This report presents results of the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in reading at grades 4 and 8. Results for students in the nation and in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Department of Defense schools are reported as average scores and as percentages of students performing at or above three achievement levels: Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. Scores are also reported at selected percentiles, showing changes in the performance of lower-, middle-, and higher-performing students. Results for groups of students defined by various background characteristics (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, and students' eligibility for free or reduced-price school lunch) are included, as well as sample assessment questions with examples of student responses. Additional technical notes and appendix tables provide information on NAEP samples, school and student participation rates, exclusion and accommodation of students with disabilities and English language learners, and additional state-level results.Highlights of the national results show that reading skills are improving for both fourth- and eighth-graders, particularly among lower-and middle-performing students. Fourth-graders scored higher in 2007 than in all previous assessment years, with higher percentages of students performing at or above the Basic and Proficient achievement levels. The average reading score for eighth-graders was up 1 point since 2005 and 3 points since 1992; however, the trend of increasing scores was not consistent over all assessment years. In comparison to both 1992 and 2005, the percentage of students performing at or above the Basic level increased, but there was no significant change in the percentage of students at or above the Proficient level. State results show gains since 2005 for both fourth- and eighth-graders in 4 states and jurisdictions. An additional 14 states and jurisdictions showed gains for grade 4 only, and 2 states showed gains for grade 8 only. Two states showed declines since 2005 at grade 8. Among the 42 states and jurisdictions that participated in both the 1992 and 2007 fourth-grade reading assessments, 25 showed higher average scores in 2007, and 1 showed a decline. Among the 38 states and jurisdictions that participated in the 1998 and 2007 eighth-grade reading assessments,6 states showed higher average scores in 2007, and 7 states showed declines.
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