[Federal Register: October 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 210)]
[Notices]               
[Page 61833-61834]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30oc03-95]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

 
Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendation; Local Area Survey of the WIA Performance Measurement 
System

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, is conducting a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of information 
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be 
provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial 
resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, 
and the impact of the collection requirements on respondents can be 
properly assessed. Through this notice, the Employment and Training 
Administration is soliciting comments concerning a proposed new 
collection of data on performance accountability and measurement 
policies and practices employed by local workforce investment areas 
(LWIA) under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).
    A copy of the proposed survey can be obtained by contacting the 
office listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before December 29, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Alberta Baker, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and 
Training Administration, Office of Policy Development, Evaluation and 
Research, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-5637, Washington DC 
20210, (202) 693-3642.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alberta Baker (202) 693-3642.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration 
seeks to gather information about the performance accountability and 
measurement system and how this system impacts specific local area 
policies, practices, and service delivery under WIA. This survey will 
enable ETA to collect uniform data across all Local Workforce 
Investment Areas providing DOL with a snapshot of the performance 
accountability and measurement system as a whole and, in addition, 
pointing to areas of potential concern and areas of strength within 
this system. The data will provide information on local policies and 
procedures related to performance accountability including the goals 
established for local areas, the management tools and practices local 
areas have put in place to help meet these goals, the influence of 
broader performance measurement system on local service delivery 
design, and local areas' awareness and assessment of Common Measures, 
which are to be implemented in all job training and employment programs 
in 2004.
    Performance accountability and measurement have been important 
features of the nation's workforce investment system. The Workforce 
Investment Act (WIA) establishes a performance accountability system, 
the explicit purpose of which (Sec. 136(a)) is ``to assess the 
effectiveness of States and local areas in achieving continuous 
improvement of workforce investment activities funded under this 
subtitle.'' DOL negotiates goals for performance outcomes with each 
state, and states, in turn, negotiate with their local areas to set 
local goals. Beyond negotiated performance levels, states can give 
local areas substantial discretion in designing a system to deliver 
workforce services. The combination of individually negotiated 
performance levels and local design discretion suggests there will be

[[Page 61834]]

extensive variation among local workforce investment areas regarding 
policies and practices related to performance measurement and 
management. This data collection effort will enable DOL to identify the 
varying approaches and create a national picture of the ways in which 
this performance measurement system impacts policies and services at 
the local level.
    Further, enormous amounts of resources have been expended in 
developing the infrastructure required to effectively measure and 
manage performance. Major investments have been made in MIS systems and 
in training employees on effective management strategies to meet 
negotiated levels. However, little is known about exactly what 
practices local areas are employing to meet measures, how the broad 
measures in place are impacting local decisions on managing 
performance, or whether local areas have implemented additional 
measures that better enable them to monitor and improve their 
performance. The data collected will enable ETA to fill this 
information gap and gain a better understanding of how the performance 
accountability system is actually operating, as well as any areas of 
concern that arise from the planned implementation of Common Measures 
in 2004.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
that: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility; (b) evaluate 
the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information; (c) enhance the utility, quality and clarity 
of the information to be collected; and (d) minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

III. Current Actions

    The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration 
will be seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to 
administer a questionnaire to LWIAs on policies and practices related 
to performance accountability, including their performance goals, and 
measures and tools they have established to assist in performance 
management. The data will be used in two ways: to provide a national 
snapshot of the performance measurement system and to discern patterns 
of performance policies and practices among LWIAs.
    Agency: Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration.
    Type of Review: New.
    Title: Local Area Survey of the WIA Performance Measurement System.
    Affected Public: Local Workforce Investment Areas.
    Total Respondents: 605.
    Frequency: Once.
    Total Responses: 605.
    Average Time Per Response: One hour.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 605 hours.
    Total Burden Cost for Capital and Startup: $0.
    Total Burden Cost for Operation and Maintenance: $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the 
information collection request; they will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: October 23, 2003.
Emily Stover DeRocco,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training.
[FR Doc. 03-27355 Filed 10-29-03; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-30-P