[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66394-66395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26537]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[145A2100DD.AADD001000.A0E501010.999900]


Renewal of Agency Information Collection for Sovereignty in 
Indian Education Grant Program

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is seeking comments on the renewal of 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of 
information for the Sovereignty in Indian Education Grant Program 
authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0182. This information collection 
expires January 31, 2015.

DATES: Submit comments on or before January 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the information collection Ms. 
Wendy Greyeyes, Bureau of Indian Education, 1849 C Street NW., MS-4655-
MIB, Washington, DC 20240; Email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Wendy Greyeyes, telephone: (202) 
208-5810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    In 2013, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
Education convened an American Indian Education Study Group to diagnose 
the systemic challenges facing the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and 
to propose a comprehensive plan for reform to ensure that all students 
attending BIE-funded schools receive a world-class education.
    The Study Group drafted a framework for reform based on several 
listening sessions last fall with tribal leaders, Indian educators and 
others throughout Indian Country on how to facilitate tribal 
sovereignty in American Indian education and how to improve educational 
outcomes for students at BIE-funded schools. The Study Group 
incorporated feedback it received from tribal leaders and other BIE 
stakeholders into the final ``Blueprint for Reform,'' released on June 
13, 2014.
    Acting on the recommendations in the Blueprint, BIE will award 
competitive grants to tribes and their tribal education agencies to 
promote tribal control and operation of BIE-funded schools on their 
Indian reservations. The purpose of the grants is to support the 
tribe's capacity to manage and operate tribally controlled schools as 
defined in the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-
297). These funds will (a) support development of a school-reform plan 
to improve educational outcomes for students and (b) improve 
efficiencies and effectiveness in the operation of BIE-funded schools 
within a reservation.
    The grants will provide funds for the tribe to:
     Develop an implementation plan that will reform a tribe's 
current organizational structure towards an expert and independent 
tribal education agency that will support schools and students; and
     Cover the execution of the implementation plan with 
identified staffing, projected timelines, proposed budgets, and 
activities.
    Each proposal must include a project narrative, a budget narrative, 
a work plan outline, and a Project Director to manage the execution of 
the grant. The Project Directors will participate in

[[Page 66395]]

monthly collaboration meetings, submit quarterly budget updates, ensure 
an annual report is submitted at the end of each project year, and 
ultimately ensure that the tribal education agency fulfills the 
obligations of the grant. A response is required to obtain and/or 
retain a benefit.

II. Request for Comments

    The BIE requests your comments on this collection concerning: (a) 
The necessity of this information collection for the proper performance 
of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden (hours and cost) of the collection of information, including 
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Ways we could 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) Ways we could minimize the burden of the collection 
of the information on the respondents.
    Please note that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and an 
individual need not respond to, a collection of information unless it 
displays a valid OMB Control Number.
    It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for 
review at the location listed in the ADDRESSES section. Before 
including your address, phone number, email address or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1076-0182.
    Title: Sovereignty in Indian Education Grant Program.
    Brief Description of Collection: Indian Tribes and Tribal 
Organizations may submit proposals to support their efforts to take 
control and operate BIE-funded schools located on the tribe's 
reservation. Each proposal must include a project narrative, a budget 
narrative, a work plan outline, and a Project Director to manage the 
execution of the grant. The Project Directors will participate in 
monthly collaboration meetings, submit quarterly budget updates, ensure 
an annual report is submitted at the end of each project year, and 
ultimately ensure that the tribal education agency fulfills the 
obligations of the grant.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents: Indian Tribes and/or Tribal Education Departments.
    Number of Respondents: 11 per year.
    Frequency of Response: Proposals and Annual reports once per year; 
Budget Reports are submitted 4 times per year; and Monthly meetings are 
12 times per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: Ranges from 1 hour to 40 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 682 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Non-Hour Dollar Cost: $0.

    Dated: November 4, 2014.
Elizabeth K. Appel,
Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action--Indian 
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-26537 Filed 11-6-14; 8:45 am]
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