Notices. Notice

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BILLING CODE 5001-06-M DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Navy Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS)for a Swimmer Interdiction Security System

(SISS)at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Kitsap County, WA, and Announce Public Scoping Meetings AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA)of 1969, and the regulations implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Department of the Navy

(DON)announces its intent to prepare an EIS to evaluate the potential environmental consequences of construction of facilities for and operation of the SISS. The DON's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego) proposes to construct and operate a SISS at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor (NBK-Bangor). In response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S. Government has increased security requirements at its military installations. Chief of Naval Operations Instruction (OPNAVINST) 5530.14C, Navy Physical Security Manual, establishes requirements for security at naval bases, including NBK-Bangor. OPNAVINST 5530.14C requires waterside security measures be implemented to protect the DON's assets. The proposed SISS is needed to provide additional waterside security at NBK-Bangor to counter threats from surface and submerged swimmers. SSC San Diego is the Action Proponent. Other than the preferred alternative, the most effective alternatives would be use of Combat Swimmers and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). Under the Combat Swimmers alternative, specially trained personnel would be used to interdict underwater intruders. The combat swimmers would be aboard Harbor Security Boats

(HSB)and would be deployed into the water to respond to security alerts by finding, identifying, and marking the location of underwater objects or initiating interdiction of intruders. Under the ROV alternative, ROVs would be deployed from HSBs to respond to security alerts by finding, identifying, and marking the location of underwater objects or initiating interdiction of intruders. A No Action alternative will also be evaluated. Under this alternative, no SISS would be implemented. DATES AND ADDRESSES: Public scoping meetings will be held in Keyport, Kitsap County, Washington, and Seattle, King County, Washington, to receive oral and written comments on environmental concerns that should be addressed in the EIS. Public scoping meetings will be held on: March 27, 2007, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Naval Undersea Museum, Highway 308 at Garnet Way, Keyport, WA 98345, and on March 28, 2007, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Holiday Inn, 211 Dexter Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DON conducted a literature review and held discussions with subject matter experts to identify alternatives for implementing the SISS. Nine action alternatives and a No Action alternative have been identified. The highest rated and preferred alternative would be composed of human/marine mammal teams that would support DON operations and respond rapidly to security alerts. The system would involve stationing California sea lions and Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins at the site (combined total of no more than 30 animals). In-water enclosures housing SISS mammals would be placed adjacent to an existing pier/wharf on a floating dock at NBK-Bangor. The enclosures for the sea lions would be of the open-mesh type, while the dolphins would be housed in environmentally controlled enclosures. Additional support facilities, including on-shore pools for veterinary purposes and trailers for staff, laboratory, food preparation, and storage would be installed at an upland location at NBK-Bangor. The marine mammals would be deployed along the waterfront in conjunction with humans aboard small power boats; the mammals would respond to security alerts by finding, identifying, and marking the location of underwater objects, or initiating interdiction of intruders. The marine mammals used in this system would come from the DON's marine mammal program in San Diego, and would undergo extensive health screening before and after transport to NBK-Bangor. The SISS facilities would operate in conformance with standards for animal care established by the Department of Defense, the Department of Agriculture, the Animal Welfare Act, and the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, and a veterinarian would remain on site to meet animal health care needs. The DON is committed to protecting its marine mammals, and makes every effort to ensure the operational capability they provide is maintained by ensuring the animals remain healthy and safe while performing their duties. To this end, several studies have been conducted looking at the affects of cold water and air on the health and behavior of dolphins. Studies have been conducted in both artificial environments, such as an arctic research facility (Chun and Harris, 1978), and in naturally cold environments, such as off the coast of Connecticut (Scronce and Bowers, 1983). Other studies have been conducted in San Diego and Hawaii to determine the impact of cold water on the dolphin's ability to preserve its body temperature (Costa *et al.* , Williams *et al.* , 1991, Heath and Miller, 1998). Another study is currently being conducted to determine the exact temperature limits under which the dolphins can perform their tasking. These studies have helped the DON develop safe operational guidelines for the use of marine mammal systems under thermally challenging conditions. In addition, the DON has deployed dolphins to numerous cold water environments (e.g., Canada, Alaska, Norway, and Germany). It has developed facilities and procedures for mitigating any impact of cold exposure on the dolphins during these deployments. These will be further analyzed and reviewed during this EIS process. Analysis will include water quality, air quality, biological communities, fish, marine mammals, land and sea birds, threatened and endangered species, land and water use, geology and soils/sediments, cultural resources, socioeconomics, noise, public safety, aesthetics, energy, and, in the case of the preferred alternative, effects of the site environment on the deployed mammals. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Members of the public may provide comments orally or in writing at the scoping meeting, or by mail, fax, or email sent to the following address: Commanding Officer, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, *ATTN:* Mike Rothe 235, 53560 Hull St., San Diego, CA 92152, *phone:* 888-510-5476, *fax:* 619-221-5251, *e-mail:* *NBKEIS@spawar.navy.mil.* The deadline for submitting comments is April 11, 2007. Dated: February 5, 2007. M. A. Harvison, Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. E7-2307 Filed 2-9-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request AGENCY: Department of Education. SUMMARY: The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management invites comments on the submission for OMB review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before March 14, 2007. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Education Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10222, Washington, DC 20503. Commenters are encouraged to submit responses electronically by e-mail to *oira_submission@omb.eop.gov* or via fax to

(202)395-6974. Commenters should include the following subject line in their response Comment: [insert OMB number], [insert abbreviated collection name, *e.g.* , “Upward Bound Evaluation”]. Persons submitting comments electronically should not submit paper copies. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. OMB may amend or waive the requirement for public consultation to the extent that public participation in the approval process would defeat the purpose of the information collection, violate State or Federal law, or substantially interfere with any agency's ability to perform its statutory obligations. The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, publishes that notice containing proposed information collection requests prior to submission of these requests to OMB. Each proposed information collection, grouped by office, contains the following:

(1)Type of review requested, e.g., new, revision, extension, existing or reinstatement;

(2)Title;

(3)Summary of the collection;

(4)Description of the need for, and proposed use of, the information;

(5)Respondents and frequency of collection; and

(6)Reporting and/or Recordkeeping burden. OMB invites public comment. Dated: February 6, 2007. Angela C. Arrington, IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management. Institute of Education Sciences *Type of Review:* New Collection. *Title:* Northwest Regional Educational Needs Assessment Survey. *Frequency:* Other: 1 time Project Yr 2. *Affected Public:* Individuals or household (primary); State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs. *Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:* *Responses:* 2,825. *Burden Hours:* 942. *Abstract:* In July and August 2006, the Regional Educational Laboratory Northwest (REL-NW) hosted a series of forums with educators in the five states REL-NW serves to discuss the types of evidence educators need to improve student achievement. This project is a follow-up survey with teachers, principals, and district superintendents in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska to prioritize the evidentiary needs for improving student learning. Findings from the study will aid in setting the research agenda for REL-NW. Requests for copies of the information collection submission for OMB review may be accessed from *http://edicsweb.ed.gov,* by selecting the “Browse Pending Collections” link and by clicking on link number 3237. When you access the information collection, click on “Download Attachments” to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Potomac Center, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20202-4700. Requests may also be electronically mailed to *ICDocketMgr@ed.gov* or faxed to 202-245-6623. Please specify the complete title of the information collection when making your request. Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be electronically mailed to *ICDocketMgr@ed.gov,* 540-776-7742. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf

(TDD)may call the Federal Information Relay Service

(FIRS)at 1-800-877-8339. [FR Doc. E7-2240 Filed 2-9-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CFDA Number: 84.017A] Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information; International Research and Studies Program ACTION: Correction; Notice correcting the dates. SUMMARY: We correct the *Applications Available* and *Deadline for Transmittal of Applications* dates in the notice published on January 24, 2007 (72 FR 3123). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 24, 2007, we published a notice in the **Federal Register** (72 FR 3123-3127) inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year

(FY)2007 for the International Research and Studies program. The *Applications Available* date (as published on pages 3123 and 3124) is corrected to February 12, 2007 and the *Deadline for Transmittal of Applications* date (as published on pages 3123 and 3124) is corrected to March 29, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed McDermott, International Education Programs Service, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., suite 6082, Washington, DC 20006-8521. Telephone:

(202)502-7636 or by e-mail: *ed.mcdermott@ed.gov* . 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 one of the program contact persons listed in this section. VIII. Other Information *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: *http://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

(FY)2006 to make new grant awards in FY 2007. The Secretary takes this action because a significant number of high-quality applications remain on last year's slate, and limited funding is available for new grant awards in FY 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Bernadette Hence, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., 6th Floor, room 6071, Washington, DC 20006-8513. Telephone:

(202)219-7038, by fax

(202)502-7861 or e-mail: *Bernadette.Hence@ed.gov* . 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) upon request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On June 7, 2006, we published a notice in the **Federal Register** (71 FR 32934) inviting applications for new awards under the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program. We received a significant number of applications for grants under the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program in FY 2006 and funded 23 new grants. Because such a large number of high-quality applications were received, many applications that were awarded high scores by peer reviewers did not receive funding in FY 2006. The Administration included funds for this program in the President's Budget for FY 2007, but Congress has not enacted a final appropriation for FY 2007. However, based on Congressional action to date, the Department expects only to have limited funding available for new awards under this program in FY 2007. In order to conserve funding that would have been required for a peer review of new applications submitted under the program, we intend to select grantees in FY 2007 from the existing slate of applicants. This slate was developed during the FY 2006 competition using the competitive preference priorities, invitational priorities, selection criteria, and requirements referenced in the June 7, 2006 notice. No changes to the competitive preference priorities, invitational priorities, selection criteria, and requirements will be required by this action. 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

(FY)2007 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

(CFDA)Number: 84.235G *Dates:* *Applications Available:* February 12, 2007. *Deadline for Transmittal of Applications:* March 14, 2007. *Deadline for Intergovernmental Review:* May 14, 2007. *Eligible Applicants:* Private nonprofit organizations that, to the extent practicable, are the parent information and training centers established pursuant to section 671 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. *Estimated Available Funds:* The Administration has requested $6.511 million for Demonstration and Training programs for FY 2007, of which we intend to use an estimated $150,000 for this competition. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program. *Estimated Range of Awards:* $140,000-$150,000. *Estimated Number of Awards:* 1. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. *Project Period:* Up to 60 months. Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description *Purpose of Program:* This program is designed to assist in the establishment, development, and coordination of the parent information and training centers funded under title III, section 703(c) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Act). *Program Authority:* 29 U.S.C. 773(c)(6). *Applicable Regulations:* The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, and 99. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian tribes. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education only. II. Award Information *Type of Award:* Discretionary grants. *Estimated Available Funds:* The Administration has requested $6.511 million for Demonstration and Training programs for FY 2007, of which we intend to use an estimated $150,000 for this competition. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program. *Estimated Range of Awards:* $140,000-$150,000. *Estimated Number of Awards:* 1. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. *Project Period:* Up to 60 months. III. Eligibility Information *1. Eligible Applicants:* Private nonprofit organizations that, to the extent practicable, are the training and information centers established pursuant to section 671 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 2. *Cost Sharing or Matching:* This competition does not involve cost sharing or matching. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. *Address to Request Application Package:* Education Publications Center (ED Pubs), P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll free): 1-877-433-7827. FAX:

(301)470-1244. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call (toll free): 1-877-576-7734. You may also contact ED Pubs at its Web site: *http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html* or you may contact ED Pubs at its e-mail address: *edpubs@inet.ed.gov.* * If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this competition as follows: * CFDA number 84.235G. Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the Grants and Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5075, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2550. *Telephone:*

(202)245-7363. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Relay Service

(FRS)at 1-800-877-8339. 2. *Content and Form of Application Submission:* Requirements concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this competition. 3. *Submission Dates and Times:* Applications Available: February 12, 2007. *Deadline for Transmittal of Applications:* March 14, 2007. Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically or by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to section IV. 6. *Other Submission Requirements* in this notice. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT *Deadline for Intergovernmental Review:* May 14, 2007. 4. *Intergovernmental Review:* This program is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this competition. 5. *Funding Restrictions:* We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the *Applicable Regulations* section of this notice. 6. *Other Submission Requirements:* Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in this section. a. *Electronic Submission of Applications.* Applications for grants under the Parent Information and Training program, CFDA Number 84.235G must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at *http://www.Grants.gov.* Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us. We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in this section under *Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.* You may access the electronic grant application for the Parent Information and Training program at *http://www.Grants.gov.* You must search for the downloadable application package for this program or competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.326, not 84.326A). *Please note the following:* • When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, as well as the hours of operation. • Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted, and must be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application if it is date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. When we retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. • The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov. • You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this competition to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov at *http://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.* • To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must complete all steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see *http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp* ). These steps include

(1)registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR);

(2)registering yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR); and

(3)getting authorized as an AOR by your organization. Details on these steps are outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see *http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf* ). You also must provide on your application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please note that the registration process may take five or more business days to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to allow you to submit successfully an application via Grants.gov. In addition, you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take three or more business days to complete. • You will not receive additional point value because you submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your application in paper format. • You must submit all documents electronically, including all information you typically provide on the following forms: Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. Please note that two of these forms—the SF 424 and the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424—have replaced the ED 424 (Application for Federal Education Assistance). • You must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the three file types specified in this paragraph or submit a password-protected file, we will not review that material. • Your electronic application must comply with any page-limit requirements described in this notice. • After you electronically submit your application, you will receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification indicates that the Department has received your application and has assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying number unique to your application). • We may request that you provide us original signatures on forms at a later date. *Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues with the Grants.gov System:* If you are experiencing problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov Support Desk at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it. If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline date because of technical problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension until 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing instructions described elsewhere in this notice. If you submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT and provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted. Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system. *Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement:* You qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application through the Grants.gov system because— § You do not have access to the Internet; or § You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to the Grants.gov system; and § No later than two weeks before the application deadline date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. *Address and mail or fax your statement to:* Ellen Chesley, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5018, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2550. *FAX:*

(202)245-7591. Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice. b. *Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.* If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the applicable following address: *By mail through the U.S. Postal Service:* U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, *Attention:* (CFDA Number 84.235G), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260; or *By mail through a commercial carrier:* U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center—Stop 4260, *Attention:* (CFDA Number 84.235G), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506. Regardless of which address you use, you must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:

(1)A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.

(2)A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service.

(3)A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier.

(4)Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:

(1)A private metered postmark.

(2)A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. If your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will not consider your application. Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office. c. *Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.* If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.235G), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260. The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department—

(1)You must indicate on the envelope and—if not provided by the Department—in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your application.

(2)The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this notification within 15 business days from the application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at

(202)245-6288. V. Application Review Information *Selection Criteria:* The selection criteria for this competition are selected from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR and are listed in the application package for this competition. VI. Award Administration Information 1. *Award Notices:* If your application is successful, we notify your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally. If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you. 2. *Administrative and National Policy Requirements:* We identify administrative and national policy requirements in the application package and reference these and other requirements in the *Applicable Regulations* section of this notice. We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the *Applicable Regulations* section of this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant. 3. *Reporting:* At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in 34 CFR 75.118. 4. *Performance Measures:* The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993

(GPRA)directs Federal departments and agencies to improve the effectiveness of their programs by engaging in strategic planning, setting outcome-related goals for programs, and measuring program results against those goals. The required annual report must include information on the following measure: the percentage of all products and services deemed to be useful by parent training and information centers to improve vocational rehabilitation service utilization. The data on these measures will be collected by the grantee via survey, assessed, and reported in the aggregate to RSA. The grantee will negotiate targets with RSA after the first year, which will be used to establish a baseline. VII. Agency Contact *For Further Information Contact:* Ellen Chesley, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5018, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC, 20202-2550. *Telephone:*

(202)245-7346 or by *e-mail: Ellen.Chesley@ed.gov* . 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 program contact person listed in this section. VIII. Other Information *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

(FY)2007 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

(CFDA)Number: 84.235F. *Dates:* *Applications Available:* February 12, 2007. *Deadline for Transmittal of Applications:* March 14, 2007. *Deadline for Intergovernmental Review:* May 14, 2007. *Eligible Applicants:* Private nonprofit organizations that meet the requirements in section 303(c)(4) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Act). An applicant organization—

(1)Must demonstrate the capacity and expertise to—

(i)Coordinate training and information activities with Centers for Independent Living;

(ii)Coordinate and work closely with parent information and training centers established pursuant to section 671 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; and

(iii)Effectively conduct the training and information activities authorized in section 303 of the Act; (2)(i) Must be governed by a board of directors—

(A)That includes professionals in the field of vocational rehabilitation; and

(B)On which a majority of the members are individuals with disabilities or the parents, family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives of the individuals; or (ii)(A) Must have a membership that represents the interests of individuals with disabilities; and

(B)Must establish a special governing committee that includes professionals in the field of vocational rehabilitation and on which a majority of the members are individuals with disabilities or the parents, family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives of the individuals; and

(3)Must serve individuals with a full range of disabilities and the parents, family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives of the individuals. *Estimated Available Funds:* The Administration has requested $6.511 million for Demonstration and Training programs for FY 2007, of which we intend to use an estimated $700,000 for this competition. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program. *Estimated Range of Awards:* $95,000-$105,000. *Estimated Average Size of Awards:* $100,000. *Estimated Number of Awards:* 7. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. *Project Period:* Up to 60 months. Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description *Purpose of Program:* This program is designed to support projects that provide training and information to enable individuals with disabilities, and the parents, family members, guardians, advocates, or other authorized representatives of the individuals, to participate more effectively with professionals in meeting the vocational, independent living, and rehabilitation needs of individuals with disabilities. These grants are designed to meet the unique training and information needs of those individuals who live in the area to be served, particularly those who are members of populations that have been unserved or underserved by programs under the Act. *Statutory Activities:* Applicants must provide information on how they will meet the requirements under section 303(c)(2) of the Act, which requires grantees to assist individuals with disabilities and the parents, family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives of the individuals—

(1)To better understand vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs and services;

(2)To provide follow-up support for transition and employment programs;

(3)To communicate more effectively with transition and rehabilitation personnel and other relevant professionals;

(4)To provide support in the development of the individualized plan for employment;

(5)To provide support and expertise in obtaining information about rehabilitation and independent living programs, services, and resources that are appropriate; and

(6)To understand the provisions of the Act, particularly provisions relating to employment, supported employment, and independent living. *Program Authority:* 29 U.S.C. 773(c). *Applicable Regulations:* The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, and 99. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian tribes. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education only. II. Award Information *Type of Award:* Discretionary grants. *Estimated Available Funds:* The Administration has requested $6.511 million for Demonstration and Training programs for FY 2007, of which we intend to use an estimated $700,000 for this competition. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program. *Estimated Range of Awards:* $95,000-$105,000. *Estimated Average Size of Awards:* $100,000. *Estimated Number of Awards:* 7. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. *Project Period:* Up to 60 months. III. Eligibility Information 1. *Eligible Applicants:* Private nonprofit organizations that meet the requirements in section 303(c)(4) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Act). An applicant organization—

(1)Must demonstrate the capacity and expertise to—

(i)Coordinate training and information activities with Centers for Independent Living;

(ii)Coordinate and work closely with parent information and training centers established pursuant to section 671 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; and

(iii)Effectively conduct the training and information activities authorized in section 303 of the Act. (2)(i) Must be governed by a board of directors—

(A)That includes professionals in the field of vocational rehabilitation; and

(3)Must serve individuals with a full range of disabilities and the parents, family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives of the individuals. 2. *Cost Sharing or Matching:* This program does not involve cost sharing or matching. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. *Address to Request Application Package:* Education Publications Center (ED Pubs), P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll free): 1-877-433-7827. FAX:

(301)470-1244. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call (toll free): 1-877-576-7734. You may also contact ED Pubs at its Web site: *http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html* or you may contact ED Pubs at its e-mail address: *edpubs@inet.ed.gov* . If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.235F. Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application package in an alternative format ( *e.g.* , Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the Grants and Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5075, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone:

(202)245-7363. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Relay Service

(FRS)at 1-800-877-8339. 2. *Content and Form of Application Submission:* Requirements concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this competition. 3. *Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available:* February 12, 2007. *Deadline for Transmittal of Applications:* March 14, 2007. Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically or by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to section IV. 6. *Other Submission Requirements in this notice* . We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . *Deadline for Intergovernmental Review:* May 14, 2007. 4. *Intergovernmental Review:* This program is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this competition. 5. *Funding Restrictions:* We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the *Applicable Regulations* section of this notice. 6. *Other Submission Requirements:* Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in this section. a. *Electronic Submission of Applications.* Applications for grants under the Parent Information and Training program, CFDA Number 84.235F must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at *http://www.Grants.gov* . Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us. We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in this section under *Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement* . You may access the electronic grant application for the Parent Information and Training program at *http://www.Grants.gov* . You must search for the downloadable application package for this program or competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search ( *e.g.* , search for 84.326, not 84.326A). Please note the following: • When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, as well as the hours of operation. • Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted, and must be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application if it is date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. When we retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. • The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov. • You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this competition to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov at *http://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf* . • To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must complete all steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see *http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp* ). These steps include

(1)Registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR);

(2)registering yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR); and

(3)getting authorized as an AOR by your organization. Details on these steps are outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see *http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf* ). You also must provide on your application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please note that the registration process may take five or more business days to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to allow you to submit successfully an application via Grants.gov. In addition you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take three or more business days to complete. • You will not receive additional point value because you submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your application in paper format. • You must submit all documents electronically, including all information you typically provide on the following forms: Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. Please note that two of these forms—the SF 424 and the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424—have replaced the ED 424 (Application for Federal Education Assistance). • You must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the three file types specified in this paragraph or submit a password-protected file, we will not review that material. • Your electronic application must comply with any page-limit requirements described in this notice. • After you electronically submit your application, you will receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification indicates that the Department has received your application and has assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying number unique to your application). • We may request that you provide us original signatures on forms at a later date. *Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues with the Grants.gov System:* If you are experiencing problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov Support Desk at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it. If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline date because of technical problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension until 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing instructions described elsewhere in this notice. If you submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT and provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted. Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system. *Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement:* You qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application through the Grants.gov system because— • You do not have access to the Internet; or • You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to the Grants.gov system; and • No later than two weeks before the application deadline date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. Address and mail or fax your statement to: Ellen Chesley, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5018, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2550. FAX:

(202)245-7591. Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice. b. *Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.* If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the applicable following address: *By mail through the U.S. Postal Service:* U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.235F), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260 or *By mail through a commercial carrier:* U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center—Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.235F), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506. Regardless of which address you use, you must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:

(1)A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.

(2)A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service.

(3)A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier.

(1)A private metered postmark.

(2)A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. If your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will not consider your application. Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office. c. *Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.* If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.235F), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260. The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department—

(a)The percentage of parents receiving PTI services who report enhanced knowledge and understanding of vocational rehabilitation services; and

(b)the percentage of all products and services developed to improve vocational rehabilitation service utilization deemed to be useful by parents receiving PTI services. The data on these measures will be collected by the grantee via survey, assessed, and reported in the aggregate to RSA. Grantees will negotiate targets with RSA after the first year, which will be used to establish a baseline. VII. Agency Contact *For Further Information Contact:* Ellen Chesley, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 5018, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone:

(202)245-7346 or by e-mail: *Ellen.Chesley@ed.gov.* If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Relay Service

(PDF)on the Internet at the following site: *http://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: *http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.* Dated: February 7, 2007. John H. Hager, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. [FR Doc. E7-2370 Filed 2-9-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION National Assessment Governing Board; Meeting AGENCY: National Assessment Governing Board; Education. ACTION: Notice of Open Meeting and Partially Closed Meetings. SUMMARY: The notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the National Assessment Governing Board. This notice also describes the functions of the Board. Notice of this meeting is required under Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This document is intended to notify members of the general public of their opportunity to attend. Individuals who will need special accommodations in order to attend the meeting ( *i.e.,* interpreting services, assistive listening devices, materials in alternative format) should notify Munira Mwalimu at 202-357-6938 or at *Munira.Mwalimu@ed.gov* no later than February 23, 2007. We will attempt to meet requests after this date, but cannot guarantee availability of the requested accommodation. The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. DATES: March 1-3, 2007. Times: March 1 *Committee Meetings:* *Assessment Development Committee:* Closed Session—9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; *Reporting and Dissemination Committee:* Open Session—3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; *Executive Committee:* Open Session—4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Closed Session 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. March 2 *Full Board:* Open Session—8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; Closed Session—12:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.; Open Session—1:45 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Closed Session—3 p.m. to 4 p.m. *Committee Meetings:* *Assessment Development Committee:* Open Session—9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m; *Committee on Standards, Design and Methodology:* Open Session—9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; *Reporting and Dissemination Committee:* Open Session—9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; March 3 *Nominations Committee:* Closed Session—7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. *Full Board:* Closed Session—9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; Open Session—9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. *Location:* The Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, 2100 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Munira Mwalimu, Operations Officer, National Assessment Governing Board, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 825, Washington, DC 20002-4233, Telephone

(202)357-6938. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Assessment Governing Board is established under section 412 of the National Education Statistics Act of 1994, as amended. The Board is established to formulate policy guidelines for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The Board's responsibilities include selecting subject areas to be assessed, developing assessment objectives, developing appropriate student achievement levels for each grade and subject tested, developing guidelines for reporting and disseminating results, and developing standards and procedures for interstate and national corporations. The Assessment Development Committee will meet in closed session on March 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to review secure test questions for the National Assessment of Educational Progress

(NAEP)reading and mathematics NAEP Long-term Trend assessments conducted at ages 9, 13, and 17 in 2008. The meeting must be conducted in closed session as disclosure of proposed test items for the reading and mathematics assessments would significantly impede implementation of the NAEP program, and is therefore protected by exemption 9(B) of section 552b(c) of Title 5 U.S.C. The Reporting and Dissemination Committee will meet in open session on March 1 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thereafter the Executive Committee will meet in open session from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Committee will meet in closed session from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. to receive independent government cost estimates from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), for proposed contracts for item development, data collection, scoring and analysis, and reporting of NAEP results for 2007-2012, and their implications on future NAEP activities. The discussion of independent government cost estimates prior to the development of the Request for Proposals for the NAEP 2007-2012 contracts is necessary for ensuring that NAEP contracts meet congressionally mandated goals and adhere to Board policies on NAEP assessments. This part of the meeting must be conducted in closed session because public disclosure of this information would likely have an adverse financial effect on the NAEP program and would provide an advantage to potential bidders attending the meeting. 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(c) of Title 5 U.S.C. On March 2, the full Board will meet in open session from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. From 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. the Board will approve the agenda, followed by welcome remarks and Oath of Office ceremonies for new Board members. The Board will then receive the Executive Director's report and hear an update on the work of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). From 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on March 2, the Board's standing committees—the Assessment Development Committee; the Committee on Standards, Design and Methodology; and the Reporting and Dissemination Committee—will meet in open session. On March 2, the full Board will meet in closed session from 12:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. The Board will receive a briefing provided by the Associate Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics on secure national student achievement data related to upcoming NAEP reports, including results for the 2006 assessments in U.S. history and in civics, and a report comparing NAEP and state proficiency standards. The Governing Board will be provided with embargoed data that cannot be discussed in an open meeting prior to their official release. The meeting must therefore be conducted in closed session as disclosure of data would significantly impede implementation of The Nation's Report Card initial release activities, as protected by exemption 9(B) of section 552b(c) of Title 5 U.S.C. On March 2 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. the Board will discuss and take action on the NAEP 2011 Writing Framework. Thereafter, the full Board will meet in closed session from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. to receive a secure briefing on the pilot study results from the 2006 NAEP Economics Achievement Level Setting for Grade 12. This briefing will involve discussion of secure NAEP performance results, achievement level findings from the pilot study, and secure NAEP questions. These data constitute a major basis for the national release of the NAEP Grade 12 Economics results, and cannot be released in an open meeting prior to the official release of the reports. The meeting must therefore be conducted in closed session as disclosure of data would significantly impede implementation of the NAEP release activities, and is therefore protected by exemption 9(B) of section 552b(c) of Title 5 U.S.C. On March 3, the Nominations Committee will meet in closed session from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. to review and discuss confidential information regarding nominees received for Board vacancies for terms beginning on October 1, 2007. The Nominations Committee will prepare a final slate of candidates for each Board vacancy and make recommendations to the full Board. The full Board will then consider these nominations in closed session on March 3 from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. During this closed session, the full Board will review and take action on the final slate of candidates for open Board positions. After review, the Board will submit the recommended candidates to the Secretary of Education for her review and action. These discussions pertain solely to internal personnel rules and practices for an agency and will disclose information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. As such, the discussions are protected by exemptions 2 and 6 of section 552b(c) of Title 5 U.S.C. The full Board will meet in open session on March 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon. From 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. the Board will discuss academic standards initiatives. Board actions on policies and Committee reports are scheduled to take place between 10:15 a.m. and 12 p.m., upon which the March 3, 2007 session of the Board meeting will adjourn. Detailed minutes of the meeting, including summaries of the activities of the closed sessions and related matters that are informative to the public and consistent with the policy of section 5 U.S.C. 552b(c) will be available to the public within 14 days of the meeting. Records are kept of all Board proceedings and are available for public inspection at the U.S. Department of Education. National Assessment Governing Board, Suite #825, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., Washington, DC, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Dated: February 6, 2007. Charles E. Smith, Executive Director, National Assessment Governing Board. [FR Doc. 07-603 Filed 2-9-07; 8:45 am]

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