In this episode, we dive deep into the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s report card. Chester Finn, Jr., author of the new book Assessing the Nation's Report Card: Challenges and Choices for NAEP, joins Susan to talk about the NAEP assessment. They discuss how the assessment works, what it is and isn’t, and what benefits and opportunities it provides as the achievement gap continues to grow.

Show Notes:

• Assessing the Nation's Report Card: Challenges and Choices for NAEP by Chester Finn, Jr.
• Want to hang out with Susan and chat live about this episode of this podcast? Don’t miss our next “Off the Pod” FB live on our Community Facebook Group, where you can ask Susan your questions in real time!
• Also, join Susan on Sept. 26, as she kicks off a webinar series all about building a Science of Reading ecosystem. The first session will focus on demystifying the Science of Reading and MTSS. 

Additional resources:

• PolicyEd video: “Overhauling the Nation’s Report Card” | Perspectives on Policy
• Flypaper: “Assessing the Nation’s Report Card: Challenges and choices for NAEP”
• Education Next piece: “It felt like guerrilla warfare”
• Webinar: What you may not know—but should—about the Nation's Report Card
• Chester Finn bio at Thomas B. Fordham Institute

Quotes:

“For this to work, we need both great teachers and great curricula.” —Chester Finn

“The single most important thing NAEP cannot do [is that] it cannot in any definitive way explain why scores are what they are or are rising or falling.” —Chester Finn

Episode Content Timestamps*

1:00: Introduction: Who is Chester E. Finn Jr.?
2:00: The History of NAEP
9:00: What is NAEP and how does it work?
16:00: Long term assessment
23:00: NAEP and achievement gaps
26:00: Next step with NAEP
29:00: State-level impact of NAEP results
31:00: Why isn't education more front and center in policy today?
34:00: Level of concern and literacy prognosis
37:00: Limitation and opportunities around NAEP
40:00: What does "It's all about the students" mean to Chester Finn?

*Timestamps are approximate, rounded to nearest minute