[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 184 (Friday, September 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48714-48715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23557]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
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

[[Page 48715]]

be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial 
resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, 
and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be 
properly assessed. Currently, the Employment and Training 
Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension 
of collection of information for the Quantum Opportunity Program. A 
copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section 
of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee's section below on or before November 20, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Eileen Pederson, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and 
Training Administration/Office of Policy and Research, Rm. N-5637, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, 202/693-3647 (this is 
not a toll-free number), [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Quantum Opportunity Program (QOP) Demonstration was jointly 
sponsored by the Ford Foundation and the Department of Labor, with 
support from the Department of Justice, to test a promising program to 
help academically at-risk youth prepare for long-term, stable 
employment. The demonstration targeted academically at-risk youth in 
schools with significant dropout rates in seven urban and rural cities. 
The youth enrolled in high school in 1995 (youth in one site enrolled 
in 1996) and were randomly assigned to either the control group or the 
treatment group, with the youth in the latter group able to participate 
in the program throughout high school. The primary focus of the program 
was to keep them in school through high school graduation and help them 
take the necessary steps for more advanced training or education. 
Specific services included intensive educational, life skills, and 
community services activities and support from an adult mentor.
    ETA awarded a contract to Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. to 
conduct a net impact evaluation of the program. The evaluation 
currently will measure high school performance and completion, post-
secondary enrollment and criminal and anti-social behavior up to five 
months after scheduled high school graduation. The evaluation will also 
analyze the benefits to society compared to the program's cost. This 
information collection was approved under OMB No. 1205-0397, which is 
due to expire on November 30, 2001. This request is for an extension of 
the previously granted OMB clearance to collect data beyond the current 
expiration date of the clearance. The extension is necessary to collect 
data approximately 72 months after random assignment of the youth.
    The data will be used to examine the effects of this program on 
participants' outcomes six years after random assignment into QOP. 
Mathematica will also assess the subsequent outcomes of comparable 
youth randomly assigned to the control group. This additional data 
collection will offer supporting evidence in ETA's quest to ``ensure 
that our youth workforce training programs have a strong educational 
component, since income and opportunities increase exponentially with 
education credentials.''

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
     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;
     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.

III. Current Actions

    This is a request for OMB approval of an extension of an existing 
information collection for the QOP Demonstration funded by the 
Department of Labor with support from the Department of Justice. 
Information in the form of the previously approved follow-up phone or 
in-person survey will be collected from all youth in the research 
sample approximately 72 months following their initial assignment to 
the program or control groups. The survey data will be utilized to 
analyze the impact of the QOP on participants' outcomes including 
education and training, employment, earnings, public assistance 
participation, childbearing, and other behaviors and activities.
    The findings will be directly relevant for the future development 
of employment and training policy for youth.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Quantum Opportunity Program Demonstration Follow-up Survey.
    OMB Number: 1205-0397.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc.: Quantum Opportunity Program Demonstration 
Evaluation follow-up survey.
    Total Respondents: 1,074.
    Frequency: Once (during period of extension, total of 2 times).
    Total Responses: 860 (during period of extension).
    Average Time per Response: 20 minutes (during extension).
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 287 hours (during extension).
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and 
Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also 
become a matter of public record.

    Dated: September 14, 2001.
Gerard F. Fiala,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-23557 Filed 9-20-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M