[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 54 (Thursday, March 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13470-13487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6952]
[[Page 13469]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part III
Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________
Star Schools Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for
Fiscal Years 1997 and 1998
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 54 / Thursday, March 20, 1997 /
Notices
[[Page 13470]]
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA Nos.: 84.203A and C]
Star Schools Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards
for Fiscal Years 1997 and 1998
Note to Applicants: This notice is a complete application package.
Together with the statute authorizing the program and the Education
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), this notice
contains all of the information, application forms, and instructions
needed to apply for a grant under the Star Schools Program
competitions.
Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to encourage
improved instruction in mathematics, science, foreign languages, and
other subjects, such as literacy skills and vocational education, and
to serve underserved populations, including the disadvantaged,
illiterate, limited-English proficient, and individuals with
disabilities through the use of distance learning technologies. Under
this competition, the Secretary intends to support two separate grant
competitions: General Projects and a Dissemination Project. General
Projects are designed to, among other things:
(1) Develop, construct, acquire, maintain and operate
telecommunications audio and visual facilities and equipment;
(2) Develop and acquire live interactive educational and
instructional programming; and
(3) Obtain technical assistance for the use of such facilities and
instructional programming.
The Dissemination Project is designed to provide dissemination and
technical assistance to State and local educational agencies to assist
them to plan and implement technology-based distance learning systems.
Eligible Applicants--General Projects
Only eligible entities, if at least one local educational agency is
participating in the proposed project, may receive grants under the
General Projects Competition. Eligible telecommunications partnerships
must be organized on a statewide or multistate basis. Eligible entities
include:
(a) A public agency or corporation established for the purpose of
developing and operating telecommunications networks to enhance
educational opportunities provided by educational institutions, teacher
training centers, and other entities, except that any such agency or
corporation represents the interests of elementary and secondary
schools that are eligible to participate in the program under part A of
title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as
amended by P.L. 103-352 (ESEA); or
(b) A partnership that will provide telecommunications services and
which includes three or more of the following entities, at least one of
which shall be an agency described in (1) or (2):
(1) A local educational agency that serves a significant number of
elementary and secondary schools that are eligible for assistance under
part A of title I of the ESEA or elementary and secondary schools
operated or funded for Indian children by the Department of the
Interior eligible under section 1121(c) of the ESEA;
(2) A State educational agency;
(3) Adult and family education programs;
(4) An institution of higher education or a State higher education
agency;
(5) A teacher training center or academy which--
(i) Provides teacher preservice and inservice training; and
(ii) Receives Federal financial assistance or has been approved by
a State agency;
(6)(i) A public or private entity with experience and expertise in
the planning and operation of a telecommunications network, including
entities involved in telecommunications through satellite, cable,
telephone, or computer; or
(ii) A public broadcasting entity with such experience; or
(7) A public or private elementary or secondary school.
Eligible Applicants--Dissemination Projects
The statute places no restrictions on what parties are eligible to
apply for Dissemination Projects under the Star Schools Program.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 9, 1997.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 23, 1997.
Available Funds: $15,000,000.
Estimated Size of Awards:
$2,000,000 (General Projects).
$500,000 (Dissemination Project).
Estimated Number of Awards:
7 (General projects).
1 (Dissemination project).
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Supplementary Information: It is the Department's intent to fund
two cycles of General Projects awards from this competition. The first
cycle of awards will be made from fiscal year 1997 funds. If General
Projects applications of high quality remain unfunded, additional
awards will be made in the second cycle in 1998, pending availability
of fiscal year 1998 funds. This section does not apply to the
Dissemination Project competition.
Applicable Regulations
The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR)
in 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86.
Description of Program
The Star Schools program is authorized by the ESEA, Title III, Part
B (20 U.S.C. 6891-6900). Section 3204 of the ESEA authorizes the
Secretary to award General Projects grants, on a competitive basis, to
eligible entities to carry out the following:
(1) The development, construction, acquisition, maintenance and
operation of telecommunications facilities and equipment;
(2) The development and acquisition of live, interactive
instructional programming;
(3) The development and acquisition of preservice and inservice
teacher training programs based on established research regarding
teacher-to-teacher mentoring, effective skill transfer, and ongoing,
in-class instruction;
(4) The establishment of teleconferencing facilities and resources
for making interactive training available to teachers;
(5) Obtaining technical assistance; and
(6) The coordination of the design and connectivity of
telecommunications networks to reach the greatest number of schools.
The Star Schools program supports Goals 2000, the President's
strategy for moving the Nation toward the National Education Goals.
Furthermore, the Star Schools program addresses the President's
technology initiative to help students achieve high content standards.
The Star Schools program is also authorized, by section 3207(c) of
the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 6897(c)), to support activities that disseminate
information, including lists and descriptions of services available
from grant recipients under this program and carry out other activities
designed to enhance the quality of long distance learning.
Geographic Distribution
In determining which applications under the General Projects
competition are to be funded, the Secretary shall, to the extent
feasible, ensure an equitable geographic distribution of services.
[[Page 13471]]
Definitions
The following definitions apply to the terms used in this notice:
``Educational institution'' means an institution of higher
education, a local educational agency, or a State educational agency.
``Institution of higher education'' has the same meaning given that
term under 20 U.S.C. 1141(a) (section 1201(a) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965, as amended) (20 U.S.C. 8801(17)).
``Instructional programming'' means courses of instruction and
training courses for elementary and secondary students, teachers, and
others, and materials used in such instruction and training which have
been prepared in audio and visual form on tape, disc, film, or live
interactive presentations, and presented by means of telecommunications
devices.
``Local educational agency'' has the same meaning given the term
under section 14101(18) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 8801(18)).
``Public broadcasting entity'' has the same meaning given that term
in section 397 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 397).
``State'' has the same meaning given that term under section
14101(27) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 8801(27)).
``State educational agency'' has the same meaning given that term
under section 14101(28) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 8801(28)) and includes
the Bureau of Indian Affairs for purposes of serving schools funded by
the BIA in accordance with Title III of the ESEA of 1965, as amended.
``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Education.
Priorities
Invitational Priorities--General Projects (84.203A)
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), the Secretary is particularly interested
in General Projects applications that meet one or more of the following
invitational priorities. However, an application that meets one or more
of these invitational priorities does not receive competitive or
absolute preference over other applications. Applicants that propose
to:
Invitational Priority 1--Deliver live, interactive instructional
programming that integrates reading throughout the curriculum at all
grade levels for all children and their families;
Invitational Priority 2--Deliver challenging content and advanced
placement courses in mathematics, science, and foreign languages for
elementary and secondary students;
Invitational Priority 3--Offer professional development
opportunities for teachers to focus on early reading and elementary and
middle school mathematics instruction to help students achieve to high
standards; or
Invitational Priority 4--Employ multiple technologies which advance
the role of distance learning in supporting school reform at the local
level such as broadcast television coupled with computer networking or
other technologies.
Competitive Priorities--General Projects (84.203A)
Under 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv) and (c)(2) and 20 U.S.C. 6896(c), the
Secretary gives preference to General Projects applications that meet
the following five competitive priorities. The Secretary awards up to
two points for each competitive priorities met by the applicant in a
particularly effective way. These points are in addition to any points
the application earns under the selection criteria. An applicant can
receive no more than ten competitive preference points. Competitive
preference points will be awarded to an applicant that:
Competitive Priority 1--Proposes high-quality plans to assist in
achieving one or more of the National Education Goals, will provide
instruction consistent with State content standards, or will otherwise
provide significant and specific assistance to States and local
educational agencies undertaking systemic education reform;
Competitive Priority 2--Will provide services to programs serving
adults, especially parents, with low levels of literacy or limited
English proficiency;
Competitive Priority 3--Will serve schools with significant numbers
of children counted for the purposes of part A of title I of the ESEA;
Competitive Priority 4--Will ensure that its proposed project
will--
(A) Serve the broadest range of institutions, programs providing
instruction outside of the school setting, programs serving adults,
especially parents, with low levels of literacy, institutions of higher
education, teacher training centers, research institutes, and private
industry;
(B) Have substantial academic and teaching capabilities, including
the capability of training, retraining, and inservice upgrading of
teaching skills and the capability to provide professional development;
(C) Provide a comprehensive range of courses for educators to teach
instructional strategies for students with different skill levels;
(D) Provide training to participating educators in ways to
integrate telecommunications courses into existing school curriculum;
(E) Provide instruction for students, teachers, and parents;
(F) Serve a multistate area; and
(G) Give priority to the provision of equipment and linkages to
isolated areas; and
Competitive Priority 5--Involve a telecommunications entity (such
as a satellite, cable, telephone, computer organization, or public or
private television stations) participating in the eligible entity and
donating equipment or in-kind services for telecommunications linkages.
Absolute Priority--Dissemination Project (84.203C)
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), the Secretary gives an absolute
preference to applications that meet the following priority. The
Secretary funds under this competition only an application that meets
this absolute priority.
A project that will disseminate information, including lists and
descriptions of services available from grant recipients under the Star
Schools program, and conduct other activities designed to enhance the
quality of distance learning activities nationwide.
Invitational Priority--Dissemination Project (84.203C)
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), the Secretary is particularly interested
in Dissemination Project applications that meet the following
invitational priorities. However, an application that meets these
invitational priorities does not receive competitive or absolute
preference over other applications.
Applications that propose to--
Invitational Priority 1--Use a variety of technologies and
dissemination strategies to provide information and technical
assistance services about distance education nationwide; and
Invitational Priority 2--Produce and disseminate information in
print, electronic, media and other formats about instructional
programming, promising and exemplary practices, policies, resources,
and research involving distance education including Department-
sponsored distance education projects and technology initiatives.
Application Requirements--General Projects
Each eligible entity desiring a General Project grant under this
program shall submit an application to the Secretary that responds to
the selection criteria. In addition, each application shall--
(1) Describe how the proposed project will assist in achieving the
National
[[Page 13472]]
Education Goals, how the project will assist all students to have an
opportunity to learn to challenging State standards, how the project
will assist State and local educational reform efforts, and how the
project will contribute to creating a high quality system of lifelong
learning;
(2) Describe the telecommunications facilities and equipment and
technical assistance for which assistance is sought, which may
include--
(A) The design, development, construction, acquisition, maintenance
and operation of State or multistate educational telecommunications
networks and technology resource centers;
(B) Microwave, fiber optics, cable, and satellite transmission
equipment or any combination thereof;
(C) Reception facilities;
(D) Satellite time;
(E) Production facilities;
(F) Other telecommunications equipment capable of serving a wide
geographic area;
(G) The provision of training services to instructors who will be
using the facilities and equipment for which assistance is sought,
including training in using these facilities and equipment and training
in integrating programs into the classroom curriculum; and
(H) The development of educational and related programming for use
on a telecommunications network;
(3) In the case of an application for assistance for instructional
programming, describe the types of programming which will be developed
to enhance instruction and training and provide assurances that the
programming will be designed in consultation with professionals
(including classroom teachers) who are experts in the applicable
subject matter and grade level;
(4) Describe how the eligible entity has engaged in sufficient
survey and analysis of the area to be served to ensure that the
services offered by the eligible entity will increase the availability
of courses of instruction in English, mathematics, science, foreign
languages, arts, history, geography, or other disciplines;
(5) Describe the professional development policies for teachers and
other school personnel to be implemented to ensure the effective use of
the telecommunications facilities and equipment for which assistance is
sought;
(6) Describe the manner in which historically underserved students
(such as students from low-income families, limited English proficient
students, students with disabilities, or students who have low literacy
skills) and their families, will participate in the benefits of the
telecommunications facilities, equipment, technical assistance, and
programming assisted under this program;
(7) Describe how existing telecommunications equipment, facilities,
and services, where available, will be used;
(8) Provide assurances that the financial interest of the United
States in the telecommunications facilities and equipment will be
protected for the useful life of these facilities and equipment;
(9) Provide assurances that a significant portion of any facilities
and equipment, technical assistance, and programming for which
assistance is sought for elementary and secondary schools will be made
available to schools or local educational agencies that have a high
number or percentage of children eligible to be counted under part A of
title I of the ESEA;
(10) Provide assurances that the applicant will use the funds
provided under this part to supplement and not supplant funds otherwise
available for the purposes of this part;
(11) If any member of the consortia receives assistance under
subpart 3 of part A of title III of the ESEA (''Regional Technical
Support and Professional Development'') (20 U.S.C. 6861), describe how
funds received under this part will be coordinated with funds received
for educational technology in the classroom under such section;
(12) Describe the activities or services for which assistance is
sought such as--
(A) Providing facilities, equipment, training services, and
technical assistance;
(B) Making programs accessible to students with disabilities
through mechanisms such as closed captioning and descriptive video
services;
(C) Linking networks around issues of national importance (such as
elections) or to provide information about employment opportunities,
job training, or student and other social service programs;
(D) Sharing curriculum resources between networks and development
of program guides which demonstrate cooperative, cross-network listing
of programs for specific curriculum areas;
(E) Providing teacher and student support services including
classroom and training support materials which permit student and
teacher involvement in the live interactive distance learning
telecasts;
(F) Incorporating community resources such as libraries and museums
into instructional programs;
(G) Providing professional development for teachers, including, as
appropriate, training to early childhood development and Head Start
teachers and staff and vocational education teachers and staff, and
adult and family educators;
(H) Providing programs for adults to maximize the use of
telecommunications facilities and equipment;
(I) Providing teacher training on proposed or established voluntary
national content standards in mathematics and science and other
disciplines as such standards are developed; and
(J) Providing parent education programs during and after the
regular school day which reinforce a student's course of study and
actively involve parents in the learning process;
(13) Describe how the proposed project as a whole will be financed
and how arrangements for future financing will be developed before the
project expires;
(14) Provide an assurance that a significant portion of any
facilities, equipment, technical assistance, and programming for which
assistance is sought for elementary and secondary schools will be made
available to schools in local educational agencies that have a high
percentage of children counted for the purpose of part A of title I of
the ESEA; and
(15) Provide an assurance that the applicant will provide this
information and cooperate in any evaluation that the Secretary may
conduct under this program.
Funding Requirement--General Projects
The Federal share for the first and second years of a General
Project funded under this program shall not exceed 75 percent of the
cost of the project. The Federal share for the third and fourth years
of a General Project funded under this program shall not exceed 60
percent of the cost of the project. The Federal share for the fifth
year of a General Project funded under this program shall not exceed 50
percent of the cost of the project. The recipient of a General Project
grant under this program shall provide the remainder of the funds from
non-Federal sources. The matching funds for the project may be in cash
or in-kind support, fairly evaluated. In the case of financial
hardship, an applicant may request that the Secretary reduce or waive
the matching requirement. (This requirement does not apply to the
dissemination projects.)
[[Page 13473]]
Application Requirements--Dissemination Projects
Each applicant for a Dissemination Project shall submit an
application that responds to the selection criteria.
Selection Criteria
(a)(1) The Secretary uses the following selection criteria to
evaluate applications for new General Projects and Dissemination
Project grants under this competition.
(2) The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points.
(3) The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in
parentheses.
(b) The criteria. (1) Meeting the purposes of the authorizing
statute. (30 points) The Secretary reviews each application to
determine how well the project will meet the purpose of the Star
Schools Program, including consideration of--
(i) The objectives of the project; and
(ii) How the objectives of the project further the purposes of the
Star Schools Program.
(2) Extent of need for the project. (20 points) The Secretary
reviews each application to determine the extent to which the project
meets specific needs recognized in the Star Schools Program, including
consideration of--
(i) The needs addressed by the project;
(ii) How the applicant identified those needs;
(iii) How those needs will be met by the project; and
(iv) The benefits to be gained by meeting those needs.
(3) Plan of operation. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine the quality of the plan of operation for the
project, including--
(i) The quality of the design of the project;
(ii) The extent to which the plan of management is effective and
ensures proper and efficient administration of the project;
(iii) How well the objectives of the project relate to the purpose
of the program;
(iv) The quality of the applicant's plan to use its resources and
personnel to achieve each objective; and
(v) How the applicant will ensure that project participants who are
otherwise eligible to participate are selected without regard to race,
color, national origin, gender, age, or handicapping condition.
(4) Quality of key personnel. (10 points)
(i) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality
of key personnel the applicant plans to use on the project, including--
(A) The qualifications of the project director (if one is to be
used);
(B) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be
used in the project;
(C) The time that each person referred to in paragraphs (b)(4)(i)A
and (B) will commit to the project; and
(D) How the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment
practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected for employment
without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or
handicapping condition.
(ii) To determine personnel qualifications under paragraphs
(b)(4)(i)(A) and (B), the Secretary considers--
(A) Experience and training in fields related to the objectives of
the project; and
(B) Any other qualifications that pertain to the quality of the
project.
(5) Budget and cost effectiveness. (5 points) The Secretary reviews
each application to determine the extent to which--
(i) The budget is adequate to support the project; and
(ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the
project.
(6) Evaluation plan. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine the quality of the evaluation plan for the
project, including the extent to which the applicant's methods of
evaluation--
(i) Are appropriate to the project; and
(ii) To the extent possible, are objective and produce data that
are quantifiable.
(Cross-reference: See 34 CFR 75.590 Evaluation by the grantee.)
(7) Adequacy of resources. (5 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine the adequacy of the resources that the
applicant plans to devote to the project, including facilities,
equipment, and supplies.
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs
This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order
12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs) and the
regulations in 34 CFR Part 79.
The objective of the Executive Order is to foster an
intergovernmental partnership and to strengthen federalism by relying
on State and local processes for State and local government
coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance.
Applicants must contact the appropriate State Single Point of
Contact to find out about, and to comply with, the State's process
under Executive Order 12372. Applicants proposing to perform activities
in more than one State should immediately contact the Single Point of
Contact for each of those States and follow the procedure established
in each State under the Executive order. If you want to know the name
and address of any State Single Point of Contact, see the list
published in the Federal Register on August 20, 1996 (61 FR 43133-
43135).
In States that have not established a process or chosen a program
for review, State, areawide, regional, and local entities may submit
comments directly to the Department.
Any State Process Recommendation and other comments submitted by a
State Single Point of Contact and any comments from State, areawide,
regional, and local entities must be mailed or hand-delivered by the
date indicated in this notice to the following address: The Secretary,
E.O. 12372--CFDA# 84.203, U.S. Department of Education, Room 6213, 600
Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20202-0124.
In those States that require review for this program, applications
are to be submitted simultaneously to the State Review Process and the
U.S. Department of Education.
Proof of mailing will be determined on the same basis for
applications (see 34 CFR 75.102). Recommendations or comments may be
hand-delivered until 4:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on the date
indicated in this notice.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE ADDRESS IS NOT THE SAME ADDRESS AS THE
ONE TO WHICH THE APPLICANT SUBMITS ITS COMPLETED APPLICATION. DO NOT
SEND APPLICATIONS TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. INSTRUCTIONS FOR TRANSMITTAL OF
APPLICATIONS:
Note: The deadline for receipt of applications is May 9, 1997.
All applications must be received on or before that date. This
requirement takes exception to EDGAR, 34 CFR 75.102. In accordance
with the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), it is the
practice of the Secretary to offer interested parties the
opportunity to comment on proposed regulations. However, this
amendment makes procedural changes only and does not establish new
substantive policy. Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), proposed
rulemaking is not required.
This closing date and procedures for guaranteeing timely submission
will be strictly observed.
(a) If an applicant wants to apply for a grant, the applicant
shall--
(1) Mail the original and two copies of the application to: U.S.
Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA
#84.203 A and C), Washington, D.C. 20202-4725 or
[[Page 13474]]
(2) Hand deliver the original and two copies of the complete
application by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on or before the
deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control
Center, Attention: (CFDA #84.203 A or C), Room #3633, Regional Office
Building #3, 7th and D Streets, S.W., Washington, D.C.
The Application Control Center will accept deliveries between 8:00
a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard time) daily, except Saturdays,
Sundays and Federal holidays.
Individuals delivering applications must use the D Street entrance.
Proper identification is necessary to enter the building.
In order for an application sent through a Courier Service to be
considered timely, the Courier Service must be in receipt of the
application on or before the closing date.
Note: Although applicants are not obligated to do so, it would
be helpful if an additional two copies of the application were
submitted (an original and four copies). The additional copies would
be used during the review process.
(b) An applicant must show one of the following as proof of
mailing:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
U.S. Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary.
(c) If an application is mailed through the U.S. Postal Service,
the Secretary does not accept either of the following as proof of
mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
Notes: (1) The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a
dated postmark. Before relying on this method, an applicant should
check with its local post office.
(2) The Application Control Center will mail a Grant Application
Receipt Acknowledgment to each applicant. If an applicant fails to
receive the notification of application receipt within 15 days from the
date of mailing the application, the applicant should call the U.S.
Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 708-9495.
(3) The applicant must indicate on the envelope and--if not
provided by the Department--in Item 10 of the Application for Federal
Assistance (Standard Form 424) the CFDA number--and suffix letter, if
any--of the competition under which the application is being submitted.
Application Instructions and Forms
The appendix to this notice contains forms and instructions plus a
statement regarding estimated public reporting burden, a notice to
applicants regarding compliance with section 427 of the General
Education Provisions Act, and various assurances and certifications. In
preparing your application for submission to the Department, please
organize your submitted application as follows:
1. Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 (Rev. 4-
88)).
2. Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form
524).
Special Budget Instructions
The Department is participating in the Administration's Reinventing
Government Initiative. As part of that initiative, the National
Performance Review urged the Department to ``eliminate the continuation
application process for budget years within the project period'' and
replace it with ``yearly program progress reports focusing on program
outcomes and problems related to program implementation and service
delivery.'' The Department implemented this recommendation for programs
beginning in fiscal year 1995. This policy requires all applicants for
multi-year awards to provide detailed budget information for the total
grant period requested. The Department will review at the time of the
initial award the funding levels for each year of the grant award. A
new generic budget form, included in this package, requests the
relevant information in accordance with this initiative.
By requesting detailed budget information in the initial
application for the total project period, the need for formal
noncompeting continuation applications in the remaining years will be
eliminated. An annual report will be used in place of the continuation
application to determine progress, thereby relieving grantees of the
burden to resubmit assurances, certifications, etc.
3. Application Narrative.
4. Estimated Public Reporting Burden.
5. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B).
6. Certification Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and
Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED
80-0013, 6/90).
7. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and
Voluntary Exclusion: Lower Tier Covered Transactions (ED 80-0014, 9/90)
and instructions. (NOTE: ED 80-0014 is intended for the use of grantees
and should not be transmitted to the Department.)
8. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL) (if
applicable) and instructions. The document has been marked to reflect
statutory changes. See the notice published by the Office of Management
and Budget at 61 FR 1413 (January 19, 1996).
9. Notice to Applicants.
An applicant may submit a photostatic copy of the application and
budget forms, the assurances, and the certifications. However, the
application form, the assurances, and the certifications must each have
an original signature. No grant may be awarded unless a completed
application form has been received.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Wilkes or Deborah Williams,
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and
Improvement, 555 New Jersey Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20208-5645.
Telephone 202-219-2116. Individuals who use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time,
Monday through Friday.
Information about the Department's funding opportunities, including
copies of application notices for discretionary grant competitions, can
be viewed on the Department's electronic bulletin board (ED Board),
telephone (202) 260-9950, on the Internet Gopher Server at (gopher://
gcs.ed.gov); on the World Wide Web (http://gcs.ed.gov). However, the
official application notice for a discretionary grant competition is
the notice published in the Federal Register.
Note: Some of the forms in the Appendix to this notice may not
be available from these electronic sources.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6891-6900.
Dated: March 14, 1997.
Marshall S. Smith,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
Appendix
Instructions for Application Narrative
Before preparing the Application Narrative, an applicant should
read carefully the description of the program, the information
regarding the priority, and the selection criteria the Secretary uses
to evaluate applications.
1. The applicant may include other pertinent information that may
assist the Secretary in reviewing the application, including the scope
and degree of services to be provided, who
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will render the telecommunications service, and when it will be
delivered.
2. Justifications and specifications for equipment purchases should
be clearly related to existing facilities and resources as well as to
distance learning services to be delivered.
3. Applicants that apply for the production of instructional
programming should be specific in the scope and sequence of the content
and the tasks required to produce the proposed courses of instruction.
4. The application should enable reviewers to make clear linkages
between the proposed budget and the specific tasks, operations, and
service delivery.
The Secretary strongly requests the applicant to limit the
Application Narrative to no more than 45 double-spaced, typed 8\1/2\''
x 11'' pages (on one side only), although the Secretary will consider
applications of greater length.
The applicant may include an appendix, also on 8\1/2\'' x 11''
paper or any other pertinent information (e.g., letters of support,
footnotes, resumes, etc.) that might assist the Secretary in reviewing
the application.
The applicant may provide a VHS \1/2\ inch videotape, however such
a tape should be limited to no more than 12 minutes.
Estimated Public Reporting Burden
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this
information collection is 1850-0623. The time required to complete this
information collection is estimated to average 80 hours per response,
including the time to review instructions, search existing data
resources, gather and maintain the data needed, and complete and review
the information collection. If you have any comments concerning the
accuracy of the time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this
form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.
20202-4651. If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of
your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Star
Schools Program, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20202-5645. Information collection approved under
OMB control number 1850-0623. Expiration date: 4/30/98.
Notice to All Applicants
Thank you for your interest in this program. The purpose of this
section is to inform you about a new provision in the Department of
Education's General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) that applies to
applicants for new grant awards under Department programs. This
provision is section 427 of GEPA, enacted as part of the Improving
America's Schools Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-382).
To Whom Does This Provision Apply?
Section 427 of GEPA affects applicants for new discretionary grant
awards under this program. ALL APPLICANTS FOR NEW AWARDS MUST INCLUDE
INFORMATION IN THEIR APPLICATIONS TO ADDRESS THIS NEW PROVISION IN
ORDER TO RECEIVE FUNDING UNDER THIS PROGRAM.
What Does This Provision Require?
Section 427 requires each applicant for funds (other than an
individual person) to include in its application a description of the
steps the applicant proposes to take to ensure equitable access to, and
participation in, its federally-assisted program for students,
teachers, and other program beneficiaries with special needs.
This section allows applicants discretion in developing the
required description. The statute highlights six types of barriers that
can impede equitable access or participation that you may address:
gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age. Based on
local circumstances, you can determine whether these or other barriers
may prevent your students, teachers, etc. from equitable access or
participation. Your description need not be lengthy; you may provide a
clear and succinct description of how you plan to address those
barriers that are applicable to your circumstances. In addition, the
information may be provided in a single narrative, or, if appropriate,
may be discussed in connection with related topics in the application.
Section 427 is not intended to duplicate the requirements of civil
rights statutes, but rather to ensure that, in designing their
projects, applicants for Federal funds address equity concerns that may
affect the ability of certain potential beneficiaries to fully
participate in the project and to achieve to high standards. Consistent
with program requirements and its approved application, an applicant
may use the Federal funds awarded to it to eliminate barriers it
identifies.
What Are Examples of How an Applicant Might Satisfy the Requirement of
This Provision?
The following examples may help illustrate how an applicant may
comply with section 427.
(1) An applicant that proposes to carry out an adult literacy
project serving, among others, adults with limited English proficiency,
might describe in its application how it intends to distribute a
brochure about the proposed project to such potential participants in
their native language.
(2) An applicant that proposes to develop instructional materials
for classroom use might describe how it will make the materials
available on audio tape or in braille for students who are blind.
(3) An applicant that proposes to carry out a model science program
for secondary students and is concerned that girls may be less likely
than boys to enroll in the course, might indicate how it tends to
conduct ``outreach'' efforts to girls, to encourage their enrollment.
We recognize that many applicants may already be implementing
effective steps to ensure equity of access and participation in their
grant programs, and we appreciate your cooperation in responding to the
requirements of this provision.
Estimated Burden Statement
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this
information collection is 1801-0004 (Exp. 8/31/98). The time required
to complete this information collection is estimated to vary from 1 to
3 hours per response, with an average of 1.5 hours, including the time
to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather and
maintain the data needed, and complete and review the information
collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the
time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write
to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202-4651.
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[FR Doc. 97-6952 Filed 3-19-97; 8:45 am]
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