[Federal Register: August 11, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 154)]
[Notices]               
[Page 48662]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11au10-45]                                     
                                    

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 
Equity and Excellence Commission

AGENCY: Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education.

ACTION: Request for Nominations to Serve on the Equity and Excellence 
Commission.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Education (Secretary) invites interested 
parties to submit nominations for individuals to serve on the Equity 
and Excellence Commission.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Equity and Excellence Commission (Equity 
Commission or Commission) will be established by the Secretary of 
Education and governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA) (Pub. L. 92-463, as amended; 5 U.S.C.A., Appendix 
2). The Commission will collect information, analyze issues, and obtain 
broad public input regarding how the Federal government can increase 
educational opportunity by improving school funding equity. The 
Commission will also make recommendations for restructuring school 
finance systems to achieve equity in the distribution of educational 
resources and further student performance, especially for the students 
at the lower end of the achievement gap. The Commission will examine 
the disparities in meaningful educational opportunities that give rise 
to the achievement gap, with a focus on systems of finance, and 
recommend appropriate ways in which Federal policies could address such 
disparities.
    The Commission will submit a report to the Secretary outlining its 
findings and any recommendations. The Secretary will share a copy of 
this report with Congress through the United States Senate Committees 
on Appropriations and on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the 
United States House of Representatives Committees on Appropriations and 
on Education and Labor.
    The Commission will be composed of approximately 15 members, 
including persons who have knowledge of and expertise in systems of 
school finance, taxes, or civil rights. The Secretary intends that at 
least one-third of the members will have experience working in or with 
State educational agencies or local educational agencies. The 
Commission will also include ex officio members from the Department, 
including, but not limited to, the Deputy Secretary, the General 
Counsel, and the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
    Nomination Process: Any interested person or organization may 
nominate one or more qualified individuals for membership. If you would 
like to nominate an individual or yourself for appointment to the 
Commission, please submit the following information to the Department's 
White House Liaison Office:
     A copy of the nominee's resume;
     A cover letter that provides the reason(s) for nominating 
the individual; and
     Contact information for the nominee (name, title, and 
business address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address).
    In addition, the cover letter must state that the nominee (if you 
are nominating someone other than yourself) has agreed to be nominated 
and is willing to serve on the Commission. Nominees will be appointed 
based on:
     Technical qualifications, professional experience, and 
demonstrated knowledge of issues related to systems of school finance, 
taxes, and civil rights; and
     Demonstrated experience, integrity, impartiality, and good 
judgment.
    The Secretary will appoint members for the life of the Commission, 
which will span approximately 15 months. Any member appointed to fill a 
vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the full term for which 
the member's predecessor was appointed will be appointed for the 
remainder of such term.
    Members will serve without compensation. However, members may 
receive reimbursement for travel expenses for attending Commission 
meetings, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by 
the Federal travel regulations.
    These members will serve as Special Government Employees (SGEs) 
and, as SGEs, will be chosen for their individual expertise, 
qualifications, and experience; they will provide advice and make 
recommendations based on their independent judgment and will not be 
speaking for or representing the views of any nongovernmental 
organization or recognizable group of persons.

DATES: Nominations for individuals to serve on the Commission must be 
submitted (postmarked, if sending by mail; submitted electronically; or 
received, if hand-delivered) by September 10, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations, including attachments, by any of 
the following methods:
     Electronically: Send to: WhiteHouseLiaison@ed.gov (specify 
in the e-mail subject line, ``Equity Commission Nomination'').
     Mail, express delivery, hand delivery, messenger, or 
courier service: Submit one copy of the documents listed above to the 
following address: U.S. Department of Education, White House Liaison 
Office, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 7C109, Washington, DC 20202, 
Attn: Karen Akins.
    For questions, contact Karen Akins, White House Liaison Office, at 
(202) 401-3677, at (202) 205-0723 (fax), or via e-mail at 
WhiteHouseLiaison@ed.gov.

    Dated: August 5, 2010.
Arne Duncan,
Secretary of Education.
[FR Doc. 2010-19798 Filed 8-10-10; 8:45 am]
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