NAEP Technical DocumentationPackaging and Distribution

The packaging and distribution effort for the NAEP assessment involves packaging and shipping student booklets for the paper-based assessment, student log-in cards for the digitally based assessment, questionnaires, and bulk supplies to the sampling and data collection (SDC) administrators. A materials distribution system software is used for this activity. Information such as shipping addresses, schools, scheduled assessment dates, student names, and all materials available for use by a participant are stored in this system. All student names are securely destroyed from the materials distribution system after the test administration begins.

Bar code technology is used in document control, as has been done since the 1990 NAEP assessment, for the paper-based assessments. Each document is identified with a unique identification (ID) number or bar code. Each form type (i.e., Test Book 1 and Test Book 2), is assigned a range of ID numbers. Bar codes reflecting this ID number are applied to the front covers of documents. Bar codes are created and used to identify the digital booklet assigned to each student taking the digitally based assessment. Bar codes are also applied to the paper teacher and school questionnaires or assigned to the questionnaires in NAEPq.

Spiraling and bundling of the NAEP booklets are done according to the pattern specified by the item development staff to capture the sample size needed for each subject per grade. The materials, distribution, processing, and scoring (MDPS) staff use the online bundle assignment and distribution system to complete the final packaging of paper booklets and log-in cards.

After test booklets are bar coded and spiraled, the MDPS staff members use the school and student data information received from the SDC staff to assign a bar coded booklet (either paper or digital) to each student listed. This information is sent to the SDC staff who upload the assigned booklets into their electronic administration form to be used by their data collection administrators.

Last updated 18 May 2023 (SK)

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