2024-01694. Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Formula Grant Electronic Application System for Indian Education (EASIE) Annual Performance Report

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing a revision of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before March 29, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

To access and review all the documents related to the information collection listed in this notice, please use http://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED–2024–SCC–0018. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. If the regulations.gov site is not available to the public for any reason, the Department will temporarily accept comments at [e-mail]. Please include the docket ID number and the title of the information collection request when requesting documents or submitting comments. Please note that comments submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the Manager of the Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 6W203, Washington, DC 20202–8240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Crystal Moore, 202–987–0607.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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, 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. The Department is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department 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: Formula Grant EASIE Annual Performance Report.

OMB Control Number: 1810–0726.

Type of Review: A revision of a currently approved ICR.

Respondents/Affected Public: State, local, and Tribal governments.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 1,300.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 14,300.

Abstract: The purpose of Indian Education Formula Grant to Local Agencies, as authorized under section 6116 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is to assist grantees to provide Indian students with the opportunity to meet the same challenging state standards as all other students and meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of Indian students. The Indian Education Formula Grant (Assistance Listing Number 84.060A), is neither competitive nor discretionary and requires the annual submission of the application from either a local education agency, tribe, Indian organization, or Indian community-based organization. The amount of the award for each applicant is determined by a formula based on the reported number of Indian students identified in the application, the state per pupil expenditure, and the total appropriation available. The Office of Indian Education (OIE) of The Department of Education (ED) collects annual performance data within the same system that collects the annual application. The application and the annual performance report are both housed in the OMB MAX/Connect.gov Survey. Clearance was granted for the Electronic Application System for Indian Education (EASIE) Annual Performance Report (EASIE Part III) in a revised information collection by OIE. This is a request for revision of this collection. We have removed the fax number fields from this collection. In addition, we propose revisions that will clarify instructions and improve usability.

Dated: January 24, 2024.

Kun Mullan,

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