Introduction to Local and National Norms

Equitable representation is influenced by the content of the tests used in the identification process (Naglieri & Otero, 2011), how the tests are used (Peters & Engerrand, 2016), and the definition of gifted and talented students. According to the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC, 2019), “students with gifts and talents perform—or have the capability to perform—at higher levels compared to others of the same age, experience, and environment in one or more domains.” Comparing students to their peers of the same age or grade can be accomplished by using national or local norms.

The Naglieri General Ability Tests allow Assessment Coordinators to generate both local and national norms so that decisions can be made in alignment with the local definition of gifted and talented as well as the needs of the individual school district.

The Local Norms Reports provide the results for a group of students that were tested in the same grade, with both grade- and age-based scoring options. The results are a direct comparison of any student in relation to all students in a specific school, district, or subdistrict. The National Norms Report provides a comparison to a student’s grade- or age-peers within a nationally representative sample. It is important to note that a Local Norms Report should only be generated once all testing within a grade is completed.

Please watch the following video for more information about local and national norms.

When to use National Norms vs. Local Norms

Selecting Norms

The Norm Type defines the sample against which a student’s scores are compared, with each option answering a different question about the student’s relative standing. The Naglieri General Ability Tests allow users to select from four norm types and generate multiple reports to make comparisons across different samples if desired.

In general, Grade-Based Local or National Norms are typically preferred for interpreting academic or achievement results because they compare students who have had similar levels of curriculum exposure and instructional opportunity. This norm type allows schools to evaluate performance relative to grade-level expectations. For the Naglieri General Ability Tests, this consideration is less influential as the test items are designed to minimize the impact of prior academic knowledge. As a result, any of the norm types may be appropriate, depending on the intended purpose of interpretation.

Norm type selection should be guided by the considerations outlined in Table 1, along with relevant state or district identification requirements.

Table 1. Norm Type Selection Considerations

Norm Type	Interpretive Lens	Appropriate Testing Approach	Local Population	Other Considerations
Grade-Based Local Norms	Understanding what score the student earns in relation to other students in their same grade within their local school, subdistrict or district.	✓ Universal Testing	Useful when the demographic makeup of the students within the school/subdistrict/district differs from the national population.
Age-Based Local Norms	Understanding what score the student earns in relation to other students their age, relative to their same grade peers within the local school, subdistrict or district.	✓ Universal Testing	Useful when the demographic makeup of the students within the school/subdistrict/district differs from the national population.	May be more appropriate when there is a wide age range within the grade-level being tested (i.e., students who are younger or older than the typical age for a given grade).
Grade-Based National Norms	Understanding what score the student earns in relation to other students of the same grade across the nation.	✓ Universal Testing ✓ Referral Testing	Useful when the demographic makeup of the students within the district is similar to the national population.
Age-Based National Norms	Understanding what score the student earns in relation to other students of the same age across the nation.	✓ Universal Testing ✓ Referral Testing	Useful when the demographic makeup of the students within the district is similar to the national population.	May be more appropriate when there is a wide age range within the grade-level being tested (i.e., students who are younger or older than the typical age for a given grade).

References