Maria V. Gamba-Riedel, associate professor of business and economics at The University of Findlay, was chosen as one of 40 panelists from a nationwide pool of approximately 250 nominees to participate in a pilot study for setting achievement standards for the 2006 Grade 12 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in economics.

“Determining the achievement standards is an interesting procedure,” said Gamba-Riedel. “It is scientifically designed, and all panel members are restricted from sharing specifics about the process to prevent the chance of any student gaining an unfair advantage.”

Panelists were chosen for their contributions to economics instruction and to their communities. The group met in St. Louis with staff from ACT Inc. and other experts in economics for four days of activities related to judging the performance of U.S. students on the economics NAEP according to the standards for achievement at the basic, proficient and advanced levels established by the National Assessment Governing Board.

Commonly known as “The Nation’s Report Card,” the NAEP periodically tests samples of fourth, eighth and twelfth grade students in various subjects. The economics assessment was administered for the first time earlier this spring.

Performance of twelfth-grade students will be reported in 2007 according to the new criteria that are being developed. The criteria will then be held as a benchmark for determining whether the United States has made any progress in economics instruction when future students are tested.

The U.S. Secretary of Education will release information about students’ 2006 economics performance before the end of 2007 in the “Nation’s Report Card for Economics.”

ACT Inc. sponsors the ACT Assessment, the college-entrance exam taken annually by approximately 60 percent of students who enroll as America’s college freshmen.