60D Comment Response Summary

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs

Summary of Public Comments on Proposed Changes to the

Financial Status and Program Performance Final Report

Following 60-Day Review Period

On March 09, 2017, the Department of Education (Department) published a Notice of Proposed Information Collection Request (Notice) in the Federal Register inviting comments by May 8, 2017, on the proposed financial performance report (FPR) for the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) Program. The Department received comments from 2 individuals. Both commenters provided suggestions on how Questions 2 and 4 of Section V (Student Outcomes) could be revised to ensure that the FPR is collecting qualitative and uniform data that coincide with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) performance indicators for the GEAR UP program. To this end, the Department reviewed each of the comments and concerns and provided responses as well as made revisions to the FPR, as appropriate.

Below is a summary of public comments provided on the proposed GEAR UP FPR, a discussion and the actions that will be taken.

SECTION V (Student Outcomes), Question 2—High School Graduation

Comments: The two commenters suggested providing instructions on how grantees should address Question 2 in Section V of the FPR, which relates to high school completion/graduation rates for the entire GEAR UP population. The commenters also recommended that the Department add another question related to high school completion/graduation rates for the graduating class.

Discussion: The Department concurs with the commenters’ suggested revisions to Question 2 of Section V. Revising this question allows the Department to collect data related to GEAR UP GPRA performance indicators and adequately respond to Congressional inquiries.

Action Taken: The Department will revise the FPR to include instructions for Question 2 in Section V and also breakdown the question regarding high school completion/graduation rates into two parts. The first part (2a) will address high school completion for the graduating class and the second part (2b) will address high school completion for the entire GEAR UP population.

SECTION V (Student Outcomes), Question 4—Immediate Postsecondary Education Institution Enrollment

Comments: The two commenters suggested providing instructions on how a grantee should address Question 4 in Section V of the FPR, which relates to immediate postsecondary education institution enrollment for the entire GEAR UP population. The commenters also recommended that the Department add another question related to immediate postsecondary education institution enrollment for the graduating class.

Discussion: The Department concurs with the commenters regarding adding instructions for Question 4 in Section V and also including a question regarding the graduating class. Revising this question allows the Department to collect data related to GEAR UP GPRA indicators and adequately respond to Congressional inquiries.

Action Taken: The Department will revise the FPR to include instructions for Question 4 in Section V and also breakdown the question into 2 parts. Question (2a) will address immediate postsecondary education institution enrollment for the graduating class and the second question (2b) will address immediate postsecondary education institution enrollment for the entire GEAR UP population.