Agency Information Collection Activity: Survey of Individuals Using Their Entitlement to Educational Assistance Under the Educational Assistance Programs Administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 83682 [2020-28183]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 83682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28183]



[[Page 83682]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-NEW]


Agency Information Collection Activity: Survey of Individuals 
Using Their Entitlement to Educational Assistance Under the Educational 
Assistance Programs Administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an 
opportunity for public comment on the proposed new collection of 
certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
(PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the 
Federal Register concerning each new proposed collection of 
information, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the 
notice.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before February 22, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information 
through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov 
or to Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans, Veterans Benefits Administration 
(20M33), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20420 or email to [email protected]. Please refer 
to ``OMB Control No. 2900-NEW'' in any correspondence. During the 
comment period, comments may be viewed online through FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danny S. Green at (202) 421-1354.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995, Federal agencies must 
obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each 
collection of information they conduct or sponsor. This request for 
comment is being made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.
    With respect to the following collection of information, VBA 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of VBA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of VBA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of 
information technology.
    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-21.
    Title: Survey of Individuals Using Their Entitlement To Educational 
Assistance Under The Educational Assistance Programs Administered By 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-NEW.
    Type of Review: New data collection.
    Abstract: The Educational Assistance Program Feedback Survey is 
designed to measure experience of beneficiaries of educational 
assistance programs administered by the Veterans Affairs (VA), 
including under chapters 30, 32, 33, and 35 of title 38 United States 
Code. The information will help the VA improve programs and better 
serve Veterans interested in educational assistance. Educational 
Assistance Program feedback data will be collected using an online 
transactional survey or paper disseminated via an invitation email or 
mailed letter sent to selected beneficiaries. The survey questionnaire 
includes 52 questions, though in actuality due to branching depending 
on responses to each question respondents will complete anywhere from 
8-49 questions (8 if respondents passed their benefit to dependents; 
39-49 questions for all other respondents). The survey contains general 
rating-scale questions (e.g., a scale of 1-5 from Very dissatisfied to 
Very satisfied; or Not at all effective to Extremely effective) to 
assess satisfaction with educational assistance programs, resources, 
training as well as questions assessing education/training outcomes 
(completion of program, current income level) and has been approved by 
the Education Service leadership. These questions have been mapped to 
the Public Law 114-315 (December 15, 2016) section 414. After the 
survey has been distributed, recipients will have two weeks to complete 
the survey. Invitees will receive a reminder email or mailed letter 
after one week. The sample will be distributed across four Education 
Benefit Programs: Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Montgomery GI Bill--
Active Duty (Chapter 30), Veterans Education Assistance Program (VEAP; 
Chapter 32), and Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance 
(DEA; Chapter 35). The overall sample size is determined so that the 
reliability of survey estimate is 3% Margin of Error at a 95% 
Confidence Level. Once data collection is completed, the participant 
responses in the survey will be weighted so that the samples more 
closely represent the overall population. Weighting models will rely on 
beneficiary age and gender.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 180 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 10 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: One time.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,080.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Danny S. Green,
VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of Quality, Performance and Risk, 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2020-28183 Filed 12-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P