Aug. 01, 2012
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In 2011, the National Indian Education Study (NIES) was administered to students in grades 4 and 8 as part of the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The study is designed to provide information about the academic performance of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students in reading and mathematics, as well as their exposure to Native American culture.
Key findings from the National Indian Education Study 2011, available in ERIC at ED533306, include:
- In mathematics, AI/AN students scored lower on average than non-AI/AN students at both grades 4 and 8. In both grades, the score gaps were larger than the gaps in 2005.
- In reading, AI/AN students scored lower in both grades 4 and 8 than their non-AI/AN peers. These score gaps were not significantly different from the gaps in previous assessments.
- As in previous assessments, female AI/AN students scored higher in reading than their male counterparts at grades 4 and 8; there continues to be no gender gap in mathematics performance.
- AI/AN students in Oklahoma scored higher than their peers in the nation in reading and mathematics at both grades.
- Compared to 2009, AI/AN students attending Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools scored higher in 2011 in mathematics at grade 4 and in reading at grade 8.
- Compared to other schools in the NIES, higher percentages of BIE schools had community members visit to share traditions and culture with the students.
Complete 2011 results for the nation, states, and regions; findings from the student, teacher, and school surveys; and additional resources and information may be found on the NAEP website.
The study is sponsored by the Office of Indian Education (OIE) and conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the U.S. Department of Education. A Technical Review Panel, whose members included American Indian and Alaska Native educators and researchers from across the country, helped design the study.
