What Do NAEP Mathematics Achievement Levels Mean? Evidence From an Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey

• In Event: Measurement Issues in NAEP and Implications for the Interpretation of Results

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish a link between ECLS-K and NAEP mathematics assessments at grade 8 and use this link to add more understanding to NAEP achievement levels. Compared to NAEP, ECLS-K has 9 more refined proficiency levels that are obtained using IRT. Using the public-use data for ECLS-K Kindergarten cohort of 1998-99, a statistical moderation link was established between NAEP and ECLS-K. Using this statistical link, we examined the correspondence between NAEP achievement levels and ECLS-K proficiency levels. Additionally, exploiting the longitudinal nature of ECLS-K, we obtained growth profiles that describe the relationship between ECLS-K proficiency levels at grades 1, 3, and 5th and being proficient at grade 8th NAEP.

Authors

• Burhan Ogut, American Institutes for Research

• Lu Michelle Yin, American Institutes for Research