The U.S. Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice of final requirements (NFR) to define the criteria that a State educational agency (SEA) must use to award School Improvement Grant (SIG) funds provided through the regular FY 2009 appropriation and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to local educational agencies (LEAs). These funds must go to the LEAs with the lowest-achieving Title I, Part A schools that demonstrate the greatest need for the SIG funds and strongest commitment to use the funds to provide adequate resources to their lowest-achieving schools eligible to receive services provided through SIG funds in order to raise substantially the achievement of the students attending those schools. The final requirements include information collection activities covered under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The Department is requesting emergency approval of the information collections for the same date as the NFR is approved so that this important program can move forward in a timely manner.
We are requesting emergency approval so that ED can begin implementing the SIG program under the NFR immediately. Prompt implementation is critical to the success of the SIG program. Specifically, emergency approval will permit the application process to begin and SIG funds to begin flowing as soon as possible to SEAs and LEAs so that students in the lowest-achieving schools receive the assistance they desperately need. In sum, following the regular clearance schedule without emergency approval would delay needlessly the implementation of the SIG program under the NFR, prevent students in the lowest-achieving schools from receiving SIG-supported rigorous interventions, and reduce greatly the possibility of achieving rapid improvement in student achievement and school culture in these schools.
Revised School Improvement Grant (SIG) application approved under 1810-0682 on 12/16/09, to incorporate the FY2010 appropriations language by; making additional schools eligible for SIG and changing the maximum amount permitted to be awarded to a school.
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.