E9-5837. Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY:

Department of Education.

ACTION:

Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests.

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:

An emergency review has been requested in accordance with the Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 3507(j)), since public harm is reasonably likely to result if normal clearance procedures are followed. Approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been requested by March 23, 2009.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments regarding the emergency review should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Bridget Dooling, Desk Officer, Department of Education, Office of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10222, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or faxed to [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Director of OMB provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. The Office of Management and Budget (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 this notice containing proposed information collection requests at the beginning of the Departmental review of the information collection. 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. ED 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 respondents, including through the use of information technology.

Dated: March 10, 2009.

Angela C. Arrington,

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

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Type of Review: New.

Title: State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Grant Application.

Abstract: On February 17, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) became law. A major part of ARRA is the new State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (Stabilization) program. The program provides $53,600,000,000 to States to keep teachers in the classroom, prevent the cutting of valuable education programs, and help mitigate college tuition increases. Additionally, the Stabilization program will provide resources that States and districts may use to implement important education reforms, such as launching strategies that address inequities in the distribution of highly qualified teachers, building robust data systems that allow districts to better track student achievement, raising standards and strengthening student assessments, and turning around failing schools. We are requesting approval of the Stabilization program grant application so that State governors may apply for the first portion of these funds.

Additional Information: In order to provide immediate assistance to help alleviate the substantial budget shortfalls that States are facing, the Department is committed to providing 67 percent of each State's Stabilization allocation within a very short timeframe, necessitating emergency clearance of the Stabilization program application. The requested approval date for OMB approval is March 23. This formula grant program has two distinct portions—the Education Fund and the Government Services Fund. Specifically, the Department intends to award each State with 67 percent of the total amount that it is to receive under both the Education Fund and the Government Services Fund within two weeks of our receipt of a complete application.

Frequency: One time.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Gov't.

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

Responses: 52.

Burden Hours: 894.

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 3976. 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 the Internet address [e-mail] or faxed to 202-401-0920. 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.