[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 40 (Thursday, March 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9311-9312]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3590]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Reading First Advisory Committee; Notice of Establishment

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

ACTION: Notice of Establishment of the Reading First Advisory 
Committee.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary announces her intention to establish the Reading 
First Advisory Committee. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) 
(Pub. L. 92-463 as amended; 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2) will govern the 
Committee.
    Purpose: Sections 1203(c)(2)(A) and 1202(e)(2) of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA) authorize the 
Secretary of Education to establish a panel to evaluate State Reading 
First applications and to review third-year progress reports submitted 
by States under the Reading First program. The activities of the panel 
(hereinafter referred to as the ``Committee'') will be governed by 
FACA.

[[Page 9312]]

    States submitted their Reading First applications to the Department 
in 2002 and 2003. Currently, the Department has approved the Reading 
First applications of all applicants but one. The Committee will 
evaluate this remaining application and, at the request of the 
Department, may review issues identified in other State applications.
    States submitted their third-year progress reports to the 
Department on or before November 30, 2006. The reports include, among 
other things, information on the progress State educational agencies 
and local educational agencies are making in reducing the number of 
students served under the Reading First program in grades 1, 2, and 3 
who are reading below grade level. By statute, the Committee will 
review these reports. In addition, the Committee may advise the 
Secretary on other issues that the Secretary deems appropriate.
    By statute, the Committee will consist, at a minimum, of three 
individuals selected by each of the following: the Secretary of 
Education, the National Institute for Literacy, the National Research 
Council of the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Institute 
of Child Health and Human Development.
    Any non-Federal members of the Committee will serve as Special 
Government Employees (SGEs). Committee members will serve for a period 
of three years or until the date of reauthorization of the ESEA, 
whichever is earlier. The Committee will choose one of its members to 
serve as the chairperson. The Team Leader of the Reading First program 
will serve as the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the Committee. 
As appropriate, the Committee may form one or more subcommittees to 
assist it with its functions.
    For Additional Information: Contact Maria Worthen, U.S. Department 
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202, 
Telephone: (202) 205-5632.

    Dated: February 23, 2007.
Margaret Spellings,
Secretary of Education.
[FR Doc. E7-3590 Filed 2-28-07; 8:45 am]
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