[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 3, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46090-46091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21217]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Evaluation of the Youth CareerConnect (YCC) 
Grant Program, New Collection

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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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 requested 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 is properly assessed.
    Currently, the Department of Labor is soliciting comments 
concerning the collection of follow-up survey data about the Evaluation 
of the Youth CareerConnect (YCC) Grant Program [SGA/DFA PY-13-01]. A 
copy of the proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed in the addressee section of 
this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee's section below on or before December 4, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either one of the following 
methods:
    Email: [email protected]; Mail or Courier: Jessica 
Lohmann, Chief Evaluation Office, OASP, 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 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: Contact Jessica Lohmann by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    I. Background: The proposed information collection activities 
described in this notice will provide data for the randomized 
controlled trial (RCT) and quasi-experimentally designed (QED) studies 
and implementation evaluation of the Youth CareerConnect program. In 
spring 2014, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) in the 
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) awarded a total of $107 million to 24 
grantees to implement the YCC program. The program is a high school 
based initiative aimed at improving students' college and career 
readiness in particular employment sectors. The programs are 
redesigning the high school experience through partnerships with 
colleges and employers to provide skill-developing and work-based 
learning opportunities to help students prepare for jobs in high-demand 
occupations.
    The evaluation will address three main research questions: (1) What 
was the impact of the YCC programs on students' short-term outcomes? 
(2) How were the YCC programs implemented? and (3) Did the 
effectiveness of YCC programs vary by student characteristics? The RCT 
and QED will estimate program effectiveness and will

[[Page 46091]]

be carried out in a subset of YCC grantees. An implementation study 
will draw on data gathered from all YCC grantees.
    This request is part of a larger study which has had other 
components approved under prior clearance numbers. The YCC Participant 
Tracking System (PTS) was approved on March 20, 2015 under OMB Control 
No 1291-0002. Data collection instruments used for the baseline portion 
of the RCT and the instruments used for the implementation study were 
approved on April 15, 2015 under OMB Control No 1291-0003.
    This Federal Register Notice provides the opportunity to comment on 
the proposed data collection instrument that will be used in the RCT 
and QED:
     Student follow-up survey and student assent. The follow-up 
survey will be administered approximately 24-months following random 
assignment to students in the RCT treatment and control groups via web 
and telephone interviewing. This survey will collect information on 
experiences at school, behavior in school, activities, employment 
experience, and plans for future education. Additionally, as part of 
the follow-up survey instrument, all students will again be asked to 
assent to data collection.
    II. Desired Focus of Comments: Currently, DOL is soliciting 
comments concerning the above data collection for the RCT portion of 
the YCC evaluation. DOL is particularly interested in comments that do 
the following:
     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.
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology--for example, 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    III. Current Actions: At this time, the Department of Labor is 
requesting clearance for the student follow-up survey.
    Type of Review: New information collection request.
    OMB Control Number: 1290-0NEW.
    Affected Public: Students and parents who previously applied for 
YCC program and district staff.

                                                              Estimated Total Burden Hours
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                                                                                                          Average burden
                                                           Total number    Annual number     Number of       hour per         Annual           Total
                   Type of instrument                       respondents   of respondents   responses per     response        estimated       estimated
                                                                                            respondent        (hours)      burden hours    burden hours
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Student follow-up survey (including assent).............             432             144               1            0.58              84             252
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    Total...............................................             432             144               1            0.58              84             252
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    Form(s): Total annual respondents: 144 students.
    Annual Frequency: One time for all instruments.
    Comments submitted in response to this request will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: September 20, 2017.
Molly Irwin,
Chief Evaluation Officer, U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2017-21217 Filed 10-2-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-HX-P