96-32562. Title I Migrant Education Coordination Program  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 24, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 67922-67926]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-32562]
    
    
    
    [[Page 67921]]
    
    _______________________________________________________________________
    
    Part IV
    
    
    
    
    
    Department of Education
    
    
    
    
    
    _______________________________________________________________________
    
    
    
    Title I Migrant Education Coordination Program; Notice of Final 
    Priority for Fiscal Year 1997
    
    Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 24, 1996 / 
    Notices
    
    [[Page 67922]]
    
    
    
    DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
    
    
    Title I Migrant Education Coordination Program
    
    AGENCY: Department of Education.
    
    ACTION: Notice of final priority for fiscal year 1997.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education 
    announces an absolute priority for competitive grants awarded under the 
    Migrant Education Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 1997. Under this 
    priority, the Department will support projects that use technologies in 
    innovative ways to strengthen the academic achievement of migrant 
    students who move between school districts.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: This priority takes effect January 23, 1997.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin Gilbert, Office of Migrant 
    Education, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW, 
    Room 4100 Portals Building, Washington, DC 20202-6140. Telephone: (202) 
    260-1357. 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. Inquiries may also be sent by e-mail 
    to kristin__gilbert@ed.gov or by FAX at (202) 205-0089.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary intends to award grants to 
    applicants, applying as a member of consortia, who propose to use 
    technologies in innovative and effective ways to improve teaching and 
    learning for highly mobile migrant students. Projects selected for 
    funding will be those judged most likely to be effective in helping 
    migrant children whose education is interrupted by moves between 
    districts and States. In FY 1997, the Secretary will make up to $3 
    million available under the Migrant Education Program (MEP) for this 
    competition, from which 6 to 8 projects are expected to be funded. 
    Grants are projected to range from $200,000 to $600,000 per year and 
    may be funded for up to 5 years.
        The MEP is authorized in Title I, Part C, of the Elementary and 
    Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). Under this program, the 
    Secretary makes grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) to help 
    ensure that migrant children have the opportunity to meet the same 
    challenging State content and student performance standards that all 
    children are expected to meet. Toward this objective, the program 
    supports a range of services for migrant children, including preschool 
    children, and youth through age 21 who are entitled to a free public 
    education through grade 12. For example, it provides supplemental 
    instruction and other related services that address educational 
    disruption, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, various 
    health-related problems, and other factors inhibiting the ability of 
    children to do well in school or make successful transitions to 
    postsecondary education or employment.
        Section 1308 of the ESEA authorizes the Secretary to reserve a 
    portion of each year's MEP appropriation and, in consultation with the 
    States, make grants for programs to improve the coordination of 
    services to migrant students who move within and between States. The 
    Secretary will use part of the FY 1996 and subsequent year reservation 
    to support multi-year projects under the priority in this notice. The 
    Secretary believes that technology, if applied thoughtfully, can be the 
    catalyst that reinforces and extends migrant students learning 
    opportunities, motivation and achievement. This priority is intended to 
    stimulate creative thinking about how to integrate technology more 
    effectively into high-quality educational programs that meet the 
    special needs of the migrant community.
        As some migrant programs are already beginning to demonstrate, 
    technology can help improve the teaching and learning of migrant 
    students by, for example, making curricula and other teaching materials 
    more readily available to migrant students; stimulating new education 
    solutions to counter the adverse impact that frequent moves have on the 
    education of migrant students; and facilitating on-going cooperative 
    arrangements between schools in ``sending'' and ``receiving'' States to 
    reinforce and extend teaching and learning of migrant students. 
    Moreover, States and districts are spending their own funds and funds 
    from other Federal programs for technology and technology-related 
    expenses. These expenditures frequently complement the investments of 
    the MEP and other ESEA programs to help all children, including migrant 
    children, learn to high standards.
        The competition is intended to build on those activities by helping 
    to support efforts to put challenging academic standards more closely 
    within reach of migrant students. The grants are intended to stimulate 
    partnerships, funding, and action at the State and local levels and 
    private sector. Each project's choice of partners, and each project's 
    design with new approaches and strategies, are keys to whether the 
    handful of projects to be funded under this competition can have a 
    significant impact on the education of hard-to-reach, highly mobile, 
    migrant children and youth--now and in the future.
        Applicants are encouraged to consider a range of other Federal and 
    non-Federal sources of technical or financial support. Possible sources 
    of Federal support include assistance that States and communities 
    receive under programs administered by the Department, including: Goals 
    2000; Title I, Part A of the ESEA; the Eisenhower Professional 
    Development program; Bilingual Education programs; School-to-Work 
    Opportunities; the Star Schools program; the Challenge Grants for 
    Technology in Education; the Office of Special Education and 
    Rehabilitative Services technology programs; the recently created 
    Regional Comprehensive Assistance Centers and Regional Technology 
    Consortia; the Regional Educational Laboratories; and the MEP itself.
    
    Goals 2000: Educate America Act
    
        The Goals 2000: Educate America Act (Goals 2000) focuses the 
    Nation's education reform efforts on the eight National Education Goals 
    and provides a framework for meeting them. Goals 2000 promotes new 
    partnerships to strengthen schools and expand the Department's 
    capacities for helping communities to exchange ideas and obtain 
    information needed to achieve these Goals.
        This priority and these selection criteria would address the 
    National Education Goals that all students will leave grades 4, 8, and 
    12 having demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter, and 
    that by the year 2000 the high school graduation rate will increase to 
    at least 90 percent. The priority and selection criteria would further 
    the objectives of these Goals by focusing available funds on projects 
    that will provide students, while they migrant between school 
    districts, a richer learning environment and continuity of education 
    through the innovative use of technologies.
        On August 20, 1996, the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and 
    Secondary Education published a notice of proposed priority (NPP) for 
    this program in the Federal Register (61 FR 43122-5). Additional 
    information is provided in that notice on pages 43122-3, including 
    examples of existing programs for migrant youth that include technology 
    components. While changes have been made since publication of the NPP, 
    these changes merely clarify the priority without altering its intent.
    
    
    [[Page 67923]]
    
    
        Note: This notice does not solicit applications. A notice 
    inviting applications under this competition is published elsewhere 
    in this edition of the Federal Register.
    
    Summary of Comments and Changes
    
        In response to the Secretary's invitation in the notice of proposed 
    priority, 10 parties submitted comments. All commenters supported the 
    thrust of this priority. In general, commenters recommended that the 
    priority clarify (1) who are eligible applicants, as well as the 
    composition and financial responsibilities of the consortium; (2) that 
    applicants must address how their consortia would actually use 
    technology to increase achievement of migrant students; and (3) that 
    applicants may propose uses of technology that focus exclusively on 
    improving the skills or knowledge of those who teach migrant students. 
    An appendix to this notice contains an analysis of the comments and of 
    the changes in the priority. The changes do not alter the priority's 
    original intent.
        Priority: 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 applications that meet 
    this priority:
    
    Technology Applications for Teaching and Learning in the Migrant 
    Community
    
        Under this priority, an eligible applicant will compete for a 
    grant, as a member of a consortium that may be funded for up to five 
    years, to cover the costs of developing, adapting, or expanding 
    existing and new applications of technology that members of the 
    consortium will use to improve teaching and learning for migrant 
    students who move within and between States. In developing their 
    projects, applicants are encouraged to consider how technology might be 
    put to effective use within the whole spectrum of educational inputs--
    including curriculum, modes of learning, professional development, 
    parental involvement--to increase the achievement of the migrant 
    students they serve. To help broaden project planning and impact, 
    consortium efforts must be carefully designed to encourage--wherever 
    possible--the ongoing involvement of educators and parents, business 
    and civic leaders, community organizations, and others committed to 
    providing enhanced educational opportunity for highly mobile migrant 
    students. While there is no matching requirement for this competition, 
    applications will be reviewed for, among other things, the extent to 
    which the consortium as a whole secures from partners or other entities 
    monetary or in-kind contributions for equipment, technical support, and 
    any other associated project costs. These additional contributions may 
    be from Federal or non-Federal sources; however, the reviewers will 
    note the degree to which a project has broad support as evidenced by 
    its non-Federal contributions. Additional sources of support might also 
    include foundation grants and other philanthropic contributions, and 
    services provided through grants or contracts from other government 
    agencies. Examples of assistance available from Federal agencies, other 
    than the Department of Education, are included in the notice of 
    proposed priority for this program published in the Federal Register 
    (61 FR 43122-5).
    
    Eligible Applicants
    
        Any SEA, local educational agency (LEA), institution of higher 
    education, or public or private nonprofit entity is eligible to apply. 
    However, the Secretary specifically invites the following entities to 
    submit applications: SEAs that administer MEPs; LEAs that have a high 
    percentage or high number of migrant students; and non-profit 
    community-based organizations that work with migrant families. In 
    addition, to help ensure that this competition supports coordination 
    activities between school districts: (1) applicants must apply as part 
    of a consortium that includes at least two entities described in the 
    preceding sentence, and (2) consortium members must provide educational 
    services to migrant students in at least two or more school districts. 
    To help ensure that the projects are effective and have broad community 
    and technical support, the consortium must also include at least one 
    other partner from the business community, institutions of higher 
    education, academic content experts, software designers, or other 
    entities.
    
    Application Contents
    
        Objectives: Applicants must demonstrate how the consortium would 
    make innovative uses of technologies to achieve the following 
    objectives: (a) promoting greater continuity of instruction for migrant 
    students as they are served in different school districts in which 
    members of the consortium operate educational programs that are 
    available to migrant students; and (b) helping these migrant students 
    achieve to high academic standards.
        Required Application Descriptions: In describing how it would use 
    technologies to meet the educational purposes described in response to 
    the preceding paragraph, each applicant must also address how the 
    project will provide--
        1. Adequate access to technology for all project participants, 
    whether they are migrant students, their families, or teaching 
    personnel;
        2. Sufficient time and opportunity for teachers (and other 
    educational support staff) to learn to use the technologies and to 
    incorporate them into their own curricular goals;
        3. Easily accessible technical support, such as on-site assistance;
        4. A method for evaluating the educational benefits of the project; 
    and
        5. A strategy for disseminating a successful project to other SEAs, 
    LEAs and other agencies that operate MEPs.
        Other Application Requirements: Among other generally applicable 
    application requirements, applicants are reminded that 34 CFR 75.112 
    and 75.117 of the Education Department and General Administrative 
    Regulations (EDGAR) contain additional narrative and budgetary 
    requirements for applicants that request funding on a multi-year basis. 
    In particular, Sec. 75.112 requires an application to include a 
    narrative that describes how and when, in each budget period of the 
    project, the applicant plans to meet each project objective. (In 
    determining whether to make a continuation award in future years to a 
    project recipient, the Secretary intends to examine each performance 
    report submitted under 34 CFR 75.253 to ensure, among other things, the 
    quality of the project's emerging design and implementation 
    activities.)
    
    Selection Criteria
    
        The Secretary will use two criteria to select applications for 
    funding: significance and feasibility; i.e., is the proposed activity 
    important, and can it be done?
        Significance will be determined by the extent to which the project: 
    1. Offers a creative vision for using technology to help migrant 
    students who move within or between States learn challenging academic 
    content and improve the coordination of their teaching and learning 
    when they move;
        2. Is likely to achieve far-reaching impact through results, 
    products, or benefits that can be readily achieved, exported or adapted 
    to other migrant communities or to settings of other mobile 
    populations;
        3. Will enhance inter- or intrastate coordination of teaching and 
    learning
    
    [[Page 67924]]
    
    (that takes into consideration the cultural and language 
    characteristics of the migrant population) by integrating acquired 
    technologies into the curriculum;
        4. Will provide for ongoing, intensive professional development for 
    teachers (and other personnel) working with the migrant population to 
    further the learning of migrant students through the use of technology 
    in the classroom, library, home, or other learning environment;
        5. Is designed to serve highly mobile migrant populations that are 
    likely to benefit the most from educational technology applications;
        6. Is designed to create new learning communities, and expanded 
    markets for high-quality educational technology applications and 
    services for migrant and other similar populations.
        Feasibility will be determined by the extent to which: 1. The 
    project will ensure successful, effective, and efficient uses of 
    technologies for inter- and intrastate coordination of teaching and 
    learning for migrant students and staff that will be sustainable both 
    during and beyond the period of the grant;
        2. The consortium and other appropriate entities will contribute 
    substantial financial and/or other resources or both to achieve the 
    goals of the project; and
        3. The applicant is capable of carrying out the project, as 
    evidenced by: the extent to which the project is likely to meet the 
    needs that have been identified; the quality of the project design, 
    including objectives, approaches, evaluation plan, and dissemination 
    plan; the adequacy of resources, including money, personnel, 
    facilities, equipment, and supplies; the qualifications of key 
    personnel who would conduct the project; and the applicant's prior 
    experience relevant to the objectives of the project.
    
    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
    
        Under 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 assigned to the 
    collection of information in this final priority notice is 1810-0028.
    
    Selection Procedures
    
        The Secretary will consider only applications that establish the 
    likelihood that the proposed projects will meet the objectives, and 
    that include the required elements, described within the section, 
    ``Application Contents.'' The Secretary will evaluate applications 
    using the unweighted selection criteria described under the ``Selection 
    Criteria'' section of this notice. In determining whether applicants 
    have met these criteria, the Secretary believes that the use of 
    unweighted criteria is most appropriate because they will allow the 
    reviewers maximum flexibility to apply their professional judgments in 
    identifying the particular strengths and weaknesses in individual 
    applications. Therefore, the Secretary will not apply the selection 
    procedures in EDGAR, 34 CFR 75.210 and 75.217, which otherwise require 
    a rank order to be established based on weighted selection criteria.
        The Secretary intends to use the following selection procedures for 
    this competition:
        The first peer review panel or panels of experts will analyze each 
    application to determine whether or not it responds to the requirements 
    in the application contents section of this notice, and in terms of the 
    two selection criteria: significance and feasibility. A reviewer will 
    assign to each application two separate qualitative ratings--one for 
    significance, the other for feasibility--based on the extent to which 
    the application meets each of these criteria. The two ratings (which 
    are of equal importance) taken together will yield a composite rating, 
    representing each reviewer's total rating of each application. All 
    reviewer ratings for each application will then be combined across the 
    reviewers in a panel to yield an overall rating for each application. 
    The panels will also identify inconsistencies, points in need of 
    clarification, and other concerns, if any, pertaining to each 
    application.
        The Secretary will assign each application to one of three or four 
    groups based on the panel's composite rating of each applicant. 
    Starting with the highest quality group and moving down to the lowest, 
    the Secretary will identify the groups containing applications that are 
    of sufficiently high quality to be considered for funding.
        Depending upon the number of applications received, a second panel 
    will be convened to reevaluate each application identified by the first 
    panel as being of sufficiently high quality to be considered for 
    funding. In doing so, this second panel will take into account any 
    additional information or materials supplied by applicants after the 
    first panel review in response to a request by the Secretary (see final 
    paragraph of this section), to redetermine the extent to which each 
    application addresses the selection criteria. The Secretary will 
    reassign each reevaluated application to one of the several quality 
    groups.
        In the final stage of the selection process, the Secretary will 
    select for funding those applications of highest quality, based on the 
    final results of the second review panel or panels, but only if the 
    Secretary is satisfied that they are of high quality with regard to 
    both significance and feasibility. If in this final stage, the 
    Secretary determines that the highest quality group or groups include 
    more applications than can be funded, panelists may be asked to 
    differentiate further between the applications on the basis of quality.
        The Secretary might not have need for the two-tiered procedures, 
    depending upon the number of applications received.
        In accordance with 34 CFR 75.109(b), an applicant is permitted to 
    make changes to an application on or before the deadline date for 
    submission of applications. Also, in accordance with 34 CFR 75.231, the 
    Secretary may request an applicant to submit additional information 
    after the application has been selected for funding. Given the 
    technical nature of the proposals, the Secretary expects that it might 
    be necessary to obtain clarifications and additional information from 
    applicants during the selection process. The Secretary would request 
    additional information or materials from applicants that the review 
    panel has determined are of sufficiently high quality, and that address 
    the concerns and questions, if any, identified by the peer review 
    panel. Therefore, for the purpose of this grant competition, the 
    Secretary will also permit an applicant to submit additional 
    information in response to a specific request from the Secretary made 
    during the application review and selection process.
    
    Intergovernmental Review
    
        This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order 
    12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. The objective of the 
    Executive Order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a 
    strengthened federalism by relying on processes developed by State and 
    local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal 
    financial assistance.
        In accordance with the order, this document is intended to provide 
    early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for 
    this program. Applicable Regulations: EDGAR 34 CFR Parts 74, 75 (except 
    Sec. 75.201, 75.210 and 75.217), 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85 and 86; and 34 
    CFR 200.40.
    
        Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6398(a).
    
    
    [[Page 67925]]
    
    
        Dated: December 17, 1996.
    Gerald N. Tirozzi,
    Assistant Secretary, Elementary and Secondary Education.
    
    Appendix--Analysis of Comments and Changes
    
        Comments: One commenter suggested that the priority clarify whether 
    charter schools are eligible for grants.
        Discussion: This grant competition is open to any SEA, LEA or other 
    public or private nonprofit entity that applies as part of a consortium 
    and meets the criteria announced in this notice. A charter school that 
    is an LEA or a public or private nonprofit agency in the State in which 
    it is located would be eligible to apply.
        Changes: None.
        Comments: Two commenters questioned the proposed requirement that 
    the consortium partners contribute financial or in-kind resources to 
    the project. One commenter requested clarification as to whether 
    members of the consortium could meet this requirement by using 
    resources provided through another Federal program. The other commenter 
    expressed concern that the proposed requirement could limit the number 
    of applicants. The commenter noted that because LEAs, SEAs, and 
    nonprofit agencies might not have substantial resources to contribute 
    to the project, other participants in a consortium, such as the 
    business community and academic content experts, might have to 
    contribute the bulk of additional financial assistance.
        Discussion: Funds awarded under this competition can play a pivotal 
    role in helping to support initiatives that use technology as a key 
    ingredient to increasing the academic achievement of migrating 
    students. However, initiatives that rely solely--or even principally--
    on these or other Federal funds may be less likely than other projects 
    to succeed or endure beyond the project period. First, the amount of 
    project funds that the Secretary can award under section 1308(a) of the 
    ESEA may simply be too small to meet total project costs. But more 
    important, a project's likely impact and success depends in part on 
    funding support that is broad and lasting, as demonstrated by the 
    degree to which applicants obtain significant commitments of non-
    Federal as well as Federal resources. For this reason, while applicants 
    are not required to demonstrate that they have any outside support as a 
    condition of their eligibility for an award, the notice clarifies that 
    project's feasibility will depend, in part, on the degree to which (a) 
    consortium partners and other entities are committed to making 
    substantial financial and in-kind contributions to the success of the 
    project, and (b) contributions include those from non-Federal sources. 
    Moreover, the Secretary believes that applications that demonstrate a 
    consortium's ability to leverage significant additional resources are 
    likely to be more competitive than applications that do not.
        The Secretary is aware that some participants in a consortium may 
    be unable to contribute significant amounts of actual or in-kind 
    resources to the project, and that some consortia may be able to pull 
    together more resources for their projects than others. The final 
    notice clarifies that applications will be reviewed for the extent to 
    which the consortium as a whole--rather than its individual members or 
    other participating entities--are contributing substantial financial 
    and/or in-kind contributions to achieve the project goals.
        Changes: The supplementary information and statement of the 
    priority have been revised accordingly.
        Comments: A commenter requested clarification about whether 
    priority will be given to consortia that includes all three applicants 
    (SEA, LEA, or other non-profit organization) that were specifically 
    invited to apply.
        Discussion: No priority will be given to any particular make-up of 
    consortia.
        Changes: None.
        Comments: A commenter questioned the use of the word, ``or'' 
    illustrating types of partners--beyond SEAs, LEAs and nonprofit 
    agencies--that must be a part of a consortium funded under this 
    competition. The statement referred to the inclusion of entities ``such 
    as business, academic content, or software designers * * *.'' The 
    commenter recommends that the word ``and'' be substituted for ``or'' in 
    order to emphasize the need for projects to include both software 
    design and academic content expertise.
        Discussion: The Secretary encourages partnerships of all types to 
    compete for funding under this notice and does not believe it to be 
    appropriate to limit eligibility to any particular configuration.
        Changes: None.
        Comments: Two commenters suggested that the priority strengthen the 
    connections between the use of technology and the educational program 
    design. Two other commenters recommended that the applications be 
    required not only to describe the use of technology, but also to show 
    how they address inter- and intra-state coordination of educational 
    programs that serve migrant students.
        Discussion: The Secretary agrees with the commenters that further 
    clarity is needed in these areas. As explained in the ``Supplementary 
    Information'' section of this notice, the intent of this competition 
    is, and has been, to further support the effective use of technology as 
    a means of increasing migrant student achievement. Moreover, because 
    funds will be awarded under section 1308(a) of the ESEA, funded 
    projects need to be designed to improve inter- or intra-state 
    coordination among programs assisting migrant students.
        Changes: In order to ensure that all selected projects reflect 
    these objectives, the Secretary has revised the ``Application 
    Contents'' portion of the notice to require an applicant to demonstrate 
    how it would use technology as a tool to improve achievement. Further, 
    this section of the notice now clarifies that applicants also must 
    demonstrate how they would use technology to promote greater continuity 
    of instruction for migrant students as they are served at different 
    project sites.
        Comments: A commenter suggested that eligibility be expanded to 
    include States and island nations with immigrant populations. In this 
    context, the commenter also suggested that all agencies responsible for 
    providing services to migrant and immigrant children be required to 
    share appropriate electronic databases.
        Discussion: Section 1308(a) of the ESEA does not authorize the use 
    of funds under this program to serve the needs of immigrant children.
        Changes: None.
        Comments: One commenter suggested that the criteria be broadened to 
    permit funding of interstate projects that would use technology only to 
    strengthen professional development of teachers of migrant students. 
    The commenter expressed concern that, as written, the notice appears to 
    require migrant student participation in all projects.
        Discussion: This competition is intended to fund well-designed 
    proposals that improve teaching and learning for migrant students who 
    move from one location to another. In doing so, applicants may propose 
    uses of technology that focus exclusively on those who teach migrant 
    students, rather than on the migrant students themselves, for example, 
    by offering those teachers increased access to professional development 
    activities.
        Changes: The ``Required Application Descriptions'' section 
    clarifies that while project participants must be given adequate access 
    to technology, those participants may be students, their families, or 
    teaching personnel.
    
    [[Page 67926]]
    
        Comments: One commenter requested that the notice clarify that 
    within a consortium, partnerships with universities--for the purpose of 
    developing software--would have the same weight as business 
    partnerships. Another commenter suggested that Comprehensive Regional 
    Assistance Centers be included in the list of potential partners.
        Discussion: The Secretary agrees with the commenters that 
    universities and comprehensive centers are potentially very important 
    partners in any consortium. The Secretary does not believe that the 
    notice should emphasize university participation through the 
    development of software.
        Changes. The ``Technology Applications for Teaching and Learning in 
    the Migrant Community'' and ``Eligible Applicants'' sections of the 
    notice have been revised to clarify the importance of institutions of 
    higher education, while the ``Supplementary Information'' section has 
    been revised to clarify the importance of the comprehensive centers.
        Comments: Two commenters expressed concern that use of unweighted 
    selection criteria would create difficulties in making systematic and 
    substantiated judgments about the relative quality of applications, 
    whereas one commenter expressed support for use of the unweighted 
    criteria. One commenter also suggested that training be offered to the 
    review panels to help ensure quality of the comments.
        Discussion: This competition is designed to encourage all 
    applicants, and particularly SEAs, LEAs, and other public and private 
    nonprofit agencies serving migrant students, to reach out to 
    businesses, universities, and others in their communities in creative 
    ways that can give migrant students the benefit of recent technological 
    innovations. Given the nature of the competition, and the many forms 
    and varieties of new technological applications that it can support, 
    the Secretary believes that unweighted criteria provide the most 
    promising opportunity to select for funding those projects that are 
    most significant and feasible. The Secretary will ensure that judgments 
    about the relative quality of applicants are made systematically and in 
    ways that are substantiated.
        Changes. None.
        Comments: Two commenters suggested that there be a separate 
    competition or a reservation of funds under this competition for credit 
    exchange and accrual activities for migrant secondary school students.
        Discussion: A proposal that focuses on credit exchange and accrual, 
    and, in so doing, uses technology to provide instruction and/or 
    improved teaching to migrant students, is within the purview of the 
    priority. Beyond this, the Secretary recognizes the importance of 
    credit exchange and accrual activities, and will consider whether, in 
    the future, a competition focusing specifically on credit exchange and 
    accrual activities is desirable.
        Changes: None.
        Comments: A commenter recommended that the priority be expanded to 
    include applications for projects to offer technology workshops and 
    training to migrant personnel.
        Discussion: The limited funds available under this competition are 
    intended to help support a few high quality programs that incorporate 
    technology into teaching and learning and that ultimately might be 
    adapted in other sites. Each application must include as a part of its 
    project easily accessible technical support, adequate access to 
    technology for all project participants and sufficient time for 
    teachers and educational staff to learn to use the technology. This 
    competition is not a vehicle for financing broad-based technology 
    workshops for the migrant community.
        Changes. None.
        Comment. One commenter recommended that the final priority notice 
    prohibit for-profit entities from receiving funds awarded under this 
    competition. The commenter asserted that these entities are not 
    authorized by the program statute to receive grant funds, and that 
    grant funds should not benefit for-profit entities at the expense of 
    disadvantaged migrant students.
        Discussion. Section 1308(a) of the ESEA authorizes the Secretary to 
    make grants or contracts for the improvement of inter-state and intra-
    state coordination of migrant education projects to SEAs, LEAs, IHEs 
    and other public and private nonprofit entities. This notice permits 
    these entities--and only these entities--to be recipients of project 
    grants. While applicants must apply as part of a broader consortium 
    that conceivably might include a for-profit entity, the for-profit 
    entity would not be the project grantee. Beyond this, the ESEA does not 
    prohibit a project grantee from procuring services from a for-profit 
    entity. Indeed, cost principles in Office of Management and Budget 
    Circular A-87, which govern an SEA's or LEA's use of project funds by 
    virtue of 34 CFR 80.22, authorize SEA and LEA grantees to use 
    reasonable and necessary amounts of program funds to procure supplies, 
    materials and other services from for-profit entities.
        Changes. None.
        Comment. Officials within the Department suggested that the notice 
    should include the relevant sections of EDGAR that will apply to this 
    competition.
        Discussion. The Department inadvertently omitted references to 
    EDGAR that govern this competition and agrees that these sections 
    should be cited in the notice.
        Changes. The section, ``Applicable Regulations,'' includes 
    references to all sections of EDGAR that apply to this competition.
    
    [FR Doc. 96-32562 Filed 12-23-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
1/23/1997
Published:
12/24/1996
Department:
Education Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of final priority for fiscal year 1997.
Document Number:
96-32562
Dates:
This priority takes effect January 23, 1997.
Pages:
67922-67926 (5 pages)
PDF File:
96-32562.pdf