[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 62 (Friday, March 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 16298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3102]



[[Page 16298]]

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Assessment Governing Board; Meeting

AGENCY: National Assessment Governing Board; Department of Education.

ACTION:  Notice of closed teleconference meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a 
forthcoming closed teleconference meeting of the Executive Committee 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: April 14, 2006.
    Time: 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. (closed).
    Location: National Assessment Governing Board, 800 North Capitol 
Street, NW., Suite 825, Washington, DC 20001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Munira Mwalimu, Operation Officer, 
National Assessment Governing Board, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., 
Suite 825, Washington, DC 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, as amended. The Board is established to formulate policy 
guidelines for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). 
The Board's responsibilities include selecting subject areas to be 
assessed, developing assessment objectives, developing appropriate 
student achievement levels for each grade and subject tested, 
developing guidelines for reporting and disseminating results, and 
developing standards and procedures for interstate and national 
comparisons. On April 14, 2006 the Executive Committee will hold a 
closed teleconference meeting from 11 a.m.-11:45 a.m. to discuss 
independent government cost estimates developed for modifications to 
current National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) contracts. 
These modifications, proposed by the National Center for Education 
Statistics, have direct implications for current NAEP contracts and 
future NAEP operations.
    At the March 2-4, 2006 Board meeting, the National Assessment 
Governing Board delegated authority to the Executive Committee to take 
action on the proposed contract modifications, which requires 
consideration of independent government cost estimates. This delegation 
of authority was necessary due to the urgent requirement to make 
contract modification decisions to ensure that the assessment 
operations are conducted in a timely manner. These decisions need to be 
made prior to the next Board meeting scheduled to take place in May 
2006. The discussion of independent government cost estimates prior to 
the execution of contract modifications is necessary for ensuring that 
NAEP contracts meet congressionally mandated goals and adhere to Board 
policies on NAEP assessment.
    This teleconference meeting must be conducted in closed session 
because public disclosure of this information would likely have an 
adverse financial effect on the NAEP program and will provide an 
advantage to the affected contractors. The discussion of this 
information would be likely to significantly impede 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.
    A summary of the activities of the closed teleconference, and other 
related matters which are informative to the public and consistent with 
the policy of the section 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), will be available to the 
public within 14 days after 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, NW., Washington, DC, from 8:30 
a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Dated: March 27, 2006.
Charles Smith,
Executive Director, National Assessment Governing Board.
[FR Doc. 06-3102 Filed 3-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-M