Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY:

Department of Education.

ACTION:

Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests.

SUMMARY:

The Leader, Regulatory Information Management, Office of the Chief Information Officer, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

An emergency review has been requested in accordance with the Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 3507 (j)), since public harm is reasonably likely to result if normal clearance procedures are followed. Approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been requested by November 6, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments regarding the emergency review should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Lauren Wittenberg, Acting Desk Officer: Department of Education, Office of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Director of OMB provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) may amend or waive the requirement for public consultation to the extent that public participation in the approval process would defeat the purpose of the information collection, violate State or Federal law, or substantially interfere with any agency's ability to perform its statutory obligations. The Leader, Regulatory Information Management, Office of the Chief Information Officer, publishes this notice containing proposed information collection requests at the beginning of the Departmental review of the information collection. Each proposed information collection, grouped by office, contains the following: (1) Type of review requested, e.g., new, revision, extension, existing or reinstatement; (2) Title; (3) Summary of the collection; (4) Description of the need for, and proposed use of, the information; (5) Respondents and frequency of collection; and (6) Reporting and/or Recordkeeping burden. ED invites public comment.

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 respondents, including through the use of information technology.

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Type of Review: Revision.

Title: Consolidated State Performance Report and State Self-Review.

Abstract: This information collection package contains two related parts: the Consolidated State Performance Report (CSPR) and the State Self-Review (SSR). The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), in general, and its provision for submission of consolidated plans, in particular (section 14301 of the ESEA), emphasize the importance of cross-program coordination and integration of federal programs into educational activities carried out with State and local funds. States would use both instruments for reporting on activities that occur during the 1999-2000 school year and, if the ESEA, when aurthorized, does not become effective for the 2000-2001 school year, for that year as well. The proposed CSPR requests essentially the same information as in 1999-2000, in a more concise and accessible format. The proposed SSR replaces informal data collections performed by each program review team in advance of site visits to states (approximately 14 each year), now conducted as integrated program reviews of all ESEA and Goals 2000 programs. This document and the associated visits promote the Department's interests in (1) gathering essential information on how States have implemented their approval consolidated State plans and (2) identifying federal assistance to States on how to use federal funds most effectively. The State responses to the SSR will complement their responses to the CSPR by providing specific information on program implemention that is needed for an effective integrated review. When the ESEA is reauthorized the Department intends to work actively with the public to revise the content of these documents and develop an integrated information collection system that responds to the new law, uses new technologies, and better reflects how federal programs help to promote State and local reform efforts.

Additional Information: The Department of Education is requesting an emergency review of the Consolidated State Performance Report (CSPR) and the State Self-Review (SSR) by November 6, 2000. Emergency clearance is requested due to an unanticipated event. Statutory changes of Title VI resulted in a new eligible category. In addition, the Department has made improvements to their electronic collection. If normal clearance procedures were to be followed, ED would not meet its effective date of November 20, 2000, the date this collection will be available to states via Web-based electronic collection.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs.

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

 Responses: 53.

 Burden Hours: 137,086.

Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request should be addressed to Vivian Reese, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 4050, Regional Office Building 3, Washington, DC 20202-4651, or should be electronically mailed to the internet address OCIO_IMG_Issues@ed.gov, or should be faxed to 202-708-9346.

Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements, contact Kathy Axt at her internet address Kathy_Axt@ed.gov. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.