Prison Education Program Accreditation Requirements

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
1845-0171 PEP Assurances Certification 2024.pdf Supplementary Document	2025-08-13
1840-NEW Paperwork Burden Statement.docx Supplementary Document	2025-08-13
Supporting Statement A edits clean.docx Supporting Statement A	2025-08-13

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
254914	Prison Education Program Accreditation Requirements Other-Regulations	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1840-0863	ICR Reference No: 202508-1840-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202210-1840-011
Agency/Subagency: ED/OPE	Agency Tracking No: ED-2025-SCC-0448
Title: Prison Education Program Accreditation Requirements
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 11/24/2025

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	11/30/2025
Responses	21	12,000
Time Burden (Hours)	1,218	26,400
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: The Secretary establishes regulations for Federal Pell Grants (Pell Grants or Pell) for Prison Education Programs (PEPs), to implement the statutory requirements in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, that amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), to establish Pell Grant eligibility for a confined or incarcerated individual enrolled in a PEP. These regulations are a result of negotiated rulemaking and added new title IV regulations to especially in Subpart P of 34 CFR Section 668. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 added section 484(t) to the HEA to formally establish Pell Grant eligibility for confined or incarcerated individuals, as long as they are enrolled in a PEP as defined under the HEA. The regulations implement the statutory requirements allowing access to Federal Pell Grants for individuals who are confined or incarcerated when enrolled in programs that meet necessary standards. This collection established the burden under regulations at 34 CFR 668.237 - Accreditation requirements. These regulations prescribe program evaluation at the first two additional Prison Education Program (PEP) locations of a participating institution of higher education to ensure institutional ability to offer and implement the PEP in accordance with the accrediting agency's standards. The regulations require the accrediting agency to conduct a site visit no later than one year after the institution has initiated a PEP at its first two additional locations at correctional facilities. Additionally, the regulations require accrediting agencies to review the methodology used by an institution in determining the PEP meets the same standards for substantially similar non-PEP programs offered at the institution.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 20 USC 1091 Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: US Code: 20 USC 1091 Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 40343	08/19/2025
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 52925	11/24/2025
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Prison Education Program Accreditation Requirements

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	21	12,000	0	-11,979	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,218	26,400	0	-25,182	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: The change in burden, responses, and costs are due to having actual data on these items. This is the first renewal of this data collection. The prior submission was based on projected information and this is now based on actual information received in 2023.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 11/24/2025

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