The Federal Student Aid Programs Under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as Amended, 19757-19758 [2011-8458]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 68 / Friday, April 8, 2011 / Notices
employment (percentage employed in
the first quarter after program exit); (2)
retention in employment (percentage of
those employed in the first quarter after
exit that were still employed in the
second and third quarters after program
exit); (3) average weekly earnings
(average earnings of those participants
who are employed in the first, second,
and third quarters after the exit quarter);
and (4) the annual cost per participant.
The AIVRS Annual Progress
Reporting Form was revised in 2008 to
collect data needed to assess the
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Projects for American Indians with
Disabilities program’s performance on
supplemental measures that are
comparable to the job training and
employment common measures. Each
grantee will be required to collect and
report data for these supplemental
measures as part of the annual
performance report requirement,
including information on: (1) The
number of individuals whose case
record has not been closed, but have not
received project services for 90
consecutive calendar days, (2) the
number of eligible individuals who
were employed three months after
achieving an employment outcome, (3)
the number of eligible individuals who
were employed six months after
achieving an employment outcome, (4)
the average weekly earnings at entry,
and (5) the average weekly earnings of
the individuals whose employment
outcomes resulted in earnings.
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Note: For purposes of this section VI. 4.,
the term ‘‘employment outcome’’ has the
meaning provided in 34 CFR 369.4.
5. Continuation Awards: In making a
continuation award, the Secretary may
consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the
extent to which a grantee has made
‘‘substantial progress toward meeting the
objectives in its approved application.’’
This consideration includes the review
of a grantee’s progress in meeting the
targets and projected outcomes in its
approved application, and whether the
grantee has expended funds in a manner
that is consistent with its approved
application and budget. In making a
continuation grant, the Secretary also
considers whether the grantee is
operating in compliance with the
assurances in its approved application,
including those applicable to Federal
civil rights laws that prohibit
discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance
from the Department (34 CFR 100.4,
104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:41 Apr 07, 2011
Jkt 223001
VII. Agency Contact
August Martin, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
room 5049, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP),
Washington, DC 20202–2800.
Telephone: (202) 245–7410 or by e-mail:
august.martin@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the Federal
Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–
877–8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document
and a copy of the application package in
an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
print, audiotape, or computer diskette)
by contacting the Grants and Contracts
Services Team, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC
20202–2550. Telephone: (202) 245–
7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll
free, at 1–800–877–8339.
Electronic Access to This Document:
You can view this document, as well as
all other documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in
text or Adobe Portable Document
Format (PDF) on the Internet at the
following site: https://www.ed.gov/news/
fedregister. To use PDF you must have
Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at this site.
Note: The official version of this document
is the document published in the Federal
Register. Free Internet access to the official
edition of the Federal Register and the Code
of Federal Regulations is available via the
Federal Digital System at: https://
www.gpo.gov/fdsys.
Dated: April 5, 2011.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2011–8455 Filed 4–7–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
The Federal Student Aid Programs
Under Title IV of the Higher Education
Act of 1965, as Amended
Department of Education.
Notice inviting letters of
application for participation in the
Quality Assurance Program.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Secretary of Education
invites institutions of higher education
that may wish to participate in the
Quality Assurance Program, under
section 487A(a) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), to
submit a letter of application to
participate in the program.
SUMMARY:
Frm 00018
Fmt 4703
Letters of application may be
submitted any time after April 8, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Institutions may apply to
participate in the Quality Assurance
Program by addressing a letter of
application to Barbara Mroz, Federal
Student Aid, U.S. Department of
Education, and submitting this letter of
application electronically to the Quality
Assurance mailbox at:
Quality.Assurance@ed.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Warren Farr, Federal Student Aid, U.S.
Department of Education, 830 First
Street, NE., UCP–3, Room 43H2,
Washington, DC 20202–5232.
Telephone: (202) 377–4380, or by email: Warren.Farr@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD), call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at
1–800–877–8339.
Individuals with disabilities can
obtain this document in an accessible
format (e.g., braille, large print, audio
tape or computer diskette) on request by
contacting the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
PO 00000
19757
Sfmt 4703
Background
Institutions of higher education are
invited to join the Department in an
effort to simplify regulations and
administrative processes for the Federal
Student Aid Programs authorized by
Title IV of the Higher Education Act of
1965, as amended (HEA). The goal of
the Quality Assurance Program is to
provide tools that help all institutions of
higher education participating in these
programs (Title IV, HEA programs) to
promote better service to students,
compliance with Title IV requirements,
and continuous improvement in
program delivery. The Quality
Assurance Program encourages and
provides tools to assist participating
institutions to develop and implement
their own comprehensive systems to
verify student financial aid application
data, and continually assess compliance
with Federal requirements.
Pursuant to section 487A(a)(3) of the
HEA (20 U.S.C. 1094a(a)(3)), the
Secretary is authorized to waive for any
institution participating in the Quality
Assurance Program any regulations
dealing with reporting or verification
requirements, thus providing
participating institutions with
regulatory flexibility for the verification
of student data, and encouraging
alternative approaches that improve
award accuracy.
The Secretary believes that the data
provided to the Department by the
institutions participating in the Quality
E:\FR\FM\08APN1.SGM
08APN1
19758
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 68 / Friday, April 8, 2011 / Notices
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Assurance Program have influenced
Federal verification policies. The data
provided by participating institutions
have addressed not only the accuracy of
student aid awards and payments, but
also the management of student aid
offices and the delivery of services to
students.
Features of the Program
The Quality Assurance Program gives
institutions tools and techniques to
assess, measure, analyze, correct, and
prevent compliance problems. The
Institutional Student Information
Record (ISIR) Analysis Tool provides
participating institutions with data for
achieving targeted verification
outcomes, as explained below. The
evaluation tools that QA schools must
complete (‘‘FSA Assessments’’) help
schools develop policies and procedures
as well as strengthen compliance.
The Secretary encourages institutions
participating in the Quality Assurance
Program to evaluate their verification
policies and procedures and adopt
improvements to those procedures.
Institutions measure performance and
test the effectiveness of their verification
program by using the Department’s ISIR
Analysis Tool. The ISIR Analysis Tool
is a Web-based software product that
provides financial aid administrators
with an in-depth analysis of their
applicant population. It allows them to
see not only which elements on the
student’s Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) changed when
verified, but also what impact these
changes have on the student’s Expected
Family Contribution (EFC) and aid
eligibility. This analysis helps financial
aid administrators develop a targeted
institutional verification program,
which ultimately makes the financial
aid process easier for students, while
ensuring accountability and program
integrity.
The Quality Assurance Program also
helps institutions make improvements
beyond verification. By using the FSA
Assessments, school staff in the
financial aid office can, through
teamwork, set goals for excellence in all
areas of financial aid delivery on their
campus. Another benefit of participating
in the Quality Assurance Program is that
both parties become engaged in
promoting program integrity,
stewardship, and customer service in
the administration and delivery of the
student financial assistance programs,
thereby producing a more positive
customer experience.
Invitation for Applications
The Secretary invites institutions of
higher education that administer one or
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:41 Apr 07, 2011
Jkt 223001
more Title IV, HEA programs to submit
a letter of application to participate in
the Quality Assurance Program.
Institutions that currently participate in
the program may continue to do so
without submitting a new letter of
application. The Secretary will review
the letter of application, which should
reflect the institution’s commitment to:
• Improve the accuracy of
institutional verification programs;
• Increase institutional flexibility in
managing student aid funds, while
maintaining accountability for the
proper use of those funds; and
• Encourage the development of
innovative management approaches to
strengthen stewardship by using the
FSA Assessments.
Review Process
The Department will screen
prospective participants to determine if
the institution meets general Title IV,
HEA eligibility requirements and has a
demonstrated record of program
compliance. The Secretary may also
consider the institution’s performance
with regard to financial responsibility,
administrative capability, program
review findings, audit findings, etc. as
outlined in the applicable regulations
and in the Federal Student Aid
Handbook.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may view this document, as well
as all other documents of this
Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable
Document Format (PDF) on the Internet
at the following site: https://www.ed.gov/
news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe
Acrobat Reader, which is available free
at this site.
Note: The official version of this document
is the document published in the Federal
Register. Free Internet access to the official
edition of the Federal Register and the Code
of Federal Regulations is available via the
Federal Digital System at: https://
www.gpo.gov/fdsys.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1094a(a).
Dated: April 5, 2011.
William J. Taggart,
Chief Operating Officer, Federal Student Aid.
[FR Doc. 2011–8458 Filed 4–7–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Small, Rural School Achievement
Program
Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Notice announcing application
deadline.
ACTION:
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.358A.
SUMMARY: Under the Small, Rural
School Achievement (SRSA) program,
the U.S. Department of Education
(Department) awards grants on a
formula basis to eligible local
educational agencies (LEAs) to address
the unique needs of rural school
districts. In this notice, we establish the
deadline for submission of fiscal year
(FY) 2011 SRSA grant applications.
DATES: The deadline for transmittal of
electronic applications is June 30, 2011,
4:30:00 p.m. Washington, DC time.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Eric Schulz, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Room 3W107, Washington, DC 20202.
Telephone: (202) 401–0039 or by e-mail:
reap@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD), call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at
1–800–877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Which LEAs are eligible for an award
under the SRSA program?
An LEA (including a public charter
school that is considered an LEA under
State law) is eligible for an award under
the SRSA program if—
(a) The total number of students in
average daily attendance at all of the
schools served by the LEA is fewer than
600, or each county in which a school
served by the LEA is located has a total
population density of fewer than 10
persons per square mile; and
(b) All of the schools served by the
LEA are designated with a school locale
code of 7 or 8 by the Department’s
National Center for Education Statistics
(NCES), or the Secretary has
determined, based on a demonstration
by the LEA and concurrence of the State
educational agency, that the LEA is
located in an area defined as rural by a
governmental agency of the State.
The school locale codes are the locale
codes determined on the basis of the
NCES school code methodology in place
on the date of enactment of section
6211(b) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965, as
amended.
Which eligible LEAs must submit an
application to receive an FY 2011 SRSA
grant award?
An eligible LEA must submit an
application to receive an FY 2011 SRSA
grant award if that LEA has never
submitted an application for SRSA
E:\FR\FM\08APN1.SGM
08APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 68 (Friday, April 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19757-19758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-8458]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
The Federal Student Aid Programs Under Title IV of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, as Amended
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice inviting letters of application for participation in the
Quality Assurance Program.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Secretary of Education invites institutions of higher
education that may wish to participate in the Quality Assurance
Program, under section 487A(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as
amended (HEA), to submit a letter of application to participate in the
program.
DATES: Letters of application may be submitted any time after April 8,
2011.
ADDRESSES: Institutions may apply to participate in the Quality
Assurance Program by addressing a letter of application to Barbara
Mroz, Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education, and submitting
this letter of application electronically to the Quality Assurance
mailbox at: Quality.Assurance@ed.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Warren Farr, Federal Student Aid, U.S.
Department of Education, 830 First Street, NE., UCP-3, Room 43H2,
Washington, DC 20202-5232. Telephone: (202) 377-4380, or by e-mail:
Warren.Farr@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document in an
accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audio tape or computer
diskette) on request by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Institutions of higher education are invited to join the Department
in an effort to simplify regulations and administrative processes for
the Federal Student Aid Programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). The goal of the Quality
Assurance Program is to provide tools that help all institutions of
higher education participating in these programs (Title IV, HEA
programs) to promote better service to students, compliance with Title
IV requirements, and continuous improvement in program delivery. The
Quality Assurance Program encourages and provides tools to assist
participating institutions to develop and implement their own
comprehensive systems to verify student financial aid application data,
and continually assess compliance with Federal requirements.
Pursuant to section 487A(a)(3) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1094a(a)(3)),
the Secretary is authorized to waive for any institution participating
in the Quality Assurance Program any regulations dealing with reporting
or verification requirements, thus providing participating institutions
with regulatory flexibility for the verification of student data, and
encouraging alternative approaches that improve award accuracy.
The Secretary believes that the data provided to the Department by
the institutions participating in the Quality
[[Page 19758]]
Assurance Program have influenced Federal verification policies. The
data provided by participating institutions have addressed not only the
accuracy of student aid awards and payments, but also the management of
student aid offices and the delivery of services to students.
Features of the Program
The Quality Assurance Program gives institutions tools and
techniques to assess, measure, analyze, correct, and prevent compliance
problems. The Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) Analysis
Tool provides participating institutions with data for achieving
targeted verification outcomes, as explained below. The evaluation
tools that QA schools must complete (``FSA Assessments'') help schools
develop policies and procedures as well as strengthen compliance.
The Secretary encourages institutions participating in the Quality
Assurance Program to evaluate their verification policies and
procedures and adopt improvements to those procedures. Institutions
measure performance and test the effectiveness of their verification
program by using the Department's ISIR Analysis Tool. The ISIR Analysis
Tool is a Web-based software product that provides financial aid
administrators with an in-depth analysis of their applicant population.
It allows them to see not only which elements on the student's Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) changed when verified, but
also what impact these changes have on the student's Expected Family
Contribution (EFC) and aid eligibility. This analysis helps financial
aid administrators develop a targeted institutional verification
program, which ultimately makes the financial aid process easier for
students, while ensuring accountability and program integrity.
The Quality Assurance Program also helps institutions make
improvements beyond verification. By using the FSA Assessments, school
staff in the financial aid office can, through teamwork, set goals for
excellence in all areas of financial aid delivery on their campus.
Another benefit of participating in the Quality Assurance Program is
that both parties become engaged in promoting program integrity,
stewardship, and customer service in the administration and delivery of
the student financial assistance programs, thereby producing a more
positive customer experience.
Invitation for Applications
The Secretary invites institutions of higher education that
administer one or more Title IV, HEA programs to submit a letter of
application to participate in the Quality Assurance Program.
Institutions that currently participate in the program may continue to
do so without submitting a new letter of application. The Secretary
will review the letter of application, which should reflect the
institution's commitment to:
Improve the accuracy of institutional verification
programs;
Increase institutional flexibility in managing student aid
funds, while maintaining accountability for the proper use of those
funds; and
Encourage the development of innovative management
approaches to strengthen stewardship by using the FSA Assessments.
Review Process
The Department will screen prospective participants to determine if
the institution meets general Title IV, HEA eligibility requirements
and has a demonstrated record of program compliance. The Secretary may
also consider the institution's performance with regard to financial
responsibility, administrative capability, program review findings,
audit findings, etc. as outlined in the applicable regulations and in
the Federal Student Aid Handbook.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may view this document, as well as all other documents of this
Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable
Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site: https://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1094a(a).
Dated: April 5, 2011.
William J. Taggart,
Chief Operating Officer, Federal Student Aid.
[FR Doc. 2011-8458 Filed 4-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
