A Comparison of Indiana's Statewide Test of Educational Progress and NAEP

A Comparison of Indiana's Statewide Test
of Educational Progress and NAEP

	ISTEP+	assessments were administered at Grades 3, 6, 8, and 10. However, to meet the requirements of federal and state legislation, beginning in 2003, ISTEP+ will be administered in Grades 3-10.
	NAEP	state assessments are administered at Grades 4 and 8; national NAEP assessments also include Grade 12. Long-term, or Trend NAEP is a different test that is administered to students at ages 9,13, and 17.

	ISTEP+	assessments are administered in the fall (late September).
	NAEP	state assessments are administered from late January to early March.

	ISTEP+	results are reported to individual students, schools, districts, and the state in mathematics and English/language arts.
	NAEP	are reported to the states and the nation in mathematics, reading, writing, science, civics, geography, foreign language, U.S. history, economics, and the arts. NAEP also conducts special studies, such as studies of high school transcripts or use of technology in schools.

	ISTEP+	focuses on academic progress, or on the development of individual skills in key academic subjects.
	NAEP	focuses on changes in performance over time, or on the outcomes of good practices in key subject areas.

	ISTEP+	is a standards-based, criterion-referenced test; results are interpreted based on established criteria for passing.
	NAEP	is a standards-based, norm-referenced test; results are interpreted based on national norms, or in comparison to other states and the nation.

	ISTEP+	reports student performance as a scale score and as a corresponding achievement level labeled Pass +, Pass, or Did Not Pass.
	NAEP	reports state performance as a scale score and as a corresponding achievement level labeled Advanced, Proficient, or Basic.

	ISTEP+	is a comprehensive, cumulative assessment, and each student completes all items in all subject areas assessed.
	NAEP	uses matrix sampling of subject content, and each student completes only a sample of the total test in one subject area.

	ISTEP+	is aligned with content standards (Indiana's Academic Standards) in all tested subjects. Test items are included because they measure standards from all grades prior to tested grade. E.g., Grade 6 test measures standards from K-5.
	NAEP	is aligned with the National Assessment Governing Board's assessment standards (Frameworks) in all tested subjects. Test items are included because they measure standards at the grade level of interest. E.g., Grade 8 test measures standards for that grade. Because Frameworks are assessment standards, not curricular standards, they prescribe what will be tested, not what to teach.

	ISTEP+	assesses reading and writing together, and each is part of the English/Language Arts Academic Standards.
	NAEP	reading and writing assessments are administered at different times, and NAEP Reading and NAEP Writing Frameworks are distinct documents.

Both ISTEP+ and NAEP contain multiple choice and open-ended/constructed response items.

Both ISTEP+ and NAEP use authentic text passages and data, printed in their entirety and taken from an existing source or document; items are not created just for the test. Unabridged passages are drawn from books and magazines that students might encounter in or out of school.

Indiana Academic Standards are not precisely aligned with NAEP Frameworks, though they share a common core of what students should know and be able to do, as demonstrated in the Reading document below.