03-4050. Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY:

Department of Education.

SUMMARY:

The Leader, Regulatory Management Group, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 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 April 21, 2003.

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.

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: February 13, 2003.

John D. Tressler,

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

Office of Postsecondary Education

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Title: High Education Act (HEA) Title II Reporting Forms on Teacher Quality and Preparation.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs (primary). Not-for-profit institutions (primary).

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: Responses: 1309. Burden Hours: 127624.

Abstract: The Higher Education Act of 1998 calls for annual reports from states and institutions of higher education on the quality of teacher education and related matters (Pub. L. 105-244, section 207:20 U.S.C. 1027). The purpose of the reports is to provide greater accountability in the preparation of America's teaching forces and to provide information and incentives for its improvement. Most institutions of higher education that have teacher preparation programs must report annually to their states on the performance of their program completers on teacher certification tests. States, in turn, must report test performance information, institution by institution, to the Secretary of Education, along with institutional ranking. They must also report on their requirements for licensing teachers, state standards, alternative routes to certification, waivers, and related items. Annually reports form institutions are due to the states, beginning April 7 each year; reports from the states are due annually to the Secretary, beginning October 7 each year; the Secretary's report is due annually to Congress, beginning April 7 each year. These dates are one year later than the dates in the legislation.

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 to the e-mail address [e-mail]. Requests may also be faxed to [phone]. 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 Joseph Schubart at his 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.