[Federal Register: November 12, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 218)]
[Notices]
[Page 61614-61615]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12no99-65]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection requests.
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SUMMARY: The 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
November 24, 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, N.W., Room 10235, New
Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20503.
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 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.
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: November 5, 1999.
William E. Burrow,
Leader, Information Management Group, Office of the Chief Information
Officer.
Office of the Chief Information Officer
Type of Review: New.
Title: Post-January 1st, 2000 Evaluation Survey of Education
Sector.
Abstract: The Department of Education (ED) is actively
participating on the President's Council on Year 2000 (Y2K) Conversion
and this Post Y2K Evaluation Survey is an ED, as well as, a Council
initiative. Previous Y2K assessment surveys have raised major concerns
about the Y2K readiness of our nation's schools. ED's most recent
surveys, completed in October, show more than one-third of the nation's
school districts and postsecondary institutions were not yet fully Y2K
compliant and much work remained to be done before the New Year.
Additionally, four percent of school districts did not believe they
would be ready by January 1st. ED is taking a
[[Page 61615]]
proactive approach in evaluating the status of the nation's schools
after January 1st through a random sample survey of 1,200 elementary/
secondary school districts and 1,950 postsecondary institutions located
in the 50 states, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and the District of
Columbia. Information obtained from this survey will help assess the
status of the nation's schools after the year 2000 transition. Survey
results will be reported not only to ED's management, but also to The
President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion's Information Coordination
Center, Office of Management and Budget, major education associations,
and other Year 2000 oversight authorities, as well as the public.
Additional Information: This survey is being submitted for
emergency clearance, as it is a year 2000 related data collection
assessment effort. The year 2000 is less than two months away and
recent surveys have raised major concerns about the Y2K readiness of
the nation's schools. In order to best prepare the school districts and
postsecondary institutions selected in the random sample, notifications
and survey instructions need to be mailed in early December to ensure
there is sufficient time for the surveys to be completed and results
reported in January. Based on these circumstances, we are requesting
the 60-day and 30-day waiver for Federal Register Notices. This waiver
is requested per emergency clearance of year 2000 surveys under the
Paperwork Reduction Act. Clearance is requested no later than November
24, 1999.
Frequency: One-time data collection conducted in January 2000.
Affected Public: State, local or Tribal government, SEAs or LEAs;
business or other for-profit; not-for-profit institutions (elementary/
secondary school districts and postsecondary education institutions).
Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: Responses: 2,520 Burden Hours:
1,470
Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request
should be addressed to Vivian Reese, Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 5624, Regional Office Building 3, Washington,
D.C. 20202-4651, or should be electronically mailed to the internet
address OCIO__IMG__Issues@ed.gov, or should be faxed to 202-708-9346.
Written comments or questions regarding burden and/or the
collection activity requirements should be directed to Kathy Axt at
703-426-9692 or by e-mail at 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. 99-29536 Filed 11-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-1-P