2017-08353. Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Federal Direct Loan Program and Federal Family Education Loan Program Teacher Loan Forgiveness Forms

AGENCY:

Federal Student Aid (FSA), Department of Education (ED).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing an extension of an existing information collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before June 26, 2017.

ADDRESSES:

To access and review all the documents related to the information collection listed in this notice, please use http://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED-2017-ICCD-0053. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Please note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the Director of the Information Collection Clearance Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room 224-82, Washington, DC 20202-4537.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Jon Utz, 202-377-4040.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department of Education (ED), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (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. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.

Title of Collection: Federal Direct Loan Program and Federal Family Education Loan Program Teacher Loan Forgiveness Forms.

OMB Control Number: 1845-0059.

Type of Review: An extension of an existing information collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 8,700.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 2,871.

Abstract: The Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF) Application serves as the means by which an eligible Direct Loan or FFEL program borrower who has completed five consecutive years of qualifying teaching service applies for forgiveness of up to $5,000 or up to $17,500 of his or her eligible loans. Eligible special education teachers and secondary school math or science teachers may receive a maximum of $17,500 in loan forgiveness. Other teachers may receive a maximum of $5,000 in loan forgiveness. Borrowers who are working toward loan forgiveness may use the TLF Forbearance Request to request a forbearance during some or all of their required five consecutive years of teaching service. A prospective TLF applicant may receive a forbearance during some or all of the five-year teaching period only if the projected balance on the borrower's eligible loans at the end of the five-year period (if the borrower made monthly loan payments during that period) would be less than the maximum forgiveness amount for which the borrower qualifies.

Dated: April 20, 2017.

Stephanie Valentine,

Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy Officer, Office of Management.