00-16431. Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY:

Department of Education.

SUMMARY:

The Leader, Regulatory Information Management, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 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 August 28, 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, Regulatory Information Management, 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: June 23, 2000.

John Tressler,

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

Office of Educational Research and Improvement

Type of Review: Reinstatement, without change, of a previously approved collection for which approval has expired.

Title: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Year 2001 Field Test and Year 2002 Main Assessment of Reading and Writing.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public:

Businesses or other for-profit (primary).

Not-for-profit institutions.

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: Responses: 7250—Burden Hours: 7250.

Abstract: The Congressionally-mandated 2002 National Assessment of Educational Progress will assess writing and reading knowledge among 4th, 8th and 12th graders. To provide contextual information to intrepret the assessment information, relevant background characteristics of the students and their schools and teachers are gathered as well. The clearance package provides all of the background questions and supporting information for the field test and the main study. The results of the main study will be used to provide descriptive information about programs and practices in the teaching of reading and writing; suggest relationships between characteristics and assessment results; serve as a basis for monitoring change over time.

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, SW, Room 4050, Regional Office Building 3, Washington, DC 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. Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be directed to Kathy Axt at [phone]. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

Office of Educational Research and Improvement

Type of Review: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously approved collection for which approval has expired.

Title: State Library Agencies Survey.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs (primary).

Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: Responses: 51—Burden Hours: 612.

Abstract: State library agencies are the official agencies of each state charged by state law with the extension and development of public library services throughout the state. The purpose of this survey is to provide state and federal policymakers with information about SILAs, including their governance, allied operations, developmental services to libraries and library systems, support of electronic information networks, number and types of outlets, direct services to the public, public service hours, type and size of collections, service and development transactions, staffing patterns, and income and expenditures.

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, SW, Room 4050, Regional Office Building 3, Washington, DC 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. Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be directed to Kathy Axt at [phone]. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.