[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 64 (Monday, April 6, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 15469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7670]



[[Page 15469]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY: Department of Education.

SUMMARY: The Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, 
Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, 
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 
June 5, 2009.

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 Director, Regulatory Information 
Management Services, Office of Management, 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: April 1, 2009.
Angela C. Arrington,
Director, Information Collections Clearance Division, Regulatory 
Information Management Services, Office of Management.

Institute of Education Sciences

    Type of Review: Reinstatement.
    Title: National Household Education Survey (NHES): 2009 Pilot Test.
    Frequency: One time.
    Affected Public: Individuals or household.
    Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

Responses: 9,292.
Burden Hours: 1,549.

    Abstract: The National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) 
collects data directly from households on early childhood care and 
education, children's readiness for school, parent perceptions of 
school safety and discipline, before- and after-school activities of 
school-age children, participation in adult and continuing education, 
parent involvement in education, school choice, homeschooling, and 
civic involvement. NHES surveys have been conducted approximately every 
other year from 1991 through 2007 using random digit dial (RDD) 
sampling and telephone data collection from landline telephones only. 
Each survey collection included the administration of household 
screening questions (Screener) and two or three topical surveys. Like 
virtually all RDD surveys, NHES Screener response rates have declined 
(from above 80% in early 1990s to 53% in 2007) and the decline in the 
percentage of households without landline telephones (from ~93% in 
early 2004 to about 80% in the first half of 2008; mostly due to 
conversion to cellular-only coverage) raises issues about population 
coverage. While studies examining possible biases in the NHES survey 
estimates have not identified nonresponse bias, some indications of 
possible coverage bias were detected in a special bias study conducted 
in 2007. As a result, NCES is redesigning the NHES program to develop 
and assess approaches to collecting data with improved response and 
population coverage. The Pilot Test will be conducted in the fall of 
2009 to examine proposed methods on a smaller and more economical scale 
prior to a large-scale Field Test planned for 2011. The NHES:2009 Pilot 
Test will use a reduced sample (approximately 10% of the anticipated 
2011 Field Test sample size) and involve screening of approximately 
11,800 households to identify those with eligible children and youth. 
Parents or guardians of sampled children will be (ECPP), and the Parent 
and Family Involvement in Education Survey (PFI). The PFI Survey has 
been divided into two questionnaire forms for ease of self-
administration: One focuses on children enrolled in school for 
kindergarten through 12th grade and one focuses on children who are 
homeschooled.
    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 3997. 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., 
LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Requests may also be electronically 
mailed to [email protected] or faxed to 202-401-0920. Please specify 
the complete title of the information collection when making your 
request.
    Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity 
requirements should be electronically mailed to [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. E9-7670 Filed 4-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P