The description of achievement levels is important to the process of reporting student performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). A process was designed to develop achievement level descriptions (ALDs) for writing and civics. To begin, focus groups were conducted in each of the four NAEP regions for both writing and civics. Panels consisted of a mix of teachers, nonteacher educators, and general public members with 70 to 75 percent educators. The focus groups discussed preliminary versions of ALDs. The process worked well for writing focus groups, but not as well for civics focus groups. For the later focus groups, civic groups members were asked to recommend more general umbrella statements for the ALDs. Recommendations from the focus groups were reviewed by expert review panels, which modified the proposed ALDs. Original focus groups were asked to review the modified ALDs, and experts who participated in the development of the assessment were also asked to comment. The final versions were approved by the National Assessment Governing Board for pilot testing. Exhibits contain survey questionnaires. (Contains eight tables and four exhibits.) (SLD)