ATB Test Takers and Administrators - Individuals

1845-0049 – Affected Public - Individuals 9/26/2016

This request is for revision of the approval of the reporting and recordkeeping requirements that are contained in the information collection 1845-0049 for Student Assistance General Provision regulations Subpart J-Approval of Independently Administered Tests; Specification of Passing Score; Approval of State Process. These regulations govern the application for and approval by the Secretary of assessments by a private test publisher or State that are used to measure a student’s skills and abilities. The administration of approved ability to benefit (ATB) tests may be used to determine a student's eligibility for assistance for the Title IV student financial assistance programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) when, among other conditions, the student does not have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent. The language of the current regulations has not changed.

Due to changes in the statute regarding availability of ATB tests for new students, there has been a decrease in both the number of students taking the tests as well as the number of approved tests available as test publishers have voluntarily removed certain exams from ATB use. Therefore there is a decrease in the burden assessed publishers for the submission of the renewal of these examinations.

The request for ATB test approval from independent test publishers or the request for approval of a State process will continue to be received by the Department as often as the test developers determine it is in their interest to apply for the Secretary's approval or as the agreement reaches its expiration consistent with the regulations in Subpart J. To date, there have been no State examinations submitted for approval and as noted earlier some previously approved examinations have been voluntarily removed from use by the test publisher as an ATB examination.

Section 668.150 – Agreement between the Secretary and a test publisher or a State.

Section 668.150(b) (2) requires that each test publisher or State to obtain a certification statement from each prospective test administrator indicating that he or she is not currently decertified and that if the test administrator becomes decertified by another test publisher or State that the test administrator will immediately notify all other test publishers or States for whom the test administrator administers ATB tests.

We estimate that it will take each prospective test administrator .17 hours (10 minutes) to access, read, certify and submit the written certification to the test publisher or State, as applicable.

AFFECTED ENTITES and BURDEN:

Revised Burden for Individuals (1,000 test administrators)

# of Respondents: # of Responses # of Burden Hours

1,000 1,000 X.17 hours 170

Section 668.150(b)(17) requires that all certified test administrators are required to report to the test publisher or State, respectively, the nature of the disability and any accommodations provided when approved ATB tests are given to individuals with disabilities.

We estimate that 12 % of the U.S. population is severely disabled, and that 2,766 of the ATB test takers will be individuals with disabilities. We estimate that on average it will take .08 hours (5 minutes) per case to report the nature of the disability and any accommodation that the test administrator made for the test taker.

AFFECTED ENTITES and BURDEN:

Revised Burden for Individuals (1,000 test administrators):

# of Respondents: # of Responses: # of Burden Hours:

* 2,766 X .08 hour = 221hours

TOTALS

Respondents 1,000

Responses 3,766

Burden Hours 391