### 5299 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 21 / Tuesday, February 2, 2010 / Notices

application as part of your binding commitments under the grant.

3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For the NRC and FLAS Programs, final and annual reports must
be submitted into the International Resource Information System (IRIS) online data and reporting system. For specific requirements on reporting, please go to: http://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/ NRC.pdf; http://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/

FLAS

_director.pdf; http://iris.ed.gov/ iris/pdfs/FLAS

_ fellow.pdf.

4. Performance Measures: The objective of the NRC Program is to provide grants to institutions of higher
education or consortia of institutions of higher education to establish, strengthen, and operate comprehensive and undergraduate language and area or
international studies centers. The Department will use the following
measures to determine the success of the NRC Program.

NRC Performance Measure 1: Percentage of less and least commonly taught languages as defined by the Secretary of Education taught at Title VI
National Resource Centers.

NRC Performance Measure 2: Percentage of priority languages (formerly referred to as critical need languages) as defined by the Secretary of Education taught at National Resource

Centers.

NRC Performance Measure 3: Percentage of NRC grants teaching
intermediate or advanced courses in priority languages (formerly referred to as critical need languages) as defined by the Secretary of Education.

The objective of the FLAS Program is to provide academic year and summer fellowships to institutions of higher education to assist undergraduate and graduate students studying foreign languages and either area or international studies. The Department will use the following measures to
evaluate the success of the FLAS Program.

FLAS Performance Measure 1: The average competency score of FLAS recipients at the end of one full year of instruction minus the average score at the beginning of the year.

FLAS Performance Measure 2: Percentage of FLAS master’s and doctoral graduates that studied priority languages (formerly referred to as critical need languages) as defined by the Secretary of Education.

FLAS Performance Measure 3: Percentage of FLAS participants who report that they found employment that utilizes their language and area skills.

FLAS Efficiency Measure: Cost per FLAS Fellowship Program fellow increasing average language competency by at least one level.

VII. Agency Contact

For Further Information Contact: Carla White, International Education Programs Service, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., room 6084, Washington, DC 20006–8521.Telephone: (202) 502–7631 or, by email: carla.white@ed.gov.

If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1–800–877–8339.

VIII. Other Information

Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format ( e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the program contact person listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII of
this notice.

Electronic Access to This Document: 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) on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/ fedregister. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at this site.

Note: 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 available on GPO

Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/

index.html.

Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education has delegated authority to Daniel T. Madzelan, Director, Forecasting and Policy Analysis for the Office of Postsecondary Education, to perform the functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary
Education.

Dated: January 28, 2010.

Daniel T. Madzelan,
Director, Forecasting and Policy Analysis.

[FR Doc. 2010–2185 Filed 2–1–10; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION** 

**Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview**  **Information; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research**  **(NIDRR)—Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers**  **Program—Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTCs)—Enhancing** 
**the Health and Wellness of Individuals With Arthritis; Notice Inviting**  **Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010** 

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

(CFDA) Number: 84.133B–7.
Dates: Applications Available: February 2, 2010.

Date of Pre-Application Meeting: February 24, 2010.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 5, 2010.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Program: The purpose of the RRTC program is to improve the
effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, through advanced research, training, technical assistance, and dissemination activities in general problem areas, as specified by NIDRR. Such activities are designed to benefit rehabilitation service providers, individuals with disabilities, and the family members or other authorized representatives of individuals with
disabilities.

Additional information on the RRTC program can be found at: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/resprogram.html#RRTC

.

Priorities: NIDRR has established two absolute priorities and one invitational priority for this competition. Absolute

Priorities: The General Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTC) Requirements priority is from the notice of final priorities for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers program, published in the Federal Register on February 1, 2008 (73 FR 6132). The Enhancing the Health and Wellness of Individuals With
Arthritis priority is from the notice of final priorities for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, published in the Federal Register on July 21, 2009 (74 FR 35858). None of the applications we received for this priority were successful. NIDRR is recompeting this priority. NIDRR is seeking applications that address all elements of the priority and that propose appropriate, quality research methodologies.


### 5300 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 21 / Tuesday, February 2, 2010 / Notices

Accordingly, through this notice, we are inviting applications for another competition using the General Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTC) Requirements and the Enhancing the Health and Wellness of
Individuals With Arthritis priorities.

For FY 2010, these priorities are absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet these priorities.

These priorities are:
General Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTC) Requirements
and Enhancing the Health and Wellness of Individuals With Arthritis

.

Note: The full text of each of these priorities is included in its notice of final priorities in the Federal Register and in the applicable application package.

Invitational Priority: For FY 2010, this priority is an invitational priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application that meets this invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other applications. Under this competition we are particularly interested in applications that address the following priority.

This priority is: Projects that are designed to contribute to improved rehabilitation interventions to reduce the symptoms, functional limitations, and barriers to employment associated with osteoarthritis among working-age adults with pre-existing disabilities. We are particularly interested in projects that focus on one or more of the following interventions recommended by the joint
Arthritis-CDC Osteoarthritis Intervention Working Group: Physicalactivity, muscle strengthening, selfmanagement education, weight management and nutrition, and injury prevention.

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(b)(2).

Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, and 97. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 350. (c) The notice of final priorities for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers program, published
in the Federal Register on February 1, 2008 (73 FR 6132). (d) The notice of final priorities for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers program, published in the Federal Register on July 21, 2009 (74 FR 35858).

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education (IHEs) only. II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants. Estimated Available Funds: $800,000. Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding $800,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal Register.

Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.

Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: States; public or private agencies, including for-profit agencies; public or private organizations, including for-profit organizations; IHEs; and Indian tribes and tribal organizations.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission
Information

1. Address to Request Application Package: ED Pubs, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll free: 1–877– 433–7827. FAX: (703) 605–6794. If you
use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call, toll free: 1–877–576–

7734.

You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: http://www.EDPubs.gov or at its e-mail address: http:// edpubs@inet.ed.gov

.

If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this program or competition as follows:
CFDA number 84.133B–7.

Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the person or
team listed under Accessible Format in
section VIII of this notice.

2. Content and Form of Application
Submission: Requirements concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this competition. Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) is where you, the applicant,
address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We recommend that you limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 125 pages, using the following standards:

• A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5′′ x 11 ′′, on one side only, with 1 ′′ margins at the top, bottom,
and both sides. • Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative. Single spacing may be used for titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.

• Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).

• Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font (including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.

The recommended page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the application narrative section (Part III).

The application package will provide instructions for completing all components to be included in the application. Each application must include a cover sheet (Standard Form 424); budget requirements (ED Form 524) and narrative justification; other required forms; an abstract, Human Subjects narrative, Part III narrative; resumes of staff; and other related materials, if applicable.

3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: February 2,

2010.

Date of Pre-Application Meeting: Interested parties are invited to participate in a pre-application meeting
and to receive information and technical assistance through individualconsultation with NIDRR staff. The preapplication meeting will be held on February 24, 2010. Interested parties may participate in this meeting by
conference call with NIDRR staff from the Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time. NIDRR staff also will be available from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the same day, by telephone, to provide information and technical assistance through
individual consultation. For further information or to make arrangements to participate in the meeting via
conference call or for an individual consultation, contact Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of Education, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), room 6029, 550 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245–7462 or by e-mail: Donna.Nangle@ed.gov.


### 5301 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 21 / Tuesday, February 2, 2010 / Notices

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 5, 2010.

Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-Application)accessible through the Department’s eGrants site. For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to section IV. 6. Other Submission Requirements of this notice.

We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements.

Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact the person listed
under For Further Information Contact
in section VII of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the application process, the individual’s application remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this

notice.

4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.

5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice.

6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement in
accordance with the instructions in this

section.

a. Electronic Submission of Applications

.

Applications for grants under the Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTCs)—CFDA Number
84.133B–7 must be submitted electronically using e-Application,accessible through the Department’s eGrants Web site at: http://egrants.ed.gov

.

We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions. Further information regarding
calculation of the date that is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement

.

While completing your electronic application, you will be entering data
online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to

us.

Please note the following:

• You must complete the electronic submission of your grant application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. E– Application will not accept an application for this competition after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application

process.

• The hours of operation of the eGrants Web site are 6:00 a.m. Monday until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday; and 6:00 a.m. Thursday until 8:00 p.m. Sunday, Washington, DC time. Please note that, because of maintenance, the system is unavailable between 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and 6:00 a.m. on Mondays, and between 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6:00 a.m. on Thursdays, Washington, DC time. Any modifications to these hours are posted on the e-Grants Web

site.

• You will not receive additional point value because you submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your application in paper format.

• You must submit all documents electronically, including all information you typically provide on the following forms: The Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information forSF 424, Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. You must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the three file types specified in this paragraph or submit a password protected file, we
will not review that material.

• Your electronic application must comply with any page limit requirements described in this notice.

• Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may wish to print a copy of it for your records.

• After you electronically submit your application, you will receive an automatic acknowledgment that will include a PR/Award number (an identifying number unique to your application).

• Within three working days after submitting your electronic application, fax a signed copy of the SF 424 to the Application Control Center after following these steps:

(1) Print SF 424 from e-Application. (2) The applicant’s Authorizing Representative must sign this form.

(3) Place the PR/Award number in theupper right hand corner of the hardcopy signature page of the SF 424.

(4) Fax the signed SF 424 to the Application Control Center at (202)

245–6272.

• We may request that you provide us original signatures on other forms at a
later date.

Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of e-Application Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on theapplication deadline date because eApplication is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of one business day to enable you to transmit your application electronically, by mail, or by hand delivery. We will grant this
extension if—

(1) You are a registered user of eApplication and you have initiated an electronic application for this competition; and

(2) (a) E-Application is unavailable for
60 minutes or more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date; or

(b) E-Application is unavailable for any period of time between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.

We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability before granting you an extension. To request
this extension or to confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, you may contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this
notice under For Further Information

Contact (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-Grants help desk at 1–888–336– 8930. If e-Application is unavailable due to technical problems with the system and, therefore, the application deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent to all registered users who have initiated an e-Application. Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the unavailability of e-Application.

Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application through e-Application because—


### 5302 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 21 / Tuesday, February 2, 2010 / Notices

• You do not have access to the
Internet; or

• You do not have the capacity toupload large documents to eApplication; and

• No later than two weeks before the application deadline date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed
statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date.

Address and mail or fax your statement to: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6030, PCP, Washington, DC 20202–2700. FAX: (202) 245–7323.

Your paper application must be
submitted in accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described
in this notice.

b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail

.

If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.133B–7) LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202–

4260.

You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:

(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.

(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S.
Postal Service.

(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier.

(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:

(1) A private metered postmark. (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by
the U.S. Postal Service.

If your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will not consider your application.

Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office.

c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.

If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of your application, by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.133B–7) 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260.

The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.

Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department—

(1) You must indicate on the envelope and—if not provided by the Department—in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your application; and

(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this grant notification within 15 business days from the application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 245–

6288.

V. Application Review Information

1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are from 34
CFR 350.54 and are listed in the application package.

2. Review and Selection Process:
Additional factors we consider in determining the merits of an application
are as follows—

The Secretary is interested in
outcomes-oriented research or development projects that use rigorous scientific methodologies. To address this interest, applicants are encouraged to articulate goals, objectives, and expected outcomes for the proposed research or development activities. Proposals should describe how results and planned outputs are expected to contribute to advances in knowledge, improvements in policy and practice, and public benefits for individuals with disabilities. Applicants should propose projects that are designed to be consistent with these goals. We encourage applicants to include in their application a description of how results will measure progress towards achievement of anticipated outcomes (including a discussion of the proposed measures of effectiveness), the
mechanisms that will be used to
evaluate outcomes associated with specific problems or issues, and how the proposed activities will support new intervention approaches and strategies.
Submission of the information
identified in this section V. 2. Review
and Selection Process is voluntary, except where required by the selection criteria listed in the application package.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN). We may notify you informally,
also.

If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify administrative and national policy requirements in the application package
and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

We reference the regulations outlining
the terms and conditions of an award in
the Applicable Regulations section of
this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant.

3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/ appforms/appforms.html.

Note: NIDRR will provide information by letter to grantees on how and when to submit the final performance report.

4. Performance Measures: To evaluate
the overall success of its research program, NIDRR assesses the quality of its funded projects through a review of


### 5303 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 21 / Tuesday, February 2, 2010 / Notices

grantee performance and products. Each year, NIDRR examines a portion of its grantees to determine:

• The percentage of NIDRR-supported fellows, post-doctoral trainees, and doctoral students who publish results of NIDRR-sponsored research in refereed journals.

• The number of accomplishments (e.g., new or improved tools, methods, discoveries, standards, interventions, programs, or devices) developed or tested with NIDRR funding that have been judged by expert panels to be of high quality and to advance the field.

• The average number of publications per award based on NIDRR-funded research and development activities in refereed journals.

• The percentage of new NIDRR grants that assess the effectiveness of interventions, programs, and devices using rigorous methods.

• The number of new or improved NIDRR-funded assistive and universally designed technologies, products, and devices transferred to industry for potential commercialization.

Each grantee must annually report on its performance through NIDRR’s Annual Performance Report (APR) form.
NIDRR uses APR information submitted by grantees to assess progress on these

measures.
VII. Agency Contact

For Further Information Contact: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6029, PCP, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245–7462 or by e-mail: Donna.Nangle@ed.gov

.

If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–

877–8339.

VIII. Other Information

Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format ( e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the Grants and Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC 20202–2550. Telephone: (202) 245– 7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll-free, at 1–800–877–8339.

Electronic Access to This Document: 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) on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/ fedregister. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free
at this site.

Note: 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 available on GPO

Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/
index.html.

Dated: January 28, 2010. Alexa Posny, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.

[FR Doc. 2010–2184 Filed 2–1–10; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4000–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION**

**Tests Determined To Be Suitable for Use in the National Reporting System**  **for Adult Education (NRS)**

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

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  The Secretary announces the
tests determined to be suitable for use
in the NRS.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Mike Dean, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 11152, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–7240. Telephone: (202) 245–7828 or via

Internet: Mike.Dean@ed.gov.

If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–

877–8339.

Individuals with disabilities can
obtain this document in an accessible format ( e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding paragraph.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

On January 14, 2008, the Secretary published final regulations for 34 CFR part 462, Measuring Educational Gain in the National Reporting System for Adult Education, in the Federal Register (73 FR 2306) (NRS regulations). The NRS regulations established the process the Secretary uses to determine the suitability of tests for use in the NRS. On April 16, 2008, (73 FR 20616), the Secretary published a notice in the Federal Register providing test publishers an opportunity to submit tests for review under the regulations.

As a result of the Secretary’s review of the tests submitted in response to the April 16, 2008 Federal Register notice, the following tests have been
determined to be suitable for use in the NRS for a period of either seven or three years. A seven year approval requires no additional action on the part of the publisher, unless the information the publisher submitted as a basis for the Secretary’s review was inaccurate or unless the test is substantially revised. A three year approval is issued with a set of conditions that must be met by the completion of the three year time period. If these conditions are met the test is approved for continued use in the

NRS.

Tests Determined To Be Suitable for
Use in the NRS for Seven Years

(a) The following test is determined to
be suitable for use at all Adult Basic Education (ABE) and Adult Secondary Education (ASE) levels and at all English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) levels of the NRS for a period of seven years from the date of publication of this

notice:

Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) Reading Assessments (Life and Work, Life Skills, Reading for Citizenship, Reading for Language Arts—Secondary Level).
Forms 27, 28, 81, 82, 81X, 82X, 83, 84,
85, 86, 185, 186, 187, 188, 310, 311, 513, 514, 951, 952, 951X, 952X. Publisher: CASAS, 5151 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 220, San Diego, CA 92123–4339. Telephone: (800) 255–1036. Internet: http://www.casas.org.

(b) The following tests are determined
to be suitable for use at all ABE and ASE levels of the NRS for a period of seven years from the date of publication of this

notice:

(1) Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) Life Skills Math Assessments—Application of Mathematics (Secondary Level). Forms
31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 505, 506. Publisher: CASAS, 5151 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 220, San Diego, CA 92123–4339. Telephone: (800) 255–

1036. Internet: http://www.casas.org.

(2) Massachusetts Adult Proficiency Test (MAPT) for Math. Publisher: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and University of Massachusetts Amherst, School of Education, 156 Hills South, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003. Telephone: (413)

545–0564. Internet: http:// www.sabes.org/assessment/mapt.htm.

(3) Massachusetts Adult Proficiency Test (MAPT) for Reading. Publisher: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and University of Massachusetts Amherst, School of Education, 156 Hills South, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003. Telephone: (413)