[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 11, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26182-26183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10629]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations: Quantum Opportunity Program Demonstration 
Information Collection

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, 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 requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the U.S. 
Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning the 
proposed continuing collection of information for the Quantum 
Opportunity Program (QOP) Demonstration Evaluation.
    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: Submit comments on or before July 12, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Eileen Pederson, U.S. Department of Labor, 
ETA/OPDER, Room N-5637, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20210, (202) 693-3647 (this is not a toll-free number) or 
[email protected], or to fax: (202) 693-2766 (this is not a toll-
free number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eileen Pederson, U.S. Department of 
Labor, ETA/OPDER, Room N-5637, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210, (202) 693-3647 (this is not a toll-free number) 
or [email protected], or to fax: (202) 693-2766 (this is not a 
toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In July 1995, under authority of Title IV of the Job Training 
Partnership Act (JTPA), ETA, in partnership with the Ford Foundation, 
launched the QOP Demonstration (QOP) in seven sites: Cleveland, Ohio; 
Fort Worth, Texas; Houston, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania; Washington, DC; and Yakima, Washington. The Office of 
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the U.S. Department of 
Justice (DOJ) provided financial support for gang-prevention and 
evaluation activities. The Planning and Evaluation Service of the 
Department of Education's (DoE) Office of the Under Secretary has 
provided information and guidance in support of the evaluation. This 
data collection covers outcome variables of interest to DOL, DOJ and 
DoE.
    QOP provided mentoring, computer-assisted instruction, course-based 
tutoring, life skills training, and community service activities for 
high school students at risk of dropping out of school. A youth was 
eligible to participate in QOP if he or she attended a high school with 
a four-year dropout rate equal to or greater than 40 percent, was 
entering the ninth grade for the first time during either the 1995-1996 
or 1996-1997 (in Washington, DC) academic year, and was in the lower 
two-thirds of the grade distribution for entering ninth graders, 
according to the grade point averages from the eighth grade. The 
demonstration is being evaluated based on its impacts on academic 
achievement, high school completion, and engagement in postsecondary 
education or training programs. The demonstration is also being 
evaluated based on its impacts on behaviors that are associated with 
barriers to achieving economic self-sufficiency and adults. Such 
behaviors include substance abuse, teen parenting, and criminal 
activity. Many components of the QOP model are elements promoted by the 
Workforce Investment Act and evaluative evidence of their potential 
effectiveness will support DOL efforts to develop policy guidance for 
workforce investment agencies on strategies for serving at-risk youth.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, ETA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed 
extension with revisions of the collection of information for the QOP 
Demonstration. ETA 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.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed above in the addressee section 
of this notice.

III. Current Actions

    This notice concerns the collection of outcome data from each 
member of the research sample, consisting of a treatment group and a 
control group, by means of a telephone survey.
    Type of Review: Extension with Revision.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of 
Labor.
    Title: Quantum Opportunity Program (QOP) Demonstration.
    OMB Number: 1205-0397.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Cite/Reference/Form: A Quantum Opportunity Program telephone 
questionnaire.
    Total Respondents: 1,052.
    Frequency: The questionnaire will be administered once, in the 
fall/winter of 2004-2005.
    Total Responses: 842.
    Average Time per Response: The questionnaire is estimated to take 
20 minutes to complete.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 281 hours.
    Total Burden Cost: The cost to participants to complete the 
questionnaire by telephone, based on the minimum wage of $5.15, is 
approximately $1,447.
    Comments submitted in response to this Notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the ICR; they will also become a matter of public record.


[[Page 26183]]


    Dated: May 5, 2004.
Emily Stover DeRocco,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training.
[FR Doc. 04-10629 Filed 5-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P