WORK BEGINS ON ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS IN NAEP 2009 SCIENCE
Governing Board Seeks Nominations for Panelists and Public Review

The National Assessment Governing Board is seeking nominations for panelists to set achievement levels for the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in science, as well as public comment on the design of the process.

The Governing Board awarded a contract to ACT, Inc. in September 2008 to set achievement levels for the 2009 science NAEP at grades 4, 8, and 12. Part of that initiative involves finding people to serve on the NAEP science achievement levels panels to recommend cut scores for three levels of achievement defined by the Board: Basic (partial mastery), Proficient (solid academic performance and competency over challenging subject matter), and Advanced (superior performance). Panels will include science teachers at grades 4, 8, and 12, science curriculum directors, post-secondary faculty who teach science courses, and other educators. The Board also requires that about one-third of the panel represent the general public. 

Additionally, the Governing Board has asked ACT to collect public comment on the design of the standard-setting procedures to ensure feedback from a wide array of groups and individuals. The Board encourages participation in this review.

For complete details on qualifications for panel members, a description of the role of panelists, nomination materials, as well as the design document presented for review and comment, please visit http://www.act.org/naepscience.

The Nation's Report Card is the only nationally representative, continuing evaluation of the condition of education in the United States and has served as a national yardstick of student achievement since 1969. Through the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), The Nation's Report Card informs the public about what America's students know and can do in various subject areas, and compares achievement data between states and various student demographic groups.

The National Assessment Governing Board is an independent, bipartisan board whose members include governors, state legislators, local and state school officials, educators, business representatives, and members of the general public. Congress created the 26-member Governing Board in 1988 to set policy for NAEP.