[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 2 (Monday, January 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-137]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Assessment Governing Board; Meeting
AGENCY: National Assessment Governing Board; Education.
ACTION: Notice of partially closed meeting.
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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a
forthcoming meeting of the National Assessment Governing Board. This
notice also describes the functions of the Board. Notice of this
meeting is required under Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act.
DATES: January 21 and 22, 1998.
Time: January 21, Executive committee, 5:00-6:00 p.m., (open),
6:00-7:00 p.m., (closed); Full Board, 7:00-8:30 p.m., (open). January
22, Full Board, 8:00 a.m.-10:15, a.m., (open); 10:15 a.m.-11:15 a.m.,
(closed); 11:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m., (0pen).
Location: Capital Hilton Hotel, 1001 16th Street, NW, Washington,
DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Ann Wilmer, Operations Officer,
National Assessment Governing Board, Suite 825, 800 North Capitol
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20002-4233, Telephone: (202) 357-6938.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Assessment Governing Board is
established under section 412 of the National Education Statistics Act
of 1994 (Title IV of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994),
(Pub. L. 103-382).
The Board is established to formulate policy guidelines for the
National Assessment of Educational Progress. The Board is responsible
for selecting subject areas to be assessed, developing assessment
objectives, identifying appropriate achievement goals for each grade
and subject tested, and establishing standards and procedures for
interstate and national comparisons. Under P.L. 105-78, the National
Assessment Governing Board is also granted exclusive authority over
developing Voluntary National Tests pursuant to contract number
RJ97153001 and is required to review within 90 days (i.e., by February
11, 1998) and modify the contract to the extent the Board determines
necessary, if the contract cannot be modified to the extent the Board
determines necessary, the contract shall be terminated, and a new
contract negotiated.
On January 21, in open session, 5:00-6:00 p.m., the Executive
Committee will hear a proposal to use the NAEP 12th grade sample in
future longitudinal studies related to student educational patterns
beyond high school. Then, the Executive Committee will meet in closed
session from 6:00-7:00 p.m., to discuss cost estimates for the FY 1998
NAEP contract and cost estimates for the Request for Proposals for the
2000-2002 NAEP contract. Public disclosure of this information would
likely have an adverse financial affect on the NAEP program. The
discussion of this information would be likely to significantly
frustrate implementation of a proposed agency action if conducted in
open session. Such matters are protected by exemption (9)(B) of Section
552b(c) of Title 5 U.S.C.
Also, on January 21, from 7:00-8:30 p.m., the full Board will hear
a presentation on the TIMSS project and view a video on the same
subject.
On January 22, the full Board will convene. In open session, 8:00
to 10:15 a.m., the Board will approve the agenda, hear the Executive
Director's report, and receive a report from the Special Committee to
Review the Voluntary National Tests Contract. From 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.,
the Board will meet in closed session to discuss the Special
Committee's recommendations concerning cost estimates for development
of the Voluntary National Tests, and proposed staffing patterns for
implementation of the requirements of the Voluntary National Tests
contract. This information relates to the source selection criteria by
which government contracts may be modified or awarded. Not only would
the disclosure of such data implicate proscriptions set forth in the
Federal Acquisition Regulations, but also such disclosure would
significantly frustrate a proposed agency action. Specifically,
disclosure of the Board's discussion prematurely, including contract
specifications and government cost estimates, could affect private
decisions made by the contractor which might damage the financial
interests of the government as a whole, by, for example, increasing the
costs to the government, and might make it impossible for the two sides
to reach agreement. Such matters are protected by exemption 9B of
Section 552b(c) of Title 5 U.S.C.
Beginning at 11:15 a.m., until adjournment, approximately 4:30
p.m., the Board will convene in open session. Agenda items for this
open portion include Board discussion and action on other Special
Committee recommendations. Also, the Board will hear an update on the
reviews of the reading and math Voluntary National Tests specifications
that were conducted by Subject Area Committees #1 and #2.
Summaries of the activities of the closed sessions and related
matters, which are informative to the public and consistent with the
policy of Section 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), will be available to the public
within 14 days of the meeting.
Records are kept of all Board proceedings and are available for
public inspection at the U.S. Department of Education, National
Assessment Governing Board, Suite 825, 800 North Capitol Street, N.W.,
Washington, DC, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Dated: December 30, 1997.
Roy Truby,
Executive Director, National Assessment Governing Board.
[FR Doc. 98-137 Filed 1-2-98; 8:45 am]
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