[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 173 (Thursday, September 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46582-46583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22189]



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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Assessment Governing Board; Hearings

AGENCY: National Assessment Governing Board; Education.

ACTION: Notice of hearings.

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SUMMARY: The National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), U.S. 
Department of Education, is announcing three public hearings. These 
hearings will be conducted as part of the Council of Chief State School 
Officers' contract with NAGB for the purpose of developing an 
assessment framework and specifications for the National Assessment of 
Educational Progress (NAEP) in Civics. Public and private parties and 
organizations with an interest in civics education and assessment are 
invited to present written and oral testimony to the Council.
    Each hearing will focus on the first draft of a framework for the 
national assessment of civics education for NAEP which will be given to 
a national sample of students in grades 4, 8, and 12. The results of 
the hearings are particularly important because they will provide broad 
public input in developing the civics education assessment framework to 
be used in the planned national NAEP examination. This assessment will 
measure American students' progress in civics education. These hearings 
are being conducted pursuant to Public Law 103-382 which states, ``The 
Board shall develop assessment objectives and specifications through a 
national consensus approach which includes the active participation of 
teachers, curriculum specialists, local school administrators, parents, 
and concerned members of the general public.''

DATES: The dates of the three public hearings have been set as follows:
     October 25, 1995 in Washington, DC.
     November 10, 1995 in Chicago, Illinois.
     November 16, 1995 in Seattle, Washington.
    The first hearing is scheduled from 10:00 to 2:00 pm and will be 
conducted in the Hall of States in the National Guard Memorial Building 
in Washington, DC. The second hearing will be held in conjunction with 
the National Council for the Social Studies Annual Convention in 
Chicago, Illinois from 9:30 am to 11:30 am in the Acapulco Room of the 
Hyatt Regency Hotel. The third and final hearing will be held in 
cooperation with the meeting of the National Assessment Governing Board 
from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm in the Congress Room of the Four Seasons Hotel 
in Seattle, Washington. Persons desiring to present oral statements at 
any of these hearings shall submit a notice of intent to appear, 
postmarked no fewer than ten days (10) prior to the scheduled meeting 
date. The scheduling of oral presentations cannot be guaranteed for 
notices of intent received less than 10 days prior to the hearing.
    Notices of Intent to present oral statements shall be mailed to: 
Council of Chief State School Officers, One Massachusetts Avenue NW., 
Suite 700, Washington, DC 20001-1431, Attn: Tiffanie Lee--Public 
Hearings.
    Individuals are encouraged to request a copy of the draft 
framework, prepared by the NAEP Civics Education Consensus Project 
committees and staff. This document, which represents the project's 
first attempt at outlining the NAEP civics education assessment, will 
serve as the springboard for public comment and review. Requests for 
the draft framework may be made to Tiffanie Lee at the Council (address 
above), by phone to 202/336-7076, or fax to 202/789-0596.

Locations: For detailed information on the exact locations of all 
public hearings, please contact Council offices at (202) 336-7076.

Written Statements: Written statements may be submitted for the public 
record in lieu of oral testimony up to 30 days after each hearing. 
These statements should be sent directly to the Council (see 
aforementioned address) in the following format:

I. Issues and Questions Addressed

    Testimony should respond to the content and layout of the draft 
civics education assessment framework, and the following questions:
    1. Does the civics assessment framework combine feasibility and 
vision?
    2. Does the framework contain appropriate expectations for students 
in grades 4, 8, and 12?
    3. Is the design of NAEP civics education assessment appropriate 
for a large-scale national assessment?
    4. Will this framework be useful to policymakers, educators, 
legislators, school board members and the public?
II. Summary

    Briefly summarize the major points and recommendations presented in 
the testimony.

III. Discussion

    The narrative should provide information, points of view and 
recommendations that will enable the Council to consider all factors 
relevant to the question(s) the testimony addresses. Respondents are 
encouraged to limit this section of their written statements to five 
(5) pages. The discussions may be appended with documents of any length 
providing further explanation. Written statements presented at each 
hearing will be accepted and incorporated into the public record. All 
written statements should follow the above format, as much as it is 
possible.

HEARINGS OBJECTIVES AND PROCEDURES: The Council seeks participation in 
the hearings from a broad spectrum of individuals and organizations in 
the sharing of opinions and recommendations regarding civics education 
proficiencies, knowledge, and those skills and strategies to be 
assessed at grade levels 4, 8, and 12. The list of speakers shall, on 
the one hand, provide a wide range of viewpoints and interests, but 
also be organized to respect the time constraints of the hearing 
schedule.
    The goal of the hearings is to provide a medium for maximum input 
and guidance from teachers, curriculum specialists, policymakers, 
business and government representatives, civic and professional 
organizations, and concerned members of the general public. Following a 
brief introduction to the project by the Council of Chief State School 
Officers, the majority of each session will be devoted to presentations 
by scheduled speakers.
    As listed in the Dates section above, speakers wishing to present 
statements shall file notices of intent. To assist the Council in 
appropriately scheduling speakers, the written notice of intent to 
present oral testimony should include the following information: (1) 
name, address and telephone number of each person to appear; (2) 
affiliation (in any); (3) a brief statement of the issues and/or 
concerns that will be addressed; and (4) whether a written statement 
will be submitted for the record.
    Individuals who do not register in advance will be permitted to 
register and speak at the meeting in order of registration, if time 
permits. Speakers should plan to limit their total remarks to no more 
than five (5) minutes. While it is anticipated that all persons will 

[[Page 46583]]
have an opportunity to speak, time limits may not allow this to occur. 
The Council will make the final determination on selection and 
scheduling of speakers.
    All written statements presented at the hearings will be accepted 
and incorporated into the public record. Written statements submitted 
in lieu of oral testimony should be received no later than 30 days 
after each hearing in order to be included in the public record. 
However, while written statements received after this date will be 
accepted, inclusion in the public record cannot be guaranteed.
    A staff member from the Council of Chief State School Officers will 
preside at each of the hearings. The proceedings will be audio taped. 
The hearings can also be signed for the hearing-impaired, upon advance 
request.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Additional information is available from the 
Council offices for anyone wishing to obtain more specifics on the 
assessment project. A draft assessment framework document will be made 
available to interested parties prior to the hearings in October and 
November. Individuals desiring additional information on a specific 
hearing should contact Council offices at (202) 336-7076.

STEPS AFTER HEARING: The Council will review and analyze all comments 
and opinions received in response to this announcement. A report of the 
outcomes of these hearings will be made available to the public upon 
request after January 1996.
    The results of this public testimony, along with the Council's 
civics education consensus committee work, will be used to formulate 
recommendations for the NAEP Civics Education Assessment for the 
National Assessment Governing Board. The Board, charged with developing 
the assessment framework and specifications, will take final action on 
the Council's recommendations in the spring of 1996.
    A record of all Council proceedings will be kept at the Council of 
Chief State School Officers until March 1996, at which time all records 
will be transferred to the National Assessment Governing Board, and 
will be available for public inspection.

    Dated: August 31, 1995.
Roy Truby,
Executive Director, National Assessment Governing Board.
[FR Doc. 95-22189 Filed 9-6-95; 8:45 am]
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