PUBLIC LAW 100-297—APR. 28, 1988
102 STAT. 345
national and regional basis and on a State basis pursuant to subparagraphs (C)(i) and (C)(ii). In addition, the National Assessment Reports, shall— "(i) collect and report data on a periodic basis, at least once every 2 years for reading and mathematics; at least once every 4 years for writing and science; and at least once every 6 years for history/geography and other subject areas selected by the Board; "(ii) collect and report data every 2 years on students at ages 9,13, and 17 and in grades 4, 8, and 12; "(iii) report achievement data on a basis that ensures valid reliable trend reporting; "(iv) include information on special groups. "(B) In carrying out the provisions of subparagraph (A), the Secretary and the Board appointed under paragraph (5) shall assure that at least 1 of the subject matters in each of the 4 and 6 year cycles described in subparagraph (A)(i) will be included in each 2 year cycle Assessment. "(C)(i) The National Assessment shall develop a trial mathematics assessment survey instrument for the eighth grade and shall conduct a demonstration of the instrument in 1990 in States which wish to participate, with the purpose of determining whether such an assessment yields valid, reliable State representative data. "(ii) The National Assessment shall conduct a trial mathematics assessment for the fourth and eighth grades in 1992 and, pursuant to subparagraph (6)(D), shall develop a trial reading assessment to be administered in 1992 for the fourth grade in States which wish to participate, with the purpose of determining whether such an assessment yields valid, reliable State representative data. "(iii) The National Assessment shall ensure that a representative sample of students participate in such assessments. "(iv) No State may agree to participate in the demonstration described in this subsection without full knowledge of the process for consensus decisionmaking on objectives to be tested, required in paragraph (6)(E), and of assessment demonstration standards for sampling, test administration, test security, data collection, validation and reporting. States wishing to participate shall sign an Contracts, agreement developed by the Commissioner. A participating State shall review and give permission for release of results from any test of its students administered as a part of this demonstration prior to the release of such data. Refusal by a State to release its data shall not restrict the reporting of data from other States that have approved the release of such data. "(v) The Commissioner shall provide for an independent evalua- Reports, tion conducted by a nationally recognized organization (such as the National Academy of Sciences or the National Academy of Education) of the pilot programs to assess the feasibility and validity of assessments and the fairness and accuracy of the data they produce. The report shall also describe the technical problems encountered and a description about what was learned about how to best report data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The results of this report will be provided to the Congress and to States which participated in assessments pursuant to paragraph (C)(i) and (ii) within 18 months of the time such assessments were conducted. "(D)(i) The National Assessment shall have the authority to develop and conduct, upon the direction of the Board and subject to the availability of appropriations, assessments of adult literacy.
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