National Assessment Governing Board Announces August Meetings

You might care about this because the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) has announced its upcoming quarterly and committee meetings for August 6-7, 2026. These meetings are where important decisions are made about the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often called "The Nation's Report Card." The notice provides the agenda, times, and how people can join these sessions. Some meetings will be open to the public, while others will be closed due to sensitive topics. The NAGB sets policy for how NAEP measures student achievement across the country in subjects like reading and math. They are responsible for choosing what subjects to test, setting achievement levels, and making sure the tests are fair and accurate. They also decide how the test results are shared with the public. Anyone interested in attending must register in advance, whether they plan to be there in person or virtually. Information about how to register and the full agendas for the open sessions will be available on the NAGB website about five business days before the meetings. The notice also explains that public input is welcome through written comments. What is particularly interesting about this notice is how it balances public transparency with the need to protect sensitive information. The NAGB is a public body, and many of its discussions are open for anyone to observe. This allows the public to see how national education policies are formed and how assessments are developed. However, some sessions are closed. This is because they will discuss things like unreleased test content, confidential budget details, or information about specific personnel. For example, discussions about future test questions or the financial details of contracts for creating tests need to remain private to ensure the fairness and security of the assessment process. Likewise, talks about individual appointments or internal staff matters are kept private to protect people's privacy. This mix of open and closed meetings highlights the complex nature of managing a national assessment program, where public oversight is important, but certain operational details must be handled with care. People who would be most interested in this legal document include a wide range of individuals and groups. Educators, such as teachers, principals, and school administrators, will find it relevant because the NAGB directly shapes the national tests that affect their students and curriculum. Parents might be interested in understanding how their children's education is measured at a national level. Education researchers and academics could follow these meetings to stay informed about assessment methodology and policy changes. Policymakers and government officials who deal with education funding and standards will also find the discussions important. Anyone working in educational publishing or curriculum development would also benefit from understanding the future directions of NAEP. Finally, any member of the public concerned about the quality and standards of education in the United States, and how student achievement is measured, would find these announcements highly relevant.