[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2387-2413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-777]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA No.: 84.293C]
Foreign Language Assistance Grants (State educational agencies)
Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999
Note to Applicants: This notice is a complete application package.
Together with the statute authorizing the program and applicable
regulations governing the program, including the Education Department
General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), this notice contains all of
the information, application forms, and instructions needed to apply
for an award under this competition.
Purpose of Program: This program provides grants to pay for the
Federal share of the cost of innovative model programs providing for
the establishment, improvement, or expansion of foreign language study
for elementary and secondary school students.
In awarding grants under this program, the Secretary supports
projects that promote systemic approaches to improving foreign language
learning in the State.
Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 26, 1999.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 26, 1999.
Available Funds: $660,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $30,000-$70,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $50,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 14.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: 36 months.
Applicable Regulations
(a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations
(EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85 and 86.
(b) 34 CFR part 299.
Description of Program
Part B of Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965, as amended (the Act), authorizes the Foreign Language
Assistance Grants program. Appropriations for this program are
authorized by section 7206 of the Act. Applicants should note that
section 7203(c)(1) provides that the Federal share of the cost of
activities assisted under this part for each fiscal year is 50 percent.
Section 7203(c)(3) of the Act provides that at least 75 percent of the
funds appropriated under section 7206 must be used for the expansion of
foreign language learning in elementary grades. The Secretary does not
fund projects that propose Native American languages.
Priority
Under 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv) and (c)(2)(i) and section 7204(b) of
the Act (20 U.S.C. 7514(b)), the Secretary gives preference to
applications that meet the following competitive priority. The
Secretary awards three points depending on how well an application
meets this competitive priority. These points would be in addition to
any points the application earns under the selection criteria for the
program.
Competitive Preference Priority--Special Considerations (3 Points)
Projects that propose to carry out one or more of the following
activities: (1) intensive summer foreign language programs for
professional development; (2) linking non-native English speakers in
the community with the schools in order to promote two-way language
learning; or (3) promoting the sequential study of a foreign language,
beginning in elementary schools.
Selection Criteria
(a)(1) The Secretary uses the following selection criteria under 34
CFR 75.209 and 75.210 and section 7203 of the Act to evaluate
applications for the new 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)(1) Need for the project. (10 points).
The Secretary considers the need for the project. In determining
the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the
following factors:
(i) The magnitude of the need for services to be provided or the
activities to be carried out by the proposed project.
(ii) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services,
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude
of those gaps or weaknesses.
(2) Significance. (20 points).
The Secretary reviews each application to determine how well the
proposed project will implement foreign language instructional programs
that promote systemic approaches to improving foreign language learning
in the State.
(3) Quality of project design. (25 points).
The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed
project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
(ii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project
reflects up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice.
(iii) The extent to which the proposed project is part of a
comprehensive effort to improve teaching and learning and support
rigorous academic standards for students.
(4) Quality of project services. (20 points).
(i) The Secretary considers the quality of services to be provided
by the proposed project.
(ii) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and
sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for
eligible project participants who are members of groups that have
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national
origin, gender, age, or disability.
(iii) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(A) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed
project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or the
beneficiaries of those services.
(B) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed
project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective
practice.
(C) The likelihood that the services to be provided by the proposed
project will lead to improvements in the achievement of students as
measured against rigorous academic standards.
(5) Quality of project personnel. (10 points).
(i) The Secretary considers the quality of the key personnel who
will carry out the proposed project.
(ii) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary
considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for
employment from persons who are members of groups that have
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national
origin, gender, age or disability.
(iii) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(A) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of the project director or principal investigator.
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(B) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of key project personnel.
(6) Adequacy of resources. (4 points).
The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the project.
In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the
Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the
proposed project.
(ii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to
the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed
project.
(7) Quality of the management plan. (5 points).
The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the
proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing
project tasks.
(ii) The extent to which the time commitments of the project
director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed
project.
(8) Quality of project evaluation plan. (6 points).
The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be
conducted of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the
evaluation, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough,
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the
proposed project.
(ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward
achieving intended outcomes.
(iii) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance
about effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other
settings.
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 November 3, 1998 (63 FR 59452
through 59455).
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# 84.293C, U.S. Department of Education, Room 6213, 600
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-0124.
Proof of mailing will be determined on the same basis as
applications (see 34 CFR 75.102). Recommendations or comments may be
hand-delivered until 4:30 p.m. (Eastern 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 applicants submits its completed application. Do not
send applications to the above address.
Instructions for Transmittal of Applications
(a) If an applicant wants to apply for a grant, the applicant
must--
(1) Mail the original and two copies of the application on or
before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application
Control Center, Attention: (CFDA# 84.293C), Washington, D.C. 20202-
4725.
or
(2) Hand deliver the original and two copies of the application by
4:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on or before the deadline date to: U.S.
Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA#
84.293C), Room #3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets,
SW, Washington, D.C.
(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) 708-9494.
(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 application is divided into three parts plus a
statement regarding estimated public reporting burden, guidance on
addressing the EDGAR selection criteria, and various assurances,
certifications, and required documentation. These parts and additional
materials are organized in the same manner that the submitted
application should be organized. The parts and additional materials are
as follows:
Part I: Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424) and
instructions.
Part II: Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED Form No.
524) and instructions.
Part III: Application Narrative.
Additional Materials
a. Estimated Public Reporting Burden.
b. Part B of Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965, as amended (the Act).
c. Program Questions and Answers.
d. Group Application Certification.
e. State Educational Agency Data Form.
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f. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B) and
instructions.
g. Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and
Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED
80-0013) and instructions.
h. 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.)
i. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL) (if
applicable) and instructions. This document has been marked to reflect
statutory changes. See the notice published by the Federal Register at
61 FR 1413 by the Office of Management and Budget on (January 19,
1996).
j. Notice to All Applicants concerning a new provision in the
Department of Education's General Education Provisions Act (GEPA).
An applicant may submit information on 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. All applicants must submit ONE
original signed application, including ink signatures on all forms and
assurances, and TWO copies of the application. Please mark each
application as ``original'' or ``copy''. No grant may be awarded unless
a completed application form has been received.
For Further Information Contact: Harpreet Sandhu or Franklin Reid,
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 5090,
Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-6510. Harpreet Sandhu,
Telephone: (202) 205-9808, Franklin Reid, Telephone (202) 205-9803.
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.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this notice in an
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding
paragraph. Please note, however, that the Department is not able to
reproduce in an alternate format the standard forms included in the
notice.
Electronic Access to This Document
Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or
portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the
following sites:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html
To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with
search, which is available free at either of the preceding sites. If
you have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government
Printing Office toll free at 1-800-293-6498.
Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an
electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511
or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option
G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7511-7514.
Dated: January 8, 1999.
Delia Pompa,
Director, Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs.
Editor's Note: An excerpt of Public Law 103-382 is published for
the convenience of the reader. The official text is published at 108
Stat. 3737.
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APPENDIX
Part I
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Part II
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Part III--Application Narrative
Application Narrative Instructions
Mandatory Page Limit for the Application Narrative
The narrative is the section of the application where you address
the selection criteria used by reviewers in evaluating the application.
You must limit the narrative to the equivalent of no more than 35
pages, using the following standards:
(1) A page is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only with 1'' margins at
the top, bottom and both sides.
(2) You must double space (no more than three lines per vertical
inch) all text in the application narrative, including titles,
headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as
all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
If you use a proportional computer font, you may not use a font
small than a 12-point font. If you use a non-proportional font or a
typewriter, you may not use more than 12 characters per inch.
The page limit does not apply to the Application for Federal
Education Assistance Form (ED 424); the Budget Information Form (ED
524) and attached itemization of costs; the other application forms and
attachments to those forms; the assurances and certifications; or the
one-page abstract and table of contents described below.
IF, IN ORDER TO MEET THE PAGE LIMIT, YOU USE PRINT SIZE, SPACING,
OR MARGINS SMALLER THAN STANDARDS SPECIFIED IN THIS NOTICE, YOUR
APPLICATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING.
Additional Guidance
Abstract
The narrative section should be preceded by a one-page abstract
that includes a short description of the population to be served by the
project, project objectives, and planned project activities.
Table of Contents
The application should include a table of contents listing the
parts of the narrative in the order of the selection criteria. Be sure
that the table includes the page numbers where the parts of the
narrative are found.
Budget
Budget line items must support the goals and objectives of the
proposed project and must be directly related to the instructional
design and all the project components.
Selection Criteria
The narrative should address fully all aspects of the selection
criteria in the order listed and should give detailed information
regarding each criterion. Do not simply paraphrase the criteria. Do not
include resumes or curriculum vitae for project personnel; provide
position descriptions instead. Do not include bibliographies, letters
of support, or appendices in your application.
Final Application Preparation
Submit three copies of the application, including an original copy
containing an original signature for each form requiring the signature
of the authorized representative. Do not use elaborate bindings or
covers. The application package must be mailed or hand-delivered to the
Application Control Center (ACC) and postmarked by the deadline date.
Additional Materials
Estimated Burden Statement
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are
required to respond to a collection of information unless such
collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control
number for this information collection is 1885-0544 (Exp. 12/31/2001).
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 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.
If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your
individual submission of this form, write directly to: Office of
Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 5603, Switzer Building,
Washington, DC 20202-6510.
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[FR Doc. 99-777 Filed 1-12-99; 8:45 am]
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