8234 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 14, 2012 / Notices 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

National Institute on Disability and 

Rehabilitation Research—Disability 

and Rehabilitation Research Projects 

and Centers Program, etc. 

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services, Department of 

Education. 

ACTION: Notice of final priority. 

Overview Information: 

National Institute on Disability and 

Rehabilitation Research—Disability and 

Rehabilitation Research Projects and 

Centers Program—Disability and 

Rehabilitation Research Project—Center 

on Knowledge Translation for Disability 

and Rehabilitation Research. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

(CFDA) Number: 84.133A–13. 

SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for 

Special Education and Rehabilitative 

Services announces a priority for the 

Disability and Rehabilitation Research 

Projects and Centers Program— 

Disability and Rehabilitation Research 

Project (DRRP) administered by the 

National Institute on Disability 

Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). 

Specifically, this notice announces a 

priority for a center on knowledge 

translation for disability and 

rehabilitation research (KTDRR Center). 

The Assistant Secretary may use this 

priority for a competition in fiscal year 

(FY) 2012 and later years. We take this 

action to focus research attention on 

areas of national need. 

DATES: Effective Date: This priority is 

effective March 15, 2012. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of 

Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 

room 5133, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), 

Washington, DC 20202–2700. 

Telephone: (202) 245–7532 or by email: 

marlene.spencer@ed.gov. 

If you use a telecommunications 

device for the deaf (TDD), call the 

Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 

1–800–877–8339. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

This notice of final priority (NFP) is 

in concert with NIDRR’s currently 

approved Long-Range Plan (Plan). The 

Plan, which was published in the 

Federal Register on February 15, 2006 

(71 FR 8166), can be accessed at the 

following Web site: www.ed.gov/about/ 

offices/list/osers/nidrr/policy.html. 

Through the implementation of the 

Plan, NIDRR seeks to: (1) Improve the 

quality and utility of disability and 

rehabilitation research; (2) determine 

effective methods to improve 

community living, employment, and 

health outcomes for underserved 

populations; (3) identify research gaps; 

(4) identify mechanisms of integrating 

research and practice; and (5) 

disseminate findings. 

This notice announces a priority that 

NIDRR intends to use for a DRRP 

competition in FY 2012 and possibly 

later years. However, nothing precludes 

NIDRR from publishing additional 

priorities, if needed. Furthermore, 

NIDRR is under no obligation to make 

an award for this priority. The decision 

to make an award will be based on the 

quality of applications received and 

available funding. 

Purpose of Program: 

The purpose of the Disability and 

Rehabilitation Research Projects and 

Centers Program is to plan and conduct 

research, demonstration projects, 

training, and related activities, 

including international activities, to 

develop methods, procedures, and 

rehabilitation technology that maximize 

the full inclusion and integration into 

society, employment, independent 

living, family support, and economic 

and social self-sufficiency of individuals 

with disabilities, especially individuals 

with the most severe disabilities, and to 

improve the effectiveness of services 

authorized under the Rehabilitation Act 

of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation 

Act). 

Disability and Rehabilitation Research 

Projects (DRRPs) 

The purpose of DRRPs, which are 

funded under NIDRR’s Disability and 

Rehabilitation Research Projects and 

Centers Program, is to improve the 

effectiveness of services authorized 

under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as 

amended, by developing methods, 

procedures, and rehabilitation 

technologies that advance a wide range 

of independent living and employment 

outcomes for individuals with 

disabilities, especially individuals with 

the most severe disabilities. DRRPs 

carry out one or more of the following 

types of activities, as specified and 

defined in 34 CFR 350.13 through 

350.19: research, training, 

demonstration, development, 

dissemination, utilization, and technical 

assistance. Additional information on 

DRRPs can be found at: www.ed.gov/ 

rschstat/research/pubs/res-program. 

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

764(a). 

Applicable Program Regulations: 34 

CFR part 350. 

We published a notice of proposed 

priority for this program in the Federal 

Register on June 7, 2011 (76 FR 32971). 

That notice contained background 

information and our reasons for 

proposing this particular priority. 

Public Comment: In response to our 

invitation in the notice of proposed 

priority, four parties submitted 

comments on the proposed priority. 

Generally, we do not address 

technical and other minor changes. In 

addition, we do not address general 

comments that raised concerns not 

directly related to the proposed priority. 

Analysis of Comments and Changes: 

An analysis of the comments and of any 

changes in the priority since publication 

of the notice of proposed priority 

follows. 

Comment: Two commenters suggested 

that the priority focus on activities to 

promote the use of research findings to 

shape service delivery systems and to 

improve outcomes for individuals with 

disabilities. One of these commenters 

suggested that the priority focus 

specifically on service delivery systems 

for individuals with developmental 

disabilities. 

Discussion: NIDRR agrees that service 

delivery systems for individuals with 

disabilities should be informed and 

shaped by disability and rehabilitation 

research in order to improve outcomes 

for individuals with disabilities. 

Nothing in the priority precludes 

applicants from specifically focusing on 

service delivery systems—including 

service delivery systems for individuals 

with developmental disabilities—in 

their knowledge translation work. Given 

the wide range of intended audiences of 

disability and rehabilitation research 

listed in the priority, NIDRR does not 

have a sufficient basis for requiring all 

applicants to focus specifically on 

service delivery systems or service 

delivery systems for individuals with 

developmental disabilities. 

Changes: None. 

Comment: Two commenters suggested 

that the priority be restructured as a 

network of smaller grants with the goal 

of disseminating disability and 

rehabilitation research to meet the 

information needs of a wide range of 

audiences. 

Discussion: NIDRR does not agree that 

a network of smaller grants would better 

serve the wide range of intended 

audiences of disability and 

rehabilitation research. NIDRR intends 

the KTDRR Center to serve as the main 

knowledge translation (KT) resource for 

other NIDRR grantees, including NIDRR 

grantees that serve as KT Centers. 

NIDRR grantees conduct research on a 

broad range of disability and 

rehabilitation topics, and the results of 

NIDRR research are applicable to a wide 

range of audiences. Smaller grants 

would not be sufficient to ensure that 

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 14, 2012 / Notices 8235 

grantees have the resources and levels of 

KT expertise that are necessary to 

increase the use of disability and 

rehabilitation research results by the 

wide range of intended audiences. 

Changes: None. 

Comment: One commenter suggested 

that the KTDRR Center actively consider 

business-specific information needs in 

order to promote employment for 

people with disabilities. 

Discussion: NIDRR agrees that 

businesses and other types of employers 

are important audiences for a wide 

range of disability and rehabilitation 

research and that KT efforts should take 

their information needs into account. A 

significant percentage of NIDRR grants 

focus on employment of individuals 

with disabilities. The findings from 

these and other NIDRR grants are 

relevant to businesses and other types of 

employers and can potentially be used 

to promote employment among 

individuals with disabilities. 

Changes: In the relevant paragraphs, 

paragraphs (a) and (b)(3), NIDRR has 

added ‘‘employers’’ to the suggested list 

of intended audiences of disability and 

rehabilitation research. 

Comment: None 

Discussion: NIDRR has determined 

that the requirement for the provision of 

technical assistance under paragraph 

(b)(1) is redundant with the more 

broadly stated technical assistance 

requirement under paragraph (b)(6). 

Changes: NIDRR has deleted 

paragraph (b)(1), and re-numbered 

paragraph (b) accordingly. 

Final Priority: 

Priority—Center on Knowledge 

Translation for Disability and 

Rehabilitation Research (KTDRR 

Center) 

The Assistant Secretary for Special 

Education and Rehabilitative Services 

announces a priority for a center on 

knowledge translation for disability and 

rehabilitation research (KTDRR Center). 

The purpose of the KTDRR Center is to 

promote the use of high-quality 

disability and rehabilitation research 

that is relevant to the needs of intended 

audiences by serving as the main 

knowledge translation (KT) resource for 

other NIDRR grantees, including NIDRR 

grantees that serve as KT centers 

(NIDRR KT Centers). The KTDRR 

Center’s work will also be available to 

researchers who are not NIDRR grantees, 

as well as to the public. 

For purposes of this priority, KT 

refers to a multidimensional, active 

process of ensuring that new knowledge 

and products gained via research and 

development reach intended audiences; 

are understood by these audiences; and 

are used to improve participation of 

individuals with disabilities in society. 

KT encompasses all steps from the 

creation of new knowledge to the 

synthesis, dissemination, and 

implementation of such knowledge, and 

is built upon continuing interactions 

and partnerships within and between 

different groups of knowledge creators 

and users. 

Under this priority, the KTDRR Center 

must contribute to the following 

outcomes: 

(a) Increased use of valid and relevant 

disability and rehabilitation research 

findings to inform decision-making by 

individuals with disabilities and their 

family members, disability advocates, 

service providers, researchers, 

educators, employers, administrators, 

policy-makers, and others. The KTDRR 

Center must contribute to this outcome 

by— 

(1) Identifying standards, guidelines, 

and methods that are appropriate for 

conducting systematic reviews and 

developing research syntheses on 

disability and rehabilitation research. 

NIDRR grantees must be able to use 

these standards, guidelines, and 

methods to systematically assess and 

describe the rigor of the research, and 

the quality and relevance of the 

evidence being considered. The 

standards used to assess and describe 

the rigor of the research and the quality 

of the evidence must be consistent with 

the definitions of strong and moderate 

evidence in the notice of final 

supplemental priorities and definitions 

for discretionary grant programs 

published in the Federal Register on 

December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486), and 

corrected on May 12, 2011 (76 FR 

27637); 

(2) Providing NIDRR grantees with 

technical assistance on conducting 

systematic reviews and developing 

research syntheses in the grantee’s area 

of expertise, using standards, 

guidelines, and methods that the 

KTDRR Center identifies pursuant to 

paragraph (a)(1) of this priority. In so 

doing, the KTDRR Center must choose 

appropriate standards, guidelines, or 

methods, taking into account the types 

of research and stages of knowledge 

development in the substantive area(s) 

being reviewed; and 

(3) Providing NIDRR grantees with 

technical assistance on how to use KT 

practices that are appropriate for their 

intended audiences, to promote the use 

of systematic reviews and research 

syntheses in the grantee’s area of 

expertise. 

(b) Increased knowledge of KT 

principles and use of current KT 

practices among NIDRR grantees, 

including NIDRR KT Centers. The 

KTDRR Center must contribute to this 

outcome by— 

(1) Synthesizing and disseminating 

information from the KT literature that 

can be used to improve KT practices 

used by NIDRR grantees, including 

other NIDRR KT Centers; 

(2) Identifying and showcasing 

promising KT practices employed by 

NIDRR KT Centers, other NIDRR 

grantees, and other entities to increase 

the use of disability and rehabilitation 

research findings by individuals with 

disabilities and their family members, 

disability advocates, service providers, 

researchers, educators, employers, 

administrators, policy-makers, and 

others; 

(3) Facilitating the exchange of KT 

information among other NIDRR 

grantees, including other NIDRR KT 

Centers; 

(4) Organizing and sponsoring events 

(e.g., conferences, workshops, Webinars, 

and other appropriate training events) to 

build KT capacity among NIDRR 

grantees; and 

(5) Providing technical assistance on 

KT to other NIDRR KT Centers and 

other NIDRR grantees, upon request of 

those centers and grantees. 

Types of Priorities: 

When inviting applications for a 

competition using one or more 

priorities, we designate the type of each 

priority as absolute, competitive 

preference, or invitational through a 

notice in the Federal Register. The 

effect of each type of priority follows: 

Absolute priority: Under an absolute 

priority, we consider only applications 

that meet the priority (34 CFR 

75.105(c)(3)). 

Competitive preference priority: 

Under a competitive preference priority, 

we give competitive preference to an 

application by (1) awarding additional 

points, depending on the extent to 

which the application meets the priority 

(34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting 

an application that meets the priority 

over an application of comparable merit 

that does not meet the priority (34 CFR 

75.105(c)(2)(ii)). 

Invitational priority: Under an 

invitational priority, we are particularly 

interested in applications that meet the 

priority. However, we do not give an 

application that meets the priority a 

preference over other applications (34 

CFR 75.105(c)(1)). 

This notice does not preclude us from 

proposing additional priorities, 

requirements, definitions, or selection 

criteria, subject to meeting applicable 

rulemaking requirements. 

Note: This notice does not solicit 

applications. In any year in which we choose 

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8236 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 14, 2012 / Notices 

to use this priority, we invite applications 

through a notice in the Federal Register. 

Executive Order 12866: This notice 

has been reviewed in accordance with 

Executive Order 12866. Under the terms 

of the order, we have assessed the 

potential costs and benefits of this final 

regulatory action. 

The potential costs associated with 

this final regulatory action are those 

resulting from statutory requirements 

and those we have determined as 

necessary for administering this 

program effectively and efficiently. 

In assessing the potential costs and 

benefits—both quantitative and 

qualitative—of this final regulatory 

action, we have determined that the 

benefits of the final priority justify the 

costs. 

Summary of potential costs and 

benefits: 

The benefits of the Disability and 

Rehabilitation Research Projects and 

Centers Programs have been well 

established over the years in that similar 

projects have been completed 

successfully. This final priority will 

generate new knowledge through 

research and development. Another 

benefit of this final priority is that the 

establishment of new DRRPs will 

improve the lives of individuals with 

disabilities. The new DRRP will provide 

support and assistance for NIDRR 

grantees as they generate, disseminate, 

and promote the use of new information 

that will improve the options for 

individuals with disabilities to perform 

activities of their choice in the 

community. 

Accessible Format: Individuals with 

disabilities can obtain this document in 

an accessible format (e.g., braille, large 

print, audiotape, or compact disc) 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: 

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 via the Federal Digital System 

at: http://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 site. 

You may also access documents of the 

Department published in the Federal 

Register by using the article search 

feature at: http:// 

www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, 

through the advanced search feature at 

this site, you can limit your search to 

documents published by the 

Department. 

Dated: February 9, 2012. 

Alexa Posny, 

Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services. 

[FR Doc. 2012–3416 Filed 2–13–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

National Assessment Governing 

Board; Meeting 

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Education, 

National Assessment Governing Board. 

ACTION: Notice of open and closed 

meeting sessions. 

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the 

schedule and proposed agenda for the 

upcoming meeting of the National 

Assessment Governing Board (Board) 

and also describes the specific functions 

of the Board. Notice of this meeting is 

required under Section 10(a)(2) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act. This 

notice is issued to provide members of 

the general public with an opportunity 

to attend and/or provide comments. 

Individuals who will need special 

accommodations in order to attend the 

meeting (e.g. interpreting services, 

assistive listening devices, materials in 

alternative format) should notify Munira 

Mwalimu at 202–357–6938 or at 

Munira.Mwalimu@ed.gov no later than 

February 17, 2012. We will attempt to 

meet requests after this date but cannot 

guarantee availability of the requested 

accommodation. The meeting site is 

accessible to individuals with 

disabilities. 

DATES: February 29, 2012 and March 1– 

3, 2012. 

Times: February 29: Committee 

Meeting: Assessment Development 

Committee (ADC): Closed Session: 9 

a.m.–3 p.m. 

Open Session: 3 p.m.–5 p.m. 

March 1 

Committee Meetings 

Ad Hoc Committee: Open Session 

2:30 p.m.–4 p.m. 

Executive Committee: Open Session: 

4:30 p.m.–5 p.m.; Closed Session: 5 

p.m.–6 p.m. 

March 2 

Full Board: Open Session: 8:15 a.m.– 

9:30 a.m.; Closed Session: 12:15 p.m.– 

1:30 p.m.; Open Session: 1:45 p.m.–4:30 

p.m. 

Committee Meetings 

Assessment Development Committee 

(ADC): Open Session: 9:45 a.m.–11:30 

a.m.; Closed Session: 11:30 a.m.–12:15 

p.m. 

Committee on Standards, Design and 

Methodology (COSDAM): Open Session: 

9:45 a.m. –11:30 a.m. Closed Session: 

11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. 

Reporting and Dissemination 

Committee (R&D): Open Session: 9:45 

a.m.–12:15 p.m. 

March 3 

Nominations Committee: Closed 

Session: 7:30 a.m.–8:15 a.m. 

Full Board: Closed Session: 8:30 a.m.– 

9 a.m.; Open Session: 9 a.m.–11:30 a.m. 

Location: Hyatt Regency New Orleans, 

601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 

70113. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Munira Mwalimu, Operations Officer, 

National Assessment Governing Board, 

800 North Capitol Street NW., Suite 825, 

Washington, DC, 20002–4233, 

Telephone: (202) 357–6938. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

National Assessment Governing Board 

(Board) is established under section 412 

of the National Education Statistics Act 

of 1994, as amended. 

The Board is established to formulate 

policy guidelines for the National 

Assessment of Educational Progress 

(NAEP). The Board’s responsibilities 

include the following: selecting subject 

areas to be assessed, developing 

assessment frameworks and 

specifications, developing appropriate 

student achievement levels for each 

grade and subject tested, developing 

standards and procedures for interstate 

and national comparisons, developing 

guidelines for reporting and 

disseminating results, and releasing 

initial NAEP results to the public. 

On February 29, 2012, the Assessment 

Development Committee (ADC) will 

meet in closed session from 9 a.m. to 3 

p.m. to review secure items for three 

NAEP assessments—the NAEP 2013 

NAEP operational Reading assessment 

at grades 4 and 8; secure items for the 

NAEP 2014 Pilot Civics Assessment at 

grades 4, 8, and 12; and computer-based 

tasks for the NAEP 2014 Technology 

and Engineering Literacy Assessment. 

During the closed session, ADC 

members will be provided specific test 

materials for review which are not yet 

releasable to the general public. 

Premature disclosure of these secure test 

items and materials would compromise 

the integrity and substantially impede 

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