National participation rates in music and visual arts

The school participation rate for the arts assessment was 97 percent (99 percent for public schools and 76 percent for private schools for both music and visual arts). To ensure unbiased samples, NCES statistical standards require that nonresponse bias analyses be conducted for any school or student group with a participation rate that falls below 85 percent.

NCES statistical standards require that nonresponse bias analysis be conducted for any school or student group with a participation rate that falls below 85 percent. The participation rates for the 2008 NAEP arts assessment indicated a need for a school non-response bias analysis for the private school sample. The results showed that school substitution and non-response adjustments were not effective in reducing non-response bias for the percentage of Hispanic students enrolled and type of private schools (Catholic and other private schools). Disproportionate nonresponse resulted in an overestimation of the percentage of Hispanic students, an overestimation in the percentage of Catholic school students, and an underestimation of the percentage of other non-Catholic school students.