Several national and international studies have indicated that there is an achievement gap between student literary reading and student informational reading, with the gap favoring literary reading. One plausible explanation for this gap is that reading informational text has been neglected in early grades in the U.S. (Dreher, 2003; Kletzien &…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress reveals that 37 percent of U.S. fourth graders fail to achieve basic levels of reading achievement. In 1997, the U.S. Congress asked that a review of research be conducted to determine what could be done to improve reading and writing achievement. The resulting "Report of the National Reading…

This study presents the second of four reports of the results of the 1970-71 National Assessment of Literature. The educational attainments of nine-year-olds, thirteen-year-olds, seventeen-year-olds, and adults (ages 26-35) were surveyed according to the subjects' ability to become engaged in, find meanings in, and evaluate a work of literature.…

This report describes highlights of the first National Assessment of Literature, a project of the Education Commission of the States. This assessment surveyed four major questions: How well do people understand literature? What and how often do they read? In what ways and how well do people understand imaginative literature? How familiar are they…

The literature advisory group--comprised of English teachers at all levels, language arts supervisors, and professionals with a national perspective--convened in March 1972 to begin the revision of the literature objectives which had been created in 1965-66 by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. In this booklet, literature is defined…

This book is intended for English language arts teachers at every level, as well as for curriculum and research specialists and other persons concerned about teaching and learning English. It provides factual information and interpretive statements of two kinds: a description of National Assessment and how it works; and a presentation of the…

This study includes exercises which assessed five rudimentary skills involved in understanding and interpreting imaginative literature. The study is one of a series by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which gathers information about the eudcational attainments of 9, 13, and 17 year olds and adults (ages 26-35) in ten subject areas.…

This report is the first volume of a projected series of "General Information Yearbooks" to be updated and published annually by the National Assessment of Educational Progress and is designed to aid the readers of the National Assessment's reports to understand the philosophies and goals of the project, its methods for developing…

Discusses the dismal results of the 1986 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) appraisal of American high school students' knowledge about history and literature. Explores connections between cultural literacy and students' family background, homework, and television viewing habits. Recommends more and better history and literature…

This article contains a small sampling of some of the research findings of the National Assessment in social studies, citizenship, science, reading, writing, literature, and music. (RC) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt with in this document: Results (Overview).

This study presents the third of four reports of the 1970-71 National Assessment of Literature. The educational attainments of nine-year-olds, thirteen-year-olds, seventeen-year-olds, and adults (ages 26-35) were surveyed according to their ability to recognize literary works and characters. Five types of exercises were used: (1) an illustration…

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) became a continuing project of the Education Commission of the States on July 1, 1969. Its primary aim is to obtain information on how well educated young people are and where the country's education problem areas lie. NAEP exercises have been constructed to provide information by 3 divisions: (1)…

How much do 17-year olds know about U.S. history and literature? The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has been gathering information about the educational attainment of American students in a variety of subject areas, but no study had focused solely on students' basic knowledge of American history and their familiarity with major…