80 FR 38672 - Final Waiver and Extension of the Project Period; Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 129 (July 7, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 129 (July 7, 2015)
| Page Range | 38672-38674 | |
| FR Document | 2015-16622 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 129 (Tuesday, July 7, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 38672-38674] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-16622] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.259A.] Final Waiver and Extension of the Project Period; Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program AGENCY: Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, Department of Education. ACTION: Final waiver and extension of the project period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: For the 24-month projects funded in fiscal year (FY) 2013 under the Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program (NHCTEP), the Secretary waives the requirements that generally prohibit project period extensions involving the obligation of additional Federal funds. The Secretary also extends the project period of the seven current grants for up to an additional 24 months. This enables the current NHCTEP grantees to request and continue to receive Federal funding annually for project periods through FY 2016 and possibly through FY 2017. DATES: The waiver and extension of the project period is effective July 7, 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Mayo, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 11075, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-7241. Telephone: (202) 245-7792, or by email at: [email protected]. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf or a text telephone, call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1-800-877- 8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 10, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 7379) a proposed waiver of 34 CFR 75.261(a) and (c)(2) and extension of the project period (proposed waiver and extension) in order to-- (1) Enable the Secretary to provide additional funds to the current NHCTEP grantees with FY 2015 funds and possibly FY 2016 funds for project periods through FY 2016 and possibly through FY 2017; and (2) Request comments on the proposed waiver and extension. There are no substantive differences between the proposed waiver and extension and the final waiver and extension. Public Comment: In response to our invitation in the proposed waiver and extension, we received six comments. Generally, we do not address comments that raise concerns not related to the proposed waiver and extension. Analysis of Comments and Discussion An analysis of the comments received in response to the proposed waiver and extension follows. Comment: Almost all commenters supported the proposed waiver and extension of the NHCTEP project period. The commenters provided various reasons for their support of the waiver and extension, including the great need for funding beyond the two-year project period. One commenter, who supported the proposed waiver and extension, stated that an abrupt suspension in the NHCTEP grantees' training services, as well as outreach, recruitment, academic, and retention efforts, would be detrimental to students who would then have to rely on welfare services instead of vocational training opportunities. Another commenter stated that the continuity of funding would be a tremendous stabilizing benefit to the program and students. The commenter further stated that NHCTEP grantees have placed students in well-paying jobs with opportunities for advancement and the continuity of support would be more effective in maintaining their high-quality services. The commenter expressed the view that the extension would also help maximize their recruitment efforts, as well as positively affect the direct participation and completion of the Native Hawaiian students enrolled in NHCTEP-funded projects. Two commenters indicated that the continuation of an existing NHCTEP grantee's program and its consortium of sub-grantees would allow them to continue to provide valued career and technical education (CTE) services to Native Hawaiian students, including special needs students. Also, the commenters stated that continuation grant awards would allow the consortium to continue providing specialized CTE training that would maximize both the participation and completion of Native Hawaiian students. Finally, a commenter stated that the proposed waiver and extension would allow NHCTEP-funded projects more time to prepare Native Hawaiian high school students for postsecondary training or the workforce. Discussion: We appreciate the support of the commenters and agree that extending the current NHCTEP grant period will allow current NHCTEP grantees to continue to work toward accomplishing the goals and objectives stated in their 2013 NHCTEP grant applications, including providing specialized CTE training to Native Hawaiian students. We agree that it is important that there not be a lapse in programming provided by NHCTEP grantees to CTE students. Changes: None. Comment: One commenter asked why the Department used the notice and comment procedures of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) for this proposed waiver and extension. The commenter characterized the waiver and extension as a general statement of policy that would not fall within the APA's notice and comment rulemaking requirements, and inquired as to why the Department treated the waiver and extension differently. The commenter also cited the APA's exception of interpretive rules and statements of policy from the requirement for rules to have an effective date no fewer than 30 days after their date of publication. Discussion: The APA defines a ``rule'' as ``an agency statement of general or particular applicability and future effect designed to implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy'' and requires agencies to follow notice and comment procedures when formulating, amending, or repealing rules. 5 U.S.C. 551, 553. As the commenter notes, the APA provides some exceptions to this requirement. For instance, absent another statute to the contrary, the APA exempts ``interpretative rules, general statements of policy, or rules of agency organization, procedure, or practice'' from its notice and comment rulemaking requirements. 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A). In addition, the APA exempts ``matter[s] relating to . . . loans, grants, [[Page 38673]] benefits, or contracts'' from notice and comment rulemaking. 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2). However, the General Education Provisions Act limits applicability of the APA's grants exemption to regulations (1) governing the first grant program under a new or substantially revised program authority, or (2) where the Secretary finds that use of notice and comment rulemaking would cause ``extreme hardship to the intended beneficiaries of the program affected by such regulations.'' 20 U.S.C. 1232(d). Neither of those two exceptions was applicable. As a result, the Department followed its standard practice of utilizing notice and comment rulemaking procedures for rules governing its grant programs. The commenter is correct that the proposed waiver and extension could arguably be construed as an interpretive rule, which would not require use of the APA's notice and comment procedures. See 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A). However, it is the Department's general practice to err on the side of providing the public with more openness, accessibility and transparency into its actions whenever practicable. This is especially true where, as here, no party is likely to be adversely affected by the Department's decision to seek notice and comment. Changes: None. Background NHCTEP, authorized by section 116 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (the Perkins Act), supports grants to community-based organizations primarily serving and representing Native Hawaiians. Under this program, grantees carry out projects that provide organized educational activities offering a sequence of courses that-- (a) Provides individuals with coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in current or emerging professions; (b) Provides technical skill proficiency, an industry-recognized credential, a certificate, or an associate degree; and (c) Includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of an industry, including entrepreneurship, of an individual. Projects may include prerequisite courses (other than remedial courses) that meet the definitional requirements of section 3(5)(A) of the Perkins Act (20 U.S.C. 2302(5)(A)). On June 14, 2013, we published in the Federal Register (78 FR 35877) a notice inviting applications for NHCTEP grants (2013 NIA). Although the Secretary invited applications with a proposed project period of five years in previous NHCTEP competitions, in 2013, in anticipation of congressional reauthorization of the Perkins Act, the Department invited applications with proposed project periods of two years. The project periods for the NHCTEP projects funded under the 2013 NIA are scheduled to end in FY 2015. Because there is the potential for changes in the Perkins Act for NHCTEP beyond 2015, we do not believe it is in the public interest to hold a new NHCTEP competition in FY 2015 for projects that may then operate for just one year, or to announce a competition under which eligible entities would be expected to proceed through the application preparation and submission process while lacking critical information about the future of the program. Further, we do not think that it is in the public interest to have a lapse in the services currently provided by the NHCTEP grantees. For these reasons, the Secretary waives the requirements of 34 CFR 75.261(a) and (c)(2) that generally prohibit project period extensions involving the obligation of additional Federal funds and extends the NHCTEP project period for up to 24 months. The waiver and extension will allow the current NHCTEP grantees to request and receive Federal funding annually for project periods through FY 2016 and possibly through FY 2017. We will fund the extended project period by using funds appropriated for FY 2015 or FY 2016, depending on whether the grants are extended for one or two years. Any activities carried out during the period of a NHCTEP continuation award will have to be consistent with, or a logical extension of, the scope, goals, and objectives of the grantee's application as approved in the FY 2013 NHCTEP competition. The requirements applicable to continuation awards for this competition set forth in the 2013 NIA and the requirements in 34 CFR 75.253 will apply to any continuation awards sought by the current NHCTEP grantees. We will base our decisions regarding continuation awards on the program narratives, budgets, budget narratives, and program performance reports submitted by the current grantees, and the requirements in 34 CFR 75.253. The waiver and extension will not exempt the current NHCTEP grantees from the appropriation account closing provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1552(a), nor will they extend the availability of funds previously awarded to current NHCTEP grantees. As a result of 31 U.S.C. 1552(a), appropriations available for a limited period may be used for payment of valid obligations for only five years after the expiration of their period of availability for Federal obligation. After that time, the unexpended balance of those funds is canceled and returned to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and is unavailable for restoration for any purpose (31 U.S.C. 1552(b)). Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification The Secretary certifies that the final waiver and extension and the activities required to support additional years of funding will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The small entities that will be affected by this waiver and extension are the seven currently funded NHCTEP grantees and any potential applicants. The Secretary further certifies that the final waiver and extension will not have a significant economic impact on these entities because the extension of an existing project imposes minimal compliance costs, and the activities required to support the additional years of funding will not impose additional regulatory burdens or require unnecessary Federal supervision. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 This waiver and extension does not contain any information collection requirements. Intergovernmental Review NHCTEP is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System at: www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. [[Page 38674]] You may also access documents of the Department published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature at: www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department. Dated: July 1, 2015. Johan E. Uvin, Acting Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education. [FR Doc. 2015-16622 Filed 7-6-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
![38672 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 129 / Tuesday, July 7, 2015 / Notices
immediately above or it can be obtained call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, sub-grantees would allow them to
from the General Services at 1–800–877–8339. continue to provide valued career and
Administration’s FACA Database— SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On technical education (CTE) services to
http://www.facadatabase.gov/ February 10, 2015, we published in the Native Hawaiian students, including
committee/ Federal Register (80 FR 7379) a special needs students. Also, the
committee.aspx?cid=1663&aid=41. proposed waiver of 34 CFR 75.261(a) commenters stated that continuation
Written statements that do not pertain and (c)(2) and extension of the project grant awards would allow the
to a scheduled meeting of the period (proposed waiver and extension) consortium to continue providing
Committee may be submitted at any in order to— specialized CTE training that would
time. However, if individual comments (1) Enable the Secretary to provide maximize both the participation and
pertain to a specific topic being additional funds to the current NHCTEP completion of Native Hawaiian
discussed at a planned meeting, then grantees with FY 2015 funds and students.
these statements must be submitted no possibly FY 2016 funds for project Finally, a commenter stated that the
later than five business days prior to the periods through FY 2016 and possibly proposed waiver and extension would
meeting in question. The Designated through FY 2017; and allow NHCTEP-funded projects more
Federal Officer will review all (2) Request comments on the time to prepare Native Hawaiian high
submitted written statements and proposed waiver and extension. school students for postsecondary
provide copies to all TRAC members. There are no substantive differences training or the workforce.
between the proposed waiver and Discussion: We appreciate the support
Dated: July 1, 2015. of the commenters and agree that
extension and the final waiver and
Aaron Siegel, extension. extending the current NHCTEP grant
Alternate OSD Federal Register, Liaison Public Comment: In response to our period will allow current NHCTEP
Officer, Department of Defense. invitation in the proposed waiver and grantees to continue to work toward
[FR Doc. 2015–16578 Filed 7–6–15; 8:45 am] extension, we received six comments. accomplishing the goals and objectives
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P Generally, we do not address comments stated in their 2013 NHCTEP grant
that raise concerns not related to the applications, including providing
proposed waiver and extension. specialized CTE training to Native
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Hawaiian students. We agree that it is
Analysis of Comments and Discussion important that there not be a lapse in
[Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance An analysis of the comments received programming provided by NHCTEP
(CFDA) Number: 84.259A.] in response to the proposed waiver and grantees to CTE students.
extension follows. Changes: None.
Final Waiver and Extension of the Comment: Almost all commenters Comment: One commenter asked why
Project Period; Native Hawaiian Career supported the proposed waiver and the Department used the notice and
and Technical Education Program extension of the NHCTEP project comment procedures of the
period. The commenters provided Administrative Procedure Act (APA) for
AGENCY: Office of Career, Technical, and
various reasons for their support of the this proposed waiver and extension.
Adult Education, Department of
waiver and extension, including the The commenter characterized the
Education.
great need for funding beyond the two- waiver and extension as a general
ACTION: Final waiver and extension of year project period. statement of policy that would not fall
the project period. One commenter, who supported the within the APA’s notice and comment
proposed waiver and extension, stated rulemaking requirements, and inquired
SUMMARY: For the 24-month projects
that an abrupt suspension in the as to why the Department treated the
funded in fiscal year (FY) 2013 under
NHCTEP grantees’ training services, as waiver and extension differently. The
the Native Hawaiian Career and
well as outreach, recruitment, academic, commenter also cited the APA’s
Technical Education Program
and retention efforts, would be exception of interpretive rules and
(NHCTEP), the Secretary waives the
detrimental to students who would then statements of policy from the
requirements that generally prohibit
have to rely on welfare services instead requirement for rules to have an
project period extensions involving the
of vocational training opportunities. effective date no fewer than 30 days
obligation of additional Federal funds.
Another commenter stated that the after their date of publication.
The Secretary also extends the project Discussion: The APA defines a ‘‘rule’’
continuity of funding would be a
period of the seven current grants for up as ‘‘an agency statement of general or
tremendous stabilizing benefit to the
to an additional 24 months. This particular applicability and future effect
program and students. The commenter
enables the current NHCTEP grantees to designed to implement, interpret, or
further stated that NHCTEP grantees
request and continue to receive Federal prescribe law or policy’’ and requires
have placed students in well-paying
funding annually for project periods agencies to follow notice and comment
jobs with opportunities for advancement
through FY 2016 and possibly through procedures when formulating,
and the continuity of support would be
FY 2017. amending, or repealing rules. 5 U.S.C.
more effective in maintaining their high-
DATES: The waiver and extension of the quality services. The commenter 551, 553. As the commenter notes, the
project period is effective July 7, 2015. expressed the view that the extension APA provides some exceptions to this
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: would also help maximize their requirement. For instance, absent
Linda Mayo, U.S. Department of recruitment efforts, as well as positively another statute to the contrary, the APA
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., affect the direct participation and exempts ‘‘interpretative rules, general
Room 11075, Potomac Center Plaza, completion of the Native Hawaiian statements of policy, or rules of agency
Washington, DC 20202–7241. students enrolled in NHCTEP-funded organization, procedure, or practice’’
Telephone: (202) 245–7792, or by email projects. from its notice and comment
at: linda.mayo@ed.gov. Two commenters indicated that the rulemaking requirements. 5 U.S.C.
If you use a telecommunications continuation of an existing NHCTEP 553(b)(A). In addition, the APA exempts
device for the deaf or a text telephone, grantee’s program and its consortium of ‘‘matter[s] relating to . . . loans, grants,
VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:31 Jul 06, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07JYN1.SGM 07JYN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_38801/page/1.svg)
![38674 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 129 / Tuesday, July 7, 2015 / Notices
You may also access documents of the activities, please contact Ian Foss, 202– Dated: July 1, 2015.
Department published in the Federal 377–3681. Kate Mullan,
Register by using the article search Acting Director, Information Collection
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
feature at: www.federalregister.gov. Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy
Department of Education (ED), in Officer, Office of Management.
Specifically, through the advanced
search feature at this site, you can limit accordance with the Paperwork
[FR Doc. 2015–16581 Filed 7–6–15; 8:45 am]
your search to documents published by Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
the Department. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
public and Federal agencies with an
Dated: July 1, 2015. opportunity to comment on proposed, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Johan E. Uvin, revised, and continuing collections of
Acting Assistant Secretary for Career, information. This helps the Department [Docket No.: ED–2015–ICCD–0028]
Technical, and Adult Education. assess the impact of its information
Agency Information Collection
[FR Doc. 2015–16622 Filed 7–6–15; 8:45 am] collection requirements and minimize
Activities; Submission to the Office of
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P the public’s reporting burden. It also
Management and Budget for Review
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and Approval; Comment Request;
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan
requirements and provide the requested
Program Deferment Request Forms
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[Docket No.: ED–2015–ICCD–0026]
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and Approval; Comment Request;
following issues: (1) Is this collection Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan
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tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Education and other loan holders uses accordance with the Paperwork
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Document Created: 2015-12-15 13:27:39
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 13:27:39
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Final waiver and extension of the project period. | |
| Dates | The waiver and extension of the project period is effective July 7, 2015. | |
| Contact | Linda Mayo, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 11075, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-7241. Telephone: (202) 245-7792, or by email at: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 38672 |
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