[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58143-58145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15659]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

National Assessment Governing Board


Committee and Quarterly Board Meetings

AGENCY: National Assessment Governing Board, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of open and closed meetings.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the agenda, time, and instructions to 
access the National Assessment Governing Board's (hereafter referred to 
as the Board or Governing Board) standing committee meetings and 
quarterly Governing Board meeting. This notice provides information to 
members of the public who may be interested in attending the meetings 
and/or providing written comments related to the work of the Governing 
Board. The meetings will be held either in person and/or virtually, as 
noted below. Members of the public must register in advance to attend 
the meetings virtually. A registration link will be posted on the 
Governing Board's website, www.nagb.gov, five (5) business days prior 
to each meeting.

DATES: The Quarterly Board Meeting will be held on the following dates:

 August 8, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., ET
 August 9, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., ET

ADDRESSES: The Colonnade Hotel, 120 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 
02116.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Scott, Designated Federal 
Officer (DFO) for the Governing Board, 800 North Capitol Street NW, 
Suite 825, Washington, DC 20002, telephone: (202) 357-7502, fax: (202) 
357-6945, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Statutory Authority and Function: The Governing Board is 
established under the National Assessment of Educational Progress 
Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9621). Information on the Governing Board 
and its work can be found at www.nagb.gov. Notice of the meetings is 
required under section 1009(a)(2) of 5 U.S.C. chapter 10 (commonly 
known as the Federal Advisory Committee Act). The Governing Board 
formulates policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress 
(NAEP) administered by the National Center for Education Statistics 
(NCES). The Governing Board's responsibilities include:
    (1) selecting the subject areas to be assessed; (2) developing 
appropriate student achievement levels; (3) developing assessment 
objectives and testing specifications that produce an assessment that 
is valid and reliable, and are based on relevant widely accepted 
professional standards; (4) developing a process for review of the 
assessment which includes the active participation of teachers, 
curriculum specialists, local school administrators, parents, and 
concerned members of the public; (5) designing the methodology of the 
assessment to ensure that assessment items are valid and reliable, in 
consultation with appropriate technical experts in measurement and 
assessment, content and subject matter, sampling, and other technical 
experts who engage in large scale surveys; (6) measuring student 
academic achievement in grades 4, 8, and 12 in the authorized academic 
subjects; (7) developing guidelines for reporting and disseminating 
results; (8) developing standards and procedures for regional and 
national comparisons; (9) taking appropriate actions needed to improve 
the form, content use, and reporting of results of an assessment; and 
(10) planning and executing the initial public release of NAEP reports.

Standing Committee Meetings

    The Governing Board's standing committees will meet to conduct 
regularly scheduled work. Standing committee meeting agendas and 
meeting materials will be posted on the Governing Board's website, 
www.nagb.gov, no later than five (5) business days prior to the 
meetings. Minutes of prior standing committee meetings are available at 
https://www.nagb.gov/governing-board/quarterly-board-meetings.html.

Standing Committee Meetings

Monday, July 22, 2024

Executive Committee (Virtual)
3:00 p.m.-4:15 p.m. (ET), Open Session
4:15 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (ET), Closed Session

    The Executive Committee will meet in open session on Monday, July 
22, 2024, from 3:00 p.m.-4:15 p.m. to review the August 8-9, 2024, 
quarterly Board meeting agenda and to receive an update from Lesley 
Muldoon, Governing Board Executive Director, on the Board's ongoing 
work and the Strategic Vision. The Executive Committee will meet in 
closed session from 4:15 p.m.-5:00 p.m. to receive an update on the 
NAEP budget and contracts from Peggy Carr, Commissioner, NCES, and Dan 
McGrath, Delegated Authority of Associate Commissioner, NCES. These 
briefings must be closed because discussions pertain to the federal 
budget and acquisition process. Public disclosure of this confidential 
information would significantly impede implementation of the NAEP 
assessment program if conducted in open session. Such matters are 
protected by exemption 9(B) of section 552b(c) of title 5 of the United 
States Code.

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Executive Committee (In-Person)
4:00 p.m.-4:10 p.m. (ET), Open Session
4:10 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (ET), Closed Session

    The Executive Committee will meet in open session on Wednesday, 
August 7, 2024, from 4:00 p.m.-4:10 p.m. to vote on a nominee to serve 
as Vice Chair of the Governing Board for 2024-2025. The Committee will 
meet in closed session from 4:10 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. From 4:10 p.m. to 
4:30 p.m., the committee will receive an update on the Governing 
Board's budget, followed by a discussion on the Board's legislative 
roles and responsibilities from 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. These 
discussions have implications for the Board's budgeting process and 
must be kept confidential. Such matters are protected by exemption 9(B) 
of section 552b(c) of title 5 of the United States Code.

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Assessment Development Committee (In-Person Meeting)
3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m. (ET) Closed Session
4:15-5:15 p.m. (ET) Open Session

    The Assessment Development Committee will meet in closed session on 
Thursday, August 8, 2024, from 3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m. to review scenario-
based tasks (SBT) concept sketches for 2028 NAEP Science Assessment at 
Grades 4 and 8. This review must be conducted in closed session because 
the test items are secure and have not been released to the public. 
Public disclosure of this information would significantly impede the 
implementation of the NAEP

[[Page 58144]]

assessment program if conducted in open session. Such matters are 
protected by exemption 9(B) of the Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 
U.S.C. 552b. The committee will then convene in open session from 4:15 
p.m.-5:15 p.m. From 4:15 p.m. to 4:55 p.m., the committee will discuss 
the proposed changes to the Assessment Framework Development Policy. 
From 4:55 p.m. to 5:05 p.m., the committee will receive an update on 
work of the Social Studies Content Advisory Group. From 5:05 to 5:15 
p.m., the committee will receive an update on NAEP Long-Term Trend.
Committee on Standards, Design and Methodology (In-Person Meeting)
3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m. (ET) Open Session
4:15 p.m.-5:15 p.m. (ET) Closed Session

    The Committee on Standards, Design and Methodology will meet in 
open session on Thursday, August 8, 2024, from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., 
to receive a presentation on a final draft of a NAEP Achievement Levels 
Validity Argument report. From 4:15 to 5:15 p.m., the committee will 
meet in closed session for an update by NCES on automated scoring 
feasibility and equity studies. This presentation must be conducted in 
closed session because the study findings have not been released to the 
public. Public disclosure of this information would significantly 
impede the implementation of the NAEP assessment program if conducted 
in open session. Such matters are protected by exemption 9(B) of the 
Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b. From
Reporting and Dissemination Committee (In-Person Meeting)
3:15 p.m.-3:55 p.m. (ET) Closed Session
3:55 p.m.-5:15 p.m. (ET) Open Session

    The Reporting and Dissemination Committee will meet on Thursday, 
August 8, 2024, from 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. The committee will meet in 
closed session from 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. to receive an update on the 
new index of socioeconomic status (which will refer to undisclosed, 
embargoed data that cannot be revealed to the public at this time) and 
to learn about proprietary data that has not been released to the 
public. Premature disclosure of this information would significantly 
impede the implementation of the NAEP assessment program. Such matters 
are protected by exemption 9(B) of the Government in the Sunshine Act, 
5 U.S.C. 552b. The committee meeting will open to the public at 4:30 
p.m. to hear an update on the strategic communications work of the 
Board staff.

Quarterly Governing Board Meeting

    The plenary sessions of the Governing Board's August 2024 quarterly 
meeting will be held on the following dates and times:

Thursday, August 8, 2024

1:00 p.m.-5:15 p.m. (ET) (Hybrid Meeting), Open Session

    On Thursday, August 8, 2024, the plenary session of the quarterly 
Governing Board meeting will convene in open session from 1:00 p.m.-
3:00 p.m. From 1:00-1:10 p.m., Beverly Perdue, Chair of the Governing 
Board, will welcome members, review, and approve the August 8-9, 2024, 
quarterly Governing Board meeting agenda, and approve the minutes from 
the May 16-17, 2024, Governing Board meeting. The Board will consider 
the recommendation by the Executive Committee and vote on the nominee 
to serve as Governing Board Vice Chair for term October 1, 2024-
September 30, 2025.
    From 1:10 p.m. to 1:40 p.m., Lesley Muldoon, Governing Board 
Executive Director, will provide an update on ongoing work, followed by 
an update from Peggy Carr, NCES Commissioner, from 1:40 p.m. to 2:10 
p.m. From 2:10 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Board will discuss and take 
action on the Strategic Vision 2030. Following a fifteen-minute break, 
the Board's standing committees will convene from 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 
p.m., as noted above. The Thursday, August 8, 2024, session of the 
Governing Board meeting will adjourn at 5:15 p.m.

Friday, August 9, 2024

9:00 a.m.-12:20 p.m. (ET) (Hybrid Meeting), Closed Session
12:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. (ET) (Hybrid Meeting), Open Session

    On Friday, August 9, 2024, the Governing Board meeting will convene 
in three closed sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. and thereafter in 
open session from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
    The Governing Board will convene in closed session from 9:00 a.m.-
10:00 a.m. to receive a briefing and update on the NAEP budget and 
contracts from Peggy Carr, NCES Commissioner, and Dan McGrath, 
Delegated Authority of Associate Commissioner, NCES. After a short 
transitional break, the Board will convene in a second closed session 
from 10:05 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. to receive an embargoed briefing on the 
NAEP State Mapping Study. The Board will convene in the third closed 
session from 11:20 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. to receive a presentation on 
research and development priorities for NAEP. These sessions must be 
closed because the discussions pertain to the federal budget and 
acquisition process and study findings. Public disclosure of this 
confidential information would significantly impede implementation of 
the NAEP assessment program if conducted in open session. Such matters 
are protected by exemption 9(B) of the Government Sunshine Act, 5 
U.S.C. 552b.
    The Board will convene in open session from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
to discuss ethical considerations for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 
large scale assessment. From 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Board members will 
have an open discussion, followed by farewell remarks by departing 
members from 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Friday, August 9, 2024, session 
of the meeting will adjourn at 3:00 p.m.

Instructions for Accessing and Attending the Meetings

    Registration: Members of the public may attend the August 8-9, 
2024, meetings of the full Governing Board either in person or 
virtually. A link to the final meeting agenda and information on how to 
register for virtual attendance for the open sessions will be posted on 
the Governing Board's website, www.nagb.gov, no later than five (5) 
business days prior to the meeting. Registration is required to join 
the meeting virtually.
    Public Comment: Written comments related to the work of the 
Governing Board and its standing committees may be submitted to the 
attention of the DFO. Written comments may be submitted either via 
email to [email protected] or in hard copy to the address listed 
above. Written comments related to the August 8-9, 2024 Governing Board 
meeting should be submitted no later than close of business on August 
1, 2024, and should reference the relevant agenda item.
    Access to Records of the Meeting: Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 1009, the 
public may inspect the meeting materials, which will be posted no later 
than five (5) business days prior to each meeting, at www.nagb.gov. The 
public may also inspect the meeting materials and other Governing Board 
records at 800 North Capitol Street NW, Suite 825, Washington, DC 
20002, by emailing [email protected] to schedule an appointment. The 
official verbatim transcripts of the open meeting sessions will be 
available for public inspection no later than 30 calendar days 
following each meeting and will be posted on the Governing Board's 
website. Requests for the verbatim transcriptions may be made via email 
to the DFO.

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    Reasonable Accommodations: The meeting location is 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 DFO listed in this notice by close of business on August 1, 
2024.
    Electronic Access to this Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Internet 
access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations is 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 
Adobe website. 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.
    Authority: Pub. L. 107-279, title III, section 301--National 
Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9621).

Lesley Muldoon,
Executive Director, National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), U.S. 
Department of Education.
[FR Doc. 2024-15659 Filed 7-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P