[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 131 (Monday, July 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39787-39788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13527]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Office of Indian Education Programs; Proposed Agency Information 
Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of proposed renewal of information collections.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is giving public notice 
that we will be requesting extension of four currently approved 
information collections. The collections are: 1076-0096, Education 
Contracts under JOM Act Applications and Regulatory Requirements, 25 
CFR 273.50; 1076-0114, Application for admission to Haskell Indian 
Nations University and to Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute; 
1076-0122, Data Elements for Student Enrollment in Bureau-Funded 
Schools; and 1076-0134, Student Transportation Form, subpart G, 25 CFR 
part 39. These collections help support the educational efforts for 
Native American students from elementary through post-secondary levels. 
The public is invited to comment on the proposed information collection 
pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 9, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Edward Parisian, Director Office of Indian 
Education Programs, 1849 C Street, NW., Mail Stop 3609-MIB, Washington, 
DC 20240, (202) 208-3312.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may request further information or 
obtain copies of the proposed information collection requests from 
Glenn Allison, Education Specialist (ISEP), (202) 208-3628, Garry 
Martin, Chief Education Planning, (202) 208-3478 or Keith Neves, 
Education Planning Specialist, (202) 208-3601.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Education Contracts Under Johnson-O'Malley Act Application and 
Regulatory Requirements

    The regulatory authority allowing a collection of information to be 
conducted is provided in 25 CFR 273.50, as authorized by the Act of 
April 16, 1934 (48 Stat. 596). The collection of information is 
conducted annually, by tribes, Indian organizations and school 
districts who have contracted with the Bureau to administer a Johnson-
O-Malley Program. The purpose of the collection is to provide for an 
accounting of expenditures and to measure effectiveness of an 
educational plan outlining educational objectives for Indian students.

II. Application for Admission to Haskell Indian Nations University and 
to Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute

    The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is providing the admission forms 
for Haskell Indian Nations University and the Southwestern Indian 
Polytechnic Institute for 60-day review and comment period. These 
admission forms are useful in determining program eligibility of 
American Indian and Alaska Native students for educational services. 
The forms have been changed to include a Paperwork Reduction Act and 
Public Burden statements, a Privacy Act statement, and an Effects of 
Non-Disclosure statement. These forms are utilized pursuant to Blood 
Quantum Act, Public Law 99-228; the Snyder Act, chapter 115, Public Law 
67-85; and, the Indian Appropriations of the 48th Congress, chapter 
180, page 91, For Support of Schools, July 4, 1884.

III. Data Elements for Student Enrollment in Bureau-Funded Schools

    The data elements for enrollment information collected is for 
attendance in elementary and secondary schools funded by the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs and to address the criteria for attendance that was 
changed by the passage of Public Law 99-228. The Secretary of the 
Interior, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, is required to provide 
educational services to federally recognized Indians and Alaskan 
Natives. Beginning with the Snyder Act and continuing with Public Laws 
93-638, 95-561, 100-297, and 103-382, Congress has enacted legislation 
to ensure Indians receive educational opportunities. The data elements 
for enrollment information collected is for attendance in elementary 
and secondary schools operated and funded by the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs and to address the criteria for attendance that was changed by 
the passage of Public Law 99-228. This act allows for the tuition free 
attendance of any Indian student who is a member of a federally 
recognized tribe or is \1/4\ degree blood quantum descendant of a 
member of such tribes, as well as for dependents of Bureau, Indian 
Health Service or tribal government employees who live on or near the 
school site.

IV. Student Transportation Form

    The Student Transportation regulations in 25 CFR part 39, subpart 
G, contain the program eligibility and criteria, which govern the 
allocation of transportation funds. Information collected from the 
schools will be used to determine the rate per mile. The information 
collection is needed to provide transportation mileage for Bureau-
funded schools, which will receive an allocation of transportation 
funds.

[[Page 39788]]

V. Request for Comments

    The Bureau of Indian Affairs requests your comments on these 
collections concerning:
    (a) The necessity of this information collection for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility;
    (b) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (hours and 
cost) of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (c) Ways we could enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (d) Ways we could minimize the burden of the collection of the 
information on the respondents, such as through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Please note that an agency may not sponsor or request, and an 
individual need not respond to, a collection of information unless it 
has a valid OMB Control Number. A valid OMB Control Number is one with 
a current expiration date.
    It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for 
review at the location listed in the ADDRESSES section, room 3609, 
during the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., e.s.t. Monday through Friday 
except for legal holidays. If you wish to have your name and/or address 
withheld, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your 
comments. We will honor your request according to the requirements of 
the law. All comments from organizations or representatives will be 
available for review. We may withhold comments from review for other 
reasons.

VI. Information Collection Abstract

    (1) Education Contracts under Johnson-O'Malley Act Application and 
Regulatory Requirements:
    Title: Education Contracts under Johnson O'Malley Act Application 
and Regulatory Requirements, 25 CFR 273.50.
    OMB Control Number: 1076-0096.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Brief Description of collection: The information collected helps 
BIA determine the financial assistance needed by eligible Indian 
students to meet their specialized and unique educational needs 
including programs supplemental to the regular school program and 
school operational support in order to maintain established educational 
standards.
    Respondents: Tribes, Tribal Organizations, School District 
education program administrators.
    Number of Respondents: 360.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 hours per response x 360 annual 
responses = 1,800 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 1,800 hours.
    (2) Application for Admission to Haskell Indian Nations University 
and to Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute:
    Title: Application for Admission to Haskell Indian Nations 
University and to Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, 25 CFR 
273.50.
    OMB Control Number: 1076-0114.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Brief Description of Collection: These eligibility application 
forms are necessary to determine a student's eligibility for 
educational services. This collection is at no cost to the public.
    Respondents: Students attending, or seeking admission, to Haskell 
Indian Nations University and to Southwestern Indian Polytechnic 
Institute.
    Number of Respondents: 3,943.
    Estimated Time per Response: Approximately \1/2\ of an hour per 
response x 3,943 annual responses = 2,214 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Initial enrollment.
    Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 2,214 hours.
    (3) Data Elements for Student Enrollment in Bureau-funded Schools:
    Title: Data Elements for Student Enrollment in Bureau-funded 
Schools, 25 CFR Part 39.
    OMB Control Number: 1076-0122.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Brief Description of Collection: Information necessary to enroll 
students; information is provided to obtain or retain a benefit, 
specifically, education.
    Respondents: Students or parents provide the information to the 
registrars.
    Number of Respondents: Approximately 48,000 students located at 184 
Bureau funded school locations.
    Estimated Time per Response: \1/4\ of an hour per response x 48,000 
annual responses = 12,000 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 12,000 hours.
    (4) Student Transportation Form:
    Title: Student Transportation Form, Subpart G, 25 CFR 39.
    OMB Control Number: 1076-0134.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Brief Description of Collection: This collection provides pertinent 
data concerning the schools' bus transportation mileage and related 
long distance travel mileage to determine funding for school 
transportation.
    Respondents: Contract and Grant Schools; Bureau operated schools. 
About 121 tribal school administrators annually gather the necessary 
information during student count week.
    Number of Respondents: 121.
    Estimated Time per Response: At an average of 6 hours each 121 
reporting schools = 726 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 726 hours.

    Dated: June 30, 2005.
Michael D. Olsen,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 05-13527 Filed 7-8-05; 8:45 am]
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