[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2932-2933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00726]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2023-SCC-0185]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Southwest Write To 
Succeed Evaluation

AGENCY: Institute of Education Sciences (IES), Department of Education 
(ED).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 
the Department is proposing a new information collection request (ICR).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
February 16, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for proposed 
information collection requests should be submitted within 30 days of 
publication of this notice. Click on this link www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain to access the site. Find this information collection request 
(ICR) by selecting ``Department of Education'' under ``Currently Under 
Review,'' then check the ``Only Show ICR for Public Comment'' checkbox. 
Reginfo.gov provides two links to view documents related to this 
information collection request. Information collection forms and 
instructions may be found by clicking on the ``View Information 
Collection (IC) List'' link. Supporting statements and other supporting 
documentation may be found by clicking on the ``View Supporting 
Statement and Other Documents'' link.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to 
collection activities, please contact Christopher Boccanfuso, 202-219-
0373.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department 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 
the respondents, including through the use of information technology. 
Please note that written comments received in response to this notice 
will be considered public records.
    Title of Collection: Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) 
Southwest Write to Succeed Evaluation.
    OMB Control Number: 1850-NEW.
    Type of Review: A new ICR.
    Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 2,453.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 366.
    Abstract: The current authorization for the Regional Educational 
Laboratories (REL) program is under the Education Sciences Reform Act 
of 2002, Part D, Section 174, (20 U.S.C. 9564), administered by the 
Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (IES), 
National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance 
(NCEE). The central mission and primary function of the RELs is to 
support applied research and provide technical assistance to state and 
local education agencies within their region (ESRA, Part D, section 
174[f]). The REL program's goal is to partner with educators and 
policymakers to conduct work that is change-oriented and supports 
meaningful local, regional, or state decisions about education 
policies, programs, and practices to improve outcomes for students.
    Supporting equitable educational opportunities and achievement for 
English learner students in New Mexico is a high priority for the New 
Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED, n.d., 2021). In light of 
analysis showing English learner students in the state have lower rates 
of English language arts (ELA) proficiency (Arellano et al., 2018), 
plus legal rulings in the state that English learner students' rights 
to a sufficient public education have been violated (NMPED, 2022a), 
NMPED created a strategic plan that includes supporting the whole child 
through literacy instruction that is culturally and linguistically 
responsive (NMPED, 2022b). Improving English learner students' English 
proficiency and the literacy skills of all students is a top priority 
of NMPED and the district and regional partners of REL Southwest. To 
address this problem, REL Southwest is implementing, refining, and 
building evidence for the Write to Succeed professional learning 
program. The core focus of the Write to Succeed program is scaffolded 
writing instruction that can support all students but with embedded 
opportunities to meet the language needs to English learner students. 
Prior to this study, the program will be further enhanced with supports 
for teacher collaboration and culturally and linguistically relevant 
instructional routines, as prior work with New

[[Page 2933]]

Mexico partners has indicated these are two elements in need of further 
support.
    This study is designed to measure the efficacy and implementation 
of the Write to Succeed. The evaluation team plans to conduct an 
independent evaluation using a school-level, cluster randomized control 
trial design to assess the program's impact on teachers' practices and 
beliefs and students' language and literacy outcomes. The evaluation 
will also assess the implementation of the program and how it may be 
effectively scaled. The evaluation will take place in 40 schools across 
an estimated 10 districts in New Mexico and will focus on teachers and 
students in Grade 4-8. The evaluation will produce a report and 
presentations to study participants, practitioners, policymakers, and 
researchers, and infographics and blog posts for a wider audience of 
educators and policymakers. These will be designed to inform district 
and school leaders and teachers about scaffolded writing practices that 
could be beneficial for English learner students and all students.

    Dated: January 10, 2024.
Juliana Pearson,
PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and 
Strategy Division Office of Chief Data Officer Office of Planning, 
Evaluation and Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 2024-00726 Filed 1-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P