[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 47 (Friday, March 10, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 13136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-5898]



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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA No.: 84.999F]


The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Program 
Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year 1995

    Purpose of Program: To conduct data collection for the national 
component of NAEP in 1996, 1997, and 1998; to monitor data collection 
for the State component of the 1996 and 1998 NAEP assessments; and to 
prepare sampling weights for the State and national components of the 
1996, 1997, and 1998 assessments. It is anticipated that the 1996 NAEP 
will be conducted at the national level in reading, mathematics and 
science in grades 4, 8 and 12 and at the State level in mathematics and 
science in grade 8 and possibly at grade 4. The 1997 NAEP will be a 
national assessment of the arts (dance, theater, music, visual arts) 
conducted in grade 8 only, with a smaller than normal sample of 
students. (However, increases in the scope of the arts assessment are 
possible.) It is anticipated that the 1998 NAEP will assess reading, 
writing and mathematics at the national level, and reading and writing 
at the State level in grades 4, 8, and 12. NAEP supports the National 
Education Goals by providing measures of progress toward National 
Education Goal Three, student competency over challenging subject 
matter.
    Eligible Applicants: Public, private, for-profit, and non-profit 
institutions, agencies, and other qualified organizations or consortia 
of such institutions, agencies, and organizations.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 25, 1995.
    Applications Available: March 15, 1995.
    Available Funds: The Department estimates that about $800,000 can 
be made available in fiscal year 1995 for this project.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
    Project Period: Up to 60 months.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 
85, 86; and (b) The regulations in 34 CFR Part 98 (Students Rights in 
Research, Experimental Activities, and Testing).

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Assessment of Educational 
Progress is authorized by Section 411 of the National Education 
Statistics Act of 1994, Title IV of the Improving America's Schools Act 
(20 U.S.C. 9010). Section 412 (20 U.S.C. Secs. 9011) of this law 
provides for the establishment of the National Assessment Governing 
Board (NAGB). The law requires NAGB, among other responsibilities, to 
formulate the policy guidelines for the National Assessment and select 
the subject areas to be assessed. Copies of these guidelines are 
available from the Department. One cooperative agreement is currently 
in effect to develop, field test, revise, and prepare for a State and 
national component of NAEP in 1996. There will be a separate 
announcement for scoring, analyzing, and reporting data from the 1996, 
1997, and 1998 assessments. This notice is limited to seeking 
applications for activities in connection with the 1996, 1997 and 1998 
NAEP assessments.

Priorities:

    Absolute Priority: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and 20 U.S.C. 
Secs. 9010-9011, the Secretary gives an absolute preference to 
applications that meet the following priority. The Secretary, under 20 
U.S.C. Secs. 9010-9011, funds under this competition only applications 
that meet this absolute priority:
    Collection of data for the 1996, 1997, and 1998 NAEP and 
preparation of sampling weights for the State and national components 
of the 1996, 1997, and 1998 assessments.
    The grantee must perform these activities in accordance with 
guidelines developed by the NAGB.
    Invitational Priority: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) the Secretary is 
particularly interested in applications that meet the following 
invitational priority. However, an application that meets this 
invitational priority does not receive competitive or absolute 
preference over other applications:
    Conduct Transcript Study based upon graduating seniors in the 1996 
NAEP sample.

Selection Criteria

    Applications are evaluated according to the selection criteria in 
34 CFR 75.210. Under 34 CFR 75.210(c), the Secretary is authorized to 
distribute an additional 15 points among the selection criteria to 
bring the total possible points to a maximum of 100 points. For the 
purpose of this competition, the Secretary will distribute the 
additional points as follows:
    Plan of operation (34 CFR 75.210(b)(3)). Fifteen (15) additional 
points will be added for a possible total of 30 points for this 
criterion.
    For Applications or Information Contact: Steven Gorman, U.S. 
Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW., Room 308b, 
Washington, DC 20208-5653. Telephone: (202) 219-1761. Individuals who 
use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
    Information about the Department's funding opportunities, including 
copies of application notices for discretionary grant competitions, can 
be viewed on the Department's electronic bulletin board (ED Board), 
telephone (202) 260-9950; or on the Internet Gopher Server at 
GOPHER.ED.GOV (under Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases). 
However, the official application notice for a discretionary grant 
competition is the notice published in the Federal Register.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 9010, 9011.

    Dated: March 6, 1995.
Sharon P. Robinson,
Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 95-5898 Filed 3-9-95; 8:45 am]
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