The Department of Education (the Department) is requesting an emergency clearance to allow for immediate outreach to institutions of higher educations (IHEs) to meet the requirements of the CARES Act. Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, Pub. L. No. 116-136 (March 27, 2020), authorizes the Secretary of Education (âSecretaryâ) to allocate formula grant funds to participating institutions of higher educations (IHEs). Section 18004(c) of the CARES Act requires the IHEs to use no less than fifty percent of the funds received to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a studentâs cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care).
Section 18004 of the Act authorizes the Secretary of Education (âSecretaryâ) to allocate formula grant funds to participating institutions of higher educations (IHEs). It requires the IHEs to use no less than fifty percent of the funds received to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses under a studentâs cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care). ED is requesting an emergency clearance to allow for immediate outreach to IHEs to meet the requirements of the CARES Act.
If this emergency collection is not approved, these emergency financial aid grants to students would be delayed. The pressing financial need of students due to the disruption of campus operations from coronavirus would remain unmet, leaving students without the aid intended for such critical benefits as such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.
This is an emergency program change due to a statutory change in a new collection. The purpose of this change request is to provide the reporting instructions as specified from the Act and existing clearance. There is an increase of hours due to the estimation of all reporting burden for this approved ICR.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.