[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 245 (Thursday, December 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 75419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30633]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No. ED-2012-IES-0038]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; 2012/14 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study: 
(BPS:12/14) Field Test

AGENCY: Department of Education (ED), IES.NCES.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing a reinstatement of a 
previously approved information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
January 22, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Comments submitted in response to this notice should be 
submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 
http://www.regulations.gov by selecting Docket ID number ED-2012-IES-
0038 or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Please 
note that comments submitted by fax or email and those 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 Director of the Information Collection Clearance 
Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, 
Room 2E117, Washington, DC 20202-4537.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Electronically mail 
[email protected]. Please do not send comments here.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education (ED), 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. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) that is described below. 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. Please note that 
written comments received in response to this notice will be considered 
public records.
    Title of Collection: 2012/14 Beginning Postsecondary Students 
Longitudinal Study: (BPS:12/14) Field Test.
    OMB Control Number: 1850-0631.
    Type of Review: A reinstatement of a previously approved 
information collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 13,975.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 2,260.
    Abstract: The 2012/14 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal 
Study (BPS:12/14), conducted by the National Center for Education 
Statistics (NCES), is designed to follow a cohort of students who 
enroll in postsecondary education for the first time during the 2011-
2012 academic year, irrespective of date of high school completion. The 
study collects data on student persistence in, and completion of, 
postsecondary education programs; their transition to employment; 
demographic characteristics; and changes over time in their goals, 
marital status, income, and debt, among other measures. Data from BPS 
are used to help researchers and policymakers better understand how 
financial aid influences persistence and completion, what percentages 
of students complete various degree programs, what early employment and 
wage outcomes are for certificate and degree attainers, and why 
students leave school. This request is to conduct the BPS:12/14 first 
follow-up field test, including panel maintenance, student interviews 
and reinterviews, and administrative record matching. Following the 
field test study in 2013, NCES will submit a request for clearance of 
the BPS:12/14 full scale data collection to be conducted in spring 
2014. Because only minimal changes are expected after the field test, 
NCES is requesting a waiver of the 60-day Federal Register Notice for 
the full-scale collection clearance submission.

    Dated: December 14, 2012.
Stephanie Valentine,
Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, 
Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2012-30633 Filed 12-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P