NAEP 2019 PARENT/GUARDIAN NOTIFICATION LETTER

Grade 12 – Mathematics, reading, and science assessments

 Ashford High School

December 10, 2018

Dear Parent or Guardian:

Ashford High School will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on February 13, 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, reading, or science. In addition to subject area questions, NAEP survey questionnaires are voluntarily completed by students. Your child may also receive an extended questionnaire that takes up to 10 more minutes and asks additional contextual questions. The questionnaires help by providing valuable information about participating students’ educational experiences and opportunities to learn both in and out of the classroom. More information about NAEP survey questionnaires is available at https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents under the section “What Questions Are on the Test?”

Assessments take 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 12/18/18.

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 http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/parents/2012469.pdf. Contact Jennifer Johnson at 334-899-5411 or at Johnson.jennifer@hcboe.us if you have any questions.

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

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.