The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is an integral measure of academic progress across the nation and over time. It is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what our nation's students know and can do in various subjects such as civics, mathematics, reading, and U.S. history. The program also provides valuable insights into students' educational experiences and opportunities to learn in and outside of the classroom. NAEP is a congressionally mandated program administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences. The 2024 program will include: (1) assessments in mathematics and reading at grades 4, 8, and 12 and science at grade 8; (2) pilot testing in mathematics and reading at grades 4 and 8, to help improve future NAEP assessments and ensure that they continue to be a reliable measure of student achievement; and (3) survey questionnaires for participating students, teachers, and principals, to provide a better understanding of factors that may be related to students' learning. This brief report explains why NAEP is important and how it is administered. [For "NAEP 2023 Facts for Districts. Grades 4, 8, and 12 Field Test," see ED648474.]