Eligible Career Pathway Program (State Institutions)

1845-0175 – Affected Public – State, Local or Tribal Governments 10/10/2023

On January 18, 2022, the Department convened a negotiated rulemaking committee, the Institutional and Programmatic Eligibility Committee, to consider proposed new regulations for the Federal Student Aid programs authorized under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, (HEA). Through the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published on May 19, 2023, docket number ED-2022-OPE-0062, the Secretary proposes new regulations to promote transparency, competence, stability, and effective outcomes for students in the provision of postsecondary education.

The Department, under the authority of section 484 of the HEA, adds new § 668.157 which specifies the documentation requirements for eligible career pathway programs. Enrollment in an eligible career pathways program is is one of the three ATB alternatives that an individual who is not a high school graduate could fulfill to receive title IV, HEA, Federal student aid.

The Final Rule changes subpart J by adding § 668.157 to clarify the documentation requirements for eligible career pathway program. This new section dictates the documentation requirements for eligible career pathway programs for submission by institutions to the Department for approval as a title IV eligible program.

This request is to continue the collection designated 1845-0175 by OMB during the NPRM stage of this information collection filing.

The Final Rule changes to subpart J by adding § 668.157 to clarify the documentation requirements for eligible career pathway program. This new section dictates the documentation requirements for eligible career pathway programs for submission to the Department for approval as a title IV eligible program.

Under § 668.157(b) we regulate that, for career pathways programs that do not enroll students through a State process as defined in § 668.156, the Secretary will verify the eligibility of eligible career pathway programs for title IV, HEA program purposes pursuant to proposed § 668.157(a). Under final § 668.157(b), we also provide an institution with the opportunity to appeal any adverse eligibility decision.

The final regulatory language in § 668.157 will add burden to institutions to participate in the eligible career pathway programs. The regulations in § 668.157 will require institutions to demonstrate to the Department that the eligible career pathways programs being offered meet the regulations as proposed.

We estimate that 1,000 institutions will submit the required documentation to determine eligibility for the eligible career pathway programs. We believe that this documentation and reporting activity will require an estimated 10 hours per program per institution. We estimate that each institution will document and report on five individual eligible career pathways programs for a total of 50 hours per institution.

We estimate that it will take public institutions 25,500 hours (510 institutions x 5 programs = 2,550 programs x 10 hours per program = 25,500) to complete the required documentation/reporting activity.

TOTALS

Respondents - 510

Responses – 2,550

Burden Hours – 25,500

Paperwork Burden Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1845-0175. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 10 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain a benefit (34 CFR 668.157). If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this information, please contact Beth Grebeldinger at beth.grebeldinger@ed.gov directly.

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