Seeking Civics Framework Panelists

June 01, 2026 12:00 AM - June 30, 2026 11:59 PM, EST

The Governing Board is looking for panelists to serve on the NAEP Civics Assessment Framework Development Panel, an opportunity to update and shape the content knowledge and skills assessed on the NAEP Civics Assessment.

The Board seeks stakeholders with a variety of experiences and perspectives and who come from across the U.S. The Board expects to invite 20 individuals to serve on the panel, including:

4th, 8th, and 12th grade civics teachers
Academic and research experts
Curriculum specialists
State social studies specialists
District social studies specialists
Assessment experts, particularly those with civics assessment experience

Apply

Applications open on June 1, and the deadline to apply is June 30, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

What to Expect

Submit a resume or CV.
Answer a series of questions related to professional background and experience in civics education and assessment.
Finalists will be contacted by the Board by August.

Apply here or nominate a candidate to serve on the Civics Framework Development Panel.

About the NAEP Civics Framework

The NAEP Civics Framework and the assessment and item specifications define what content knowledge and skills students in 4th, 8th, and 12th grade 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 and its work follow the Board’s Assessment Framework Development Policy. Frameworks are developed in an open environment; the Development Panel considers all viewpoints and debates pertinent issues to formulate consensus recommendations on the content and design of a NAEP assessment, including findings from research. The Governing Board makes the final determination about what is included in the assessment frameworks from the expert guidance and recommendations of the panel members.

Frequently Asked Questions

Teacher panelists are eligible if they teach content that includes civics, but the class does not need to exclusively be a civics class.

Teachers are eligible if they have students who are in 4th, 8th, or 12th grade. If they teach students in multiple or mixed grades, at least some of their students must be in 4th, 8th, and 12th grade. Teachers who exclusively teach students in other grades are not eligible.

Yes. Teachers from public, charter, and private schools are encouraged to apply.

There is a substantial time commitment involved in this work. Panelists will need to be available to attend four, two-day meetings in Washington, DC, and several additional virtual meetings. There is some flexibility in the amount of asynchronous work that panelists choose to engage in, but the total time commitment is approximately 15-20 days of work over a one-year period.

Yes, there will be four, two-day meetings in Washington, DC, scheduled between fall 2026 and summer 2027. Travel costs will be covered in accordance with federal travel regulations.

Yes, panelists will be compensated $500 per day.

In accordance with the Framework Development Policy, the Assessment Development Committee will review applications and put forth a slate of panelists for approval by the Board’s Executive Committee. The Board will ensure that the Framework Development Panel includes expertise in all aspects of civics content knowledge and skills; and that multiple stakeholder groups and perspectives are included to successfully implement the Board’s charge.

Yes. In accordance with the Framework Development Policy, an Educator Advisory Committee, a Technical Advisory Committee, and a Civics Content Advisory Group will be convened to support this work in addition to the Framework Development Panel. The Governing Board will also be seeking public comment on a draft of the revised NAEP Civics Framework in spring 2027.

Sharyn Rosenberg at Sharyn.Rosenberg@ed.gov.