[Federal Register: October 22, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 204)]
[Notices]
[Page 62029-62030]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22oc04-36]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests
AGENCY: Department of Education.
SUMMARY: The Leader, Information Management Case Services Team,
Regulatory Information Management Services, 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 November
10. A regular clearance process is also beginning. Interested persons
are invited to submit comments on or before December 31, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the emergency review should be
addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Attention: Carolyn Lovett, Desk Officer, Department of Education,
Office of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, New
Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or faxed to (202) 395-
6974.
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 Leader, Information
Management Case Services Team, Information Management Services, 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)
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respondents and frequency of collection; and (6) reporting and/or
recordkeeping burden. ED 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
respondents, including through the use of information technology.
Dated: October 18, 2004.
Angela C. Arrington,
Leader, Information Management Case Services Team, Regulatory
Information Management Services, Office of the Chief Information
Officer.
Institute of Education Sciences
Type of Review: Reinstatement.
Title: IEA Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)
Abstract: PIRLS 2006 is a multi-national project coordinated by the
International Association for the Evaluation of Educational
Achievement. Approximately 46 countries will participate in this
analysis of children's reading literacy and the factors association
with reading acquisition. Children in grade 4 in the U.S. will be
administered a reading test and the children, their teachers, and
school administrators will also complete questionnaires about factors
related to the development of reading literacy.
Additional Information: This is a request for emergency OMB
clearance for the sampling and recruitment activities for the field
test for the international surveys, Progress in International Reading
Literacy Study (PIRLS) (1850-0755). Clearance is requested by November
10. The emergency clearance is necessary in order to comply with the
international standard for field testing prior to full scale survey
work. If this work sampling and recruitment of school participants
doesn't commence in November it will delay the field test itself. This
would potentially result in not being able to carry out the field test
this school year. The main study itself is scheduled for next school
year, 2005/2006. Because of the requirement for field testing, the
potential harm is that the U.S. may not be able to participate in the
study. The U.S. is one of the major participating and supporting
countries involved in the international assessment activities
represented by the PIRLS. International activities like the PIRLS are
mandated under the legislation authorizing the National Center for
Education Statistics, the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, HR
3801. The field test survey and assessment activities themselves will
be conducted under regular clearance for which clearance packages have
also been submitted.
Frequency: One time.
Affected Public: Individuals or household; State, Local, or Tribal
Gov't, SEAs or LEAs.
Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: Responses--875. Burden
Hours--1,082.
Requests for 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 2632. 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.,
Potomac Center, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20202-4700. Requests may also
be electronically mailed to the Internet address OCIO_RIMG@ed.gov or
faxed to 202-245-6621. Please specify the complete title of the
information collection when making your request.
Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity
requirements, contact Kathy Axt at her e-mail address Kathy.Axt@ed.gov.
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
[FR Doc. E4-2796 Filed 10-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P