Notices. Notice of proposed information collection requests

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BILLING CODE 3710-20-M DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests AGENCY: Department of Education. SUMMARY: The Leader, Information Management Case Services Team, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of the Chief Information Officer, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: An emergency review has been requested in accordance with the Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 3507(j)), since public harm is reasonably likely to result if normal clearance procedures are followed. Approval by the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)has been requested by November 10. A regular clearance process is also beginning. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before December 31, 2004. ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the emergency review should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Carolyn Lovett, Desk Officer, Department of Education, Office of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or faxed to

(202)395-6974. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Director of OMB provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. The Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)may amend or waive the requirement for public consultation to the extent that public participation in the approval process would defeat the purpose of the information collection, violate State or Federal law, or substantially interfere with any agency's ability to perform its statutory obligations. The Leader, Information Management Case Services Team, Information Management Services, Office of the Chief Information Officer, publishes this notice containing proposed information collection requests at the beginning of the Departmental review of the information collection. Each proposed information collection, grouped by office, contains the following:

(1)Type of review requested, *e.g.,* new, revision, extension, existing or reinstatement;

(2)title;

(3)summary of the collection;

(4)description of the need for, and proposed use of, the information;

(5)respondents and frequency of collection; and

(6)reporting and/or recordkeeping burden. ED invites public comment. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues:

(1)Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department;

(2)will this information be processed and used in a timely manner;

(3)is the estimate of burden accurate;

(4)how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(5)how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on respondents, including through the use of information technology. Dated: October 18, 2004. Angela C. Arrington, Leader, Information Management Case Services Team, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of the Chief Information Officer. Institute of Education Sciences *Type of Review:* Reinstatement. *Title:* IEA Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) *Abstract:* PIRLS 2006 is a multi-national project coordinated by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement. Approximately 46 countries will participate in this analysis of children's reading literacy and the factors association with reading acquisition. Children in grade 4 in the U.S. will be administered a reading test and the children, their teachers, and school administrators will also complete questionnaires about factors related to the development of reading literacy. *Additional Information:* This is a request for emergency OMB clearance for the sampling and recruitment activities for the field test for the international surveys, Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) (1850-0755). Clearance is requested by November 10. The emergency clearance is necessary in order to comply with the international standard for field testing prior to full scale survey work. If this work sampling and recruitment of school participants doesn't commence in November it will delay the field test itself. This would potentially result in not being able to carry out the field test this school year. The main study itself is scheduled for next school year, 2005/2006. Because of the requirement for field testing, the potential harm is that the U.S. may not be able to participate in the study. The U.S. is one of the major participating and supporting countries involved in the international assessment activities represented by the PIRLS. International activities like the PIRLS are mandated under the legislation authorizing the National Center for Education Statistics, the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, HR 3801. The field test survey and assessment activities themselves will be conducted under regular clearance for which clearance packages have also been submitted. *Frequency:* One time. *Affected Public:* Individuals or household; State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs. *Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:* *Responses—* 875. *Burden Hours* —1,082. Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request may be accessed from *http://edicsweb.ed.gov* , by selecting the “Browse Pending Collections” link and by clicking on link number 2632. When you access the information collection, click on “Download Attachments” to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Potomac Center, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20202-4700. Requests may also be electronically mailed to the Internet address *OCIO_RIMG@ed.gov* or faxed to 202-245-6621. Please specify the complete title of the information collection when making your request. Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements, contact Kathy Axt at her e-mail address *Kathy.Axt@ed.gov.* Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf

(TDD)may call the Federal Information Relay Service

(FIRS)at 1-800-877-8339. [FR Doc. E4-2796 Filed 10-21-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection requests. SUMMARY: The Leader, Information Management Case Services Team, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of the Chief Information Officer, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: An emergency review has been requested in accordance with the Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 3507 (j)), since public harm is reasonably likely to result if normal clearance procedures are followed. Approval by the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)has been requested by November 1, 2004. A regular clearance process is also beginning. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before December 21, 2004. ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the emergency review should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Carolyn Lovett, Desk Officer, Department of Education, Office of Management and Budget; 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or faxed to

(OMB)may amend or waive the requirement for public consultation to the extent that public participation in the approval process would defeat the purpose of the information collection, violate State or Federal law, or substantially interfere with any agency's ability to perform its statutory obligations. The Leader, Information Management Case Services Team, Office of the Chief Information Officer, publishes this notice containing proposed information collection requests at the beginning of the Departmental review of the information collection. Each proposed information collection, grouped by office, contains the following:

(1)Type of review requested, *e.g.,* new, revision, extension, existing or reinstatement;

(2)title;

(3)summary of the collection;

(4)description of the need for, and proposed use of, the information;

(5)respondents and frequency of collection; and

(6)reporting and/or recordkeeping burden. ED invites public comment. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues:

(1)Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department;

(2)will this information be processed and used in a timely manner;

(3)is the estimate of burden accurate;

(4)how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(PISA)is a new system of international assessments that focus on 15-year-olds' capabilities in reading literacy, mathematics literacy, and science literacy. PISA 2000 was the first cycle of PISA, which will be conducted every three years, with a primary focus on one area for each cycle. PISA 2000 focuses on reading literacy; mathematics literacy will be the focus in 2003, and science literacy in 2006. In addition to assessment data, PISA provides background information on school context and student demographics to benchmark performance and inform policy. *Additional Information:* This is a request for emergency OMB clearance for the sampling and recruitment activities for the field test for the international survey, Program for International Student Assessment

(PISA)(1850-0645). Clearance is requested by November 10. The emergency clearance is necessary in order to comply with the international standard for field testing prior to full scale survey work. If this work sampling and recruitment of school participants doesn't commence in November it will delay the field test itself. This would potentially result in not being able to carry out the field test this school year. The main study itself is scheduled for next school year, 2005/2006. Because of the requirement for field testing, the potential harm is that the U.S. may not be able to participate in the study. The U.S. is one of the major participating and supporting countries involved in the international assessment activities represented by the PISA. International activities like the PISA are mandated under the legislation authorizing the National Center for Education Statistics, the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, HR 3801. The field test survey and assessment activities themselves will be conducted under regular clearance for which clearance packages have also been submitted. *Frequency:* One time. *Affected Public:* Individuals or household; State, Local, or Tribal Gov't, SEAs or LEAs. *Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:* *Responses:* 875. *Burden Hours:* 1,082. Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request may be accessed from *http://edicsweb.ed.gov,* by selecting the “Browse Pending Collections” link and by clicking on link number 2632. When you access the information collection, click on “Download Attachments” to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Potomac Center, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20202-4700. Requests may also be electronically mailed to the Internet address *OCIO_RIMG@ed.gov* or faxed to 202-245-6621. Please specify the complete title of the information collection when making your request. Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements, contact Kathy Axt at her e-mail address *Kathy_Axt@ed.gov.* Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf

(TDD)may call the Federal Information Relay Service

(FIRS)at 1-800-877-8339. [FR Doc. E4-2797 Filed 10-21-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Federal Family Education Loan Program AGENCY: Federal Student Aid, Department of Education. ACTION: Notice of interest rates for the Federal Family Education Loan Program for the period July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005. SUMMARY: The Chief Operating Officer for Federal Student Aid announces the interest rates for loans made under the Federal Family Education Loan

(FFEL)Program for the period July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Watson, U.S. Department of Education, room 114I2, UCP, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-5400. Telephone:

(202)377-4008. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay Service

(FIRS)at 1-800-877-8339. Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternative format ( *e.g.* , Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: General Under title IV, part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), 20 U.S.C.1071, *et seq.,* most loans made to student and parent borrowers under the FFEL Program have variable interest rates. The formulas for determining the interest on variable rate FFEL Program loans are established in section 427A of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1077a). The interest rates on variable-rate loans are determined annually and apply to the following 12-month period beginning July 1 and ending June 30. As described below, interest rate caps apply to most FFEL Program loans. FFEL interest rate formulas use the bond equivalent rate of 91-day Treasury bills auctioned at the final auction held before June 1 of each year plus a statutorily established add-on to determine the variable interest rate for— • FFEL fixed-rate Stafford loans first disbursed before October 1, 1992 that have been converted to variable-rate loans; • All FFEL Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 1992; • FFEL PLUS loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 1998; and • FFEL Consolidation Loans for which the Consolidation Loan application was received by the lender on or after November 13, 1997 and before October 1, 1998. The bond equivalent rate of the 91-day Treasury bills auctioned on May 24, 2004, which is used to calculate the interest rates for the one-year period beginning on July 1, 2004, is 1.066 percent, which is rounded to 1.07 percent. For FFEL PLUS loans first disbursed before July 1, 1998, interest rates are calculated based on the weekly average of a 1-year constant maturity Treasury yield, as published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, for the last calendar week ending on or before June 26. The weekly average of the 1-year constant maturity Treasury yield for the last calendar week ending on or before June 26, 2004 is 2.16 percent. Interest Rates for “Converted” Variable-Rate FFEL Stafford Loans 1. Under section 427A(i)(7) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1077a (i)(7)) loans that were originally made with a fixed interest rate of eight percent with an increase to ten percent four years after commencement of the repayment period were converted to a variable interest rate that may not exceed 10 percent: The interest rate for these loans for the period from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, is 4.32 percent (1.07 percent plus 3.25 percent equals 4.32 percent). 2. Loans with fixed interest rates of seven percent, eight percent, nine percent, or eight percent with an increase to ten percent four years after commencement of the repayment period, that were subject to the provisions of section 427A(i)(3) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1077a(i)(3)) and were converted to variable-rate loans—the interest rate may not exceed seven percent, eight percent, nine percent, or ten percent, respectively: The interest rate for the period from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, is 4.17 percent (1.07 percent plus 3.1 percent equals 4.17 percent). Interest Rates for Variable-Rate FFEL Stafford Loans 1. FFEL Stafford loans made to “new” borrowers for which the first disbursement was made

(a)on or after October 1, 1992, but before July 1, 1994, or

(b)on or after July 1, 1994, for a period of enrollment ending before July 1, 1994 ( *i.e.* a late disbursement)—the interest rate may not exceed 9 percent: The interest rate for the period from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, is 4.17 percent (1.07 percent plus 3.1 percent equals 4.17 percent). 2. FFEL Stafford loans made to all borrowers, regardless of prior borrowing, for periods of enrollment that include or begin on or after July 1, 1994, for which the first disbursement was made on or after July 1, 1994, but before July 1, 1995—the interest rate may not exceed 8.25 percent: The interest rate for the period from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, is 4.17 percent (1.07 percent plus 3.1 percent equals 4.17 percent). 3. FFEL Stafford loans made to all borrowers, regardless of prior borrowing, on or after July 1, 1995, but before July 1, 1998—the interest rate may not exceed 8.25 percent:

(a)During the in-school, grace, or deferment period: The interest rate for the period from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, is 3.57 percent (1.07 percent plus 2.5 percent equals 3.57 percent); and

(b)During all other periods: The interest rate for the period from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, is 4.17 percent (1.07 percent plus 3.1 percent equals 4.17 percent). 4. FFEL Stafford loans, first disbursed on or after July 1, 1998, but before July 1, 2005—the interest rate may not exceed 8.25 percent:

(a)During the in-school, grace, and deferment periods: The interest rate for the period from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, is 2.77 percent (1.07 percent plus 1.7 percent equals 2.77 percent); and

(b)During all other periods: The interest rate for the period from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, is 3.37 percent (1.07 percent plus 2.3 percent equals 3.37 percent). Interest Rates for FFEL PLUS and FFEL Supplemental Loans for Students

(SLS)Loans 1. Variable-rate FFEL PLUS and FFEL SLS loans first disbursed before October 1, 1992—the interest rate may not exceed 12 percent: The interest rate for the period from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, is 5.41 percent (2.16 percent plus 3.25 percent equals 5.41 percent). 2. FFEL SLS loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 1992, for a period of enrollment beginning before July 1, 1994—the interest rate may not exceed 11 percent: The interest rate for the period from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, is 5.26 percent (2.16 percent plus 3.1 percent equals 5.26 percent). 3. FFEL PLUS loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 1992, but before July 1, 1994—the interest rate may not exceed 10 percent: The interest rate for the period from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, is 5.26 percent (2.16 percent plus 3.1 percent equals 5.26 percent). 4. FFEL PLUS loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 1994, but prior to July 1, 1998—the interest rate may not exceed 9 percent: The interest rate for the period from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, is 5.26 percent (2.16 percent plus 3.1 percent equals 5.26 percent). 5. FFEL PLUS loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 1998, and before July 1, 2005—the interest rate may not exceed 9 percent: The interest rate for the period from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, is 4.17 percent (1.07 percent plus 3.1 percent equals 4.17 percent). Interest Rates for FFEL Consolidation Loans 1. FFEL Consolidation loans for which the consolidation loan was made by the lender before July 1, 1994—the interest rate is the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans consolidated, rounded to the nearest whole percent, but may not be less than 9 percent. 2. FFEL Consolidation loans for which the consolidation loan was made by the lender on or after July 1, 1994, and before November 13, 1997—the interest rate is the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans consolidated, rounded to the nearest whole percent. 3. FFEL Consolidation loans for which the consolidation loan application was received by the lender on or after November 13, 1997, and before October 1, 1998—the interest rate may not exceed 8.25 percent: The interest rate for the period from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, is 4.17 percent (1.07 percent plus 3.1 percent equals 4.17 percent). 4. FFEL Consolidation loans for which the consolidation loan application was received by the lender on or after October 1, 1998, and before July 1, 2005—the interest rate may not exceed 8.25 percent: The interest rate is the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans consolidated, rounded to the nearest higher 1/8 of one percent. 5. If a portion of a Consolidation loan is attributable to a loan made under subpart I of part A of title VII of the Public Health Service Act, the maximum interest rate for that portion of a Consolidation loan is determined annually, for each 12-month period beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30. The interest rate equals the average of the bond equivalent rates of the 91-day Treasury bills auctioned for the quarter ending prior to July 1, plus 3 percent. For the quarter ending prior to July 1, 2003, the average 91-day Treasury bill rate was 1.119 percent (rounded to 1.12 percent). The maximum interest rate for the period from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, is 4.12 percent, which is rounded (1.12 percent plus 3.0 percent equals 4.12 percent). Electronic Access to This Document You may review this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the **Federal Register** , in text or Adobe Portable Document Format

(PDF)on the Internet at the following site: *http://www.ed.gov/news/federegister.* To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free at 1-888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC area at

(202)512-1530. Note: The official version of this document is the document published in the **Federal Register** . Free Internet access to the official edition of the **Federal Register** and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: *http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.* **Program Authority:** 20 U.S.C. 1087 *et seq.* Dated: October 19, 20, 2004. Theresa S. Shaw, Chief Operating Officer, Federal Student Aid. [FR Doc. E4-2805 Filed 10-21-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Postsecondary Education International Research and Studies Program; Notice Inviting Application for New Awards for Fiscal Year

(FY)2005 AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Correction. SUMMARY: On September 23, 2004, a notice inviting applications for new awards under the Office of Postsecondary Education; International Research and Studies Program was published in the **Federal Register** (69 FR 57011 through 57014). Under Application and Submission Information on page 57012, in column 2, “Page Limit” section, second sentence, we included the incorrect page limit. The second sentence of the “Page Limit” section reads “You must limit the narrative to the equivalent of 25 pages using the following standards”. This notice will correct that sentence to read, “You must limit the narrative to the equivalent of 30 pages using the following standards”. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jose L. Martinez, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., Room 6010, Washington, DC 20006-8521. Telephone:

(202)502-7635 or by e-mail: *jose.martinez@ed.gov.* If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay Service

(FIRS)at 1-800-877-8339. Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternative format ( *e.g.,* Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the program contact person listed in this section. Other Information *Electronic Access to This Document:* You may view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the **Federal Register** , in text or Abobe Portable Document Format

(PDF)on the Internet at the following site: *http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.* To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC, area at

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U.S. Code

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Notices

Notice of proposed information collection requests

U.S.C.§ 1071

U.S.C.§ 1077a

U.S.C.§ 1087

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