[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 203 (Friday, October 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 64330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25850]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests; Institute of 
Education Sciences; 2012/14 Beginning Postsecondary Students 
Longitudinal Study: (BPS:12/14) Field Test

SUMMARY: The 2012/14 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal 
Study (BPS:12/14), conducted by the National Center for Education 
Statistics (NCES), is designed to follow a cohort of students who 
enroll in postsecondary education for the first time during the 2011-
2012 academic year, irrespective of date of high school completion. The 
study collects data on student persistence in, and completion of, 
postsecondary education programs; their transition to employment; 
demographic characteristics; and changes over time in their goals, 
marital status, income, and debt, among other measures.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
December 18, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments submitted in response to this notice should be 
submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 
http://www.regulations.gov by selecting Docket ID number ED-2012-IES-
0038 or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Please 
note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after 
the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for 
information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be 
addressed to the Director of the Information Collection Clearance 
Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, 
Room 2E117, Washington, DC 20202-4537.
    Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-
8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that Federal agencies provide 
interested parties an early opportunity to comment on information 
collection requests. The Acting Director, Information Collection 
Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management 
Services, Office of Management, publishes this notice containing 
proposed information collection requests at the beginning of the 
Departmental review of the information collection. 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. Please note that written 
comments received in response to this notice will be considered public 
records.
    Title of Collection: 2012/14 Beginning Postsecondary Students 
Longitudinal Study: (BPS:12/14) Field Test.
    OMB Control Number: 1850-0631.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 13,975.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 2,294.
    Abstract: Data from BPS are used to help researchers and 
policymakers better understand how financial aid influences persistence 
and completion, what percentages of students complete various degree 
programs, what early employment and wage outcomes are for certificate 
and degree attainers, and why students leave school. This request is to 
conduct the BPS:12/14 first follow-up field test, including panel 
maintenance, student interviews and reinterviews, and administrative 
record matching. Following the field test study in 2013, NCES will 
submit a request for clearance of the BPS:12/14 full scale data 
collection to be conducted in spring 2014. Because only minimal changes 
are expected after the field test, NCES is requesting a waiver of the 
60-day Federal Register Notice for the full-scale collection clearance 
submission.

    Dated: October 16, 2012.
Stephanie Valentine,
Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, 
Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2012-25850 Filed 10-18-12; 8:45 am]
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