[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 231 (Tuesday, December 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63780-63795]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31566]
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_______________________________________________________________________
Part V
Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________
Bilingual Education; State Grant Program; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 231 / Tuesday, December 2, 1997 /
Notices
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA No.: 84.194Q]
Bilingual Education: State Grant Program; Notice Inviting
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 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 an award under this program. The statutory
authorization for this program and the application requirements that
apply to this competition are contained in section 7134 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the
Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-382, enacted
October 20, 1994 (the Act) (20 U.S.C. 7454)).
Purpose of Program: This program provides grants to State
educational agencies to--(1) assist local educational agencies in the
State with program design, capacity building, assessment of student
performance, and program evaluation; and (2) collect data on the
State's limited English proficient (LEP) population and the educational
programs and services available to that population. However, a State is
exempt from the requirements to collect data if it did not, as of
October 20, 1994, have a system in place for collecting the data.
Eligible Applicants: State Educational Agencies.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: January 9, 1998.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: March 10, 1998.
Available Funds: $5,720,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$550,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 50.
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 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 85, and 86; and (b) 34 CFR Part 299, General Provisions,
Elementary and Secondary Education Act, published on May 22, 1997, in
the Federal Register (62 FR 28248).
Description of Program
Funds under this program are to be used to assist local educational
agencies in the State with program design, capacity building,
assessment of student performance, and program evaluation. In addition,
grantees are required to collect data on the State's LEP population and
the educational programs and services available to that population
unless a grantee's State did not, as of October 20, 1994, have a system
for collecting data in place. However, a State that develops a system
for collecting data on the educational programs and services available
to all LEP students in the State subsequent to October 20, 1994 must
meet this requirement. A grantee may also use funds provided under this
program for the training of State educational agency personnel in
educational issues affecting limited English proficient children and
youth.
Selection Criteria
(a)(1) The Secretary uses the following selection criteria in 34
CFR 75.209 and 75.210 and section 7134 of the Act to evaluate
applications for 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) The criteria.--(1) Providing for the education of children and
youth with limited English proficiency. (20 points) The Secretary
reviews each application to determine how well the applicant
effectively provides, through its own programs and other Federal
education programs, for the education of limited English proficient
children within its State.
(2) Need for project. (15 points) The Secretary considers the need
for the proposed project. In determining the need for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the magnitude of the need for the
services to be provided or the activities to be carried out by the
proposed project.
(3) Quality of the project design. (25 points) (i) The Secretary
considers the quality of the design of the proposed project.
(ii) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(A) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
(B) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of
Federal financial assistance.
(C) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated
with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community,
State, and Federal resources.
(4) Quality of project services. (15 points) (i) The Secretary
considers the quality of the 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
beneficiaries of those services.
(B) The extent to which entities that are to be served by the
proposed technical assistance project demonstrate support for the
project.
(C) The extent to which the technical assistance services to be
provided by the proposed project involve the use of efficient
strategies, including the use of technology, as appropriate, and the
leveraging of non-project resources.
(5) Quality of project personnel. (10 points) (i) The Secretary
considers the quality of the 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.
(B) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of key project personnel.
(6) Adequacy of resources. (5 points) (i) The Secretary considers
the adequacy of resources for the proposed project.
(ii) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(A) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment,
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the
lead applicant organization.
(B) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the
proposed project.
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(C) 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 project evaluation. (10 points) (i) The
Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of
the proposed project.
(ii) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(A) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough,
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the
proposed project.
(B) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are appropriate
to the context within which the project operates.
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 October 7, 1997 (62 FR 52448
through 52450).
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# 84.194Q, U.S. Department of Education, Room 6213, 600
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 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. (Washington, DC 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
(a) If an applicant wants to apply for a grant, the applicant
shall--
(1) Mail the original and one copy of the application on or before
the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control
Center, Attention: (CFDA# 84.194Q), Washington, DC 20202-4725, or
(2) Hand-deliver the original and one copy of the application by
4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) on or before the deadline date to: U.S.
Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA#
84.194Q), Room #3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets,
SW., Washington, DC.
(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 the following 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, various assurances and
certifications, checklist for applicants, and required documentation:
a. Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 (Rev. 4-
88)) and instructions.
b. Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED Form No. 524)
and instructions.
c. Instructions for the Application Narrative.
d. Estimated Public Reporting Burden Statement.
e. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B) and
instructions.
f. Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and
Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED
80-0013) and instructions.
g. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and
Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions (ED 80-0014, 9/90)
and instructions. (NOTE: This form is intended for the use of grantees
and should not be transmitted to the Department.)
h. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL) (if
applicable) and instructions. This document has been marked to reflect
statutory changes. See the notice published in the Federal Register (61
FR 1413) by the Office of Management and Budget on January 19, 1996.
i. Notice to All Applicants.
j. Checklist for Applicants.
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 one copy 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: Luis A. Catarineau, U.S. Department of
Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW., room 5623, Switzer Building,
Washington, DC 20202-6510. Telephone: (202) 205-9907. Individuals
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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 1-888-293-6498.
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. 7454.
Dated: November 24, 1997.
Delia Pompa,
Director, Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs.
Estimated Public Reporting 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 OMB No. 1885-0528 (Expiration date: April 30,
1998). The time required to complete this information collection is
estimated to average 60 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 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: Office of
Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs, U.S. Department of
Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 5623, Mary E. Switzer
Building, Washington, DC 20202-6510.
Instructions for the Application Narrative
Abstract
The narrative section should begin with an abstract that includes a
short description of the LEP population in the State, project
objectives, and planned project activities.
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.
Table of Contents
The application should include a table of contents listing the
sections in the order required.
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 other project components.
Notice to All Applicants
Thank you for your interest in this program. The purpose of this
enclosure 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
American'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 intends to
conduct ``outreach'' efforts to girls, to encourage their enrollment.
We recognize that many applicants may already be implementing
effective
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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.
Checklist for Applicants
The following forms and other items must be included in the
application in the order listed below:
1. Application for Federal Assistance Form (SF 424).
2. Budget Information Form (ED Form No. 524).
3. Itemized budget for each year.
4. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs Form (SF 424B).
5. Certifications Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension and
Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements Form
(ED 80-0013).
6. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and
Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions Form (ED 80-0014)
(if applicable).
7. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Form (SF-LLL).
8. Information that addresses section 427 of the General Education
Provisions Act. (See the above section entitled ``Notice to all
Applicants'' (OMB No. 1801-0004).)
9. Table of Contents.
10. Application narrative, including abstract.
11. One original and one copy of the application for transmittal to
the Education Department's Application Control Center.
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[FR Doc. 97-31566 Filed 12-1-97; 8:45 am]
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