[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 54 (Friday, March 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13046-13047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6202]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration on Children and Families


Notice of Intent To Establish an Advisory Committee on Head Start 
Accountability and Educational Performance Measures

AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth and Families, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This Notice of Intent is being published in accordance with 
section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Notice is hereby 
given that the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services 
intends to establish an Advisory Committee on Head Start Accountability 
and Educational Performance Measures.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Plutro, Head Start Bureau, at 
(202) 205-8573.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with section 9(a)(2) of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), title 41 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations, section 102-3.65 and the General Services 
Administration (GSA) rule on Federal Advisory Committee Management, the 
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has 
determined that the establishment of the Advisory Committee on Head 
Start Accountability and Educational Performance Measures (the 
``Committee'') is in the public interest in connection with supporting 
the school readiness of low-income children and overall effectiveness 
and purpose of the Federal Head Start program.
    The purpose of the Committee is to help assess the progress in 
developing and implementing the Head Start National Reporting System 
(NRS) and provide recommendations for integrating the NRS with other 
on-going assessments of the effectiveness of the program. The Committee 
will work in coordination with the existing Technical Work Group (TWG) 
which helped develop the NRS, and make recommendations for how the NRS 
can be included in the broader assessment frame found in the Family and 
Child Experiences Survey (FACES), the national Head Start Impact Study, 
Head Start's Performance Based Outcome System, and the ongoing 
evaluation of the Early Head Start program.
    The Committee shall consist of not more than ten (10) members 
including the Chair and Co-Chair. Appointments shall be made by the 
Secretary from authorities knowledgeable and expert in the fields of 
childhood development and psychometrics, assessment of child progress 
and evaluation of program service delivery. The Department will give 
close attention to equitable geographic distribution and to minority 
and female representation in making appointments to the Committee so 
long as the effectiveness of the Committee is not impaired.
    The Committee shall meet three times unless, after consultation 
with the Chair or Co-Chair, the Secretary determines that additional 
meetings are necessary to fulfill the purpose of the Committee. All 
meetings shall be at the call of the

[[Page 13047]]

Chair or Co-Chair. An official of the Federal Government shall be 
present at all meetings. Meetings shall be open to the public. Advance 
notice of all meetings shall be given to the public. Meetings shall be 
conducted and records of proceedings shall be kept in accordance with 
all applicable laws and Departmental regulations.
    Unless renewed by appropriate action prior to its expiration, the 
Secretary's Advisory Committee on Head Start Accountability and 
Educational Performance Measures shall terminate on February 27, 2006.

    Dated: March 11, 2004.
Wade F. Horn,
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 04-6202 Filed 3-18-04; 8:45 am]
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