2022-09054. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Education Stabilization Fund-Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER I and GEER II) Recipient ...

AGENCY:

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), Department of Education (ED).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 31, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for proposed information collection requests should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this information collection request by selecting “Department of Education” under “Currently Under Review,” then check “Only Show ICR for Public Comment” checkbox. Comments may also be sent to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Gloria Tanner, [phone].

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: Education Stabilization Fund—Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER I and GEER II) Recipient Data Collection Form.

OMB Control Number: 1810-0748.

Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, Tribal Governments; Private Sector.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 3,326.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 40,612.

Abstract: Under the current unprecedented national health emergency, the legislative and executive branches of government have come together to offer relief to those individuals and industries affected by the COVID-19 virus under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Pub. L. 116-136) authorized on March 27, 2020, and expanded through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Under the current unprecedented national health emergency, the legislative and executive branches of government have come together to offer relief to those individuals and industries affected by the COVID-19 virus under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Pub. L. 116-136) authorized on March 27, 2020, and expanded through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. The Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER Fund) awards grants to Governors (States) and Outlying Areas for the purpose of providing local educational agencies (LEAs), institutions of higher education, and other education-related entities with emergency assistance as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This information collection includes annual reporting requirements to comply with the requirements of the GEER program and obtain information on how the funds were used by State and Local Education Agencies, institutions of higher education, and other education-related entities. On 2/10/2022, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the emergency collection which included two additional questions to address the expenditure of GEER funds directly by the Governor's office (or another entity, such as the SEA, designated as the administrator of the GEER fund by the Governor's office). The Department is now requesting approval for a three-year clearance. There is no change from the emergency collection except for clarifying changes. To view the recently approved questions, please refer to Attachment A.

Dated: April 25, 2022.

Kun Mullan,

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