00-5497. Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY:

Department of Education.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed information collection requests.

SUMMARY:

The Leader, Information 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. On February 28, 2000 an emergency notice was published incorrectly. Comments should have been solicited for the information collection, “Criteria for Distribution of the $134 million FY2000 Appropriation for School Improvement” instead of the “Guidance to SEAs on Procedures for Adjusting ED-Determined Title I Allocations to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs).” In addition, the notice should have stated that a regular collection was being processed as well. Therefore, this notice acts as the regular notice.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 8, 2000.

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, Information 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: March 2, 2000.

William Burrow,

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

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Type of Review: Extension.

Title: Criteria for Distribution of the $134 million FY2000 Appropriation for School Improvement.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: State, local or Tribal Government, SEAs or LEAs.

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

Responses: 52.

Burden Hours: 1,248.

Abstract: To receive funds provided for school improvement in the FY2000 appropriation, a State must amend its State Title I plan to include (1) criteria showing which of the LEAs will receive funds; (2) criteria for determining how much each LEA will receive; and (3) measures to assure that recipients of funds implement public school choice consistent with the statute.

Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request may be accessed from http://edicsweb.ed.gov,, or should be addressed to Vivian Reese, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Room 5624, Regional Office Building 3, Washington, D.C. 20202-4651. Requests may also be electronically mailed to the internet address [e-mail] or faxed to 202-708-9346. Please specify the complete title of the information collection when making your request.

Written comments or questions regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be directed to Kathy Axt at [phone] (fax). Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.