Department of Education August 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Secretary announces the guidance documents the Department of Education (Department) is rescinding because they are outdated, after conducting a review of its guidance under Executive Order (E.O.) 13891.

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

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct an emergency review of a new information collection.

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

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

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) withdraws the notice inviting applications (NIA) and cancels the competition for the fiscal year (FY) 2020 American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services (AIVRS) program under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.250N. The Department intends to announce a new competition in FY 2021.

The Department of Education (Department) amends program requirement (a) in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 notice inviting applications (NIA) for the Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFEC) program, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.310A. This final requirement provides current grantees the opportunity to request, on an annual basis, a reduction in their required 15 percent matching contribution in a project year due to economic circumstances related to the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Through this notice, the Secretary announces the availability of the Department of Education's service contract inventory for FY 2017 and FY 2018 on its website, at www2.ed.gov/fund/data/report/contracts/ servicecontractinventoryappendix/servicecontractinventory.htm l. A service contract inventory is a tool for assisting the agency in better understanding how contracted services are being used to support mission and operations and whether the contractors' skills are being utilized in an appropriate manner.

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

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

The Chief Operating Officer for Federal Student Aid announces the interest rates for loans made under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program that have variable interest rates. The rates announced in this notice are in effect for the period July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.

The Chief Operating Officer for Federal Student Aid announces the interest rates for Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loans (Direct Subsidized Loans), Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loans (Direct Unsubsidized Loans), and Federal Direct PLUS Loans (Direct PLUS Loans) made under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program with first disbursement dates on or after July 1, 2020, and before July 1, 2021.

The Secretary waives the requirements in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations that generally prohibit project periods exceeding five years and project period extensions involving the obligation of additional Federal funds. The waiver and extension would enable 23 projects under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.382A to receive funding for an additional period, not to exceed September 30, 2021.

The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2020 for the IDEA Paperwork Reduction Planning and Implementation Program, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.326F, to assist States in identifying excessive paperwork and noninstructional time burdens on special education teachers, related services providers, and State and local administrators that do not assist in improving educational and functional results for children with disabilities. The funds will support developing and, if appropriate, implementing comprehensive plans to reduce the burden. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1820-0028.

The Department of Education (Department) announces priorities and definitions under the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (OIB) program, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.177Z. The Department may use one or more of these priorities and definitions for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2020 and later years. We take this action to focus Federal financial assistance on an identified national need. We intend the priorities and definitions to improve the administration, operation, and performance of the OIB program.

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

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

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct an emergency review of a new information collection

The Secretary waives the requirements in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations that generally prohibit project periods exceeding five years and project period extensions involving the obligation of additional Federal funds. The waivers and extension would enable the project under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.116D to receive funding for an additional period, not to exceed September 25, 2021.

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications (NIA) for fiscal year (FY) 2020 for the Innovative Rehabilitation Training program, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.263D/E/F. These competitions fund time- limited training projects to develop, refine, implement, evaluate, and disseminate innovative methods of training vocational rehabilitation (VR) personnel and Client Assistance Program (CAP) personnel to support the work of the State VR agencies and the implementation of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Rehabilitation Act). In the FY 2020 competitions, the Department is focusing on innovative rehabilitation training in the following areas: CAP (84.263D); assisting and supporting individuals with disabilities pursuing self-employment, business ownership, and telecommuting (84.263E); and field-initiated projects in an area related to VR (84.263F). This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1820-0018.

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 ``Department of Education Cybersecurity Excellence Award'' (18-04-05). Pursuant to Executive Order 13870 of May 2, 2019, as published in the Federal Register on May 9, 2019 (Executive Order 13870), the Department has developed and implemented, consistent with applicable law, an annual Department of Education Cybersecurity Excellence Award to recognize Department employees and contractors for outstanding performance and achievements in the areas of cybersecurity and cyber-operations. The Department will solicit applications and nominations for one individual or team of individuals to be annually awarded the Department of Education Cybersecurity Excellence Award.

The Department of Education (Department) announces priorities, requirements, and definitions under the Rehabilitation Training program, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers 84.264J and 84.264K. The Department may use one or more of these priorities, requirements, and definitions for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2020 and later years. We take this action to focus attention on an identified national need to fund a Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Management (VRTAC-QM) and a Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment (VRTAC-QE). We intend for the VRTAC-QM and VRTAC-QE to increase the number and quality of employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities through training and technical assistance to State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency personnel. We expect the VRTAC-QM to enable State VR agency personnel to manage available resources better and improve service delivery, and the VRTAC-QE to support State VR agency personnel to implement innovative and effective employment strategies and supporting practices.