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

[Federal Register: December 12, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 238)]

[Notices]

[Page 70578]

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

[DOCID:fr12de07-28]

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection requests.

SUMMARY: The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, 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 January 2, 2008. A regular clearance process is also beginning. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before February 11, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the emergency review should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Bridget Dooling, Desk Officer, Department of Education, Office of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10222, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or faxed to (202) 395- 6974.

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 IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, 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: December 6, 2007. Delores J. Barber, Leader, Information Management Case Services Team, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management.

Institute of Education Sciences

Type of Review: New Collection.

Title: High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09).

Abstract: This is a request for emergency clearance for field test sampling. The High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09) is the most recent installment in the series of NCES' nationally representative longitudinal studies of high school students. The HSLS:09 will assess students in math and science during the fall of their 9th grade year and again in the spring of most participating students' 11th grade year. The study will also survey students, their parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and school administrators twice during the secondary school years and follow students into their postsecondary years. The study will focus on how students navigate the transition between high school and the postsecondary world; what courses, majors (or first job), and careers students decide to pursue, when, why, and how.

Additional Information: To meet the timeline for the HSLS:09, the Department is requesting an emergency clearance. This unanticipated event occurred since the contract was not awarded until July 6, 2007. The field test is slated to begin in Fall of 2008, which is only a year from now. The full-scale data collection is scheduled to commence in the Fall of 2009. To ensure that the study remains on track and on time, sampling must be completed in January 2008 and school recruiting for the field test must begin by February 2008 at the very latest. The field test is scheduled to start September of 2008, and the six-month lead time should be sufficient for review and revision of the instruments before we enter schools.

Frequency: One time.

Affected Public: Individuals or household; Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs.

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: Responses: 4,138. Burden Hours: 1,593.

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 3542. When you access the information collection, click on ``Download Attachments'' to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Potomac Center, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20202-4700. Requests may also be electronically mailed to the Internet address ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or faxed to 202-245-6623. Please specify the complete title of the information collection when making your request.

Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be electronically mailed to ICDocketMgr@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. E7-24067 Filed 12-11-07; 8:45 am]

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