How Is the NAEP Long-Term Trend Assessment Administered?

In schools across the nation, NAEP staff administered the long-term trend assessment to students who were part of the NAEP long-term trend sample. Students were asked to complete a background questionnaire (439K PDF) to provide context for the results. This was the questionnaire presented to students as an intact form in the modified assessment. However, in the bridge assessment and in all assessment years prior to 2004, these questions were interspersed with the cognitive items. In addition, the questionnaire given to the students taking the modified assessment was shorter, as some of the previously administered background questions were eliminated because they appeared intrusive or outdated or were no longer supplying useful data for the analyses.

NAEP staff were responsible for the following administrative duties:

• selecting the sample of schools and students to take the assessment;
• developing the administrative procedures and manuals for assessment administrators;
• hiring and training staff to conduct the assessment administrations; and
• conducting an extensive quality assurance program.

NAEP staff receive extensive training in administering the NAEP assessment. Such training includes (but is not necessarily limited to) learning about procedures for the following:

• contacting and going into schools to administer assessments;
• distributing and collecting student assessment materials;
• timing the administration of the assessment;
• using scripts to guide students through different sections of the assessments;
• answering questions students may have during the assessments; and
• collecting certain kinds of background information about students, such as whether students receive free/reduced-price school lunches.

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Last updated 08 July 2005 (JM)