[Federal Register: August 5, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 150)]
[Notices]               
[Page 47420-47421]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05au04-52]                         

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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

 
Approval of an Information Collection Currently Approved Through 
Emergency Clearance; Submission for OMB review; Comment request

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service 
(hereinafter the ``Corporation''), has submitted the two following 
public information collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35). Copies of these individual ICRs (one for AmeriCorps and 
one for Learn and Serve America), with applicable supporting 
documentation, may be obtained by calling the Corporation for National 
and Community Service, LaMonica Shelton, (202) 606-5000, ext. 464 for 
the AmeriCorps collection and Kimberly Spring, ext. 543 for the Learn 
and Serve collection. Individuals who use a telecommunications device 
for the deaf (TTY-TDD) may call (202) 565-2799 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 
p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted, identified by the title of the 
information collection activity, to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: Ms. Katherine Astrich, OMB Desk Officer for 
the Corporation for National and Community Service, by any of the 
following two methods within 30 days from the date of this publication 
in the Federal Register:
    (1) By fax to: (202) 395-6974, Attention: Ms. Katherine Astrich, 
OMB Desk Officer for the Corporation for National and Community 
Service; and
    (2) Electronically by e-mail to: 
Katherine_T._Astrich@omb.eop.gov.

    The initial 60-day Federal Register notice for Performance 
Measurement in AmeriCorps was published on January 21, 2004. The 
initial 60-day Federal Register notice for Learn and Serve America 
Program and Performance Reporting System was published on January 9, 
2004. The comment period for these notices have elapsed, and the 
Corporation has since received emergency approval from OMB.
    In direct response to the 60-day Federal Register Notice published 
on January 21, 2004, the Corporation for National and Community Service 
(the ``Corporation'') received two comments from the general public 
regarding the AmeriCorps surveys. In summary, the two comments 
reflected concerns and suggestions regarding (1) contacting potential 
survey respondents; (2) more clearly and appropriately identifying the 
survey respondents, survey requirements and sampling methodology to 
increase the level of responses and responsiveness; and (3) expanding 
some of the question types and indicators to capture a broader range of 
survey responses and to reflect the potential impacts of the AmeriCorps 
experience upon members and volunteers.
    As a result of this feedback, we better modified questions to 
address the proper audiences and revised questions so that we can 
capture more information on the effects that volunteer service has upon 
members.
    The Corporation received no comments from the general public 
regarding the Learn and Serve Program and Performance Reporting System 
as a

[[Page 47421]]

result of the 60-day Federal Register Notice published on January 9, 
2004.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OMB is particularly interested in 
comments which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Corporation, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Propose ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information to be collected; and
     Propose ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submissions of responses. Type of Review: 
Currently approved through emergency clearance. Agency: Corporation for 
National and Community Service. Title: (1) Performance Measurement in 
AmeriCorps: Surveys of Members, Organizations and End Beneficiaries; 
and (2) Learn and Serve America Program and Performance Reporting 
System.
    OMB Number: 3045-0094(AmeriCorps) and 3045-0095(Learn and Serve).
    Frequency: Annual.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households, various small 
community and faith-based organizations, non-profits, state and local 
government and education institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 6415 (3747 for AmeriCorps and 2668 for LSA).
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: Ten minutes for AmeriCorps and one 
hour for LSA.
    Total Burden Hours: 3172 hours (630 for AmeriCorps and 2542 for 
LSA).
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
    Total Annual Cost (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): None.
    Description: The Corporation is strongly committed to making its 
performance measurement and management systems more results oriented in 
order to strengthen the accountability and performance of its programs. 
As part of its effort to do so, there is a need to collect outcome 
information regarding the Corporation's AmeriCorps programs consisting 
of AmeriCorps*State and National, AmeriCorps*VISTA, and 
AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). Information on 
program performance will be informed by a series of surveys, conducted 
electronically and by telephone, of a sample of AmeriCorps members, 
sub-grantee organizations that deliver services, and end-beneficiaries 
of the services provided by projects in which AmeriCorps sub-grantee 
organizations and AmeriCorps members are involved.
    Learn and Serve has designed a Program Reporting and Performance 
Measurement form and a Customer Satisfaction Survey. The Program 
Reporting and Performance Measurement form is designed to collect 
information on (a) the characteristics of grantee and subgrantee 
organizations; (b) the scope and structure of service-learning 
activities in the funded organizations; (c) numbers of participants in 
service learning and hours of service provided; (d) institutional 
supports for service learning, and (e) program outcomes. There are 
three different versions of the form, corresponding to the three major 
funding streams under Learn and Serve America: K-12 school-based 
programs, Higher Education-based programs, and Community-Based 
programs. The Learn and Serve America Customer Satisfaction Survey will 
gather data on grantee satisfaction with the Learn and Serve program.

    Dated: July 29, 2004.
Robert Grimm,
Acting Director, Department of Research and Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 04-17843 Filed 8-4-04; 8:45 am]