02-32095. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Department of Education.

SUMMARY:

The Leader, Regulatory Management Group, Office of the Chief Information Officer invites comments on the submission for OMB review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before January 21, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Karen Lee, 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 [e-mail].

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 Leader, Regulatory Management Group, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 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.

Dated: December 17, 2002.

John D. Tressler,

Leader, Regulatory Management Group, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Type of Review: Extension.

Title: State-Flex Application.

Frequency: Semi-annually.

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

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

Responses: 21.

Burden Hours: 13.440.

Abstract: Application for State-Flexibility Authority (“State-Flex”). By statute, the Department can grant State-Flex to up to seven state educational agencies (SEAs) through a competitive process. State-Flex SEAs receive (1) the flexibility to consolidate certain Federal formula funds reserved for State administration and State-level activities for any educational purpose authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to assist the SEAs, and the local educational agencies (LEAs) with which it enters into performance agreements, in making adequate yearly progress and narrowing achievement gaps; (2) the authority to specify how LEAs in the State use Innovative Program funds under Part A of Title V; and (3) the authority to, in turn, enter into performance agreements with four to ten LEAs in the State (half of which must be high poverty LEAs), permitting those LEAs to consolidate certain Federal funds and to use those funds for any ESEA purpose consistent with the SEA's State-Flex plan. The purpose of State-Flex is to assist SEAs and LEAs in those states to meet the State's definition of adequate yearly progress (AYP) and narrowing achievement gaps.

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 directed to her e-mail address [e-mail]. Requests may also be 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 should be directed to Kathy Axt at her e-mail address [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.