In the most recent assessment in 2009, less than half of all U.S. students in grades 4 and 8 performed at the desirable levels of proficient and advanced(39 percent in fourth grade and 34 percent in eighth grade) (National Center for Education Statistics, 2009b). Although No Child Left Behind legisla- tion specifies that all students must be at or above the proficient level by 2014, current NAEP data suggest hat goal is likely unattainable