This handbook describes the procedures used to develop, administer, and analyze the results of the 1978-79 art assessment of 9-year-olds, and 17-year-olds by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The primary purpose of the handbook is to provide detailed procedural information for people interested in replicating the assessment or in need of more information than is provided in the reports containing assessment data. The seven chapters cover objectives redevelopment, exercise creation, preparation of assessment booklets, sampling data collection, scoring, and data analysis. Each chapter explains the basic procedures used for the 1978-79 art assessment and contrasts the procedures to those used in earlier years (if there were changes). Appendices include definitions of reporting groups used by NAEP, forms used to gather background information about students and schools, response rates, computation of achievement measures, and procedures for smoothing respondent weights. A glossary of National Assessment terms is provided at the end of the book. Primary type of information provided by report: Procedures (Overview). (Author/RM)