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ETS Secures New Contracts to Enhance the Nation's Education Assessment System

ETS, a prominent player in the global education and talent solutions sphere, has recently been awarded a significant contract by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to oversee the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for the 2025-2029 cycle. Frequently referred to as The Nation's Report Card, NAEP serves as a crucial tool in measuring student performance across various subjects such as mathematics and reading for students in grades 4, 8, and 12.

With this new five-year contract, ETS is poised to introduce groundbreaking innovations to the assessment process. This not only reflects the organization’s unwavering commitment to advancing educational standards but also aims to equip educators, policymakers, and parents with reliable insights to better support students in their academic journeys.

Scope of Work Under the Contract

Under the terms of this new agreement, ETS will undertake several crucial responsibilities to guarantee that NAEP continues to be the most reliable metric of student achievement in the U.S. Their outlined services include:

1. Program and Operations Coordination: This involves overseeing strategic planning and managing various contractors. ETS will also coordinate research and development initiatives to streamline operations among multiple partners.

2. Design, Analysis, and Reporting: ETS will develop NAEP assessments and special studies while conducting psychometric and statistical analyses. Additionally, they will produce various reporting tools that include insights from The Nation's Report Card.

3. Assessment Content Development: The creation of assessment components is vital, and ETS will focus on designing test questions, digital tasks, scoring rubrics, and surveys. This will involve conducting cognitive interviews and pilot tests, as well as managing translations and reviews of assessment items.

4. NAEP Platform Development: One of the most exciting future developments is the construction of an innovative and user-friendly digital assessment platform. This platform will support various systems, including the Assessment Management System and online tools for teachers and school administrators.

Commitment to Educational Advancement

Amit Sevak, the CEO of ETS, emphasized the organization's long-standing partnership with NCES and reiterated its mission to measure what matters. “It is our priority to ensure that NAEP remains the most accurate and trusted measure of student achievement in the U.S.,” noted Kadriye Ercikan, Senior Vice President of Global Research at ETS.

This upcoming cycle will integrate advanced features such as detailed descriptions of student skills demonstrated during assessments and the introduction of a new socio-economic status (SES) index. Such enhancements will provide stakeholders with deeper analytical insights crucial for driving student success.

ETS has been a vital ally in making NAEP the benchmark for educational evaluation since 1983, continually pioneering modernization efforts. Notable advancements include:

• - Transitioning from Paper to Digital: In 2017, the assessments shifted from paper-based formats to fully digital, creating adaptive and flexible testing environments.
• - Expanding Device Compatibility: By 2024, ETS will broaden device compatibility to include Microsoft Surface Pro tablets and Chromebooks, allowing students to utilize technology they are familiar with during assessments.
• - Future Device Transition: By 2026, ETS plans to facilitate a transition of NAEP assessments to school-managed devices such as desktops, laptops, or tablets. This move will enhance efficiency and align the assessment experience with other student evaluations.

Conclusion

As we look to the future, ETS remains dedicated to ensuring that NAEP continues to offer invaluable insights that contribute to human progress. The organization’s commitment to educational advancement is evident, highlighting its crucial role in shaping the landscape of education not only in the U.S. but globally.

About ETS

ETS is a global leader in education and talent solutions, aimed at equipping lifelong learners for future success. The organization advances measurement sciences to create fair and reliable skill assessments, committed to empowering individuals through educational opportunities.

For more information about ETS and its assessments, including the renowned TOEFL®, TOEIC®, GRE®, and Praxis® assessments, please visit www.ets.org.

About NAEP

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as The Nation's Report Card, is the largest ongoing assessment measuring U.S. students' academic knowledge and abilities, administered periodically across a representative sample of students nationwide. For additional details, you can visit NCES.