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: Special Education-Individual Reporting on Regulatory Compliance Related to the Personnel Development Program's Service Obligation.

OMB Control Number: 1820-0686.

Type of Review: A revision of a currently approved ICR.

Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments; Individuals and Households.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 60,949.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 9,210.

Abstract: The Personnel Development Program (PDP) is a Federal program managed at the Office of Special ( printed page 55847) Education Programs (OSEP) aimed at increasing the supply of qualified personnel in the field of special education. This program awards competitive grants to Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) to support scholars who are preparing to provide special education and related services to children and youth with disabilities. Scholars who receive funding agree to work in the field of special education or related services for two years for each year of support they receive.

The information is collected through the web-based Personnel Development Program Data Collection System (PDPDCS) under the authority of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (20 U.S.C. 1462) and the implementing service obligation regulations at 34 CFR part 304, as well as reporting requirements under 34 CFR 75.110. Through the PDPDCS, grantees, scholars, and employers report data electronically.

The PDPDCS enables OSEP to meet its Congressional mandate by providing reliable data to assess program efficiency, performance, and effectiveness. Data collected are used to evaluate grantees' compliance with PDP program requirements, report program performance on GPRA measures to Congress, track scholar enrollment in training programs and subsequent service obligation fulfillment, and to refer scholars to the Accounts Receivable and Bank Management Division (ARBMD) for repayment of part or all of the scholarship received, if the scholars are not fulfilling their obligations through service.

91 FR 55846