[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 6, 2011)] [Notices] [Pages 39394-39395] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2011-16842] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Comment request. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Education (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 and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the reporting burden on the public and helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. The Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before September 6, 2011. ADDRESSES: Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be electronically mailed to [email protected] or mailed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that Federal agencies provide interested parties an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. The Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Information Management and Privacy Services, Office of Management, publishes this notice containing proposed information collection requests at the beginning of the Departmental review of the information collection. The Department of Education 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. Dated: June 29, 2011. Darrin A. King, Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management. Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development Type of Review: New. Title of Collection: Program Performance Data Audits Project. OMB Control Number: Pending. Agency Form Number(s): N/A. Frequency of Responses: Annually. Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal Government, State Educational Agencies or Local Educational Agencies. Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 1,834. Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 1,829. Abstract: This clearance request is submitted to OMB for the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development's (OPEPD's) audit of grant program procedures for collecting, analyzing, and reporting performance and evaluation data. This request is necessary because OPEPD within the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has contracted with Decision Information Resources, Inc. and Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. to assess the procedures for collecting and reporting program performance and evaluation data for eleven ED grant programs. These audits and assessments will provide ED with [[Page 39395]] insight into (1) whether the programs' performance data are of high quality and the methods used to aggregate and report those data are sound; and (2) whether the local evaluations conducted by grantees (or their local evaluators) are of high quality and yield information that can be used to improve education programs. This OMB submission requests approval for the use of interview protocols for collecting information from program grantees and their local evaluators and program office contractors. All interview guides are designed to address the major research questions associated with this project. All other data used to address the audit's research questions will come from sources that will not require OMB approval. Copies of the proposed information collection request may be accessed from http://edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting the ``Browse Pending Collections'' link and by clicking on link number 4647. When you access the information collection, click on ``Download Attachments'' to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Requests may also be electronically mailed to [email protected] or faxed to 202-401-0920. Please specify the complete title of the information collection and OMB Control Number when making your request. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877- 8339. [FR Doc. 2011-16842 Filed 7-5-11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P