A national partnership for excellence in agriculture and education
The National Council for Agricultural Education (The Council) promotes positive growth in agricultural education by providing leadership for stakeholders in agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resource systems education and strives to provide a common meeting ground for agricultural education, representing students, teachers, teacher educators, state leaders, alumni, and supporters of agricultural education.
The Council leads the future of school-based agricultural education by:
Identifying opportunities and resources
Providing a forum for thought and direction
Focusing on academic and career success for all students
New National Program Benchmarks
The National Council for Agricultural Education proudly announces the release of the National Program Benchmarks (NPB), a comprehensive and modernized tool designed to support and strengthen secondary Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resource (AFNR) education programs across the United States. Replacing the former National Quality Program Standards (NQPS), the NPB offers a streamlined, user-friendly framework that empowers educators, administrators, and community partners to evaluate and enhance their local AFNR programs. The six categories of benchmarks reflect the key components of school-based agricultural education programs: Classroom, FFA, SAE, Educator Success, Facilities and Overall Program. Developed with input from over 60 educators and state leaders, the NPB provides clear rubrics, suggested evidence, and strategic planning tools to help programs set goals, measure progress, and drive continuous improvement. The tool also includes resources for going beyond the benchmarks, encouraging innovation and excellence in agricultural education.
