[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 14781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5485]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Technical Advisory Council; Notice of Establishment and 
Call for Nominations

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of Establishment of the National Technical Advisory 
Council.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary announces her intention to establish the 
National Technical Advisory Council. The Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(Pub. L. 92-463 as amended; 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2) (FACA) will govern the 
Committee.
    Purpose: In order to help ensure that the Department is making 
sound technical decisions related to the approval of State-designed 
standards, assessments, and accountability systems under Title I of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the National Technical Advisory 
Council (NTAC) shall advise the Secretary of Education and the 
Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education (Assistant 
Secretary) on the design and implementation of standards, assessments, 
and accountability systems consistent with Federal statutes and 
regulations.
    The NTAC shall consist of no more than 15 members. The members 
shall be experts in assessment and accountability and shall consist of 
academicians, researchers, and national, state, and local policymakers. 
At least one-third of the members must have experience working in or 
with State educational agencies or local educational agencies. Members 
will be appointed by the Secretary to terms of no more than three (3) 
years, and initial terms shall be staggered.
    The Secretary seeks nominations from the public for members to 
serve on the NTAC. A submission for a nomination for membership on the 
NTAC must include the nominee's contact information and information 
regarding the nominee's qualifications, such as a resume, current or 
recent positions, or research undertaken related to educational 
assessment and accountability. To submit a nomination, send an e-mail 
to [email protected] with the subject ``NTAC'' or respond in writing to 
Patrick Rooney, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and 
Secondary Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202. 
The period for nominations will close three weeks from the date of this 
notice.
    The Assistant Secretary shall appoint a Designated Federal Officer 
for the Council. The DFO, in consultation with the NTAC Chair, will set 
the agenda for the NTAC and schedule meetings on an as-needed basis but 
at least twice a year. Meetings will be open to the public except as 
may be determined otherwise by the Secretary. At the request of the 
Chair, the DFO may create sub-councils consisting of at least three (3) 
members of the NTAC to provide guidance on an ad-hoc basis to the 
Assistant Secretary. The sub-councils' recommendations will be reviewed 
by the full Council before being submitted to the Assistant Secretary.
    In lieu of an annual report, following each meeting of the full 
NTAC or a sub-council of the NTAC, a summary of the proceedings will be 
prepared by the Department and then reviewed by the Council, and, upon 
approval of the Council, submitted to the Assistant Secretary. The 
reports will be made available to the public. The report shall, at a 
minimum, contain the topics discussed, a summary of the discussion, and 
recommendations for the Department, including research to be 
undertaken.
    FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Rooney, U.S. Department 
of Education, Washington, DC 20202, Telephone: (202) 401-0113.

    Dated: March 13, 2008.
Margaret Spellings,
Secretary of Education.
 [FR Doc. E8-5485 Filed 3-18-08; 8:45 am]
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