[Federal Register: March 16, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 50)] [Notices] [Page 13008-13009] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr16mr99-48] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection requests. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Acting 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. DATES: An emergency review has been requested in accordance with the Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 3507 (j)), since public harm is reasonably likely to result if normal clearance procedures are followed. Approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been requested by March 19, 1999. A regular clearance process is also beginning. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 17, 1999. ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the emergency review should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Danny Werfel, Desk Officer: Department of Education, Office of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW, Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503. Comments regarding the regular clearance and requests for copies of the proposed information collection request should be addressed to Patrick J. Sherrill, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 5624, Regional Office Building 3, Washington, DC 20202-4651, or should be electronically mailed to the internet address Pat Sherrill@ed.gov, or should be faxed to 202-708-9346. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick J. Sherrill (202) 708-8196. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Director of OMB provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. The Office of Management and Budget (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 Acting Leader, Information Management Group, Office of the Chief Information Officer, publishes this notice containing proposed information collection requests at the beginning of the Departmental review of the information collection. 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. ED invites public comment at the address specified above. Copies of the requests are available from Patrick J. Sherrill at the address specified above. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment [[Page 13009]] 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 respondents, including through the use of information technology. Dated: March 11, 1999. Patrick J. Sherrill, Acting Leader, Information Management Group, Office of the Chief Information Officer. Office of the Chief Information Officer Type of Review: New. Title: Year 2000 Assessment Survey of K-12 School Districts. Frequency: As required by OMB, The President's Council on Year 2000 conversion and other Year 2000 oversight authorities. Affected Public: State, local or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs. Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: Responses: 2,884. Burden Hours: 18,746. Abstract: ED is actively participating on the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion and this Year 2000 Assessment Survey is a departmental, as well as, a Council initiative. ED is taking a proactive approach in requesting elementary and secondary schools report on their Year 2000 readiness. ED needs to survey the progress of our nation's elementary and secondary schools in order to ensure the successful operation of its programs and to report to OMB. The President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion and other Year 2000 oversight authorities. Additional Information: Given the impending time constraints on achieving Year 2000 compliance, ED is requesting an emergency review of the attached survey. Reporting on a 60-day or 30-day Federal Register notice would not give ED enough time to assist local education agencies with corrective action via education and awareness of Year 2000 issues. Due to the critical nature of the survey and the time constraints for meeting Year 2000 compliance, ED will require respondents to complete the electronic survey in less than 30-days from the time of receipt. The estimated survey launch date will be March 19, 1999 and the estimated survey completion date will be April 9, 1999. Frequency: As required by OMB, The President's Council on Year 2000 conversion and other Year 2000 oversight authorities. Affected Public: State, local or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs. Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: Responses: 2,884. Burden Hours: 18,746. [FR Doc. 99-6424 Filed 3-12-99; 9:19 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P