[Federal Register: May 7, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 88)]
[Notices]               
[Page 24432]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07my03-45]                         

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    DOC has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
clearance the following proposal for collection of information under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: Annual Survey of Local Government Finance (School Systems).
    Form Number(s): F-33, F-33-1, F-33-L1, F-33-L2, F-33-L3.
    Agency Approval Number: 0607-0700.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Burden: 4,038 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 4,180.
    Avg Hours Per Response: One hour.
    Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau requests continued Office of 
Management and Budget clearance of the data collection for the Annual 
Survey of Local Government Finances (School Systems). Recently, as 
exemplified by the reauthorization of the Elementary Secondary 
Education Act (ESEA) by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), there has 
been an increased interest in improving the Nation's public schools. 
One result of this intensified interest has been a significant increase 
in the demand for school finance data. Some areas in which data users 
have shown an increased interest are embodied in the central points of 
the No Child Left Behind Act. Included among these points are: the 
requirement that each state develop a statewide accountability system 
to ensure that every child meets the highest possible standards; 
Federal grants to implement programs to improve children's reading 
achievement through the Reading First initiative; public school choice 
provisions to allow children in low performing schools to transfer to a 
better public school; new opportunities and assistance for professional 
development for current educators and administrators; Federal 
assistance for classroom technology investment to ensure every student 
will become technologically-literate; and budget increases for the 
Title I program that provides funds to America's most needy public 
schools.
    There has also been heightened awareness of the inequalities in 
funding public education, as evidenced by the increasing number of 
court cases which challenge the equity of many state formulas that 
disperse monies to public school systems. Increased interest at the 
Federal Government level for addressing fiscal disparities has been 
shown by proposals currently before the Congress that would greatly 
change how Federal funds are dispersed.
    The Census Bureau's school finance data set for local education 
agencies is the only nationwide source for public school system finance 
data. We collect education finance data as part of our Annual Survey of 
State and Local Government Finances. This survey is the only 
comprehensive source of public fiscal data collected on a nationwide 
scale using uniform definitions, concepts and procedures.
    We are requesting minor modifications to one of the forms used in 
this collection.
    Affected Public: State, local, or Tribal government.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 161 and 182.
    OMB Desk Officer: Susan Schechter, (202) 395-5103.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, room 6625, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
dhynek@doc.gov).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Susan Schechter, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) or e-
mail (susan_schechter@omb.eop.gov).

    Dated: May 1, 2003.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-11239 Filed 5-6-03; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-07-P