INFORMATIONAL

  In late February, the National Center for Educational
  Statistics (NCES) released the 1996 NAEP Mathematics Report
  Card for the Nation and the States. 

  For more than a quarter of a century, main NAEP has reported
  on the educational achievement of students in the United
  States.   The 1996 main NAEP  mathematics assessment was
  administered to approximately 6,000 students nationwide in
  each of  grades four, eight, and twelve.  

  A separate NAEP assessment, the state-level NAEP, was begun in
  1990  to report trends in performance for the nation and for
  states that choose to participate.  The 1996 state-level NAEP
  mathematics assessment was administered to approximately 2,500
  Virginia students in each of grades four and eight.  

  The NAEP 1996 Mathematics Report Card for the Nation and the
  States contains a summary of the data from the major
  demographic subpopulations of the nation and state.  It also
  contains charts that compare the mathematics proficiency of
  students in Virginia to those in each state and in the nation.

  A copy of the NAEP 1996 Mathematics Report Card for the Nation
  and the States and summaries of the document are enclosed. 
  Additional copies of the Report Card may be obtained from the
  World-Wide Webb at http://www.ed.gov/NCES/NAEP or by calling
  1-800-424-1616.  If  you have questions, please refer them to
  Dr. Marcia Perry, State NAEP Coordinator or Ms. Cam Harris,
  Acting Assistant Superintendent of Assessment and Reporting
  (804/225-2102).

   RTL/mp

  enc:    A hard copy of this memo and its enclosures will be sent
          to the superintendent's office   

     NAEP 1996  Mathematics Report Card for the Nation and the
       States
     Major Findings in Mathematics from the National Level
       ("Main") NAEP for 1996
     Major Findings  in Mathematics from the  State-level NAEP
       for 1996

   cc:    Division Testing Directors 
          DOE Regional Field Representatives