Notice2026-02654
Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 11, 2026
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Abstract
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a proposed and/or continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a continuing information collection project titled School-Based Active Surveillance (SBAS) of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Among Schoolchildren. This project will expand on the work from previous phases for active surveillance of chronic conditions, including ME/CFS and other infection associated chronic conditions and illnesses (IACCs), using an electronic data collection platform.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6219-6221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02654]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60Day-26-1396; Docket No. CDC-2026-0166]
Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and
Recommendations
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice with comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part
of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the
utility of government information, invites the general public and other
federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a proposed and/or
continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a continuing
information collection project titled School-Based Active Surveillance
(SBAS) of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
Among Schoolchildren. This project will expand on the work from
previous phases for active surveillance of chronic conditions,
including ME/CFS and other
[[Page 6220]]
infection associated chronic conditions and illnesses (IACCs), using an
electronic data collection platform.
DATES: CDC must receive written comments on or before April 13, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC-2026-
0166 by either of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail: Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection Review
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road
NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and Docket Number. CDC will post, without change, all relevant comments
to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
Please note: Submit all comments through the Federal eRulemaking
portal (<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>) or by U.S. mail to the address listed
above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan
and instruments, contact Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection
Review Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton
Road NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329; Telephone: 404-639-7570;
Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7817151a381b1c1b561f170e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9df2f0ffddfef9feb3faf2eb">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of
information they conduct or sponsor. In addition, the PRA also requires
federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register
concerning each proposed collection of information, including each new
proposed collection, each proposed extension of existing collection of
information, and each reinstatement of previously approved information
collection before submitting the collection to the OMB for approval. To
comply with this requirement, we are publishing this notice of a
proposed data collection as described below.
The OMB is particularly interested in comments that will help:
1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected;
4. 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, e.g., permitting electronic
submissions of responses; and
5. Assess information collection costs.
Proposed Project
School-Based Active Surveillance (SBAS) of Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Among
Schoolchildren (OMB Control No. 0920-1396, Exp. 4/30/2026)--Revision--
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic and Infectious Disease
(NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a
complex, chronic, debilitating multi-system disease, affects up to 3.3
million persons in the United States. However, about 90% of people with
ME/CFS have not received an official diagnosis from a healthcare
professional. ME/CFS affects between 0.10% and 0.75% of children and
adolescents, which often goes undiagnosed by healthcare professionals.
Data on chronic conditions among schoolchildren, such as asthma,
has been collected over the years, but there has been little to no
emphasis on ME/CFS in the United States. Chronic conditions among
school-aged children likely account for a high proportion of chronic
school absenteeism and school withdrawal. Conducting active
surveillance among students using school nurses could expedite the
diagnosis and management of children who present with symptoms commonly
seen in ME/CFS. This involves educating school nurses about ME/CFS and
its related syndromes, how to best approach parents and guardians when
suggesting the diagnosis, and how to support the educational success of
students with chronic diseases.
National active surveillance in schools for ME/CFS coupled with
education of school nurses about ME/CFS could help improve measuring
the burden of ME/CFS in children and provide insights for future plans
to improve healthcare in children suffering from ME/CFS and other
chronic health conditions. In the next phase of this project, we will
expand the active surveillance project beyond the pilot schools to
include additional schools in the pilot states as well as in other
states. In this national rollout, school nurses will continue to
receive education on data collection and ME/CFs as well as technical
assistance and training on using the electronic data collection
reporting platform.
This project will extend the currently approved data collection to
involve more school nurses (respondents). This change will help us to
track ME/CFS symptom burden in addition to the ME/CFS prevalence. CDC
requests OMB approval for an estimated 631 annualized burden hours.
There is no cost to respondents other than their time to participate.
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Average burden
Type of respondents Form name Number of responses per per response Total burden
respondents respondent (in hours) (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frontline School Nurses....... Electronic 20 4 5 400
Platform
Quarterly
Chronic
Absenteeism
Data Reporting
Form.
Frontline School Nurses....... Demographic Data 20 1 6 120
Collection
Points.
Frontline School Nurses....... Site Baseline 20 1 20/60 4
Survey.
Frontline School Nurses....... Question Guide 20 3 1.5 90
for Face-to-
Face Evaluation
Interviews.
State Data Coordinators....... Webinar 1 50 1 18/60 15
Feedback Form.
School District Representative School District 8 1 18/60 2
Feedback Form.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total..................... ................ .............. .............. .............. 631
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 6221]]
Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Public Health
Ethics and Regulations, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2026-02654 Filed 2-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 11, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.