Improving Student Achievement: What State NAEP Test Scores Tell Us.

This report uses data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) from 1990 through 1996 to estimate score gains nationally and by state. It also uses these data to estimate the effects of varying levels and uses of per-pupil expenditures. The report also estimates the cost-effectiveness of the major alternatives for using educational resources. Overall, the results paint a more positive picture of U.S. education than is commonly portrayed. Both the level of expenditure per pupil and its allocation affected student achievement. It is concluded that differences in score increases across the states cannot be explained by resource changes and may provide initial evidence that educational reform is working. The chapters are: (1) "Introduction"; (2) "The State NAEP Achievement Results and State Family and Educational Characteristics"; (3) "Review of the Literature"; (4) "Methodology"; (5) "Trends in State Scores"; (6) "Estimating Scores across States for Students from Similar Families"; (7) "Effects of State Educational Policies"; (8) "Assessing the Cost-Effectiveness of Different Resource Utilizations"; and (9) "Conclusions." Twelve appendixes contain additional information about statistical results and NAEP outcomes. (Contains 27 figures, 61 tables, and 145 references.) (SLD)