Tuesday, January 24, 2017

8th Grade NAEP Testing on 2/15



8th Grade NAEP Testing on Wednesday, February 15

The following letter is soon to come home to a randomly selected group of eighth grade students from the NAEP Program (National Assessment of Educational Progress) and me.  

Please see the letter below.  If you have any questions, please contact me:



January 27, 2017


Dear Parent or Guardian:

The John T. Nichols Middle School will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on February 15, 2017. NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can do in various subjects. It is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S. Department of Education. NAEP is different from our state assessment because it provides a common measure of student 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 will take a mathematics or reading assessment. The assessment also asks students questions about their daily routine and their educational experiences. For example, students are asked if there is a computer at home and about the amount of reading they do. Student responses are anonymous, and they provide context and meaning to the assessment results. Please visit http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/booklets.asp to review sample questions.

The assessment takes about 90 to 120 minutes for most students. The results are completely confidential (in accordance with the Confidential Information Protection provisions of Title V, Subtitle A, Public Law 107-347).

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 February 10, 2017.

There is no need to study in preparation for NAEP, but please encourage your child to do their 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 Gregory Thomas at
(508)946-2020 x3503 or at gthomas@middleboro.k12.ma.us if you have any questions.

We are excited that our school is participating in NAEP. We know that John T. Nichols Middle School's students will show what our nation’s students know and can do.

Sincerely,

Martin R. Geoghegan
Principal


Again, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.