The National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) is a major new panel study of educational outcomes sponsored by the Center for Education Statistics of the United States Department of Education. The NELS:88 is designed to provide trend data about critical transitions experienced by young people as they develop, attend school, and embark on their careers. Initially focusing on eighth graders, the cohort will be reassessed at two-year intervals. Six papers delivered during this symposium include: (1) "The National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988: NELS:88, Its Design and Objectives" (S. J. Ingels); (2) "The National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 School Survey" (R. P. Russo); (3) "The National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 Teacher Survey" (R. P. Russo); (4) "The Design and Validation of the NELS Test Battery" (D. A. Rock and J. M. Pollack); (5) "Methodological Experiments of the NELS:88 Field Test Student Survey" (S. R. Lucas); and (6) "Methodological Experiments of the NELS:88 Field Test Parent Survey" (B. B. Simon). (TJH)