Response to TOC

US Department Of Education

F ederal Student Aid

December 19, 2006

TO: Colleen McGinnis

Information Collection Coordinator

Federal Student Aid

FROM: General Manager

Financial Partners Services/FSA

THROUGH: Mike Sutphin, Director

State Agency Liaison/Financial Partner Services/FSA

SUBJECT: Response to Terms of Clearance of Currently Approved Collection: Application to Participate in the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) and Special Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (SLEAP) Programs (OMB No. 1845-0028) Form (ED-1288) Clearance Package

Currently Approved Form Expires 04/30/2007

TERMS OF CLEARANCE: This year, the Department of Education and OMB are planning to use the PART to evaluate the LEAP program. If this PART assessment identifies any data that the Department should collect in order to better evaluation program performance, and/or better manage the program, the Department will revise this approved application to include these new data elements. The Department will report back to OMB in 6 months from this approval to relay what changes, if any, it will make to this application. Furthermore, it is noted here that the Department expects to collect 100% of the submissions through electronic transmission.

IN RESPONSE: The Department of Education used the PART to evaluate the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Program in 2004. It was found that the Department already collects timely and credible performance data such as financial and program participation information which is used by the Department to work with States on program management issues. The performance data submitted by the States allow the Department to monitor funding levels and assure compliance with program requirements including the distribution of awards and standards used to determine that students have substantial financial need.

See Information Collection Package Which Follows