The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), established in 1969, is the largest continuing national assessment of student knowledge and abilities in subjects such as mathematics, reading, science, and writing. The results, known as The Nation's Report Card, are used by educators, policymakers, and researchers to assess educational progress and develop improvement strategies. Administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) under the U.S. Department of Education, NAEP provides a standardized measure of student achievement across the nation, states, and some urban districts.