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

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing a revision of an existing information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing a extension of an existing information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing a revision of an existing information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing a new FRSS generic clearance.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing an extension of an existing information collection.

The Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education proposes requirements, definitions, and selection criteria under the Native American Career and Technical Education Program (NACTEP). The Assistant Secretary may use these requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for a competition in fiscal year (FY) 2013 and possibly in later years. The requirements, definitions, and selection criteria we propose in this notice are the same as those we used in the notice inviting applications for the first NACTEP competition we held in FY 2007 (see Federal Register March 23, 2007 (72 FR 13770) (March 2007 notice)) following the enactment of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Act). In the March 2007 notice, we established these requirements, definitions, and selection criteria pursuant to a waiver of rulemaking under the authority of section 457(d) of the General Education Provisions Act. Because the project period for NACTEP grants awarded in FY 2007 will end in September 2013, we are publishing the NACTEP requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for public comment. When published in final, these requirements, definitions, and selection criteria would govern the next NACTEP competition and possibly also subsequent NACTEP competitions.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing an extension of an existing information collection.

This document adopts as final a March 2010 interim final rule by which the Secretary amended the regulations governing the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) to provide greater flexibility to school districts designing MSAP programs for the FY 2010 competition. The amendments removed provisions in the regulations that require districts to use binary racial classifications and prohibit the creation of magnet schools that result in minority group enrollments in magnet and feeder schools exceeding the district-wide average of minority group students. We sought comments on the amendments because we adopted them through an interim final rule. We have reviewed the comments we received and retain the amendments without change for competitions going forward.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing a revision of an existing information collection.

The Department is requesting input to revitalize its training and technical assistance (TA) activities funded under the Rehabilitation Training Program. The Department will use the information and data gathered in response to this notice to support the design and implementation of future training and TA that is aligned with the current and future economic trends, reflects the needs of vocational rehabilitation (VR) consumers and ensures that VR counselors are equipped with new and emerging skills. The goal of these training and TA activities is to increase the achievement of high-quality integrated employment for individuals with disabilities.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing a new information collection.

On August 30, 2012, the Office of Management in the U.S. Department of Education published in the Federal Register (77 FR 52707) a notice announcing the members of the Performance Review Board (PRB) for the Department of Education for the Senior Executive Service (SES) (August PRB notice). Under 5 U.S.C. 4314(c)(1) through (c)(5), each agency is required to establish one or more PRBs. This notice corrects the list of members included in the August PRB notice.

The Secretary amends the Federal Perkins Loan (Perkins Loan) program, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program, and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) program regulations. These final regulations implement a new Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) plan in the Direct Loan program based on the President's ``Pay As You Earn'' repayment initiative, incorporate recent statutory changes to the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan in the Direct Loan and FFEL programs, and streamline and add clarity to the total and permanent disability (TPD) discharge process for borrowers in loan programs under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). These final regulations implementing a new ICR plan and the statutory changes to the IBR plan will assist borrowers in repaying their loans while the changes to the TPD discharge process will reduce burden for borrowers who are disabled and seeking a discharge of their title IV debt.