Department of Education: The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program and Other Federal Student Aid Programs, GAO-08-969R, July 15, 2008
The Honorable Edward
M. Kennedy
Chairman
The Honorable Michael B. Enzi
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
The Honorable George
Miller
Chairman
The Honorable Howard P. “Buck” McKeon
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Education and Labor
House of Representatives
Subject: Department of Education: The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program and Other Federal Student Aid Programs
Pursuant to section
801(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, this is our report on a major rule
promulgated by the Department of Education (Department), entitled “The Teacher
Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program and
Other Federal Student Aid Programs” (RIN: 1840-AC93). We received the rule on
The final rule amends regulations pertaining to the TEACH grant program, a non-need based grant program that provides up to $4,000 per year to students who are enrolled in an eligible program and who agree to teach in a high-need field, at a low-income elementary or secondary school for at least 4 years. The final rule also amends regulations related to other federal student aid programs. The final rule implements provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA). Pub. L. No. 110-84, 121 Stat. 784 (2007). The Department notes that it has “exercised limited discretion in implementing the CCRAA provisions.” 73 Fed. Reg. 35,487. As example of such discretion, the final rule includes a definition of “elementary and secondary academic year” and includes a provision that explains the calculation of the grade-point average for transfer students. 73 Fed. Reg. 35,496.
The Administrative Procedure Act requires that a
substantive rule be published at least 30 days before its effective date, except
as otherwise provided for good cause, 5 U.S.C. sect. 553(d)(3). The Secretary has determined that a delayed
effective date for this final rule is unnecessary and contrary to the public
interest, and that good cause exists to waive the requirement for a delayed
effective date. In addition, section 104
of the CCRAA provided that funds for the TEACH grants are available as of
Enclosed is our assessment of the Department’s compliance with the procedural steps required by section 801(a)(1)(B)(i) through (iv) of title 5 with respect to the rule. Our review indicates that the Department complied with the applicable requirements.
If you have any questions about this report or wish to contact GAO officials responsible for the evaluation work relating to the subject matter of the rule, please contact Michael R. Volpe, Assistant General Counsel, at (202) 512-8236.
signed
Robert J. Cramer
Associate General Counsel
Enclosure
cc: Elizabeth
A.M. McFadden
Assistant General Counsel for
Reg. Services
Department of Education
ENCLOSURE
REPORT UNDER 5 U.S.C. sect. 801(a)(2)(A) ON A MAJOR
RULE
ISSUED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
ENTITLED
"THE TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND
HIGHER EDUCATION (TEACH) GRANT PROGRAM AND
OTHER FEDERAL STUDENT AID PROGRAMS"
(RIN: 1840-AC93)
(i) Cost-benefit analysis
The TEACH grant program is estimated to have a net budget impact of $7 million in 2008 and $74 million over fiscal years 2008-2012. With respect to the final rule as a whole, the Department has assessed potential costs and benefits of this regulatory action and has determined the benefits justify the costs.
(ii) Agency actions relevant to the Regulatory
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. sections 603-605, 607, and 609
The Secretary of Education certified that the final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
(iii) Agency actions relevant to sections 202-205 of
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. sections 1532-1535
There is no discussion of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act in the final rule.
(iv) Other relevant information or requirements under
acts and executive orders
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. sections 551 et seq.
The final rule was issued using the notice and comment
procedures found at 5 U.S.C. sect. 553. On
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. sections 3501-3520
The final rule contains new or modified information collection requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department submitted a copy of these information collection requirements to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by section 3507(d) of the Act.
Statutory authorization for the rule
The final rule was promulgated under the authority in the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, which amended the Higher Education Act of 1965. Pub. L. No. 110-84, 121 Stat. 784 (2007).
Executive Order No. 12,866
The Department determined that the final rule is “economically significant” and, therefore, submitted the rule to OMB for review.