[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3609-3610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1116]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Census in 
Schools and Partnership Program Research

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before March 21, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Megan C. Kindelan, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 
Silver Hill Road, Suitland, MD 20746, (301) 763-2820 (w), 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    For the 2010 Census, among many integrated communications outreach 
efforts, the U.S. Census Bureau conducted the Census in Schools (CIS) 
Program and the Partnership Program (PP) with three primary objectives: 
(1) To increase the mail-back response rate of census forms; (2) to 
improve the accuracy and reduce differential undercount; and (3) to 
increase cooperation with enumerators in the field during the census 
data collection period. The CIS Program educated primary and secondary 
school students about the 2010 Census; the students, in turn, would 
influence their parents in returning the 2010 Census forms. The Census 
Bureau distributed materials, including promotional brochures, take-
home materials, fact sheets, lesson plans, maps, quick start teaching 
guides, and other aids to increase the proportion of households 
returning completed 2010 Census forms. The Census Bureau distributed 
these materials to more than 118,000 schools representing grades 
Kindergarten through 12th grade. Some of these materials were in the 
form of printed copies. Hundreds of thousands of additional copies were 
downloaded in electronic form from the 2010 Census in Schools Web site.
    At the same time, the Census Bureau also conducted the Partnership 
Program, involving commercial entities of national scope, state, local 
and tribal governments, and regional and local corporations and 
organizations. The purpose of the Partnership Program was to target 
historically ``hard-to-count'' (HTC) areas and increase the Census form 
mail-back rates. More than 257,000 partners participated in this 
program.
    The Census Bureau needs to conduct collect and analyze qualitative 
data to address the following research questions: (a) What new methods 
can the Census Bureau use going forward, during the intercensal years, 
to reach out to educators and students from kindergarten to the 
graduate level to maintain strong relationships with the education 
community; (b) what are the needs of executive-level educators 
regarding statistical literacy and the types of materials Federal 
statistical agencies could provide to be most helpful with regards to 
statistics education, from the most basic level (kindergarten) to the 
most advanced (graduate studies); and (c) what can be done to improve 
the Census Partnership Program going forward and how best to maintain 
an active base of partners between censuses.

II. Method of Collection

    The qualitative information will be collected via focus groups and 
interviews. The Census Bureau proposes to conduct 6 focus groups of 
primary, secondary, and college level administrators and teachers, with 
a maximum of 15 individuals per group to discuss questions concerning 
the Census in Schools Program and how it can be improved during the 
intercensal years as well as for the 2020 Census. Additionally, the 
Census Bureau is proposing to conduct 6 focus groups for organizations 
that participated in the Partnership Program for the 2010 Census, with 
a maximum of 15 individuals per focus group. Telephone interviews will 
also be conducted with 30 Partnership Program organizations to obtain 
data from those partners who are not able to attend the focus group 
sessions.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: School administrators and Teachers; 
representatives of corporations, and not-for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 210.
    Estimated Time per Response: 90 minutes per focus group session; 30 
minutes per interview.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 285.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: There is no cost to respondents other 
than their time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Section 141.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have

[[Page 3610]]

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: January 14, 2011.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-1116 Filed 1-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P