Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,

[Federal Register: November 5, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 214)]

[Notices]

[Page 62566-62567]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr05no03-45]

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection requests.

SUMMARY: The Leader, Regulatory Information Management Group, Office of the Chief Information Officer, invites comments on the proposed information

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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 7, 2003. A regular clearance process is also beginning. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before January 5, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the emergency review should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Lauren Wittenberg, Desk Officer: Department of Education, Office of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or should be electronically mailed to the internet address Lauren_Wittenberg@omb.eop.gov.

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, Information Management Group, 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.

Dated: October 30, 2003. Angela C. Arrington, Leader, Regulatory Information Management Group, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Type of Review: Reinstatement.

Title: Consolidated State Performance Report.

Abstract: This information collection package contains the Consolidated State Performance Report (CSPR) . The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), in general, and its provision for submission of consolidated plans, in particular (see section 9302 of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB), 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 this instrument for reporting on activities that o

Additional Information: The request for an emergency review of Part I of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Consolidated State Performance Report is being made to enable the Department to meet reporting requirements of NCLB. Section 1111(h)(5) of NCLB requires the Secretary to submit to Congress an annual report that provides national and State-level information that is derived from State reports mandated by Section 1111(h)(4). The statute requires that the first annual report cover the 2002-2003 school year. The earliest time that States can submit all these data to the Department is this fall, and to provide annual and timely information to the Congress the Department will need to submit its report this winter. For the Secretary's report to be an annual report, as the statute requires, the Secretary must report information on the 2002-2003 school year during the 2003-2004 school year. For the Department to review all the required data elements from the States, prepare its report to Congress, and distribute its annual report during the 2003-2004 school year, the Department must receive the State data no later than December 2003. The Department spent months of collaborating on this collection, and the collection received recent approval from the Secretary's office. Due to this unanticipated event, we are requesting OMB clearance of Part I of the Consolidated State Performance Report by October 31, 2003.

Frequency: Annually.

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

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: Responses: 52. Burden Hours: 22,304.

Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request may be accessed from http://edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting the ``Browse Pending Collections'' link and by clicking on link number 2356. When you access the information collection, click on ``Download Attachments `` to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to Vivian Reese, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 4050, Regional Office Building 3, Washington, DC 20202-4651 or to the e-mail address vivan.reese@ed.gov. Requests may also be electronically mailed to the internet address OCIO_RIMG@ed.gov or faxed to 202-708- 9346. Please specify the complete title of the information collection when making your request.

Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements, contact Kathy Axt at her e-mail 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.

[FR Doc. 03-27760 Filed 11-4-03; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000-01-P