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Colorado National Assessment of Educational Progress
Relevant Websites
Contact
Collin Bonner
NAEP State Coordinator
Assessment Division
(303) 895-5750
Bonner_C@cde.state.co.us
Colorado 2024 Results
Interactive online format: The Nation’s Report Card: Colorado 2024 Mathematics and Reading Results
Important Announcements
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is beginning its assessments for the 2025-2026 school year. Please find below an outline of the upcoming assessment activities, including the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
In 2026, the following assessments will be administered:
Assessment / Subject
NAEP Mathematics and Reading
Civics
U.S. History
Grade or Age Level
Grades 4, 8,
Grade 8
Grade 8
Administration Window
January 26 – March 20, 2026
January 26 – March 20, 2026
January 26 – March 20, 2026
*Under the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, Colorado district applications for Title I funds include an assurance that the district will participate in the biennial NAEP Mathematics and Reading assessments at grades 4 and 8. The U.S. History, Civics, Long-Term Trend and international assessments are voluntary.
About The National Assessment of Educational Progress
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a.k.a. “the Nation’s Report Card,” is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America’s students know and can do in different subject areas. Its two major goals are to measure student achievement and to report change in performance over time. NAEP provides results for the nation as a whole and for the states separately.
Performance is reported by groups of students, e.g. by total, by gender, by racial and ethnic groups, and by participation in special programs such as those servicing students with special needs and limited English proficiency. Each of these assessments/studies is based on a representative sample of the student population of the state and the nation and none are designed to produce individual district, school or student data.
Beginning in 2003, participation in NAEP has been linked to Title I funding by the federal "No Child Left Behind Act" within Colorado. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), first passed in 1965. The ESEA Reauthorization of 2001 (No Child Left Behind) included language pertaining to participation in NAEP mathematics and reading at grades 4 and 8 for states and local districts that receive Title I funds. ESSA did not make any changes to the law regarding the authorization of or participation in NAEP. NAEP selects a sample of schools to participate as described here. Colorado and its schools selected for NAEP must participate in 4th and 8th grade assessments in reading and mathematics to receive state and district Title I funding.
NAEP has been transitioning to digital assessments for several years, initially using devices like Surface Pros and Chromebooks. The program is now shifting to a model where students take assessments on school-provided devices and internet access. This approach aims to create a more authentic testing experience by using the same laptops or tablets students already use for learning. It's a key step toward assessing students in a setting that reflects their day-to-day classroom environment.
Colorado 2025-2026 NAEP
Assessment window: January – March 20, 2026
Assessment Subjects/ Grades
Grades 4, 8 Mathematics, and Reading,
Test Mode
Computer Based Assessment
25 students per session with NAEP Devices
50 students per session with School Devices
Approximate Test Time
90 minutes per session
Past NAEP Results
Colorado 2022 Results
- Colorado 2022 NAEP Math and Reading News Release
- 2022 Colorado NAEP Snapshots
- Summary of Facts - 2022 NAEP Math Grades 4 and 8
- Summary of Facts - 2022 NAEP Reading Grades 4 and 8
- Colorado 2022 NAEP Grade 4 Math Graphics
- Colorado 2022 NAEP Grade 8 Math Graphics
- Colorado 2022 NAEP Grade 4 Reading Graphics
- Colorado 2022 NAEP Grade 8 Reading Graphics
Interactive online format: The Nation’s Report Card: 2022 Mathematics and Reading
Colorado 2019 Results
- Colorado 2019 NAEP Math and Reading News Release
- 2019 Colorado NAEP Snapshots
- Summary of Facts - 2019 NAEP Math Grades 4 and 8
- Summary of Facts - 2019 NAEP Reading Grades 4 and 8
- Colorado 2019 NAEP Grade 4 Math Graphics
- Colorado 2019 NAEP Grade 8 Math Graphics
- Colorado 2019 NAEP Grade 4 Reading Graphics
- Colorado 2019 NAEP Grade 8 Reading Graphics
Interactive online format: The Nation’s Report Card: 2019 Mathematics and Reading
Colorado 2017 Results
- 2017 Colorado NAEP Snapshots
- Summary of Facts - 2017 NAEP Math Grades 4 and 8
- Summary of Facts - 2017 NAEP Reading Grades 4 and 8
- Colorado 2017 NAEP Grade 4 Math Graphics
- Colorado 2017 NAEP Grade 8 Math Graphics
- Colorado 2017 NAEP Grade 4 Reading Graphics
- Colorado 2017 NAEP Grade 8 Reading Graphics
Interactive online format: The Nation’s Report Card: 2017 Mathematics and Reading
You can explore historical NAEP results for Colorado on the NAEP State Profile page. This resource provides a comprehensive overview of state performance, including trends, demographics, comparisons with other states, and detailed insights into student groups and achievement gaps.
NAEP Administration Resources
- About NAEP (Link)
- What Every Parent Should Know about NAEP (Link)
- What Every Parent Should Know about NAEP (Spanish) (Link)
- NAEP Sampling Guide (Link)
NAEP Assessment Frameworks
NAEP frameworks provide the blueprint for the content and design of each NAEP assessment.
For each framework, the NAEP Governing Board works with a committee of subject matter experts, practitioners, and members of the general public including researchers, educators, business leaders, and policymakers to develop a rich and rigorous set of standards that define what students should know and be able to do in a particular subject.
Additional Information
NAEP Data Tools and Interpretive Resources
Other Useful NAEP Resources
For an alternate format, please contact Collin Bonner
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