[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 76350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29699]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Assessment Governing Board; Proposed Information
Collection
AGENCY: National Assessment Governing Board.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The National Assessment Governing Board, as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites
the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity
to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the Governing Board is soliciting
comments concerning a survey of higher education institutions it is
conducting in connection with designing the National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP) to report on the preparedness of 12th grade
students for placement into entry-level college-credit coursework.
DATES: Written comments should be received on or before February 17,
2008 to be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Ray Fields, National
Assessment Governing Board, Suite 825, 800 North Capitol Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20002.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the draft survey should be directed to Ray Fields through the
Internet at Ray.Fields@ed.gov, at the National Assessment Governing
Board, Suite 825, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., Washington, DC, 20002,
or at 202-357-0395.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Survey of Placement Tests and Cut-Scores in Higher Education
Institutions.
Abstract: The congressionally authorized National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP) reports to the public on the achievement of
students at grades 4, 8, and 12 in core subjects. The National
Assessment Governing Board oversees and sets policy for NAEP. NAEP and
the Governing Board are authorized under the National Assessment of
Educational Progress Authorization Act (Pub. L. 107-279).
Among the Board's responsibilities is ``to improve the form,
content, use, and reporting of [NAEP results].'' Toward this end, the
Governing Board plans to enable NAEP at the 12th grade to report on the
academic preparedness of 12th grade students in reading and mathematics
for entry level college credit coursework.
The Governing Board has planned a program of research studies to
support the validity of statements about 12th grade student
preparedness that would be made in NAEP reports, beginning with the
2009 assessments in 12th grade reading and mathematics. Among the
studies planned is a survey of 2-year and 4-year institutions of higher
education about the tests and test scores used to place students into
entry level college credit coursework leading to a degree and into non-
credit remedial or developmental programs in reading and/or
mathematics. The data resulting from this survey will be used to help
develop valid statements that can be made about the preparedness of
12th grade students in NAEP reports.
Current Actions: There are no current actions.
Type of Review: New Information Collection.
Affected Public: Institutions of Higher Education.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,700.
Estimated Time per Respondent: 25 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,542 hours, one time only.
The following paragraph applies to all of the collections of
information covered by this notice:
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of
information displays a valid OMB control number. There is no
requirement for recordkeeping. Information provided by respondents will
be kept confidential; there will be no reporting of results by
individual institution.
Request for Comments: Comments submitted in response to this notice
will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval. All
comments will become a matter of public record. Comments are invited
on:
(a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether
the information shall have practical utility;
(b) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
collection of information;
(c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected;
(d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
respondents, including through the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology;
(e) Estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation,
maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information;
(f) Issues to consider in defining the terms ``remedial'' and/or
``developmental'' as they apply to preparatory or non-credit coursework
in reading and mathematics at any institution providing postsecondary
coursework;
(g) Issues to consider in defining the term postsecondary ``entry-
level, credit-bearing coursework leading to a degree'';
(h) Methods for identifying exemplar programs, i.e., occupations
that do not require an Associate's or higher degree, but do require
training beyond high school and the remedial/developmental as well as
entry-level courses in those programs; and
(i) The names of, or methods for identifying, the most common
entry-level programs at two-year colleges, four-year colleges/
universities, and vocational/technical and occupational colleges.
Dated: December 11, 2008.
Ray Fields,
Authorized Agency Paperwork Contact, National Assessment Governing
Board.
[FR Doc. E8-29699 Filed 12-15-08; 8:45 am]
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