[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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