Systems Accountability
Student Assessment
Hawaiian Aligned
Portfolio Assessment
Hawaii State Alternate
Assessment
Hawaii State Assessment
National Assessment of
Educational Progress
Quarterly Assessments
Algebra II Exam
System Evaluation and
Reporting
System Planning and
Improvement

Related
Accountability Reports
AlohaHSA
EviTrac
Hawaii Quarterly Assessments
NAEP Hawaii Profile
Standards
TIDE
Title I Compliance Agreement

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

Overview of the NAEP
Robert Hillier
NAEP state coordinator for Hawaii
robert_hillier@notes.k12.hi.us
(808) 733-4100, ext.232

The National Assessment of Educational Progress or NAEP is a federal assessment of students in grades 4, 8, and 12. It runs in two-year cycles. During odd years such as 2008-09, NAEP tests three subjects and provides results for every state for grades 4 and 8. It also provides national results for grades 4, 8, and 12. During even years, NAEP often assesses social studies subjects and/or arts for national results. It also sustains an older version of NAEP called the Long-Term Trend Study. It also conducts pilot testing and field testing during even years. NAEP calls the years in which there are state results "big NAEP" and the years when there are only national results "small NAEP." The table at the end of this overview indicates the subjects by year.1

NAEP tests a sample of students rather than all students. NAEP statisticians randomly choose about 3,000 students for each NAEP subject in a grade level for each state during the "big NAEP" years. For example, if three subjects are tested, NAEP statisticians randomly choose about 9,000 grade 4 students and about 9,000 grade 8 students. For Hawaii, this means that every public and public charter school with grade 8 students will get chosen to participate during "big NAEP" years. About 70% of Hawaii's elementary schools get chosen. Additionally, if a school's grade 4 enrollment exceeds 1% of the state's grade 4 enrollment, that school will be chosen each "big NAEP" year. During even years, NAEP chooses fewer than twenty public and public charter schools, because fewer students are needed for national-only results.

Hawaii is one of eighteen states to have participated in every NAEP assessment since 1990. The NAEP results confirm some important gains. In 2007, Hawaii was the only state to show significant gains in all the subjects tested and at both grade levels. Hawaii's gains have been especially strong in grade 4 mathematics and grade 4 reading. Disaggregated results show trends for different sub-groups.

In addition to providing results that show trends in each state and the Nation, NAEP also provides a basis for comparing results in all fifty states plus the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense schools. If you go to the http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard and then click on ANALYZE DATA, you can retrieve and analyze results for all NAEP demographics for Hawaii, the nation, and the other states. At this same site, if you click on SAMPLE QUESTIONS, you can retrieve the items that NAEP has released, along with answer keys, rubrics, results, samples of student work, and data on how students responded. The other postings listed below are based either on data analysis or the sample questions. You are always welcome to contact the NAEP state coordinator with questions, comments, or requests for assistance using the NAEP web site. As his schedule permits, the NAEP state coordinator is also available for presentations at schools and civic organizations.

Other postings provide greater detail. These postings include or will soon include

• The 2007 Mathematics Visuals Report. The 2009 Mathematics Visuals Report will replace the earlier report after the release of the 2009 NAEP mathematics results in October.
  
  
• The 2007 Reading Visuals Report. The 2009 Reading Visuals Report will replace the earlier report after the release of the 2009 reading results in January or February 2010.
  
  
• Grade 4 Math Items from the NAEP Item Map
• Answers and Rubrics for Grade 4 Math Items
  
  
• Grade 8 Math Items from the NAEP Item Map
• Answers and Rubrics for Grade 8 Math Items
  
  
• Grade 12 Math Items from the NAEP Item Map
• Answers and Rubrics for Grade 12 Math Items
  
  
• Grade 4 NAEP Reading Passages and Items
• Answers and Rubrics for Grade 4 Reading Items
  
  
• Grade 8 NAEP Reading Passages and Items
  
  
• Grade 4 NAEP Geography Items
• Answers and Rubrics for Grade 4 Geography Items
  
  
• Grade 8 NAEP Geography Items
• Answers and Rubrics for Grade 8 Geography Items
  
  
• Grade 12 NAEP Geography Items
• Answers and Rubrics for Grade 12 Geography Items

Revisions to some of the item compilations will occur after NAEP releases additional math items (in October) and reading items (in February). Science items will be posted by September.

Notes:

1. From 1990 through 2002, the cycle had state results in even years and national-only results in odd years. When NAEP became part of the "No Child Left Behind legislation, the cycle shifted to state results during odd years.
2. Assessment of students aged 9, 13, and 17; this is the longest running longitudinal study in the nation
3. Long-Term Trend Study Questions stable from 1982 to the present; prior Lont-Term Trend Study may have had different items and a different framework.
4. Meaning Long-Term Trend Study
5. Music, visual arts, and drama performance
6. Music and visual arts

DOE Memos and Notices

(reserved)

FAQs

(reserved)

Contact Us

U.S. Mail:
State of Hawaii Department of Education
Student Assessment Section
641 18th Avenue #V102
Honolulu, HI 96816

Telephone: (808) 733-4100
Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM - 4:30 PM HST

E-mail:
robert_hillier@notes.k12.hi.us