The NAEP long-term trend assessment in mathematics 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 computational focus of the long-term trend assessment provides a unique opportunity to determine how our students are measuring up to traditional procedural skills, even as the calculator plays an increasingly greater role in today's mathematics curriculum.
Online Information Find out more about the national trends in mathematics .
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.