[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65302-65303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25801]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2013-ICCD-0139]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 
Evaluation of a District Wide Implementation of a Professional Learning 
Community Initiative

AGENCY: Institute of Education Sciences (IES), Department of Education 
(ED).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing a new information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
December 30, 2013.

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-2013-ICCD-
0139 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 2E103, Washington, DC 20202-4537.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions related to collection 
activities or burden, please call Kathy Axt, 540-776-7742 or 
electronically mail [email protected]. Please do not send comments 
here.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education (ED), in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)), requires that Federal agencies provide interested 
parties an early opportunity to comment on information collection 
requests. The 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 Department 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: Evaluation of a District Wide Implementation 
of a Professional Learning Community Initiative.
    OMB Control Number: 1850--NEW.
    Type of Review: A new information collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 806.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 427.
    Abstract: This study aims to address the need for systematic 
information about district-wide implementation of professional learning 
communities (PLCs) as a critical element in improving teacher quality 
and instruction, thereby contributing to increased student achievement. 
The study will survey (online) a population of teacher participants in 
school-based PLCs and interview principals face to face about the 
context and their perceptions of the initiative, pre- and post-
implementation. Data collection from teachers will focus on what the 
PLCs do, how they operate, and to what extent they produce the outcomes 
expected of them as framed by six conceptual attributes of PLCs and 
five specific tasks. Data collection from principals will focus on 
contextual information about school culture and conditions such as 
resources that support implementation. Teachers and principals will 
also provide their reflections on the challenges of implementing PLCs 
and their suggestions for improvement. The analysis will enable 
comparisons among PLCs within and across schools. Study findings are 
expected to inform both theory and practice related to

[[Page 65303]]

implementation of professional learning communities.

    Dated: October 25, 2013.
Kate Mullan,
Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, 
Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2013-25801 Filed 10-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P