83 FR 14265 - Final Waiver and Extension of the Project Period for the Opportunity Scholarship Program
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 64 (April 3, 2018)
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 64 (April 3, 2018)
| Page Range | 14265-14266 | |
| FR Document | 2018-06757 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 3, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 14265-14266] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-06757] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Final Waiver and Extension of the Project Period for the Opportunity Scholarship Program AGENCY: Office of Innovation and Improvement, Department of Education. ACTION: Final waiver and extension of the project period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.370A.] SUMMARY: For projects funded under the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP), the Secretary: (1) Waives the requirements of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations that generally prohibit project period extensions involving the obligation of additional Federal funds; and (2) extends the project period for the current OSP grantee for up to an additional 24 months under the existing program authority. This waiver and extension will enable the Department to provide continuation awards to the current OSP grantee through FY 2019 under the existing program authority. DATES: As of May 3, 2018, the waiver and extension of the project period are finalized. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Hinton, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, room 4W229, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 260-1816. Email: [email protected]. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1- 800-877-8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 24, 2018, the Department published a notice in the Federal Register (83 FR 3336) proposing to waive the requirements of 34 CFR 75.261(a) and (c)(2) that generally prohibit project period extensions involving the obligation of additional Federal funds. In that notice, the Secretary also proposed to extend the OSP project period for up to an additional 24 months, to enable the Department to provide continuation awards to the current OSP grantee through FY 2019 under the existing program authority. That notice contained background information and our reasons for proposing the waiver and extension of the project period. This notice makes the waiver and extension of the project period final. Any activities carried out during the period of an OSP 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 2015 OSP competition and the ensuing cooperative agreement. The requirements applicable to continuation awards for this competition set forth in the 2015 notice inviting applications (80 FR 9448) and the requirements in 34 CFR 75.253 will apply to any continuation awards sought by the current OSP grantee. The Department will not announce a new competition or make new awards in FY 2018 and FY 2019. Public Comment: In response to our invitation in the proposed waiver and extension, we received two comments. Generally, the Department does not address technical and other minor changes. In addition, the Department does not address general comments that raise concerns not directly related to the proposed waiver and extension. There are no substantive differences between the proposed waiver and extension and the final waiver and extension. Analysis of Comments and Discussion Comments: One commenter supported the proposed waiver and extension of the OSP project period, and one commenter opposed the proposed action. The commenters provided various reasons for their positions. An anonymous commenter stated that the administration of the OSP should remain the responsibility of the current grantee until there is a justifiable reason to identify another. The commenter further stated that selection of a new grantee should always coincide with the reauthorization of the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act. One commenter, a coalition of more than 50 organizations devoted to the support of public schools, opposed the proposed waiver and extension. The commenter cited concerns with the current and prior grantees' administration of the program; and challenged the Department's assumptions regarding a qualified and interested applicant pool to compete for the grant. For these reasons, the commenter states that the Department should hold a competition in FY 2018. Discussion: The Department appreciates the commenters' feedback. Under the SOAR Act, the Department is responsible for administration of the OSP and oversight of the OSP grantee. Based on the Department's experience working with the current OSP grantee, the Department believes that extending the current grantee's project will create stability and continuity by: (1) Permitting the current grantee to fully implement the new recruitment and marketing strategies designed to significantly increase scholarship usage rates; and (2) aligning the next OSP competition with the next anticipated reauthorization of the SOAR Act. Additionally, based on the Department's current experience administering and overseeing the OSP and the number of qualified applicants in past competitions, the Department does not believe that another eligible organization with capacity to administer this program is interested in doing so. Changes: None. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification The Secretary certifies that the final waiver and extension and the activities required to support additional months of funding will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The small entity that will be affected by this final waiver and extension is the FY 2015 grantee, the non-profit organization currently receiving Federal funds under the OSP. This final waiver and extension will not have a significant economic impact on this entity because the activities required to support the additional year(s) of funding will not impose excessive regulatory burdens or require unnecessary Federal supervision. The waiver will impose minimal requirements to ensure the proper expenditure of program funds, [[Page 14266]] including requirements that are standard for continuation awards. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 This notice of final waiver and extension does not contain any information collection requirements. Intergovernmental Review This program is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism. The Executive order relies on processes developed by State and local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance. This document provides early notification of our specific plans and actions for this program. 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. You may access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations 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 Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site. 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: March 29, 2018. Margo K. Anderson, Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement. [FR Doc. 2018-06757 Filed 4-2-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 64 / Tuesday, April 3, 2018 / Notices 14265
Although non-emergency issues not Telephone: (202) 260–1816. Email: remain the responsibility of the current
contained in the meeting agenda may be anna.hinton@ed.gov. grantee until there is a justifiable reason
discussed, those issues may not be the If you use a telecommunications to identify another. The commenter
subject of formal action during this device for the deaf (TDD) or a text further stated that selection of a new
meeting. Action will be restricted to telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay grantee should always coincide with the
those issues specifically listed in this Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877– reauthorization of the Scholarships for
document and any issues arising after 8339. Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act.
publication of this document that SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On One commenter, a coalition of more
require emergency action under section January 24, 2018, the Department than 50 organizations devoted to the
305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery published a notice in the Federal support of public schools, opposed the
Conservation and Management Act, Register (83 FR 3336) proposing to proposed waiver and extension. The
provided the public has been notified of waive the requirements of 34 CFR commenter cited concerns with the
the intent to take final action to address 75.261(a) and (c)(2) that generally current and prior grantees’
the emergency. prohibit project period extensions administration of the program; and
Special Accommodations involving the obligation of additional challenged the Department’s
Federal funds. In that notice, the assumptions regarding a qualified and
This meeting is physically accessible Secretary also proposed to extend the interested applicant pool to compete for
to people with disabilities. Requests for OSP project period for up to an the grant. For these reasons, the
sign language interpretation or other additional 24 months, to enable the commenter states that the Department
auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr. Department to provide continuation should hold a competition in FY 2018.
Kris Kleinschmidt, (503) 820–2411, at awards to the current OSP grantee Discussion: The Department
least 10 business days prior to the through FY 2019 under the existing appreciates the commenters’ feedback.
meeting date. program authority. Under the SOAR Act, the Department is
Dated: March 29, 2018. That notice contained background responsible for administration of the
Tracey L. Thompson, information and our reasons for OSP and oversight of the OSP grantee.
proposing the waiver and extension of Based on the Department’s experience
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. the project period. This notice makes working with the current OSP grantee,
the waiver and extension of the project the Department believes that extending
[FR Doc. 2018–06734 Filed 4–2–18; 8:45 am]
period final. Any activities carried out the current grantee’s project will create
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
during the period of an OSP stability and continuity by: (1)
continuation award will have to be Permitting the current grantee to fully
consistent with, or a logical extension implement the new recruitment and
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION of, the scope, goals, and objectives of the marketing strategies designed to
grantee’s application as approved in the significantly increase scholarship usage
Final Waiver and Extension of the FY 2015 OSP competition and the rates; and (2) aligning the next OSP
Project Period for the Opportunity ensuing cooperative agreement. The competition with the next anticipated
Scholarship Program requirements applicable to continuation reauthorization of the SOAR Act.
AGENCY: Office of Innovation and awards for this competition set forth in Additionally, based on the Department’s
Improvement, Department of Education. the 2015 notice inviting applications (80 current experience administering and
FR 9448) and the requirements in 34 overseeing the OSP and the number of
ACTION: Final waiver and extension of
CFR 75.253 will apply to any qualified applicants in past
the project period. continuation awards sought by the competitions, the Department does not
current OSP grantee. The Department believe that another eligible
[Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance will not announce a new competition or
(CFDA) Number: 84.370A.] organization with capacity to administer
make new awards in FY 2018 and FY this program is interested in doing so.
SUMMARY: For projects funded under the 2019. Changes: None.
DC Opportunity Scholarship Program Public Comment: In response to our
(OSP), the Secretary: (1) Waives the invitation in the proposed waiver and Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
requirements of the Education extension, we received two comments.
The Secretary certifies that the final
Department General Administrative Generally, the Department does not
waiver and extension and the activities
Regulations that generally prohibit address technical and other minor
required to support additional months
project period extensions involving the changes. In addition, the Department
of funding will not have a significant
obligation of additional Federal funds; does not address general comments that
economic impact on a substantial
and (2) extends the project period for raise concerns not directly related to the
proposed waiver and extension. number of small entities.
the current OSP grantee for up to an The small entity that will be affected
additional 24 months under the existing There are no substantive differences
between the proposed waiver and by this final waiver and extension is the
program authority. This waiver and FY 2015 grantee, the non-profit
extension will enable the Department to extension and the final waiver and
extension. organization currently receiving Federal
provide continuation awards to the funds under the OSP. This final waiver
current OSP grantee through FY 2019 Analysis of Comments and Discussion and extension will not have a significant
under the existing program authority. economic impact on this entity because
Comments: One commenter
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
DATES: As of May 3, 2018, the waiver supported the proposed waiver and the activities required to support the
and extension of the project period are extension of the OSP project period, and additional year(s) of funding will not
finalized. one commenter opposed the proposed impose excessive regulatory burdens or
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: action. The commenters provided require unnecessary Federal
Anna Hinton, U.S. Department of various reasons for their positions. supervision. The waiver will impose
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, An anonymous commenter stated that minimal requirements to ensure the
room 4W229, Washington, DC 20202. the administration of the OSP should proper expenditure of program funds,
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![14266 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 64 / Tuesday, April 3, 2018 / Notices
including requirements that are DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION following issues: (1) Is this collection
standard for continuation awards. necessary to the proper functions of the
[Docket No. ED–2018–ICCD–0036]
Department; (2) will this information be
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 processed and used in a timely manner;
Agency Information Collection
This notice of final waiver and Activities; Comment Request; U.S. (3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
extension does not contain any Department of Education Pre- (4) how might the Department enhance
information collection requirements. Authorized Debit Account Brochure the quality, utility, and clarity of the
and Application information to be collected; and (5) how
Intergovernmental Review might the Department minimize the
AGENCY: Federal Student Aid (FSA), burden of this collection on the
This program is subject to Executive Department of Education (ED). respondents, including through the use
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 ACTION: Notice. of information technology. Please note
CFR part 79. One of the objectives of the that written comments received in
Executive order is to foster an SUMMARY: In accordance with the response to this notice will be
intergovernmental partnership and a Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is considered public records.
strengthened federalism. The Executive proposing an extension of an existing Title of Collection: U.S. Department of
order relies on processes developed by information collection. Education Pre-Authorized Debit
State and local governments for DATES: Interested persons are invited to Account Brochure and Application.
coordination and review of proposed submit comments on or before June 4, OMB Control Number: 1845–0025.
Federal financial assistance. 2018. Type of Review: An extension of an
ADDRESSES: To access and review all the existing information collection.
This document provides early Respondents/Affected Public:
documents related to the information
notification of our specific plans and Individuals or Households.
collection listed in this notice, please
actions for this program. use http://www.regulations.gov by Total Estimated Number of Annual
Accessible Format: Individuals with searching the Docket ID number ED– Responses: 1,667.
disabilities can obtain this document in 2018–ICCD–0036. Comments submitted Total Estimated Number of Annual
an accessible format (e.g., braille, large in response to this notice should be Burden Hours: 138.
print, audiotape, or compact disc) on submitted electronically through the Abstract: The Pre-authorized Debit
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http:// Account Brochure and Application
request to the contact person listed
www.regulations.gov by selecting the (PDA Application) serves as the means
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Docket ID number or via postal mail, by which an individual with a defaulted
CONTACT.
commercial delivery, or hand delivery. federal education debt (student loan or
Electronic Access to This Document: grant overpayment) that is held by the
Please note that comments submitted by
The official version of this document is U.S. Department of Education (ED)
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fdsys. At this site you can view this Information Collection Clearance debiting process and collects the
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
(PDF). To use PDF you must have specific questions related to collection Dated: March 29, 2018.
Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is activities, please contact Beth Kate Mullan,
available free at the site. Grebeldinger, 202–377–4018. Acting Director, Information Collection
You may also access documents of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy
Officer, Office of Management.
Department published in the Federal Department of Education (ED), in
accordance with the Paperwork [FR Doc. 2018–06715 Filed 4–2–18; 8:45 am]
Register by using the article search
feature at: www.federalregister.gov. Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
Specifically, through the advanced 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
search feature at this site, you can limit public and Federal agencies with an
your search to documents published by opportunity to comment on proposed, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
the Department. revised, and continuing collections of
information. This helps the Department Federal Energy Regulatory
Dated: March 29, 2018. assess the impact of its information Commission
Margo K. Anderson, collection requirements and minimize
Combined Notice of Filings #1
Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary for the public’s reporting burden. It also
Innovation and Improvement. helps the public understand the Take notice that the Commission
[FR Doc. 2018–06757 Filed 4–2–18; 8:45 am] Department’s information collection received the following electric corporate
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P requirements and provide the requested filings:
data in the desired format. ED is Docket Numbers: EC18–77–000.
soliciting comments on the proposed Applicants: Cabazon Wind Partners,
information collection request (ICR) that LLC, Rock River I, LLC, Whitewater Hill
is described below. The Department of Wind Partners, LLC.
Education is especially interested in Description: Application for
public comment addressing the Authorization for Disposition of
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Document Created: 2018-04-03 00:50:31
Document Modified: 2018-04-03 00:50:31
| 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 | As of May 3, 2018, the waiver and extension of the project period are finalized. | |
| Contact | Anna Hinton, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, room 4W229, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 260-1816. Email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 14265 |
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