The Department of Education (the
Department) is requesting an emergency clearance to allow for
immediate outreach to institutions of higher educations (IHEs) to
meet the requirements of the CARES Act. Section 18004(a)(1) of the
CARES Act, Pub. L. No. 116-136 (March 27, 2020), authorizes the
Secretary of Education (“Secretary”) to allocate formula grant
funds to participating institutions of higher educations (IHEs).
Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act requires the IHEs to use no less
than fifty percent of the funds received to provide emergency
financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the
disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including
eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as
food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child
care).
Section 18004 of the Act
authorizes the Secretary of Education (“Secretary”) to allocate
formula grant funds to participating institutions of higher
educations (IHEs). It requires the IHEs to use no less than fifty
percent of the funds received to provide emergency financial aid
grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus
operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a
student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course
materials, technology, health care, and child care). ED is
requesting an emergency clearance to allow for immediate outreach
to IHEs to meet the requirements of the CARES Act. If this
emergency collection is not approved, these emergency financial aid
grants to students would be delayed. The pressing financial need of
students due to the disruption of campus operations from
coronavirus would remain unmet, leaving students without the aid
intended for such critical benefits as such as food, housing,
course materials, technology, health care, and child-care
expenses.
The purpose of this change
request is to add a clarifying footnote to existing reporting
requirement and add 0.5 hours/response for the quarterly reporting
(a decrease from 45 day reporting) which was not estimated with the
original collection. This results in a burden increase of 11,410
hours and 28,525 responses for an overall total of 17,115
hours.
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Jack Cox 202 251-9672
No
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.