The NAEP long-term trend assessment in reading that was first administered around the beginning of the 1970s is different from more recently developed assessments in the same subject area, referred to as NAEP's main assessments. The long-term trend assessment has remained substantially the same since its first administration, and thus makes it possible to meet the first objective of measuring progress over time. The NAEP long-term trend reading assessment contains a range of reading materials, from simple narrative passages to complex articles on specialized topics. The selections include stories, poems, essays, reports, and passages from textbooks, as well as a sample train schedule, telephone bill, and advertisements.
Online Information Find out more about the national trends in reading .
Read the press release summarizing the results of the study. See the NCES acting commissioner's statement about the 1999 long-term trend results. Go to the Summary Data Tables tool for all the data associated with the long-term trend assessment. Trends in Academic Progress hosted by Dr. Gary Phillips, Acting Commissioner, NCES on Thursday, August 24, 2000.