Department of Education April 25, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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? 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.

The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, in conjunction with the Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education and the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, announces a priority and definitions for a Center on Postsecondary Education for Students With Intellectual Disabilities (Center) under the DRRP program administered by NIDRR. The Assistant Secretary may use this priority and definitions for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2008 and later years. We take this action to focus research attention on areas of national need. We intend this priority and definitions to improve postsecondary education and other outcomes for individuals with intellectual disabilities.