CARSON CITY, Nevada. -The National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) released the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results today and Nevada students were in line with the national trend.

The Nevada Department of Education (NDE) recognizes the insight the NAEP data provides. The department plans to use it and other data to accelerate learning and ensure students receive a high-quality education that will best serve them and their futures.

"students faced immense challenges over the last three years with an unprecedented pandemic that interrupted every aspect of our daily lives," said Jhone Ebert, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. "I am encouraged to see eighth graders maintained their progress in reading and that is attributed to their resilience during the pandemic and the commitment of our educators. What matters most is what we do next."

Nationally, fourth-grade students, on average, scored 3 and 5 points lower in math and reading when compared to 2019 test results. Eighth-grade students scored 3 and 8 points lower.

In Nevada, eighth-grade reading scores stayed consistent from the 2019 test results while eighth-grade math scores dropped five points. Fourth-grade students, in Nevada, scored 6 and 7 points lower on math and reading tests when compared to 2019.

"Now is the time to double down on our efforts and investments to ensure that K-3 students achieve reading proficiency and EVERY student gets the support they need to overcome the missed opportunities for learning during COVID." said Felicia Ortiz, Nevada State Board of Education President. "As community members, we can support these efforts by volunteering to be math tutors, reading to our children and encouraging them to read on their own and most importantly showing our educators that we are grateful for their continued dedication to our children." 

Current Investments to Accelerate Student Learning and Support Educators  

• The State of Nevada's Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds appropriated $200 million dollars to the Nevada Department of Education to administer as grants to school districts and universities. It was passed during the 2021 legislature and signed into law by Governor Sisolak. The funds are specifically meant to address the impacts of learning loss as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic and include things like tutoring, summer school, afterschool programs and other extended learning and enrichment programs.

• The Nevada Department of Education has developed a partnership with the University of Minnesota's Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement to offer PRESS (Pathway to Reading Excellence at School Sites). The Nevada PRESS Project provides job-embedded professional learning and support for teachers and site-based literacy specialists. It supports educators with the implementation of evidence-based practices using the science of reading and multi-tiered systems of supports (MTSS) to ensure students are receiving high-quality and meaningful instruction grounded in the most current reading research. This investment is being funded through ESSER II funds and supports the implementation of Read by Grade 3.

• Supplemental resources and professional development to address key algebraic understandings to support success in Algebra 1.  Algebra Zero is funded through ESSER III funds.

About theNational Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) administers the NAEP.  A sample of fourth and eighth-grade students are assessed in mathematics and reading.  Nearly 9,375 students from 182 schools throughout Nevada (representative of the student population) were selected to participate in the 2022 assessment.

The Nation's Report Card reports student performance as an average scale score, as achievement-level percentages, and as percentile scores.

The NAEP Basic and NAEP Proficient achievement levels were established by NAGB.  Students performing at the NAEP Basic level demonstrate a partial mastery of prerequisite knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work and students performing at the NAEP Proficient level demonstrate solid academic performance and competency over challenging subject matter.

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About the Nevada Department of Education

The Nevada Department of Education (NDE) leads and collaborates with Nevada's 17 school districts and the State Public Charter School Authority to advance educational equity Statewide. With offices in Carson City and Las Vegas, NDE oversees all pre-K-12 education in the State, working to achieve its mission to improve student achievement and educator effectiveness by ensuring opportunities, facilitating learning, and promoting excellence. Under the leadership of the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, NDE impacts the achievement of nearly half a million children and 30,000 educators. Learn more about NDE and join us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.