This report presents the national and state results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessment in reading, and compares them to results from assessments in 2003 and in the first year data were available, usually 1992. In 2005, nationally representive samples of more than 165,000 fourth-grade and 159,000 eighth-grade students nationwide participated in this assessment. Results are presented in two ways: in terms of scale scores and as the percentage of students scoring at or above three benchmarks called "achievement levels." NAEP reading scores are reported for grades 4 and 8 on a 0-500 scale. Scale score results also are presented for students at various percentiles. NAEP results are reported at three achievement levels: Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. Achievement levels are performance standards showing what students should know and be able to do. Key findings of this study indicate that, for grade 4, the national average reading score was two points higher in 2005 than in 1992, and one point higher than in 2003; there was no significant difference in the percentage of students performing at or above "Basic" in 2005 compared to 2003, and the percentage performing at or above "Proficient" increased from 29 percent in 1992 to 31 percent in 2005. For grade 8, it was found that the national average reading score was two points higher in 2005 than in 1992, but one point lower than in 2003. The percentage of eighth-graders performing at or above "Basic" was higher in 2005 than in 1992, but one percentage point lower than in 2003, while the percentage performing at or above "Proficient" decreased one point between 2003 and 2005 and was not significantly different from the percentage in 1992. (Contains 20 tables and 12 figures.)