[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 1, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18627-18628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08801]


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

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 10661]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: National 
Security Language Initiative for Youth Evaluation

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. 
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are 
requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals 
and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for 
public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: The Department will accept comments from the public up to July 
1, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by the following method:
     Web: Persons with access to the internet may comment on 
this notice by going to www.Regulations.gov. You can search for the 
document by entering ``Docket Number: DOS-2019-0001'' in the Search 
field. Then click the ``Comment Now'' button and complete the comment 
form.
    You must include the DS form number (if applicable), information

[[Page 18628]]

collection title, and the OMB control number in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including 
requests for copies of the proposed collection instrument and 
supporting documents, may be sent to Natalie Donahue, Chief of 
Evaluation, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, [insert mailing 
address here], who may be reached at (202) 632-6193 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
     Title of Information Collection: NSLI-Y Evaluation.
     OMB Control Number: None.
     Type of Request: New collection.
     Originating Office: Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA/
P/V).
     Form Number: No form.
     Respondents: NSLI-Y program alumni, their parents, local 
program coordinators or resident directors, and a small sample of U.S. 
high school teachers and administrators.
     Estimated Number of Alumni Survey Respondents: 5,390.
     Estimated Number of Alumni Survey Responses: 1,797.
     Average Time per Alumni Survey: 11.3 minutes.
     Total Estimated Alumni Survey Burden Time: 338.4 hours.
     Estimated Number of Parent Survey Respondents: 10,780.
     Estimated Number of Parent Survey Responses: 701.
     Average Time per Parent Survey: 8.6 minutes.
     Total Estimated Parent Survey Burden Time: 100.5 hours.
     Estimated Number of Alumni Focus Group Participants: 135.
     Average Time per Alumni Focus Group: 1.5 hours.
     Total Estimated Alumni Focus Group Burden Time: 202.5 
hours.
     Estimated Number of Parent Focus Group Participants: 108.
     Average Time per Parent Focus Group: 1.5 hours.
     Total Estimated Parent Focus Group Burden Time: 162 hours.
     Estimated Number of Local Coordinator/Resident Director 
Key Informant Interviews: 35.
     Average Time per Local Coordinator/Resident Director Key 
Informant: 60 minutes.
     Total Estimated Local Coordinator/Resident Director Key 
Informant Burden Time: 35 hours.
     Estimated Number of High School Teacher/Administrator Key 
Informant Interviews: 25.
     Average Time per High School Teacher/Administrator Key 
Informant: 35 minutes.
     Total Estimated High School Teacher/Administrator Key 
Informant Burden Time: 14.6 hours.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 853 annual hours.
     Frequency: Once
     Obligation to Respond: Voluntary
    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to:
     Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department.
     Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost 
burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Please note that comments submitted in response to this Notice are 
public record. Before including any detailed personal information, you 
should be aware that your comments as submitted, including your 
personal information, will be available for public review.

Abstract of Proposed Collection

    The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) is a 
scholarship program to enable American students aged 15-18 to study 
less commonly taught languages (Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, 
Korean, Persian, Russian, and Turkish) in summer or academic-year long 
programs in a variety of countries. In addition to increased language 
proficiency, participants gain understanding of their host country and 
its culture. This program is funded pursuant to the Mutual Educational 
and Cultural Exchanges Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451-2464).
    In order to assess the efficacy and impact of NSLI-Y, the U.S. 
Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) 
intends to conduct an evaluation of the program, which will include 
collection of data from program alumni between 2008 and 2017, their 
parents, a small sample of U.S. high school teachers and 
administrators, and local program coordinators and resident directors. 
As the NSLI-Y program has been run for more than 10 years, ECA is 
conducting this evaluation to determine the extent to which the program 
is achieving its long-term goals. In order to do so, ECA has contracted 
Dexis Consulting Group to conduct surveys and focus groups with alumni 
and their parents and in-depth interviews with local program 
coordinators/resident directors and the sample of U.S. high school 
teachers and administrators.

Methodology

    As baseline information is limited to the participants' language 
proficiency tests, it is necessary to collection information directly 
from program alumni to assess the impact of the NSLI-Y experience 
beyond language proficiency. As one source of information is 
potentially biased and limited, additional perspectives will be sought 
from their parents, who in most cases will have observed any changes in 
their children after program participation. As some information is 
easily collected via survey, both of these groups will receive online 
surveys, but a small number will also be invited to participate in 
focus groups in 6 cities to be selected (based on where the greatest 
concentrations of alumni currently reside) to explore key issues in 
greater depth. Local program coordinators/resident directors will also 
have identified changes in students over the period of their 
participation, and therefore, we propose to conduct individual 
interviews with them. Finally, the Department wishes to understand 
better the challenges for students in applying for and accepting 
scholarships, particularly related to participants' ability to obtain 
high school credit for their academic experience overseas. As these 
individuals' perspectives and state and district regulations may differ 
and to minimize the burden on these respondents, individual interviews 
will be conducted.

Aleisha Woodward,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2019-08801 Filed 4-30-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P