INFORMATIONAL

  Enclosed is the report of the NAEP 1996 Science Report Card
  for the Nation and the States. A summary of the results of
  the NAEP 1996 Science Report Card was reported in
  Informational Superintendents Memorandum No. 78, dated May
  2, 1997. As you will recall, this report had not been
  printed when the results were released on May 2, 1997 by the
  National Center for Education Statistics. At that time the
  report was available only on the Internet.

  Typically, student performance on NAEP assessments is
  summarized as (1) an average scale score and (2) the percent
  of students performing at various achievement levels. The
  enclosed report, NAEP 1996 Science Report Card for the
  Nation and the States, presents only scale score results. An
  additional report on the achievement level results will be
  published and sent to you in the fall of 1997.

  Additional copies of this or other NAEP reports may be
  obtained by calling 1-800-424-1616 or you may order
  additional copies on the Internet at
  http://www.ed.gov/NCES/NAEP. If you have questions, please
  phone Kevin Hughes, Assessment Specialist or Cam Harris,
  Assistant Superintendent, Assessment and Reporting at
  804/225-2102. 


  RTL/mwc

  Enclosure:   A hard copy of this memo and its attachment
               will be sent to the superintendent's office.

  cc:     Regional DOE Field Representatives

  enc:    NAEP 1996 Science Report Card for the Nation and the
          States