2024-00646. Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; SEA Procedures for Adjusting ED-Determined Title I Allocations to Local Education Agencies (LEAs)

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before March 18, 2024.

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–2024–SCC–0009. 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, the Department will temporarily accept comments at [e-mail]. 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 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 Manager of the Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 6W203, Washington, DC 20202–8240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Todd Stephenson, 202–205–1645.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department, 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. The Department is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department 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: SEA Procedures for Adjusting ED-Determined Title I Allocations to Local Education Agencies (LEAs).

OMB Control Number: 1810–0622.

Type of Review: An extension without change of a currently approved ICR.

Respondents/Affected Public: State, local, and Tribal governments.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 52.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 2,080.

Abstract: We are requesting a three-year extension of the current paperwork clearance package (OMB number 1810–0622) related to State educational agency (SEA) procedures for adjusting title I, part A local educational agency (LEA) allocations determined by the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

Title I, part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), requires ED to allocate Basic Grants, Concentration Grants, Targeted Grants, and Education Finance Incentive Grants directly to LEAs. (See sections 1124(a)(2), 1124A(a), 1125(a), (b), and (c)(2), and 1125A(c) and (d)(1)((B), (2)(B), and (3)(B) of the statute at https://uscode.house.gov/​browse/​prelim@title20/​chapter70/​subchapter1/​partA&​edition=​prelim.) Title I, part A allocations are based primarily on poverty data provided by the Census Bureau and reflect a national list of LEAs that is generally two years old. For example, the list of LEAs used for calculating school year (SY) 2023–2024 allocations is based on LEAs that existed in SY 2021–2022. Because the list of LEAs used by ED in determining LEA allocations does not match the current universe of LEAs in many States, SEAs must adjust EDs allocations to account for district boundary changes and newly-created LEAs that are eligible for title I, part A funds but did not receive an allocation under ED calculations.

Dated: January 9, 2024.

Kun Mullan,

PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.