The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in geography is a periodic survey of geographic knowledge and skill of students at grades 4, 8, and 12. The first NAEP in geography was conducted in 1994 and the second in 2001. Like the 1994 assessment, the 2001 assessment probed students' ability to recall, understand, analyze, and interpret geographic information. Students were required to apply geography content to the completion of various practical tasks. Educators and researchers can evaluate progress in geography education by comparing the 2001 data with that from the 1994 NAEP in geography. This information will enable educators and researchers to evaluate whether or not children in the United States are developing the geographic skills and knowledge essential for effective participation in the economic and political activities of the nation. This digest discusses (1) the framework of the 2001 NAEP in geography; (2) the findings; (3) comparisons of the 1994 and 2001 national assessments in geography; and (4) conclusions about the significance and usefulness of the national assessment for the teaching of geography. (BT)