The Department of Education
(Department) requests an extension without change to the
information collection tied to 34 CFR Part 668.50 requiring
institutional disclosures for distance education and correspondence
courses. This regulatory action establishes requirements for
institutional disclosures to prospective and enrolled students in
programs offered solely through distance education or
correspondence courses, which the Department believes will protect
students by providing them with important information that may
influence their attendance in distance education programs or
correspondence courses as well as improve the efficacy of
State-based consumer protections for students. Since distance
education may involve multiple States, institutional and program
authorization requirements among States may differ, and students
may be unfamiliar with or fail to receive information about
complaint processes, licensure requirements, or other requirements
of authorities in States in which they do not reside. The final
regulations, based on the 2019 negotiated rulemaking, will rescind
the requirements of §668.50 in its entirety. While the Secretary is
exercising her authority to allow for early implementation of the
rescission of this section, the final rule and the rescission will
not fully take place until July 1, 2020. The Department is asking
to extend the current burden assessment until the effective date of
the change and at that time a discontinuation request will be
filed.
US Code:
20
USC 1092 Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as
amended
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.