NAEP
National Assessment of Educational Progress—also known as the “Nation’s Report Card”
What Big Media may seem to communicate to the public:
Roughly 50% of U.S. students graduate unable to read, write, and do math.
And yet “unable” is not technically correct in NAEP terms, since some of those students reach NAEP “basic” proficiency—meaning they can at least partially perform. (Moreover, the 50% figure oversimplifies the situation and does not account for the ~25% and ~24% proficiency figures below, which are not additive.)
But what happens next?
Manufacturers, for instance, testing and reviewing job applicants may take little comfort in the murkiness of performance below proficiency. The assessments that often concern employers include the following:
- K–12 graduates proficient in reading: ~25%
- K–12 graduates proficient in math: ~24%
Yes, theoretically manufacturers could send applicants back for additional academic preparation. But that is unlikely to be a viable solution at scale. Rather, strong K–12 student performance should be the product of the K–12 years themselves.
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The paradox: NAEP is a priceless tool—but useless if not applied as a driver of change
For HSe4Metrics, NAEP serves as foundational third-party verification.
By introducing the NAEP Act, Congress may have been guided by the old adage, “What gets measured gets fixed.” However, it appears Congress did not anticipate a shortage of follow-up—or the absence of indispensable innovation. Simply measuring, while a failing status quo persists for decades, undermines the very purpose of measurement—and reflects a failure of leadership.
As a result, this principle has fallen short in the case of NAEP for decades. Nonetheless, for an innovation such as HSe4Metrics, the assessments offer significant value as a powerful tool for validating effectiveness. Once the free-access HSe4Metrics platform is launched, NAEP can help measure potentially dramatic improvements in K–12 student performance.
"Bordering on Criminal," "A Cruel Handicap," "A Gut Punch to the Nation"
When NAEP results are published (every two years), Big Media has a field day.
NAEP results are a “gut punch” not only to the unfortunate 50% of students, but also to the United States—its workforce, teachers, and parents alike.
NAEP findings are often viewed as a proxy for the performance of K–12 students in America’s schools—and, incorrectly in the view of HSe4Metrics, as a proxy for the ability of the K–12 system itself.
NAEP basics
NAEP (rhymes with cape) is a 1969 Congressional Act—the National Assessment of Educational Progress. It is often referred to by Big Media as the “nation’s report card.” As its name suggests, NAEP is an assessment. Every two years, test questions are administered to a sample of students across the U.S. in the 4th, 8th, and 12th grades.
Link to the National Assessment Governing Board: nagb.gov
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