[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 53 (Friday, March 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13609-13610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6724]


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NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LITERACY


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: National Institute for Literacy.

ACTION: Notice of information collection.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this notice announces an Information Collection Request (ICR) 
by the NIFL. the ICR describes the nature of the information collection 
and its expected cost and burden.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 19, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to: National Institute for Literacy, 
800 Connecticut Avenue, NW., Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006, 
Attention: Sondra Stein. Copies of the complete ICR and accompanying 
appendixes may be obtained from the above address or by contacting 
Sondra Stein at (202) 632-1508. Comments may also be submitted 
electronically by sending electronic mail (e-mail) to: [email protected].
    All written comments will be available for public inspection from 
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title

EFF Field-based Center(s) for Training, Technical Assistance and 
Materials Development

Abstract

    The National Institute For Literacy (NIFL) was created by the 
National Literacy Act of 1991 to provide a national focal point for 
literacy activities and to facilitate the pooling of ideas and 
expertise across a fragmented field. NIFL is authorized to carry out a 
wide range of activities that will improve and expand the system for 
delivery of adult literacy services nationwide.
    For the past four years, the NIFL has been working with a range of 
partners in states across the country to develop a customer-driven, 
standards-based, collaborative approach to adult literacy system 
reform. The Equipped for the Future (EFF) standards that have been 
developed through this effort define the critical skills and knowledge 
that enable adults to effectively carry out their responsibilities as 
workers, parents and family members, and citizens and community 
members. The standards have been developed and refined with the 
assistance of a broad cross section of literacy and basic skills 
programs, as well as with the advice and guidance of key stakeholders 
in the workforce development, family literacy, and civic participation 
movements in this country. By September of 1999 NIFL will have 
completed the major development work on the standards and will release 
a Users Guide designed to introduce key constituencies to the Standards 
and how they can be used for teaching and learning, program 
improvement, accountability, and system reform.
    The EFF Field-based Center(s) for Training, Technical Assistance 
and Materials Development will work collaboratively and with National 
Institute for Literacy (NIFL) to assure the effective integration of 
EFF into on-going adult education, family literacy, welfare-to-work, 
skill standards voluntary partnerships, and other workforce development 
systems.
    Burden Statement: The burden for this collection of information is 
estimated at 80 hours per response for the first year. This estimate 
includes the time needed to review instructions, complete the form, and 
review the collection of information. No more than three applicants 
will be awarded a three-year cooperative agreement grant. Each awardee 
will have an annual update of the application requiring an average of 
40 hours per response for each continuation year.
    Respondents: State, regional and national organizations, or 
consortia of such organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10.
    Estimated Number of Responses Per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 80 hours.
    Frequency of Collection: One time. Send comments regarding the 
burden estimate or any other aspect of the information collection, 
including suggestions for reducing the burden to: Sondra Stein, 
National Institute for Literacy, 800 Connecticut Ave., NW., Suite 200, 
Washington, DC 20006.
    Request for Comments: NIFL solicits comments to: (i) Evaluate 
whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical utility. (ii) Evaluate the accuracy 
of the agency's estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information. (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected. (iv) Minimize the burden of the collection 
of information on those who are to respond, including through the use 
of appropriate automated or electronic collection technologies of other 
forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission 
of responses.


[[Page 13610]]


    Dated: March 15, 1999.
Andrew J. Hartman,
Director, NIFL.
[FR Doc. 99-6724 Filed 3-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6055-01-M