The 1990s show distinct changes from the 1960s in terms of the views held by education practitioners, policymakers, and the public concerning the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Developments such as the national education goals, the prospect of voluntary national education standards, and the possibility of a national system of assessments raise several issues for the NAEP. These issues include: (1) the role and purpose of the NAEP; (2) the alignment with national education standards; (3) assessment frameworks; (4) the role of the NAEP in relation to organizations that may be established to review or certify national standards and a system of assessments; (5) NAEP achievement levels; (6) an international component to the NAEP; (7) the NAEP as an anchor for linking state and local assessment systems with national and international results; (8) removing the prohibition against using NAEP results at the district or school level; and (9) annual assessment and reporting. Policy questions associated with each of these issues are discussed. (SLD)