National Assessment Governing Board to restore previously cut NAEP exams

“The National Assessment Governing Board is restoring part of its original schedule for the National Assessment of Educational Progress after cuts that were made last year due to a pared down staff and shifting resource allocations. The NAGB — which sets policy for and administers the exam also known as the Nation's Report Card — decided in its latest quarterly meeting that it would restore assessments for state-level 12th grade reading and math in 2032, which had been cut last year among a list of other changes. "These efforts are part of additional assessment schedule changes that restore assessments initially removed last year due to shifting resource allocations and adds new state-based opportunities," the NAGB announced May 15, as part of its quarterly board meeting. In May 2025, the board cut 2032's scheduled reading and math assessments for 12th graders on the state level, in addition to: 2028: Science for 4th graders on the national level and for 8th graders participating in T he Trends in Urban Districts Assessment — previously known as the Trial Urban District Assessment program, or TUDA. 2029: Long-term trend assessment for student cohorts . 2030: U.S. history for 12th graders on the national level and for 8th graders on the state level. 2032: Science for 12th graders on the national level and for 8th graders participating in TUDA. Writing for 4th, 8th and 12th grades on the national level. At the time the board said it "revised the assessment schedule due to the U.S. Department of Education’s stated need to find efficiencies in all Departmental activities, including NAEP." The changes followed mass layoffs at the department in March 2025 that left the National Center for Education Statistics, the office overseeing NAEP, with only a handful of employees. The board's vote to restore a slim part of its original schedule comes as the Education Department is also taking a step back on other cuts made as part of Secretary of Education Linda McMahon's efforts to reduce red tape. The department's Office for Civil Rights, for example, is hiring attorneys again after shuttering nearly half of its offices nationwide and laying off over 240 employees . More state-level data to be available In addition to restoring 12th grade reading and math in 2032, states will have the option, starting in 2028, to receive more state-level standardized assessment data in certain subjects and grades. Currently, state-level NAEP data is only available in two core areas: 4th and 8th grade math and reading. Other NAEP results are only reported out for the nation as a whole. Beginning in 2028, states can voluntarily opt into receiving scores at no additional cost in the following areas: 8th and 12th grade civics 12th grade math and reading 8th grade science NCES is expected to reach out to state chiefs, deputies and assessment directors this fall to begin the process for states to commit to the 2028 assessments. States would have to sign participation agreements by Jan. 31, 2027, to be included. "Over the next few years, states will get the opportunity to have additional state NAEP results, allowing their leaders to see more clearly how their students are doing over time and compared to their peers elsewhere," NAGB Chair Mark White, who is also a Tennessee state representative, said in a Friday statement. "We've seen states, including my own, use NAEP data to push for positive changes in elementary and middle school reading and math," White said. "I hope this leads more states to take similar steps to improve student outcomes in these other important areas."

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