[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 17 (Friday, January 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5430-5431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01574]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Extension of Approval Period for Certain Tests Used in the 
National Reporting System for Adult Education

AGENCY: Office of Vocational and Adult Education, Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Extension of approval period.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary announces an extension of the approval period 
for tests that were determined to be suitable for use in the National 
Reporting System for a period of three years, which would otherwise 
expire on February 2, 2013. The approval period for these tests is 
extended to September 30, 2013. This extension of the approval period 
will allow for the completion of the current National Reporting System 
assessment review cycle.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John LeMaster, Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 11159, PCP, Washington, DC 
20202-7240. Telephone: (202) 245-6218 or by email: 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On January 14, 2008, the Department published in the Federal 
Register final regulations for 34 CFR part 462, Measuring Educational 
Gain in the National Reporting System for Adult Education (NRS 
regulations) (73 FR 2306). The NRS regulations established the process 
that the Secretary uses to determine the suitability of tests for use 
in the NRS. We annually publish in the Federal Register, and post on 
the Internet at www.nrsweb.org, a list of the names of tests and the 
educational functioning levels the tests are suitable to measure in the 
NRS as required by 34 CFR 462.12(c)(2).
    On April 16, 2008, we published in the Federal Register a notice 
providing test publishers an opportunity to submit tests for review 
under the NRS regulations (73 FR 20616) (April 2008 notice). On 
February 2, 2010, after completing a review of tests submitted in 
response to the April 2008 notice, we published in the Federal Register 
a notice (February 2010 notice) listing the tests and test forms that 
the Secretary determined to be suitable for use in the NRS (75 FR 
5303). The Secretary determined tests and test forms to be suitable for 
a period of either seven or three years from the date of the February 
2010 notice. A seven-year approval required no additional action on the 
part of the publisher, unless the information that the publisher 
submitted as a basis for the Secretary's review was inaccurate or 
unless the test was substantially revised. A three-year approval 
required a set of conditions to be met in order to gain a longer 
approval period. If the conditions were met, the Secretary would 
approve a period of time for which the test may continue to be used in 
the NRS. The three-year approvals expire on February 2, 2013.
    On September 12, 2011, we published in the Federal Register (76 FR 
56188) a notice (September 2011 notice) to update the list published on 
February 2, 2010 (75 FR 5303) and clarify and include suitable test 
delivery formats. On August 6, 2012, we published in the Federal 
Register (77 FR 46749) a notice (August 2012 notice) announcing the 
same list of test forms and computer delivery formats that continued to 
be suitable for use in the NRS, but also announcing a period during 
which States may sunset an expiring test and transition to other tests 
suitable for use in the NRS. Specifically, under the sunset provision, 
States may continue to use tests with three-year NRS approvals expiring 
on February 2, 2013, during a transition period ending on June 30, 
2014. States may use the transition period to select new tests 
determined to be suitable by the Department, purchase appropriate 
inventories of assessment materials, and provide training to staff. 
Finally, on September 6, 2012, we announced in the Federal Register (77 
FR 54904) the next NRS review cycle, inviting publishers to submit 
tests by October 1, 2012 so that the Department may determine their 
suitability for use in the NRS. The Department is currently conducting 
the assessment reviews.

Extension of Approval Period for Expiring Tests

    As stated, the Department previously determined that certain tests 
were suitable for use in the NRS for a period of three years, beginning 
on February 2, 2010 and expiring on February 2, 2013. The expiration of 
the three-year approvals will occur during the Department's current NRS 
assessment reviews. To allow for the completion of the current NRS 
assessment review cycle, the Secretary is extending the approval period 
for these tests to September 30, 2013. Thus, all tests determined to be 
suitable for use in the NRS through February 2, 2013 may continue to be 
used in the NRS through September 30, 2013. This extension does not 
affect the sunset period for expiring tests provided in the August 2012 
notice; the sunset period is available until it ends on June 30, 2014. 
(Authority: 34 CFR 462.14)
    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, 
audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the contact person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is

[[Page 5431]]

available via the Federal Digital System at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this 
site you can view this document, as well as all other documents of this 
Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable 
Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, 
which is available free at the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 9212.

    Dated: January 22, 2013.
Johan Uvin,
 Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Strategic Initiatives.
[FR Doc. 2013-01574 Filed 1-24-13; 8:45 am]
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