[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 72 (Friday, April 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20192-20193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-07847]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[212A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900253G]


Bureau of Indian Education Waiver of State Assessments for 2020-
2021 School Year

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Tribal consultation and public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is considering requesting 
from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) a waiver of assessment 
requirements for the 2020-2021 School Year (SY) for the protection of 
the health and safety or students, staff, and their communities, which 
have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. BIE's implementing 
regulations of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(ESEA) require BIE to administer unified assessments each SY.

DATES: Tribal consultation sessions will be held from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. 
Eastern Time (ET), and public meetings will be held from 4 p.m. to 5 
p.m. ET on May 4 and 5, 2021. Written comments must be received by 
11:59 p.m. ET, May 7, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Please register in advance for each session using the 
following link: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItcumgqjMvH9cg5ttOrsDY0KmZB1IuLJQ.
    You will receive a confirmation email upon registration with 
directions for joining. Written comments may be emailed to 
[email protected].

[[Page 20193]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Tamarah Pfeiffer, Chief Academic 
Officer, Bureau of Indian Education; fax: (505) 563-3043 or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BIE is seeking Tribal input and public 
stakeholder input on whether to request from the U.S. Department of 
Education (ED) a waiver of BIE's unified assessments for the 2020-2021 
School Year (SY). BIE's implementing regulations of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), Public Law 89-10, as amended, 
require BIE to administer unified assessments each SY. Additionally, 
BIE is requesting recommendations regarding using U.S. Department of 
Education's assessment administration flexibilities issued on February 
22, 2021. Should BIE extend testing into the summer or fall 2021 and/or 
shorten tests so that there is a less of an impact on instruction. The 
justifications for the requests include the need to protect the health 
and safety of the students, families, staff and Tribal communities.
    BIE has invited Tribes by letter. BIE also welcomes input from 
families of students at BIE schools and other stakeholders. Please see 
the information in the DATES and ADDRESSES section of this notice for 
information on the public sessions and directions on joining.

Bryan Newland,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-07847 Filed 4-15-21; 8:45 am]
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