[Federal Register: May 4, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 86)]
[Notices]               
[Page 24607-24608]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04my04-56]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

 
Notice of Request for Nominations for Members to the Secretary's 
Advisory Committee on Head Start Accountability and Educational 
Performance Measures

AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth and Families, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This request is being published in accordance with section 
9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Notice is hereby given 
that the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services seeks 
qualified individuals to become members of the Advisory Committee on 
Head Start Accountability and Educational Performance Measures. The 
Secretary seeks authorities knowledgeable and expert in the fields of 
childhood development and psychometrics, assessment of child progress 
and evaluation of program service delivery.
    Individuals have dirty (30) days from the date of publication to 
submit nominations. Nominations will only be accepted electronically, 
although individuals for whom this procedure introduces a barrier may 
make alternative arrangements through the contact information below. To 
place a nomination, please submit a cover letter summarizing areas of 
expertise, curriculum vita, and contact information (including an 
address, phone number and e-mail address) to Carol Whitten, e-mail 
address: cwhitten@acf.hhs.gov. Materials should be submitted using 
standard word processing or desktop publishing software to facilitate 
their use.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Whitten, Head Start Bureau, e-
mail cwhitten@acf.hhs.gov or (202) 205-7359.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with section 9(a)(2) of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), title 41 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations, section 102-3.65 and the General Services 
Administration (GSA) rule on Federal Advisory Committee Management, the 
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has 
determined that the establishment of the Advisory Committee on Head 
Start Accountability and Educational Performance Measures (the 
Committee) is in the public interest in connection with supporting the 
school readiness of low-income children and the overall effectiveness 
and purpose of the Federal Head Start program.
    The purpose of the Committee is to help assess the progress in 
developing and implementing the Head Start National Reporting System 
(NRS) and provide recommendations for integrating the NRS with other 
ongoing assessments of the effectiveness of the program. The Committee 
will work in coordination with the existing Technical Work Group (TWG), 
which helped develop the NRS, and make recommendations for how the NRS 
can be included in the broader assessment framework found in the Family 
and Child Experiences Survey (FACES), the national Head Start Impact 
Study, Head Start's Performance Based Outcome System, and the 
evaluation of the Early Head Start program.
    The Committee shall consist of not more than ten (10) members 
including the Chair and Co-Chair. Appointments shall be made by the 
Secretary from authorities knowledgeable and expert in the fields of 
childhood development and psychometrics, assessment of child progress 
and evaluation of program service delivery. The Department will give 
close attention to equitable geographic distribution and to minority 
and gender representation in making appointments to the Committee, so 
long as the effectiveness of the Committee is not diminished. 
Individuals must have experience with large scale survey studies, large 
scale program evaluations, and be recognized authorities in their field 
of expertise. Field of expertise is not limited, per se, but 
individuals with expertise in areas of child development and assessment 
that are pertinent to documenting children's school readiness outcomes 
will make the strongest possible contributions to the work of the 
Committee. The Committee shall meet three times unless, after 
consultation with the Chair or Co-Chair,

[[Page 24608]]

the Secretary determines that additional meetings are necessary to 
fulfill the purpose of the Committee. All meetings shall be at the call 
of the Chair or Co-Chair. An official of the Federal Government shall 
be present at all meetings. Meetings shall be open to the public. 
Advance notice of all meetings shall be given to the public. Meetings 
shall be conducted and records of proceedings shall be kept in 
accordance with all applicable laws and departmental regulations.
    Unless renewed by appropriate action prior to its expiration, the 
Secretary's Advisory Committee on Head Start Accountability and 
Educational Performance Measures shall terminate on February 27, 2006.

    Dated: April 23, 2004.
Wade F. Horn,
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 04-10081 Filed 5-3-04; 8:45 am]

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