[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 93 (Monday, May 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30954-30955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10222]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2023-SCC-0087]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; U.S. 
Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Nominee Presentation Form

AGENCY: Office of Communications and Outreach (OCO), Department of 
Education (ED).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 
the Department is proposing an extension without change of a currently 
approved information collection request (ICR).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
July 14, 2023.

ADDRESSES: To access and review all the documents related to the 
information collection listed in this notice, please use http://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED-2023-SCC-0087. 
Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted 
electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal 
mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. If the regulations.gov 
site is not available to the public for any reason, the Department will 
temporarily accept comments at [email protected]. Please include the 
docket ID number and the title of the information collection request 
when requesting documents or submitting comments. Please note that 
comments 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 Manager of the Strategic 
Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 6W203, 
Washington, DC 20202-8240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to 
collection activities, please contact Andrea Falken, (202) 987-0855.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department, in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), 
provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to 
comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of 
information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its 
information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting 
burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's 
information collection requirements and provide the requested data in 
the desired format. The Department is soliciting comments on the 
proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. 
The Department 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: U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon 
Schools Nominee Presentation Form.
    OMB Control Number: 1860-0509.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
ICR.
    Respondents/Affected Public: State, local, and Tribal governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 90.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 22.
    Abstract: Begun in 2011-2012, U.S. Department of Education Green 
Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is a recognition award that honors schools, 
districts, and postsecondary institutions that are making great strides 
in three Pillars: (1) reducing environmental impact and costs, 
including waste, water, energy use, and transportation; (2) improving 
the health and wellness of students and staff, including environmental 
health of

[[Page 30955]]

premises, nutrition, and fitness; and (3) providing effective 
sustainability education, including STEM, civic skills, and green 
career pathways.
    The award is a tool to encourage State education agencies, 
stakeholders and higher education officials to consider matters of 
facilities, health and environment comprehensively and in coordination 
with State health, environment and energy counterparts. In order to be 
selected for Federal recognition, schools, districts and postsecondary 
institutions must be high achieving in all three of the above Pillars, 
not just one area. Schools, districts, colleges and universities apply 
to their State education authorities. State authorities can submit up 
to six nominees to ED, documenting achievement in all three Pillars. 
This information is used at the Department to select the awardees.
    ED collects information on nominees from State nominating 
authorities regarding their schools, districts, and postsecondary 
nominees. State agencies are provided sample applications for all three 
types of nominees for their use and adaptation. Most states adapt the 
sample to their State competition. There is no one Federal application 
for the award, but rather various applications determined by States. 
They do use a required two-page Nominee Submission Form as a cover 
sheet, which ED provides. This document, in school, district, and 
postsecondary submission formats is attached. The burden varies greatly 
from State authority to authority and how they chose to approach the 
award.
    The recognition award is part of a U.S. Department of Education 
(ED) effort to identify and communicate practices that result in 
improved student engagement, academic achievement, graduation rates, 
and workforce preparedness, and reinforce Federal efforts to increase 
energy independence and economic security.
    Encouraging resource efficient schools, districts, and IHEs allows 
administrators to dedicate more resources to instruction rather than 
operational costs. Healthy schools and wellness practices ensure that 
all students learn in an environment conducive to achieving their full 
potential, free of the health disparities that can aggravate 
achievement gaps. Sustainability education helps students engage in 
hands-on learning, hone critical thinking skills, learn many 
disciplines and develop a solid foundation in STEM subjects. It 
motivates postsecondary students in many disciplines, and especially 
those underserved in STEM subjects, to persist and graduate with sought 
after degrees and robust civic skills.
    So that the Administration can receive States' nominations, ED 
seeks to provide the Nominee Presentation Form to States--essentially a 
cover sheet for States' evaluation of their nominees to ED--in three 
versions: one for school nominees, another for district nominees, and a 
third form for postsecondary nominees.

    Dated: May 9, 2023.
Stephanie Valentine,
PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and 
Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, 
Evaluation and Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 2023-10222 Filed 5-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P