[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8493-8494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4201]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY: Department of Education.
SUMMARY: The Leader, Regulatory 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 
April 22, 2003.

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, Regulatory 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: February 14, 2003.
John D. Tressler, Leader,
Regulatory Management Group, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

Office of Postsecondary Education

    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Title: Reporting Forms on Teacher Quality and Preparation.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Affected Public:
    State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs (primary), Not-for-
profit institutions (primary).
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: Responses: 1309; Burden 
Hours: 127624.
    Abstract: The Higher Education Act of 1998 calls for annual reports 
from states and institutions of higher education on the quality of 
teacher education and related matters (Pub. L. 105-244, Section 207:20 
U.S.C. 1027). The purpose of the reports is to provide greater 
accountability in the preparation of America's teaching forces and to 
provide information and incentives for its improvement. Most 
institutions of higher education that have teacher preparation programs 
must report annually to their states on the performance of their 
program completers on teacher certification tests. States, in turn, 
must report test performance information, institution by institution, 
to the Secretary of Education, along with institutional ranking. They 
must also report on their requirements for licensing teachers, state 
standards, alternative routes to certification, waivers, and related 
items. Annually reports form institutions are due to the states, 
beginning April 7 each year; reports from the states are due annually 
to the Secretary, beginning October 7 each year; the Secretary's report 
is due annually to Congress, beginning April 7 each year. These dates 
are one year later than the dates in the legislation.
    Written requests for information should be addressed to Vivian 
Reese, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 4050, 
Regional Office Building 3, Washington, DC 20202-4651 or to the e-mail 
address [email protected]. Requests may also be faxed to 202-708-
9346. Please specify the complete title of the information collection 
when making your request.
    Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity 
requirements should be directed to Joseph Schubart at his e-mail 
address [email protected]. Individuals who use a

[[Page 8494]]

telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

Federal Student Aid

    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Title: Direct Loan Program's General Forbearance Request Form.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals or household (primary).
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: Responses: 1074000; Burden 
Hours: 214800.
    Abstract: Borrowers who receive loans through the William D. Ford 
Federal Direct Loan Program will use this form to request forbearance 
on their loans when they are willing but unable to make their currently 
scheduled monthly payments because of a temporary financial hardship.
    Written requests for information should be addressed to Vivian 
Reese, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 4050, 
Regional Office Building 3, Washington, DC 20202-4651 or to the e-mail 
address [email protected]. Requests may also be faxed to 202-708-
9346. Please specify the complete title of the information collection 
when making your request.
    Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity 
requirements should be directed to Joseph Schubart at his e-mail 
address [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. 03-4201 Filed 2-20-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P