National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) frameworks describe the content and skills measured on NAEP assessments as well as the design of the assessment. They provide both the "what" and the "how" for national assessment. Representing the best thinking of thousands of educators, experts, parents, and policymakers, NAEP frameworks describe a broad range of what students learn and the skills they can demonstrate in reading, mathematics, writing, science, history, civics, economics, foreign language, geography, and the arts. NAEP is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas. The frameworks represent a vision for America's future. This paper discusses the following: (1) the audience for NAEP frameworks; (2) how NAEP assessment framework is developed; (3) how a governing board policy determines the development of NAEP frameworks; (4) the content-specific issues NAEP framework committees must address; and (5) what states and local districts can learn from NAEP assessment frameworks and the framework assessment process. [This paper was commissioned for the 20th Anniversary of the National Assessment Governing Board 1988-2008.]