NAEP Technical DocumentationSample Design for the 2011 National Assessment


			Fourth- and Eighth-Grade Public School Assessments Fourth- and Eighth-Grade Private School National Assessment Writing Computer-Based Assessment (WCBA) and Mathematics Computer-Based Study (MCBS)

The 2011 national assessment included the following components:

mathematics and reading assessments in public and private schools at grades 4 and 8;
writing computer-based assessment (WCBA) in public and private schools at grades 8 and 12;
science assessments in public and private schools at grade 8.

The sample design aimed to achieve a nationally representative sample of students in the defined populations who were enrolled at the time of assessment.

The mathematics and reading samples were based on a two-stage sample design:

selection of schools within strata, and
selection of students within schools.

The computer-based writing and mathematics samples were based on a three-stage sample design:

selection of primary sampling units (PSUs),
selection of schools within strata, and
selection of students within schools.

The samples of schools were selected with probability proportional to a measure of size based on the estimated grade-specific enrollment in the schools.

For the mathematics, reading, and science assessments in fourth- and eighth-grade public schools, the NAEP state student samples and assessments constitute the NAEP national student samples and assessments. Nationally representative samples were drawn for the remaining populations of private school students in fourth and eighth grades. By design, only Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools did not participate in the state science assessment, as it lacked the required number of students for the state science assessment. A small portion of students received the science assessment in BIE schools in science to supplement the national science sample.

Last updated 26 February 2016 (GF)

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