Overview
Title
60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Overseas Schools Grant Status Report
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The U.S. State Department wants to hear what people think about collecting information from schools around the world that get special grants. They want to make sure the schools are doing what they promised with the money. People have until March 22, 2021, to share their thoughts.
Summary AI
The Department of State is seeking public comments on its proposal to continue collecting data from overseas schools grantees through the Overseas Schools Grant Status Report. This information helps ensure proper monitoring and compliance with grant terms. Comments will be accepted until March 22, 2021, and can be submitted via the Regulations.gov website, email, regular mail, or fax. The collected data assists in evaluating overseas educational opportunities for dependents of U.S. government personnel and reducing the burden on respondents using technology.
Abstract
The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document titled "60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Overseas Schools Grant Status Report" is a call to the public for feedback regarding the Department of State's intention to renew its data collection procedure related to overseas schools receiving grants. This action is part of the compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The department aims to gather feedback to ensure that this information collection is efficient, necessary, and not overly burdensome for participants, which include American-sponsored overseas school officials.
General Summary:
The proposal outlines the collection process, which will use Form DS-2028 to obtain data from approximately 193 respondents representing overseas schools. These respondents are required to complete the report, estimated to take 15 minutes per response, on an annual basis. The Department of State seeks to monitor grant funds effectively to ensure they are used in compliance with grant terms, thereby supporting the educational needs of U.S. personnel stationed abroad.
Significant Issues or Concerns:
Several concerns arise from this notice. Notably, the document does not provide a detailed breakdown of the estimated cost burden of this information collection, which could lead to confusion over resource allocation. Furthermore, the document lacks clarity on the criteria used to evaluate the necessity of the data collection for the Department's functions, thus opening up the possibility for subjective interpretations. Additionally, acronyms like A/OPR/OS are used without explanation, potentially confusing readers unaware of departmental jargon.
The reported 15-minute burden per response lacks specificity about how this time estimate was calculated, which might raise questions concerning the accuracy of this efficiency assessment. Lastly, the methodology for electronic submissions does not explicitly address how data security and privacy concerns are mitigated, particularly given that public comments become part of the public record.
Impact on the Public:
For the general public, this notice serves as an opportunity to influence how the government manages educational funding for overseas schools linked to U.S. government employees. It is essential for stakeholders to engage during this comment period to voice any concerns or support for the proposed methods. The decision-making process could affect how efficiently educational grants are monitored and how American educational standards are applied overseas.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders:
For specific stakeholders—primarily the overseas schools and U.S. personnel stationed abroad—the document's proposals could have direct implications. Schools might face additional administrative tasks if the burden of reporting is higher than anticipated. However, accurate reporting ensures that funding is appropriately managed, potentially benefiting education quality and consistency. Reduced administrative inefficiencies through technology enhancements could ease this burden.
In conclusion, while the document calls for necessary public participation and aims at improved oversight of financial support, it currently lacks detailed explanations on various elements such as cost assessment, data security, and clarity on organizational acronyms, which could be addressed to enhance transparency and understanding.
Issues
• The document does not provide a detailed breakdown of the estimated cost burden associated with the proposed information collection, which might leave room for ambiguity about resource allocation.
• There is a lack of detailed criteria or guidelines on how the collected information will be evaluated for its necessity towards the functioning of the Department, which could lead to subjective assessments.
• The notice mentions A/OPR/OS as the originating office without an explanation of its function or relevance, which could be confusing for readers unfamiliar with the acronyms used.
• The reporting burden estimation (15 minutes per response) lacks clarity on how this time was determined, which could raise questions about the accuracy of their efficiency assessment.
• The methodology section lacks specific details on how electronic submissions ensure data security and privacy protections, which might be concerning given the public availability of comments.