80 FR 48302 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 2016-2017 Federal Student Aid Application
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 155 (August 12, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 155 (August 12, 2015)
| Page Range | 48302-48304 | |
| FR Document | 2015-19774 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 155 (Wednesday, August 12, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 48302-48304] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-19774] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [Docket No. ED-2015-ICCD-0101] Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 2016- 2017 Federal Student Aid Application AGENCY: Federal Student Aid (FSA), Department of Education (ED). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: 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. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before October 13, 2015. ADDRESSES: To access and review all the documents related to the information collection listed in this notice, please use http://wwww.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED-2015-ICCD- 0101. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Please note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the Director of the Information Collection Clearance Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, LBJ, Room 2E105, Washington, DC 20202-4537. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact the Douglas A. Pineda Robles, 202-377-4578. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education (ED), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps ED assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the ED's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. ED is especially interested in public comments addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of ED; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might ED enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might ED minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records. Title of Collection: 2016-2017 Federal Student Aid Application. OMB Control Number: 1845-0001. Type of Review: A revision of an existing information collection. Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or households. Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 40,135,807. Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 20,560,481. Abstract: Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), mandates that the Secretary of Education ``. . . shall produce, distribute, and process free of charge common financial reporting forms as described in this subsection to be used for application and reapplication to determine the need and eligibility of a student for financial assistance . . .''. The determination of need and eligibility are for the following title IV, HEA, federal student financial assistance programs: the Federal Pell Grant Program; the Campus-Based programs (Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS), and the Federal Perkins Loan Program); the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program; the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant; and the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education (hereafter ``the Department''), subsequently developed an application process to collect and process the data necessary to determine a student's eligibility to receive title IV, HEA program assistance. The application process involves an applicant's submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA[supreg]). After submission of the FAFSA, an applicant receives a Student Aid Report (SAR), which is a summary of the data they submitted on the FAFSA. The applicant reviews the SAR, and, if necessary, will make corrections or updates to their submitted FAFSA data. Institutions of higher education listed by the applicant on the FAFSA also receive a summary of processed data submitted on the FAFSA which is called the Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR). The Department seeks OMB approval of all application components as a single ``collection of information''. The aggregate burden will be accounted for under OMB Control Number 1845-0001. The specific application components, descriptions and submission methods for each are listed in Table 1. Table 1--Federal Student Aid Application Components ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Component Description Submission method ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Initial Submission of FAFSA ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FAFSA on the Web (FOTW)..... Online FAFSA that Submitted by the offers applicants a applicant via customized www.fafsa.gov. experience. FOTW--Renewal............... Online FAFSA for applicants who have previously completed the FAFSA. FOTW--EZ.................... Online FAFSA for applicants who qualify for the Simplified Needs Test (SNT) or Automatic Zero (Auto Zero) needs analysis formulas. FOTW--EZ Renewal............ Online FAFSA for applicants who have previously completed the FAFSA and who qualify for the SNT or Auto Zero needs analysis formulas. [[Page 48303]] FAFSA on the Phone (FOTP)... The Federal Student Submitted through Aid Information www.fafsa.gov for Center (FSAIC) applicants who call representatives 1-800-4-FED-AID. assist applicants by filing the FAFSA on their behalf through FOTW. FOTP--EZ.................... FSAIC representatives assist applicants who qualify for the SNT or Auto Zero needs analysis formulas by filing the FAFSA on their behalf through FOTW. FAA Access.................. Online tool that a Submitted through financial aid www.faaacess.ed.gov administrator (FAA) by a FAA on behalf utilizes to submit of an applicant. a FAFSA. FAA Access--Renewal......... Online tool that a FAA can utilize to submit a Renewal FAFSA. FAA Access--EZ.............. Online tool that a FAA can utilize to submit a FAFSA for applicants who qualify for the SNT or Auto Zero needs analysis formulas. FAA Access--EZ Renewal...... Online tool that a FAA can utilize to submit a FAFSA for applicants who have previously completed the FAFSA and who qualify for the SNT or Auto Zero needs analysis formulas. Electronic Other............ This is a submission The FAA may be using done by a FAA, on their mainframe behalf of the computer or applicant, using software to the Electronic Data facilitate the EDE Exchange (EDE). process. PDF FAFSA or Paper FAFSA.... The paper version of Mailed by the the FAFSA printed applicant. by the Department for applicants who are unable to access the Internet or the online version of the FAFSA for applicants who can access the Internet but are unable to complete the form using FOTW. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Correcting Submitted FAFSA Information and Reviewing FAFSA Information ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FOTW--Corrections........... Any applicant who Submitted by the has a Federal applicant via Student Aid ID (FSA www.fafsa.gov. ID)--regardless of how they originally applied--may make corrections using FOTW Corrections. Electronic Other-- With the applicant's The FAA may be using Corrections. permission, their mainframe corrections can be computer or made by a FAA using software to the EDE. facilitate the EDE process. Paper SAR--This is a SAR and The full paper Mailed by the an option for corrections. summary that is applicant. mailed to paper applicants who did not provide an e- mail address and to applicants whose records were rejected due to critical errors during processing. Applicants can write corrections directly on the paper SAR and mail for processing. FAA Access--Corrections..... An institution can Submitted through use FAA Access to www.faaacess.ed.gov correct the FAFSA. by a FAA on behalf of an applicant. Internal Department The Department will There is no burden Corrections. submit an to the applicants applicant's record under this for system- correction type as generated these are system- corrections. based corrections. FSAIC Corrections........... Any applicant, with These changes are their Data Release made directly in Number (DRN), can the CPS system by a change the FSAIC postsecondary representative. institutions listed on their FAFSA or change their address by calling FSAIC. SAR Electronic (eSAR)....... The eSAR is an Cannot be submitted online version of for processing. the SAR that is available on FOTW to all applicants with a PIN. Notifications for the eSAR are sent to students who applied electronically or by paper and provided an e-mail address. These notifications are sent by e-mail and include a secure hyperlink that takes the user to the FOTW site. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This information collection also documents an estimate of the annual public burden as it relates to the application process for federal student aid. The Applicant Burden Model (ABM), measures applicant burden through an assessment of the activities each applicant conducts in conjunction with other applicant characteristics and in terms of burden, the average applicant's experience. Key determinants of the ABM include:The total number of applicants that will potentially apply for federal student aid; How the applicant chooses to complete and submit the FAFSA (e.g., by paper or electronically via FOTW[supreg]); How the applicant chooses to submit any corrections and/or updates (e.g., the paper SAR or electronically via FOTW Corrections); The type of SAR document the applicant receives (eSAR, SAR acknowledgment, or paper SAR); The formula applied to determine the applicant's expected family contribution (EFC) (full need analysis formula, Simplified Needs Test or Automatic Zero); and The average amount of time involved in preparing to complete the application. The ABM is largely driven by the number of potential applicants for the application cycle. The total application projection for 2016-2017 is based upon two factors--estimating the growth rate of the total enrollment into post- [[Page 48304]] secondary education and applying the growth rate to the FAFSA submissions. The ABM is also based on the application options available to students and parents. The Department accounts for each application component based on web trending tools, survey information, and other Department data sources. For 2016-2017, the Department is reporting a net burden decrease of -3,522,674 hours. This decrease is considered to be an adjustment in burden hours from the 2015-2016 FAFSA. Dated: August 7, 2015. Stephanie Valentine, Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy Officer, Office of Management. [FR Doc. 2015-19774 Filed 8-11-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
![48302 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 155 / Wednesday, August 12, 2015 / Notices
Alabama 36112–6335, telephone (334) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For distribute, and process free of charge
953–2989. specific questions related to collection common financial reporting forms as
activities, please contact the Douglas A. described in this subsection to be used
Henry Williams,
Pineda Robles, 202–377–4578. for application and reapplication to
Acting Air Force Federal Register Liaison
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The determine the need and eligibility of a
Officer, DAF.
Department of Education (ED), in student for financial assistance . . .’’.
[FR Doc. 2015–19836 Filed 8–11–15; 8:45 am]
accordance with the Paperwork The determination of need and
BILLING CODE 5001–10–P
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. eligibility are for the following title IV,
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general HEA, federal student financial
public and Federal agencies with an assistance programs: the Federal Pell
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION opportunity to comment on proposed, Grant Program; the Campus-Based
revised, and continuing collections of programs (Federal Supplemental
[Docket No. ED–2015–ICCD–0101]
information. This helps ED assess the Educational Opportunity Grant
Agency Information Collection impact of its information collection (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS),
Activities; Comment Request; 2016– requirements and minimize the public’s
and the Federal Perkins Loan Program);
2017 Federal Student Aid Application reporting burden. It also helps the
the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan
public understand the ED’s information
AGENCY: Federal Student Aid (FSA), Program; the Teacher Education
collection requirements and provide the
Department of Education (ED). Assistance for College and Higher
requested data in the desired format. ED
Education (TEACH) Grant; and the Iraq
ACTION: Notice. is soliciting comments on the proposed
information collection request (ICR) that and Afghanistan Service Grant.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the is described below. ED is especially Federal Student Aid, an office of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 interested in public comments U.S. Department of Education (hereafter
U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is addressing the following issues: (1) Is ‘‘the Department’’), subsequently
proposing a revision of an existing this collection necessary to the proper developed an application process to
information collection. functions of ED; (2) will this collect and process the data necessary to
DATES: Interested persons are invited to information be processed and used in a determine a student’s eligibility to
submit comments on or before October timely manner; (3) is the estimate of receive title IV, HEA program
13, 2015. burden accurate; (4) how might ED assistance. The application process
ADDRESSES: To access and review all the
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity involves an applicant’s submission of
documents related to the information of the information to be collected; and the Free Application for Federal Student
collection listed in this notice, please (5) how might ED minimize the burden Aid (FAFSA®). After submission of the
use http://wwww.regulations.gov by of this collection on the respondents, FAFSA, an applicant receives a Student
searching the Docket ID number ED– including through the use of Aid Report (SAR), which is a summary
2015–ICCD–0101. Comments submitted information technology. Please note that of the data they submitted on the
in response to this notice should be written comments received in response FAFSA. The applicant reviews the SAR,
submitted electronically through the to this notice will be considered public and, if necessary, will make corrections
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http:// records. or updates to their submitted FAFSA
Title of Collection: 2016–2017 Federal data. Institutions of higher education
www.regulations.gov by selecting the
Student Aid Application. listed by the applicant on the FAFSA
Docket ID number or via postal mail, OMB Control Number: 1845–0001.
commercial delivery, or hand delivery. also receive a summary of processed
Type of Review: A revision of an data submitted on the FAFSA which is
Please note that comments submitted by existing information collection.
fax or email and those submitted after called the Institutional Student
Respondents/Affected Public: Information Record (ISIR).
the comment period will not be Individuals or households.
accepted. Written requests for Total Estimated Number of Annual The Department seeks OMB approval
information or comments submitted by Responses: 40,135,807. of all application components as a
postal mail or delivery should be Total Estimated Number of Annual single ‘‘collection of information’’. The
addressed to the Director of the Burden Hours: 20,560,481. aggregate burden will be accounted for
Information Collection Clearance Abstract: Section 483 of the Higher under OMB Control Number 1845–0001.
Division, U.S. Department of Education, Education Act of 1965, as amended The specific application components,
400 Maryland Avenue SW, LBJ, Room (HEA), mandates that the Secretary of descriptions and submission methods
2E105, Washington, DC 20202–4537. Education ‘‘. . . shall produce, for each are listed in Table 1.
TABLE 1—FEDERAL STUDENT AID APPLICATION COMPONENTS
Component Description Submission method
Initial Submission of FAFSA
FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) Online FAFSA that offers applicants a customized ex- Submitted by the applicant via www.fafsa.gov.
perience.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
FOTW—Renewal ................. Online FAFSA for applicants who have previously com-
pleted the FAFSA.
FOTW—EZ .......................... Online FAFSA for applicants who qualify for the Sim-
plified Needs Test (SNT) or Automatic Zero (Auto
Zero) needs analysis formulas.
FOTW—EZ Renewal ........... Online FAFSA for applicants who have previously com-
pleted the FAFSA and who qualify for the SNT or
Auto Zero needs analysis formulas.
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![48304 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 155 / Wednesday, August 12, 2015 / Notices
secondary education and applying the for Adult Education (NRS regulations) approval period was extended from
growth rate to the FAFSA submissions. (73 FR 2306). The NRS regulations February 2, 2013 to September 30, 2013,
The ABM is also based on the established the process the Secretary without affecting the sunset period
application options available to students uses to determine the suitability of tests ending on June 30, 2014.
and parents. The Department accounts for use in the NRS by States and local On December 12, 2013, we published
for each application component based eligible providers. We annually publish in the Federal Register (78 FR 75550) an
on web trending tools, survey in the Federal Register and post on the annual notice of tests determined
information, and other Department data Internet at www.nrsweb.org a list of the suitable for use in the NRS (December
sources. names of tests and the educational 2013 notice) that updated the August
For 2016–2017, the Department is functioning levels the tests are suitable 2012 notice and provided an extension
reporting a net burden decrease of to measure in the NRS as required by of the approval period for three tests
¥3,522,674 hours. This decrease is § 462.12(c)(2). initially approved for a three-year
considered to be an adjustment in On April 16, 2008, we published in conditional period from February 2,
burden hours from the 2015–2016 the Federal Register a notice inviting 2010. The approval period was
FAFSA. test publishers to submit tests for review extended to June 30, 2015. We also
(73 FR 20616). announced an extension of the approval
Dated: August 7, 2015.
On February 2, 2010, we published in period for one additional test—a revised
Stephanie Valentine, the Federal Register a notice (February version of a test previously approved for
Acting Director, Information Collection 2010 notice) listing the tests and test a three-year conditional period from
Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy forms the Secretary determined to be February 2, 2010. The approval period
Officer, Office of Management. suitable for use in the NRS (75 FR 5303). for that test also was extended to June
[FR Doc. 2015–19774 Filed 8–11–15; 8:45 am] The Secretary determined tests and 30, 2015.
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P test forms to be suitable for a period of On October 29, 2014, we published in
either seven or three years from the date the Federal Register (79 FR 64369) an
of the February 2010 notice. A seven- annual notice of tests determined
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION year approval required no additional suitable for use in the NRS (October
action on the part of the publisher, 2014 notice) that updated the December
Tests Determined To Be Suitable for unless the information the publisher 2013 notice. We announced that the
Use in the National Reporting System submitted as a basis for the Secretary’s four tests with approvals extended
for Adult Education review was inaccurate or unless the test through June 30, 2015, may be used in
AGENCY: Office of Career, Technical, and is substantially revised. A three-year the NRS during a sunset period ending
Adult Education, Department of approval was issued with a set of on June 30, 2016.
Education. conditions to be met by the completion In this document, the Secretary
ACTION: Notice.
of the three-year period. If these announces the list of tests and test forms
conditions were met, the Secretary determined to be suitable for use in the
SUMMARY: The Secretary announces would approve a period of time for NRS. These include: (1) The eight tests
tests, test forms, and delivery formats which the test may continue to be used previously approved for a seven-year
that the Secretary determines to be in the NRS. period from February 2, 2010 through
suitable for use in the National On September 12, 2011, we published February 2, 2017; (2) three tests
Reporting System for Adult Education in the Federal Register (76 FR 56188) an previously approved for an extended
(NRS). The Secretary also clarifies that, annual notice of tests determined period through June 30, 2015 and now
to provide for the transition from the suitable for use in the NRS (September approved for an extended period
performance accountability system for 2011 notice). The September 2011 through February 2, 2017; and (3) one
the Adult Education and Family notice updated the list published in the test—a revised version of a test
Literacy Act (AEFLA) program under February 2010 notice and included previously approved for an extended
the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 suitable test delivery formats. The period through June 30, 2015—for
(WIA) to the performance accountability September 2011 notice clarified that which the Secretary is providing
system for AEFLA as reauthorized by some, but not all, tests using computer- approval through February 2, 2017.
the Workforce Innovation and adaptive or computer-based delivery With respect to the latter four tests,
Opportunity Act (WIOA), this formats are suitable for use in the NRS. although we have identified several
announcement will remain effective On August 6, 2012, we published in issues that the test publishers still need
until June 30, 2017. the Federal Register (77 FR 46749) an to address related to the requirements in
annual notice of tests determined § 462.13, we are taking this action in
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay
suitable for use in the NRS (August 2012 light of the following intervening
LeMaster, Department of Education, 400 factors. These factors include (1) the
notice) that included the same list of
Maryland Avenue SW., Room 11–152, Department’s plan to implement new
forms and computer delivery formats for
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC descriptors for the NRS educational
the tests published in the September
20202–7240. Telephone: (202) 245–6218 functioning levels and to issue new
2011 notice. We also announced a
or by email: John.LeMaster@ed.gov. regulations that will govern the
sunset period during which States and
If you use a telecommunications assessment review process; (2) the
local providers could continue to use
device for the deaf (TDD) or a text Department’s desire to minimize
tests with three-year NRS approvals
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
otherwise expiring on February 2, 2013, disruption for its grantees in the
Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877– transition to AEFLA as authorized by
during a transition period ending on
8339. WIOA, including with respect to
June 30, 2014.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On On January 25, 2013, we announced measuring educational gain under the
January 14, 2008, we published in the in the Federal Register (78 FR 5430) an NRS; and (3) the attendant transition
Federal Register final regulations for 34 extension of the approval period for authority in section 503(c) of WIOA,
CFR part 462, Measuring Educational tests approved for a three-year period which authorizes the Secretary of
Gain in the National Reporting System beginning on February 2, 2010. The Education to ‘‘take such actions as the
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Document Created: 2016-09-27 22:26:49
Document Modified: 2016-09-27 22:26:49
| 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 | Notice. | |
| Dates | Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before October 13, 2015. | |
| Contact | For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact the Douglas A. Pineda Robles, 202-377-4578. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 48302 |
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