2012-2455. Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY:

Department of Education.

ACTION:

Comment Request.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Education (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 and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the reporting burden on the public and helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. The Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13).

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before April 3, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be electronically mailed to [e-mail] or mailed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that Federal agencies provide interested parties an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. The Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management, publishes this notice containing proposed information collection requests at the beginning of the Departmental review of the information collection. 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: January 31, 2012.

Tomakie Washington,

Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management.

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Type of Review: New.

Title of Collection: Evaluation of State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Administration of Supported Employment Programs.

OMB Control Number: Pending.

Agency Form Number(s): N/A.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 80.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 249.

Abstract: The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program provides a wide range of services to help individuals with disabilities to prepare for and engage in gainful employment. Eligible individuals are those who have a physical or mental impairment that results in a substantial impediment to employment, who can benefit from VR services for employment, and who require VR services. If a State is unable to serve all eligible individuals, priority must be given to serving individuals with the most significant disabilities. The program is funded through formula-based grants awarded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to State VR agencies to receive funding from the basic Title I formula grant program.

The Supported Employment (SE) Grant Program provides funding to assist States in developing and implementing collaborative programs with appropriate entities to provide SE services to individuals with the most significant disabilities who require SE services to achieve employment outcomes under Title VI Part B of the Rehabilitation Act for the SE State Grants Program. SE funds are used to supplement funds provided under the State VR grants program for the cost of providing SE services. Funds cannot be used to provide extended services necessary to maintain individuals in employment after the end of SE services, which usually do not exceed 18 months.

RSA proposes to conduct a national survey of all 80 state VR agencies. RSA seeks to evaluate how State VR agencies implement supported employment services for individuals with disabilities, how state VR agencies use Title VI Part B funds in conjunction with Title I funds to fund supported employment programs, and whether State VR agencies are effective in obtaining supported employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. The evaluation also seeks to identify the factors that contribute to successful supported employment outcomes.

RSA will address the following objectives:

• Identify agency practices with respect to providing SE services;
• Determine how agencies use Title VI-B, Title I and other funds to provide SE; and
• Determine how agency practices affect the achievement of SE outcomes.

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 4796. 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., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Requests may also be electronically mailed to [e-mail] or faxed to [phone]. Please specify the complete title of the information collection and OMB Control Number when making your request.

Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-[phone].