[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 222 (Thursday, November 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69288-69290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29366]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Proposed New Information Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service 
(hereinafter the ``Corporation''), as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirement on respondents can be properly assessed. This 
proposed information collection is available in alternate formats. 
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY/TDD) 
may call (202) 606-5256 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 
Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
    Currently, the Corporation is soliciting comments concerning its

[[Page 69289]]

request for information collection from schools, higher education 
institutions, and community-based organizations that have received 
grants through the federally-funded Learn & Serve America program. The 
information will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Learn & 
Serve America grants in promoting the institutionalization of service-
learning activities in the funded institutions.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section by January 16, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Corporation for National and Community 
Service, Attn: Mr. Charles Helfer, Office of Evaluation, 1201 New York 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20525.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Helfer (202) 606-5000, ext. 
248, or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corporation is particularly interested 
in comments which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Corporation, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.

Background

    The Learn and Serve America Program was established by the National 
and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (Pub.L. 103-82) to support 
efforts in schools, higher education institutions and community-based 
organizations to involve young people in meaningful service to their 
communities while improving academic, civic, social and career-related 
skills. The Learn and Serve America program is administered by the 
Corporation and funded through grants to states, national 
organizations, and institutions of higher education, and through them 
to individual schools and school districts, community-based 
organizations, and colleges or universities. The first round of grants 
under the Learn and Serve America program were awarded in 1994. 
Approximately 3500 local schools, colleges, and community-based 
organizations receive Learn and Serve America funds each year.
    One of the primary goals of the Learn and Serve America program is 
to promote the expansion of service-learning opportunities for school 
and college-aged youth through the establishment of programs that will 
persist beyond the life of the Learn and Serve America grant to the 
institution. To accomplish this, the Learn and Serve America program 
encourages the growth and expansion of service-learning within grant-
recipient institutions through the awarding of time-limited (3 year) 
grants, use of matching fund requirements for the grants, and through 
technical assistance and training for local grantees.
    The purpose of the proposed data collection is to evaluate the 
effectiveness of the Learn and Serve America grants in promoting the 
institutionalization of service-learning in the grantee institutions 
and the degree to which funded programs have been and are likely to be 
sustained after the completion of the grant period. The evaluation will 
examine the growth and current status of service-learning in a sample 
of grantees and subgrantees from two cohorts of grant recipients: those 
who were funded in 1994-95, the first year of Learn and Serve America 
funding, and those funded in a second major round of grant awards in 
1997-98. The information will be used to determine whether changes need 
to be made in current Learn and Serve America grantmaking policies and 
procedures and will help the Corporation determine the need for 
additional strategies (such as provision of training and technical 
assistance) to support institutionalization among its grantees. Data 
collection will take place one time as part of the proposed evaluation.

Current Collection

    The Corporation seeks approval of a single, multipart survey form 
that will be used in the evaluation of the impact of Learn and Serve 
America grants on the institutionalization and sustainability of 
service-learning in the grantee institutions.
    The survey will be broken down into separate parts consisting of : 
Part I--Elementary and Secondary School-based Grantees; Part II--Higher 
Education Institutions, and Part III--Community-based Organizations. 
Each Part will include a Section A--short version, and a Section B--
long version. The three major parts (A, B, and C) are similar in focus 
and content, with variations aimed at addressing specific 
characteristics and circumstances at each type of institution. Each 
part is designed to collect information on (a) the scope and purpose of 
the original Learn and Serve America grant; (b) growth and expansion of 
specific grant-related activities; (c) the current structure and scope 
of service-learning at the grantee institution; (d) current policies 
and practices supporting institutionalization of service-learning; and 
(e) factors that have supported or hindered the growth of service-
learning at the institution, including (f) the specific role and 
contribution of the Learn and Serve America grant.
    The survey will be administered to a random sample of approximately 
540 grantee institutions that will include representation of all of the 
major funding streams and program types supported through Learn and 
Serve America. The survey will be administered through a telephone 
interview with a representative of each grantee institution. One half 
of the telephone interviews will use the short version of the survey 
instrument, aimed at collecting basic information on the growth and 
current status of service-learning activities and on current policies 
and practices supporting service-learning. The other half of the 
interviews will use the longer version of the survey with additional 
questions designed to elicit more detailed information on the factors 
that support or hinder growth of service-learning in the institution.
    The paragraph below summarizes the characteristics of the proposed 
data collection:
    Type of Review: New request.
    Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
    Title: Institutionalization of Learn and Serve America Programs.
    OMB Number: None.
    Agency Number: None.
    Affected Public: Institutional recipients of Learn and Serve 
America grants: elementary and secondary schools, higher education 
institutions, and community-based organizations.
    Total Respondents: Approximately 540.
    Frequency: One time.
    Average Time Per Response: 45 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 405 hours.
    Total Burden: (capital /startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost: None.


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    Dated: November 13, 2000.
Lance Potter,
Director, Office of Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 00-29366 Filed 11-15-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-P