Conducting Research Using Process Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

2017 4th Grade NAEP Mathematics Process Data Coming in Summer 2023!

The Institute of Education Sciences has previously funded several exploration grants using data from restricted use datasets from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to answer important research questions about specific populations of students, including students with disabilities. In fiscal year 2021, the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) ran a special grant competition Research Grants Focused on NAEP Process Data for Learners with Disabilities (84.324P) to encourage researchers to use process data from the 2017 eighth grade NAEP mathematics assessment to generate evidence that improves our understanding of the link between test-taking behavior and mathematics performance for learners with disabilities. The findings will contribute to the larger body of evidence on improving mathematics outcomes for these learners. These NAEP process data were released under a restricted-use data license.

In the summer of 2023, NCES expects to release the 2017 fourth grade NAEP mathematics assessment process data under a restricted-use data license, for selected a block and form. NCSER encourages researchers to propose exploration studies using these data under the FY2023 Special Education Research Grants Program (84.324A). The work should focus on research questions related to test taking behaviors and understanding mathematics competencies for learners with disabilities alone and in comparison, to learners without disabilities.

We provide the following links to resources from NCES that can be reviewed as researchers draft their grant application:

• The 2017 grade 4 publicly released items can be viewed using the NAEP Questions Tool https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/nqt/.
• For more information on the administration of digitally based NAEP, please see https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/dba/.
• Additional information on the accommodations provided in the administration of NAEP is available at https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/accom_table.aspx.
• For information on participant selection, visit the NAEP website at https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/assessment_process/selection.aspx.
• Student, Teacher and School Administrator Questionnaires are available at https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/experience/archive.aspx.
• NAEP Resources for Researchers https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/.
• NCES Distance Learning Dataset Training Modules https://nces.ed.gov/training/datauser/#/national.
• NAEP In-person training opportunities https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/training.aspx.
• More information about process data is available at https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/process_data/.
• Information about how to apply for a restricted use data license is available at https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/researchcenter/variablesrudata.aspx.

IES provides technical assistance to applicants that addresses the appropriateness of project ideas for this competition and methodological and other substantive issues concerning this competition. IES program officers work with applicants though a variety of formats up until the time of Grants.gov submission. To discuss applying to NCSER’s grant competition to analyze the NAEP data, please contact:

Dr. Sarah Brasiel
Program Officer
Email: Sarah.Brasiel@ed.gov
Telephone: (202) 245-6734

Additional information about the 2017 fourth grade NAEP mathematics assessment and process data is coming in Summer 2023. Check back here for updates.