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Please note that the OMB number and expiration date may not have been determined when this Information Collection Request and associated Information Collection forms were submitted to OMB. The approved OMB number and expiration date may be found by clicking on the Notice of Action link below.
View ICR - OIRA Conclusion
OMB Control No:
1845-0001
ICR Reference No:
200910-1845-005
Status:
Historical Active
Previous ICR Reference No:
200810-1845-011
Agency/Subagency:
ED/FSA
Agency Tracking No:
4120
Title:
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Type of Information Collection:
Revision of a currently approved collection
Common Form ICR:
No
Type of Review Request:
Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action:
Approved with change
Conclusion Date:
12/24/2009
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)
Date Received in OIRA:
11/13/2009
Terms of Clearance:
This collection is approved with the following terms of clearance: Upon re-evaluation of the Department's current methodology in assessing burden imposed by the public, the Department acknowledges that the burden estimate as submitted to OMB for the FAFSA application did not include the time required to complete some ancillary processes required in order to accurately complete the application. As required under 5 CFR 1320, agencies are to include in their burden estimates, an estimate for the total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden that will result from the collection of information. As a result, the Department of Education has adjusted its estimate of the burden by including the time devoted to activities such as preparation, submission, and record-keeping. It is important to note that the higher burden estimate does not reflect an actual increase in burden, but rather a more accurate estimate of the burden associated with the FAFSA application process. It is also important to recognize the Department's tremendous efforts in burden reduction through the use of web enhancements such as skip logic and pre-population of IRS data. These are efforts are reflected in the significant program change reduction due to agency discretion. Given the plans submitted by the Department to better assess burden in its 2010-2011 FAFSA submission to OMB, FSA must further re-evaluate their burden estimates before seeking OMB approval for the 2011-2012 FAFSA application. In order to do so, FSA will do the following: Using the 2010-2011 FOTW application, they will monitor application completion time. The completion timer will start at the Introduction page (after successful login) through submission of the application. The time will not include timeouts by applicant and will be rolled back to last completed action. (FSA)will receive a weekly report of completion average by applicant type (dependent and independent students) and type of FAFSA completed (FOTW, FAFSA EZ and pre-filled FOTW). In addition to analysis of the 2010-2011, FSA will use existing approved customer satisfaction survey questions and consider adding additional questions pertaining to preparation time (gathering documents, reading instructions, etc) FSA will also evaluate whether or not to conduct additional studies (usability testing and customer satisfaction) to accurately assess estimates of burden. Options include but not limited to: o Review of comparative analyses of the methodologies used by other federal agencies that are similar in complexity and uses. o Student/applicant focus groups o Financial aid administrator focus groups o Usability studies
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
Expiration Date
12/31/2010
36 Months From Approved
12/31/2011
Responses
21,696,675
0
17,123,392
Time Burden (Hours)
26,781,074
0
8,341,867
Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
Abstract:
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) collects the data necessary to determine a students eligibility for participation in the following federal student assistance programs identified in the Higher Education Act (HEA): the Federal Pell Grant Program; the Campus-Based Programs; the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program; the Federal Family Education Loan Program; the Academic Competitiveness Grant; the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant, and the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Authorizing Statute(s):
PL:
Pub.L. 89 - 329 401-495
Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
Citations for New Statutory Requirements:
None
Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:
Stage of Rulemaking:
Federal Register Citation:
Date:
Not associated with rulemaking
Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
74 FR 45836
09/04/2009
30-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
74 FR 57667
11/09/2009
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR?
Yes
Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR:
6
IC Title
Form No.
Form Name
FAFSA EZ
N/A
FAFSA EZ
FAFSA Electronic (Also known as 'FAA Access')
N/A
FAFSA Electronic (Also Known as 'FAA Access')
FAFSA on the Web
N/A
FAFSA on the Web
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (Paper FAFSA)
NA
Free Application Federal Student Aid
Pre-filled FAFSA Electronic
N/A
Pre-filled FAFSA Electronic
Renewal FAFSA on the Web
N/A
Pre-filled FAFSA on the Web
ICR Summary of Burden
Total Approved
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
21,696,675
17,123,392
0
0
4,573,283
0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)
26,781,074
8,341,867
0
-4,121,501
22,560,708
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:
Using Information Technology
Short Statement:
There are both adjustments and program changes to this year's FAFSA as explained briefly here: There are two Adjustments to the 2010-2011 FAFSA that total 22,560,709 burden hours. The first adjustment is for a revised burden estimate to fully reflect the time required to perform all processes associated with FAFSA completion, including Preparation, Completion, Submission and Recordkeeping. This adjustment totals an estimated burden increase of 20,332,779. The second adjustment reflects the increased volume projections of 15.5% for a total of 21,696,675 applicants during the 2010-2011 cycle, resulting in an estimated burden adjustment increase of 2,227,930. There is also a very significant Program Change Burden Decrease of 4,121,500 hours. This decrease results from FSA simplification efforts to streamline the application, thereby reducing electronic format completion times. For example, starting in July 2010, FAFSA applicants can access and download IRS data to significantly reduce preparation time by pre-populating up to 18 financial data elements.
Annual Cost to Federal Government:
$54,007,277
Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?
No
Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002?
No
Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]?
Uncollected
Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]?
Uncollected
Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)?
No
Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response?
Uncollected
Agency Contact:
Shamarli Kollock 2023773483
Common Form ICR:
No
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:
11/13/2009