To receive funds under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), states must submit state plans that meet the requirements of the Act and agree upon annual levels of performance for core indicators of performance identified in the law. AEFLA authorized appropriations through FY 2003 and states submitted, and the Department approved, state plans through FY 2003. Congress failed to enact new legislation before the end of FY 2003; section 422(a) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), however, automatically extended the law and authorized appropriations for FY 2004. In 2003, the Department issued guidance (1830-0026) asking states to submit a revised state plan for FY 2004, as well new proposed performance levels. Congress failed to enact new legislation to reauthorize AEFLA for FY 2005, FY 2006 or FY 2007, but extended the program for an additional year in the FY 2005 and FY 2006 appropriations laws respectively. The final FY 2007 appropriations law still is pending, and the program is operating under a series of Continuing Resolutions. The Office of Vocational and Adult Education must therefore solicit revised state plans for FY 2007 and new proposed performance levels. We are proposing to modify 1830-0026 to collect this information.
The modifications we are proposing would:
· Indicate that AEFLA was extended for an additional year by the FY 2007 appropriations law; and
· Update the relevant dates (i.e., request plan extensions and performance levels for FY 2007, rather than FY 2006).
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.