National Assessment Governing Board Nominations

National Assessment Governing Board Nominations
8/15/2008 1:40 PM

(August 13, 2008) -- request from Michael L. Schooley, Ed. D., Chief Advocacy and Membership Officer, National Association of Elementary School Principals

The Secretary of Education, the Honorable Margaret Spellings, and the National Assessment Governing Board, seek assistance in identifying qualified individuals to serve as members of the Governing Board.

In 1988 Congress passed legislation creating the Board, which is responsible for setting policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) — also known as The Nation’s Report Card. The legislation has been amended and reauthorized several times since 1988, most recently in 2002.

The statute provides that “…the Secretary and the Assessment Board shall ensure at all times that the membership of the Assessment Board reflects regional, racial, gender and cultural balance and diversity—and that the Assessment Board exercises its independent judgment, free from inappropriate influences and special interests.” Currently, the Board is comprised of 26 members who are widely representative of our nation and who serve four-year terms. As vacancies occur, new members of the Board are appointed by the Secretary from among candidates forwarded to the Secretary by the Board, after broad outreach to organizations, associations, and individuals. For each vacant position, the Board must nominate at least six persons who, by reason of experience or training, are qualified to serve as a Board member in a particular category. More detailed material about the Governing Board and NAEP is available at www.nagb.org.

Board members are considered special Federal employees. As such, they receive an honorarium while attending Board meetings; must abide by applicable laws and policies, including conflict of interest regulations; and are reimbursed for travel and other expenses in accordance with Federal guidelines. The Board meets regularly four times a year, and committees of the Board meet at other times, as necessary.

I am inviting you to submit your name for candidacy by September 5, 2008. For the Board to consider you as a candidate, please provide electronic copies of the following information to your state association executive director (P. Fred Storti, MESPA Executive Director, pfstorti@mespa.net):

Nominating letter. This letter should state the category for which the individual is being nominated (i.e., elementary school principal), and describe the candidate’s qualifications as they relate to the Board’s policy responsibilities for The Nation’s Report Card.

Full resume or curriculum vitae. A full resume or vitae is necessary to evaluate a candidate’s qualifications. Please note that a short biographical sketch is not sufficient for this purpose.

If you would like to be a candidate for this position, please provide the above information to your association executive director no later than September 5, 2008. Please submit the information electronically to:

P. Fred Storti, MESPA Executive Director, pfstorti@mespa.net

Mission: The Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association is dedicated to promoting and improving education for children and youth, strengthening the role as educational leader for elementary and middle level principals, and collaborating with partners in education to assist in achieving these goals.

Leading schools toward excellence through the MESPA vision to be the premiere resource for preparing today's principals for tomorrow and a strong leading voice for public education.

Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association

1667 North Snelling Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108

651.999.7310 MN toll free 800.642.6807

Fax: 651.999.7311 E-mail: mespa@mespa.net