NAEP 2026 in Arizona Schools
NAEP is an integral part of education in the United States.
- Elected officials, policymakers, and educators all use NAEP results to inform ways to improve education.
- NAEP is a congressionally mandated program administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education's 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 across the country.
- In addition to the assessment, students, teachers, and principals who participate in NAEP are asked to complete survey questionnaires to provide a better understanding of educational experiences and factors that may be related to students' learning.
What can principals and schools expect?
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. Each school's participation is critical and contributes to the understanding of students' educational progress across the U.S.
In 2026, students in grades 4 and 8 will take NAEP mathematics and reading assessments. Each student will be assessed in only one subject. The assessments will be administered by NAEP representatives on school devices or NAEP devices. NAEP representatives will contact your school in the coming months with more information.
Schools will need to provide space for students to take the assessment, desks or tables, and an adequate number of electrical outlets in the assessment location. NAEP representatives will use school devices and Internet - when possible - to conduct the assessment. They will work with you or your district to determine if this is feasible for your school.
As part of the assessments, students may be asked to complete NAEP survey questionnaires that provide valuable information about participating students' educational experiences and opportunities to learn both in and outside of the classroom.
Results in mathematics and reading will be released for the nation, states, and selected urban districts. District, school, and student results are not reported.
How are schools and students selected for NAEP?
A carefully designed sampling process ensures that NAEP-selected schools and students are representative of all schools and students in their district, state, and across the United States. To ensure the sample represents all students in the nation's schools, a broad range of accommodations are allowed for students with disabilities and English learners.
What can teachers and students expect?
Including transition time, directions and tutorials, and complete of survey questions, it takes approximately 2 hours for students to complete the assessment. 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.
