NAEP Writing Assessment Contract Provides Opportunity to Address Challenging Issues

“ACT’s contract with NAGB is an exciting opportunity to facilitate a national and highly visible conversation about what constitutes successful writing and the effective assessment of writing,” said Rosanne Cook, ACT’s project director for the contract. “The new writing framework will provide the basis for NAEP writing into the third decade of the century. NAGB also wants it to address questions about preparedness for postsecondary pursuits. So ACT has the opportunity to address some very challenging issues, among them the effect of communications technology on writing and the growing population of English language learners in public education.”

Under the 18-month contract, ACT will put together committees comprising classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, test and measurement experts, and others with a wide range of backgrounds to develop the new framework for the writing assessment. In addition to reviewing academic research and recommendations, project staff will seek feedback from college instructors, employers, the military, and recent high school graduates on the writing skills students need to be successful.

“The input we’ll receive during this process is the same type of information that helps us develop academic achievement tests such as the ACT,” said Richard L. Ferguson, ACT’s chief executive officer. “It’s important to assess the writing skills of our nation’s students early to ensure that they are learning what they need to put them on course for college and career success.”

ACT will submit its recommendations to NAGB. Board action is expected in the spring of 2007. The new framework will be used to support development of a new writing test to be introduced in 2011.

Participants in the Project

ACT is working with teachers, education researchers, and representatives of many national organizations. More . . .

NAEP, also known as the Nation’s Report Card, is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of academic achievement in America’s elementary and secondary schools. NAEP assesses what students know and can do in various subject areas, surveying national samples of students in grades four, eight, and 12, as well as state-level samples of students in grades four and eight.

NAGB is an independent, bipartisan group whose 26 members include governors, state legislators, local and state school officials, educators, business representatives, and members of the general public. The NAGB was created by Congress in 1988 to set policy for NAEP.