[Federal Register: January 5, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 2)] [Notices] [Page 210] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr05ja98-47] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION National Assessment Governing Board; Meeting AGENCY: National Assessment Governing Board; Education. ACTION: Notice of partially closed meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the National Assessment Governing Board. This notice also describes the functions of the Board. Notice of this meeting is required under Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. DATES: January 21 and 22, 1998. Time: January 21, Executive committee, 5:00-6:00 p.m., (open), 6:00-7:00 p.m., (closed); Full Board, 7:00-8:30 p.m., (open). January 22, Full Board, 8:00 a.m.-10:15, a.m., (open); 10:15 a.m.-11:15 a.m., (closed); 11:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m., (0pen). Location: Capital Hilton Hotel, 1001 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Ann Wilmer, Operations Officer, National Assessment Governing Board, Suite 825, 800 North Capitol Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20002-4233, Telephone: (202) 357-6938. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Assessment Governing Board is established under section 412 of the National Education Statistics Act of 1994 (Title IV of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994), (Pub. L. 103-382). The Board is established to formulate policy guidelines for the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The Board is responsible for selecting subject areas to be assessed, developing assessment objectives, identifying appropriate achievement goals for each grade and subject tested, and establishing standards and procedures for interstate and national comparisons. Under P.L. 105-78, the National Assessment Governing Board is also granted exclusive authority over developing Voluntary National Tests pursuant to contract number RJ97153001 and is required to review within 90 days (i.e., by February 11, 1998) and modify the contract to the extent the Board determines necessary, if the contract cannot be modified to the extent the Board determines necessary, the contract shall be terminated, and a new contract negotiated. On January 21, in open session, 5:00-6:00 p.m., the Executive Committee will hear a proposal to use the NAEP 12th grade sample in future longitudinal studies related to student educational patterns beyond high school. Then, the Executive Committee will meet in closed session from 6:00-7:00 p.m., to discuss cost estimates for the FY 1998 NAEP contract and cost estimates for the Request for Proposals for the 2000-2002 NAEP contract. Public disclosure of this information would likely have an adverse financial affect on the NAEP program. The discussion of this information would be likely to significantly frustrate implementation of a proposed agency action if conducted in open session. Such matters are protected by exemption (9)(B) of Section 552b(c) of Title 5 U.S.C. Also, on January 21, from 7:00-8:30 p.m., the full Board will hear a presentation on the TIMSS project and view a video on the same subject. On January 22, the full Board will convene. In open session, 8:00 to 10:15 a.m., the Board will approve the agenda, hear the Executive Director's report, and receive a report from the Special Committee to Review the Voluntary National Tests Contract. From 10:15 to 11:15 a.m., the Board will meet in closed session to discuss the Special Committee's recommendations concerning cost estimates for development of the Voluntary National Tests, and proposed staffing patterns for implementation of the requirements of the Voluntary National Tests contract. This information relates to the source selection criteria by which government contracts may be modified or awarded. Not only would the disclosure of such data implicate proscriptions set forth in the Federal Acquisition Regulations, but also such disclosure would significantly frustrate a proposed agency action. Specifically, disclosure of the Board's discussion prematurely, including contract specifications and government cost estimates, could affect private decisions made by the contractor which might damage the financial interests of the government as a whole, by, for example, increasing the costs to the government, and might make it impossible for the two sides to reach agreement. Such matters are protected by exemption 9B of Section 552b(c) of Title 5 U.S.C. Beginning at 11:15 a.m., until adjournment, approximately 4:30 p.m., the Board will convene in open session. Agenda items for this open portion include Board discussion and action on other Special Committee recommendations. Also, the Board will hear an update on the reviews of the reading and math Voluntary National Tests specifications that were conducted by Subject Area Committees #1 and #2. Summaries of the activities of the closed sessions and related matters, which are informative to the public and consistent with the policy of Section 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), will be available to the public within 14 days of the meeting. Records are kept of all Board proceedings and are available for public inspection at the U.S. Department of Education, National Assessment Governing Board, Suite 825, 800 North Capitol Street, N.W., Washington, DC, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Dated: December 30, 1997. Roy Truby, Executive Director, National Assessment Governing Board. [FR Doc. 98-137 Filed 1-2-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-M