[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12956-12957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4778]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY: Department of Education.
SUMMARY: The Department requests a one-year extension of the deadline 
established by OMB for the 2008-2009 Free Application for Federal 
Student Aid (FAFSA). OMB established the current deadline, June 30, 
2008, following the approval of an Emergency Clearance of the 2008-2009 
FAFSA. (For chronology of events, see below). This request does not 
include any changes to the functionality or format of the 2008-2009 
FAFSA. The public is welcome to comment on this request, but it should 
be noted that the 2008-2009 FAFSA is currently approved and NO CHANGES 
are proposed herein. Subsequent to the approval of this ``Extension of 
a Currently Approval Collection'', the Department will issue a full 
collection clearance package for the 2009-2010 FAFSA. Unlike this 
request, the Department anticipates that the 2009-2010 FAFSA will 
include substantive changes and the public is encouraged to read and 
comment, as desired, on that package when it is issued in the summer of 
2008.

FAFSA Clearance Chronology

    (1) Change Worksheet:
     Reason for Submission: No material change was anticipated for the 
2008-2009 FAFSA at the time of filing.
    Request for ``No Material or Nonsubstantive Change to a Currently 
Approved Collection''--6/22/07.
     OMB Approval: 7/06/07.
     Expiration date established by OMB: 9/30/09.
    (2) Emergency Clearance:
     Reason for Submission: Addition of TEACH grant question to the 
2008-2009 FAFSA on the Web.
    Request for ``Revision of a Currently Approved Collection''--12/20/
07
     OMB Approval: 12/27/07.
     Expiration date established by OMB: 6/30/08.
    Because the Emergency Clearance expires on 6/30/08, the Department 
is submitting a full clearance packet for the 2008-2009 FAFSA to OMB 
and requesting an extension of approval through 6/30/09.
    (3) Extension of a Currently Approved Collection:
     Reason for Submission: The Emergency Clearance expires in six 
months.
    Request for ``Regular Review.''
     OMB Approval: TBD.
     Expiration date established by OMB: TBD.
    The Secretary of Education requests comments on the Free 
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that the Secretary proposes 
to use for the 2008-2009 award year. The FAFSA is completed by students 
and their families and the information submitted on the form is used to 
determine the students' eligibility and financial need for financial 
aid under the student financial assistance programs authorized under 
Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (Title IV, HEA 
Programs).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
May 12, 2008.

[[Page 12957]]


ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically through e-mail to 
[email protected]. Requests for copies of the proposed information 
collection requests may be accessed from http://edicsweb.ed.gov by 
selecting the ``Browse Pending Collections'' link and by clicking on 
link number 3585. When you access the information collection, click on 
``Download Attachments'' to view. Written requests for information 
should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland 
Avenue, SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. In addition, interested 
persons can access this document on the Internet:

    (1) Go to IFAP at http://ifap.ed.gov.
    (2) Scroll down to ``Publications.''
    (3) Click on ``FAFSAs and Renewal FAFSAs.''
    (4) Click on ``By 2007-2008 Award Year.''
    (5) Click on ``Draft FAFSA Form/Instructions.''

    Please note that the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software, version 
4.0 or greater, is necessary to view this file. This software can be 
downloaded for free from Adobe's Web site: http://www.adobe.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary is publishing this request for 
comment under the Provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Under that Act, ED must obtain the review and 
approval of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) before it may use 
a form to collect information. However, under procedure for obtaining 
approval from OMB, ED must first obtain public comment of the proposed 
form, and to obtain that comment, ED must publish this notice in the 
Federal Register.
    In addition to comments requested above, to accommodate the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Secretary is 
interested in receiving comments with regard to the following matters: 
(1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the 
Department, (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely 
manner, (3) is the estimate of burden accurate, (4) how might the 
Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected, and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden 
of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of 
information technology.

    Dated: March 5, 2008.
Angela C. Arrington,
IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, 
Office of Management.

Federal Student Aid

     Type of Review: Revision.
     Title: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
     Frequency: Annually.
     Affected Public: Individuals.
     Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden:

 Responses: 16,787,640.
 Burden Hours: 8,054,467.

     Abstract: Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (HEA), requires the Secretary, ``in cooperation with agencies 
and organizations involved in providing student financial assistance,'' 
to ``produce, distribute and process free of charge a common financial 
reporting form to be used to determine the need and eligibility of a 
student for financial assistance...'' under the title IV, HEA Programs. 
This form is the FAFSA. In addition, section 483 authorizes the 
Secretary to include non-financial data items that assist States in 
awarding State student financial assistance.
    Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request 
may be accessed from http://edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting the ``Browse 
Pending Collections'' link and by clicking on link number 3585. Written 
requests for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. 
Requests may also be electronically mailed to [email protected] or 
faxed to (202) 245-6623. Please specify the complete title of the 
information collection when making your request. Comments regarding 
burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be directed 
to the e-mail address [email protected]. Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

[FR Doc. E8-4778 Filed 3-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P