[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 204 (Friday, October 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62030-62031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-2797]


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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 Case Services Team, 
Regulatory Information Management Services, 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 1, 2004. A regular clearance process is also beginning. 
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before December 
21, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the emergency review should be 
addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Attention: Carolyn Lovett, Desk Officer, Department of Education, 
Office of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, New 
Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or faxed to (202) 395-
6974.

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 Case Services Team, 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.


[[Page 62031]]


    Dated: October 18, 2004.
Angela C. Arrington,
Leader, Information Management Case Services Team, Regulatory 
Information Management Services, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.

Institute of Education Sciences

    Type of Review: Reinstatement.
    Title: Program for International Student Assessment (PISA).
    Abstract: The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 
is a new system of international assessments that focus on 15-year-
olds' capabilities in reading literacy, mathematics literacy, and 
science literacy. PISA 2000 was the first cycle of PISA, which will be 
conducted every three years, with a primary focus on one area for each 
cycle. PISA 2000 focuses on reading literacy; mathematics literacy will 
be the focus in 2003, and science literacy in 2006. In addition to 
assessment data, PISA provides background information on school context 
and student demographics to benchmark performance and inform policy.
    Additional Information: This is a request for emergency OMB 
clearance for the sampling and recruitment activities for the field 
test for the international survey, Program for International Student 
Assessment (PISA) (1850-0645). Clearance is requested by November 10. 
The emergency clearance is necessary in order to comply with the 
international standard for field testing prior to full scale survey 
work. If this work sampling and recruitment of school participants 
doesn't commence in November it will delay the field test itself. This 
would potentially result in not being able to carry out the field test 
this school year. The main study itself is scheduled for next school 
year, 2005/2006. Because of the requirement for field testing, the 
potential harm is that the U.S. may not be able to participate in the 
study. The U.S. is one of the major participating and supporting 
countries involved in the international assessment activities 
represented by the PISA. International activities like the PISA are 
mandated under the legislation authorizing the National Center for 
Education Statistics, the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, HR 
3801. The field test survey and assessment activities themselves will 
be conducted under regular clearance for which clearance packages have 
also been submitted.
    Frequency: One time.
    Affected Public: Individuals or household; State, Local, or Tribal 
Gov't, SEAs or LEAs.
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:
     Responses: 875.
     Burden Hours: 1,082.
    Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request 
may be accessed from http://edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting the ``Browse 
Pending Collections'' link and by clicking on link number 2632. When 
you access the information collection, click on ``Download 
Attachments'' to view. Written requests for information should be 
addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Potomac Center, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20202-4700. Requests may also 
be electronically mailed to the Internet address [email protected] or 
faxed to 202-245-6621. Please specify the complete title of the 
information collection when making your request.
    Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity 
requirements, contact Kathy Axt at her 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. E4-2797 Filed 10-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P