2023-2024 is a large sample year for National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). In Arizona, we are collecting data and assessing students in Grades 4 and 8 in Math and Reading. We are participating in a Grade 8 Science assessment. Grade 12 Math and Reading assessments are being conducted along with a High School Transcript Study to be completed upon graduation. The districts in the NAEP sample were notified of their participation on 7/13/23.
Achievement Levels in NAEP
In a recent presentation conducted by Dr. Scott Marion, the relevance of NAEP in today's world was discussed. Dr. Marion is a National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) board member. As a federal government program, NAEP is managed and carried out by contractors who work to achieve the smooth operation of NAEP. NAGB is the leadership arm of the alliance. Dr. Marion discussed why we use achievement levels in NAEP and why the bar is set so high. Put simply and eloquently, when an 8th grader scores proficient in Math and Reading, you can draw a straight line for the rest of their lives to higher college graduation rates and overall income levels. This is mutually beneficial for the student, Arizona, and the country. Once a student achieves a proficient score, it can be posited that they will be a highly productive member of society with a high degree of certainty. The governing board is striving to raise academic achievement throughout the US in partnership with states as high achievement in NAEP means a brighter future for our country. The most concerning thing about the latest data release is the share of students deemed proficient dropped from 34% to 26% nationwide in Grade 8 Math. That represents countless students that have had their long-term economic picture weakened if we do not close the learning loss and gaps.
Goal Setting
It is no secret that NAEP showed serious implications on student achievement from COVID. How will this year's cohorts perform in the NAEP assessment of Math and Reading? Will these students bounce back? Will we plug in the gap from growing up during COVID? No doubt this is a big year for NAEP and Arizona's educators to show what our students know and can do. In the release of NAEP data in 2022, after decades of being below the national average, Arizona is now among the national average on NAEP scores for states.
TALIS
TALIS, or the Teaching and Learning International Survey, is conducting a study this year, and there are schools in Arizona that will participate. TALIS provides a unique snapshot of what a teacher looks like throughout the world. It asks about teachers' backgrounds, work environments, professional development, and attitudes and beliefs about teaching. TALIS is the only international survey that conducts research on educators and makes comparisons. You can find a few TALIS highlights from 2018 here: Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) - Welcome to TALIS 2018 Results (ed.gov). 