Tests Determined To Be Suitable for Use in the National Reporting System for Adult Education, 19307-19308 [2024-05679]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 53 / Monday, March 18, 2024 / Notices collected will vary depending on the type and complexity of the contract. Information will be submitted via FedConnect online services or mailed directly to MCCS, depending on the contract type. Dated: March 12, 2024. Aaron T. Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 2024–05691 Filed 3–15–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6001–FR–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [Docket No.: ED–2024–SCC–0039] Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; U.S. Department of Education PreAuthorized Debit Account Brochure and Application In notice document 2024–04450 beginning on page 15559 in the issue of Monday, March 4, 2024, make the following correction: On page 15559, in the third column, under DATES, in the second line ‘‘APRIL 29, 2024’’ should read ‘‘May 3, 2024’’. [FR Doc. C1–2024–04450 Filed 3–15–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 1505–01–D DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [Docket No.: ED–2024–SCC–0004] Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Office of State Support Progress Check Quarterly Protocol Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), Department of Education (ED). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved information collection request (ICR). DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before April 17, 2024. ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for proposed information collection requests should be submitted within 30 days of publication of this notice. Click on this link www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAMain to access the site. Find this information collection request (ICR) by selecting ‘‘Department of Education’’ lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:07 Mar 15, 2024 Jkt 262001 under ‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ then check the ‘‘Only Show ICR for Public Comment’’ checkbox. Reginfo.gov provides two links to view documents related to this information collection request. Information collection forms and instructions may be found by clicking on the ‘‘View Information Collection (IC) List’’ link. Supporting statements and other supporting documentation may be found by clicking on the ‘‘View Supporting Statement and Other Documents’’ link. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Andrew Brake, 202–453–6136. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records. Title of Collection: Office of State Support Progress Check Quarterly Protocol. OMB Control Number: 1810–0733. Type of Review: An extension without change of a currently approved ICR. Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments. Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 212. Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 636. Abstract: The Office of School Support and Accountability (SSA) administers Title I, Sections 1001–1004 (School Improvement); Title I, Part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies); Title I, Part B Grants for State Assessments and Related Activities; Title II, Part A (Supporting Effective Instruction); Title I, Part D (Neglected, Delinquent, or AtRisk); Title IV, Part B (21st Century Community Learning Centers); and McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program. Quarterly progress checks, phone or inperson conversations every three months of a fiscal year with State directors and coordinators, help ensure that State Educational Agencies (SEAs) are making progress toward increasing student achievement and improving the PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 19307 quality of instruction for all students through regular conversations about the quality of SEA implementation of SSA administered programs. The information shared with SSA helps inform the selection and delivery of technical assistance to SEAs and aligns structures, processes, and routines so SSA can regularly monitor the connection between grant administration and intended outcomes. Progress checks also allow SSA to proactively engage with SEAs to identify any issues ahead of formal monitoring visits, decreasing the need for enforcement actions and minimizing burden for SEAs. This is a request for a renewal without change of this collection. Dated: March 13, 2024. Kun Mullan, PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development. [FR Doc. 2024–05684 Filed 3–15–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Tests Determined To Be Suitable for Use in the National Reporting System for Adult Education Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, Department of Education. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Secretary announces an extension of the sunset period for English as a Second Language (ESL) tests with National Reporting System for Adult Education (NRS) approvals that expired on February 2, 2024. The sunset period for these tests is extended to June 30, 2025. This notice relates to the approved information collections under OMB control numbers 1830–0027 and 1830–0567. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John LeMaster, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 987–0903. Email: John.LeMaster@ed.gov. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7–1–1. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 13, 2023, the Secretary published in the Federal Register (88 FR 44784) an annual notice announcing tests determined to be suitable for use in the NRS, in accordance with 34 CFR 462.13 (July 2023 notice). The July 2023 notice identified three new tests that measure the NRS educational functioning levels SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1 19308 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 53 / Monday, March 18, 2024 / Notices for Adult Basic Education (ABE) and four new tests that measure the new NRS educational functioning levels for ESL. With the Secretary’s approval of the new ESL tests in the July 2023 notice, the new educational functioning levels for ESL described in appendix A of Measures and Methods for the National Reporting System for Adult Education (OMB Control Number: 1830–0027) were implemented. Under the transition rules in § 462.4, the Secretary also announced in the July 2023 notice a list of tests with NRS approvals expiring on February 2, 2024, and March 7, 2024, that States and local eligible providers may continue to use during a sunset period ending on June 30, 2024. In this notice, under the transition rules in § 462.4, the Secretary announces that the sunset period for ESL tests scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2024, is extended through June 30, 2025. This extension of the sunset period will allow States sufficient time for the operational activities required for the transition to the new ESL assessments identified in the July 2023 notice. The ESL educational functioning level descriptors to which the ESL tests with expiring NRS approvals are aligned and that were scheduled to be retired on June 30, 2024, are extended through June 30, 2025. Until that time, both the current ESL educational functioning level descriptors and the new ESL educational functioning level descriptors will be in effect. States must use an ESL assessment that is aligned to the appropriate ESL educational functioning level descriptors. Adult education programs must use only the forms and computer-based delivery formats for the tests approved in this notice. If a particular test form or computer delivery format is not explicitly specified for a test in this notice, it is not approved to measure educational gain in the NRS. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Tests With NRS Approvals That Expired on February 2, 2024, Previously Allowed for Use in the NRS During a Sunset Period Ending on June 30, 2024, and Now Allowed for Use During an Extended Sunset Period Ending on June 30, 2025 The Secretary has determined that the following tests may be used at all ESL levels of the NRS during an extended sunset period ending on June 30, 2025: (1) Basic English Skills Test (BEST) Literacy. Forms B, C, and D are approved for use on paper. Publisher: Center for Applied Linguistics, 4646 40th Street NW, Washington, DC 20016– VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:07 Mar 15, 2024 Jkt 262001 1859. Telephone: (202) 362–0700. Internet: www.cal.org. (2) Basic English Skills Test (BEST) Plus 2.0. Forms D, E, and F are approved for use on paper and through the computer-adaptive delivery format. Publisher: Center for Applied Linguistics, 4646 40th Street NW, Washington, DC 20016–1859. Telephone: (202) 362–0700. Internet: www.cal.org. (3) Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) Life and Work Listening Assessments (LW Listening). Forms 981L, 982L, 983L, 984L, 985L, and 986L are approved for use on paper and through the computerbased delivery format. Publisher: CASAS, 5151 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 220, San Diego, CA 92123–4339. Telephone: (800) 255–1036. Internet: www.casas.org. (4) Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) Reading Assessments (Life and Work, Life Skills, Reading for Citizenship, Reading for Language Arts—Secondary Level). Forms 27, 28, 81, 82, 81X, 82X, 83, 84, 85, 86, 185, 186, 187, 188, 310, 311, 513, 514, 951, 952, 951X, and 952X of this test are approved for use on paper and through the computer-based delivery format. Publisher: CASAS, 5151 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 220, San Diego, CA 92123–4339. Telephone: (800) 255–1036. Internet: www.casas.org. (5) Tests of Adult Basic Education Complete Language Assessment SystemEnglish (TABE/CLAS–E). Forms A and B are approved for use on paper and through a computer-based delivery format. Publisher: Data Recognition Corporation—CTB, 13490 Bass Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55311. Telephone: (800) 538–9547. Internet: www.tabetest.com. Revocation of Tests Under certain circumstances—that is, a determination by the Secretary either that the information the publisher submitted as a basis for the Secretary’s review of the test was inaccurate or that a test has been substantially revised— the Secretary may revoke the determination that a test is suitable after following the procedures in § 462.12(e). If the Secretary revokes the determination of suitability, the Secretary announces the revocation, as well as the date by which States and local eligible providers must stop using the revoked test, through a notice published in the Federal Register and posted on the internet at www.nrsweb.org. Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed under FOR PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities can obtain this document in an accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format. 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 document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site. You may also access documents of the Department published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature at www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department. Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 3292. Amy Loyd, Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education. [FR Doc. 2024–05679 Filed 3–15–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2023–0317; FRL–11157–03– OAR] Release of Volumes 1 and 2 of the Integrated Review Plan for the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides of Nitrogen Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: On or about March 18, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making available to the public Volumes 1 and 2 of the Integrated Review Plan for the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides of Nitrogen (IRP). The national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for oxides of nitrogen are set to protect public health from nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in ambient air. Volume 1 of the IRP contains contextual background material for the current review of the air quality criteria and the primary NAAQS for oxides of nitrogen. Volume 2 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 53 (Monday, March 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19307-19308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05679]


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

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Tests Determined To Be Suitable for Use in the National Reporting 
System for Adult Education

AGENCY: Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Secretary announces an extension of the sunset period for 
English as a Second Language (ESL) tests with National Reporting System 
for Adult Education (NRS) approvals that expired on February 2, 2024. 
The sunset period for these tests is extended to June 30, 2025. This 
notice relates to the approved information collections under OMB 
control numbers 1830-0027 and 1830-0567.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John LeMaster, Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: 
(202) 987-0903. Email: [email protected].
    If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and 
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 13, 2023, the Secretary published in 
the Federal Register (88 FR 44784) an annual notice announcing tests 
determined to be suitable for use in the NRS, in accordance with 34 CFR 
462.13 (July 2023 notice). The July 2023 notice identified three new 
tests that measure the NRS educational functioning levels

[[Page 19308]]

for Adult Basic Education (ABE) and four new tests that measure the new 
NRS educational functioning levels for ESL. With the Secretary's 
approval of the new ESL tests in the July 2023 notice, the new 
educational functioning levels for ESL described in appendix A of 
Measures and Methods for the National Reporting System for Adult 
Education (OMB Control Number: 1830-0027) were implemented.
    Under the transition rules in Sec.  462.4, the Secretary also 
announced in the July 2023 notice a list of tests with NRS approvals 
expiring on February 2, 2024, and March 7, 2024, that States and local 
eligible providers may continue to use during a sunset period ending on 
June 30, 2024.
    In this notice, under the transition rules in Sec.  462.4, the 
Secretary announces that the sunset period for ESL tests scheduled to 
sunset on June 30, 2024, is extended through June 30, 2025. This 
extension of the sunset period will allow States sufficient time for 
the operational activities required for the transition to the new ESL 
assessments identified in the July 2023 notice.
    The ESL educational functioning level descriptors to which the ESL 
tests with expiring NRS approvals are aligned and that were scheduled 
to be retired on June 30, 2024, are extended through June 30, 2025. 
Until that time, both the current ESL educational functioning level 
descriptors and the new ESL educational functioning level descriptors 
will be in effect. States must use an ESL assessment that is aligned to 
the appropriate ESL educational functioning level descriptors.
    Adult education programs must use only the forms and computer-based 
delivery formats for the tests approved in this notice. If a particular 
test form or computer delivery format is not explicitly specified for a 
test in this notice, it is not approved to measure educational gain in 
the NRS.

Tests With NRS Approvals That Expired on February 2, 2024, Previously 
Allowed for Use in the NRS During a Sunset Period Ending on June 30, 
2024, and Now Allowed for Use During an Extended Sunset Period Ending 
on June 30, 2025

    The Secretary has determined that the following tests may be used 
at all ESL levels of the NRS during an extended sunset period ending on 
June 30, 2025:
    (1) Basic English Skills Test (BEST) Literacy. Forms B, C, and D 
are approved for use on paper. Publisher: Center for Applied 
Linguistics, 4646 40th Street NW, Washington, DC 20016-1859. Telephone: 
(202) 362-0700. Internet: www.cal.org.
    (2) Basic English Skills Test (BEST) Plus 2.0. Forms D, E, and F 
are approved for use on paper and through the computer-adaptive 
delivery format. Publisher: Center for Applied Linguistics, 4646 40th 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20016-1859. Telephone: (202) 362-0700. 
Internet: www.cal.org.
    (3) Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) Life and 
Work Listening Assessments (LW Listening). Forms 981L, 982L, 983L, 
984L, 985L, and 986L are approved for use on paper and through the 
computer-based delivery format. Publisher: CASAS, 5151 Murphy Canyon 
Road, Suite 220, San Diego, CA 92123-4339. Telephone: (800) 255-1036. 
Internet: www.casas.org.
    (4) Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) Reading 
Assessments (Life and Work, Life Skills, Reading for Citizenship, 
Reading for Language Arts--Secondary Level). Forms 27, 28, 81, 82, 81X, 
82X, 83, 84, 85, 86, 185, 186, 187, 188, 310, 311, 513, 514, 951, 952, 
951X, and 952X of this test are approved for use on paper and through 
the computer-based delivery format. Publisher: CASAS, 5151 Murphy 
Canyon Road, Suite 220, San Diego, CA 92123-4339. Telephone: (800) 255-
1036. Internet: www.casas.org.
    (5) Tests of Adult Basic Education Complete Language Assessment 
System-English (TABE/CLAS-E). Forms A and B are approved for use on 
paper and through a computer-based delivery format. Publisher: Data 
Recognition Corporation--CTB, 13490 Bass Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 
55311. Telephone: (800) 538-9547. Internet: www.tabetest.com.

Revocation of Tests

    Under certain circumstances--that is, a determination by the 
Secretary either that the information the publisher submitted as a 
basis for the Secretary's review of the test was inaccurate or that a 
test has been substantially revised--the Secretary may revoke the 
determination that a test is suitable after following the procedures in 
Sec.  462.12(e). If the Secretary revokes the determination of 
suitability, the Secretary announces the revocation, as well as the 
date by which States and local eligible providers must stop using the 
revoked test, through a notice published in the Federal Register and 
posted on the internet at www.nrsweb.org.
    Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities 
can obtain this document in an accessible format. The Department will 
provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich 
Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, 
braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible 
format.
    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 
document, as well as all other documents of this Department published 
in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To 
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at 
the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.
    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 3292.

Amy Loyd,
Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education.
[FR Doc. 2024-05679 Filed 3-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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