The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as the nation’s report card, is administered every two years to a representative sample of students. However, private schools are not required to participate, leading to concerns that the test is becoming less representative as more students exit public schools. This gap could affect the accuracy of national education data.
Key Points
- NAEP tests public school students but excludes most private ones due to voluntary participation.
- Rising enrollment in private schools reduces NAEP’s representativeness of all U.S. students.
- This matters for understanding national education trends and policy decisions.
Implications for Educational Freedom
This highlights how school choice and parental decisions to opt for private education expose limitations in government-mandated assessments like NAEP, empowering families by demonstrating that true educational outcomes extend beyond public metrics. It underscores the need for policies that respect parental rights and reduce reliance on centralized testing.
Source: Why So Few Private School Students Take NAEP — And Why it Matters