E7-23895. Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY:

Department of Education

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:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before February 8, 2008.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35) requires that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. 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 that notice containing proposed information collection requests prior to submission of these requests to OMB. 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. OMB 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 the respondents, including through the use of information technology.

Dated: December 4, 2007.

Angela C. Arrington,

IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management.

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Type of Review: Revision.

Title: Survey on the Use of Funds Under Title II, Part A (“Improving Teacher Quality State Grants—Subgrants to LEAs”).

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Governments, SEAs or LEAs.

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

 Responses: 850.

 Burden Hours: 5,000.

Abstract: The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, provides funds to districts to improve the quality of their teaching and principal force and raise student achievement. These funds are provided to districts through Title II, Part A (“Improving Teacher Quality State Grants—Subgrants to LEAs”). The purpose of this survey is for the U.S. Department of Education to have a better understanding of how districts are using these funds. The survey also collects information on high-quality professional development in LEAs. This OMB clearance request is to continue these analyses using a similar data collection instrument and sampling plan for the 2007-2008 school year and subsequent years. The major change from past years is the addition of a short survey for State Educational Agencies (SEAs). The SEA survey will provide information on fiscal year allocations of Title II, Part A funds made to the LEAs selected for participation in the main survey and be preprinted with the names of the LEAs selected for participation in the LEA survey.

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 3523. 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 [e-mail] 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 [e-mail]. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.