Warren St.

NAEP Assessment February 26

January 7, 2019

Dear Parent or Guardian:

Warren Street Elementary School will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on February 26, 2019. NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can do in various subjects. NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S. Department of Education. NAEP is different from our state assessments because it is a common measure of achievement across the country. The results are released as The Nation’s Report Card, which provides information about student achievement to educators, parents, policymakers, and the public.

Your child may take an assessment in mathematics or reading. In addition to subject-area questions, NAEP survey questionnaires are voluntarily completed by students. The questionnaires provide valuable information about participating students’ educational experiences and opportunities to learn both in and out of the classroom. As part of the 2019 National Indian Education Study, American Indian and Alaska Native students may receive additional questions tailored to their educational experiences and their opportunities to learn about their culture and traditions. More information about NAEP survey questionnaires is available at https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents under the section “What Questions Are on the Test?”

The assessment takes about 120 minutes for most students, including transition time and directions.

The information collected is used for statistical purposes only.

• Your child’s grades will not be affected.
• Students may be excused for any reason, are not required to complete the assessment, and may skip any question.
• While the assessment is voluntary, NAEP depends on student participation to help policymakers improve education. However, if you do not want your child to participate, please notify me in writing by January 31st.

There is no need to study in preparation for NAEP, but please encourage your child to do his or her best. A brochure that explains what participation in NAEP means for you and your child is available at the following link:

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/parents/2012469.pdf.

Contact me at 518-762-3715 or at nlent@johnstownschools.org if you have any questions.

We are excited that our school is participating in NAEP. We know that Warren Street’s students will show what our nation’s students know and can do.

Sincerely,

Nicole Lent
Principal
Warren Street School, Greater Johnstown School District

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is authorized to conduct NAEP by the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. §9622) and to collect students’ education records from education agencies or institutions for the purposes of evaluating federally supported education programs under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(3)(iii) and 99.35). All of the information provided by participants may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. §9573 and 6 U.S.C. §151). By law, every NCES employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about participants. Electronic submission of participant’s information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015. The collected information will be combined across respondents to produce statistical reports.