Department of Education 2015 – 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.

The Secretary adopts as final regulations of the Department the interim final regulations that were published on December 19, 2014. This action adopts the OMB guidance in title 2 of the CFR as final regulations of the Department. The Secretary amends the interim final regulations to correct technical errors contained in the amendments.

This notice sets forth the agenda for the November 19-21, 2015 Quarterly Meeting of the National Assessment Governing Board (hereafter referred to as Governing Board). This notice provides information to members of the public who may be interested in attending the meeting or providing written comments on the meeting. The notice of this meeting is required under section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

The Secretary amends the regulations governing the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program to create a new income- contingent repayment plan in accordance with the President's initiative to allow more Direct Loan borrowers to cap their loan payments at 10 percent of their monthly incomes. The Secretary is also implementing changes to the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program and Direct Loan Program regulations to streamline and enhance existing processes and provide additional support to struggling borrowers. These regulations will also amend the Student Assistance General Provisions regulations by expanding the circumstances under which an institution may challenge or appeal a draft or final cohort default rate based on the institution's participation rate index.

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.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of an upcoming meeting of the National Board for Education Sciences (NBES). The notice also describes the functions of the Committee. 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 the meeting.

We announce our intention to establish a negotiated rulemaking committee to prepare proposed regulations for the Federal Student Aid programs authorized under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). The committee will include representatives of organizations or groups with interests that are significantly affected by the topics proposed for negotiations. We request nominations for individual negotiators who represent key stakeholder constituencies for the issues to be negotiated to serve on the committee, and we set a schedule for committee meetings.

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

The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) is announcing the Reach Higher Career App Challenge (RHCAC or Challenge), a prize competition funded by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV or Act). RHCAC calls upon potential entrants, who may include eligible educators, mobile application (app) developers, and other interested individuals to submit information concerning concepts for mobile apps, which may include a prototype, to improve access to information about career and technical education (CTE), help students, including students with disabilities and English Learners, navigate education and career paths, and increase the capacity of career counselors to serve students. The Challenge seeks solutions that: (1) Are focused on middle and high school students, (2) include integrated tools to assess user skills and interests, and (3) offer users accessible information on occupations, education options, credentials, and career-seeking skills through an individualized user experience.

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 a revision of an existing information collection.

For the 36-month grant projects funded in fiscal year (FY) 2011, using FY 2010 funds, under the Literacy Information and Communication System (LINCS) Regional Professional Development Centers (RPDC) program, the Secretary hereby waives the restriction against project period extensions involving the obligation of additional Federal funds, and extends the project period of the four LINCS RPDC grants for an additional 12 months. This enables the four current LINCS RPDC grantees that received awards under the FY 2011 competition that were extended for one additional year through FY 2014 using 2013 funds (through September 30, 2015), to seek another continuation award for one additional year through FY 2015 with FY 2014 funds (through September 30, 2016); and we will not announce a new LINCS RPDC competition for FY 2015.

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

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (Privacy Act), the Department of Education (Department) publishes this notice of an altered system of records entitled ``Data Challenges and Appeals Solutions (DCAS) System,'' which will replace the ``Electronic Cohort Default Rate Appeals (eCDR Appeals)'' system of records. On October 31, 2014, the Secretary published final regulations in the Federal Register that apply to educational programs that are eligible to participate in the student financial assistance programs authorized under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), because these programs ``prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation'' (GE regulations). The GE regulations establish a new program eligibility measure and disclosure requirements. As a result, Federal Student Aid (FSA) will be responsible for many more data challenges, requests for adjustments, and appeals in the coming years. The DCAS System is the enhanced successor system to the eCDR Appeals system and will be implemented in phases to include all appeals, requests for adjustments and challenges related to institutional cohort default rates (CDRs), the GE regulations, and other student-level data initiatives. After FSA fully implements all phases of the DCAS System, FSA will retire the prior information technology system that housed the eCDR Appeals data. In addition to the records described above, the DCAS System will contain records regarding borrowers who have applied for and received loans under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program. The Department seeks comment on the altered system of records described in this notice, in accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act.

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 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, 2015, through June 30, 2016, for certain loans made under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program prior to July 1, 2010. The Chief Operating Officer takes this action to give notice of FFEL Program loan interest rates to the public.

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 revision of an existing information collection.

This notice sets forth the schedule of an upcoming public meeting conducted by the National Advisory Council on Indian Education NACIE). Notice of the meeting is required by section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and intended to notify the public of its opportunity to attend.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is seeking comments on the renewal of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of information for the Tribal Education Department Grant Program, authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0185. The information collection will expire November 30, 2015.

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) announces the availability of enhancement funds to tribes and their tribal education agencies to promote tribal control and operation of BIE-funded schools on their reservations. This notice invites tribes with at least one BIE-funded school on their reservation/Indian land to submit grant proposals.