[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6907-6908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3397]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act; Public Hearing

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice includes the schedule and proposed agenda of the 
upcoming public hearing regarding proposals for the reauthorization of 
the Higher Education Act (HEA). The Office of Postsecondary Education 
(OPE) invites comments from the public regarding proposals for amending 
and extending the HEA. The meeting will take place in Kansas City, 
Missouri during the annual Federal Student Aid Spring Update meeting.

Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities at the Public Meeting

    The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If 
you will need an auxiliary aid or service to participate in the meeting 
(e.g., interpreting service, assistive listening device, or materials 
in an alternate format), notify the contact person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no later than Wednesday, February 26, 2003. 
Although we will attempt to meet a request we receive after that date, 
we may not be able to make available the requested auxiliary aid or 
service because of insufficient time to arrange it.

DATES: Friday, March 7, 2003.
    Location: Westin Crown Center, Century Ballroom, One Pershing Road, 
Kansas City, MO, 64108.
    Times: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    Meeting Format: This meeting will be held according to the 
following schedule:
    1. Time: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
    2. Time: 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
    Attendees: If you would like to attend the meeting listed above, we 
ask that you register with the Office of Postsecondary Education by e-
mail or fax to the address listed under ADDRESSES. Please provide us 
with your name and contact information.
    Participants: The hearing will begin with panels of invited 
speakers. After the presentations by the invited speakers, there will 
be time for comments from the public.
    If you are interested in participating in the public comment 
period, we request that you reserve time on the agenda of the hearing 
by contacting the Office of Postsecondary Education by e-mail or fax. 
Please include your name, the organization you represent if 
appropriate, and a brief description of the issue you would like to 
present. Participants will be allowed approximately three to five 
minutes to present their comments, depending on the number of 
individuals who reserve time on the agenda. At the hearing, 
participants are also encouraged to submit two written copies of their 
comments. Persons interested in making comments are encouraged to 
address the issues and questions discussed under SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.
    Given the expected number of individuals interested in providing 
comments at the hearing, reservations for presenting comments should be 
made as soon as possible. However, please submit your reservation to 
comment at the hearing no later than February 28, 2003. Requests to 
speak during the public comment period of the hearing will be granted 
on a first-come, first-served basis.
    Persons who are unable to obtain reservations to speak during the 
meeting are encouraged to submit written comments. Written comments 
will be accepted at the meeting site or may be mailed to the Office of 
Postsecondary Education at the address listed under ADDRESSES.

ADDRESSES: Submit all requests to reserve time on the agenda or to 
submit written comments to OPE using one of the following methods:
    1. E-mail. We encourage you to submit your request to reserve time 
on the agenda or written comments through the Internet to the following 
address: [email protected].
    2. Facsimile. You may submit your request to reserve time on the 
agenda by facsimile at (202) 502-7875.
    3. Mail. You may submit your written comments to Jeffrey R. 
Andrade, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and 
Innovation, Office of Postsecondary Education, 1990 K Street, NW., Room 
8046, Washington, DC 20006 ATTENTION: HEA Reauthorization. Due to 
delays in mail delivery caused by heightened security, please allow 
adequate time for the mail to be received.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain additional information about 
the hearing, please contact Amy Raaf at (202) 502-7561 or Dan 
Iannicola, Jr. at (202) 502-7719 or via Internet: [email protected], 
[email protected].
    To obtain additional information about hotel reservations and the 
agenda for the Federal Student Aid Spring Update meeting, visit Federal 
Student Aid's Web site at: http://edeworkshop.ncspearson.com/KansasCity.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As the 108th Congress begins to hold 
hearings on reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and the 
Administration begins to work on its proposals for amending the HEA, we 
are interested in hearing from the higher education community and other 
members of the public about ways to ensure that the significant amounts 
of funding for the programs authorized in the HEA are wisely spent. We 
are also looking to build upon successful program results in providing 
access to students, maintaining high levels of student retention in 
higher education programs and improving the quality of postsecondary 
education.
    Many of the programs authorized under the HEA work well and provide

[[Page 6908]]

a strong foundation of support for higher education. Some need to be 
made more effective in achieving better results. As part of 
reauthorization, we are interested in hearing how to make the HEA 
programs work better and complement the President's efforts to ensure 
that all Federal programs focus on stronger accountability for results. 
The goal of this hearing is to receive proposals for solutions to the 
numerous challenges that are currently facing postsecondary education. 
Therefore, comments are encouraged in the following priority areas:
    a. How can we improve access and promote additional educational 
opportunity for all students, especially students with disabilities, 
within the framework of the HEA? How can the Federal Government through 
the HEA encourage postsecondary students to make consistent progress in 
the completion of their programs of study and to obtain their 
certificates or degrees?
    b. How can existing HEA programs be changed and made to work more 
efficiently and effectively? In what ways do they need to be adapted or 
modified to respond to changes in postsecondary education that have 
occurred since 1998?
    c. How can HEA programs be changed to eliminate any unnecessary 
burdens on students, institutions, or the Federal Government, yet 
maintain accountability of Federal funds? How can program requirements 
be simplified, particularly for students?
    d. How can we best prioritize the use of funds provided for 
postsecondary education and the benefits provided under the HEA 
programs? How can the significant levels of Federal funding already 
provided for the HEA programs best help to further the goals of 
improving educational quality, expanding access, and ensuring 
affordability?
    e. Are there innovative and creative ways the Federal Government 
can integrate tax credits, deductions, and tax-free savings incentives 
with the Federal student aid programs in the HEA to improve access to 
and choice in postsecondary education?
    f. What results should be measured in each HEA program to determine 
the effectiveness of that program?
    g. Are there other ideas or initiatives that should be considered 
during reauthorization that would improve the framework in which the 
Federal Government promotes access to postsecondary education and 
ensures accountability of taxpayer funds?

Electronic Access to This Document

    You may view this document, as well as all other Department of 
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe 
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site: 
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister.
    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. 
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6468; or in 
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.

    Note: The official version of the document is published in the 
Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of 
the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is 
available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: February 6, 2003.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 03-3397 Filed 2-10-03; 8:45 am]
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