National Assessment Governing Board, 5426-5428 [2019-02885]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 35 (Thursday, February 21, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5426-5428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-02885]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Assessment Governing Board

AGENCY: National Assessment Governing Board, U.S. Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Announcement of open and closed meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the agenda for the February 28-March 2, 
2019 Quarterly Board Meeting of the National Assessment Governing Board 
(hereafter referred to as Governing Board). This notice provides 
information to members of the public who may be interested in attending 
the meeting or providing written comments related to the work of the 
Governing Board. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

DATES: The Quarterly Board Meeting will be held on the following dates:
     February 28, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
     March 1, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
     March 2, 2019 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City, 1250 South Hayes Street, 
Arlington, VA 22202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Munira Mwalimu, Executive Officer/
Designated Federal Official for the Governing Board, 800 North Capitol 
Street NW, Suite 825, Washington, DC 20002, telephone: (202) 357-6938, 
fax: (202) 357-6945, email: Munira.Mwalimu@ed.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Statutory Authority and Function: The Governing Board is 
established under the National Assessment of Educational Progress 
Authorization Act, Title III of Public Law 107-279.
    The Governing Board is established to formulate policy for the 
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The Governing 
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, improving the form and use of NAEP, developing 
guidelines for reporting and disseminating results, and releasing 
initial NAEP results to the public.

February 28-March 2, 2019 Committee Meetings

    The Governing Board's standing committees will meet to conduct 
regularly scheduled work based on agenda items planned for this 
Quarterly Board Meeting and follow-up items as reported in the 
Governing Board's committee meeting minutes available at https://www.nagb.gov/governing-board/quarterly-board-meetings.html.

Detailed Meeting Agenda: February 28, 2019

February 28: Committee Meetings
    Assessment Development Committee: Closed Session: 10:00 a.m. to 
1:30 p.m.; Open Session 1:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
    Executive Committee: Open Session: 4:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.; Closed 
Session 4:45 p.m. to 5:55 p.m.; Open Session: 5:55 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
March 1: Full Governing Board and Committee Meetings
    Full Governing Board: Open Session: 8:30 a.m. to 8:40 a.m.; Closed 
Sessions: 8:40 a.m. to 10: 00 a.m.; 1:00 p.m.-4:45 p.m.; Open Session: 
4:45 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
    Committee Meetings: 10:20 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.
    Assessment Development Committee: Open Session: 10:20 a.m. to 12:50 
p.m.
    Reporting and Dissemination: Open Session: 10:20 a.m. to 10:25 
a.m.; Closed

[[Page 5427]]

Session: 10:25 a.m.-11:05 a.m.; Open Session: 11:05 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.
    Committee on Standards, Design and Methodology: Open Session: 10:20 
a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; Closed Session: 12:00 p.m.-12:50 p.m.
March 2: Full Governing Board and Committee Meetings:
    Nominations Committee: Closed Session: 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
    Full Governing Board: Closed Session: 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.; Open 
Session: 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.; Closed Session: 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 
a.m.; Open Session--11:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    On Thursday, February 28, 2019, the Assessment Development 
Committee will meet in closed session from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 
in open session from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. During the closed session, 
the committee will review secure cognitive and contextual questionnaire 
items for the NAEP Assessments in Reading and Technology and 
Engineering Literacy. This meeting must be conducted in closed session 
because the test items and data are secure and have not been released 
to the public. Public disclosure of the secure test items would 
significantly impede implementation of the NAEP assessment program if 
conducted in open session. Such matters are protected by exemption 9(B) 
of section 552b(c) of Title 5 of the United States Code.
    During the open session scheduled from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. the 
Assessment Development Committee will review contextual questionnaire 
items for NAEP Assessments in Reading, Mathematics, and Science.
    On Thursday, February 28, 2019, the Executive Committee will 
convene from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be conducted in 
closed session from 4:45 p.m. to 5:55 p.m. During the closed session, 
the Executive Committee will receive and discuss cost estimates and 
implications for implementing the Long-Term Trend (LTT) assessment in 
2020 and the enacted NAEP Assessment Schedule. This meeting must be 
conducted in closed session because public disclosure of this 
information would likely have an adverse financial effect on the NAEP 
program by providing confidential cost details and proprietary contract 
costs of current NAEP contractors to the public. Discussion of this 
information would be likely to significantly impede implementation of a 
proposed agency action if conducted in open session. Such matters are 
protected by exemption 9(B) of section 552b of Title 5 U.S.C. In open 
session from 5:55 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. the Executive Committee will take 
action on recommending the Governing Board add LTT assessment to be 
administered in 2020 for the NAEP Assessment Schedule.
    On Friday, March 1, 2019, the Governing Board will meet in open 
session from 8:30 a.m. to 8:40 a.m. From 8:30 a.m. to 8:40 a.m. the 
Governing Board will review and approve the March 1-2, 2019 quarterly 
meeting agenda and meeting minutes from the November 2018 Quarterly 
Board Meeting. Thereafter the Governing Board Chair will provide 
remarks.
    From 8:40 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. the Governing Board will receive a 
closed session briefing from Senate and House Congressional staff. The 
briefing will be on sensitive policy priorities being considered by the 
U.S. Congress that also have budget implications. These priority 
discussions relate to program funding areas which are confidential and 
cannot be discussed in open session. Premature disclosure would likely 
significantly frustrate implementation of legislative actions. Such 
matters are protected by Section 9(B) of section 552b(c) of Title 5 of 
the United States Code.
    From 10:00 a.m. to 10:10 a.m., the standing committee chairs will 
provide a preview of the agenda items for the committee meetings. At 
10:10 a.m., the Governing Board will recess for a 10 minute break. 
Thereafter, committee meetings will take place from 10:20 a.m. to 12:50 
p.m.
    The Assessment Development Committee will meet in in open session 
from 10:20 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. The committee will receive an update on 
the NAEP Mathematics Assessment Framework and review contextual 
questionnaire items for the NAEP Assessments in Reading, Mathematics 
and Science and discuss ongoing committee work related to the Strategic 
Vision.
    The Reporting and Dissemination Committee will meet in open session 
from 10:20 a.m. to 10:25 a.m. and thereafter in closed session from 
10:25 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. to review secure items from the 2018 NAEP 
Technology and Literacy Assessment. This meeting must be conducted in 
closed session because the test items and data are secure and have not 
been released to the public. Public disclosure of the secure test items 
would significantly impede implementation of the NAEP assessment 
program if conducted in open session. Such matters are protected by 
exemption 9(B) of section 552b(c) of Title 5 of the United States Code. 
Following the closed session, the committee will meet in open session 
from 10:40 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. to discuss ongoing committee work.
    The Committee on Standards, Design and Methodology will meet in 
open session from 10:20 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to discuss ongoing committee 
work. From 12:00 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. the committee will receive a closed 
session briefing on design and analysis plans for the NAEP Writing 
Assessment. This meeting must be conducted in closed session because 
the assessment data are secure and have not been released to the 
public. Public disclosure of the secure test items and data would 
significantly impede implementation of the NAEP assessment program if 
conducted in open session. Such matters are protected by exemption 9(B) 
of section 552b(c) of Title 5 of the United States Code.
    Following the committee meetings and a 10 minute break, the 
Governing Board will convene in two closed session meetings.
    The first closed session is scheduled from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. 
to receive a briefing and discuss the 2018 NAEP Technology and 
Engineering Literacy Report Card for Grade 8. This meeting must be 
conducted in closed session because the data has not been released to 
the public. Public disclosure of the secure data would significantly 
impede implementation of the NAEP assessment program if conducted in 
open session. Such matters are protected by exemption 9(B) of section 
552b(c) of Title 5 of the United States Code.
    The Governing Board will then take a 15 minute break and reconvene 
in the second closed session from 2:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. The Governing 
Board will receive a briefing and discuss the NAEP Assessment Schedule 
and budget. This meeting must be conducted in closed session because 
discussions will involve reviewing independent government cost 
estimates for assessing various NAEP subjects on the assessment 
schedule. Public disclosure of the cost estimates would significantly 
impede implementation of the NAEP assessment program if conducted in 
open session. Such matters are protected by exemption 9(B) of section 
552b(c) of Title 5 of the United States Code.
    The Governing Board will then meet in open session from 4:45 p.m. 
to 5:00 p.m. to take action on the LTT Assessment Schedule. The March 
1, 2019 session of the Governing Board meeting will adjourn at 5:00 
p.m.
    On Saturday, March 2, 2019, the Nominations Committee will meet in 
closed session from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. to review and discuss the 
final slate of candidates for Governing Board vacancies for terms that 
begin on October 1, 2019. The Nominations

[[Page 5428]]

Committee's discussions pertain solely to internal personnel rules and 
practices of an agency and information of a personal nature where 
disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal 
privacy. As such, the discussions are protected by exemptions 2 and 6 
of section 552b(c) of Title 5 of the United States Code.
    On March 2, 2019, the Governing Board will meet in closed session 
from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. to take action on the Nomination 
Committee's recommendation on the final slate of candidates for 
Governing Board 2019 vacancies for submission to the Secretary of 
Education for consideration and appointment. The Governing Board's 
discussions pertain solely to internal personnel rules and practices of 
an agency and information of a personal nature where disclosure would 
constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. As such, 
the discussions are protected by exemptions 2 and 6 of section 552b(c) 
of Title 5 of the United States Code.
    The Governing Board will then take a 15 minutes break and reconvene 
in open session from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. to receive an update from 
the Chair of the Assessment Development Committee on the NAEP Reading 
Framework. Thereafter, the Governing Board will receive reports from 
its standing committees from 10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. The Governing 
Board will take action on the charge to the NAEP Reading Framework 
Panels.
    From 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. the Governing Board will meet in 
closed session to receive a briefing on plans for reporting results 
from the 2017 NAEP Writing Assessment. This meeting must be conducted 
in closed session because the assessment data are secure and have not 
been released to the public. Public disclosure of the secure test items 
and data would significantly impede implementation of the NAEP 
assessment program if conducted in open session. Such matters are 
protected by exemption 9(B) of section 552b(c) of Title 5 of the United 
States Code.
    The Governing Board will meet in open session from 11:45 a.m. to 
12:00 p.m. During this session, the Chair will introduce the new 
Executive Director who will provide remarks. The March 2, 2019 session 
of the Governing Board meeting will adjourn at 12:00 p.m.
    Access to Records of the Meeting: Pursuant to FACA requirements, 
the public may also inspect the meeting materials at www.nagb.gov 
beginning on Thursday, February 28, 2019, by 10:00 a.m. EST. The 
official verbatim transcripts of the public meeting sessions will be 
available for public inspection no later than 30 calendar days 
following the meeting.
    Reasonable Accommodations: The meeting site is accessible to 
individuals with disabilities. If you will need an auxiliary aid or 
service to participate in the meeting (e.g., interpreting service, 
assistive listening device, or materials in an alternate format), 
notify the contact person listed in this notice no later than 21 days 
prior to the meeting.
    Written comments may be submitted electronically or in hard copy to 
the attention of the Executive Officer/Designated Federal Official (see 
contact information noted above). Information on the Governing Board 
and its work can be found at www.nagb.gov.
    Electronic Access to this Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Internet 
access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System at: 
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 
Adobe website. You may also access documents of the Department 
published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature 
at: www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Authority: Pub. L. 107-279, Title III--National Assessment of 
Educational Progress section 301.

Lisa Stooksberry,
Deputy Executive Director, National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), 
U. S. Department of Education.
[FR Doc. 2019-02885 Filed 2-20-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P