STEP Application Package - Supporting Statement

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
FOR PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT SUBMISSION

State Tribal Education Partnership (STEP) Program Application

OMB Number: 1810-New (1894-0001)

Revised XX/XX/XXXX

RIN Number: XXXX-XXXX (if applicable)

A. Justification

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a hard copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information, or you may provide a valid URL link or paste the applicable section. Please limit pasted text to no longer than 3 pages. Specify the review type of the collection (new, revision, extension, reinstatement with change, reinstatement without change). If revised, briefly specify the changes. If a rulemaking is involved, make note of the sections or changed sections, if applicable.

The purposes of the STEP program are to: (1) promote increased collaboration between Tribal educational agencies (TEAs) and the State educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) that serve students from affected tribes; and (2) build the capacity of TEAs to conduct certain administrative functions under certain Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) formula grant programs for eligible schools, as determined by the TEA, SEA, and LEA. This award is made under the Indian Education National Activities authority, as authorized under ESEA title VII, Part A (Title VII).

During the pilot of this grant competition, the Department of Education (Department) relied exclusively on selection criteria from the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), and therefore used the generic application package approved under 1894-0006. For the FY 2015 grant competition, the Department proposes to use program-specific selection criteria, as published in a Notice of Proposed Priorities the Federal Register on October 31, 2014, which will be finalized in a forthcoming Notice of Final Priorities. Accordingly, this is a new information collection.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

The Department will use the information collected through the application package to evaluate applications submitted for the STEP grant competition. External peer reviewers will read and evaluate the applications to determine the extent to which applicants have addressed the selection criteria. The Secretary will use the results of the peer review process to make funding decisions for the STEP grant competition.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision of adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration given to using technology to reduce burden.

This grant program will require electronic submission of applications through the Grants.gov system, which will reduce the burden of the application process. Applicants that do not have adequate Internet access may submit the application in hard copy format if an exception is requested in writing at least two weeks prior to the closing date.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Question 2 above.

No duplication of effort exists. This information collection requests information specifically for the STEP program operated under the National Activities authority. Applicants will be required to provide information that addresses specific statutory and regulatory requirements, as well as selection criteria, which will allow the Department to make grant awards.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden. A small entity may be (1) a small business which is deemed to be one that is independently owned and operated and that is not dominant in its field of operation; (2) a small organization that is any not-for-profit enterprise that is independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field; or (3) a small government jurisdiction, which is a government of a city, county, town, township, school district, or special district with a population of less than 50,000.

This information collection requirement impacts small entities, which have not fully been estimated. However, the Department will limit the collection to only that information necessary to make grant awards, in order to minimize the burden on small entities.

6. Describe the consequences to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

The STEP program is a discretionary grant program; if this information is not collected, the Department will be unable to make grant awards, as the Department will have insufficient information to determine whether applicants fulfill the requirements of the grant program. To minimize burden, this information collection only occurs when applications for new grants are solicited, no more than once per year.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner:

• requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;

• requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;

• requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;

• requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than three years;

• in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results than can be generalized to the universe of study;

• requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;

• that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or that unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or

• requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secrets, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information’s confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

None of these circumstances apply to the STEP application.

8. As applicable, state that the Department has published the 60 and 30 Federal Register notices as required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.

Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instruction and record keeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.

Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained or those who must compile records should occur at least once every 3 years – even if the collection of information activity is the same as in prior periods. There may be circumstances that may preclude consultation in a specific situation. These circumstances should be explained.

The Department published a 30-day notice for public comments in the Federal Register and received no public comments.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees with meaningful justification.

We will not provide payments or gifts to respondents.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy. If personally identifiable information (PII) is being collected, a Privacy Act statement should be included on the instrument. Please provide a citation for the Systems of Record Notice and the date a Privacy Impact Assessment was completed as indicated on the ICRAS’ Part 2 IC form. A confidentiality statement with a legal citation that authorizes the pledge of confidentiality should be provided. Requests for this information are in accordance with the following ED and OMB policies: Privacy Act of 1974, OMB Circular A-108 – Privacy Act Implementation – Guidelines and Responsibilities, OMB Circular A-130 Appendix I – Federal Agency Responsibilities for Maintaining Records About Individuals, OMB M-03-22 – OMB Guidance for Implementing the Privacy Provisions of the E-Government Act of 2002, OMB M-06-15 – Safeguarding Personally Identifiable Information, OM:6-104 – Privacy Act of 1974 (Collection, Use and Protection of Personally Identifiable Information). If the collection is subject to the Privacy Act, the Privacy Act statement is deemed sufficient with respect to confidentiality. If there is no expectation of confidentiality, simply state that the Department makes no pledge about the confidentially of the data.

The Department makes no pledge about the confidentiality of the data.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. The justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

The application will not require applicants to complete questions of a sensitive nature.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should:

The estimated total number of applications anticipated is based on past experience with this program. It is estimated that a total of 80 applications will be received annually for the grant competition. The estimated burden includes development and typing for all applicants, and recordkeeping and maintenance of evaluation information by actual grantees.

Respondent Type	Number of Responses	Estimated Burden Hours per Respondent	Total Hours
New Applicants	80	50	4,000 hours
		Total:	4,000 hours

Eligible applicants include 1) a TEA that is from an eligible Indian tribe and authorized by its tribe to administer this program, or 2) a consortium of such TEAs; accordingly, all applicants are expected to be tribal governments.

The cost per applicant for compilation of the information and completion of the application is estimated to take 50 hours. Estimates are based on the basic hourly rate of a GS 13/1 for development of the application and the basic hourly salary of a GS 4/1 for clerical support.

Annual Cost to Respondents for the hour burden associated with the collection of information:

Estimated GS Level	Number of Hours	Pay/Hour	Cost/Application	Total Cost for all 80 applications
13/1	40	43	40 x pay/hour	137,600
4/1	10	15	150 x pay/hour	12,000

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in Questions 12 and 14.)

There is no additional annual cost burden to respondents and record keepers from this collection of information

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information. Agencies also may aggregate cost estimates from Questions 12, 13, and 14 in a single table.

It is estimated that one GS-13 devotes 25 percent of her time to serving as the competition manager, representing the Department in pre- and post-competition public and governmental meetings, and responding to public questions and concerns. One GS-15 devotes 10 percent of her time to overseeing the competition efforts. A total of 728 hours is devoted to this effort. The total personnel costs for 728 hours staff time equates to $35,211.40.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments. Generally, adjustments in burden result from re-estimating burden and/or from economic phenomenon outside of an agency’s control (e.g., correcting a burden estimate or an organic increase in the size of the reporting universe). Program changes result from a deliberate action that materially changes a collection of information and generally are result of new statute or an agency action (e.g., changing a form, revising regulations, redefining the respondent universe, etc.). Burden changes should be disaggregated by type of change (i.e., adjustment, program change due to new statute, and/or program change due to agency discretion), type of collection (new, revision, extension, reinstatement with change, reinstatement without change) and include totals for changes in burden hours, responses and costs (if applicable).

This is a new information collection, there is a program change increase of 4, 000 annual burden hours.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used.

The Department will not publish this collection of information. No information will be tabulated, published, or subjected to analytical techniques.

17. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

The Department intends to publish the Notice of Final Priorities on April 3, 2015, and the Notice Inviting Applications pending approval of this application package. The Department will begin collecting information upon publication, and will close the application period approximately 60 days after the date of publication.

18. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

The Department is not seeking such approval.

19. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in the Certification of Paperwork Reduction Act.

No exceptions are requested.

3