The Department of the Interior is establishing the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) Standards, Assessments, and Accountability System Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (Committee). The Committee will advise the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) through the BIE and the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs on the development of regulations to fulfill the Secretary's responsibility to define standards, assessments, and accountability system consistent with ESEA section 1111, as amended, for schools funded by BIE on a national, regional, or Tribal basis, as appropriate, taking into account the unique circumstances and needs of such schools and the students served by such schools and the process for requesting a waiver for these definitions. This notice also announces the dates and locations of each of the public meetings of the Committee.

On September 14, 2017, a notice in the Federal Register (82 FR 43199) announced the U.S. Department of the Interior's intent to form a negotiated rulemaking committee under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Negotiated Rulemaking Act, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2). On April 17, 2018, a notice in the Federal Register (83 FR 16806) announced the proposed membership. The Committee will advise the Secretary through the BIE and the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs on the development of regulations to fulfill the Secretary's responsibility to define standards, assessments, and accountability system consistent with ESEA section 1111 (20 U.S.C. 6311), as amended, for schools funded by BIE on a national, regional, or Tribal basis, as appropriate, taking into account the unique circumstances and needs of such schools and the students served by such schools and the process for requesting a waiver for these definitions.

The April 17, 2018, notice discussed the issues to be negotiated and the interest group representatives proposed as members of the Committee.

The Secretary received additional proposed nominations in response to the April 17, 2018, notice and considered the nominations based on the qualifications outlined in the notice for approval. The nominees were approved to join the Committee and are included in this Federal Register Notice.