Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 250 / Wednesday, December 31, 1997 / Notices 68271

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mary Ann Wilmer, Operations Officer,

National Assessment Governing Board,

Suite 825, 800 North Capitol Street, NW,

Washington, DC, 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) (Public

Law 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 Public Law 105–78, the National

Assessment Governing Board is 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 9, 1998 the National

Assessment Governing Board’s Special

Committee to Review the Voluntary

National Tests Development Contract

will hold a closed meeting by

teleconference. The purpose of the

meeting is for the NAGB Special

Committee to review the Test

Development Contract, to formulate its

recommendations to the NAGB for

modification or termination and

recompetition of the Development

Contract for the Voluntary National

Tests. 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 Subcommittee’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.

A summary of the activities of this

closed meeting and other related

matters, which are informative to the

public and consistent with the policy of

the Section 5 U.S.C. 552b, will be

available to the public within 14 days

after 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, NW,

Washington, DC, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00

p.m.

Roy Truby,

Executive Director, National Assessment

Governing Board.

[FR Doc. 97–34004 Filed 12–30–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

National Assessment Governing Board

Meeting

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

SUMMARY: The National Assessment

Governing Board (NAGB), US

Department of Education, is announcing

two public hearings on the Voluntary

National Tests (VNT). These hearings

are being conducted pursuant to Public

Law 105–78, which gives NAGB

‘‘exclusive authority over all policies,

direction, and guidelines for developing

voluntary national tests.’’

Public and private parties and

organizations with an interest in the

Voluntary National Tests for 4th grade

reading and 8th grade mathematics are

invited to present written and oral

testimony. The purpose of the hearings

is to gather recommendations on the test

specifications or blueprint for the

proposed VNT based on the National

Assessment of Educational Progress

(NAEP) in 4th grade reading and 8th

grade mathematics. The proposed tests

will be individualized versions of

NAEP, and the Board intends to ensure

that they are fully consistent with

NAEP’s content and performance

standards. In carrying out its

responsibilities, the Board plans to

consult widely and wishes to receive a

broad range of input and views. We

encourage your participation. Results of

the hearings are particularly important

as they will provide broad public input

to the Governing Board for on

specifications for the Voluntary

National Tests.

DATES: The dates of the public hearings

have been set as follows:

• January 21, 1998 in Washington,

DC.

• January 27, 1998 in Chicago, IL.

On each day, the reading hearing will

begin at 9:30 a.m. and adjourn at 12:00

noon, and the mathematics hearing will

begin at 1:30 p.m. and adjourn at 4:00

p.m. You are invited to present either

oral and/or written testimony. Oral

presentations should not exceed five

minutes. Written testimony should be

mailed to the address below no later

than January 31, 1998: Aspen Systems

Corporation, 2277 Research Boulevard,

Mail Stop 4–D, Rockville, Maryland

20850, Attn: Munira Mwalimu.

Please include your name, address,

and any organization you may

represent. All testimony will become

part of the public record and will be

considered by the Governing Board in

deciding on specifications for the

proposed national tests, which will be

designed to show whether individual

students can meet NAEP standards for

basic, proficient, or advanced

performance. Presenters may also

register online at www.nagb.org or by

calling (800) 638–2785 between 9 a.m.

and 5 p.m. EST.

Locations:

January 21

The Capital Hilton, 16th and K Streets

NW, Washington, DC 2036, (202) 393–

1000.

January 27

Chicago Hilton and Towers, 720 S.

Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605,

(312) 922–4400.

Written Statements

Written statements may be submitted

for the public record in lieu of oral

testimony no later than January 31,

1998. These statements should be sent

directly to Aspen Systems (see

aforementioned address) in the

following format:

I. Issues and Questions Addressed:

Identify the issue(s) and question(s) to

which the testimony is directed. For

example, ‘‘Specifications for 4th grade

Voluntary National Test in reading.’’

II. Summary: Briefly summarize the

major points and recommendations

presented in the testimony.

III. Discussion: The narrative should

provide information, points of view and

recommendations that will enable the

Governing Board to consider all factors

relevant to the question(s) the testimony

addresses. Respondents are encouraged

to limit this section of their written

statements to ten (10) pages. The

discussions may be appended with

documents of any length providing

further explanation.
68272 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 250 / Wednesday, December 31, 1997 / Notices

Hearings Objectives and Procedures

The National Assessment Governing

Board seeks participation in the

hearings from a wide spectrum of

individuals and organizations to receive

recommendations regarding the reading

and mathematics specifications for the

Voluntary National Tests at grade 4 in

reading and grade 8 in mathematics.

The schedule of speakers shall be such

as to provide a broad spectrum of

viewpoints and interests, while being

contained to a practical amount of time.

The goal of the hearings is to provide a

medium for maximum input and

guidance from the public to include

teachers, principals, school board

members, curriculum specialists, local

school administrators, parents, and

concerned citizens.

The Governing Board will provide a

brief background to the hearings, with

the majority of the time being devoted

to presentations by scheduled speakers.

To assist in appropriately scheduling

speakers, testimony should include the

following information:

(1) Name, address, and telephone

number of each person to appear.

(2) Affiliation (if any).

(3) A brief statement of the issues

and/or concerns that will be addressed.

(4) Whether a written statement will

be submitted for the record.

Individuals who do not register in

advance will be permitted to register

and speak at the meeting in order of

registration, if time permits. Speakers

should plan to limit their total remarks

to no more than five (5) minutes.

While it is anticipated that all persons

desiring to do so will have an

opportunity to speak, time limits may

not allow this to occur. The Governing

Board will make the final determination

on the selection and scheduling of

speakers.

However, all written statements

presented at the hearings will be

accepted and incorporated into the

public record. Written statements

received after January 31, 1998 will be

accepted; however, inclusion in the

public record cannot be guaranteed.

Governing Board members will preside

at each of the hearings. The proceedings

will be audiotaped. On request, the

hearings will be signed for the hearingimpaired, and a bilingual speaker

(Spanish-English) can be made available

on site.

Additional Information

Additional information on the

Voluntary National Tests can be

obtained at by contacting Mary Crovo,

National Assessment Governing Board,

800 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 825,

Washington, DC 20002–4233,

Telephone: 202–357–6938 or NAGB’s

web site at www.nagb.org.

Steps After Hearing

The Governing Board will review and

analyze all comments and opinions

received in response to this

announcement. Results of the testimony

will be used by the National Assessment

Governing Board to determine the

specifications for the Voluntary

National Tests in reading and

mathematics. The Board plans to take

action on the specifications in March

1998. A record of all the proceedings

will be kept at the National Assessment

Governing Board offices, 800 North

Capitol Street NW, Suite 825,

Washington, DC 20002, and will be

available for public inspection.

Roy Truby,

Executive Director, National Assessment

Governing Board.

[FR Doc. 97–34005 Filed 12–30–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

National Assessment Governing

Board; Meeting

AGENCY: National Assessment

Governing Board; Education.

ACTION: Notice of Teleconference

meeting.

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the

schedule and proposed agenda of a

forthcoming teleconference meeting of

Subject Area Committees 1 and Subject

Area Committee #2 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 8, and 9, 1998.

TIME: January 8, Subject Area Committee

#1, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, (open);

January 9, Subject Area Committee #2,

1:00 to 3:00 p.m., (open).

LOCATION: National Assessment

Governing Board, Suite 825, 800 North

Capitol Street, NW, Washington, D.C.,

20002–4233, Telephone: (202) 357–

6938.

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 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 extend the

Board determines necessary, the

contract shall be terminated, and a new

contract negotiated.

On January 8 between the hours of

10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon, the Subject

Area Committee #1 of the National

Assessment Governing Board will hold

a teleconference meeting to discuss

Committee and staff Voluntary National

Tests reviews for reading. On January 9

between the hours of 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.

Subject Area Committee #2 will meet to

discuss Committee and staff reviews of

the Voluntary National Tests for math.

Because these are teleconference

meetings, facilities will be provided so

the public will have access to the

Committee’s deliberations.

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, D.C.,

from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Roy Truby,

Executive Director, National Assessment

Governing Board.

[FR Doc. 97–34006 Filed 12–30–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of General Counsel; Preparation

of Report to Congress on PriceAnderson Act

AGENCY: Office of General Counsel,

DOE.

ACTION: Notice of inquiry concerning

preparation of report to Congress on the

Price-Anderson Act.

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy

(the ‘‘Department’’ or ‘‘DOE’’) is