Are State Assessments Comparable to the NAEP? Exploring Sociological and Political Factors Related to State/NAEP Comparability

• In Event: 207 - Section on Sociology of Education Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 21. Measures and Determinants of Student Achievement

Abstract

Existing research offers different ways to use the NAEP as a common metric to evaluate trends under NCLB, although NAEP and state assessments involve different objectives and content. We treat the “comparability” of state assessments to the NAEP as a construct in its own right, defined as similarity in key features such as the skills that are evaluated and regulations involved. We report on our preliminary analysis of comparability from 2003 to 2009. The average state assessment became more comparable to the NAEP. States with a higher percentage of 30-50 year old high school dropouts and with more conservative political values have assessments less comparable to the NAEP. Growth in proficiency levels on state assessments is positively related to growth in incomparability of state assessments with the NAEP.

Author

• Argun Saatcioglu, University of Kansas