Department of Education July 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management invites comments on the submission for OMB review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-503), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Final Guidance Interpreting the Provisions of Public Law 100-503, the Computer Matching Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (54 FR 25818, June 16, 1989), this document provides notice of the renewal of the computer matching program between the U.S. Department of Education (ED) (the recipient agency), and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Department of Treasury (the source agency). The computer matching program will begin on the effective date as specified in the computer matching agreement and in paragraph 5 of this notice. Notice of the matching program between ED and IRS was originally published in the Federal Register on August 18, 2003 (68 FR 49456). The computer matching program became effective for a period of 18 months on February 18, 2003. On August 18, 2005, IRS and ED extended the computer matching program for an additional 12 months. Unless renewed, the computer matching program will expire on August 17, 2006. In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a), OMB Final Guidance Interpreting the Provisions of Public Law 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (54 FR 25818, June 16, 1989), and OMB Circular No. A-130, Appendix I (65 FR 77677, December 12, 2000), the following information is provided:

The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management invites comments on the submission for OMB review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management invites comments on the submission for OMB review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Secretary extends, to September 30, 2006, the obligation deadline for all State educational agency (SEA) grantees and local educational agency (LEA) subgrantees under the Emergency Impact Aid for Displaced Students (Emergency Impact Aid) program for fiscal year (FY) 2006. We take this action because additional funding for this program for necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita of the 2005 hurricane season was recently made available under Title II, Chapter 6 of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery, 2006, Public Law 109-234.

The Secretary of Education establishes the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS or standard) as required under sections 612(a)(23)(A) and 674(e)(4) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as amended by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (Act). The purpose of the NIMAS is to help increase the availability and timely delivery of print instructional materials in accessible formats to blind or other persons with print disabilities in elementary schools and secondary schools. The Secretary establishes the NIMAS by amending the regulations governing the Assistance to States for Education of Children with Disabilities Program in 34 CFR part 300 to include an appendix that sets forth the technical elements and specifications for the standard.

The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management invites comments on the submission for OMB review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Leader, Information Policy and Standards Team, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management invites comments on the submission for OMB review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, invites comments on the proposed information collection requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the National Assessment Governing Board. This notice also describes the functions of the Board. Notice of this meeting is required under Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This document is intended to notify members of the general public of their opportunity to attend. Individuals who will need special accommodations in order to attend the meeting (i.e., interpreting services, assistive living devices, materials in alternative format) should notify Munira Mwalimu at 202-357-6938 or at Munira.Mwalimu@ed.gov no later than July 24, 2006. We will attempt to meet requests after this date, but cannot guarantee availability of the requested accommodation. The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities.

The Department gives notice that on November 1, 2005, an arbitration panel rendered a decision in the matter of Billie Ruth Schlank v. District of Columbia Department of Human Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration (Docket No. R-S/04-6). This panel was convened by the U.S. Department of Education, under 20 U.S.C. 107d-1(a), after the Department received a complaint filed by the complainant, Billie Ruth Schlank.

The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management invites comments on the submission for OMB review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Secretary amends title 34 to establish regulations for the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant) programs. The Secretary also amends the regulations related to the Student Assistance General Provisions, Federal Perkins Loan Program, Federal Work-Study Programs, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program, Federal Family Education Loan Program, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, and Federal Pell Grant Program. These interim final regulations and amendments are needed to implement provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended by the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA). The interim final regulations for the ACG and National SMART Grant programs specify the eligibility requirements for a student to apply for and receive an award under these programs for the 2006-2007 award year. These interim final regulations also identify the roles of institutions of higher education (institutions), State educational agencies (SEAs), and local educational agencies (LEAs) in administering the programs. These interim final regulations will be effective for the 2006-2007 award year. The Secretary is, however, soliciting comments on all aspects of these interim final regulations and may, for the 2007- 2008 award year, amend and finalize them as appropriate in response to comments received. For regulations that would take effect for the 2008- 2009 award year and subsequent award years, the Secretary intends to conduct negotiated rulemaking, as required under section 492 of the HEA.