98-3765. Magnet Schools Assistance Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1998  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 1998)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 8021-8029]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-3765]
    
    
    
    Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 31 / Tuesday, February 17, 1998 / 
    Notices
    
    [[Page 8021]]
    
    
    
    DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
    
    [CFDA No.: 84.165A]
    
    
    Magnet Schools Assistance Program; Notice Inviting Applications 
    for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1998
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        Purpose of Program: Provides grants to eligible local educational 
    agencies and consortia of those agencies to support magnet schools that 
    are part of approved desegregation plans.
    
        Eligible Applicants: Local educational agencies (LEAs) and 
    consortia of those agencies.
        Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 9, 1998.
    
        Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 8, 1998.
        Applications Available: February 17, 1998.
        Available Funds: $96,500,000.
        Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000-$3,000,000 per year.
        Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,608,000 per year.
        Estimated Number of Awards: 60.
    
        Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
    notice.
    
        Project Period: Up to 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; and (b) the regulations in 34 CFR Part 280.
    
    Priorities
    
    Background
    
        The Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) makes grants to 
    eligible LEAs and consortia of LEAs for programs that are designed to 
    support--
         The elimination, reduction, or prevention of minority 
    group isolation in public elementary and secondary schools with 
    substantial proportions of minority group children;
         The development and implementation of magnet school 
    projects that will assist in achieving systemic reform and providing 
    all children the opportunity to meet challenging State content 
    standards and challenging student performance standards;
         The development and design of innovative educational 
    methods and practices; and
         Courses of instruction within magnet schools that will 
    substantially strengthen the knowledge of academic subjects and the 
    grasp of tangible and marketable vocational skills of students 
    attending those magnet schools.
    
    Competitive Priorities
    
        Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(I) and 34 CFR 280.32(b)-(f), the 
    Secretary gives preference to applications that meet competitive 
    priorities. Depending upon how well an application meets each priority, 
    the Secretary awards additional points to the application for each 
    priority up to the maximum number of points available for that 
    priority. These points are in addition to any points the applicant 
    earns under the selection criteria in 34 CFR 280.31.
        The Secretary will award up to a total of 45 points for the 
    following competitive priorities:
         Need for assistance. (5 points)  The Secretary evaluates 
    the applicant's need for assistance under this part, by considering--
        (a) The costs of fully implementing the magnet schools project as 
    proposed;
        (b) The resources available to the applicant to carry out the 
    project if funds under the program were not provided;
        (c) The extent to which the costs of the project exceed the 
    applicant's resources; and
        (d) The difficulty of effectively carrying out the approved plan 
    and the project for which assistance is sought, including consideration 
    of how the design of the magnet school project--e.g., the type of 
    program proposed, the location of the magnet school within the LEA--
    impacts on the applicant's ability to successfully carry out the 
    approved plan.
         New or revised magnet schools projects. (10 points)  The 
    Secretary determines the extent to which the applicant proposes to 
    carry out new magnet schools projects or significantly revise existing 
    magnet schools projects.
         Selection of students. (15 points)  The Secretary 
    determines the extent to which the applicant proposes to select 
    students to attend magnet schools by methods such as lottery, rather 
    that through academic examination.
         Innovative approaches and systemic reform. (10 points)  
    The Secretary determines the extent to which the project for which 
    assistance is sought proposes to implement innovative educational 
    approaches that are consistent with the State's and LEA's systemic 
    reform plans, if any, under Title III of Goals 2000: Educate America 
    Act.
         Collaborative efforts. (5 points)  The Secretary 
    determines the extent to which the project for which assistance is 
    sought proposes to draw on comprehensive community involvement plans.
        Additionally, the Secretary gives preference to applications that 
    use a significant portion of the program funds to address substantial 
    problems in an Empowerment Zone, including a Supplemental Empowerment 
    Zone, or an Enterprise Community designated by the United States 
    Department of Housing and Urban Development or the United States 
    Department of Agriculture. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii), the Secretary 
    selects an application that meets this competitive priority over an 
    application of comparable merit that does not meet this competitive 
    priority.
    
        Note: A list of areas that have been designated as Empowerment 
    Zones and Enterprise Communities is published as an appendix to this 
    notice.
    
    Supplementary Information: Applicants must submit with their 
    applications one of the following types of plans to establish 
    eligibility to receive MSAP assistance: (1) A desegregation plan 
    required by a court order; (2) a plan required by a State agency or 
    official of competent jurisdiction; (3) a plan required by the Office 
    for Civil Rights (OCR), United States Department of Education (ED), 
    under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI plan); or (4) 
    a voluntary plan adopted by the applicant.
        Under the regulations, applicants are required to provide all of 
    the information required at Sec. 280.20(a)-(g) in order to satisfy the 
    civil rights eligibility requirements found in Sec. 280.2(a)(2) and (b) 
    of the regulations. Prior to 1995, if necessary, ED requested 
    enrollment data or other information from applicants after their 
    applications were submitted utilizing the procedures set forth in 
    Sec. 280.20(h). However, that follow-up process delayed awards under 
    the program. In order to respond to requests from applicants and 
    grantees that the Department announce MSAP awards earlier in the year, 
    when conducting eligibility reviews of plans under Sec. 280.2, the 
    Department may not follow up with applicants to obtain additional 
    information or clarification. Accordingly, in order to satisfy the 
    civil rights eligibility requirements found in Sec. 280.2(a)(2) and (b) 
    of the regulations, it is very important that an applicant provide all 
    of the information required under the regulations at Sec. 280.20(a)-
    (g). This notice describes that information.
        In addition to the particular data and other items for required and 
    voluntary plans, described separately in the information that follows, 
    an application must include:
         Signed civil rights assurances (included in the 
    application package);
         A copy of the applicant's plan; and
         An assurance that the plan is being implemented or will be 
    implemented if the application is funded.
    
    [[Page 8022]]
    
    Required Plans
    
    1. Plans Required by a Court Order
        An applicant that submits a plan required by a court must submit 
    complete and signed copies of all court or State documents 
    demonstrating that the magnet schools are a part of the approved plan. 
    Examples of the types of documents that would meet this requirement 
    include--
         A Federal or State court order that establishes or amends 
    a previous order or orders by establishing additional or different 
    specific magnet schools;
         A Federal or State court order that requires or approves 
    the establishment of one or more unspecified magnet schools or that 
    authorizes the inclusion of magnet schools at the discretion of the 
    applicant.
    2. Plans Required by a State Agency or Official of Competent 
    Jurisdiction
        An applicant submitting a plan ordered by a State agency or 
    official of competent jurisdiction must provide documentation that 
    shows that the plan was ordered based upon a determination that State 
    law was violated. In the absence of this documentation, the applicant 
    should consider its plan to be a voluntary plan and submit the data and 
    information necessary for voluntary plans.
    3. Title VI Required Plans
        An applicant that submits a plan required by OCR under Title VI 
    must submit a complete copy of the plan demonstrating that magnet 
    schools are part of the approved plan.
    4. Modifications to Required Plans
        A previously approved desegregation plan that does not include the 
    magnet school or program for which the applicant is now seeking 
    assistance must be modified to include the magnet school component. The 
    modification to the plan must be approved by the court, agency or 
    official, that originally approved the plan. An applicant that wishes 
    to modify a previously approved OCR Title VI plan to include different 
    or additional magnet schools must submit the proposed modification for 
    review and approval to the OCR Regional Office that approved its 
    original plan.
        An applicant should indicate in its application if it is seeking to 
    modify its previously approved plan. However, all applicants must 
    submit proof to ED of approval of all modifications to their plans by 
    May 7, 1998.
    
    Voluntary Plans
    
        A voluntary plan must be approved each time an application is 
    submitted for funding. Even if ED has approved a voluntary plan in an 
    LEA in the past, the plan must be resubmitted to ED for approval as 
    part of the application.
        An applicant submitting a voluntary plan must include in its 
    application:
         A copy of a school board resolution or other evidence of 
    final official action adopting and implementing the plan, or agreeing 
    to adopt and implement the plan upon the award of assistance.
         Enrollment and other information as required by the 
    regulations at Sec. 280.20(f) and (g) for applicants with voluntary 
    plans. Enrollment data and information are critical to ED's 
    determination of an applicant's eligibility under a voluntary plan.
    
    Narrow Tailoring
    
        The purposes of the MSAP include the reduction, elimination or 
    prevention of minority group isolation. In many instances, in order to 
    carry out these purposes, districts take race into account in assigning 
    students to magnet schools. In order to meet the requirements of Title 
    VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fourteenth Amendment to the 
    United States Constitution, applicants submitting voluntary plans that 
    involve the use of race in decisionmaking must ensure that the use of 
    race satisfies strict scrutiny. That is, the use of race must be 
    narrowly tailored to achieve the compelling interest in reducing, 
    eliminating or preventing minority group isolation.
        In order for the Department to make a determination that a 
    voluntary plan involving a racial classification is adequate under 
    Title VI the plan must be narrowly tailored. Among the considerations 
    that affect a determination of whether the use of race in a voluntary 
    plan is narrowly tailored are (1) whether the district tried or 
    seriously considered race-neutral alternatives and determined that 
    those measures have not been or would not be similarly effective, 
    before resorting to race-conscious action; (2) the scope and 
    flexibility of the use of race, including whether it is subject to a 
    waiver; (3) the manner in which race is used, that is, whether race 
    determines eligibility for a program or whether race is just one factor 
    in the decision making process; (4) the duration of the use of race and 
    whether it is subject to periodic review; and (5) the degree and type 
    of burden imposed on students of other races.
        Each of these considerations should be specifically considered in 
    framing a district's strategy. Some examples follow, although it must 
    be recognized that the legal standards in this area are developing.
    
    Race-Neutral Means
    
        Before resorting to race-conscious action, school districts must 
    try or seriously consider race-neutral alternatives and determine that 
    they have not been or would not be similarly effective. One example of 
    a race-neutral approach for applicants proposing to conduct a lottery 
    for student admission to a magnet school would be to strengthen efforts 
    to recruit a large pool of eligible students for the lottery that 
    reflects the diverse racial and ethnic composition of the students in 
    the applicant's district. If recruitment efforts are successful, the 
    lottery should result in a racially and ethnically diverse student 
    body.
        It may be possible to broaden the appeal of a given magnet school 
    by aggressively publicizing it, making application to it as easy as 
    possible, and broadening the geographic area from which the school is 
    intended to draw.
    
    Use of Racial Criteria in Admissions
    
        It may be permissible to establish a procedure whereby race is 
    taken into account in admissions only if race-neutral steps are 
    considered and a determination is made that they would not prove 
    similarly effective. Racial caps are the most difficult use of race to 
    justify under a narrow tailoring analysis.
        The decision to consider race in admission decisions should be made 
    on a school-by-school basis.
    
    Scope and Flexibility
    
        Over time, the enrollment at a magnet school may become stable and 
    the school may attract a diverse group of students. At this point, use 
    of race as a factor in admissions may no longer be necessary.
        In some instances, exceptions to the use of race in admissions--
    where a relatively small number of students are adversely affected and 
    their admission will not substantially affect the racial composition of 
    the program--should be available.
    
    Duration of the Program and Reexamination of the Use of Criteria
    
        The school or school district should formally review the steps it 
    has taken which involve the use of race on a regular basis, such as on 
    an annual basis, to determine whether the use of race is still needed, 
    or should be modified.
    
    [[Page 8023]]
    
    Effect on Students of Other Races
    
        Where there are a number of magnet schools, it may also be possible 
    to assign students to a comparable magnet school, if they are unable to 
    gain admission to their first preference.
    
    Enrollment and Other Information
    
        A voluntary plan is a plan to reduce, eliminate, or prevent 
    minority group isolation (MGI), either at a magnet school or at a 
    feeder school--a school from which students are drawn to attend the 
    magnet school. Under Sec. 280.2, the establishment of the magnet school 
    cannot result in an increase in MGI at a magnet school or any feeder 
    school above the districtwide percentage of minority group students at 
    the grade levels served by the magnet school.
        The following example and those in subsequent sections of this 
    notice are designed to assist applicants in the preparation of their 
    application. The examples illustrate the types of data and information 
    that have proven successful in the past for satisfying the voluntary 
    plan regulation requirements.
        District A has a districtwide percentage of 65.5 percent for its 
    minority student population in elementary schools. District A has six 
    elementary schools with the following minority student populations:
    
    1. School A--67 percent
    2. School B--58 percent
    3. School C--64 percent
    4. School D--76 percent
    5. School E--47 percent
    6. School F--81 percent
    
        District A has five minority group isolated schools, i.e., five 
    schools with minority student enrollment of over 50 percent. District A 
    seeks funding to establish a magnet program at School F to reduce MGI 
    at that school. For District A to be eligible for a grant, the 
    establishment of the magnet program at School F should not increase the 
    minority student enrollment at feeder school C to more than 65.5 
    percent (the districtwide percentage). Also, the establishment of the 
    magnet program should not increase the minority student enrollment at 
    feeder schools A or D at all because those schools are already above 
    the districtwide percentage for minority students. If projected 
    enrollments at a magnet or feeder school indicate that there will be an 
    increase in MGI, District A should provide an explanation in its 
    application for the increase that shows it is not caused by the 
    establishment of the magnet program. See the following discussion.
        An applicant that proposes to establish new magnet schools must 
    submit projected data for each magnet and feeder school that show that 
    the magnet schools and all feeders will maintain eligibility for the 
    entire three-year period of the grant.
        Projected data are included in the following examples.
    
    Objective: Reduction of Minority Group Isolation in Existing Magnet 
    Schools
    
        In situations where the applicant intends to reduce minority 
    isolation in an existing magnet program, whether in the magnet school 
    or in one or more of the feeder schools, and minority isolation has 
    increased, the applicant must provide data and information to 
    demonstrate that the increase was not due to the applicant's magnet 
    program, in accordance with Sec. 280.20(g). See the following examples.
    
    Options for Demonstrating Reduction
    
    1. Magnet School Analysis
        District Z has two existing magnet elementary schools. All of the 
    other schools in the district are feeder schools to one or both of the 
    magnet schools. District Z has six feeder schools and a districtwide 
    minority enrollment of 60.0 percent at the elementary school level.
    
                                                          District Z Base Year Data for Magnet Schools                                                      
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                         Magnet school (base year)                          enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Adams (1996).......................................................              449              382             85.1               67             14.9
    Edison (1996)......................................................              387              306             79.1               81             20.9
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Note: ``Base Year'' is the year prior to the year each school became a magnet.                                                                          
    
    
                                                         District Z Current Year Data for Magnet Schools                                                    
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                               Magnet school                                enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Adams..............................................................              459              365             79.5               94             20.5
    Edison.............................................................              400              326             81.5               74             18.5
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        Since becoming a magnet school last year, Adams has decreased in 
    MGI from 85.1 percent to 79.5 percent and the district projects that 
    through operation as a magnet school MGI will continue to be reduced 
    over the next three years. At Edison, the district projects that MGI 
    will be reduced over the next three years through its operation as a 
    magnet even though MGI increased 2.4 percent, from 79.1 percent to 81.5 
    percent since the school first became a magnet. Because of the 
    increase, this school would be found ineligible unless the increase in 
    MGI in the current year was not caused by the magnet school. This may 
    be shown through data indicating an increase either in minority 
    enrollment districtwide or in the area served by the magnet school.
        If District Z's districtwide elementary school enrollment has 
    become more minority isolated due to districtwide demographic changes 
    in the student population and if a magnet or a feeder school's increase 
    in MGI is less than the districtwide increase in MGI, ED will conclude 
    that the school's increase in MGI was not the result of the magnet 
    programs, but due to the overall effect of demographic changes in the 
    district as a whole at the elementary level.
    
    [[Page 8024]]
    
    
    
                                                          District Z Base Year Data for Feeder Schools                                                      
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                               Feeder school                                enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Rose...............................................................              398              301             75.6               97             24.4
    Rocky Mount........................................................              289              199             68.9               90             31.1
    Wheeler............................................................              239              144             60.3               95             39.7
    King...............................................................              289              144             49.8              145             50.2
    Tinker.............................................................              429              173             40.3              256             59.7
    Holly..............................................................              481              122             25.4              359             74.6
    Districtwide.......................................................            2,961            1,771             59.8            1,190             40.2
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                         District Z Current Year Data for Feeder Schools                                                    
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                               Feeder school                                enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Rose...............................................................              401              278             69.3              123             30.7
    Rocky Mount........................................................              291              211             72.5               80             27.5
    Wheeler............................................................              251              153             61.0               98             39.0
    King...............................................................              277              149             53.8              128             46.2
    Tinker.............................................................              424              198             46.7              226             53.3
    Holly..............................................................              475              130             27.4              345             72.6
    Districtwide.......................................................            2,978            1,810             60.8            1,168             39.2
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                     District Z Projected 1998-1999 Data for Magnet Schools                                                 
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                               Magnet school                                enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Adams..............................................................              469              349             74.4              120             25.6
    Edison.............................................................              410              312             76.1               98             23.9
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                     District Z Projected 1999-2000 Data for Magnet Schools                                                 
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                               Magnet school                                enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Adams..............................................................              483              331             68.5              152             31.5
    Edison.............................................................              407              289             71.0              118             29.0
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                     District Z Projected 2000-2001 Data for Magnet Schools                                                 
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                               Magnet school                                enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Adams..............................................................              489              307             62.8              182             37.2
    Edison.............................................................              409              266             65.0              143             35.0
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                     District Z Projected 1998-1999 Data for Feeder Schools                                                 
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                               Feeder school                                enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Rose...............................................................              400              272             68.0              128             32.0
    Rocky Mount........................................................              306              216             70.6               90             29.4
    Wheeler............................................................              250              148             59.2              102             40.8
    King...............................................................              280              151             53.9              129             46.1
    Tinker.............................................................              417              232             55.6              185             44.4
    Holly..............................................................              447              170             38.0              277             62.0
    Districtwide.......................................................            2,979            1,850             62.1            1,129             37.9
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                     District Z Projected 1999-2000 Data for Feeder Schools                                                 
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                               Feeder school                                enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Rose...............................................................              396              265             66.9              131             33.1
    Rocky Mount........................................................              293              202             68.9               91             31.1
    Wheeler............................................................              259              153             59.1              106             40.9
    
    [[Page 8025]]
    
                                                                                                                                                            
    King...............................................................              291              169             58.1              122             41.9
    Tinker.............................................................              418              242             57.9              176             42.1
    Holly..............................................................              451              216             47.9              235             52.1
    Districtwide.......................................................            2,998            1,867             62.3            1,131             37.7
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                     District Z Projected 2000-2001 Data for Feeder Schools                                                 
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                               Feeder school                                enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Rose...............................................................              400              267             66.8              133             33.2
    Rocky Mount........................................................              299              204             68.2               95             31.8
    Wheeler............................................................              262              154             58.8              108             41.2
    King...............................................................              302              181             59.9              121             40.1
    Tinker.............................................................              419              244             58.2              175             41.8
    Holly..............................................................              441              227             51.5              214             48.5
    Districtwide.......................................................            3,021            1,850             61.2            1,171             38.8
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        However, as with the Edison magnet, if the MGI in a magnet 
    increases above the districtwide increase between the base year and the 
    current year, an applicant must demonstrate that the magnet is not 
    causing the problem. In order to show that the increase in MGI at a 
    particular school is not the result of the operation of a magnet, a 
    district should provide student transfer data on the number of minority 
    and non-minority students that attend the magnet program from the other 
    feeder schools in the district for the current year. If, by subtracting 
    from the magnet enrollment those students that came from other schools, 
    the MGI is higher than the actual MGI for the current year, it can be 
    concluded that the increase in MGI was not caused by the magnet school.
    
                 Current Year Student Transfer Data for Magnet Schools That Increase in Minority Group Isolation Above the Districtwide Average             
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                                                                            enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Edison (1997)......................................................              400              326             81.5               74             18.5
    Students who transferred from feeder schools to Edison in order to                                                                                      
     attend magnet.....................................................               50               31  ...............               19                 
    Edison enrollment with transfer students ``returned'' to feeder                                                                                         
     schools...........................................................              350              295             84.3               55             15.7
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                 Current Year Student Transfer Data for Feeder Schools That Increase in Minority Group Isolation Above the Districtwide Average             
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                                                                            enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Rocky Mount (1997).................................................              291              211             72.5               80             27.5
    Students who transferred to Edison to attend magnet................               10                8  ...............                2                 
    Students who transferred to Adams to attend magnet.................                6                6  ...............                0                 
    Rocky Mount enrollment if transfer students were ``returned'.......              307              225             73.3               82             26.7
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    2. Feeder School Analysis
        In District Z, two feeder schools whose MGI was greater than the 
    districtwide average, Rocky Mount and Wheeler, increased in MGI by 3.7 
    percent and 0.7 percent respectively between the base year and the 
    current year. Since Wheeler's MGI increase of 0.7 percent is less than 
    the districtwide MGI increase of 1.0 percent for the same time period, 
    Wheeler's MGI increase would be considered to be due to the demographic 
    changes in the district and further scrutiny of Wheeler is not 
    required.
        Because Rocky Mount, a feeder school to magnet programs at Adams 
    and Edison, increased in MGI over the districtwide average from 68.9 
    percent to 72.5 percent, this would make both Adams and Edison 
    ineligible unless the district demonstrates that the increase was not 
    because of the magnet programs. The clearest way for an applicant to 
    show this is to provide student transfer data on the number of minority 
    and non-minority students that left Rocky Mount to attend magnet 
    programs at Adams and Edison. (See previous student transfer data.) By 
    adding the number of students that transferred to the magnet programs 
    to Rocky Mount's total enrollment, ED can determine whether the 
    increase was due to the magnet program. If it can be demonstrated that 
    without the magnet
    
    [[Page 8026]]
    
    program, the MGI at the feeder school would be even higher, these 
    magnet schools would be found eligible.
        Some applicants may find that they are unable to provide the type 
    of student transfer data referred to previously. In some cases, these 
    applicants may be able to present demographic or other statistical data 
    and information that would satisfy the requirements of the statute and 
    regulations. This demographic data must persuasively demonstrate that 
    the operation of a proposed magnet school would reduce, eliminate, or 
    prevent minority group isolation in the applicant's magnet schools and 
    would not result in an increase of MGI at one of the applicant's feeder 
    schools above the districtwide percentage for minority students at the 
    same grade levels as those served in the magnet school. (34 CFR 
    Sec. 280.20(g)). For example, an applicant might include data provided 
    to it by a local social service agency about the numbers and 
    concentration of families in a recent influx of immigrants into the 
    neighborhood or attendance zone of the feeder school.
    3. Additional Base-Year Data
        If an applicant believes that comparing a magnet program's current-
    year enrollment data with its base year enrollment data--i.e., data 
    from the year prior to the year each school became a magnet or a 
    feeder--is misleading due to significant changes that have occurred in 
    attendance zones or other factors affecting the magnet school or in the 
    closing and combining of other schools with the magnet school, 
    additional and more recent enrollment data for an alternative to the 
    base year may be submitted along with a justification for its 
    submission.
    
    Objective: Conversion of an Existing School to a New Magnet Program
    
        District X will convert Williams, an existing elementary school, to 
    a new elementary magnet program. Currently, Williams has a minority 
    enrollment of 94.67 percent. The district projects that the magnet 
    program will reduce minority group isolation at Williams to 89 percent 
    in the first year of the project. The projection of enrollment should 
    be based upon reasonable assumptions and should clearly state the basis 
    for these assumptions, e.g., parent or student interest surveys, or 
    other objective indicators, such as waiting lists for other magnet 
    schools in the district.
    
                                                    District X Current Year Data for Magnet & Feeder Schools                                                
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                                   School                                   enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Hill (Magnet)......................................................              450              426             94.7               24              5.3
    Shaw (Feeder)......................................................              398              179             44.9              219             55.1
    Smith (Feeder).....................................................              477              186             39.0              291             61.0
    Districtwide.......................................................            4,704            2,598             55.2            2,106             44.8
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                 District X Projected 1998-1999 Data for Magnet & Feeder Schools                                            
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                                   School                                   enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Hill (Magnet)......................................................              450              400             89.0               50             11.0
    Shaw (Feeder)......................................................              404              195             48.3              209             51.7
    Smith (Feeder).....................................................              471              191             40.5              280             59.5
    Districtwide.......................................................            4,712            2,622             55.6            2,090             44.4
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                 District X Projected 1999-2000 Data for Magnet & Feeder Schools                                            
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                                   School                                   enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Hill (Magnet)......................................................              500              415             83.0               85             17.0
    Shaw (Feeder)......................................................              406              203             50.0              203             50.0
    Smith (Feeder).....................................................              482              205             42.5              277             57.5
    Districtwide.......................................................            4,794            2,683             55.9            2,111             44.1
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                 District X Projected 2000-2001 Data for Magnet & Feeder Schools                                            
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                                   School                                   enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Hill (Magnet)......................................................              600              450             75.0              150             25.0
    Shaw (Feeder)......................................................              410             2 15             52.4              195             47.6
    Smith (Feeder).....................................................              477              229             48.0              248             52.0
    Districtwide.......................................................            4,815            2,690             55.9            2,125             44.1
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Objective: Construction of New Magnet School/Reopening Closed 
    School
    
        District Y will construct a new school, Ashe, and open its magnet 
    program in 1999. There is no pre-existing school, and consequently, it 
    appears that no enrollment data are readily available to use as a 
    comparison. However, the district estimates that if the proposed magnet 
    school had opened as a ``neighborhood school,'' without a magnet 
    program designed to attract students from outside the ``neighborhood'' 
    or attendance zone, it would have a minority enrollment of 67 percent. 
    This estimate was based on national census tract data,
    
    [[Page 8027]]
    
    supplemented by more current data on the neighborhood provided by the 
    local county government. The district further reasonably anticipates, 
    based on surveys and other indicators, that when the new school opens 
    as a magnet school in 1999, it will have a minority enrollment of 58 
    percent.
        Note that in this example, since the school will not open until the 
    second year of the project (the 1999-2000 school year), data is needed 
    only for the current year and each of the two years of the project 
    during which the magnet at Ashe will be implemented.
    
                                                    District Y Current Year Data for Magnet & Feeder Schools                                                
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                                   School                                   enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ashe (Magnet)......................................................              600              400             66.7              200             33.3
    Mason (Feeder).....................................................              298              101             33.9              197             66.1
    Vine (Feeder)......................................................              324              111             34.2              213             65.8
    Districtwide.......................................................            2,511            1,339             53.3            1,172             46.7
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                 District Y Projected 1999-2000 Data for Magnet & Feeder Schools                                            
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                                   School                                   enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ashe (Magnet)......................................................              600              348             58.0              252             42.0
    Mason (Feeder).....................................................              290              133             45.8              157             54.2
    Vine (Feeder)......................................................              332              144             43.4              188             56.6
    Districtwide.......................................................            2,559            1,352             52.8            1,207             47.2
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                 District Y Projected 2000-2001 Data for Magnet & Feeder Schools                                            
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                                   School                                   enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ashe (Magnet)......................................................              600              300             50.0              300             50.0
    Mason (Feeder).....................................................              300              145             48.3              155             52.7
    Vine (Feeder)......................................................              336              170             50.6              166             49.4
    Districtwide.......................................................            2,604            1,383             56.2            1,221             43.8
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Objective: Reduction, Elimination, or Prevention of MGI at Targeted 
    Feeder Schools
    
        Many applicants apply for MSAP funding to reduce, eliminate, or 
    prevent minority group isolation at a magnet school. However, some 
    applicants have established magnet programs at schools that are not 
    minority-isolated for the purpose of reducing, eliminating, or 
    preventing minority isolation at one or more targeted feeder schools. 
    The data requirements and analysis for this type of magnet program are 
    the same as described for ``Existing Magnet Schools.'' In this example, 
    MGI is being reduced in each of the targeted feeder schools.
    
                                                           Base Year Data for Magnet & Feeder Schools                                                       
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                                   School                                   enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Grant (Magnet).....................................................              505               62             12.3              443             87.7
    North (Feeder).....................................................              449              347             77.3              102             22.7
    Lewis (Feeder).....................................................              404              355             87.9               49             12.1
    Clark (Feeder).....................................................              471              459             97.5               12              2.5
    Districtwide.......................................................            1,829            1,223             66.9              606             33.1
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                          Current Year Data for Magnet & Feeder Schools                                                     
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                                   School                                   enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Grant (Magnet).....................................................              520              105             20.2              415             79.8
    North (Feeder).....................................................              453              338             74.6              115             25.4
    Lewis (Feeder).....................................................              398              335             84.1               63             15.9
    Clark (Feeder).....................................................              477              443             92.9               34              7.1
    Districtwide.......................................................            1,848            1,221             66.1              627             33.9
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    [[Page 8028]]
    
    
                                                      Projected 1998-1999 Data for Magnet & Feeder Schools                                                  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                                   School                                   enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Grant (Magnet).....................................................              526              139             26.5              387             73.5
    North (Feeder).....................................................              461              331             71.9              130             28.1
    Lewis (Feeder).....................................................              424              347             81.8               77             18.2
    Clark (Feeder).....................................................              499              427             85.5               72             14.5
    Districtwide.......................................................            1,910            1,244             65.1              664             34.9
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                      Projected 1999-2000 Data for Magnet & Feeder Schools                                                  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                                   School                                   enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Grant (Magnet).....................................................              532              200             37.5              332             62.5
    North (Feeder).....................................................              470              329             70.0              141             30.0
    Lewis (Feeder).....................................................              445              344             77.2              101             22.8
    Clark (Feeder).....................................................              528              425             80.4              103             19.6
    Districtwide.......................................................            1,975            1,298             65.7              677             34.3
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
                                                      Projected 2000-2001 Data for Magnet & Feeder Schools                                                  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total                            Minority       Non-minority     Non-minority 
                                   School                                   enrollment    Minority number     percentage         number         percentage  
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Grant (Magnet).....................................................              548              263             48.0              285             52.0
    North (Feeder).....................................................              475              316             66.5              159             33.5
    Lewis (Feeder).....................................................              460              342             74.4              118             25.6
    Clark (Feeder).....................................................              536              402             75.0              134             25.0
    Districtwide.......................................................            2,019            1,323             65.5              696             44.1
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Objective: Prevention of Minority Group Isolation
    
        An applicant that applies for MSAP funding for the purposes of 
    preventing minority isolation must demonstrate that without the 
    intervention of the magnet program, the magnet school or targeted 
    feeder school will become minority-isolated within the project period. 
    Generally this may be documented by showing a trend in the enrollment 
    data for the proposed school. For example, if a neighborhood school 
    currently has a 45 percent minority enrollment and, for the last three 
    years, minority enrollment has increased an average of three percent 
    each year (36 percent, 39 percent, and 42 percent), it is reasonable to 
    expect that, in three years, the school would exceed 50 percent thereby 
    becoming minority-isolated during the project period without the 
    intervention of a magnet. The applicant in this example should submit 
    this enrollment data in its application.
        The preceding examples are not intended to be an exhaustive set of 
    examples. Applicants with questions about their desegregation plans and 
    the information required in support of those desegregation plans 
    (including applicants that find that these examples do not fit their 
    circumstances and applicants who find that the enrollment data 
    requested is unavailable or do not reflect accurately the effectiveness 
    of their proposed magnet program) are encouraged to contact ED for 
    technical assistance, prior to submitting their application by calling 
    the contact person listed under the FOR APPLICATIONS OR INFORMATION 
    heading.
    For Applications or Information Contact: Steven L. Brockhouse, U.S. 
    Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Portals Room 
    4509, Washington, D.C. 20202-6140. Telephone (202) 260-2476. 
    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 document in an 
    alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
    diskette) on request of the contact person listed in the preceding 
    paragraph.
        Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
    package in an alternate format, also, by contacting that person. 
    However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternate format 
    the standard forms included in the application package.
    
    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 previous 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 a document is the document 
    published in the Federal Register.
    
        Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 3021-3032.
    
    
    [[Page 8029]]
    
    
        Dated: February 10, 1998.
    Gerald N. Tirozzi,
    Assistant Secretary, Elementary and Secondary Education.
    
    Appendix--Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities
    
    Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities
    
    Empowerment Zones
    
    California: Los Angeles
    California: Oakland
    Georgia: Atlanta
    Illinois: Chicago
    Kentucky: Kentucky Highlands*
    Maryland: Baltimore
    Massachusetts: Boston
    Michigan: Detroit
    Mississippi: Mid Delta*
    Missouri/Kansas: Kansas City, Kansas City
    New York: Harlem, Bronx
    Ohio: Cleveland
    Pennsylvania/New Jersey: Philadelphia,
    Camden
    Texas: Houston
    Texas: Rio Grande Valley*
    
    Enterprise Communities
    
    Alabama: Birmingham
    Alabama: Chambers County*
    Alabama: Greene, Sumter Counties*
    Arizona: Phoenix
    Arizona: Arizona Border*
    Arkansas: East Central*
    Arkansas: Mississippi County*
    Arkansas: Pulaski County
    California: Imperial County*
    California: L.A., Huntington Park
    California: San Diego
    California: San Francisco, Bayview, Hunter's Point
    California: Watsonville*
    Colorado: Denver
    Connecticut: Bridgeport
    Connecticut: New Haven
    Delaware: Wilmington
    District of Columbia: Washington
    Florida: Jackson County*
    Florida: Tampa
    Florida: Miami, Dade County
    Georgia: Albany
    Georgia: Central Savannah*
    Georgia: Crisp, Dooley Counties*
    Illinois: East St. Louis
    Illinois: Springfield
    Indiana: Indianapolis
    Iowa: Des Moines
    Kentucky: Louisville
    Louisiana: Northeast Delta*
    Louisiana: Macon Ridge*
    Louisiana: New Orleans
    Louisiana: Ouachita Parish
    Massachusetts: Lowell
    Massachusetts: Springfield
    Michigan: Five Cap*
    Michigan: Flint
    Michigan: Muskegon
    Minnesota: Minneapolis
    Minnesota: St. Paul
    Mississippi: Jackson
    Mississippi: North Delta*
    Missouri: East Prairie*
    Missouri: St. Louis
    Nebraska: Omaha
    Nevada: Clarke County, Las Vegas
    New Hampshire: Manchester
    New Jersey: Newark
    New Mexico: Albuquerque
    New Mexico: Mora, Rio Arriba, Taos Counties*
    New York: Albany, Schenectady, Troy
    New York: Buffalo
    New York: Newburgh, Kingston
    New York: Rochester
    North Carolina: Charlotte
    North Carolina: Halifax, Edgecombe, Wilson
    Counties*
    North Carolina: Robeson County*
    Ohio: Akron
    Ohio: Columbus
    Ohio: Greater Portsmouth*
    Oklahoma: Choctaw, McCurtain Counties*
    Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
    Oregon: Josephine*
    Oregon: Portland
    Pennsylvania: Harrisburg
    Pennsylvania: Lock Haven*
    Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh
    Rhode Island: Providence
    South Dakota: Deadle, Spink Counties*
    South Carolina: Charleston
    South Carolina: Williamsburg County*
    Tennessee: Fayette, Haywood Counties*
    Tennessee: Memphis
    Tennessee: Nashville
    Tennessee/Kentucky: Scott, McCreary
    Counties*
    Texas: Dallas
    Texas: El Paso
    Texas: San Antonio
    Texas: Waco
    Utah: Ogden
    Vermont: Burlington
    Virginia: Accomack*
    Virginia: Norfolk
    Washington: Lower Yakima*
    Washington: Seattle
    Washington: Tacoma
    West Virginia: West Central*
    West Virginia: Huntington
    West Virginia: McDowell*
    Wisconsin: Milwaukee
    
    *Denotes rural designee.
    [FR Doc. 98-3765 Filed 2-13-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
02/17/1998
Department:
Education Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
98-3765
Pages:
8021-8029 (9 pages)
Docket Numbers:
CFDA No.: 84.165A
PDF File:
98-3765.pdf