2010 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) Wave 1

NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS

Wave 1 Submittal for 2010
VOLUME II
Part 2i
BACKGROUND QUESTIONS
FOR 2010 ASSESSMENT

School Grade 8
SCP (School Characteristics and Policies) Questions
School Grade 8 Writing Questions
School Grade 8 Civics, Geography, U.S. History Questions
Charter School Questions

Part 1h contains:
School Grade 8 Questions
The amount of time estimated to complete this form is 30 minutes.
Updated June 12, 2009

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SCHOOL QUESTIONNAIRES
OMB Information on School Questionnaire Cover Page
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required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection
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data needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you
have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or
suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department
of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4537. If you have comments or
concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this
form, write directly to: NAEP/NCES, U.S. Department of Education,
1990 K Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006-5651.
A project of the Institute of Education Sciences.
The information you provide will be used for statistical purposes only. In
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OMB No. 1850-0790 Approval Expires 05/31/2010

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School SCP (School Characteristics and Policies) Questionnaire
Grade 8

This section has 22 questions. Mark your answers in your booklet. Select only one oval
for each question except where instructed otherwise.
VB337248

1. What grades are taught in your school? Fill in all ovals that apply. [4/8/12]
A Pre-kindergarten
B Kindergarten
C 1st grade
D 2nd grade
E 3rd grade
F 4th grade
G 5th grade
H 6th grade
I 7th grade
J 8th grade
K 9th grade
L 10th grade
M 11th grade
N 12th grade

VB556165

2. Do all students in your school follow the same school calendar? [4/8/12]
A Yes Æ Go to Question 3.
B No Æ Skip to Question 4.
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VC346268

3. Please indicate the number of hours of instruction that eighth-grade students in
your school completed as of February 1, 2010. Fill in the blocks below and then
skip to Question 5. [8]
__ , __ __ __ hours of instruction as of February 1, 2010

VB607887

4. For each group of students following a separate calendar, please indicate the
number of hours of instruction that eighth-grade students in your school
completed as of February 1, 2010. [8]
VB607888

First group: __ , __ __ __ hours of instruction as of February 1, 2010
VB607889

Second group: __ , __ __ __ hours of instruction as of February 1, 2010
VB607890

Third group: __ , __ __ __ hours of instruction as of February 1, 2010

VB337250

5. What is the current enrollment in your school? [4/8/12]
__ , __ __ __

VC189012

6. Approximately what percentage of eighth-graders in your school . . .
(Please be sure your answers sum to 100%.) [8]
VC189050

a.

is new this year?

_____%
VC189051

b. has been attending your school for 1–2 years?

_____%

c.

_____%

VC189053

has been attending your school for 3 or more years?
TOTAL

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91

100 %

VB337256

7. Of the students currently enrolled in your school, what percentage has been
identified as limited-English proficient? [4/8/12]
A 0%
B 1-5%
C 6-10%
D 11-25%
E 26-50%
F 51-75%
G 76-90%
H Over 90%

VC310911

8. Is your school a public charter school? [4/8/12]
(A charter school is a public school that, in accordance with an enabling state
statute, has been granted a charter exempting it from selected state or local rules
and regulations. A charter school may be a newly created school or it may
previously have been a public or private school.)
A Yes
B No

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VC311012

9. What other type of school is this? Fill in one oval on each line. [4/8]
Yes

No

a. Regular elementary school

A

B

b. A regular school with a magnet program

A

B

A

B

A

B

A

B

f. Private (independent)

A

B

g. Private (religiously affiliated)

A

B

h. Privately run public school

A

B

i. Other

A

B

c. A magnet school or a school with a special program
emphasis, e.g., science/math school, performing arts
school, talented/gifted school, foreign language
immersion school, etc.
d. Special education: a school that primarily serves
students with disabilities
e. Alternative: a school that offers a curriculum designed to
provide alternative or nontraditional education, not
clearly categorized as regular or special education

VC311014

VC311015

VC311016

VC311017

VC311018

VC311020

VC311021

VC311022

VC311024

HE000917

10. About what percentage of your students is absent on an average day? (Include
excused and unexcused absences in calculating this rate.) [4/8/12]
A 0–2%
B 3–5%
C 6–10%
D More than 10%

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LC000488

11. About what percentage of your teachers is absent on an average day? (Include all
absences in calculating this rate.) [4/8/12]
A 0–2%
B 3–5%
C 6–10%
D More than 10%

HE000918

12. About what percentage of students who are enrolled at the beginning of the
school year is still enrolled at the end of the school year? (Exclude students who
transfer into the school during the school year in figuring this rate.) [4/8/12]
A 98–100%
B 95–97%
C 90–94%
D 80–89%
E 70–79%
F 60–69%
G 50–59%
H Less than 50%

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HE002230

13. About what percentage of this year’s eighth graders was held back and is
repeating eighth grade? [8]
A 0%
B 1–2%
C 3–5%
D 6–10%
E More than 10%

HE000920

14. Of the full-time teachers who started in your school last year, what percentage
left before the end of the school year? [4/8/12]
A 0%
B 1–2%
C 3–5%
D 6–10%
E 11–15%
F 16–20%
G More than 20%

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HE002094

15. Does your school participate in the National School Lunch Program? [4/8/12]
A Yes Æ Go to Question 16.
B No Æ Skip to Question 19.

VB556173

16. How does the school operate the program? [4/8/12]
A Student eligibility is determined individually, and eligible students receive
free or reduced-price lunch. Æ Skip to Question 18.
B All students in school receive free lunch under special provisions (e.g.,
Provision 2 or 3). Æ Go to Question 17.

VE036139

17. If your school distributes free lunch to all students under Provision 2 or 3, what
was the base year during which individual student eligibility was collected?
[4/8/12]
A This school does not distribute free lunch to all students under Provision 2 or
3—eligibility is determined annually.
B 2009
C 2008
D 2007
E 2006
F 2005
G 2004 or earlier

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VB608487

18. During this school year, about what percentage of students in your school was
eligible to receive a free or reduced-price lunch through the National School
Lunch Program? [4/8/12]
A 0%
B 1-5%
C 6-10%
D 11-25%
E 26-34%
F 35-50%
G 51-75%
H 76-99%
I 100%
VB608488

19. Does your school receive Title I funding? (Title I is a federally funded program
which provides educational services, such as remedial reading or remedial math,
to children who live in areas with high concentrations of low-income families.)
[4/8/12]
A No
B Yes, our school receives funds, which are targeted to eligible students.
C Yes, our school receives funds, which are used for schoolwide purposes.

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VB485284

20. Approximately what percentage of students in your school receives the following
services? Fill in one oval on each line. Students who receive more than one
service should be counted for each service they receive. Please report the
percentage of students who receive each of the following services as of the day
you respond to this questionnaire. [4/8/12]
a. Targeted
Title I
services
b. Gifted and
talented
program
c. Instruction
provided in
student’s
home
language
(nonEnglish)
d. English-asa-secondlanguage
(not in a
bilingual
education
program)
e. Special
education

None

1-5%

6-10%

11-25%

26-50%

51-75%

76-90%

Over 90%

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

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VB610145

VB485286

VB485287

VB485288

VB485289

NEW

21. During a typical week of school, what is the total number of regularly scheduled
volunteers working in the school? (New) [4/8/12]
A0
B 1-3
C 4-6
D 7-10
E More than 10
NEW

For all teacher counts entered in item 22:
INCLUDE these types of teachers:
• Regular
• Special area or resource teachers (e.g., special education, Title I, art, music,
physical education)
• Long-term substitute teachers
INCLUDE these types of teachers:
• Itinerant teachers who teach part-time at this school
• Employees reported in other items of this section if they also have a part-time
teaching assignment at this school
DO NOT INCLUDE:
• Student teachers
• Short-term substitute teachers
• Teachers who teach ONLY pre-kindergarten or adult education
22. Around the first of October, how many TEACHERS held full-time or part-time
positions or assignments in this school? If none, please mark (X) the box.
(New) [4/8/12]
a. Full-time
___ None

or

_________

Full-time teachers

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------b. Part-time
___ None

2010 OMB Wave 1
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or

_________

Part-time teachers

99

School Questionnaire
Writing — Grade 8
This section has 8 questions. Mark your answers in your booklet. Fill in only one oval for
each question except where instructed otherwise.
1. In your school, are any of the following resources available to English/language
arts teachers? Fill in one oval on each line. (New) [4/8/12]
a. Mentor or lead teacher
assigned to help new
English/language arts teachers
with lesson plans, teaching
strategies, classroom
organization, etc.
b. Mentor or lead teacher
assigned to help experienced
English/language arts teachers
with lesson plans, teaching
strategies, classroom
organization, etc.
c. Reading and/or English/
language arts specialist

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Yes

No

A

B

A

B

A

B

NEW

NEW

NEW

VE032835

2. Are the following activities/programs offered in your school? Fill in one or more
ovals on each line. [4/8/12]

a. Schoolwide writing
initiative, such as
specific guidelines or
objectives for school
writing instruction
b. Literacy or writing
coaching for teachers
c. Professional
development in
writing or teaching
writing—for
English/language
arts teachers only
d. Professional
development in
writing or teaching
writing—for all
teachers

Yes, provided by
school or district
personnel

Yes, provided by
professionals outside of
my school or district

No

A

B

C

A

B

C

A

B

C

A

B

C

VE032874

VE032877
VE032894

VE032897

3. To what extent are students at your school asked to write in content areas other than
English/language arts—for example, in social studies, science, or mathematics
classes? (New) [4/8/12]
A Not at all
B Small extent
C Moderate extent
D Large extent

4. Does your school evaluate students’ computer proficiency? (New) [4/8/12]
A Yes
B No

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5. Does your school have policies on what students are allowed to do on school
computers (for example, access to the Internet, downloading, or use of certain
software)? (New) [4/8/12]
A Yes
B No

6. Does your school offer school-sponsored extracurricular activities such as clubs,
competitions, fairs, or exhibits involving writing activities? (New) [4/8/12]
A Yes
B No
7. Does your school or district offer summer programs in writing remediation or
enrichment to students? Fill in one oval on each line. (New) [4/8/12]

a. Remediation
b. Enrichment

Yes

No

A
A

B
B

NEW
NEW

8. How many computers does your school have for student use? (New) [4/8/12]
____, ____ ____ ____

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School Questionnaire
Civics, Geography US History — Grade 8
SECTION 4
This section has 7 questions. Mark your answers in your booklet. Fill in only one oval
for each question except where instructed otherwise.

VB338391

1. At what grade do students in your school typically take the following classes? Fill
in all ovals that apply. [8]

a. A class primarily
focused on U.S.
history
b. A class primarily
focused on
geography
c. A class primarily
focused on civics or
government

2010 OMB Wave 1
Grade 8 -Part 2 of 3

6th
grade

7th
grade

8th
grade

9th
grade

This class is
not offered
in my
school.

A

B

C

D

E

VB338392

A

B

C

D

E

VB338393

A

B

C

D

E

VB608491

103

VE015667

2. To what extent have you emphasized each of the following topics in your eighthgrade U.S. history curriculum? Fill in one oval on each line. [8]

a. Change and
continuity in
American
democracy
b. Gatherings and
interactions of
people from
various cultures
c. Technological
changes
d. Economic
changes
e. Changing role of
America in the
world

Not at
all

Small
extent

Moderate
extent

Large
extent

This topic is
not offered in
my school.

A

B

C

D

E

VE015668

A

B

C

D

E

VE015669

A

B

C

D

E

VE015670

A

B

C

D

E

VE015671

A

B

C

D

E

VE015672

VE015673

3. To what extent have you emphasized each of the following topics in your eighthgrade civics or government curriculum? Fill in one oval on each line. [8]

Not at
all

Small
extent

Moderate
extent

Large
extent

This topic
is not
offered in
my school.

a. Politics and
government
b. Foundations of the
American political
system
c. The U.S.
Constitution
d. World affairs

A

B

C

D

E

VE015674

A

B

C

D

E

VE015675

A

B

C

D

E

VE015676

A

B

C

D

E

VE015677

e. Roles of citizens in
American
democracy

A

B

C

D

E

VE015678

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VE015679

4. To what extent have you emphasized each of the following topics in your eighthgrade geography curriculum? Fill in one oval on each line. [8]

a. Space and place (i.e.,
basic concepts of
physical and human
geography)
b. Environment and
society (i.e., how
people adapt to,
depend on, and are
affected by the natural
environment)
c. Spatial dynamics and
connections (i.e.,
variation among
regions and how
people interact across
space via
communication,
transportation, trade)

Not at
all

Small
extent

Moderate
extent

Large
extent

This topic
is not
offered in
my school.

A

B

C

D

E

VE015680

A

B

C

D

E

VE015681

A

B

C

D

E

VE015682

VE015686

5. Does your school offer any of the following services for eighth-grade students who
fall behind or need extra help in social studies (e.g., U.S. history, civics, or
geography)? Fill in one oval on each line. [8]
a. Tutoring
b. Placement of instructional aids in classrooms
to provide assistance
c. Use of instructional aides for pull-out
instruction
d. Extra work or homework
e. Before- or after-school programs
f. Saturday classes
g. Summer school program
h. Extra help for English Language Learners

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Yes

No

A
A

B
B

VE015687

A

B

VE015691

A
A
A
A
A

B
B
B
B
B

VE015694

VE015690

VE015695
VE015696
VE015697
VE015698

VE015700

6. To what extent is your school’s social studies program for eighth-graders (e.g., U.S.
history, civics, or geography) structured according to the following resources? Fill
in one oval on each line. [8]

a. District curriculum
standards or frameworks
b. State curriculum standards
or frameworks
c. National curriculum
standards or frameworks
d. School-based curriculum
standards or frameworks
e. Results from district or
school assessments
f. Results from state
assessments
g. Results from national
assessments
h. Recommendations from
district social studies
department
i. Discretion of individual
teachers
j. Commercially designed
programs

Not at
all

Small
extent

Moderate
extent

Large
extent

A

B

C

D

VE015702

A

B

C

D

VE015701

A

B

C

D

NEW

A

B

C

D

VE015704

A

B

C

D

VE015705

A

B

C

D

VE015703

A

B

C

D

NEW

A

B

C

D

VE015706

A

B

C

D

VE015707

A

B

C

D

VE015708

VE015709

7. To what extent does your school’s eighth-grade social studies curriculum (e.g., U.S.
history, civics, or geography) focus on preparation for the following types of
assessments? Fill in one oval on each line. [8]
Not at
all

Small
extent

Moderate
extent

Large
extent
VE015711

a. District or school
assessments
b. State assessments

A

B

C

D

A

B

C

D

VE015710

c. National assessments

A

B

C

D

NEW

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Part IV: Supplemental Charter School Questions
This section should be completed by the principal or the head of the school. If your school
is a charter school please continue. If your school is not a charter school, you have finished
the survey. Thank you for your time.
1.

Is your school a public charter school? (VC311248) [4/8/12]
(A charter school is a public school that, in accordance with an enabling state statute,
has been granted a charter exempting it from selected state or local rules and
regulations. A charter school may be a newly created school, or it may previously have
been a public or private school.)
A YesÆ Go to Question 2
B NoÆ You have finished the survey. Thank you for your time.

2.

In which year did your school start providing instruction as a charter school? (VC104697)
[4/8/12]

3.

How many times has your charter been renewed? (Enter 0 if you have not had to
renew your charter yet.) (VC311249) [4/8/12]
Times

4.

If “0 Times” skip to Question 6.

In which year was your charter most recently renewed? (VC104700) [4/8/12]

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5.

For how many years was your charter renewed? (VC104701) [4/8/12]
A 1 to 3 years
B 4 to 5 years
C 6 to 10 years
D 11 or more years

6.

Who granted your school’s original charter? (VC104703) [4/8/12]
A School district
B State Board of Education (includes State Board of Regents and District of
Columbia Board of Education)
C Postsecondary institution
D State charter-granting agency
E City or state public charter school board
F Other

7.

Is your charter school a newly created school or was it converted from a pre-existing
school? (VC104705) [4/8/12]
A Newly created school Æ Skip to Question 9
B Converted from a pre-existing school Æ Go to Question 8

8.

Was the pre-existing school a public school or a private school? (VC104756) [4/8/12]
A Public school
B Private school

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9.

Which one of the following best describes your charter school’s primary focus in
terms of program content? (VC104758) [4/8/12]
A We have a comprehensive curriculum with no specialized area of focus.
B We have a special curricular focus, for example, the arts, math/science, foreign
language immersion.
C Our curriculum is based on a particular educational theory, for example,
Montessori, open school, Core Knowledge.
D Our curriculum is based on a particular moral philosophy or set of values, for
example, African-centered education, character-based education, Eastern
philosophy.

10. Among eighth-grade students who are new to your charter school this year,
approximately what percentage performs at or above average on your state
assessment? (VC104970) [4]
Percent

11. Does your school participate in the National School Lunch Program? (HE002094) [4/8/12]
A Yes Æ Skip to Question 13
B No Æ Go to Question 12
12. Why does your school not participate in the National School Lunch Program? (VC104793)
[4/8/12]
A My school has eligible students but chooses not to participate in the program.
B My school does not have students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.
C My school does not have a cafeteria or does not serve lunch.
D Other

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13. What is the legal status of your school? (VC104799) [4/8/12]
A Officially part of the school district or local education agency (LEA)
B Independent from the school district or local education agency (LEA)
C A separate local education agency (LEA) as stipulated by state law
14. Who has primary control or authority over the following aspects of your school?
Fill in one oval on each line. (VC104818) [4/8/12]

a. Total budget
b. Purchase of
supplies and
equipment
c. School calendar
d. Student discipline
policies (e.g.,
suspension/
expulsion)
e. Curriculum
f. Personnel,
including hiring
of teaching staff

2010 OMB Wave 1
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Your
school

Management
company

District/
chartergranting
agency

A

B

C

D

E

[4/8/12]

(VC104825)

A

B

C

D

E

[4/8/12]

(VC104832)

A

B

C

D

E

[4/8/12]

(VC104838)

A

B

C

D

E

[4/8/12]

(VC104842)

A

B

C

D

E

[4/8/12]

(VC104844)

A

B

C

D

E

[4/8/12]

(VC104846)

110

Governing
board/
board of
trustees

Other

[Same at:]

15. In which of the following areas is your school monitored/audited by the state or your
school’s charter-granting agency? Fill in one oval on each line. (VC319857) [4/8/12]

Yes, by
state

Yes, by
chartergranting
agency

Not
monitored

[Same at:]

a. Curriculum topics taught

A

B

C

[4/8/12]

(VC319867)

b. Teaching methods used

A

B

C

[4/8/12]

(VC319869)

c. Student achievement

A

B

C

[4/8/12]

(VC319870)

d. Student behavior

A

B

C

[4/8/12]

(VC319871)

e. Student attendance

A

B

C

[4/8/12]

(VC319873)

f. School governance

A

B

C

[4/8/12]

(VC319874)

g. School finances

A

B

C

[4/8/12]

(VC319875)

h. Compliance with state or
federal regulations

A

B

C

[4/8/12]

i.

A

B

C

[4/8/12]

Special education services

(VC319876)

(VC319878)

16. Are you required to report directly to any of the following groups on your school’s
progress? Fill in one oval on each line. (VC104905) [4/8/12]
Yes

No

[Same at:]

a. Chartering agency

A

B

[4/8/12]

(VC104943)

b. Parents

A

B

[4/8/12]

(VC104944)

c. Community/general public

A

B

[4/8/12]

(VC104945)

d. School governing board

A

B

[4/8/12]

(VC104946)

e. Private funders or donors

A

B

[4/8/12]

(VC104947)

f. State Board of Education

A

B

[4/8/12]

(VC104948)

g. State department of education (if this is not
the chartering agency)

A

B

[4/8/12]

(VC104949)

h. Legislature

A

B

[4/8/12]

(VC104950)

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Grade 8 -Part 2 of 3

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17. Have you asked parents why they chose to send their children to your school this year?
(VC345938) [4/8/12]
A No Æ You have finished the survey. Thank you for your time.
B Yes, we have asked some parents about this. → Go to Question 18.
C Yes, we have asked all or most of the parents. → Go to Question 18.

18. Of the parents you asked, about how many indicated that they chose to send their
children to your school for the following reasons? Fill in one oval on each line.
(VC316408) [4/8/12]

None

Less
than
half

About
half

About
threequarters

All or
almost
all

Did
not
ask

[Same at:]

A

B

C

D

E

F

[4/8/12]

(VC316413)

A

B

C

D

E

F

[4/8/12]

(VC316414)

A

B

C

D

E

F

[4/8/12]

(VC316416)

A

B

C

D

E

F

[4/8/12]

(VC316418)

A

B

C

D

E

F

[4/8/12]

(VC316424)

f. They wanted
smaller class sizes.

A

B

C

D

E

F

[4/8/12]

(VC316428)

g. Other reason

A

B

C

D

E

F

[4/8/12]

(VC316431)

a. Their child was
performing poorly
in another school.
b. They wanted a
more rigorous
curriculum for
their child.
c. They wanted the
particular
curricular focus
this school has.
d. They wanted a
safer environment
for their child.
e. They were seeking
greater parental
involvement in
their child’s
education.

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Grade 8 -Part 2 of 3

112