Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Rural, Insular, Native Achievement Programs (RINAP) Progress Update-Outlying Areas and the Republic of Palau

AGENCY:

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), Department of Education (ED).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct an emergency review of a new information collection.

DATES:

The Department has requested emergency processing from OMB for this information collection request by May 31, 2021; and therefore, request interested persons to submit comments by May 26, 2021. The regular clearance process is also being initiated to provide the public with the opportunity to comment under the full comment period. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before July 9, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

To access and review all the documents related to the information collection listed in this notice, please use http://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED-2021-SCC-0071. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. If the regulations.gov site is not available to the public for any reason, ED will temporarily accept comments at ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Please include the docket ID number and the title of the information collection request when requesting documents or submitting comments. Please note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the PRA Coordinator of the Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 6W208D, Washington, DC 20202-8240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Joanne Osborne, 202-401-1265.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department of Education (ED), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.

Title of Collection: Rural, Insular, Native Achievement Programs (RINAP) Progress Update—Outlying Areas and the Republic of Palau

OMB Control Number: 1810-NEW.

Type of Review: A new information collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 52.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 52.

Abstract: The Rural, Insular, and Native Achievement Program (RINAP), within the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), part of the U.S. Department of Education (ED), seeks emergency approval from OMB for its progress update protocol for the Outlying Areas and the Republic of Palau. RINAP administers Section 1121 of Title I, Part A of the ESEA; Title II of Public Law 108-118 (Supplemental Education Grant (SEG)), CARES Act—Outlying Areas; Title III of CRRSA—Outlying Areas, Sections 2005 and 11006(2-3) of the ARP; Title V, Part B of the ESEA (Rural Education Achievement Program), Title VI, Part B of the ESEA (Native Hawaiian Education); and Title VI, Part C of the ESEA (Alaska Native Education). Periodic progress updates, phone, virtual, or in-person conversations during a fiscal year with authorized representatives and project directors help ensure grantees are making progress toward meeting program goals and objectives. The information shared with RINAP helps inform the selection and delivery of technical assistance to grantees and aligns structures, processes, and routines so RINAP can monitor the connection between grant administration and intended outcomes.

Additional Information: If this collection is not allowed to proceed, ED will not be able to fulfill its oversight responsibilities under 2 CFR 200.207 and 2 CFR 3474.10. Three of the four Outlying Areas have been designated for high-risk status for over ten years resulting in ED's need to more routinely monitor grantee progress and program implementation. The Risk Management Services Division of the Office of Grants Administration has determined that all ED grants awarded to the State education agency in each Outlying Area are subject to Departmental Specific Conditions applicable to that Outlying Area. In addition, two Outlying Areas are each required to have a third-party fiduciary agent to manage ED funds. Given that the funds have already been awarded to the Outlying Areas, the need for immediate and frequent monitoring and technical assistance is critical to ensure that the funds are used in accordance with grant award assurances and conditions.