98-5735. Technology Innovation Challenge Grants; Notice Inviting Applications For New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1998  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 43 (Thursday, March 5, 1998)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 11081-11082]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-5735]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
    
    [CFDA No. 84.303A]
    
    
    Technology Innovation Challenge Grants; Notice Inviting 
    Applications For New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1998
    
    Purpose of Program
    
        The Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program provides grants 
    to consortia that are working to improve and expand new applications of 
    technology to strengthen school reform efforts, improve student 
    achievement, and provide for sustained professional development of 
    teachers, administrators, and school library media personnel. In FY 
    1998, the Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program will focus on 
    professional development by providing support to consortia that have 
    developed programs, or are adapting or expanding existing programs, for 
    technology training for teachers and other educators to improve 
    instruction.
    
    Eligible Applicants
    
        Only consortia may receive grants under this program. A consortium 
    must include at least one local educational agency (LEA) with a high 
    percentage or number of children living below the poverty line. A 
    consortium may also include other LEAs, private schools, State 
    educational agencies, institutions of higher education, businesses, 
    academic content experts, software designers, museums, libraries, and 
    other appropriate entities.
    
        Note: In each consortium a participating LEA shall submit the 
    application on behalf of the consortium and serve as the fiscal 
    agent for the grant.
        Deadline For Receipt of Applications: May 29, 1998.
        Deadline For Intergovernmental Review: July 29, 1998.
        Applications Available: March 31, 1998.
        Estimated Available Funds: $30,000,000.
        Estimated Range of Awards: $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 per year.
        Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,500,000 per year.
        Estimated Number of Awards: 20.
        Project Period: 5 years. Please note that all applicants for multi-
    year awards are required to provide detailed budget information for the 
    total grant period requested. The Department will negotiate at the time 
    of the initial award the funding levels for each year of the grant 
    award.
    
        Note: The Department of Education is not bound by any estimates 
    in this notice.
    
        Maximum Award: The Secretary will not consider an application that 
    proposes a budget exceeding $2,000,000 for one or more 12-month budget 
    periods.
        Applicable Regulations: (a) the Education Department General 
    Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 74, 75 (except 34 
    CFR 75.102(b), 75.200(b)(3), 75.210, and 75.217), 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 
    85, and 86, and (b) 34 CFR Part 299.
        Priorities: The absolute and invitational priorities in the notice 
    of final priority and selection criteria for this program, as published 
    elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, apply to this 
    competition.
    
    Selection Criteria
    
        The selection criteria in the notice of final priority and 
    selection criteria for this program, as published elsewhere in this 
    issue of the Federal Register, apply to this competition.
    
    Other Requirements
    
        The procedures for evaluation and selection of applications in the 
    notice of final selection criteria, selection procedures, and 
    application procedures for Technology Innovation Challenge Grants, 
    published in the Federal Register on May 12, 1997 (62 FR 26175), apply 
    to this competition.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Technology Innovation Challenge Grant 
    Program is authorized under Title III, section 3136, of the Elementary 
    and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 6846). The 
    statute authorizes the use of funds for activities similar to the 
    following activities:
        (a) Developing, adapting, or expanding existing and new 
    applications of technology to support the school reform effort.
    
    [[Page 11082]]
    
        (b) Providing ongoing professional development in the integration 
    of quality educational technologies into school curriculum and long-
    term planning for implementing educational technologies.
        (c) Funding projects of sufficient size and scope to improve 
    student learning and, as appropriate, support professional development, 
    and provide administrative support.
        (d) Acquiring connectivity linkages, resources, and services, 
    including the acquisition of hardware and software, for use by 
    teachers, students, and school library media personnel in the classroom 
    or in school library media centers, in order to improve student 
    learning by supporting the instructional program offered and to ensure 
    that students in schools will have meaningful access on a regular basis 
    to such linkages, resources, and services.
        (e) Acquiring connectivity with wide area networks for purposes of 
    accessing information and educational programming sources, particularly 
    with institutions of higher education and public libraries.
        (f) Providing educational services for adults and families.
    
        Note: Section 14503 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
    Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 8893), is applicable to the 
    Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program. Section 14503 
    requires that an LEA, SEA, or educational service agency receiving 
    financial assistance under this program must provide private school 
    children and teachers, on an equitable basis, special educational 
    services or other program benefits under this program. The section 
    further requires SEAs, LEAs, and educational service agencies to 
    consult with private school officials during the design and 
    development of the Technology Innovation Challenge Grant projects. 
    Each application must describe the ways in which the proposed 
    project will address the needs of private school children and 
    teachers.
    
    Application Deadline
    
        In order to ensure timely receipt and processing of applications, 
    an application must be received on or before the deadline date 
    announced in this application notice. The Secretary will not consider 
    an application for funding if it is not received by the deadline date 
    unless the applicant can show proof that the application was: (1) sent 
    by registered or certified mail not later than five days before the 
    deadline date; or (2) sent by commercial carrier not later than two 
    days before the deadline date. An applicant must show proof of mailing 
    in accordance with 34 CFR 75.102(d) and (e). Applications delivered by 
    hand must be received by 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the deadline date. 
    For the purposes of this program competition, the Secretary does not 
    apply 34 CFR 75.102(a) and (b)(1) which require an application to be 
    mailed, rather than received, by the deadline date.
    
        Note: All applications must be received on or before the 
    deadline date unless one of the mailing conditions noted in the 
    previous paragraph applies. This requirement takes exception to 
    EDGAR, 34 CFR 75.102(a) and (b)(1). In accordance with the 
    Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), it is the practice of 
    the Secretary to offer interested parties the opportunity to comment 
    on proposed regulations. However, this amendment makes procedural 
    changes only and does not establish new substantive policy. 
    Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553 (b)(A), proposed rulemaking is not 
    required.
    
    FOR APPLICATIONS OR INFORMATION CONTACT: For applications, telephone 1-
    800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327) or fax requests to Sharon Morgan at 
    (202) 208-4042.
        The application package is also available from the Technology 
    Innovation Challenge Grant web site at: http://www.ed.gov/Technology/
    chalgrnt.html. For information contact Technology Innovation Challenge 
    Grants, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20208-5544. 
    Telephone (202) 208-3882.
        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 to the contact person identified in this notice.
        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://gcs.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.
    
    (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.303A, Technology 
    Innovation Challenge Grants)
    
        Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6846.
    
        Dated: February 27, 1998.
    Ricky T. Takai,
    Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
    [FR Doc. 98-5735 Filed 3-4-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
03/05/1998
Department:
Education Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
98-5735
Pages:
11081-11082 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
CFDA No. 84.303A
PDF File:
98-5735.pdf