[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 47 (Friday, March 10, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 13136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-5898]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA No.: 84.999F]
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Program
Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year 1995
Purpose of Program: To conduct data collection for the national
component of NAEP in 1996, 1997, and 1998; to monitor data collection
for the State component of the 1996 and 1998 NAEP assessments; and to
prepare sampling weights for the State and national components of the
1996, 1997, and 1998 assessments. It is anticipated that the 1996 NAEP
will be conducted at the national level in reading, mathematics and
science in grades 4, 8 and 12 and at the State level in mathematics and
science in grade 8 and possibly at grade 4. The 1997 NAEP will be a
national assessment of the arts (dance, theater, music, visual arts)
conducted in grade 8 only, with a smaller than normal sample of
students. (However, increases in the scope of the arts assessment are
possible.) It is anticipated that the 1998 NAEP will assess reading,
writing and mathematics at the national level, and reading and writing
at the State level in grades 4, 8, and 12. NAEP supports the National
Education Goals by providing measures of progress toward National
Education Goal Three, student competency over challenging subject
matter.
Eligible Applicants: Public, private, for-profit, and non-profit
institutions, agencies, and other qualified organizations or consortia
of such institutions, agencies, and organizations.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 25, 1995.
Applications Available: March 15, 1995.
Available Funds: The Department estimates that about $800,000 can
be made available in fiscal year 1995 for this project.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82,
85, 86; and (b) The regulations in 34 CFR Part 98 (Students Rights in
Research, Experimental Activities, and Testing).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Assessment of Educational
Progress is authorized by Section 411 of the National Education
Statistics Act of 1994, Title IV of the Improving America's Schools Act
(20 U.S.C. 9010). Section 412 (20 U.S.C. Secs. 9011) of this law
provides for the establishment of the National Assessment Governing
Board (NAGB). The law requires NAGB, among other responsibilities, to
formulate the policy guidelines for the National Assessment and select
the subject areas to be assessed. Copies of these guidelines are
available from the Department. One cooperative agreement is currently
in effect to develop, field test, revise, and prepare for a State and
national component of NAEP in 1996. There will be a separate
announcement for scoring, analyzing, and reporting data from the 1996,
1997, and 1998 assessments. This notice is limited to seeking
applications for activities in connection with the 1996, 1997 and 1998
NAEP assessments.
Priorities:
Absolute Priority: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and 20 U.S.C.
Secs. 9010-9011, the Secretary gives an absolute preference to
applications that meet the following priority. The Secretary, under 20
U.S.C. Secs. 9010-9011, funds under this competition only applications
that meet this absolute priority:
Collection of data for the 1996, 1997, and 1998 NAEP and
preparation of sampling weights for the State and national components
of the 1996, 1997, and 1998 assessments.
The grantee must perform these activities in accordance with
guidelines developed by the NAGB.
Invitational Priority: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) the Secretary is
particularly interested in applications that meet the following
invitational priority. However, an application that meets this
invitational priority does not receive competitive or absolute
preference over other applications:
Conduct Transcript Study based upon graduating seniors in the 1996
NAEP sample.
Selection Criteria
Applications are evaluated according to the selection criteria in
34 CFR 75.210. Under 34 CFR 75.210(c), the Secretary is authorized to
distribute an additional 15 points among the selection criteria to
bring the total possible points to a maximum of 100 points. For the
purpose of this competition, the Secretary will distribute the
additional points as follows:
Plan of operation (34 CFR 75.210(b)(3)). Fifteen (15) additional
points will be added for a possible total of 30 points for this
criterion.
For Applications or Information Contact: Steven Gorman, U.S.
Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW., Room 308b,
Washington, DC 20208-5653. Telephone: (202) 219-1761. Individuals who
use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
Information about the Department's funding opportunities, including
copies of application notices for discretionary grant competitions, can
be viewed on the Department's electronic bulletin board (ED Board),
telephone (202) 260-9950; or on the Internet Gopher Server at
GOPHER.ED.GOV (under Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases).
However, the official application notice for a discretionary grant
competition is the notice published in the Federal Register.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 9010, 9011.
Dated: March 6, 1995.
Sharon P. Robinson,
Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 95-5898 Filed 3-9-95; 8:45 am]
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