Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act State Plan Guide
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Education Department wants to change how they collect information about school plans for technical and career education, and they're asking people to share what they think about it by June 9, 2025. They're also trying to make it clear how people can share their ideas and how these ideas will be used, but some parts might still be a bit confusing.
Summary AI
The Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the Department of Education is announcing a proposed revision to an existing information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This collection pertains to the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act State Plan Guide and aims to reinstate a previous version of requirements for performance indicators. The public is invited to submit comments by June 9, 2025, on the necessity, timeliness, and clarity of this information collection, as well as suggestions for reducing burden, particularly through the use of technology. The collection is expected to involve 54 responses annually, with an estimated total of 900 burden hours.
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing a revision of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document, issued by the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the Department of Education, discusses a proposed revision to the information collection process related to the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act State Plan Guide. In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the notice aims to gather public feedback on this collection. The Department intends to reinstate a previous version of the requirements concerning numerical specifications for performance indicators. Public comments are invited by June 9, 2025, on aspects such as necessity and clarity, and suggestions for minimizing the collection burden, primarily through leveraging technology.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One notable concern is the lack of detailed information on the estimated costs associated with this information collection. Understanding potential expenses is crucial for evaluating financial efficiency and identifying any inadvertent wasteful spending. Furthermore, while the notice specifies deadlines for comment submissions, it does not clarify how comments submitted near the deadline will be managed. This omission could lead to confusion or technical difficulties impacting the acceptance of these submissions.
Additionally, the document does not thoroughly outline how public comments will be processed and integrated into the revised information collection requirements. Without a clear mechanism for how feedback will be utilized, stakeholders might question the impact of their contributions.
The instructions for electronic comment submissions mention using a specific website; however, if this site is unavailable, comments can temporarily be sent to an email address. The contingency plan is somewhat vague, possibly leading to misunderstandings about the process.
Public Impact
The document aligns with the governmental objective to refine data collection, potentially reducing unnecessary paperwork and streamlining state and local administrations' duties. However, without a clear understanding of associated costs and how public input will shape the process, individuals and organizations may find it challenging to offer constructive feedback. This lack of transparency could limit the effectiveness of public engagement.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
State, Local, and Tribal Governments: As the primary respondents affected by this change, these entities will need to adhere to the revised collection requirements. This could impact their resource allocation and administrative processes. A streamlined and clear collection process is crucial to prevent additional burdens on these bodies.
Educational Institutions: By potentially revising performance indicator requirements, schools might see changes in how they report and manage data. This impact hinges on how well the revised guidelines are communicated and implemented.
General Public: While not directly involved in the data collection, the general public should be aware of the importance of such collections in shaping educational policies and funding. Ensuring effective feedback mechanisms empowers communities to influence decisions affecting local educational programs.
In summary, while the proposal is well-intentioned in striving to improve procedural efficiency, the absence of key details in areas such as cost transparency and feedback integration presents areas for improvement. Addressing these shortcomings could further engage stakeholders and foster a more participatory and transparent process.
Issues
• The notice does not provide a detailed breakdown of the estimated costs associated with the information collection, which might help identify potential wasteful spending.
• There is no explicit mention of how the comments received will be processed and potentially incorporated, which could lead to ambiguity about the impact of public feedback.
• The document specifies that comments submitted after the period will not be accepted, but does not provide details on handling comments submitted right before the deadline, which might cause misunderstandings.
• The language related to submitting comments electronically, and the backup option if the website is not available, could be made clearer for better understanding.
• The criteria for evaluating public comments on the ICR's necessity, timeliness, burden estimate, and clarity improvements are not thoroughly explained, which might make it difficult for stakeholders to provide targeted feedback.