Emergency Memo

MEMORANDUM

To: Sharon Mar

OMB Desk Officer

Through: Stephanie Valentine

Management and Program Analyst

Regulatory Information Management Services

From: Daniel T. Madzelan

                        Delegated the Authority to Perform

                       the Functions and Duties of the

                        Assistant Secretary for    

                       Postsecondary Education

Subject: Request for Emergency Clearance of the Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs Grant Application Package

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) requests that OMB grant an emergency clearance of the Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs (Training Program) application package that will be used to solicit applications for the fiscal year 2010 competition. The clearance is a one-time clearance needed on or before June 15, 2010 and is requested for six months. This program is authorized by the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) (pub. L. 110-315), enacted on August 14, 2008, under Section 403 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

The action is necessary since the current Training Program application package is tied to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and due to the unanticipated pace of the clearance of the final rule and the congressional notification period, we will not have sufficient time to complete our processes if we wait for regular approval. We plan to use the expired application package (1840-0125) with updates, and submit it as a Reinstatement with Change. The only substantive changes from the previous application package are the expansion of one of the priorities to include financial and economic literacy training and adding a new priority to provide training on recruiting and serving hard to reach populations. These are statutory changes that may be implemented without regulatory changes.

Page 2 -- Sharon Mar, OMB Desk Officer (Request for Emergency Clearance of the Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs Grant application Package)

Without the granting of the emergency clearance, the Department will miss a statutory deadline and harm to the public would be caused due to lack of training needed to operate Federal TRIO Programs’ grants. All staff employed by Federal TRIO Programs’ grants that support and ensure

high school completion, college entrance and completion among first generation and low income

students and individuals with disabilities would go unsupported by training.

Under the Training Program, funds are awarded to institutions of higher education and other public and private nonprofit institutions and organizations to support training to enhance the

skills and expertise of project directors and staff employed in the Federal TRIO Programs. Funds may be used for conferences, seminars, internships, workshops, or the publication of manuals. Annual training is provided via electronic and live conferences and webinars; internships, seminars, workshops, and the publication of manuals designed to improve the operation of TRIO projects. These trainings are carried out in the various regions to ensure that growth opportunities are available to all TRIO personnel in the local projects. The topics covered in the trainings include but are not limited to legislative and regulatory requirements; assisting students in receiving adequate financial aid; the design and operation of model programs; the use of appropriate educational technology; and strategies for recruiting and serving hard to reach populations. The grant period is for two years.

As the $3,424,802 in appropriated funds is for fiscal year 2010 only, the Training Program competition must be completed and funds committed by the Department by the close of the fiscal year on September 30, 2010. To allow sufficient time for the Department to review applications submitted by applicants and to conduct the review process, the Department intends to require applicants to submit applications to the Department no later than August 16, 2010.

Please let me know if you have questions related to this emergency clearance request. I may be reached at (202) 502-7816 or by e-mail at [email protected].