Notice2025-20680

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Prison Education Program Accreditation Requirements

Primary source

Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.

Published
November 24, 2025

Issuing agencies

Education Department

Abstract

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing a revision of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 224 (Monday, November 24, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 224 (Monday, November 24, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52925-52926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20680]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2025-SCC-0448]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Prison Education Program Accreditation Requirements

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), Department of 
Education (ED).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 
the Department is proposing a revision of a currently approved 
information collection request (ICR).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
December 24, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for proposed 
information collection requests should be submitted within 30 days of 
publication of this notice. Click on this link <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a> to access the site. Find this information collection request 
(ICR) by selecting ``Department of Education'' under ``Currently Under 
Review,'' then check the ``Only Show ICR for Public Comment'' checkbox. 
<a href="http://Reginfo.gov">Reginfo.gov</a> provides two links to view documents related to this 
information collection request. Information collection forms and 
instructions may be found by clicking on the ``View Information 
Collection (IC) List'' link. Supporting statements and other supporting 
documentation may be found by clicking on the ``View Supporting 
Statement and Other Documents'' link.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to 
collection activities, please contact Amy Wilson, 202-987-1318.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is especially interested in 
public comment addressing the following issues: (1) is this collection 
necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this 
information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the 
estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on 
the respondents, including through the use of information technology. 
Please note that written comments received in response to this notice 
will be considered public records.
    Title of Collection: Prison Education Program Accreditation 
Requirements.
    OMB Control Number: 1840-0863.
    Type of Review: A revision of a currently approved ICR.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Private Sector.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 21.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 1,218.
    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 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)

[[Page 52926]]

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.

Ross Santy,
Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy 
Development.
[FR Doc. 2025-20680 Filed 11-21-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on November 24, 2025.

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