[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 218 (Friday, November 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61614-61615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29536]


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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__I[email protected], 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 [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. 99-29536 Filed 11-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-1-P