2023-13036. 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 (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before August 21, 2023.

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–2023–SCC–0106. 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. If the regulations.gov site is not available to the public for any reason, the Department will temporarily accept comments at [e-mail]. Please include the docket ID number and the title of the information collection request when requesting documents or submitting comments. Please note that comments 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 Manager of the Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 6W203, Washington, DC 20202–8240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Beth Grebeldinger, (202) 377–4018.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department, 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. The Department is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department 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: Extension without change of a currently approved ICR.

Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 8,700.

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

Abstract: Sections 460 and 428J of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) provide for teacher loan forgiveness in William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program. Borrowers who teach for five consecutive years at schools or educational service agencies serving low-income families and meet certain other requirements may receive up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness. The teacher loan forgiveness regulations at 34 CFR 685.217 (for the Direct Loan Program) and 34 CFR 682.216 (for the FFEL Program) require borrowers to provide their loan holders with documentation establishing their eligibility for teacher loan forgiveness and for teacher loan forgiveness forbearance. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is requesting an extension of the currently approved forms. To reflect regulatory changes made by a final rule published on November 1, 2022 (87 FR 65904), we have updated language related to the capitalization of unpaid interest that accrues during periods of forbearance. ED is otherwise making no substantive changes to the language in either of the two currently approved forms, and there are no changes to the data elements.

Dated: June 14, 2023.

Kun Mullan,

PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.