[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 148 (Friday, August 1, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44868-44869]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18179]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Evaluation of the Trade Adjustment Assistance 
Community College Career Training (TAACCCT) Grants Program

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Chief Evaluation 
Office, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a 
preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and 
Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or 
continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program 
helps to ensure that required data can be provided in the desired 
format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.
    A copy of the proposed ICR can be obtained by contacting the office 
listed below in the addressee section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before September 30, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either one of the following 
methods: Email: [email protected]; Mail or Courier: Erika 
Liliedahl, Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-
2312, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. Instructions: 
Please submit one copy of your comments by only one method. All 
submissions received must include the agency name and OMB Control 
Number identified above for this information collection. Because we 
continue to experience delays in receiving mail in

[[Page 44869]]

the Washington, DC area, commenters are strongly encouraged to transmit 
their comments electronically via email or to submit them by mail 
early. Comments, including any personal information provided, become a 
matter of public record. They will also be summarized and/or included 
in the request for OMB approval of the information collection request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erika Liliedahl by telephone at 202-
693-5992 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training 
(TAACCCT) grants program provides community colleges and other eligible 
institutions of higher education with funds to expand and improve their 
ability to deliver education and career training programs that can be 
completed in two years or less and are suited for workers who are 
eligible for training under the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers 
program. TAACCCT-funded programs assist participants in acquiring the 
skills, degrees, and credentials needed employment while also meeting 
the needs of employers for skilled workers. A total of 185 grants have 
been awarded with 49 in fiscal year 2011 (``Round 1''), 79 in fiscal 
year 2012 (``Round 2''), and 57 in fiscal year 2013 (``Round 3'').
    The purpose of the evaluation, funded by the Chief Evaluation 
Office, is to evaluate the national TAACCCT grants program, using a 
mixed-method design including outcome analysis, formal implementation 
analysis, performance assessment, and evaluability assessment. All 
Round 2 and 3 grantees and several Round 1 grantees have independent 
third-party evaluations. The national evaluator is collaborating with 
grantees and their evaluators and will provide a nationwide assessment 
of the overall initiative.
    This package requests clearance for an online survey of all 
participating TAACCCT colleges and structured fieldwork in the form of 
site visits to 10 Round 2 and 10 Round 3 grantees.
    The online survey is aimed at developing a comprehensive 
description of grant activities undertaken by participating TAACCCT 
colleges, as well as assessing the extent to which grantees have 
achieved the main goals under the initiative. Unlike the planned site 
visits to a small select group of TAACCCT grants, the online survey 
will provide an opportunity to collect responses to survey questions 
from all colleges that are a part of the 178 Round 1-3 TAACCCT grants.
    There are two primary data sources for the structured fieldwork: 
Semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Interviews will be 
conducted with college administrators, program coordinators, faculty 
and instructional staff, industry and community partners, and 
employers. Field researchers will use a modular interview guide, 
organized by major topics that can be adapted based on the respondent's 
knowledge base, to prompt discussions on the approaches used and 
experiences of the grantees and stakeholders. In-person interviews will 
provide firsthand about the experiences of those involved in planning, 
implementing, and participating in the programs and the characteristics 
that contribute to success or lack of success in addressing and 
overcoming workforce challenges.
    To understand the experiences and perspectives of the participants 
in the TAACCCT-funded activities, the research team will conduct focus 
groups of students at each site. Focus group questions will be open-
ended and designed to elicit detailed responses. From the focus groups 
with program participants, researchers will learn about their 
perceptions regarding the training and service delivery approaches 
including, recruitment and orientation to the training or career path, 
supports provided before and after training, educational attainment and 
employment, and satisfaction with the training program.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, the Department of Labor is soliciting comments 
concerning the above data collection for the national evaluation of the 
TAACCCT grants program. Comments are requested to:
    * Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    * evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    * enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    * minimize the burden of the information collection on those who 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of 
responses.

III. Current Actions

    At this time, the Department of Labor is requesting clearance for 
data collection for the national evaluation of the TAACCCT grants 
program via survey and fieldwork efforts.
    Type of review: New information collection request.
    OMB Control Number: 1205-0NEW.
    Affected Public: Students participating in and staff and partners 
associated with implementing TAACCCT grant programs.
    Frequency: Once.
    Total Responses: 1,440.
    Average Time per Response: 76 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,824 hours.
    Total Other Burden Cost: $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this request will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval; they will also become a matter of public record.

James H. Moore, Jr.,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2014-18179 Filed 7-31-14; 8:45 am]
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