Department of Education – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 and implementing guidance require Federal agencies to develop an evidence-building plan, referred to as a Learning Agenda, to identify and address questions relevant to agency programs, policies, and regulations. Through this request for information (RFI), we seek public input to help us identify priority questions to guide our evidence- building activities.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing a reinstatement without change of a previously approved collection.

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) issues this interpretation to revise and clarify its position on the legality of State laws and regulations that govern various aspects of the servicing of Federal student loans, such as preventing unfair or deceptive practices, correcting misapplied payments, or addressing refusals to communicate with borrowers. The Department concludes that these State laws are preempted only in limited and discrete respects, as further discussed in this interpretation. In addition, this interpretation will help facilitate close coordination between the Department and its State partners to further enhance both servicer accountability and borrower protections. This interpretation revokes and supersedes the interpretation published on March 12, 2018, ``Federal Preemption and State Regulation of the Department of Education's Federal Student Loan Programs and Federal Student Loan Servicers'' (2018 interpretation).

The Chief Operating Officer for Federal Student Aid announces the interest rates for loans made under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.032, that have variable interest rates. The rates announced in this notice are in effect for the period July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.

We announce our intention to establish one 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 subject matter of the proposed regulations. We request nominations for individual negotiators who represent key stakeholder constituencies for the issues to be negotiated to serve on the committee. We also announce the creation of a subcommittee, and request nominations for individuals with pertinent expertise to participate on the subcommittee. The Department has set a schedule for committee meetings.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved collection.

The Department of Education (Department) announces a priority for the Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities and Technical Assistance on State Data Collection program, Assistance Listing Number 84.326G. The Department may use the priority for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2021 and later years. We will use the priority to award a cooperative agreement for a National Assessment Center (Center) to focus attention on an identified need to address national, State, and local assessment issues related to students with disabilities, including students with disabilities who are also English learners (ELs).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved collection.

The Secretary is announcing the availability of new HEERF funding for the ARP (a)(2) grant program authorized under ARP section 2003(2) and inviting applications under Assistance Listing Number (ALN)84.425L from eligible public and private nonprofit IHEs to address needs directly related to the coronavirus. These awards are in addition to the ARP (a)(1) grants and have been allocated by the Secretary proportionally to funding for MSI programs in the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020. The institutions eligible for this funding include institutions that generally would be eligible to apply for the following grant programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), and that are listed on the ARP (a)(2) MSI Allocation Table: Title V, part A Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions, Title V, part B Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans, and the following Title III Part A programs: Strengthening Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH), Strengthening Native American- Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI), and Strengthening Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI). This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1840-XXXX.

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 an information collection.

Through this notice, the Secretary announces the availability of the Department of Education's service contract inventory for FY 2019 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 without change of a currently approved collection.

The Department of Education (Department) announces priorities and definitions under the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) program, Assistance Listing Numbers 84.411A/B/C. The Department may use these priorities and definitions for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2021 and in later years.

The Department of Education (Department) amends its regulations regarding salary pre-offset hearings to expressly permit administrative law judges (ALJs) to act as the presiding officers.

The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2021 for Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Individuals Who Are DeafBlind programAssistance Listing Number 84.160Dto provide training to working interpreters in order to develop a new skill area or enhance an existing skill area. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1820-0018.

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

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing a revision of a currently approved collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing a revision of a currently approved collection.

The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2021 for the Presidential and Congressional Academies for American History and Civics (Academies) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.422A. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1894-0006.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved 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 waiver and extension enable four projects under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.004D to receive funding for an additional period, not to exceed September 30, 2022.

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 new information collection.