The History of NAEP ContractorsNAEP has grown and changed in many ways since the first assessment in 1969–1970. Changes are illustrated in this brief history of NAEP contractors from the present to the beginning. The NCES Assessment Division currently has nine contractors, plus contracts with individual states and other jurisdictions, working to carry out the NAEP Assessments. Seven major contracts awarded to four contractors comprise the NAEP Alliance that guides the major aspects of assessment design, item development, data collection, processing and scoring data analysis and reporting. Other contractors are responsible for one or more aspects of NAEP operations. The contractors are listed below in alphabetical order. The introductory information presented below has been taken from the respective organizations' websites. American Institutes for Research (AIR) Established in 1946, with headquarters in Washington, D.C., the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is an independent, nonpartisan not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research on important social issues and delivers technical assistance both domestically and internationally in the areas of education, student assessment, statistical and research methods, health, usability, and workforce productivity. Website: http://www.air.org AIR holds these contracts:
Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) The Council of Chief State School Officers (CSSO) is a nonpartisan, nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy, and technical assistance on major educational issues. The Council seeks member consensus on major educational issues and expresses their views to civic and professional organizations, federal agencies, Congress, and the public. Website: http://www.ccsso.org CCSSO holds this contract:
CRP, Incorporated CRP is a minority female-owned and operated small business that provides comprehensive research, training, workforce and organization development, evaluation, and other specialized services to government, industry, and other organizational systems. It was founded in 1988, and is located in Washington, DC. Website: http://www.crpcorp.com CRP holds this contract:
Educational Testing Service (ETS) (Alliance Coordinator) ETS is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1947. The ETS mission is to advance quality and equity in education by providing fair and valid assessments, research, and related services. ETS products and services measure knowledge and skills, promote learning and educational performance, and support education and professional development for all people worldwide. ETS has been a NAEP contractor since 1983. Website: http://www.ets.org ETS currently holds these contracts:
Fulcrum IT Services Company (Alliance member) Fulcrum IT Services Company (formerly GMRI) was founded in 2006 and is an ISO 9001:2000 registered information technology (IT) company that provides solutions and services for federal, state, and local government customers. While being a small business, Fulcrum IT offers the kind of experience and knowledge found in larger businesses to deliver best-value solutions for e-business, storage, enterprise operations, and information and infrastructure assurance. Fulcrum IT has been involved in the NAEP program as the web technology experts since 2002, specializing in web content management, e-learning, e-business, and e-collaboration. Website: http://www.fulcrumit.com Fulcrum IT holds this contract:
Hager Sharp Hager Sharp, founded in 1973, is an independent, woman-owned communications firm specializing in social marketing and strategic public relations to government, corporate, and nonprofit clients. Services include strategic planning, media relations (including multicultural and online), public awareness campaigns, event public relations, and materials development. Website: http://www.hagersharp.com Hager Sharp holds this contract:
Human Resources Research Organization (HumRRO) Human Resources Research Organization was founded in 1951. HumRRO's goal is to develop and apply state-of-the-art science and technology to improve the performance of individuals and teams within public and private organizations and educational institutions. HumRRO is a non-profit organization of multidisciplinary professionals, including research scientists who are experts in industrial and experimental psychology and related fields such as management analysis, sociology, operations research, computer science, economics, and educational research, who conduct research, develop products, and provide services to improve individual, team, and organizational performance. Website: http://humrro.org/ HumRRO holds this contract:
Pearson (Alliance member) Educational Measurement is a part of Pearson, a global provider of applications, services, and technologies for education, testing, assessment, government, and complex data management. This division, based in Iowa City, it is the largest commercial processor of K-12 tests in the U.S. NCS Pearson operates as a business of Pearson Education, the world’s largest integrated education company, which in turn is part of Pearson. NCS was founded in 1962 and joined Pearson in 2000. NCS Pearson has been a NAEP contractor or subcontractor since 1989. Website: http://www.pearson.com Pearson holds this contract:
State Education Agencies (SEAs) Fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity are jurisdictions that regularly participate in NAEP; currently, 48 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico have Coordinators under contract. The staff that work with NAEP for each jurisdiction are the assessment director and an appointed NAEP Coordinator. Contact information for the NAEP Coordinator and for their education department websites is in State Profiles on this website. The SEAs are in charge of multiple contracts:
Westat (Alliance member) Westat is an employee-owned research corporation, founded in 1961. A leading statistical survey research organization with expertise in statistical sample design, Westat also provides custom research and program evaluation studies across a broad range of subject areas and capabilities in survey and analytical methods, computer systems technology, biomedical science, and clinical trials. Westat has been a NAEP contractor or subcontractor since 1989. Website: http://westat.com Westat holds these contracts:
Windwalker Corporation Windwalker Corporation is a small American Indian owned business that designs, conducts, and reports on research, assessment, and evaluation projects at international, national, state, and local levels. Windwalker has developed relationships with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools and public schools with large Native American populations through work with the National Indian Education Study (NIES). Windwalker develops brochures, flyers, and other materials to promote participation in the study and use of the data, and represents NIES at conferences and other events. Website: http://www.windwalker.com Windwalker Corporation holds this contract:
Additional NAEP Contract: An additional contract is expected to be awarded in 2009:
The 2003–2007 assessments were conducted under cooperative agreements by a team of contractors:
Another six activities were procured under the U.S. Department of Education's General Services Administration (GSA) schedule or a Multiple Award Task Order (MATO) contract.
For 1996–1998, and then again for the 2000–2002 assessment cycles, cooperative agreements were awarded for
These awards went to ETS and Westat, Inc., respectively. For the 2000–2002 cycles, ETS conducted the scoring, analysis, and reporting cooperative agreement, with subcontracts to AIR for background questionnaire development; to NCS Pearson for printing, mailing, and scoring of test booklets; and to Aspen Systems Corporation for meeting logistics. Westat, Inc., conducted the sampling and data collection cooperative agreement. In 1994, four cooperative agreements were awarded:
ETS was awarded the cooperative agreements for 1, 2, and 4. National Computer Systems (NCS) was the scoring, printing and distribution subcontractor for these three cooperative agreements. Westat, Inc., was awarded the cooperative agreement for 3, national sampling and data collection. Westat was also the subcontractor for sampling and monitoring data collection for the state assessment (4). In 1989, the project was administered as a contract vehicle, which ETS won for 1990–1992. NAEP operations project tasks included sampling, data collection, scoring, analysis, and reporting. ETS subcontracted sampling and data collection tasks to Westat, Inc., and scoring, printing, and distribution responsibilities to NCS. In 1983, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) won the grant competition and assumed responsibility for administration of the project. NAEP was administered by the Education Commission of the States (ECS) through 1983 under several grants and, for at least one assessment cycle, a contract. Learn more about NAEP's history.
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