Final Priorities-Competitive Grants for State Assessments Program, 25418-25422 [2020-09335]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 85 (Friday, May 1, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25418-25422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-09335]



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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket ED-2019-OESE-0147]


Final Priorities--Competitive Grants for State Assessments 
Program

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Final priorities.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education 
announces priorities under the Competitive Grants for State Assessments 
(CGSA) program, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 
84.368A. The Assistant Secretary may use these priorities for a 
competition in fiscal year (FY) 2020 and in later years. We take this 
action to focus Federal financial assistance related to student 
assessments on innovative assessments. We intend the priorities to 
increase the number of States requesting and, then, using flexibility 
under the Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA) and to 
support high-quality work among those States that do so. Given the 
national emergency related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), 
flexible approaches to education, including innovative, formative, and 
competency-based assessments such as those that these priorities will 
support, are essential for students, parents, and educators.

DATES: These priorities are effective June 1, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald Peasley, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 3W106, Washington, DC 20202. 
Telephone: (202) 453-7982. Email: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 
(CFDA) number 84.368A
    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the CGSA program is to support 
States' efforts to improve the technical quality of their assessment 
systems--both the quality of individual State assessments and the 
overall field of State assessments.
    Program Authority: Section 1203 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act 
(Pub. L. 114-95) (ESEA). We published a notice of proposed priorities 
for this program in the Federal Register on January 8, 2020 (85 FR 853) 
(the NPP). That document contained background information and our 
reasons for proposing two priorities for the CGSA program.
    There are two minor technical differences between the proposed 
priorities and these final priorities, as explained below.
    These priorities are for use in addition to those published in the 
2016 NFP, the 2011 notice of final priorities, requirements, 
definitions, and selection criteria (76 FR 21985) (2011 NFP), and the 
2013 notice of final priorities, requirement, definitions, and 
selection criteria for this program (78 FR 31343) (2013 NFP).
    Public Comment: In response to our invitation in the NPP, ten 
parties submitted comments on the proposed priorities. We group major 
issues according to subject. Generally, we do not address comments that 
are outside the scope of the proposed priorities (e.g., we do not 
address proposed changes to the IADA regulations).
    Analysis of Comments and Changes: An analysis of the comments and 
of any changes in the priorities since publication of the NPP follows.
    General Comments: Among the ten comments received, five commenters 
indicated overall support for the focus on IADA planning and 
implementation projects, while two expressed opposition to the use of 
the proposed priorities as further described later. Two additional 
commenters expressed concerns regarding the CGSA program but did not 
explicitly address the proposed priorities. One commenter did not 
address the CGSA program at all.
    Discussion: We appreciate the support for these proposed 
priorities.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: Two commenters opposed focusing future CGSA competitions 
on supporting IADA planning and implementation. The commenters reasoned 
that, because the ESEA does not directly authorize funding for IADA, 
CGSA funds should not be used to fund IADA projects. These commenters 
also contended that CGSA funds should not be used to support States 
implementing IADA because a published report regarding one State's 
implementation of its IADA raised concerns that the assessment was not 
providing valid and reliable data for students with disabilities.
    These same commenters also encouraged the Department to focus 
future CGSA competitions instead on other priorities, such as improving 
alternate assessments for students with the most significant cognitive 
disabilities; making assessments more accessible for all students 
through the use of Universal Design for Learning (UDL); and producing 
culturally responsive assessments for English learners (ELs).
    Discussion: We appreciate these commenters' perspective and agree 
that the assessment needs of students with disabilities and ELs 
represent important topic areas for assessment development. The 
majority of grants funded by the CGSA and its predecessor, the Enhanced 
Assessments Grants (EAG) program, supported projects that addressed 
students with disabilities and ELs. Specifically, since 2002, the 
Department has made a total of 63 awards to States through the EAG and 
CGSA programs. Thirty-eight of those awards (60 percent) have had at 
least one primary goal of researching, developing, or validating 
assessments for students with disabilities. Thirty (48 percent) of 
those awards have had at least one primary goal of researching, 
developing, or validating assessments for ELs. In addition, the 
Department provides substantial annual support through formula grants 
to support State assessments. Three of the allowed uses of those 
formula grant funds specifically apply to improving valid and reliable 
assessments for students with disabilities or ELs (section 
1201(a)(2)(A), (C), and (I) of the ESEA), and we expect States that 
receive IADA-related CGSA awards to appropriately include ELs and 
students with disabilities in the innovative assessments.
    The Department agrees that it is critical for assessments to be 
accessible for all students, including, to the extent practicable, 
using the principles of UDL. The Department notes this is a requirement 
for all State assessments under section 1111(b)(2)(B)(vii) and (xiii) 
of the ESEA. All State assessments (including any proposed under the 
IADA) must meet this requirement, which is evaluated by the Department 
through the assessment peer review process.
    The Department does not agree with the two commenters that IADA-
related projects are not authorized to receive funding from the CGSA. 
Nothing in the statute precludes a State from receiving CGSA funds 
while it plans for or implements an IADA-focused project, as long as 
the proposed projects align with one or more of the CGSA statutory uses 
of funds in section 1201(a)(2)(C), (H), (I), (J), (K), and (L) of the 
ESEA, which are summarized below=:
     Developing or improving assessments for English learners;

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     Developing or improving models to measure and assess 
student progress or student growth;
     Developing or improving assessments for students with 
disabilities;
     Collaborating with institutions of higher education or 
other research institutions to improve the quality, validity, and 
reliability of assessments;
     Measuring student academic achievement using multiple 
measures from multiple sources; and
     Evaluating student academic achievement through 
comprehensive academic assessments that leverage a competency-based 
model.
    We anticipate that any IADA project would address one or more of 
these uses of funds. Furthermore, the Department believes that the use 
of IADA flexibility may further innovative CGSA projects aligned with 
the statutory uses of funds.
    Finally, these two commenters raised a concern about the validity 
and reliability of the data for students with disabilities from one 
State currently approved for the IADA. Although this comment is outside 
the scope of these proposed priorities, the Department notes that it 
monitors State implementation of the IADA. The Department hopes that 
supporting States during the IADA planning and implementation periods 
will promote high-quality assessments that meet all IADA requirements.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: One commenter suggested adding a third priority to 
emphasize two of the allowable uses of CGSA funds defined in ESEA 
section 1201(a)(2):
    (K) Measuring student academic achievement using multiple measures 
of student academic achievement from multiple sources.
    (L) Evaluating student academic achievement through the development 
of comprehensive academic assessment instruments (such as performance 
and technology-based academic assessments, computer adaptive 
assessments, projects, or extended performance task assessments) that 
emphasize the mastery of standards and aligned competencies in a 
competency-based education model.
    The commenter believed that while the proposed priorities 
incentivizing the IADA were a worthy goal, the ultimate outcome for the 
CGSA program should be the improvement of State assessment systems 
through the use of new assessment approaches that are consistent with 
the ESEA requirement for multiple measures that assess higher-order 
thinking skills. The commenter argued that including a third priority 
focused on the uses of funds defined in ESEA sections 1201(a)(2)(K) and 
(L) could support that outcome.
    A second commenter encouraged modifying the allowable uses of funds 
regarding improving assessment of student growth by including 
measurement models that incorporate multiple measures.
    Discussion: The Department agrees that one of the broad purposes of 
the CGSA program is the development and administration of higher-
quality assessments, which could include better assessing higher-order 
thinking skills. In any future competition, the Department may rely on 
the uses of funds in ESEA sections 1201(a)(2)(C), (H), (I), (J), (K), 
and (L) (summarized above), the previously established priorities, or 
these final priorities in selecting specific priorities for a 
competition. This document establishes priorities that can be used in 
any future competition but does not establish how those priorities are 
designated in any particular competition. In a notice published 
separately in this issue of the Federal Register, the Department 
invites applications and specifies the applicable priorities for the FY 
2020 CGSA competition. The Department also notes that for any project 
funded under the CGSA program, including IADA-related projects, a 
grantee must address one or more of the uses of funds and, therefore, 
may use their funds to support activities directly aligned with ESEA 
sections 1201(a)(2)(K) or (L). With regards to the second commenter, 
the Department further adds that sections 1201(a)(2)(H) and (K) of the 
ESEA allow an SEA to use CGSA funds for improving growth models and 
using multiple measures of student academic achievement, respectively. 
Therefore, no changes to the proposed priorities are necessary.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: One commenter encouraged the Department to evaluate CGSA 
proposals to ensure they include assessment audits that reduce 
redundant assessments.
    Discussion: Assessment audits can be a useful tool in ensuring that 
schools utilize assessments appropriately and avoid assessments that 
are redundant, of low quality, or unnecessary. However, the focus of 
the CGSA program is the statewide assessments that are required under 
ESEA section 1111(b)(2).
    Changes: None.
    Comments: One commenter advocated that the Department encourage and 
incentivize projects that include formative assessment in development 
of balanced assessment systems.
    Discussion: The Department agrees that formative assessments can be 
a vital part of a balanced assessment system and supports States, 
districts, and schools that choose to use them. Formative assessments 
that provide rapid, instructionally relevant results can be a powerful 
tool to aid educators in serving students. Nothing in these priorities 
precludes a State from including formative assessments as part of an 
application for CGSA. For example, activities aligned with ESEA 
sections 1201(a)(2)(K) or (L) may include formative assessments as part 
of a project's theory of action. Activities related to other allowable 
uses of funds or to these priorities might also support development of 
formative assessments.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: One commenter encouraged the coordination of CGSA 
reporting requirements with IADA reporting requirements if an ongoing 
IADA project received CGSA funding in order to reduce burden on States.
    Discussion: The Department appreciates the concern regarding the 
coordination of various reporting requirements upon States for the IADA 
and the CGSA. We anticipate coordination to the greatest extent 
practicable (e.g., aligning reporting of certain milestones) in the 
event that a State that is implementing the IADA receives a CGSA award. 
However, there are distinct requirements for each program that are 
defined in statute and regulations, and there could be reporting 
aspects that must continue separately. The Department will work with 
any State approved for a CGSA grant to implement its IADA plan to 
individually assess where these efficiencies might be attained.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: One commenter shared a general concern that the rush to 
develop innovative State assessments that provide an annual proficiency 
determination might cause education officials to lose sight of 
important principles of assessment and establish systems that do not 
serve the best interest of student learning, for example, by 
undermining the validity and reliability of State accountability; 
dramatically constraining school and district approaches to curriculum 
and instruction; and compromising the value of interim assessments to 
support teaching and learning in that subject area.
    Discussion: The ESEA requires every State to have an annual 
assessment of the State's challenging academic standards. The 
Department acknowledges that validity and reliability are a key 
component of any

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assessment system. Validity and reliability requirements are clearly 
defined in 34 CFR 200.104-108 for the IADA. In addition, the purpose of 
the IADA is to pilot and scale up the use of innovative assessment 
items and designs; at the end of the IADA period, if successful, the 
innovative assessment would be administered statewide and subject to 
all requirements for statewide assessment systems, including the 
Department's assessment peer review. All decisions related to 
curriculum and instruction are at the discretion of the State or 
district. Consistent with section 8527(b) of the ESEA, the Department 
does not endorse any curriculum approach. A State, at its discretion, 
may align State assessments with other State and local assessments, 
including any formative or interim assessments, to avoid redundant or 
unnecessary testing while providing useful and timely information to 
parents and teachers. The Department does not require interim 
assessments and defers to State and local discretion on their use.
    Changes: None.
    Priority 1--Implementing the Innovative Assessment Demonstration 
Authority (IADA).
    Comments: One commenter requested that the Department better align 
the timing of the CGSA competition with the three States that applied 
in January 2020 for IADA approval. The commenter expressed concern that 
these States may not receive the approval to begin implementing their 
IADA pilots in time to allow them to prepare a CGSA application during 
the 2020 CGSA competition period.
    Discussion: The Department appreciates the commenter's concern but 
notes that these States may receive approval of IADA prior to the date 
that applications are due for the CGSA program in 2020. Alternatively, 
States could submit applications under multiple priorities, as outlined 
in the NIA published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. 
Furthermore, once this priority has been finalized, the Department can 
elect to use this priority in the 2020 or any future CGSA competition. 
In addition, the Department notes that each State receives formula 
funds under the ESEA to develop and administer statewide assessments. A 
State approved for IADA would be able to use these formula assessment 
funds to implement its IADA plan.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: One commenter requested that the CGSA award period be 
increased from 48 months to 60 months, which would align with the five-
year IADA implementation window.
    Discussion: While the Department understands the commenter's 
recommendation, we disagree that the award period for the CGSA should 
match that of the IADA implementation period for several reasons. 
First, there are already four States that have received the IADA that 
are already in the midst of their five-year IADA implementation period 
(two States are in year two and two other States are in their first 
year). For these States, such an alignment is not feasible. Second, 
through the CGSA program, the Department intends to provide some 
financial support for States implementing IADA, but the Department does 
not believe that CGSA awards will be sufficient to completely fund IADA 
implementation. The Department expects that a State will need 
additional dedicated funds for implementation of its innovative 
assessment to ensure sufficient buy-in and support within the State and 
for sustainability of the innovative assessment. The Department assumes 
that States have other sources of funding that will supplement any CGSA 
support and will correspondingly plan a budget to maximize the use of 
four years of CGSA support accordingly. The Department notes that final 
Priority 1 does not contain any specific references regarding the 
timeframe for awards. Such timeframes are typically outlined in any 
notice inviting applications (NIA) for future competitions for CGSA. 
Please see the NIA for the CGSA published elsewhere in this issue of 
the Federal Register for details regarding expected timeframes for the 
2020 CGSA competition.
    Changes: None.
    Priority 2--Planning to Apply for the Innovative Assessment 
Demonstration Authority (IADA).
    Comments: One commenter encouraged the Department to specify that 
planning proposals for the IADA be allowed up to 24 months of funding 
under this priority.
    Discussion: The Department appreciates the commenter's perspective. 
However, the Department believes that States considering the IADA as an 
option for their assessment system will have already undergone some 
planning efforts if they apply for a planning grant under the CGSA. The 
Department believes that while CGSA funds can supplement a State's 
costs and support more substantive planning efforts, they should not be 
considered as the only financial support needed to sustain State 
planning for the IADA. In the NPP, the Department communicated that it 
anticipates a shorter (12 to 18 months) funding period for Priority 2 
than for Priority 1. The Department continues to believe that this is a 
reasonable timeframe for States to conduct IADA planning efforts with 
CGSA support. However, the Department notes that the final Priority 2 
does not contain any specific references regarding the timeframe for 
awards. Such timeframes are typically outlined in any NIA for future 
competitions for CGSA. Please see the NIA for the CGSA published 
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register for details regarding 
expected timeframes for the 2020 CGSA competition.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: One commenter requested that we modify the priority to 
require the inclusion of assessment theories of actions. A key goal of 
the planning period would then be to fully flesh out this theory of 
action that would address, among many other processes and mechanisms, 
the detailed design information about the intended IADA pilot 
assessment. The commenter reasoned that, early in planning, development 
of the theory of action is critical to establishing the foundations for 
a State's IADA plan, and requiring the more detailed definition of 
specific assessment designs or item prototypes might hinder or bias the 
most appropriate theory of action.
    Discussion: The Department agrees with the commenter that a solid 
theory of action is critical to properly establishing a design for an 
innovative assessment system. However, as noted above, the Department 
does not envision that the CGSA award would cover the entirety of a 
State's IADA planning process. The Department is interested in 
supporting plans that appear to have a high probability of reaching the 
implementation stage. To that end, the Department believes that 
proposals that indicate sufficient maturity to outline an assessment 
design (or an array of possible design choices) merit the highest 
consideration for CGSA support.
    Changes: None.

Technical Changes

    Comment: None.
    Discussion: Under section 1203(b)(1)(B) of the ESEA, SEAs that 
apply for CGSA must describe how they will use CGSA funds for one or 
more of the statutory uses of funds. In Proposed Priorities 1 and 2, 
the Department included a requirement to provide such description as 
part of the priority. Since we are including this statutory requirement 
as an application requirement in the NIA published elsewhere in this 
issue of the Federal Register, and anticipate that we also

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would do so for future competitions, the Department is removing this 
duplicative language from Priority 1 and 2.
    Change: The Department has removed the requirement in each priority 
that SEAs describe how the proposed projects align with one or more of 
the CGSA statutory uses of funds in section 1201(a)(2)(C), (H), (I), 
(J), (K), and (L) of the ESEA.
    Comment: None.
    Discussion: In Proposed Priority 1 and Proposed Priority 2, the 
Department phrased the priorities to acknowledge that an applicant may 
be either an SEA or a consortium of SEAs. In the 2016 NFP, the language 
of the priorities referred to SEAs generally. Because these priorities 
could be used in NIAs along with priorities from the 2016 NFP, the 
Department is revising the priority to generally refer to SEAs, for 
consistency with the other priorities.
    Change: The Department is replacing the language in the final 
priorities to refer to SEAs generally instead of referencing an SEA, 
and a consortium of SEAs.

Final Priorities

    Priority 1--Implementing the Innovative Assessment Demonstration 
Authority (IADA).
    Under this priority, SEAs must--
    (a) Be approved for IADA as of the date of their CGSA application. 
If applying as part of a consortium (or in partnership with other 
SEAs), each SEA must be approved for IADA as of the date of its CGSA 
application;
    (b) Be implementing IADA, consistent with all requirements of 
section 1204 of the ESEA and applicable regulations as of the date of 
their CGSA application. If applying for CGSA as part of a consortium 
(or in partnership with other SEAs), each SEA must individually meet 
this requirement; and
    (c) Describe how the SEA will use CGSA funds to implement its 
approved IADA plan.

    Note: Any competition that uses this priority must also include 
another priority under which any SEA may apply.

    Priority 2--Planning to Apply for the Innovative Assessment 
Demonstration Authority (IADA).
    Under this priority, SEAs must--
    (a) Provide an assurance by an authorized representative that the 
SEA intends to apply for flexibility under the IADA, when made 
available by the Department. If applying for CGSA as part of a 
consortium (or in partnership with other SEAs), each SEA must provide 
an assurance that it intends to apply for flexibility under the IADA;
    (b) If applying as a consortium of SEAs during the initial 
demonstration authority for IADA, not include more than four SEAs; and
    (c) Describe their approach to innovative assessments in terms of 
the subjects and grades the SEA anticipates addressing, the proposed 
assessment design, proposed item types (e.g., item prototypes), and 
other relevant features.

    Note: Any competition that uses this priority must also include 
another priority under which any SEA may apply.

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 document does not preclude us from proposing additional 
priorities, requirements, definitions, or selection criteria, subject 
to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.

    Note: This document does not solicit applications. In any year 
in which we choose to use one or more of these priorities, we invite 
applications through a notice in the Federal Register.

Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 13771 Regulatory Impact Analysis

    Under Executive Order 12866, it must be determined whether this 
regulatory action is ``significant'' and, therefore, subject to the 
requirements of the Executive order and subject to review by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB). Section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 
defines a ``significant regulatory action'' as an action likely to 
result in a rule that may--
    (1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, 
or adversely affect a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, 
jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or 
Tribal governments or communities in a material way (also referred to 
as an ``economically significant'' rule);
    (2) Create serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an 
action taken or planned by another agency;
    (3) Materially alter the budgetary impacts of entitlement grants, 
user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients 
thereof; or
    (4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal 
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles stated in the 
Executive order.
    This final regulatory action is not a significant regulatory action 
subject to review by OMB under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866. 
Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this rule as 
not a ``major rule,'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
    Under Executive Order 13771, for each new rule that the Department 
proposes for notice and comment or otherwise promulgates that is a 
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866, and that 
imposes total costs greater than zero, it must identify two 
deregulatory actions. For Fiscal Year 2019, any new incremental costs 
associated with a new regulation must be fully offset by the 
elimination of existing costs through deregulatory actions. Because the 
proposed regulatory action is not significant, the requirements of 
Executive Order 13771 do not apply.
    We have also reviewed this final regulatory action under Executive 
Order 13563, which supplements and explicitly reaffirms the principles, 
structures, and definitions governing regulatory review established in 
Executive Order 12866. To the extent permitted by law, Executive Order 
13563 requires that an agency--
    (1) Propose or adopt regulations only upon a reasoned determination 
that their benefits justify their costs (recognizing that some benefits 
and costs are difficult to quantify);
    (2) Tailor its regulations to impose the least burden on society, 
consistent with obtaining regulatory objectives and taking into 
account--among other things and to the extent practicable--the costs of 
cumulative regulations;
    (3) In choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, select 
those approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential 
economic, environmental, public health and safety, and other 
advantages; distributive impacts; and equity);

[[Page 25422]]

    (4) To the extent feasible, specify performance objectives, rather 
than the behavior or manner of compliance a regulated entity must 
adopt; and
    (5) Identify and assess available alternatives to direct 
regulation, including economic incentives--such as user fees or 
marketable permits--to encourage the desired behavior, or provide 
information that enables the public to make choices.
    Executive Order 13563 also requires an agency ``to use the best 
available techniques to quantify anticipated present and future 
benefits and costs as accurately as possible.'' The Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB has emphasized that these 
techniques may include ``identifying changing future compliance costs 
that might result from technological innovation or anticipated 
behavioral changes.''
    We are issuing these final priorities only on a reasoned 
determination that their benefits justify their costs. In choosing 
among alternative regulatory approaches, we selected those approaches 
that maximize net benefits. Based on the analysis that follows, the 
Department believes that this regulatory action is consistent with the 
principles in Executive Order 13563.
    We also have determined that this regulatory action does not unduly 
interfere with State, local, and Tribal governments in the exercise of 
their governmental functions.
    In accordance with these Executive orders, the Department has 
assessed the potential costs and benefits, both quantitative and 
qualitative, of this regulatory action. The potential costs are those 
resulting from statutory requirements and those we have determined as 
necessary for administering the Department's programs and activities.
    Summary of Costs and Benefits: The Department believes that these 
final priorities will not impose significant costs on the SEAs eligible 
for CGSA funds under section 1203 of the ESEA. We also believe that the 
benefits of implementing the final priorities justify any associated 
costs.
    The Department believes that the costs imposed on an applicant by 
the final priorities will be largely limited to the paperwork burden 
related to meeting the application requirements and that the benefits 
of preparing an application and receiving an award will justify any 
costs incurred by the applicant. SEAs selected for awards under section 
1203 of the ESEA will be able to pay the costs associated with 
implementing the proposed projects related to State assessments with 
grant funds. Thus, the costs of these final priorities will not be a 
significant burden for any eligible applicant.
    Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification: The Secretary certifies 
that this final regulatory action will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The U.S. Small 
Business Administration Size Standards define ``small entities'' as 
for-profit or nonprofit institutions with total annual revenue below 
$7,000,000 or, if they are institutions controlled by small 
governmental jurisdictions (that are comprised of cities, counties, 
towns, townships, villages, school districts, or special districts), 
with a population of less than 50,000.
    We believe that the costs imposed on an applicant by the final 
priorities will be limited to paperwork burden related to preparing an 
application and that the benefits of implementing these final 
priorities will outweigh any costs incurred by the applicant.
    Of the impacts we estimate accruing to grantees or eligible 
entities, all are voluntary and related mostly to an increase in the 
available support for meeting existing obligations to provide statewide 
student assessment. Therefore, we do not believe that the final 
priorities will significantly impact small entities beyond the 
potential for receiving additional support from their SEA should the 
SEA receive a competitive grant from the Department.
    Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. One of the 
objectives of the Executive order is to foster an intergovernmental 
partnership and a strengthened federalism. The Executive order relies 
on processes developed by State and local governments for coordination 
and review of proposed Federal financial assistance.
    This document provides early notification of our specific plans and 
actions for this program.
    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, 
audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the program contact person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may 
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this 
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    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
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feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

Frank T. Brogan,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2020-09335 Filed 4-30-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P