Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Educational Opportunity Centers Program (EOC) Annual Performance Report

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).

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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 166 (Friday, August 28, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55558-55559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17575]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2026-SCC-1948]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Educational Opportunity Centers Program (EOC) Annual 
Performance Report

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 an extension without change of a currently 
approved information collection request (ICR).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
September 28, 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 Marie Julienne, (202) 987-1054.

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: Educational Opportunity Centers Program (EOC) 
Annual Performance Report.
    OMB Control Number: 1840-0830.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
ICR.
    Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments; 
Private Sector.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 160.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 1,280.
    Abstract: The Department of Education (ED) collects Annual 
Performance Reports (APRs) from Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) 
grantees under the authority of Title IV, Part A, Subpart 2, Division 
1, Sections 402A and 402B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as 
amended, the program regulations in 34 CFR 644, and the Education 
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), in 34 CFR 74.51, 
75.720, and 75.732. The information that grantees submit in their APRs 
allows ED to annually assess each grantee's progress in meeting their 
project's approved goals and objectives. The APR data that grantees 
submit are compared with the projects' approved objectives to determine 
the projects' accomplishments, to make decisions regarding whether 
funding should be continued, and to award ``prior experience'' points. 
The regulations for this program provide for awarding up to 15 points 
for prior experience (34 CR 644.22).
    During a competition for new grant awards, the prior experience 
points are added to the average of the peer reviewers' scores to arrive 
at a total score for each application. Funding recommendations and 
decisions are primarily based on the rank order of applications on the 
slate; therefore, assessment of prior experience points, based on data 
in the annual performance report, is a crucial part of the overall 
application process.
    Further, this performance report form is the main source of data 
for the Department's response to the requirements of the Government 
Performance and Results Act (GPRA) for this program. In addition, the 
Department uses the annual performance reports to produce program level 
data for annual reporting, budget submissions to OMB, Congressional 
hearings and inquiries, and responding to inquiries from higher 
education interest groups and the general public.
    EOC APRs are prepared and submitted by EOC grant projects. For each 
EOC grant project, the grant project director of record completes, or 
supervises the completion of the data submission process. The grant 
project director supervises the administration of an EOC grant. An EOC 
grant provides counseling and information on college admissions to 
qualified adults who want to enter or continue a program of 
postsecondary education. The program also provides services to improve 
the financial and economic literacy of participants. An important 
objective of the program is to counsel participants on financial aid 
options, including basic financial planning skills, and to assist in 
the application process. The goal of the EOC program is to increase the 
number

[[Page 55559]]

of adult participants who enroll in postsecondary education 
institutions.

Ross Santy,
Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy 
Development.
[FR Doc. 2026-17575 Filed 8-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P


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