NAEP Civics Framework Panels

The NAEP Civics Framework and the assessment and item specifications define what content knowledge and skills students in 4th, 8th, and 12th grades should be able to demonstrate on the NAEP assessment.

The Board has charged panelists to:

• Focus on necessary changes to the framework that reflect the evolution of the nation's civic and political processes.

• Center civics content knowledge, with the inclusion of civic skills and dispositions only through the application of that content knowledge.

• Draw from primary and authentic sources, with special attention paid to the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution (including the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments), The Federalist Papers, and other foundational texts, statutes, and court rulings.

• Represent application of knowledge in a nonpartisan manner.

• Be informed by, but not determined by, state civics standards and the implementation of those standards.

The panel's work follows the Board's Assessment Framework Development Policy. Frameworks are developed in an open environment; the Development Panel considers all viewpoints, weighs research findings, and debates pertinent issues so they can formulate consensus recommendations on the content and design of a NAEP assessment. The Governing Board makes the final determination about what is included in the assessment frameworks based on the expert guidance and recommendations of these panel members.

The NAEP Civics framework development work (with the exception of the Civics Content Advisory Group) is supported by Governing Board contract # 91995926F0007 to WestEd. The Civics Content Advisory Group is supported by Governing Board contract # 91995926F0006 to Democracy International.