[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 138 (Thursday, July 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 46785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15434]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

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


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; 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 
August 21, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for proposed 
information collection requests should be submitted within 30 days of 
publication of this notice. Click on this link www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain to access the site. Find this information collection request 
(ICR) by selecting ``Department of Education'' under ``Currently Under 
Review,'' then check the ``Only Show ICR for Public Comment'' checkbox. 
Reginfo.gov provides two links to view documents related to this 
information collection request. Information collection forms and 
instructions may be found by clicking on the ``View Information 
Collection (IC) List'' link. Supporting statements and other supporting 
documentation may be found by clicking on the ``View Supporting 
Statement and Other Documents'' link.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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: An 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 
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: July 17, 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. 2023-15434 Filed 7-19-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P