The Use of NAEP

The state assessment component of NAEP fulfills a unique role in the U.S. educational system where there is a long tradition of local control over schools. NAEP data could be used meaningfully to inform educational decisions in many levels. Unfortunately, it has been widely perceived that NAEP data are under utilized, and there has been little empirical research on actual uses of NAEP. This book is based on a case study investigating how state education personnel perceive the usefulness of NAEP and how NAEP data are actually used in a state context. Data were collected through interviews, documents, and analysis of relevant websites. This study found that in relation to NAEPs potential utility, the use of NAEP at the state level is limited. However, this study suggests that more NAEP data are currently used in a state than before and that the increased use has been certainly affected by NCLB. The findings of this study are expected to provide some insight into how to narrow the gap between potential and actual uses of NAEP and are particularly useful to curriculum specialists, assessment specialists, and policy makers at the local, state, and federal levels.