[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44909-44911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21382]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY: Department of Education.

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: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
October 18, 1999.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) provide interested Federal agencies and the public an 
early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. 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 that notice 
containing proposed information collection requests prior to submission 
of these requests to OMB. 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. OMB 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 
the respondents, including through the use of information technology.

    Dated: August 12, 1999.
William E. Burrow,
Leader, Information Management Group, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.

Office of the Under Secretary

    Type of Review: New.
    Title: Evaluation of Effective Adult Basic Education Programs and 
Practices.

[[Page 44910]]

    Frequency: Three times total for each respondent: 1st month, 9th 
month, 21st month.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Not-for-profit 
institutions; State, local or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs.
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

    Responses: 1,385.
    Burden Hours: 3,923.

    Abstract: This study will investigate the following research 
questions: (1) How much do first-level adult learners who participate 
in adult basic education programs improve their reading skills and 
increase the frequency of their reading-related behaviors?; (2) What 
characteristics of first-level learners affect the amount of 
improvement that they make in their reading skills or reading-related 
behaviors after participating in adult basic education programs?; (3) 
How are the operational and instructional characteristics of adult 
basic education programs related to the amount of improvement in 
reading skills or reading-related behaviors among first-level learners?
    Requests for copies of this information collection should be 
addressed to Vivian Reese, U.S. 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 
Vivian__R[email protected], or should be faxed to 202-708-9346.
    For questions regarding burden and/or the collection activity 
requirements, contact Jacqueline Montague at 202-708-5359 or 
electronically contact her at her internet address 
Jackie__M[email protected]. Individuals who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

Office of Student Financial Assistance Programs.

    Type of Review: Extension.
    Title: Income Contingent Repayment Plan Consent to Disclosure of 
Tax Information.
    Frequency: Once every five years.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:

    Responses: 114,000.
    Burden Hours: 22,800.

    Abstract: This form is the means by which a William D. Ford Federal 
Direct Loan Program borrower (and, if married, the borrower's spouse) 
who chooses to repay under the Income Contingent Repayment Plan 
provides written consent for the Internal Revenue Service to disclose 
certain tax return information to the Department of Education and its 
agents for the purpose of calculating the borrower's monthly repayment 
amount.
    Requests for copies of this information collection should be 
addressed to Vivian Reese, U.S. 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 
Vivian__R[email protected], or should be faxed to 202-708-9346.
    For questions regarding burden and/or the collection activity 
requirements, contact Joseph Schubart at 202-708-9266 or electronically 
contact him at his internet address Joe__S[email protected]. Individuals 
who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the 
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

Office of Student Financial Assistance Programs

    Type of Review: Reinstatement.
    Title: Income Contingent Repayment Plan Alternative Documentation 
of Income.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:

    Responses: 25,000.
    Burden Hours: 8,250.

    Abstract: A William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program borrower 
(and, if married, the borrower's spouse) who chooses to repay under the 
Income Contingent Repayment Plan uses this form to submit alternative 
documentation of income if the borrower's adjusted gross income is not 
available or does not accurately reflect the borrower's current income.
    Requests for copies of this information collection should be 
addressed to Vivian Reese, U.S. 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 
Vivian__R[email protected], or should be faxed to 202-708-9346.
    For questions regarding burden and/or the collection activity 
requirements, contact Joseph Schubart at 202-708-9266 or electronically 
contact him at his internet address Joe__S[email protected]. Individuals 
who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the 
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

Office of Student Financial Assistance Programs

    Type of Review: Reinstatement.
    Title: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program Statutory 
Forbearance Forms.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:

    Responses: 2,400.
    Burden Hours: 480.

    Abstract: Borrowers who receive loans through the William D. Ford 
Federal Direct Loan Program will use this form to request statutory 
forbearance on their loans..
    Requests for copies of this information collection should be 
addressed to Vivian Reese, U.S. 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 
Vivian__R[email protected], or should be faxed to 202-708-9346.
    For questions regarding burden and/or the collection activity 
requirements, contact Joseph Schubart at 202-708-9266 or electronically 
contact him at his internet address Joe__S[email protected]. Individuals 
who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the 
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

Office of Educational Research and Improvement

    Type of Review: Reinstatement.
    Title: Designation of Exemplary and Promising Programs.
    Frequency: Only required when submitting program for review.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; State, local or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

    Responses: 200
    Burden Hours: 1,200.

    Abstract: The purpose of the expert panel system is to oversee a 
valid and viable process for identifying and designating promising and 
exemplary educational programs so that practitioners can make better-
informed decisions in their ongoing efforts to improve the quality of 
student learning. The Office of Educational Research and Improvement 
(OERI) requires that each program submit descriptive information and an 
abstract in order to be considered for review. The information 
submitted by the entity will serve as the basis upon which the expert 
panel will

[[Page 44911]]

judge the program according to the selection criteria for promising and 
exemplary.
    Written comments and 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, DC 20202-4651, or should be 
electronically mailed to the internet address 
vivian[email protected] or should be faxed to 202-708-9346.
    For questions regarding burden and/or the collection activity 
requirements, contact Kathy Axt at 703-426-9692. 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. 99-21382 Filed 8-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P