Notice2026-05109
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Required Information for Annual Improper Payment Estimation
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
March 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing a new information collection request (ICR).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 50 (Monday, March 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12593-12594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05109]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No.: ED-2025-SCC-0517]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Required Information for Annual Improper Payment Estimation
AGENCY: Federal Student Aid (FSA), 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 new information collection request (ICR).
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
April 15, 2026.
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 Carolyn Rose, (202) 453-5967.
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: Required Information for Annual Improper
Payment Estimation.
OMB Control Number: 1845-NEW.
Type of Review: New ICR.
Respondents/Affected Public: Private Sector; State, Local, and
Tribal Governments.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 3,349.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 1,089.
Abstract: Federal Student Aid (FSA) administers the Department of
Education's Federal student financial aid programs authorized by Title
IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. Under these
programs, institutions of higher education act as a fiduciary in
receiving grant and loan funds from the Department for the sole
[[Page 12594]]
purpose of allowing students to pay the costs of attendance at the
institution. The Department executes a two-stage Sampling and
Estimation Methodology Plan (S&EMP) that is based in part on the
results of compliance audits to estimate its improper payments and
unknown payments in accordance with the Public Law 116-117, Payment
Integrity Information Act of 2019 (PIIA) and OMB Circular A-123,
Appendix C (A-123C). The Department requires sample, population, and as
applicable, finding information regarding testing performed by the
auditors, however, this is not reported with the compliance audit. This
information is necessary to execute FSA's S&EMP.
The legal and administrative requirements that necessitate the
collection of this information are the audit access provisions in 2 CFR
200.517(b) and Title IV regulations at 34 CFR 668.23(e)(1)(ii), which
the Department has concluded gives it the authority to collect certain
information from the single audit in order for the Department to carry
out its oversight responsibilities with regard to improper payments and
unknown payments. PIIA section 3352 (31 U.S.C. 3352) requires federal
agencies to review all programs and activities they administer that may
be susceptible to significant improper payments and publish the payment
integrity information annually.
This is a request for a new information collection to develop a
form for institutions of higher education to have a mechanism to report
to the Department information required to carry out the S&EMP and
publish payment integrity information on an annual basis.
Ross Santy,
Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy
Development.
[FR Doc. 2026-05109 Filed 3-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 16, 2026.
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