2011-8046. 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 Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Information Management and Privacy Services, Office of Management, 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 June 6, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

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, D.C. 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, Information Management and Privacy 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: March 31, 2011.

Darrin A. King,

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

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Type of Review: Extension.

Title of Collection: Special Education- Individual Reporting on Regulatory Compliance Related to the Personnel Development Program's Service Obligation and the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA).

OMB Control Number: 1820-0686.

Agency Form Number(s): N/A.

Frequency of Responses: On Occasion; Monthly; Quarterly; Semi-Annually; Biennially.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit; Federal Government; Individuals or households Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal Government, State Educational Agencies or Local Educational Agencies.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 82,642.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 30,029.

Abstract: The data collection under this revision and renewal request is governed by the “Additional Requirements” section of the Personnel Preparation to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities—Combined Priority for Personnel Preparation and Preparation of Leadership Personnel notice, published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2005 and by Sections 304.23-304.30 of the June 5, 2006, regulations that implement Section 662(h) of the Individual with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 2004, which require that individuals who receive a scholarship through the Personnel Development Program funded under the Act subsequently provide special education and related services to children with disabilities for a period of two years for every year for which assistance was received. Scholarship recipients who do not satisfy the requirements of the regulations must repay all or part of the cost of assistance, in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary. These regulations implement requirements governing, among other things, the service obligation for scholars, reporting requirements by grantees, and repayment of scholarships by scholars. In order for the federal government to ensure that the goals of the program are achieved, certain data collection, recordkeeping, and documentation are necessary. In addition this data collection is governed by the Government Performance Results Act (GPRA). GPRA requires Federal agencies to establish performance measures for all programs, and the Office of Special Education Programs' has established performance measures for the Personnel Development Program. Data collection from scholars who have received scholarships under the Personnel Development Program is necessary to evaluate these measures.

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 4557. 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 202-401-0920. 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 1-800-877-8339.