[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 110 (Friday, June 7, 2002)] [Notices] [Pages 39368-39369] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 02-14289] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Notice of proposed information collection requests AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection requests. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Leader, Regulatory Information Management, Office of the Chief Information Officer, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: An emergency review has been requested in accordance with the Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 3507 (j)), since public harm is reasonably likely to result if normal clearance procedures are followed. Approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been requested by June 12, 2002. A regular clearance process is also beginning. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before August 6, 2002. ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the emergency review should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Karen Lee, Desk Officer: Department of Education, Office of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or should be electronically mailed to the Internet address [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Director of OMB provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) may amend or waive the requirement for public consultation to the extent that public participation in the approval process would defeat the purpose of the information collection, violate State or Federal law, or substantially interfere with any agency's ability to perform its statutory obligations. The Leader, Information Management Group, Office of the Chief Information Officer, publishes this notice containing proposed information collection requests at the beginning of the Departmental review of the information collection. Each proposed information collection, grouped by office, contains the following: (1) Type of review requested, e.g., new, revision, extension, existing or reinstatement; (2) title; (3) summary of the collection; (4) description of the need for, and proposed use of, the information; (5) respondents and frequency of collection; and (6) reporting and/or recordkeeping burden. ED invites public comment. 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 respondents, including through the use of information technology. Dated: June 3, 2002. John D. Tressler, Leader, Regulatory Information Management, Office of the Chief Information Officer. Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Type of Review: New. Title: Local-Flex Application. Abstract: Application for local educational agencies (LEAs) seeking to enter into local flexibility demonstration agreements (``Local- Flex'' agreements). By statute, the Department can select 80 LEAs through a competitive process with which to enter into Local-Flex agreements. These agreements give LEAs the flexibility to consolidate certain Federal education funds and to use those funds for any educational purpose permitted under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in order to meet the State's definition of adequate yearly progress (AYP) and specific measurable goals for improving student achievement and narrowing achievement gaps. Additional Information: An emergency clearance is necessary to enable the Department to select Local- [[Page 39369]] Flex agreement LEAs by September 15 of this year. While LEAs may still have difficulty implementing the program during school year 2002-03, approval after the school year begins will surely delay implementation to the following year. In our view, harm to the public would thus occur if this clearance is not approved by June 12, 2002. The Department plans to make applications available by mid-June to allow applicants sufficient time to prepare their Local-Flex agreement. The Department would then have approximately one month to complete a peer review and negotiate final agreements with selected applicants. Frequency: Semi-Annually. Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs. Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: Responses: 240. Burden Hours: 19,200. Requests for 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 2058. When you access the information collection, click on ``Download Attachments'' to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to Vivian Reese, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 4050, Regional Office Building 3, Washington, DC 20202-4651 or to the e-mail address [email protected]. Requests may also be electronically mailed to the Internet address [email protected] or faxed to 202-708-9346. Please specify the complete title of the information collection when making your request. Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements, contact Kathy Axt at (540) 776-7742 or via her Internet address [email protected]. 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. 02-14289 Filed 6-6-02; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P