Department of Education June 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Perkins Loan Program allows for assignment of certain defaulted loans from schools to continued collection efforts when the school has exhausted all of its efforts in recovering an outstanding loan. The Perkins Assignment Form serves as the transmittal document in the assignment of such loans to the Federal Government.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (Privacy Act), the Department of Education (Department) publishes this notice of a new system of records entitled ``Study of Promising Features of Teacher Preparation Programs'' (18-13-29). The National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance at the Department's Institute of Education Sciences (IES) awarded a contract in September 2011 to Abt Associates to conduct a rigorous study of the effect on student learning of teachers who have experienced intensive clinical practice in their teacher preparation programs. The system of records will contain records on approximately 5,000 students and 360 teachers from 125 school districts and will be used to conduct the study.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (Privacy Act), the Department of Education (Department) deletes one system of records from its existing inventory of systems of records subject to the Privacy Act.

This request from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), of the U.S. Department of Education (ED), is for clearance for the full scale data collection for the 2012-13 Teacher Follow-up Survey (TFS:13) and Principal Follow-up Survey (PFS:13) to the 2011-12 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS:12). The Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) is an in-depth, nationally-representative survey of first through twelfth grade public and private school teachers, principals, schools, library media centers, and school districts.

The overall goal of the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program is to increase the number of students with degrees in areas of national need by providing fellowships through academic departments of institutions of higher education to assist graduate students of superior ability who demonstrate financial need.

The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services announces two priorities for RERCs: Recreational Technologies and Exercise Physiology Benefiting Individuals with Disabilities (Priority 1) and Rehabilitation Robotics (Priority 2). The Assistant Secretary may use one or both of these priorities for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2012 and later years. We take this action to focus research attention on areas of national need. We intend to use these priorities to improve rehabilitation services and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services announces a priority for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program administered by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Specifically, this notice announces a priority for Burn Model Systems (BMS) Centers. The Assistant Secretary may use this priority for a competition in fiscal year (FY) 2012 and later years. We take this action to focus research attention on areas of national need.

The Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (hereafter ``the Secretaries'') propose requirements for Phase 2 of the Race to the TopEarly Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) program. In this phase (Phase 2 of the RTT-ELC program), we would make awards to certain States that applied for, but did not receive, funding under Phase 1 of the RTT-ELC competition held in fiscal year (FY) 2011 (FY 2011 RTT-ELC competition). Specifically, we would consider eligible the five highest-scoring applicants that did not receive funding in the FY 2011 RTT-ELC competition, each of which received approximately 75 percent or more of the available points under the competition. We take this action to fund down the slate of the FY 2011 RTT-ELC competition and to establish the information and assurances that the eligible applicants would need to provide in order to receive funding under Phase 2 of the RTT-ELC program.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is a federally authorized survey of student achievement at grades 4, 8, and 12 in various subject areas, such as mathematics, reading, writing, science, U.S. history, civics, geography, economics, and the arts.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 calls for annual reports from states and institutions of higher education (IHEs) on the quality of teacher preparation and state teacher certification and licensure (Pub. L. 110-315, sections 205-208). The purpose of the reports is to provide greater accountability in the preparation of the nation's teaching forces and to provide information and incentives for its improvement.

The Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement announces the final priority, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria under the Arts in Education National Program (AENP). The Assistant Secretary may use this priority and these requirements, definitions and selection criteria for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2012 and later years. We take this action to encourage and expand national-level high-quality arts education activities and services for children and youth, with special emphasis on serving children from low- income families and children with disabilities.

This notice sets forth the schedule and agenda of an upcoming open teleconference meeting of the National Board (Board) of the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. The notice also describes the functions of the Board. Notice of this meeting is required by Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and is intended to notify the public of their opportunity to attend.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (Privacy Act) (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Department of Education (Department) deletes two systems of records from its existing inventory of systems of records subject to the Privacy Act.

The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services announces a priority for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program administered by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Specifically, this notice announces a priority for Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) Centers. The Assistant Secretary may use this priority for a competition in fiscal year (FY) 2012 and later years. We take this action to focus research attention on areas of national need.

The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education announces priorities, requirements, and selection criteria under the Comprehensive Centers Program. The Assistant Secretary may use one or more of these priorities, requirements, and selection criteria for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2012 and later years. We take this action to focus Federal technical assistance on identified State-led reforms. We intend these priorities, requirements, and selection criteria to increase the relevance and usefulness of Comprehensive Center technical assistance.

On May 14, 2012, the U.S. Department of Education published a 60-day comment period notice in the Federal Register (Page 29360, Column 1) seeking public comment for an information collection entitled, ``Exploratory Study on the Identification of English Learners with Disabilities.'' The number of school districts and schools in the abstract was incorrect. The Abstract is corrected as follows: The purpose of this study is to learn more about current processes and personnel involved in the identification of English Learners (ELs) for special education services. The study has two main components: (1) A review of recent research on the identification of ELs with special needs, and (2) case studies of six school districts and three schools in each district. Findings will be descriptive in nature. The study is not a program evaluation and does not purport to assess program outcomes; however, findings may be useful in informing a future, nationally representative study. The Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management, hereby issues a correction notice as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.