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.