Department of Education January 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing an 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 [insert one of the following options; a revision of a previously approved 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 information collection.

The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education proposes priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria under the Enhanced Assessment Instruments Grant program, also called the Enhanced Assessment Grants (EAG) program. The Assistant Secretary may use one or more of these priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for competitions using funds from fiscal year (FY) 2012 and later years. The Department takes these actions in order to establish priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria that are likely to recognize high-quality proposals and to help focus Federal financial assistance on the pressing needs of, and promising developments in, developing or enhancing assessments under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA).

In accordance with section 427A of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, the Chief Operating Officer for Federal Student Aid announces the interest rates for the period July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013, for certain loans made under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program. The Chief Operating Officer takes this action to give notice of FFEL Program loan interest rates to the public.

The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services proposes funding priorities and definitions for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program administered by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Specifically, this document proposes priorities for a Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) on Community Living and Participation of Individuals with Disabilities (Proposed Priority 1), a DRRP on Health and Function of Individuals with Disabilities (Proposed Priority 2), and a DRRP on Employment of Individuals with Disabilities (Proposed Priority 3). If an applicant proposes to conduct research under these priorities, the research must be focused on one of the four stages of research. This document proposes definitions for the four stages of research: exploration and discovery, intervention development, intervention efficacy, and scale- up evaluation. The Assistant Secretary may use one or more of these priorities and definitions for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2013 and later years. We take this action to focus research attention on areas of national need. We intend these priorities and definitions to contribute to improved employment and independent living outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

The Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education announces priorities under the GEAR UP College Savings Account Research Demonstration Project. The Assistant Secretary may use these priorities for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2013 and later years. We take this action to determine the effectiveness of implementing college savings accounts and providing financial counseling in conjunction with other GEAR UP activities as part of an overall college access and success strategy.

This notice sets forth the announcement of a conference call meeting of the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. The notice also describes the functions of the Commission. Notice of the meeting is required by section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and is intended to notify the public of this meeting.

The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services proposes 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 proposes a priority for Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs): Hearing Enhancement. The Assistant Secretary may use this priority for a competition in fiscal year (FY) 2013 and later years. We take this action to focus research attention on areas of national need. We intend to use this priority to improve rehabilitation services and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

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.

The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services proposes a priority under the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) and Centers Program administered by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Specifically, this notice proposes a priority for a DRRP to serve as the Center on Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer (Center). The Assistant Secretary may use this priority for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2013 and later years. We take this action to focus research attention on areas of national need. We intend this priority to contribute to improved outcomes for individuals with a disability.

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 ``Evaluation of the Pell Grant Experiments Under the Experimental Sites Initiative2012'' (18- 13-31).

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this semiannual agenda of regulatory documents, including those that are procurement- related, for public information and comments under Executive Order 12866 ``Regulatory Planning and Review.'' This agenda incorporates the objective and criteria, when applicable, of the regulatory reform program under the Executive Order and other regulatory guidance. It contains DoD issuances initiated by DoD components that may have economic and environmental impact on State, local, or tribal interests under the criteria of Executive Order 12866. Although most DoD issuances listed in the agenda are of limited public impact, their nature may be of public interest and, therefore, are published to provide notice of rulemaking and an opportunity for public participation in the internal DoD rulemaking process. Members of the public may submit comments on individual proposed and interim final rulemakings at www.regulations.gov during the comment period that follows publication in the Federal Register. This agenda updates the report published on January 20, 2012, and includes regulations expected to be issued and under review over the next 12 months. The next agenda is scheduled to be published in the spring of 2013. In addition to this agenda, DoD components also publish rulemaking notices pertaining to their specific statutory administration requirements as required. Starting with the fall 2007 edition, the Internet became the basic means for disseminating the Unified Agenda. The complete Unified Agenda will be available online at www.reginfo.gov, in a format that offers users the ability to obtain information from the Agenda database. Because publication in the Federal Register is mandated for the regulatory flexibility agendas required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 602), the Department of Defense's printed agenda entries include only: (1) Rules that are in the Agency's regulatory flexibility agenda, in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, because they are likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities; and (2) Any rules that the Agency has identified for periodic review under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Printing of these entries is limited to fields that contain information required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act's agenda requirements. Additional information on these entries is in the Unified Agenda available online.