Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records-Adult English as a Second Language (ESL) Literacy Impact Study, 22355-22358 [E8-9115]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 81 / Friday, April 25, 2008 / Notices
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Technical Assistance and Dissemination
Network and Technical Assistance
Communities of Practice; the Office of
Vocational and Adult Education’s
National Research Center for Career and
Technical Education; and the NIDRR
network of knowledge translation
grantees. This consultation must be
designed to avoid duplication of efforts
and to facilitate the exchange of
information, pool resources, and
improve the overall effectiveness of the
Center’s activities.
Definitions
The Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services,
the Assistant Secretary for Vocational
and Adult Education, and the Assistant
Secretary for Postsecondary Education
jointly establish the following
definitions for the purpose of the Center
on Postsecondary Education for
Students With Intellectual Disabilities
priority:
(1) Adaptive skill areas, as used in the
definition of students with intellectual
disabilities, means the basic skills
needed for everyday life, such as
communication, self-care, home living,
social skills, leisure, health and safety,
self-direction, functional academics
(reading, writing, basic math), and work.
(2) Scientifically based research has
the meaning given the term in 20 U.S.C.
7801(37): Research that involves the
application of rigorous, systematic, and
objective procedures to obtain reliable
and valid knowledge relevant to
education activities and programs. It
includes research that—
(a) Employs systematic, empirical
methods that draw on observation or
experiment;
(b) Involves rigorous data analyses
that are adequate to test the stated
hypotheses and justify the general
conclusions drawn;
(c) Relies on measurements or
observational methods that provide
reliable and valid data across evaluators
and observers, across multiple
measurements and observations, and
across studies by the same or different
investigators;
(d) Is evaluated using experimental or
quasi-experimental designs in which
individual entities, programs, or
activities are assigned to different
conditions and with appropriate
controls to evaluate the effects of the
condition of interest, with a preference
for random-assignment experiments, or
other designs to the extent that those
designs contain within-condition or
across-condition controls;
(e) Ensures that experimental studies
are presented in sufficient detail and
clarity to allow for replication or, at a
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minimum, offer the opportunity to build
systematically on their findings; and
(f) Has been accepted by a peerreviewed journal or approved by a panel
of independent experts through a
comparably rigorous, objective, and
scientific review.
(3) Students with intellectual
disabilities means—
(a) Individuals ages 13 through 26
whose intellectual functioning levels
require significant changes in
instructional methods and
modifications to the curriculum in order
to participate in postsecondary
education programs;
(b) Individuals who have significant
limitations in adaptive skill areas as
expressed in conceptual, social, and
practical adaptive skills; and
(c) Individuals whose disabilities
originated before the age of 18.
Executive Order 12866
This NFP 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 regulatory action.
The potential costs associated with
this NFP 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 NFP, we have
determined that the benefits of the final
priority and definitions justify the costs.
Summary of Potential Costs and
Benefits
The benefits of the DRRP programs
have been well established over the
years in that other DRRP projects have
been completed successfully. The
priority and definitions announced in
this notice will generate new knowledge
through research, dissemination,
utilization, and technical assistance.
Another benefit of the final priority
and definitions is that establishing a
new DRRP will support the President’s
NFI and improve the lives of
individuals with disabilities. The new
DRRP will generate, disseminate, and
promote the use of new information that
will improve the options for individuals
with intellectual disabilities to achieve
improved education, employment, and
independent living outcomes.
Applicable Program Regulations: 34
CFR part 350.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may view this document, as well
as all other Department of Education
documents published in the Federal
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Register, in text or Adobe Portable
Document Format (PDF) on the Internet
at the following site: https://www.ed.gov/
news/fedregister/.
To use PDF you must have Adobe
Acrobat Reader, which is available free
at this site. If you have questions about
using PDF, call the U.S. Government
Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1–
888–293–6498; or in the Washington,
DC, area at (202) 512–1530.
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: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/
index.html.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Numbers 84.133A Disability Rehabilitation
Research Projects)
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and
764(a).
Dated: April 22, 2008.
Tracy R. Justesen,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E8–9108 Filed 4–24–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Privacy Act of 1974; System of
Records—Adult English as a Second
Language (ESL) Literacy Impact Study
Institute of Education Sciences,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of a new system of
records.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Privacy Act of 1974, as amended
(Privacy Act), the Department of
Education (Department) publishes this
notice of a new system of records
entitled ‘‘Adult English as a Second
Language (ESL) Literacy Impact Study’’
(18–13–19). The National Center for
Education Evaluation and Regional
Assistance at the Department’s Institute
of Education Sciences (IES)
commissioned this evaluation. It will be
conducted under a contract that IES
awarded in September 2004.
The study will address the following
questions:
(1) How effective is instruction based
on a literacy workbook in improving the
English reading and speaking skills of
low-literate adult ESL learners?
(2) Is instruction based upon the
workbook more effective for certain
groups of students (e.g., native Spanish
speakers)?
(3) How well do instructors
implement the instruction based upon
the workbook?
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 81 / Friday, April 25, 2008 / Notices
The system will contain information
about approximately 40 adult ESL
teachers and two cohorts of
approximately 900 adult learners per
cohort. Within each cohort,
approximately 450 learners will
participate in classes in which
instruction based upon the literacy
workbook is implemented and
approximately 450 learners will
participate in classes in which
instruction that is not based upon the
literacy workbook is implemented. The
first cohort of learners will be enrolled
in adult education classes during the
Fall semester of 2008. The second
cohort of learners will be enrolled in
adult education classes during the
Spring semester of 2009.
The system of records will include
information about the adult learners
participating in the evaluation,
including names and addresses;
demographic information such as race,
ethnicity, gender, age, and educational
background; and scores on literacy
assessments. The system of records will
also include information about the
teachers participating in the evaluation,
including names; demographic
information such as race, ethnicity,
gender, and educational background;
and teaching experience.
DATES: The Department seeks comment
on the new system of records described
in this notice, in accordance with the
requirements of the Privacy Act. We
must receive your comments on the
proposed routine uses for the system of
records referenced in this notice on or
before May 27, 2008.
The Department filed a report
describing the new system of records
covered by this notice with the Chair of
the Senate Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs, the
Chair of the House Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform, and
the Administrator of the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) on April 22, 2008. This system
of records will become effective at the
later date of—(1) the expiration of the
40-day period for OMB review on June
2, 2008 or (2) May 27, 2008, unless the
system of records needs to be changed
as a result of public comment or OMB
review.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments about
the proposed routine uses to Dr. Ricky
Takai, Director, Evaluation Division,
National Center for Education
Evaluation and Regional Assistance,
Institute of Education Sciences, U.S.
Department of Education, 555 New
Jersey Avenue, NW., room 502D,
Washington, DC 20208–0001.
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Telephone: (202) 208–7083. If you
prefer to send comments through the
Internet, use the following address:
comments@ed.gov.
You must include the term ‘‘Adult
ESL Literacy Impact Study’’ in the
subject line of the electronic message.
During and after the comment period,
you may inspect all comments about
this notice at the U.S. Department of
Education in room 502D, 555 New
Jersey Avenue, NW., Washington, DC,
between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through
Friday of each week except Federal
holidays.
Assistance to Individuals With
Disabilities in Reviewing the
Rulemaking Record
On request, we supply an appropriate
aid, such as a reader or print magnifier,
to an individual with a disability who
needs assistance to review the
comments or other documents in the
public rulemaking record for this notice.
If you want to schedule an appointment
for this type of aid, please contact the
person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Ricky Takai. Telephone: (202) 208–
7083. If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD), you may call
the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–
800–877–8339.
Individuals with disabilities may
obtain this document in an alternative
format (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, or computer diskette) on
request to the contact person listed in
this paragraph.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
prepare and send a report to OMB
whenever the agency publishes a new
system of records. Each agency is also
required to send copies of the report to
the Chair of the Senate Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs and the Chair of the House
Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform. These reports are
intended to permit an evaluation of the
probable effect of the proposal on the
privacy rights of individuals.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may 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: https://www.ed.gov/
news/fedregister/.
To use PDF you must have Adobe
Acrobat Reader, which is available free
at this site. If you have questions about
using PDF, call the U.S. Government
Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1–
888–293–6498; or in the Washington,
DC, area at (202) 512–1530.
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: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/
index.html.
Dated: April 8, 2008.
Grover Whitehurst,
Director, Institute of Education Sciences.
For the reasons discussed in the
preamble, the Director of the Institute of
Education Sciences, U.S. Department of
Education, publishes a notice of a new
system of records to read as follows:
Introduction
18–13–19
The Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a)
requires the Department to publish in
the Federal Register this notice of a new
system of records maintained by the
Department. The Department’s
regulations implementing the Privacy
Act are contained in part 5b of title 34
of the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR).
The Privacy Act applies to
information about individuals that
contains individually identifying
information and that is retrieved by a
unique identifier associated with each
individual, such as a name or social
security number. The information about
each individual is called a ‘‘record,’’
and the system, whether manual or
computer-based, is called a ‘‘system of
records.’’
The Privacy Act requires each agency
to publish a notice of a system of
records in the Federal Register and to
SYSTEM NAME:
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Adult English as a Second Language
(ESL) Literacy Impact Study.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
None.
SYSTEM LOCATION:
(1) Evaluation Division, National
Center for Education Evaluation and
Regional Assistance, Institute of
Education Sciences (IES), U.S.
Department of Education, 555 New
Jersey Avenue, NW., room 502D,
Washington, DC 20208–0001.
(2) American Institutes for Research,
1000 Thomas Jefferson Street,
Washington, DC 20007–3839.
(3) Berkeley Policy Associates, 440
Grand Avenue, Suite 500, Oakland, CA
94610–5012.
(4) Mathematica Policy Associates,
600 Alexander Park, Princeton, NJ
08540–6346.
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 81 / Friday, April 25, 2008 / Notices
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE
SYSTEM:
This system contains records on adult
ESL students and teachers who are
participating in an evaluation of the
effectiveness of a literacy workbook and
teacher training in improving the
English reading and speaking skills of
adult ESL learners who have low levels
of literacy in their native language.
Teachers and adult ESL learners at
recruited sites will volunteer to
participate in the study.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
The system will contain information
about 40 adult ESL teachers and two
cohorts of approximately 900 adult ESL
learners per cohort. The system of
records will include information about
the adult learners participating in the
evaluation, including the learners’
names; addresses; demographic
information such as race/ethnicity,
gender, age, educational background;
and scores on literacy assessments. The
system of records will also include
information about the teachers
participating in the evaluation,
including the teachers’ names;
demographic information such as race/
ethnicity, gender, educational
background; and teaching experience.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
The evaluation being conducted is
authorized under section 243 of the
Adult Education and Family Literacy
Act (20 U.S.C. 9253), as well as sections
171(b) and 173 of the Education
Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA) (20
U.S.C. 9561(b) and 9563).
PURPOSE(S):
The information in this system is used
for the following purpose: To study the
effectiveness of a literacy workbook and
teacher training in improving the
English reading and speaking skills of
adult ESL learners who have low levels
of literacy skills in their native
language.
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ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE
SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND
THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
The Department of Education
(Department) may disclose information
contained in a record in this system of
records under the routine uses listed in
this system of records without the
consent of the individual if the
disclosure is compatible with the
purposes for which the record was
collected. These disclosures may be
made on a case-by-case basis or, if the
Department has complied with the
computer matching requirements of the
Privacy Act, under a computer matching
agreement. Any disclosure of
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individually identifiable information
from a record in this system must also
comply with the requirements of section
183 of the ESRA (20 U.S.C. 9573)
providing for confidentiality standards
that apply to all collections, reporting,
and publication of data by IES.
Contract Disclosure. If the Department
contracts with an entity for the purposes
of performing any function that requires
disclosure of records in this system to
employees of the contractor, the
Department may disclose the records to
those employees. Before entering into
such a contract, the Department shall
require the contractor to maintain
Privacy Act safeguards as required
under 5 U.S.C. 552a(m) with respect to
the records in the system.
DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING
AGENCIES:
Not applicable to this system notice.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING,
RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, AND
DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
STORAGE:
22357
identifying data will be strictly
controlled. At each site all data will be
kept in locked file cabinets during
nonworking hours, and work on
hardcopy data will take place in a single
room, except for data entry. Physical
security of electronic data will also be
maintained. Security features that
protect project data include: Passwordprotected accounts that authorize users
to use the contractor’s and
subcontractors’ systems but to access
only specific network directories and
network software; user rights and
directory and file attributes that limit
those who can use particular directories
and files and determine how they can
use them; and additional security
features that the network administrators
will establish for projects as needed.
The contractor and subcontractor
employees who ‘‘maintain’’ (collect,
maintain, use, or disseminate) data in
this system shall comply with the
requirements of the confidentiality
standards in section 183 of the ESRA
(20 U.S.C. 9573).
The Department maintains records on
CD-ROM, and the contractor (American
Institutes for Research) and
subcontractors (Berkeley Policy
Associates and Mathematica Policy
Associates) maintain data for this
system on computers and in hard copy.
RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:
RETRIEVABILITY:
Director, Evaluation Division,
National Center for Education
Evaluation and Regional Assistance,
Institute of Education Sciences, U.S.
Department of Education, 555 New
Jersey Avenue, NW., room 502D,
Washington, DC 20208.
Records in this system are indexed
and retrieved by a number assigned to
each individual that is cross-referenced
by the individual’s name on a separate
list.
SAFEGUARDS:
All physical access to the
Department’s site and to the sites of the
Department’s contractor and
subcontractors, where this system of
records is maintained, is controlled and
monitored by security personnel. The
computer system employed by the
Department offers a high degree of
resistance to tampering and
circumvention. This security system
limits data access to Department and
contract staff on a need-to-know basis,
and controls individual users’ ability to
access and alter records within the
system. The contractor and
subcontractors will establish similar sets
of procedures at their sites to ensure
confidentiality of data. Their systems
are required to ensure that information
identifying individuals is in files
physically separated from other research
data. The contractor and subcontractors
will maintain security of the complete
set of all master data files and
documentation. Access to individually
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Records are maintained and disposed
of in accordance with the Department’s
Records Disposition Schedules (ED/
RDS, Part 3, Item 2b and Part 3, Item
5a).
SYSTEM MANAGER AND ADDRESS:
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
If you wish to determine whether a
record exists regarding you in the
system of records, contact the systems
manager. Your request must meet the
requirements of regulations at 34 CFR
5b.5, including proof of identity.
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURE:
If you wish to gain access to your
record in the system of records, contact
the system manager. Your request must
meet the requirements of regulations at
34 CFR 5b.5, including proof of identity.
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURE:
If you wish to contest the content of
a record regarding you in the system of
records, contact the system manager.
Your request must meet the
requirements of the regulations at 34
CFR 5b.7, including proof of identity.
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
The system of records will include
information collected from adult
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 81 / Friday, April 25, 2008 / Notices
learners and from teachers participating
in the evaluation. Data collected from
the learners will include learners’
names; addresses; demographic
information such as race/ethnicity,
gender, age, educational background;
and scores on literacy assessments. Data
collected from the teachers will include
the teachers’ names; demographic
information such as race/ethnicity,
gender, educational background; and
teaching experience.
EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:
None.
[FR Doc. E8–9115 Filed 4–24–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Biological and Environmental
Research Advisory Committee
AGENCY:
Department of Energy; Office of
Science.
ACTION:
Notice of open meeting.
SUMMARY: This notice announces a
meeting of the Biological and
Environmental Research Advisory
Committee. Federal Advisory
Committee Act (Pub. L. No. 92–463, as
amended) requires that public notice of
these meetings be announced in the
Federal Register.
Monday, May 19, 2008, 9 a.m. to
5:30 p.m.; and Tuesday, May 20, 2008,
9 a.m. to 12:30, E.D.T.
DATES:
Hilton Hotel, 620 Perry
Parkway, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr.
David Thomassen (301–903–9817;
david.thomassen@science.doe.gov)
Designated Federal Officer, Biological
and Environmental Research Advisory
Committee, U.S. Department of Energy,
Office of Science, Office of Biological
and Environmental Research, SC–23/
Germantown Building, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585–1290. The most
current information concerning this
meeting can be found on the Web site:
https://www.science.doe.gov/ober/berac/
announce.html.
Purpose of
the Meeting: To provide advice on a
continuing basis to the Director, Office
of Science of the Department of Energy,
on the many complex scientific and
technical issues that arise in the
development and implementation of the
Biological and Environmental Research
Program.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Tentative Agenda
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Report on the Environmental
Remediation Sciences Division
Committee of Visitors.
• Report on the Low Dose Radiation
Research Program BERAC Review.
• Science Talk.
• Update on BER Program for
Ecosystems Research.
• Workshop Report—Next Generation
of Climatic Change Ecosystem
Experiments After the FACE Studies,
Follow-on to October 2006, BERAC
Report.
• Genomics: GTL Data Sharing
Policy.
• Update on Joint ASCAC–BERAC
GTL Charge
• Report on BER Carbon Cycling and
Carbon Sequestration Workshop
• Comments and Discussion, Anna
Palmisano, Associate Director of
Science for Biological and
Environmental Research.
• News from the Life and Medical
Sciences, Climate Change Research, and
Environmental Remediation Sciences
Divisions.
• New business.
• Public Comment.
Public Participation: The day and a
half meeting is open to the public. If you
would like to file a written statement
with the Committee, you may do so
either before or after the meeting. If you
would like to make oral statements
regarding any of the items on the
agenda, you should contact David
Thomassen at the address or telephone
number listed above. You must make
your request for an oral statement at
least five business days before the
meeting. Reasonable provision will be
made to include the scheduled oral
statements on the agenda. The
Chairperson of the Committee will
conduct the meeting to facilitate the
orderly conduct of business. Public
comment will follow the 10-minute
rule.
Minutes: The minutes of this meeting
will be available for public review and
copying within 45 days at the BERAC
Web site: https://www.science.doe.gov/
ober/berac/Minutes.html.
Environmental Management SiteSpecific Advisory Board, Savannah
River Site
Issued in Washington, DC on April 22,
2008.
Rachel M. Samuel,
Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–9082 Filed 4–24–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
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Department of Energy.
Notice of open meeting.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: This notice announces a
meeting of the Environmental
Management Site-Specific Advisory
Board (EM SSAB), Savannah River Site.
The Federal Advisory Committee Act
(Pub. L. No. 92–463, 86 Stat. 770)
requires that public notice of this
meeting be announced in the Federal
Register.
DATES: Monday, May 19, 2008, 1 p.m.–
5 p.m., Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 8:30
a.m.–4 p.m.
ADDRESSES: DoubleTree Hotel, 411 West
Bay Street, Savannah, GA 31401.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gerri Flemming, Office of External
Affairs, Department of Energy,
Savannah River Operations Office, P.O.
Box A, Aiken, SC 29802; Phone: (803)
952–7886.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose of the Board: The purpose of
the Board is to make recommendations
to DOE in the areas of environmental
restoration, waste management, and
related activities.
Tentative Agenda
Monday, May 19, 2008
1 p.m.
5 p.m.
Combined Committee Session.
Adjourn.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
8:30 a.m. Approval of Minutes,
Agency Updates.
9:30 a.m. Public Comment Session.
9:45 a.m. Chair and Facilitator
Updates.
10:15 a.m. Waste Management
Committee Report.
11:15 a.m. Facility Disposition and
Site Remediation Committee Report.
11:45 a.m. Public Comment Session.
12 p.m. Lunch Break.
1 p.m. Strategic and Legacy
Management Committee Report.
2 p.m. Nuclear Materials Committee
Report.
2:45 p.m. Administrative Committee
Report.
3:45 p.m. Public Comment Session.
4 p.m. Adjourn.
If needed, time will be allotted after
public comments for items added to the
agenda and administrative details. A
final agenda will be available at the
meeting Monday, May 19, 2008.
Public Participation: The meeting is
open to the public. Written statements
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 81 (Friday, April 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22355-22358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9115]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records--Adult English as a Second
Language (ESL) Literacy Impact Study
AGENCY: Institute of Education Sciences, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of a new system of records.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended
(Privacy Act), the Department of Education (Department) publishes this
notice of a new system of records entitled ``Adult English as a Second
Language (ESL) Literacy Impact Study'' (18-13-19). The National Center
for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance at the Department's
Institute of Education Sciences (IES) commissioned this evaluation. It
will be conducted under a contract that IES awarded in September 2004.
The study will address the following questions:
(1) How effective is instruction based on a literacy workbook in
improving the English reading and speaking skills of low-literate adult
ESL learners?
(2) Is instruction based upon the workbook more effective for
certain groups of students (e.g., native Spanish speakers)?
(3) How well do instructors implement the instruction based upon
the workbook?
[[Page 22356]]
The system will contain information about approximately 40 adult
ESL teachers and two cohorts of approximately 900 adult learners per
cohort. Within each cohort, approximately 450 learners will participate
in classes in which instruction based upon the literacy workbook is
implemented and approximately 450 learners will participate in classes
in which instruction that is not based upon the literacy workbook is
implemented. The first cohort of learners will be enrolled in adult
education classes during the Fall semester of 2008. The second cohort
of learners will be enrolled in adult education classes during the
Spring semester of 2009.
The system of records will include information about the adult
learners participating in the evaluation, including names and
addresses; demographic information such as race, ethnicity, gender,
age, and educational background; and scores on literacy assessments.
The system of records will also include information about the teachers
participating in the evaluation, including names; demographic
information such as race, ethnicity, gender, and educational
background; and teaching experience.
DATES: The Department seeks comment on the new system of records
described in this notice, in accordance with the requirements of the
Privacy Act. We must receive your comments on the proposed routine uses
for the system of records referenced in this notice on or before May
27, 2008.
The Department filed a report describing the new system of records
covered by this notice with the Chair of the Senate Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Chair of the House
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Administrator of
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) on April 22, 2008. This system of records will become
effective at the later date of--(1) the expiration of the 40-day period
for OMB review on June 2, 2008 or (2) May 27, 2008, unless the system
of records needs to be changed as a result of public comment or OMB
review.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments about the proposed routine uses to Dr.
Ricky Takai, Director, Evaluation Division, National Center for
Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Institute of Education
Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW.,
room 502D, Washington, DC 20208-0001. Telephone: (202) 208-7083. If you
prefer to send comments through the Internet, use the following
address: comments@ed.gov.
You must include the term ``Adult ESL Literacy Impact Study'' in
the subject line of the electronic message.
During and after the comment period, you may inspect all comments
about this notice at the U.S. Department of Education in room 502D, 555
New Jersey Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, between the hours of 8 a.m. and
4:30 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday of each week except
Federal holidays.
Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities in Reviewing the Rulemaking
Record
On request, we supply an appropriate aid, such as a reader or print
magnifier, to an individual with a disability who needs assistance to
review the comments or other documents in the public rulemaking record
for this notice. If you want to schedule an appointment for this type
of aid, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ricky Takai. Telephone: (202) 208-
7083. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you
may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in this paragraph.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
The Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) requires the Department to publish
in the Federal Register this notice of a new system of records
maintained by the Department. The Department's regulations implementing
the Privacy Act are contained in part 5b of title 34 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR).
The Privacy Act applies to information about individuals that
contains individually identifying information and that is retrieved by
a unique identifier associated with each individual, such as a name or
social security number. The information about each individual is called
a ``record,'' and the system, whether manual or computer-based, is
called a ``system of records.''
The Privacy Act requires each agency to publish a notice of a
system of records in the Federal Register and to prepare and send a
report to OMB whenever the agency publishes a new system of records.
Each agency is also required to send copies of the report to the Chair
of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
and the Chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform. These reports are intended to permit an evaluation of the
probable effect of the proposal on the privacy rights of individuals.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may 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: https://
www.ed.gov/news/fedregister/.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.
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: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/
nara/.
Dated: April 8, 2008.
Grover Whitehurst,
Director, Institute of Education Sciences.
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Director of the
Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education,
publishes a notice of a new system of records to read as follows:
18-13-19
SYSTEM NAME:
Adult English as a Second Language (ESL) Literacy Impact Study.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
None.
SYSTEM LOCATION:
(1) Evaluation Division, National Center for Education Evaluation
and Regional Assistance, Institute of Education Sciences (IES), U.S.
Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW., room 502D,
Washington, DC 20208-0001.
(2) American Institutes for Research, 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street,
Washington, DC 20007-3839.
(3) Berkeley Policy Associates, 440 Grand Avenue, Suite 500,
Oakland, CA 94610-5012.
(4) Mathematica Policy Associates, 600 Alexander Park, Princeton,
NJ 08540-6346.
[[Page 22357]]
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
This system contains records on adult ESL students and teachers who
are participating in an evaluation of the effectiveness of a literacy
workbook and teacher training in improving the English reading and
speaking skills of adult ESL learners who have low levels of literacy
in their native language. Teachers and adult ESL learners at recruited
sites will volunteer to participate in the study.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
The system will contain information about 40 adult ESL teachers and
two cohorts of approximately 900 adult ESL learners per cohort. The
system of records will include information about the adult learners
participating in the evaluation, including the learners' names;
addresses; demographic information such as race/ethnicity, gender, age,
educational background; and scores on literacy assessments. The system
of records will also include information about the teachers
participating in the evaluation, including the teachers' names;
demographic information such as race/ethnicity, gender, educational
background; and teaching experience.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
The evaluation being conducted is authorized under section 243 of
the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (20 U.S.C. 9253), as well
as sections 171(b) and 173 of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002
(ESRA) (20 U.S.C. 9561(b) and 9563).
PURPOSE(S):
The information in this system is used for the following purpose:
To study the effectiveness of a literacy workbook and teacher training
in improving the English reading and speaking skills of adult ESL
learners who have low levels of literacy skills in their native
language.
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
The Department of Education (Department) may disclose information
contained in a record in this system of records under the routine uses
listed in this system of records without the consent of the individual
if the disclosure is compatible with the purposes for which the record
was collected. These disclosures may be made on a case-by-case basis
or, if the Department has complied with the computer matching
requirements of the Privacy Act, under a computer matching agreement.
Any disclosure of individually identifiable information from a record
in this system must also comply with the requirements of section 183 of
the ESRA (20 U.S.C. 9573) providing for confidentiality standards that
apply to all collections, reporting, and publication of data by IES.
Contract Disclosure. If the Department contracts with an entity for
the purposes of performing any function that requires disclosure of
records in this system to employees of the contractor, the Department
may disclose the records to those employees. Before entering into such
a contract, the Department shall require the contractor to maintain
Privacy Act safeguards as required under 5 U.S.C. 552a(m) with respect
to the records in the system.
DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:
Not applicable to this system notice.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING,
AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
STORAGE:
The Department maintains records on CD-ROM, and the contractor
(American Institutes for Research) and subcontractors (Berkeley Policy
Associates and Mathematica Policy Associates) maintain data for this
system on computers and in hard copy.
RETRIEVABILITY:
Records in this system are indexed and retrieved by a number
assigned to each individual that is cross-referenced by the
individual's name on a separate list.
SAFEGUARDS:
All physical access to the Department's site and to the sites of
the Department's contractor and subcontractors, where this system of
records is maintained, is controlled and monitored by security
personnel. The computer system employed by the Department offers a high
degree of resistance to tampering and circumvention. This security
system limits data access to Department and contract staff on a need-
to-know basis, and controls individual users' ability to access and
alter records within the system. The contractor and subcontractors will
establish similar sets of procedures at their sites to ensure
confidentiality of data. Their systems are required to ensure that
information identifying individuals is in files physically separated
from other research data. The contractor and subcontractors will
maintain security of the complete set of all master data files and
documentation. Access to individually identifying data will be strictly
controlled. At each site all data will be kept in locked file cabinets
during nonworking hours, and work on hardcopy data will take place in a
single room, except for data entry. Physical security of electronic
data will also be maintained. Security features that protect project
data include: Password-protected accounts that authorize users to use
the contractor's and subcontractors' systems but to access only
specific network directories and network software; user rights and
directory and file attributes that limit those who can use particular
directories and files and determine how they can use them; and
additional security features that the network administrators will
establish for projects as needed. The contractor and subcontractor
employees who ``maintain'' (collect, maintain, use, or disseminate)
data in this system shall comply with the requirements of the
confidentiality standards in section 183 of the ESRA (20 U.S.C. 9573).
RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:
Records are maintained and disposed of in accordance with the
Department's Records Disposition Schedules (ED/RDS, Part 3, Item 2b and
Part 3, Item 5a).
SYSTEM MANAGER AND ADDRESS:
Director, Evaluation Division, National Center for Education
Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Institute of Education Sciences,
U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW., room 502D,
Washington, DC 20208.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
If you wish to determine whether a record exists regarding you in
the system of records, contact the systems manager. Your request must
meet the requirements of regulations at 34 CFR 5b.5, including proof of
identity.
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURE:
If you wish to gain access to your record in the system of records,
contact the system manager. Your request must meet the requirements of
regulations at 34 CFR 5b.5, including proof of identity.
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURE:
If you wish to contest the content of a record regarding you in the
system of records, contact the system manager. Your request must meet
the requirements of the regulations at 34 CFR 5b.7, including proof of
identity.
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
The system of records will include information collected from adult
[[Page 22358]]
learners and from teachers participating in the evaluation. Data
collected from the learners will include learners' names; addresses;
demographic information such as race/ethnicity, gender, age,
educational background; and scores on literacy assessments. Data
collected from the teachers will include the teachers' names;
demographic information such as race/ethnicity, gender, educational
background; and teaching experience.
EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:
None.
[FR Doc. E8-9115 Filed 4-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
