2020-03167. Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; IDEA Part C State Performance Plan (SPP) and Annual Performance Report (APR)

AGENCY:

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Department of Education (ED).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing an extension of an existing information collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before April 20, 2020.

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-2020-SCC-0028. 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, ED 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 by fax or email and those 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 Director of the Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 6W-208D, Washington, DC 20202-4537.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Rebecca Walawender, 202-245-7399.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department of Education (ED), 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. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. 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. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.

Title of Collection: IDEA Part C State Performance Plan (SPP) and Annual Performance Report (APR).

OMB Control Number: 1820-0578.

Type of Review: An extension of an existing information collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 56.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 61,320.

Abstract: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, signed on December 3, 2004, became Public Law 108-446. In accordance with 20 U.S.C. 1416(b)(1) and 20 U.S.C. 1442, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA), each Lead Agency must have in place a performance plan that evaluates the Lead Agency's efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of Part C and describe how the Lead Agency will improve such implementation. This plan is called the Part C State Performance Plan (Part C—SPP). In accordance with 20 U.S.C. 1416(b)(2)(C)(ii) and 20 U.S.C. 1442 the Lead Agency shall report annually to the public on the performance of each Part C program located in the State on the targets in the Lead Agency's performance plan. The Lead Agency shall report annually to the Secretary on the performance of the State under the Lead Agency's performance plan. This report is called the Part C Annual Performance Report (Part C—APR). Consistent with 20 U.S.C. 1416(d)(A), the Secretary uses this information to make annual determinations on the extent to which the Lead Agency meets the requirements and purposes of IDEA.

The Department is proposing to make minor changes to the approved information collection, and to establish a new 6-year SPP cycle (FFY 2020 through FFY 2025). The proposed changes to the Part C SPP/APR, which would go into effect with States' FFY 2020 SPP/APR to be submitted in February 2022, are focused on clarifying existing reporting within the parameters of the current IDEA statutory and regulatory requirements, and aligning the SPP/APR with the Secretary's priorities, such as elevating parent voice.

Dated: February 12, 2020.

Kate Mullan,

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