About NAEP

Read An Overview of NAEP, a brochure about the NAEP assessments.

The first NAEP assessments were administered in 1969. Today, NAEP is recognized as the gold standard of assessments.

NAEP is at the forefront of innovative assessments that reflect technological and content-based shifts within the field, and NCES continually enhances reporting methods to meet the needs and interests of the educational community.

NAEP assessments reflect technological and content-based shifts within the field of education, and reporting methods are continually enhanced in response to the needs and interests of the educational community.

Policymakers, educators, the media, and the assessment community all use NAEP results to assess progress, report on education, and contribute to improving education in the United States.

NAEP supports and implements policy to ensure the assessments are accessible to students with disabilities (SD) and English language learners (ELL).

By law, NCES is responsible for carrying out the operational components of NAEP. The National Assessment Governing Board, an independent body of educators, community leaders, and assessment experts, sets NAEP policy.

The NCES Assessment Division has contracts with several organizations and individual states/jurisdictions to carry out the NAEP assessments.