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EDICS Tracking and OMB Number: (04909) 1894-NEW

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

FOR PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT SUBMISSION

EDICS Tracking and OMB Number: (04909) 1894-New

A. Justification 

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify

any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a hard 

copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing 

the collection of information, or you may provide a valid URL link or paste the 

applicable section. Please limit pasted text to no longer than 3 pages. Specify the review 

type of the collection (new, revision, extension, reinstatement with change, reinstatement 

without change). If revised, briefly specify the changes. If a rulemaking is involved, 

make note of the sections or changed sections, if applicable.

The Education Jobs Fund (Ed Jobs) program is authorized in Public Law No. 111-

226 (Act), which President Obama signed on August 10, 2010. 

The Ed Jobs program provides $10 billion in assistance to States to save or create 

education jobs. Jobs funded under this program include those that provide 

educational and related services for early childhood, elementary, and secondary 

education. 

The authorizing legislation requires that these funds be administered under the 

terms and conditions of sections 14001 through 14013 and title XV of division A of 

the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). Section 

14008 of ARRA requires each State receiving funds to submit an annual report to 

the Secretary, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. 

Each State will submit to the U.S. Department of Education (Department) one Ed 

Jobs annual report. Approval of this information collection will enable the 

Department to collect from States the information required by statute. 

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a 

new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received 

from the current collection.

The Department will evaluate the information in each report and use the data to 

prepare for the Congress the Secretary’s Report required under Section 14010 of 

ARRA. 

The data will inform the Department’s administration and oversight of the 

program. In particular, it will provide useful information on the uses and impact of 

Ed Jobs funds.
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EDICS Tracking and OMB Number: (04909) 1894-NEW

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of 

automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or forms 

of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic submission of responses, and the 

basis for the decision of adopting this means of collection. Also describe any

consideration given to using technology to reduce burden.

The Department will enlist the services of a contractor to develop an electronic 

system to facilitate the collection of annual report data from States. States will be 

able to respond through a secured website. 

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information 

already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2

above.

The majority of the required data collection is not available via other sources 

available to the Department. The information on jobs created or saved can be 

found the Quarterly reports that States submitted under section 1512 of ARRA. 

The Department will use the information from those reports to populate this portion 

of the annual report.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe 

any methods used to minimize burden. A small entity may be (1) a small business which 

is deemed to be one that is independently owned and operated and that is not dominant in 

its field of operation; (2) a small organization that is any not-for-profit enterprise that is 

independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field; or (3) a small 

government jurisdiction, which is a government of a city, county, town, township, school 

district, or special district with a population of less than 50,000.

The collection of information does not impact small businesses or other small 

entities. 

6. Describe the consequences to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not 

conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to 

reducing burden.

If the collection is not conducted, the Department will not meet the statutory 

requirement to report on the information required by statute.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be 

conducted in a manner:

 requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;

 requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in 

fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;
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EDICS Tracking and OMB Number: (04909) 1894-NEW

 requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any 

document;

 requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government 

contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than three years;

 in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and 

reliable results than can be generalized to the universe of study;

 requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and 

approved by OMB;

 that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established 

in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies 

that are consistent with the pledge, or that unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with 

other agencies for compatible confidential use; or

 requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secrets, or other confidential 

information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to 

protect the information’s confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

This collection is consistent with 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2). 

8. As applicable, state that the Department has published the 60 and 30 Federal Register 

notices as required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information 

collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in 

response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these 

comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.

Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the 

availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instruction and record keeping, 

disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, 

disclosed, or reported.

Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained or 

those who must compile records should occur at least once every 3 years – even if the 

collection of information activity is the same as in prior periods. There may be 

circumstances that may preclude consultation in a specific situation. These 

circumstances should be explained.

The public will have an opportunity to comment during the review process through 

the 60-day comment period. The public will have another opportunity to comment 

during the 30-day comment period.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than 

remuneration of contractors or grantees with meaningful justification.

No payments or gifts to respondents will be made.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the 

assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy. If personally identifiable information 
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EDICS Tracking and OMB Number: (04909) 1894-NEW

(PII) is being collected, a Privacy Act statement should be included on the instrument. 

Please provide a citation for the Systems of Record Notice and the date a Privacy Impact 

Assessment was completed as indicated on the IC Data Form. A confidentiality statement 

with a legal citation that authorizes the pledge of confidentiality should be provided.

Requests for this information are in accordance with the following ED and OMB 

policies: Privacy Act of 1974, OMB Circular A-108 – Privacy Act Implementation –

Guidelines and Responsibilities, OMB Circular A-130 Appendix I – Federal Agency

Responsibilities for Maintaining Records About Individuals, OMB M-03-22 – OMB 

Guidance for Implementing the Privacy Provisions of the E-Government Act of 2002, 

OMB M-06-15 – Safeguarding Personally Identifiable Information, OM:6-104 – Privacy

Act of 1974 (Collection, Use and Protection of Personally Identifiable Information). If 

the collection is subject to the Privacy Act, the Privacy Act statement is deemed 

sufficient with respect to confidentiality. If there is no expectation of confidentiality, 

simply state that the Department makes no pledge about the confidentially of the data.

There is no assurance of confidentiality.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual 

behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered 

private. The justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the 

questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be 

given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to 

obtain their consent.

There are no questions of a sensitive nature.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement 

should:

 Indicate the number of respondents by affected public type (federal government, 

individuals or households, private sector – businesses or other for-profit, private 

sector – not-for-profit institutions, farms, state, local or tribal governments), 

frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden 

was estimated, including identification of burden type: recordkeeping, reporting or 

third party disclosure. All narrative should be included in item 12. Unless directed to 

do so, agencies should not conduct special surveys to obtain information on which to 

base hour burden estimates. Consultation with a sample (fewer than 10) of potential 

respondents is desirable. If the hour burden on respondents is expected to vary

widely because of differences in activity, size, or complexity, show the range of 

estimated hour burden, and explain the reasons for the variance. Generally, estimates 

should not include burden hours for customary and usual business practices.

 If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden 

estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens in the ROCIS IC Burden

Analysis Table. (The table should at minimum include Respondent types, IC activity, 

Respondent and Responses, Hours/Response, and Total Hours)
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EDICS Tracking and OMB Number: (04909) 1894-NEW

 Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents of the hour burdens for 

collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories. 

The cost of contracting out or paying outside parties for information collection 

activities should not be included here. Instead, this cost should be included in Item 

14.

Burden Hours for Respondents

The Department estimates that each State would spend approximately 15 hours 

of staff time to provide the information required in each annual report. The 

total number of hours spent nationally completing the report would be 840 (15 

hours per State x 56 States). 

Cost to Respondents

The Department estimates that the per-hour cost for each State will average 

$30.00 for an aggregate national cost of $25,200 ($30.00 x 840 hours).

Burden Hours and Costs to Complete Each Report

Reporting 

Activity

Hours States 

Reporting

Estimated 

hours per 

activity

Estimated 

average 

cost/hour

Estimated 

cost per 

activity

Distribution of 

Ed Jobs funds

2 56 112 $30 $3,360

Uses of Ed Jobs 

funds

7 56 392 $30 $11,760

Uses of Ed Jobs 

funds for 

purposes of 

meeting MOE 

requirements

3 56 168 $30 $5,040

Tax increases 

averted

3 56 168 $30 $5,040

Jobs saved or 

created

0 56 0 $30 $0

TOTALS 15 56 840 $30 $25,200
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EDICS Tracking and OMB Number: (04909) 1894-NEW

 

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers 

resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden 

shown in Items 12 and 14.)

 The cost estimate should be split into two components: (a) a total capital and start-up 

cost component (annualized over its expected useful life); and (b) a total operation 

and maintenance and purchase of services component. The estimates should take into 

account costs associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or providing the 

information. Include descriptions of methods used to estimate major cost factors 

including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of capital 

equipment, the discount rate(s), and the time period over which costs will be incurred. 

Capital and start-up costs include, among other items, preparations for collecting 

information such as purchasing computers and software; monitoring, sampling, 

drilling and testing equipment; and acquiring and maintaining record storage 

facilities.

 If cost estimates are expected to vary widely, agencies should present ranges of cost 

burdens and explain the reasons for the variance. The cost of contracting out 

information collection services should be a part of this cost burden estimate. In 

developing cost burden estimates, agencies may consult with a sample of respondents 

(fewer than 10), utilize the 60-day pre-OMB submission public comment process and 

use existing economic or regulatory impact analysis associated with the rulemaking 

containing the information collection, as appropriate.

 Generally, estimates should not include purchases of equipment or services, or 

portions thereof, made: (1) prior to October 1, 1995, (2) to achieve regulatory

compliance with requirements not associated with the information collection, (3) for 

reasons other than to provide information or keep records for the government or (4) as 

part of customary and usual business or private practices. Also, these estimates should 

not include the hourly costs (i.e., the monetization of the hours) captured above in 

Item 12

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Cost: 0

Total Annual Costs (O&M): 0

Total Annualized Costs Requested: 0

There are no start-up costs for this collection 

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Also, provide a 

description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of 

hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), 

and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of 

information. Agencies also may aggregate cost estimates from Items 12, 13, and 14 in a 

single table.
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EDICS Tracking and OMB Number: (04909) 1894-NEW

The Federal costs involve drafting the report template; staff review of the submitted 

reports for completeness, working with contractor on analyzing the data submitted 

by States; having follow-up discussions with States as necessary; and drafting the 

required report to Congress. 

The contractor will provide an on-line system for annual performance report 

submission and provide technical assistance as needed to States in using the system. 

Burden Hours and Total Cost to the Federal Government

Grade Hours Cost

11 (2) 78 hours @ $29.93 $2,334

12 (3) 171 hours@ $35.88/hour $6,135

15(1) 52 hours @$59.30 $3,084

Government Cost $11,553

Contractor assistance $61,457

TOTAL COST $73,011

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments. Generally, adjustments in 

burden result from re-estimating burden and/or from economic phenomenon outside of an 

agency’s control (e.g., correcting a burden estimate or an organic increase in the size of 

the reporting universe). Program changes result from a deliberate action that materially 

changes a collection of information and generally are result of new statute or an agency

action (e.g., changing a form, revising regulations, redefining the respondent universe, 

etc.). Burden changes should be disaggregated by type of change (i.e., adjustment, 

program change due to new statute, and/or program change due to agency discretion), 

type of collection (new, revision, extension, reinstatement with change, reinstatement 

without change) and include totals for changes in burden hours, responses and costs (if 

applicable).

This is a new collection related to a new program. 

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for 

tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. 

Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of 

the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

The Department intends to report the information to Congress within 9 months of 

the deadline for the submission of State reports to ED. 

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the 

information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

The expiration date will be displayed on the form. 
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EDICS Tracking and OMB Number: (04909) 1894-NEW

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in the Certification of 

Paperwork Reduction Act.

There are no exceptions to the certification statement.