bringing all assessment materials, including science materials and laboratory equipment, to the school on the scheduled day; and
conducting the assessment.
Each principal will be responsible for:
assigning a school staff member to serve as school coordinator;
including the NAEP assessment date on the school calendar;
empowering the designated school coordinator to work with the NAEP representative and NAEP State Coordinator to prepare for
the assessment; and
informing school staff and students about NAEP and why student participation is critically important.
The school coordinator will be responsible for:
confirming the scheduled assessment date with the NAEP State Coordinator;
registering for the MyNAEP website and providing information about the school;
overseeing the submission of an electronic list of eighth-grade students;
using the MyNAEP website to prepare for the assessment;
informing parents of the assessment (more information will be provided on how to complete this task);
communicating with the NAEP representative to finalize assessment preparations;
organizing the availability of school space for the assessment, including room(s), desks or tables, and an adequate number of
electrical outlets in the assessment location (the school will not need to provide internet access); and
collaborating with school staff to ensure a high rate of student participation.
Detailed information about the school coordinator’s responsibilities will be sent at the beginning of the school year.
The information each student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A,
Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than employees
or agents. By law, every National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP coordinators, has taken an oath and
is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about students. Electronic submission of student
information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The
collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports.
Get NAEP on the go with the NAEP Results mobile app
Download it today on Google Play

Find us on:
39

NAEP 2018

In Your School
Grade 4

Reading

What is NAEP?
The National Assessment
of Educational Progress
(NAEP) is an essential
measurement of student
achievement in the
United States.
First administered in 1969,

Science

National Assessment of
Educ ationa l Prog ress

NAEP will administer reading special studies and science
pilot assessments on tablets to a sample of fourth-grade
students in your school between January 29 and March
9, 2018. Science pilot assessments will include hands-on
tasks where students use materials and laboratory
equipment to perform actual science experiments.
Results from these pilot assessments and special studies will be
used to inform NAEP assessments.
What is involved?
Each student will be assessed in only one subject. Students will
spend approximately 120 minutes completing the assessment,
including transition time, directions, and completion of a survey
questionnaire. The questionnaire aims to get a better
understanding of students’ educational experiences and
opportunities to learn both inside and outside of the classroom.
The school principal and grade 4 teachers of the subjects being
assessed will also complete a questionnaire. These
questionnaires are designed to help provide contextual
information for the assessment results, as well as information
about factors that may be related to students’ learning.
Additional information will be collected about how students with
disabilities and English language learners will participate in the
assessment and the accommodations they will receive.
How many students will be assessed?
Nationally, approximately 20,300 fourth-grade students will
participate in reading and science pilot assessments in 2018.

For more information about NAEP, visit
www.nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

It’s important to know...
Who will be responsible for coordinating and administering NAEP?
Your NAEP State Coordinator, NAEP representatives, and school staff will work together to coordinate and administer the
assessment. A member of your school’s staff will need to be assigned to serve as the school coordinator and be the primary
contact for the assessment. This person should be:
familiar with how students participate in statewide assessments; and
comfortable using a computer to collect and enter student information online.
The NAEP State Coordinator works at your state department of education and will be responsible for:
working with schools to confirm the assessment date;
communicating with principals about the importance of NAEP and student participation;
providing schools with instructions for preparing a list of fourth-grade students and information about notifying parents of
participating students;
providing guidance for including students with disabilities and English language learners; and
responding to questions from the school community throughout the assessment period.
NAEP representatives employed by a U.S. Department of Education contractor to work directly with schools will be
responsible for:
selecting a random sample of students from the school list of fourth-graders;
verifying information that the school coordinator has provided via the MyNAEP website, which will serve as the primary resource
and action center throughout the NAEP assessment process;
working with the school coordinator to finalize assessment logistics;
bringing all assessment materials, including science materials and laboratory equipment, to the school on the scheduled day; and
conducting the assessment.
Each principal will be responsible for:
assigning a school staff member to serve as school coordinator;
including the NAEP assessment date on the school calendar;
empowering the designated school coordinator to work with the NAEP representative and NAEP State Coordinator to prepare for
the assessment; and
informing school staff and students about NAEP and why student participation is critically important.
The school coordinator will be responsible for:
confirming the scheduled assessment date with the NAEP State Coordinator;
registering for the MyNAEP website and providing information about the school;
overseeing the submission of an electronic list of fourth-grade students;
using the MyNAEP website to prepare for the assessment;
informing parents of the assessment (more information will be provided on how to complete this task);
communicating with the NAEP representative to finalize assessment preparations;
organizing the availability of school space for the assessment, including room(s), desks or tables, and an adequate number of
electrical outlets in the assessment location (the school will not need to provide internet access); and
collaborating with school staff to ensure a high rate of student participation.
Detailed information about the school coordinator’s responsibilities will be sent at the beginning of the school year.
The information each student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V,
Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone
other than employees or agents. By law, every National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP
coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about
students. Electronic submission of student information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance
with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports.
Get NAEP on the go with the NAEP Results mobile app
Download it today on Google Play

Find us on:
41

Appendix J2-11: NAEP in Your Private School

NAEP in Your Private School

Technology and Engineering Literacy Assessment

2018
Why assess private schools?
What is NAEP?
The National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP)
is an essential measurement
of student achievement in
the United States.
●●

●●

First administered in
1969, NAEP is the largest
continuing and nationally
representative assessment
of what our nation’s
public and private school
students know and can do
in various subjects.
NAEP is considered
the gold standard of
assessments because
of its high technical
quality. From developing
frameworks and questions
to the reporting of results,
NAEP represents the best
thinking of assessment
and content specialists
and teachers from around
the nation.
The schools and students
participating in NAEP make
an important contribution
by representing other
schools and students
across the country.
NAEP monitors academic
progress over time
and reports on student
achievement nationally.
The results are released as
The Nation’s Report Card.

Private school data are essential for examining the picture of education in the
United States. Private schools represent about 26 percent of schools in the nation
and educate approximately 9 percent of the nation’s students. NAEP has consistently
demonstrated how the performance of students in private schools compares
positively to the performance of students in public schools.
Why participate in NAEP?
Your school has been selected to represent other private schools across the nation.
Your participation is needed to ensure a complete picture of the academic progress
of the nation’s students, and it is vital that all selected students participate. Schools,
students, and teachers who participate in NAEP perform a valuable community
service and enable The Nation’s Report Card to provide a more inclusive picture of
what our nation’s students know and can do in key subject areas.
NAEP has the support of numerous private school organizations, including the
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the National Catholic Educational
Association (NCEA), and the Council for American Private Education (CAPE).
The NAEP 2018 program in your school
From January 29 to March 9, 2018, NAEP will be administered in public and private
schools across the country. Selected students at grade 8 will participate in a
technology and engineering literacy (TEL) assessment administered on a laptop.
First administered in 2014, the TEL assessment measures students’ capacity to use,
understand, and evaluate technology as well as understand technological principles
and strategies. NAEP representatives will bring all materials and equipment,
including laptops, to the school on assessment day. The school’s internet, networks,
or computers will not be needed. Students will spend approximately 120 minutes
completing the assessment, which includes transition time and directions and
completion of a student questionnaire. The questionnaire provides valuable
information about students’ educational experiences and opportunities to learn about
technology and engineering both inside and outside of the classroom.
The school principal will also be asked to complete a questionnaire that will ask
about school characteristics and policies, particularly those relevant to technology
and engineering.
The results of the technology and engineering literacy assessments will be released as
The Nation’s Report Card.

Continued on next page

NAEP in Your Private School Technology and Engineering Literacy Assessment

What are the responsibilities of NAEP representatives?
NAEP representatives work directly with schools and are responsible for

“Private schools have
participated in NAEP
for decades, and the
Council for American
Private Education
(CAPE) supports NAEP
and encourages your
participation.”
Joe McTighe
Executive Director, CAPE

●●

Confirming the assessment date and time with the school
Providing schools with instructions for preparing a list of eligible students from
which a random sample will be selected for participation in the assessment
Providing schools with information about notifying parents of selected students
Providing resources, guidelines, and support to assist the school coordinator in
completing activities and finalizing assessment arrangements
Bringing all assessment materials and equipment, including laptops, to the school
on assessment day

●●

Conducting the assessments

●●

Responding to questions from the school throughout the assessment period

What are the responsibilities of the principal and school coordinator?
The principal is responsible for

For more information
about NAEP visit:
●●

●●

Program overview
http://nces.ed.gov/
nationsreportcard
Private school participation
http://nces.ed.gov/
nationsreportcard/about/
nonpublicschools.asp
TEL assessment
http://nces.ed.gov/
nationsreportcard/tel

●●

Including the NAEP assessment date on the school calendar
Designating a school coordinator to work with NAEP representatives and to
prepare for the assessment

●●

Informing school staff about NAEP and why participation is critically important

●●

Completing the school questionnaire

The school coordinator is responsible for
●●

Confirming that the suggested assessment date works with the school calendar

●●

Securing space for the assessment to take place

●●

Providing a list of eligible students from which a random sample will be selected for
participation in the assessment (student names will always be kept confidential) *
Informing parents about the assessment
Completing preassessment activities with guidance and support from
NAEP representatives
Ensuring that students attend the session on the assessment date

*The information each student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential
Information Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student
responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than employees or
agents. By law, every National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) employee as well as every NCES agent, such as
contractors and NAEP coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000,
or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about students. Electronic submission of student
information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in
accordance with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across
respondents to produce statistical reports.

Find us on:

49013.0517

Get NAEP on the go with the NAEP Results mobile app!

NAEP in Your Private School
Civics, Geography, U.S. History

2018
Why assess private schools?
What is NAEP?
The National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP)
is an essential measurement
of student achievement in
the United States.
●●

●●

Private school data are essential for examining the picture of education in the
United States. Private schools represent about 26 percent of schools in the nation
and educate approximately 9 percent of the nation’s students. NAEP has consistently
demonstrated how the performance of students in private schools compares
positively to the performance of students in public schools.
Why participate in NAEP?
Your school has been selected to represent other private schools across the nation.
Your participation is needed to ensure a complete picture of the academic progress
of the nation’s students, and it is vital that all selected students participate. Schools,
students, and teachers who participate in NAEP perform a valuable community
service and enable The Nation’s Report Card to provide a more inclusive picture of
what our nation’s students know and can do in key subject areas.
NAEP has the support of numerous private school organizations, including the
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the National Catholic Educational
Association (NCEA), and the Council for American Private Education (CAPE).
The NAEP 2018 program in your school
From January 29 to March 9, 2018, NAEP will be administered in public and private
schools across the country. Selected students at grade 8 will participate in digitally
based assessments in civics, geography, and U.S. history conducted on tablets. A small
number of students may take paper and pencil assessments. NAEP is administering
these assessments via both tablets and paper booklets to evaluate any differences
in student performance between the two types of administration. Each student will
be assessed in only one subject and in one type of assessment administration. NAEP
representatives will bring all materials and equipment, including tablets, to the school
on assessment day. The school’s internet, networks, or computers will not be needed.
Students will spend approximately 120 minutes completing the assessment, which
includes transition time and directions and completion of a student questionnaire.
The questionnaire provides valuable information about students’ educational
experiences and opportunities to learn both inside and outside of the classroom.
The school principal and the grade 8 teachers of the subjects being assessed will also
be asked to complete a questionnaire. NAEP collects information from schools and
teachers to provide a more complete understanding of the results. Topics such as
classroom experience, teacher training, and school policies can be valuable information
for education stakeholders who need to gain a better picture of student performance.
The results of the civics, geography, and U.S. history assessments will be released as
The Nation’s Report Card.
Continued on next page

NAEP in Your Private School Civics, Geography, U.S. History

What are the responsibilities of NAEP representatives?
NAEP representatives work directly with schools and are responsible for

●●

Conducting the assessments

●●

Responding to questions from the school throughout the assessment period

What are the responsibilities of the principal and school coordinator?
The principal is responsible for

For more information
about NAEP visit:
●●

●●

Program overview
http://nces.ed.gov/
nationsreportcard
Private school participation
http://nces.ed.gov/
nationsreportcard/about/
nonpublicschools.asp

●●

Including the NAEP assessment date on the school calendar
Designating a school coordinator to work with NAEP representatives and to
prepare for the assessment

●●

Informing school staff about NAEP and why participation is critically important

●●

Completing the school questionnaire

The school coordinator is responsible for
●●

Confirming that the suggested assessment date works with the school calendar

●●

Securing space for the assessment to take place

●●

Supporting teachers’ access to the teacher questionnaires

●●

Providing a list of eligible students from which a random sample will be selected for
participation in the assessment (student names will always be kept confidential)*
Informing parents about the assessment
Completing preassessment activities with guidance and support from
NAEP representatives
Ensuring that students attend the session on the assessment date

*The information each student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the
Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable
Federal laws, student responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to
anyone other than employees or agents. By law, every National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP coordinators, has taken an oath and is
subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY
identifiable information about students. Electronic submission of student information will be monitored for
viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance with the
Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents to
produce statistical reports.

Find us on:

49013.0517

Get NAEP on the go with the NAEP Results mobile app!

Appendix J2-12: NAEP Assessment Details Letter from NAEP
State Coordinator to Principal

Early Fall NAEP 2018 Assessment Details Letter
NAEP STATE COORDINATOR TO PRINCIPALS
Red text should be customized before mail merge, highlighted text represents mail merge fields.
Dear principal name:
At the end of the school year, I notified school name of its selection to participate in the National
Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). I am following up with you to provide additional
information about the upcoming assessment.
To prepare for the assessment, please:


Place the NAEP assessment date, assessment date, on your school calendar.



Review the enclosed School Coordinator Responsibilities: A Guide to MyNAEP and designate a
school coordinator to serve as the liaison for all NAEP activities in your school. Give the enclosed
NAEP folder to your designated school coordinator. The school coordinator should
 know how to collect student information, such as birth dates, demographic information,
and if any students have withdrawn;
 be comfortable using a computer, since all assessment preparation activities will be
completed online; and
 be familiar with how students participate in statewide assessments.

A NAEP representative responsible for administering the assessment will contact your school coordinator
in early December. During the assessment, we would appreciate the presence of a school staff person as
an observer in each session. A staff member’s presence can have a positive impact on students’
motivation and performance.
This paragraph should only be included for NTPS-NAEP pilot study schools. In addition to NAEP, your
school has also been selected to participate in the National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS)-NAEP
pilot study. NTPS is a system of related questionnaires that provide descriptive data on the context of
elementary and secondary education. The study is designed to explore the feasibility of administering
both NAEP and NTPS questionnaires to a common set of teachers and schools and ultimately enhance the
utility of both NAEP and NTPS. The study involves school, principal, and teacher questionnaires; no
student or instructional time is required. More information is available in the attached fact sheet.
Again, I would like to express my appreciation for your assistance with this very important assessment of
our nation’s students. Our chief state school officer, name, supports NAEP and encourages your students’
participation.
I look forward to collaborating with you and your school coordinator to ensure the successful
administration of NAEP 2018. If you would like to access the MyNAEP site (www.mynaep.com), please
register with this ID number: MyNAEP Registration ID. MyNAEP is a protected site, so you will create
your own password. Should you have questions, please contact me at telephone number or email address.
Sincerely,

NAEP State Coordinator

Enclosures:

NAEP folder for your school coordinator, including the following:
Letter to your school coordinator
School Coordinator Responsibilities: A Guide to MyNAEP
MyNAEP Registration Instructions
Student List Submission Instructions
Parent/Guardian Notification Letter
National Teacher and Principal Survey Fact Sheet

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct NAEP by the National Assessment of
Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. §9622) and to collect students’ education records from
education agencies or institutions for the purposes of evaluating federally supported education programs under the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(3)(iii) and 99.35). The information each
student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information
Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws,
student responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than
employees or agents. By law, every NCES employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP
coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she
willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about students.. Electronic submission of student information will be
monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance with the
Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce
statistical reports.

Appendix J2-13: NAEP Assessment Details Letter from NAEP
State Coordinator to School Coordinator

Early Fall NAEP 2018 Assessment Details Letter
NAEP STATE COORDINATOR TO SCHOOL COORDINATOR
Red text should be customized before mail merge, highlighted text represents mail merge fields.
Dear School Coordinator:
Welcome to the 2018 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). I look forward to working
with you to coordinate NAEP in your school. A sample of your grade grade students will be taking
assessment subjects assessments on assessment date.
As the school coordinator, you will have a number of responsibilities critical to making NAEP a success.
The MyNAEP website is designed to assist you with these responsibilities. The timeline below indicates
when you will need to complete specific MyNAEP sections.


August-September – Register at www.mynaep.com with the following registration ID: MyNAEP
Registration ID. Answer the questions in the Provide School Information section by date. For
instructions, see the enclosed School Coordinator Responsibilities: A Guide to MyNAEP.



October-November – Prepare and submit a list of all grade grade students electronically in the
Submit Student List section by date. Please see the enclosed Student List Submission Instructions.



December-January – An assigned NAEP representative who is responsible for administering the
assessment will contact you in early December. At that time, you will log onto the MyNAEP site with
the representative and discuss how to complete the Prepare for Assessment section. Major tasks are
highlighted below.
o

Provide information about students with disabilities and English language learners (SD/ELL)
so that assessment administrators can plan appropriate testing accommodations. You can
request MyNAEP access for your school’s SD/ELL specialists on the Complete SD/ELL
Student Information page so that they can assist with this task.

Notify parents/guardians that their children have been selected for the assessment. A sample
parent/guardian notification letter is enclosed and will be available on the MyNAEP website
for you to customize and print on your school letterhead.

Schedule assessment sessions and reserve space at your school. The NAEP team will be
transporting heavy cases of tablets; please select assessment locations that are on the first
floor or accessible by elevator.

Update the student list to add any new students who have enrolled since the fall. NAEP will
draw a random sample from this group to ensure that all students have an opportunity to be
selected for NAEP.



One week before the assessment – Visit the Support Assessment Activities section to print student
appointment cards and notify teachers in advance so they know when to release students.



May 1 – Confirm that all confidential hardcopy NAEP materials have been shredded.

During the assessment, we would appreciate the presence of a school staff person as an observer in each
session. A staff member’s presence can have a positive impact on students’ motivation and performance.

More information about your responsibilities is provided in the enclosed Guide to MyNAEP. Additional
information about NAEP can be found at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and effort in helping to coordinate this important assessment.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at telephone number or email address.

Sincerely,

NAEP State Coordinator

Enclosures:

NAEP folder, including the following:
School Coordinator Responsibilities: A Guide to MyNAEP
Student List Submission Instructions
Parent/Guardian Notification Letter

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct NAEP by the National Assessment of
Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. §9622) and to collect students’ education records from
education agencies or institutions for the purposes of evaluating federally supported education programs under the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(3)(iii) and 99.35). The information each
student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information
Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student
responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than employees or
agents. By law, every National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) employee as well as every NCES agent, such
as contractors and NAEP coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of
$250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about students. Electronic submission
of student information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and
contractors in accordance with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be
combined across respondents to produce statistical reports.

Appendix J2-14: School Coordinator Responsibilities: A Guide to
MyNAEP

School Coordinator Responsibilities
A Guide to MyNAEP

2018
The MyNAEP website
provides participating
schools with a
convenient way to
prepare for the
upcoming National
Assessment of
Educational Progress
(NAEP).
■■

■■

MyNAEP will serve
as your primary
resource and action
center throughout
the assessment
process.
MyNAEP offers
school coordinators
an electronic way
to prepare for the
assessment at their
own pace.
The MyNAEP menu
is a virtual checklist
of all activities that
school coordinators
need to complete
throughout the
school year. It is
important to check
in regularly to make
sure your school
is on track with
preparations.

Each school participating in NAEP 2018 has a designated staff member to serve as
the NAEP school coordinator. You have been selected to serve as coordinator and
liaison for all NAEP assessment activities in your school. Thank you in advance for
helping to prepare for this important assessment!
MyNAEP Activity Timeline
Register for
MyNAEP

Provide
School
Information

Submit
Student List

Now

August –
September

Prepare for
Assessment

Support
Assessment
Activities

Wrap Up

October –
November

December –
January

One week
before the
assessment

May 1

(if requested)

In the fall, you will need to complete the following activities:
Register for the MyNAEP website.
MyNAEP provides you with all of the information your school needs to participate in NAEP,
including information about what to expect at each stage. Multiple school staff members may
register to access the site, but only school coordinators and principals will have full access.
Register at www.mynaep.com by entering your school’s assigned registration ID. For detailed
instructions on how to register, see page 3.

Complete and submit school information.
Go to the Provide School Information section to enter and submit your school’s contact and
characteristic information, including your school’s name, address, and the number of students
enrolled in the selected grade. Providing up-to-date information about your school ensures that
materials can be accurately prepared for the assessment.
Continued on page 2

Visit the MyNAEP
website to get started:
www.mynaep.com.

For more information about NAEP, visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard

Find us on:

Prepare and submit a list of your
school’s students in the selected
grade level (if requested).
NAEP requires a complete list of students in the
selected grade. NAEP uses the list to draw a random
sample of students who will participate in the
assessment and to collect demographic information.
The Submit Student List section will appear for
schools that need to prepare and upload this list
in the fall. Student names will always be kept
confidential,* and individual student responses and
scores on NAEP are never reported.
In December, the NAEP representative responsible
for administering NAEP in your school will
contact you and discuss how to complete the
following tasks listed under the Prepare for
Assessment menu:

Review student information and
prepare for the assessment of
students with disabilities and English
language learners (SD/ELL).
Visit the Review and Verify List of Students
Selected for NAEP section to review the student
sample and identify any students who cannot take the
assessment. You will also need to review demographic
information and provide updates in case any
information is missing or inaccurate. To ensure that
NAEP reflects the educational progress of all students,
you will need to submit information in the Complete
SD/ELL Student Information section about how
SD/ELL students will participate in the assessment
and the accommodations they will receive.

Inform parents/guardians of student
participation.
By law, parents/guardians of students selected to
participate in NAEP must be notified in writing of
their child’s selection prior to the administration of
the assessment. An electronic copy of the Parent/
Guardian Notification Letter is available in the Notify
Parents section to download, print, and distribute.

Manage the completion of
questionnaires by school staff.

Plan assessment day logistics.
Assessment day details, including the location(s) and
start time of the assessment, and how students and
teachers will be notified, need to be entered via the
Plan for Assessment Day section.

Promote the importance of NAEP
with school staff and students.
Teachers are essential for motivating students to do
their best on NAEP. Students selected to take NAEP
represent thousands of students across the country,
so it is vital that they participate and do their best.
Online resources, short videos, and strategies for
promoting NAEP are all available in the Encourage
Participation section.

Update the student list to reflect
January 2018 enrollment.
All eligible students must have an opportunity to be
selected. In January, visit the Update Student List
section and upload an Excel file of students currently
enrolled in the selected grade or add new students
to the original list submitted in the fall. NAEP may
draw a random sample of newly identified students to
select students who were not on the original list.
On the assessment date, you will meet your NAEP
representative and assessment team and be
responsible for the following:

Ensure that students attend
the session.
Prior to the assessment start time, you need to
be available to ensure that students attend the
sessions. Appointment cards can be created and
printed from the Support Assessment Activities
section. You and the teachers of selected students
are encouraged to remain in the room during the
assessment. If attendance of sampled students
is less than 90 percent, a makeup session will
be necessary, and the NAEP representative will
schedule another date to administer the assessment
to the students who were absent. After the
assessment, please safeguard all NAEP materials
until May 1 and confirm that all materials have
been shredded.

You are responsible for managing the completion
of online survey questionnaires designed to provide
contextual information for the assessment results.
You can assign, email, and monitor questionnaires
for completion through the Manage Questionnaires
section of MyNAEP.

How to Register and Access MyNAEP

Go to www.mynaep.com. On the right side of the screen, select Please register.

Enter the MyNAEP registration ID included in the letter or email sent by your NAEP
representative and select Continue. If you cannot locate your registration ID, contact your
NAEP representative or the NAEP help desk at 800-283-6237 or [email protected].
Multiple school staff can use the registration ID to register for the website. For detailed
instructions, select Registration Help.

Complete the registration form and create a password to access MyNAEP. MyNAEP is a secure
website that contains confidential* information, so all users will be prompted to accept a
confidentiality agreement. A username will be automatically generated and emailed to you.
Links are available on the login page in case you forget your username or password.

MyNAEP Resources
The diagram below identifies key features that will
help you update information easily throughout the
school year.
1 The Help and Contact Us links put you in touch
with video tutorials, live help, contact information
for NAEP staff, and more.
2 Your school’s selected grade(s) and

scheduled assessment date are shown in the
blue banner.

3 Use the Provide School Information section
to confirm your school’s address, contact
information, and other characteristics.
4 Check marks indicate sections that are already

complete, and the color changes from white to green
when NAEP staff confirm the information in January.

The Prepare for Assessment menu has seven key
tasks for the weeks leading up to the assessment. These
tasks will become available starting in December.

3
4
5

Online Resources

Information for selected schools

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/schools.aspx

Introducing NAEP to Teachers video

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/videos/teachervideo

Introducing NAEP to Students video

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/videos/naepstudent.aspx

What Every Parent Should Know
About NAEP video

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/videos/parentvideo

Sample Questions booklets

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/booklets.aspx

NAEP Questions Tool

http://nces.ed.gov/NationsReportCard/nqt

Information for parents

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents

Assessment frameworks

http://nagb.org/publications/frameworks.html

*The information each student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection
provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, student responses will be kept confidential and will not be
disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than employees or agents. By law, every National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) employee as
well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of
$250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about students. Electronic submission of student information will be
monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of
2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports.
57
49070.0317

Appendix J2-17: NAEP Sample Parent Letter

NAEP 2018 PARENT/GUARDIAN NOTIFICATION LETTER
Technology and engineering literacy assessment
(School Letterhead)
(Insert Date Here)
Dear Parent or Guardian:
(School name) will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on (date).
NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can
do in various subjects. It is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S.
Department of Education. NAEP is different from our state assessment because it provides a common
measure of student achievement across the country. The results are released as The Nation's Report Card,
which provides information about student achievement to educators, parents, policymakers, and the
public.
Your child (will/might) take the technology and engineering literacy assessment, which will be
administered on laptops provided by NAEP. The assessment will measure students’ capacity to use,
understand, and evaluate technology as well as to understand technological principles and strategies
needed to develop solutions and achieve goals. Students will complete problem-solving tasks based on
scenarios reflecting realistic situations, as well as multiple-choice and short-answer questions. In addition
to subject area questions, NAEP survey questionnaires are voluntarily completed by students. The
questionnaires provide valuable information about participating students’ educational experiences and
opportunities to learn both in and out of the classroom. More information is available at
https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents under the section “What Questions Does NAEP Ask?”
The assessment takes about 120 minutes for most students. The results are completely confidential (in
accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law
107-347).
The information collected is used for statistical purposes only.
 Your child’s grades will not be affected.
 Students may be excused for any reason, are not required to complete the assessment, and may
skip any question.
 While the assessment is voluntary, NAEP depends on student participation to help policymakers
improve education. However, if you do not want your child to participate, please notify me in
writing by (date).
There is no need to study in preparation for NAEP, but please encourage your child to do their best. A
brochure that explains what participation in NAEP means for you and your child is available at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/parents/2012469.pdf. Contact (name) at (telephone number) or at
(email address) if you have any questions.
We are excited that our school is participating in NAEP. We know that (school name)'s students will
show what our nation’s students know and can do.
Sincerely,

School Principal

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct NAEP by the National Assessment of
Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. §9622) and to collect students’ education records from
education agencies or institutions for the purposes of evaluating federally supported education programs under the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(3)(iii) and 99.35). The information your
child provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information
Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, your
child’s responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than
employees or agents. By law, every NCES employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP
coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she
willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about your child. Electronic submission of your child's information
will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance
with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents
to produce statistical reports.

NAEP 2018 PARENT/GUARDIAN NOTIFICATION LETTER
Civics, geography, and U.S. history assessments
(School Letterhead)
(Insert Date Here)
Dear Parent or Guardian:
(School name) will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on (date).
NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can
do in various subjects. It is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S.
Department of Education. NAEP is different from our state assessment because it provides a common
measure of student achievement across the country. The results are released as The Nation's Report Card,
which provides information about student achievement to educators, parents, policymakers, and the
public.
Your child (will/might) take an assessment in one of the following subjects: civics, geography, or U.S.
history. In addition to subject area questions, NAEP survey questionnaires are voluntarily completed by
students. The questionnaires provide valuable information about participating students’ educational
experiences and opportunities to learn both in and out of the classroom. More information is available at
https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents under the section “What Questions Does NAEP Ask?”
The assessment takes about 90 to 120 minutes for most students. The results are completely confidential
(in accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law
107-347).
The information collected is used for statistical purposes only.
 Your child’s grades will not be affected.
 Students may be excused for any reason, are not required to complete the assessment, and may
skip any question.
 While the assessment is voluntary, NAEP depends on student participation to help policymakers
improve education. However, if you do not want your child to participate, please notify me in
writing by (date).
There is no need to study in preparation for NAEP, but please encourage your child to do their best. A
brochure that explains what participation in NAEP means for you and your child is available at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/parents/2012469.pdf. Contact (name) at (telephone number) or at
(email address) if you have any questions.
We are excited that our school is participating in NAEP. We know that (school name)'s students will
show what our nation’s students know and can do.
Sincerely,

School Principal

child provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information
Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, your
child’s responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than
employees or agents. By law, every NCES employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP
coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she
willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about your child. Electronic submission of your child's information
will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance
with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents
to produce statistical reports.

NAEP 2018 PARENT/GUARDIAN NOTIFICATION LETTER
Mathematics, reading, and science assessments
(School Letterhead)
(Insert Date Here)
Dear Parent or Guardian:
(School name) will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on (date).
NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can
do in various subjects. It is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S.
Department of Education. NAEP is different from our state assessment because it provides a common
measure of student achievement across the country. The results are released as The Nation's Report Card,
which provides information about student achievement to educators, parents, policymakers, and the
public.
Your child (will/might) take an assessment in one of the following subjects: mathematics, reading, or
science. In addition to subject area questions, NAEP survey questionnaires are voluntarily completed by
students. The questionnaires provide valuable information about participating students’ educational
experiences and opportunities to learn both in and out of the classroom. More information is available at
https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents under the section “What Questions Does NAEP Ask?”
The assessment takes about 120 minutes for most students. The results are completely confidential (in
accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law
107-347).
The information collected is used for statistical purposes only.
 Your child’s grades will not be affected.
 Students may be excused for any reason, are not required to complete the assessment, and may
skip any question.
 While the assessment is voluntary, NAEP depends on student participation to help policymakers
improve education. However, if you do not want your child to participate, please notify me in
writing by (date).
There is no need to study in preparation for NAEP, but please encourage your child to do their best. A
brochure that explains what participation in NAEP means for you and your child is available at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/parents/2012469.pdf. Contact (name) at (telephone number) or at
(email address) if you have any questions.
We are excited that our school is participating in NAEP. We know that (school name)'s students will
show what our nation’s students know and can do.
Sincerely,

School Principal
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct NAEP by the National Assessment of
Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. §9622) and to collect students’ education records from
education agencies or institutions for the purposes of evaluating federally supported education programs under the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(3)(iii) and 99.35). The information your
child provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information

Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws, your
child’s responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than
employees or agents. By law, every NCES employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP
coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she
willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about your child. Electronic submission of your child's information
will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance
with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents
to produce statistical reports.

Appendix J2-23: Initial Recruitment Private School Letter

NAEP 2018 Initial Contact Letter from NAEP Representative to Private School
Red text should be customized
[Date]
[Administrator Name]
[School Name]
[Address]
[City], [State] [Zip]
Dear [Head Administrator]:
[School name] has been selected to represent private schools across our nation by participating in the
2018 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This year, your grade 8 students will have
the opportunity to participate in (digitally based assessments administered on tablets in civics,
geography, and U.S. history. A small number of students may take paper and pencil assessments in
civics, geography, or U.S. history. NAEP is administering these assessments via both tablets and
paper booklets to evaluate any differences in student performance between the two types of
administration. Each student will be assessed in only one subject and in one type of administration.)
OR (an innovative technology and engineering literacy (TEL) assessment administered on laptops).
The 2018 NAEP assessment window is January 29 through March 9, 2018. We will work with you to
arrange a date within the assessment window that is convenient for your schedule. NAEP representatives
will provide significant support to schools, bring all necessary materials and equipment (including
tablets OR laptops) and administer the assessment. The school’s internet, networks, or computers will
not be needed.
Your school’s participation is vitally important to ensure that the performance of private school students
is accurately reported. Historically, NAEP data have shown, across subjects and over time, that the
performance of private school students compares favorably with that of public school students. You can
demonstrate leadership in civic responsibility by participating and encouraging your teachers and students
to support NAEP. By participating in NAEP your students will set a positive example for their peers by
practicing good citizenship and contributing to data that serve to improve and strengthen the educational
options for our nation’s youth.
OPTIONAL: INSERT SCHOOL PERSONALIZATION PARAGRAPH AS APPROPRIATE
NAEP is regarded as the gold standard of assessments because of its high technical quality. NAEP
representatives, who submit fingerprints for an FBI clearance and sign an oath of confidentiality, bring all
materials and equipment for the assessment and conduct the sessions. Principals appoint a school staff
member as school coordinator who works with the NAEP representative to complete the logistical and
clerical tasks associated with participation.
OPTIONAL: INSERT ENDORSEMENT PERSONALIZATION PARAGRAPH/SENTENCE AS
APPROPRIATE
I thank you for considering participation and look forward to working with you and your staff. I will
contact you soon to review the enclosed materials and answer any questions that you may have. In the
interim, you may wish to select a school staff member to serve as the school coordinator to assist with
coordinating assessment details. Additional information about NAEP is available at
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard, including sample questions, previous results, and other publications.
For specific information for private schools, including a short 4-minute video in which heads of schools
and teachers discuss their experiences with NAEP, see
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/nonpublicschools.asp.

If you have questions, please contact me at [XXX-XXX-XXXX] or [[email protected]].
Sincerely,
NAEP Representative
Telephone number
Email address
cc: Principal [IF THE ORIGINAL IS ADDRESSED TO A HEADMASTER]

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct NAEP by the National Assessment of
Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. §9622) and to collect students’ education records from
education agencies or institutions for the purposes of evaluating federally supported education programs under the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(3)(iii) and 99.35). The information each
student provides will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information
Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347 and other applicable Federal laws,
student responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form to anyone other than
employees or agents. By law, every NCES employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP
coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she
willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about students.. Electronic submission of student information will be
monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance with the
Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce
statistical reports.

Enclosures:

NAEP in Your Private School
Measure Up for Private Schools
An Introduction to NAEP for Private Schools [optional]
NAEP 2014 Results brochures (TEL or social studies) [optional]

Appendix J2-24: NAEP to Diocese Superintendent Letter

NAEP 2018 Sample Letter from NCEA to Diocese Superintendent-Red text should be customized
Spring 2017
Dear Superintendent:
I am pleased to inform you that (number) schools in your diocese have been selected for the 2018 National Assessment
of Educational Progress (NAEP). First administered in 1969, NAEP is the largest nationally representative assessment of
what students in public and private schools across the country know and can do in core subjects. Teachers, principals,
parents, policymakers, and researchers all use NAEP results to assess student progress and develop ways to improve
education in the United States. Once more, NAEP results consistently show that the performance of students both in
private schools overall and in Catholic schools compares positively to students in public schools.
Private schools account for approximately 26 percent of all schools in the nation and educate approximately 9 percent of
all students. About 40 percent of all private school students are educated in Catholic schools. Therefore, it is important
that all selected schools participate to provide an accurate and fair representation of the performance of private school
students. Catholic schools have achieved excellent participation in NAEP for many years.
From January 29 through March 9, 2018, NAEP representatives will administer digitally based assessments on tablets to
grade 8 students in civics, geography, and U.S. history. Some students will take paper and pencil versions of the civics,
geography and U.S. history assessments to evaluate any differences in student performance between the two types of
administration. In addition, grade 8 schools and students may also be selected to participate in the innovative technology
and engineering literacy (TEL) assessment administered on laptops. Individual students will be assessed in only one
subject and via one type of administration. All materials and equipment, including tablets and laptops, will be provided
by NAEP representatives. National results, will be released as The Nation's Report Card. Assuming reporting standards
are met, results will also be reported for Catholic and other private schools.
As in the past, NAEP is identifying schools in the sample in May so that principals can place the NAEP assessment on
their 2017-2018 school calendars. The list of sampled schools in your diocese is attached. A NAEP representative will be
contacting you soon to answer any questions you may have and discuss contacting individual schools. You may choose
to designate a diocese-level NAEP coordinator for these schools. If you do so, NAEP representatives will ask you for the
name and contact information of your coordinator and will discuss with that coordinator the protocol for contacting
selected schools.
Please visit the NAEP website at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard for complete information about NAEP, including
sample questions and previous results. For information specifically for private schools, visit
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/nonpublicschools.asp.
I strongly urge you to contact and encourage the selected schools in your diocese to participate in the NAEP 2018
assessment. Your leadership will most certainly have a positive impact on school participation. Our goal is 100 percent
participation, and I am counting on you to help us reach that goal!
I have designated Sr. Dale McDonald, NCEA's Director of Public Policy and Educational Research, as our NAEP
representative. If you have questions or concerns about participating in NAEP, please contact her at 571-257-0010 or
[email protected].
Sincerely,

Thomas Burnford, D.Min., NCEA President
Attachment: List of Sampled Schools

NAEP 2018 Sample Letter from NCEA to Diocese Superintendent-Red text should be customized

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct NAEP by the National Assessment of Educational
Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. §9622) and to collect students’ education records from education agencies or
institutions for the purposes of evaluating federally supported education programs under the Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA, 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(3)(iii) and 99.35). The information each student provides will be used for statistical
purposes only. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107347 and other applicable Federal laws, student responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable
form to anyone other than employees or agents. By law, every NCES employee as well as every NCES agent, such as
contractors and NAEP coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both
if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about students.. Electronic submission of student information will
be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance with the
Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical
reports.

File Type	application/pdf
Author	Molin, Ed C
File Modified	2017-04-27
File Created	2017-04-25