99-7785. Parental Assistance Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 31, 1999)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 15608-15627]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-7785]
    
    
    
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    _______________________________________________________________________
    
    Part V
    
    
    
    
    
    Department of Education
    
    
    
    
    
    _______________________________________________________________________
    
    
    
    Parental Assistance Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New 
    Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999
    
    Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 61 / Wednesday, March 31, 1999 / 
    Notices
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
    
    [CFDA No.: 84.310A]
    
    
    Parental Assistance Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New 
    Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999
    
        Note To Applicants: This notice is a complete application package. 
    Together with the statute authorizing the program and the Education 
    Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), the notice 
    contains all of the information, application forms, and instructions 
    needed to apply for a grant under this competition.
        Purpose of Program: To assist nonprofit organizations, and 
    nonprofit organizations in consortia with local educational agencies 
    (LEAs), in establishing parental information and resource centers that 
    would (1) increase parents' knowledge of and confidence in child-
    rearing activities, such as teaching and nurturing their young 
    children; (2) strengthen partnerships between parents and professionals 
    in meeting the educational needs of children aged birth through five 
    years and the working relationship between home and school; and (3) 
    enhance the developmental progress of the children assisted under the 
    program.
        Eligible Applicants: Nonprofit organizations, and nonprofit 
    organizations in consortia with LEAs, in the following jurisdictions 
    are eligible to apply for funding: California, Colorado, the District 
    of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, 
    Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, 
    New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, 
    South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
        The statute requires the Secretary to ensure that grants are 
    distributed, to the greatest extent possible, to all geographic regions 
    of the United States. Consistent with this statutory requirement, this 
    competition is for eligible applicants in the District of Columbia and 
    the States identified in the preceding paragraph. Grantees in the other 
    States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the outlying areas are 
    eligible for continuation awards.
        An LEA, by itself, is not eligible for an award. However, an LEA 
    may be part of a consortium with a nonprofit organization that applies. 
    In those instances, the award would be made to the nonprofit 
    organization, which would serve as the fiscal agent.
        For purposes of this competition, nonprofit organizations do not 
    include institutions of higher education, State educational agencies, 
    LEAs, intermediate school districts, government entities, or hospitals.
        Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 30, 1999.
        Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 30, 1999.
        Available Funds: $18,000,000.
        Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000 to $750,000.
    
        (Note: Due to anticipated variances in the scope of proposed 
    activities and the number of program beneficiaries, the estimated 
    range is very broad.)
    
        Estimated Number of Awards: 28.
    
        Note: These estimates are projections for the guidance of 
    potential applicants. The Department of Education is not bound by 
    any estimates in this notice.
    
        Project Period: Up to 48 months.
        Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
    Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 81, 
    82, and 85.
    
        Note: The regulations in 34 CFR Part 80 (Uniform Administrative 
    Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and 
    Local Governments) apply to an LEA that is part of a consortium 
    receiving assistance.
    
        Description of Program: Under the Parental Assistance Program, 
    authorized by Title IV of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act (Pub. L. 
    103-227) (20 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.) (the Act), grants are awarded to 
    nonprofit organizations (and nonprofit organizations in consortia with 
    LEAs) to establish and fund parent information and resource centers 
    that provide training, information, and support to (a) parents of 
    children aged birth through five years; (b) parents of children 
    enrolled in elementary and secondary schools; and (c) individuals who 
    work with these parents.
        Organizations seeking funding must have the capacity to deliver 
    services of sufficient size, scope, and quality to reach substantial 
    numbers of children and families from diverse populations throughout 
    the State, with a particular focus on parents who are educationally and 
    economically disadvantaged. In providing these services, the 
    organizations must network with clearinghouses, parent centers served 
    under the Individuals with Disabilities Act, parent groups, other 
    organizations and agencies, and parents of elementary and secondary 
    school children.
        Using research-based practices and technological advances, the 
    organizations should provide a mix of direct training services and 
    statewide information and support services to address the needs of the 
    targeted populations. Entities with established statewide 
    organizational structures and proven effectiveness may be more likely 
    to successfully address these needs.
        Applicants should be aware that section 1118(g) of the Elementary 
    and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Improving America's 
    Schools Act of 1994, requires schools and districts receiving Title I 
    funds to assist parents and parent organizations by informing them of 
    the existence and purpose of the parent information and resource center 
    in their State, providing them with a description of the services and 
    programs provided by the center, advising parents on how to use the 
    center, and helping them contact the center. Consequently, applicants 
    should be prepared to address the demand for their services created by 
    this requirement.
        Use of Funds: Grant funds received under this program may be used--
        (a) For parent training, information, and support programs that 
    assist parents to--
        (1) Better understand their children's educational needs;
        (2) Provide follow-up support for their children's educational 
    achievement;
        (3) Communicate more effectively with teachers, counselors, 
    administrators, and other professional educators and support staff;
        (4) Participate in the design and provision of assistance to 
    students who are not making adequate educational progress;
        (5) Obtain information about the range of options, programs, 
    services, and resources available at the national, State, and local 
    levels to assist parents of children aged birth through five years and 
    parents of children in elementary and secondary schools;
        (6) Seek technical assistance regarding compliance with the 
    requirements of title IV and of other Federal programs relevant to 
    achieving the National Education Goals;
        (7) Participate in State and local decisionmaking;
        (8) Train other parents; and
        (9) Plan, implement, and fund activities that coordinate the 
    education of their children with other Federal programs that serve 
    their children or their families; and
        (b) To include State or local educational personnel where such 
    participation will further the activities assisted under the grant.
        Program Requirements: Each grantee must--
        (a)(1) Be governed by a board of directors the membership of which 
    includes parents; or
        (2) Be an organization that represents the interests of parents;
        (b) Establish a special advisory committee the membership of which 
    includes--
    
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        (1) Parents of children aged birth through five years and parents 
    of children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools; and
        (2) Representatives of educational professionals with expertise in 
    improving services for disadvantaged children; and
        (3) A broad representation of minority, low-income, and other 
    individuals and groups that have an interest in compensatory education 
    and family literacy;
        (c) Use at least one-half the funds provided in the grant in each 
    fiscal year to serve areas with high concentrations of low-income 
    families in order to serve parents who are severely educationally or 
    economically disadvantaged;
        (d) Operate a center of sufficient size, scope, and quality to 
    ensure that the center is adequate to serve the parents in the area;
        (e) Serve both urban and rural areas;
        (f) Design a center that meets the unique training, information, 
    and support needs of parents of children aged birth through five years 
    and of parents of children enrolled in elementary and secondary 
    schools, particularly parents who are economically or educationally 
    disadvantaged;
        (g) Demonstrate the capacity and expertise to conduct the effective 
    training information and support activities for which assistance is 
    sought;
        (h) Network with--
        (1) Clearinghouses;
        (2) Parent centers for the parents of infants, toddlers, children, 
    and youth with disabilities served under section 631(e) of the 
    Individuals with Disabilities Act;
        (3) Other organizations and agencies;
        (4) Established national, State, and local parent groups 
    representing the full range of parents of children aged birth through 
    five years; and
        (5) Parents of children enrolled in elementary and secondary 
    schools;
        (i) Focus on serving parents of children aged birth through five 
    years and parents of children enrolled in elementary and secondary 
    schools, who are parents of low-income, minority, and limited English 
    proficient children; and
        (j) Use part of the funds received under this program to establish, 
    expand, or operate Parents as Teachers (PAT) programs or Home 
    Instruction Programs for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) programs, as 
    defined in section 405 of the Act.
        The statute does not require a specific amount or percentage of 
    funds to be spent on PAT or HIPPY programs. However, the PAT and HIPPY 
    programs, like the other components of the center, should be integrated 
    with the center's overall activities. On an average, grantees have used 
    approximately one-third of their grant to support PAT and/or HIPPY 
    programs. (A brief description of the PAT and HIPPY programs may be 
    found in the appendix.)
        To be eligible for funding, an applicant must meet each of the 
    statutory requirements referenced above. Each application for 
    assistance must include assurances that the grantee will comply with 
    these requirements.
        Non-Federal Contribution: To be eligible for a continuation award, 
    in each fiscal year after the first fiscal year a grantee receives 
    assistance under this program, the grantee must demonstrate that a 
    portion of the services provided by the grantee will be supported 
    through non-Federal contributions. Those contributions may be in cash 
    or in kind.
    
    Selection Criteria
    
        The Secretary will use the following selection criteria and factors 
    from 34 CFR 75.210 to evaluate applications under this competition.
        The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points. The 
    maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parenthesis with the 
    criterion. The criteria and factors are as follows:
        (a) Need for project. (20 points) (1) The Secretary considers the 
    need for the proposed project.
        (2) In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary 
    considers the following factors:
        (i) The extent to which the proposed project will focus on serving 
    or otherwise addressing the needs of disadvantaged individuals.
        (ii) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 
    infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be 
    addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude 
    of those gaps or weaknesses.
        (b) Quality of the project design. (22 points) (1) The Secretary 
    considers the quality of the design of the proposed project.
        (2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed 
    project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
        (i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
    achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
        (ii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
    appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 
    population or other identified needs,
        (iii) The extent to which the proposed project represents an 
    exceptional approach for meeting statutory purposes and requirements.
        (iv) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated 
    with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community, 
    state, and federal resources.
        (c) Quality of project services. (20 points) (1) The Secretary 
    considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed 
    project.
        (2) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by 
    the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and 
    sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for 
    eligible project participants who are members of groups that have 
    traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
    origin, gender, age, or disability.
        (3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
        (i) The extent to which services to be provided by the proposed 
    project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective 
    practice.
        (ii) The likely impact of the services to be provided by the 
    proposed project on the intended recipients of those services.
        (iii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the 
    proposed project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for 
    maximizing the effectiveness of project services.
        (iv) The extent to which the technical assistance services to be 
    provided by the proposed project involve the use of efficient 
    strategies, including the use of technology, as appropriate, and the 
    leveraging of non-project resources.
        (v) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
    project are focused on those with greatest needs.
        (d) Quality of project personnel. (9 points) (1) The Secretary 
    considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed 
    project.
        (2) In determining the quality of the project personnel, the 
    Secretary considers the extent to which the applicant encourages 
    applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that 
    have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
    origin, gender, age, or disability.
        (3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
        (i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
    of the project director.
        (ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and 
    experience, of key project personnel.
    
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        (iii) The qualifications, including relevant training and 
    experience, of project consultants or subcontractors.
        (e) Adequacy of resources. (7 points) (1) The Secretary considers 
    the adequacy of resources for the proposed project.
        (2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
    project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
        (i) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, 
    supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the 
    lead applicant organization.
        (ii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to 
    the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed 
    project.
        (iii) The potential for the incorporation of project purposes, 
    activities, or benefits into the ongoing program of the agency or 
    organization at the end of federal funding.
        (f) Quality of the project evaluation. (22 points) (1) The 
    Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of 
    the proposed project.
        (2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
    considers the following factors:
        (i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
    feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
    proposed project.
        (ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
    of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
    intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
    qualitative data to the extent possible.
        (iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
    performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
    achieving intended outcomes.
    
        (Note: In designing their evaluation plans, applicants are 
    encouraged to consider the sample performance measures included in 
    the Appendix.)
    
    Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs
    
        This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order 
    12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs) and the 
    regulations in 34 CFR Part 79.
        The objective of the Executive order is to foster an 
    intergovernmental partnership and to strengthen federalism by relying 
    on State and local processes for State and local government 
    coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance.
        Applicants must contact the appropriate State Single Point of 
    Contact to find out about, and to comply with, the State's process 
    under Executive Order 12372. If you want to know the name and address 
    of any State Single Point of Contact, see the list published in the 
    Federal Register on November 3, 1998 (63 FR 59452 through 54455).
        In States that have not established a process or chosen a program 
    for review, State, area-wide, regional, and local entities may submit 
    comments directly to the Department.
        Any State Process Recommendation and other comments submitted by a 
    State Single Point of Contact and any comments from State, area-wide, 
    regional, and local entities must be mailed or hand-delivered by the 
    date indicated in this notice to the following address: The Secretary, 
    E.O. 12372--CFDA# 84.310A, U.S. Department of Education, Room 7E200, 
    400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-0125.
        Proof of mailing will be determined on the same basis as 
    applications (see 34 CFR 75.102). Recommendations or comments may be 
    hand-delivered until 4:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on the date 
    indicated in this notice.
        Please note that the above address is not the same address as the 
    one to which the applicant submits its completed application. Do not 
    send applications to the above address.
    
    Instructions for Transmittal of Applications
    
        (a) If an applicant wants to apply for a grant, the applicant 
    shall--
        (1) Mail the original and two copies of the application on or 
    before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application 
    Control Center, Attention: (CFDA # 84.310A), Washington, D.C. 20202-
    4725, or
        (2) Hand deliver the original and two copies of the application by 
    4:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on the deadline date to: U.S. 
    Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA # 
    84.310A), Room #3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets, 
    SW, Washington, DC.
        (b) An applicant must show one of the following as proof of 
    mailing:
        (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
        (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
    U.S. Postal Service.
        (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
    carrier.
        (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary.
        (c) If an application is mailed through the U.S. Postal Service, 
    the Secretary does not accept either of the following as proof of 
    mailing:
        (1) A private metered postmark.
        (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    
        Notes: (1) The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a 
    dated postmark. Before relying on this method, an applicant should 
    check with its local post office.
        (2) The Application Control Center will mail a Grant Application 
    Receipt Acknowledgment to each applicant. If an applicant fails to 
    receive the notification of application receipt within 15 days from 
    the date of mailing the application, the applicant should call the 
    U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 
    708-9494.
        (3) The applicant must indicate on the envelope and--if not 
    provided by the Department--in Item 3 of the Application for Federal 
    Assistance (Standard Form 424) the CFDA number--and suffix letter, 
    if any--of the competition under which the application is being 
    submitted.
    
    Application Instructions and Forms
    
        The appendix to this application is divided into three parts plus a 
    statement regarding estimated public reporting burden and various 
    assurances and certifications. These parts and additional materials are 
    organized in the same manner that the submitted application should be 
    organized. The parts and additional materials are as follows:
        Part I: Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 (Rev. 
    12/98)) and instructions.
        Part II: Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 
    524) and instructions.
        Part III: Application Narrative.
    
    Additional Materials
    
        Estimated Public Reporting Burden.
        Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B).
        Certifications regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and Other 
    Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED 80-
    0013-6190).
        Certification regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and 
    Voluntary Exclusion: Lower Tier Covered Transactions (ED 80-0014, 9/90) 
    and instructions.
    
        Note: ED 80-0014 is intended for the use of grantees and should 
    not be transmitted to the Department.
    
        Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL) (if 
    applicable) and instructions.
        An applicant may submit information on a photostatic copy of the 
    application and budget forms, the assurances, and the certifications. 
    However, the application form, the assurances, and
    
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    the certifications must each have an original signature. No grant may 
    be awarded unless a completed application form has been received.
    
    For Further Information Contact: Daisy Greenfield, U.S. Department of 
    Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-6400. 
    Telephone: (202) 401-0039.
        Individuals who use a telecommunication devise 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., Easter 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 to the contact person listed in the preceding paragraph. Please 
    note, however, that the Department is not able to reproduce in an 
    alternate format the standard forms included in the notice.
    
    Electronic Access to This Document
    
        Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of 
    Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or 
    portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the 
    following sites:
    
    http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
    htt://www.ed.gov/news.html
    
    To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader program with 
    Search, which is available free at either of the preceding sites. If 
    you have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government 
    Printing Office toll free at 1-888-293-6498.
        Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an 
    electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511 
    or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option 
    G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases.
    
        Note: The official version of this document is the document 
    published in the Federal Register.
    
        Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 5911 et seq.
    
        Dated: March 25, 1999.
    Judith A. Johnson,
    Acting Assistant Secretary, Elementary and Secondary Education.
    
    Instructions For Application Narrative
    
        Before preparing the Application Narrative an applicant should read 
    carefully the authorizing statute and the information in this notice, 
    including the selection criteria the Secretary uses to evaluate 
    applications.
        The narrative should encompass each function or activity for which 
    funds are being requested and should--
        1. Begin with an Abstract; that is, a summary of the proposed 
    project;
        2. Describe the proposed project in light of each of the selection 
    criteria in the order in which the criteria are listed in this 
    application package; and
        3. Include any other pertinent information that might assist the 
    Secretary in reviewing the application.
        The Secretary strongly requests the applicant to limit the 
    Application Narrative to no more than 20 double-spaced, typed pages (on 
    one side only), although the Secretary will consider applications of 
    greater length. The Department has found that successful applications 
    for similar programs generally meet this page limit.
    
    Estimated Public Reporting Burden
    
        The time required to complete this collection of information is 
    estimated to average 48 hours per response, including the time to 
    review instructions, search existing data sources, gather the data 
    needed, and complete and review the collection of information. If you 
    have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate or 
    suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department 
    of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4651.
        According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are 
    required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
    valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this 
    collection of information is 1810-0578. Expiration date: March 31, 
    2002.
        If you have any comments or concerns regarding the status of your 
    individual submission of this form, write directly to: Daisy 
    Greenfield, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., 
    Washington, D.C. 20202.
    
    Appendix
    
    Descriptions of the Parents as Teachers (PAT) and the Home 
    Instructional Program for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)
    
    Parents as Teachers (PAT)
    
        Parents as Teachers (PAT) is an early childhood parent education 
    and family support program designed to empower all parents to give 
    their child the best possible start in life. The program provides 
    parents with information on child development from birth to age 5 
    and suggests learning opportunities that encourage the development 
    of language, intellect, and physical and social skills. PAT National 
    is located in Missouri and since 1985 has served more than a half 
    million Missouri families. The program has also been replicated in 
    43 other states, Washington, DC, Australia, England, New Zealand and 
    the West Indies.
        Major components of the program include personalized home visits 
    by certified parent educators, group meetings for parents to share 
    information, developmental and health screenings, referrals to other 
    community services not offered by PAT, and administrative and 
    clerical support. Programs may be designed to provide weekly, 
    biweekly or monthly home visits. The parent educator would invest 
    approximately 1073 hours making home visits, planning and keeping 
    records, traveling, conducting group meetings, etc. to provide a 
    year-round (1 month start-up, 11 month service delivery) program for 
    30 families (including additional visits for selected families).
        For additional information call (314) 432-4330, write to Parents 
    as Teachers National Center, Inc., 10176 Corporate Square Drive, 
    Suite 230, St. Louis, Missouri 63132, or visit the web site at 
    www.patn.org.
    
    Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters
    
        The Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) is 
    a home-based, early intervention program that provides parents with 
    the training and materials to engage in daily learning experiences 
    with their preschoolers, ages three, four and five. HIPPY, USA is 
    located, in New York City and is the national network, technical 
    assistance, and training program that supports the growth and 
    development of new sites, as well as the current 121 local 
    organizations serving over 15,000 families in 28 States, the 
    District of Columbia and Guam.
        Major components of the program include paraprofessional home 
    visits, group meetings for parents to share information, training, 
    curriculum, research evaluation and technical assistance. 
    Paraprofessional home visitors train parents to use developmentally 
    appropriate and culturally sensitive HIPPY materials as the basis of 
    these opportunities for learning and time together as a family. 
    Programs may be designed to provide weekly or biweekly home visits, 
    and biweekly or monthly group meetings. A paraprofessional working 
    20 hours per week could serve 12-15 families, making home visits, 
    conducting group meetings, traveling, completing weekly reports, 
    etc. A program coordinator would be responsible for administering 
    the HIPPY program, supervising and monitoring the paraprofessionals, 
    and record keeping. For additional information, please call (212) 
    532-7730, write to HIPPY USA, 220 East 23rd Street, Suite 300, New 
    York, New York 10010, or visit the web site at www.c3pg.com.
    
    Performance Measures
    
    Parental Information and Resources Centers (PIRCs)
    
        The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 places 
    new management expectations and requirements on Federal departments 
    and agencies by creating a framework for more effective planning, 
    budgeting, program evaluation, and fiscal accountability for Federal 
    programs. The intent of the Act is to improve public
    
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    confidence by holding departments and agencies accountable for 
    achieving program results. Departments must set program goals and 
    objectives and measure and report on their achievements. One 
    important source of program information on successes and lessons 
    learned is the project evaluation and other information collected 
    under individual grants.
        In addition, the U.S. Department of Education is committed to 
    forging a new partnership with grantees that is focused on results. 
    The Department is required to publish performance standards and 
    measures as a part of the program announcement to enable applicants 
    to develop applications that incorporate such standards. After the 
    competition for awards is completed, the Department will work 
    cooperatively with grantees to develop performance agreements that 
    include the performance standards to measure progress toward meeting 
    project objectives. These performance agreements will be developed 
    within 60 days after grants are awarded.
        The Department has identified four performance objectives for 
    the Parental Assistance Program: (1) to increase the number and 
    types of partnerships between parents and schools, (2) to increase 
    parents' awareness of education issues, (3) to establish, expand or 
    operate Parents As Teachers (PAT) and/or Home Instruction Programs 
    for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), and (4) to develop and sustain 
    partnerships/networks with other organizations, agencies, and parent 
    centers. These performance objectives and others that are directly 
    related to the purposes of the authorizing legislation shall form 
    the basis of the performance agreement that all discretionary 
    grantees will develop in cooperation with the Department.
        To assist applicants in understanding how a performance 
    agreement might be developed, we are providing a sample template 
    (see Table 1). The sample identifies the key components of a 
    performance plan (objectives, indicators, baseline data, desired 
    outcomes, and source, periodicity, next update of data) and an 
    example of each component. Applicants may incorporate all or parts 
    of the examples on the sample template along with additional 
    objectives in their application; applicants may also use another 
    similar format. It is important, however, that all applications are 
    not only developed to achieve successful project outcomes, but that 
    they also include a process to measure progress towards attaining 
    those outcomes.
        The performance agreements will be used during the life of the 
    grant to ensure that project outcomes are achieved. Progress will be 
    assessed via regularly scheduled communication, which may include 
    telephone calls, letters, and site visits, between Department staff 
    and the project director. Where sufficient progress is not being 
    achieved, the Department and the grantee will work together to 
    identify strategies and resources to overcome challenges and resolve 
    problems. When necessary, the Department and the grantee may modify 
    the performance agreements.
    
           Sample Template Performance Agreement Parental Information and Resource Assistance Centers (PIRCS)
    Program Purpose: To assist nonprofit organizations and nonprofit organizations in consortia with local education
       agencies in establishing parental information and resource assistance centers to increase knowledge of and
    confidence in child-rearing activities, and strengthen partnerships between parents and professionals in meeting
         the educational needs of children, the working relationship between home and school; and enhancing the
                           developmental progress of the children assisted under the program.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Data source,
                                        Performance          Baseline data        Desired outcome      periodicity,
        Objective (examples:)           indicators            (examples:)           (examples:)        next update
                                        (examples:)                                                    (examples:)
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    1. To increase the number and  1.1  Parents and      1.1  In year 1999,    1.1  In year 2000,    1.1  Survey of
     types of partnerships          school personnel,     50% of parents and    80% of parents and    Parents and
     between parents and schools.   particularly those    school personnel,     school personnel,     School
                                    in Title I schools,   particularly those    particularly those    Personnel,
                                    will report greater   in Title I schools    in Title I schools,   1999, 2000.
                                    levels of parent      reported greater      reported greater
                                    involvement in        levels of parental    levels of parental
                                    their child's         involvement in        involvement in
                                    school and learning   their child's         their child's
                                    after receiving       school and learning   school and learning
                                    services through      after receiving       after receiving
                                    the PIRC.             services through      services through
                                                          the PIRC.             the PIRC.
                                   1.2  PIRCs will       1.2  Descriptive      1.2  Descriptive      1.2  Anecdotal
                                    provide information   information of        information of        information,
                                    and support to        parental              changes in parental   informal case
                                    schools to develop    involvement           involvement in a      studies of a
                                    strategies to         strategies used in    sampling of schools.  sampling of
                                    encourage ongoing     a sampling of                               schools.
                                    parental              schools.
                                    involvement in
                                    school activities
                                    (e.g. working with
                                    children at home on
                                    homework and
                                    reading, making
                                    parent aware of
                                    chances to
                                    volunteer at
                                    school).
                                   1.3  Other..........
    2. To increase parents'        2.1  Parents that     2.1  In 1999, 50% of  2.1  In 2000, 85% of  2.1  Customer
     awareness of education         the PIRC serve will   parents served        parents served will   survey, 1999,
     issues.                        report that they      reported that they    report that they      Workshop pre
                                    are more              are knowledgeable     are knowledgeable     and post test
                                    knowledgeable about   about education       about education       measures of
                                    education issues      issues.               issues after          parents'
                                    after receiving                             receiving             knowledge.
                                    information and                             information and
                                    services through                            services through
                                    the PIRC.                                   the PIRC.
                                   2.2  There will be    2.2  In 1998, 50,000  2.2  In 1999, 75,000  2.2  Web site
                                    an increase in the    parents received      parents will          hits, toll
                                    number of parents     materials and         receive materials     free number,
                                    receiving             information that      and information       mailing lists.
                                    information about     informed them of      regarding education
                                    how to help their     education issues      via the PIRC.
                                    child succeed in      via the PIRC.
                                    school.
                                   2.3  Other..........
    
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    3. To establish, expand or     3.1  The number of    3.1  In 1998, 150     3.1  In 2000, 200     3.1  Parent
     operate Parents As Teachers    families              families in the       families in the       educator logs
     (PAT) and Home Instructional   participating in      states participated   state participated    PAT/HIPPY.
     Programs for Preschool         PAT/HIPPY will        in PAT/ HIPPY         in PAT/ HIPPY
     Youngsters (HIPPY) services.   increase.             programs.             programs.
                                   3.2  The number of    3.2  In 1999, PAT/    3.2  In 2000, PAT/    3.2  Observatio
                                    parents that can      HIPPY parent          HIPPY parent          n records of
                                    demonstrate           educators will        educators will        PAT/ HIPPY
                                    developmentally       observe and           observe and           parent
                                    appropriate           document 150          document 200          educators.
                                    parenting behavior    parents               parents
                                    as defined by PAT/    demonstrating         demonstrating
                                    HIPPY will increase.  developmentally       developmentally
                                                          appropriate           appropriate
                                                          parenting behavior.   parenting behavior.
                                   3.3 Other...........
    4. To develop and sustain      4.1  There will be    4.1  In 1999, the     4.1  In 2000, the     4.1  List of
     partnerships/networks with     an increase in the    PIRC will identify    PIRC will identify,   organizations
     other organizations,           number and types of   the number and        develop and sustain   participating
     agencies, and parent centers   partnerships/         types of              an increased number   in
     (e.g. schools, school          networks that the     partnerships/         and various types     partnerships
     districts, PTAs national       PIRC identifies,      networks with other   of partnerships/      and networks.
     coalition of Title I schools   develops and          organizations,        networks with other
     etc.).                         sustains with other   agencies and parent   organizations,
                                    organizations,        centers.              agencies and parent
                                    agencies and parent                         centers.
                                    centers.
                                   4.2  The number of    4.2  In 1999, 50      4.2  In 2000, 60      4.2  List of
                                    collaborative         collaborative         collaborative         partners and
                                    efforts jointly       efforts will be       efforts will be       the type of
                                    undertaken by the     undertaken by the     jointly undertaken    parenting
                                    PIRC and partners     PIRC and partners.    by the PIRC and       activities
                                    will increase.                              partners.             jointly
                                                                                                      developed and
                                                                                                      implemented.
                                   4.3  ther...........
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
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    [FR Doc. 99-7785 Filed 3-30-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4000-01-C
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
3/31/2002
Published:
03/31/1999
Department:
Education Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
99-7785
Dates:
March 31, 2002.
Pages:
15608-15627 (20 pages)
Docket Numbers:
CFDA No.: 84.310A
PDF File:
99-7785.pdf