California NAEP Results

National Assessment Educational Progress Reports for California.

Introduction

The results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) are reported between 6 to 18 months after they have been collected. The No Child Left Behind Act mandates reporting of State NAEP Mathematics and Reading Results within six months of the last day of the assessment period. Results for the Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) and assessments in subjects other than mathematics and reading are usually available within one year of the assessment.

Types of Reports

There are many types of NAEP reports. For each national assessment there is a main report known as The Nations Report Card. This report provides an overview of the assessment and reports findings for the nation as a whole as well as some state comparisons. A second national report is the Highlights Report, which provides a synopsis of the results for each subject assessed. These reports are available at the Nation's Report Card Web site (Outside Source).

For the State NAEP assessments, a one page Snapshot Report is generated for each subject and grade assessed. Links to the most recent California Snapshot Reports for the NAEP are provided below.

Customized state reports are also generated for each state. The state reports cover the results for a given state in detail. Appendices to the state reports provide important technical information such as accommodation and exclusion rates for the states. Links to the most recent California reports for NAEP are provided below.

Interpreting NAEP Results

It is important to keep in mind the following points when interpreting NAEP data.

The averages and percentages presented are estimates based on samples of students rather than on entire populations.
The questions students respond to are only a sample of the knowledge and skills covered by the NAEP frameworks.
Results are subject to uncertainty, reflected in the standard error of the estimates – a range of from less than one point, to over 18 points for smaller sub-groups.
Differences between scores or between percentages are discussed only when they are significant from a statistical perspective. Some seemingly large differences may not be statistically significant.
It is important to note that simple cross-tabulations of a variable with measures of educational achievement, like the ones presented in this report, cannot constitute proof that a difference in the variable causes differences in educational achievement.
California Standards Tests (CSTs) are based on a different set of standards than the NAEP assessments. For example NAEP assesses only reading, while the California Standards Tests assess English-language arts, encompassing reading as well as writing conventions, spelling, and grammar.
Scores on California’s Standards Tests and other assessments are not directly comparable to those on NAEP.
Performance levels for California and NAEP are not equivalent. Comparisons involving statistics such as percent proficient should be made with extreme caution.