[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55462-55463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26617]


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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 4, 1999. A regular clearance process is also beginning. 
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before December 
13, 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 or should be 
electronically mailed to the internet address [email protected].

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

[[Page 55463]]

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: October 6, 1999.
William E. Burrow,
Leader, Information Management Group, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

    Title: Ed-Flex Application Guidance.
    Abstract: P.L. 106-25, the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 
1999, permits States, which do not currently have Ed-Flex authority, to 
submit an application to the Secretary of Education to request Ed-Flex 
authority. Thirty-eight states, plus the outlying areas, will 
voluntarily apply for the authority to waive Federal regulations for 
seven USDE programs, as delineated under the law. In the application, 
the State must demonstrate that the eligible State has adopted an 
educational flexibility plan for the State that includes: a description 
of the process the State will use to evaluate applications from school 
districts or schools requesting waivers, how the State has met the 
eligibility requirements, a description of the State's evaluation 
process, and how the Ed-Flex plan will assist in implementing the 
State's reform plan.
    Additional Information: Timely preparation and approval of an Ed-
Flex application is needed if a State is to use Ed-Flex waiver 
authority effectively during the 1999-2000 school year. Once a State is 
granted Ed-Flex authority, the SEA must establish its procedures to 
review and approve waiver requests from school districts and schools. 
If normal procedures were to be followed, it would cause public harm to 
the schools who participate in these waivers.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: State, local or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs.
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: Responses--45; Burden 
Hours--800.
    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 OCIO__IMG__I[email protected], or should be faxed to 202-708-9346.
    Written comments or questions regarding burden and/or the 
collection activity requirements, contact Kathy Axt at 703-426-9692 or 
by e-mail at [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.

[FR Doc. 99-26617 Filed 10-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P