[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 186 (Monday, September 27, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59294-59296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24052]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Comment Request for Information Collection for The Data
Validation Requirement for Employment and Training Programs (OMB
Control No. 1205-0448): extension With No Changes
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance
consultation program to provide the general public
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and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or
continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program
helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired
format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized,
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.
Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting
comments concerning the collection of data validation for the following
employment and training programs: Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title
IB, Wagner-Peyser, Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), National
Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) and Senior Community Service Employment
Program (SCSEP). The current expiration date is February 28, 2011.
A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be
obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section
of this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
addressee's section below on or before November 26, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the U.S. Department of Labor,
Employment and Training Administration, Office of Policy Development
and Research, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room S-5206, Washington, DC
20210, Attention: Karen A. Staha. Telephone number: (202) 693-2917
(this is not a toll-free number). Fax: (202) 693-3490. E-mail:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The accuracy and reliability of program reports submitted by States
and grantees using Federal funds are fundamental elements of good
public administration and are necessary tools for maintaining and
demonstrating system integrity. States and grantees receiving funding
under WIA Title IB, Wagner-Peyser Act, TAA, and the Older Americans Act
are required to maintain and report accurate program and financial
information (WIA section 185 (29 U.S.C. 2935) and WIA Regulations 20
CFR 667.300(e)(2); Wagner-Peyser Act section 10 (29 U.S.C. 49i), Older
Americans Act section 503(f)(3) and (4) (42 U.S.C. 3056a(f)(3) and
(4)), and TAA Regulations 20 CFR 617.57).
Data Validation. The data validation requirement for employment and
training programs strengthens the workforce system by ensuring that
accurate and reliable information on program activities and outcomes is
available. Data validation is intended to accomplish the following
goals:
Ensure that critical performance data are valid and
accurate.
Detect and identify specific problems with a State's or
grantee's reporting processes, including the software used for
compiling this information, to enable the State or grantee to correct
any problems.
Help States and grantees analyze the causes of performance
successes and failures by displaying participant data organized by
performance outcomes. In addition, the process enables States and
grantees to calculate error rates by means of randomly selected
validation subsamples of the complete set of records.
Data validation consists of two parts:
1. Report validation evaluates the validity of aggregate reports
submitted to ETA by externally verifying the accuracy of the reporting
software used to calculate the reports. Report validation is conducted
by separately processing the complete file of participant records and
comparing the validation results to those reported by the State or
grantee.
2. Data element validation assesses the accuracy of participant
data records. Data element validation is conducted via comprehensive
manual reviews sampled participant records against source documentation
in order to ensure accuracy and compliance with Federal definitions.
Data Validation Background. In response to an Office of Inspector
General (OIG) finding that programmatic performance data submitted to
ETA by the State grantees lacked adequate systematic and independent
verification, ETA began the current Data Validation Initiative in 2003.
This initiative utilizes a comprehensive data validation methodology
embedded in specific Data Validation software for gauging the accuracy
and validity of the aggregate State-level reports submitted annually to
ETA, as well as the individual participant-level data underlying these
aggregate reports. ETA programs that have implemented Data Validation
include: WIA Title IB, Wagner-Peyser, TAA, NFJP and SCSEP. States
received training prior to beginning validation and receive ongoing
training and technical assistance from ETA's data validation contractor
throughout the validation process.
Resources. The requirement to perform validation originates from
States' and grantees' responsibility to provide accurate information on
program activities and outcomes to ETA. States and grantees are
expected to provide resources for conducting validation from their
administrative funds. Validation of program performance is a basic
responsibility of grantees, who are required to report on program
performance, in accordance with statutory provisions and Department of
Labor regulations (29 CFR 95.51 and 97.40).
Data Validation Tools. In an effort to minimize the costs of
implementing data validation, ETA developed standardized software and
user handbooks that States and grantees can use to conduct data
validation.
Software developed by ETA generates samples, worksheets,
and reports on data accuracy. For report validation, the software
validates the accuracy of aggregate reports that are generated by the
State's or grantee's reporting software and produces an error rate for
each reported count. For data element validation, the software
generates a sample of the participant records and data elements for the
State or grantee to validate. The software produces worksheets on which
the validator records information after checking the source
documentation in the sampled case files. The software calculates error
rates for each data element, with confidence intervals of 3.5 percent
for large States/grantees and 4 percent for small States/grantees.
User handbooks provide detailed information on software
installation, building and importing a validation file, and completing
report and data element validation. The handbooks also explain the
validation methodology, including sampling specifications and data
element validation instructions for each data element to be validated.
Data Recording and Reports. States and grantees submit their
validation results electronically to ETA in the same manner as other
reports. The results are stored in a data base in ETA's headquarters in
Washington, DC.
Training and Technical Assistance. ETA has provided data validation
training and technical assistance to States in regional sessions on an
ongoing basis since its inception. States and grantees may obtain
technical assistance on validation procedures and the use of the
validation tools by contacting ETA's data validation contractor.
II. Review Focus
The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments
which:
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* Evaluate whether the proposed continuation of the collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information has considerable
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;
* Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
* 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.
III. Current Actions
Type of Review: Extension without changes.
Title: The Data Validation Requirement for Employment and Training
Programs.
OMB Number: 1205-0448.
Affected Public: State, local and tribal government entities and
private non-profit organizations.
Form(s): Workforce Investment Act Data Reporting and Validation
System (DRVS) User Handbook, Labor Exchange DRVS Software Users Guide,
NFJP Data Validation Handbook, TAA Data Validation Handbook.
Total Annual Respondents: 179 (53 States, 52 NFJP and 74 SCSEP
grantees).
Annual Frequency: Complete data validation annually.
Total Annual Responses: 285 (3 responses each for the 53 States, 1
response for each of the 52 NFJP grantees and 1 response for each of
the 74 SCSEP grantees).
Average Time per Response: 347 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 62,174.
Total Annual Burden Cost for Respondents: $0.
Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and
Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also
become a matter of public record.
Dated: September 21, 2010.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-24052 Filed 9-24-10; 8:45 am]
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