National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees The Nation's Report Card, seeks five new members

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The board that oversees the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is seeking nominations for five new members. The four-year terms begin Oct. 1, 2018.

Established by Congress, the 26-member National Assessment Governing Board sets policy for NAEP, also known as The Nation's Report Card, the nation's only representative assessment of what students know and can do in various subjects. Governing Board members, in collaboration with the National Center for Education Statistics, determine the content and achievement levels for each assessment, approve all test questions, take steps to improve the reporting of results, and determine what subjects will be tested.

Nominations are being accepted through Oct. 31 at https://www.nagb.org/governing-board/join-the-board.html for the following five Governing Board positions:

• Fourth-grade teacher
• Eighth-grade teacher
• Secondary school principal
• Chief state school officer
• General public representative

Last November, the Governing Board approved a Strategic Vision to guide its priorities and initiatives through 2020. New members will support efforts to innovate NAEP, as well as expand outreach and partnerships to increase its impact.

"Board members play a crucial role in ensuring that NAEP remains the gold standard in student assessment," Governing Board Chair Terry Mazany said. "As The Nation's Report Card becomes entirely digital and education continues to evolve, the insights of passionate and qualified new members will be ever more important."

A new feature this year is the ability for organizations and individuals to nominate qualified candidates online. Nominations can be submitted easily online by uploading a personal statement, curriculum vitae or resume, and letter(s) of support.

By law, the membership of the Governing Board reflects diversity in region, race, gender, and culture. In addition to the five open positions, the Governing Board includes governors, state legislators, local and state school officials, superintendents, a representative of business/industry, a 12th-grade teacher, curriculum specialists, a nonpublic school administrator/policymaker, and testing and measurement experts. Board members serve four-year terms.

The U.S. secretary of education will appoint new members from a list of finalists selected by the Governing Board. The term for each position is Oct. 1, 2018, to Sept. 30, 2022. The deadline for submitting nominations is Oct. 31, 2017.

If you have questions about submitting a nomination, contact Lisa Stooksberry, the Governing Board's deputy executive director, at [email protected] or 202-357-6941.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress is the only nationally representative, continuing evaluation of the condition of education in the United States. It has served as a national yardstick of student achievement since 1969. Through The Nation's Report Card, NAEP informs the public about what American students know and can do in various subject areas and compares achievement between states, large urban districts, and various student demographic groups.

The National Assessment Governing Board is an independent, bipartisan board whose members include governors, state legislators, local and state school officials, educators, business representatives, and members of the general public. Congress created the 26-member Governing Board in 1988 to oversee and set policy for NAEP.

NAEP is a congressionally authorized project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The National Center for Education Statistics, within the Institute of Education Sciences, administers NAEP. The commissioner of education statistics is responsible by law for carrying out the NAEP project.

SOURCE The National Assessment Governing Board