"The Nation's Report Card," as NAEP is often called, is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various academic subjects. Since 1969, assessments have been conducted periodically in reading, mathematics, science, writing, and other subjects. By making objective information on student performance available to policymakers at the national, state, and local levels, NAEP is an important part of our nation's evaluation of the condition and progress of education. NAEP is a congressionally mandated project of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

An Independent, Representative Board

In creating an independent Governing Board, Congress established a system of checks and balances for NAEP -- NAGB, which sets policy; NCES, which administers the program; and test contractors, who develop and carry out the assessments. To make sure NAGB is widely representative, the law requires that the Board be composed of:

• Two Governors, or former Governors, of different political parties

• Two state legislators, of different political parties

• Two chief state school officers

• One superintendent of a local education agency

• One member of a state board of education

• One member of a local board of education

• Three classroom teachers representing the grade levels (4th, 8th, and 12th) at which the National Assessment is conducted

• One representative of business or industry

• Two curriculum specialists

• Three testing and measurement experts

• One nonpublic school administrator or policymaker

• Two school principals, one elementary and one secondary

• Four additional members who are representative of the general public, including parents

• The Director of the Institute of Education Sciences (ex-officio)