Prison Education Program
Accreditation Requirements
New
collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Regular
07/28/2022
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
12,000
0
26,400
0
0
0
The Secretary proposes to establish
regulations for Federal Pell Grants (Pell Grants or Pell) for
Prison Education Programs (PEPs), to implement the new statutory
requirements in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, that
amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), to
establish Pell Grant eligibility for a confined or incarcerated
individual enrolled in a PEP. These proposed regulations are a
result of negotiated rulemaking and would add new title IV
regulations to especially in Subpart P of 34 CFR Section 668. The
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 added section 484(t) to the
HEA to formally establish Pell Grant eligibility for confined or
incarcerated individuals, as long as they are enrolled in a PEP as
defined under the HEA. We propose regulations to implement the
statutory requirements allowing access to Federal Pell Grants for
individuals who are confined or incarcerated when enrolled in
programs that meet necessary standards. This proposed collection
would establish new regulations at 34 CFR 668.237 - Accreditation
requirements. These proposed regulations would prescribe program
evaluation at the first two additional Prison Education Program
(PEP) locations of a participating institution of higher education
to ensure institutional ability to offer and implement the PEP in
accordance with the accrediting agency’s standards. The proposed
regulations would require the accrediting agency to conduct a site
visit no later than one year after the institution has initiated a
PEP at its first two additional locations at correctional
facilities. Additionally, the proposed regulations would require
accrediting agencies to review the methodology used by an
institution in determining the PEP meets the same standards for
substantially similar non-PEP programs offered at the
institution.
US Code:
20
USC 1091 Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as
amended
US Code: 20 USC 1091 Name of Law: Higher
Education Act of 1965, as amended
This is a request for a new
information collection. This new burden is due to the proposed
regulations based on new statutory requirements in the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021, that amends the Higher Education Act of
1965, as amended (HEA), to establish Pell Grant eligibility for a
confined or incarcerated individual enrolled in a Prison Education
Program (PEP). These proposed regulations are a result of
negotiated rulemaking and would add new regulations in Subpart P of
34 CFR Section 668. We estimate that there are 18 accrediting
agencies that may be tasked with performing the required reviews
for a total of 26,400 burden hours for 12,000 responses.
$0
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Donald Conner
2025027818
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.
1840-NEW Paperwork Burden Statement.docx
Prison Education Program Accreditation Requirements