[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 159 (Friday, August 18, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56608-56610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17840]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Regional Advisory Committees

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department 
of Education.

ACTION: Notice of open meetings.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the agenda, dates, and times for, and 
instructions to access, the upcoming virtual meetings of the Regional 
Advisory Committees (RACs). This notice provides information about the 
meetings to members of the public who may be interested in attending 
the meetings or providing written comments related to the work of the 
RACs. Notice of these meetings is required under the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act.

DATES: The virtual, open meetings for each of the RACs will be held on 
the dates and times listed under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be conducted virtually. See the ``Public 
Participation'' heading in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 
this document for instructions on how to access the virtual meetings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Daley, Group Leader, 
Comprehensive Centers Group, Office of Program and Grantee Support 
Services, U.S. Department of Education. Telephone: 202-987-1057. Email: 
[email protected].
    If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and 
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.
    For specific RACs, contact the Designated Federal Official (DFO), 
listed below:

Appalachia and West RAC: Muhammad Kara, email: [email protected]
Central and Southwest RAC: Rebekka Meyer, email: [email protected]
Mid-Atlantic RAC: Esley Newton, email: [email protected]

[[Page 56609]]

Midwest and Northwest RAC: Bryan Keohane, email: [email protected]
Northeast and Islands RAC: Sarah Zevin, email: [email protected]
Pacific RAC: Erin Kelts, email: [email protected]
Southeast RAC: Elisabeth Lembo, email: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Statutory Authority: The RACs are authorized by the Educational 
Technical Assistance Act of 2002 (ETAA) (Pub. L. 107-279; 20 U.S.C. 
9605). Information on the RACs can be found at https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/program-and-grantee-support-services/comprehensive-centers-program/regional-advisory-committees/. The RACs 
advise the Secretary of Education (Secretary) regarding the educational 
needs of their regions, as described in section 174(b) of the Education 
Sciences Reform Act of 2002, in order to assist in making decisions 
regarding the regional educational priorities.
    The RACs' responsibilities include assessing the educational needs 
within their regions (Assessment). In conducting the Assessment, RACs 
seek input from chief executive officers of States, chief State school 
officers, educators, and parents. The RACs conduct open hearings to 
solicit the views and needs of schools (including public charter 
schools), teachers, administrators, members of the regional educational 
laboratory governing board, parents, local educational agencies, 
librarians, businesses, State educational agencies, and other 
customers, such as adult education programs, within the region 
regarding the need for the activities described in 20 U.S.C. 9564 and 
9602, and how those needs would be most effectively addressed. RACs 
submit the Assessment to the Secretary and to the Director of the 
Institute of Education Sciences, at such time, in such a manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may require.
    Purpose of Open Meetings: The open meetings are designed to--
    (1) Provide members of the 10 RACs an opportunity to participate in 
two open virtual meetings to assess the educational needs within the 
region served and to deliberate on the findings to prepare their 
region's Assessment.
    (2) Provide members of the RACs the opportunity to review and 
discuss the reports that they will submit to the Secretary in October 
2023.
    (3) Provide an opportunity for the public to observe and listen to 
RAC discussions on the top challenges in each region for improving 
student academic achievement and educational outcomes.
    (4) Provide an opportunity for the public to observe and listen to 
RAC discussions on recommendations on the educational needs of each 
region and how those needs may be addressed through technical 
assistance activities provided by comprehensive centers described in 
section 203 of the Educational Technical Assistance Act (ETAA) that 
would help States, districts, and schools successfully address the 
critical educational challenges identified by each of the RACs.
    (5) Provide an opportunity for the public to observe and listen to 
discussions and recommendations from each of the RACs on the priorities 
for federally funded technical assistance in their region.

Agenda

    Meeting 1: The RACs will (1) review educational data from each 
region and public comments received and deliberate and make 
recommendations about the critical education needs of the region; and 
(2) discuss how those needs can most effectively be addressed through 
technical assistance activities.
    Meeting 2: The RACs will (1) review additional input received from 
stakeholders and public comments received and, based on the information 
received, finalize their assessment of the critical educational needs 
of each region; and (2) deliberate on the education needs assessment 
for their region and finalize recommendations to be included in the 
Assessment.
    Meeting agendas will be posted on the RAC website: https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/program-and-grantee-support-services/comprehensive-centers-program/regional-advisory-committees/.
    Meeting Dates and Times: Meeting times are listed in Eastern time 
and local time zones for each region.

Appalachia RAC (Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia)

    Meeting 1: September 5, 2023, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET/12:30 
p.m. to 2 p.m. CT.
    Meeting 2: September 18, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET/10 
a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CT.

Northwest RAC (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington)

    Meeting 1: September 6, 2023, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET/10 a.m. 
to 11:30 a.m. AKT/11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT/12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. MT.
    Meeting 2: September 19, 2023, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET/10 a.m. 
to 11:30 a.m. AKT/11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT/12: p.m. to 1:30 p.m. MT.

Central RAC (Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South 
Dakota, and Wyoming)

    Meeting 1: September 6, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET/9 a.m. 
to 10:30 a.m. MT/10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CT.
    Meeting 2: September 19, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET/9 a.m. 
to 10:30 a.m. MT/10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CT.

Southeast RAC (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, 
and South Carolina)

    Meeting 1: September 5, 2023, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET.
    Meeting 2: September 18, 2023, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET.

Mid-Atlantic RAC (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, 
and Pennsylvania)

    Meeting 1: September 7, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET.
    Meeting 2: September 21, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET.

Southwest RAC (Arkansas, Bureau of Indian Education, Louisiana, New 
Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas)

    Meeting 1: September 7, 2023, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET/12 p.m. 
to 1:30 p.m. MT/1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. CT.
    Meeting 2: September 20, 2023, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET/12 p.m. 
to 1:30 p.m. MT/1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. CT.

Pacific RAC (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, Palau, and 
Republic of the Marshall Islands)

    Meeting 1: September 7, 2023, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET/11 a.m. 
to 12:30 p.m. SST/8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. ChST/9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. PONT/12 
p.m. to 1:30 p.m. HST/7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. PWT/10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 
MHT.
    Meeting 2: September 20, 2023, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET/11 a.m. 
to 12:30 p.m. SST/8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. ChST/9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. PONT/12 
p.m. to 1:30 p.m. HST/7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. PWT/10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 
MHT.

Northeast and Islands RAC (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New 
Hampshire, New York, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the Virgin 
Islands)

    Meeting 1: September 8, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET.
    Meeting 2: September 22, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET.

[[Page 56610]]

West RAC (Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah)

    Meeting 1: September 8, 2023, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET/11:00 
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT/12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. MT.
    Meeting 2: September 21, 2023, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET/11 a.m. 
to 12:30 p.m. PT/12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. MT.

Midwest RAC (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and 
Wisconsin)

    Meeting 1: September 5, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET/10 a.m. 
to 11:30 a.m. CT.
    Meeting 2: September 20, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET/10 
a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CT.
    Public Participation: Members of the public who wish to observe and 
listen to RAC discussions and recommendations may access the RAC 
meetings via virtual teleconference. Pre-registration is required by 
11:59 p.m. ET, two business days before the RAC meeting date. 
Information on how to register for and access the RAC meetings is on 
the RACs' website at https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/program-and-grantee-support-services/comprehensive-centers-program/regional-advisory-committees/.
    Public Comments: Members of the public may submit written comments 
at https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/58f2ccc2542a44c9b6f83d567d5aa40b. 
Comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET, two business days before 
the RAC meeting date. Written comments should pertain to the work of 
RACs.
    Reasonable Accommodations: The virtual RAC meetings are accessible 
to individuals with disabilities. If you will need an auxiliary aid or 
service to participate in the meeting (e.g., interpreting service, 
assistive listening device, or materials in an alternate format), 
notify the contact person listed in this notice no later than 48 hours 
before the scheduled meeting date. Although we will attempt to meet a 
request received after that date, we cannot guarantee availability of 
the requested accommodation because of insufficient time to arrange it.
    Access to Records of the Meeting: Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 1009(b), the 
public may inspect the meeting materials on the RACs' website, https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/program-and-grantee-support-services/comprehensive-centers-program/regional-advisory-committees/. The public may also inspect the meeting materials and 
other RAC records at the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave 
SW, Washington, DC 20202, by emailing the DFO for the RAC to schedule 
an appointment. Records of open meetings, including the official 
transcripts of the open meetings will be available for public 
inspection no later than 10 business days following each meeting and 
will be posted on the RACs' website. Requests for an official 
transcript may be made via email to the DFO for each RAC.
    Accessible Format: On request to the contact person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities can 
obtain this document in an accessible format. The Department will 
provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich 
Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, 
braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible 
format.
    Electronic Access to this Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may 
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. 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 Portable Document Format (PDF). To 
use PDF, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at 
the site. You also may 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.
    Authority: Section 206 of the ETAA, as amended (20 U.S.C. 9605).

Adam Schott,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Programs. Delegated the 
Authority to Perform the Functions and Duties of the Assistant 
Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2023-17840 Filed 8-17-23; 8:45 am]
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