[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 115 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14591]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 16, 1994]
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Part IV
Department of Education
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National Workplace Literacy Program; Proposed Priority; Notice
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
RIN 1830-ZA00
National Workplace Literacy Program
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of proposed priority.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes an absolute priority to focus fiscal
year 1995 funds for new workplace literacy projects on communities that
have been designated as Empowerment Zones or Enterprise Communities
authorized under section 1391 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended
by title XIII of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. Under
the proposed absolute priority, funds under this competition would be
reserved only for projects that provide workplace literacy services to
Empowerment Zones or Enterprise Communities through partnerships
eligible for funding in the National Workplace Literacy Program.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 18, 1994.
ADDRESSES: All comments concerning the proposed priority must be
addressed to Mr. Ronald S. Pugsley, U.S. Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue SW., room 4428-MES, Washington, DC 20202-7240.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sarah Newcomb, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 4417-MES,
Washington, DC 20202-7240, Telephone (202) 205-9872 or Jeanne Williams,
Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 4513-MES, Washington, DC 20202-7327.
Telephone (202) 205-5977. 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 .
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background on Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Initiative
The Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community program is a critical
element of the Administration's community revitalization strategy. The
program is a first step in rebuilding communities in America's poverty-
stricken inner cities and rural heartlands. It is designed to empower
people and communities by inspiring Americans to work together to
create jobs and opportunity.
Under this program, the Federal Government will designate up to
nine areas as Empowerment Zones and up to 95 areas as Enterprise
Communities in accordance with Internal Revenue Code section 1391, as
amended by title XIII of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993
(Pub. L. 103-66). To be eligible for designation, an areas must be
nominated by one or more local governments and the State or States in
which it is located or by a State-Chartered Economic Development
Corporation. A nominated area must be one of pervasive poverty,
unemployment, and general distress, and must have a poverty rate of not
less than the level specified in section 1392 of the Internal Revenue
Code.
In the Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community program,
communities are invited to submit strategic plans that comprehensively
address how the community would link economic development with
education and training as well as how community development, public
safety, human services, and environmental initiatives will together
support sustainable communities. Empowerment Zones and Enterprise
Communities will be designated by the Department of Agriculture and the
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) based on the quality
of their strategic plans. Designated areas will receive Federal grant
funds and substantial tax benefits and will have access to other
Federal programs. (For additional information on the Empowerment Zone
and Enterprise Community program, contact HUD at 1-800-998-9999.)
The Department of Education is supporting the Empowerment Zone and
Enterprise Community initiative in a variety of ways. It is encouraging
Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities to use funds they already
receive from Department of Education programs (including Chapter 1 of
Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Drug-Free
Schools and Communities Act, the Adult Education Act, and the Carl D.
Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act) to support the
comprehensive vision of their strategic plans. In addition, the
Department of Education intends to give preferences to Empowerment
Zones and Enterprise Communities in a number of discretionary grant
programs that are well suited for inclusion in a comprehensive approach
to economic and community development. In addition to the National
Workplace Literacy Program described in this notice in which the
Department intends to give an absolute preference, the Department
intends to give competitive preferences to Empowerment Zones and
Enterprise Communities in the Urban Community Service program, the
Rehabilitation Act Projects with Industry program, Rehabilitation Act
Special Demonstration Projects program, the Parent Training program and
Early Childhood Education program under the Individuals With
Disabilities Education Act, and a variety of discretionary programs
under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Notices concerning
those programs will be published at a later date.
Background on National Workplace Literacy Program
The National Workplace Literacy Program is ideally suited to play a
key role in the Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community program
because it links economic development and education and training
efforts. The program, which makes discretionary grants of up to three
years in length, supports demonstration projects that teach literacy
skills needed in the workplace through exemplary education
partnerships. The partnerships are established between a business,
industry, or labor organization or a private industry council and an
educational organization to support work-related basic skills training.
The National Workplace Literacy Program funds may be used, among other
things, to update or upgrade the skills of workers in line with changes
in production processes or technology. For example, basic skill levels
that formerly were adequate for assembly line production are inadequate
for employees faced with sophisticated quality control systems,
flexible production, team-based work, and participatory management
practices.
National Workplace Literacy projects can improve the human
resources of Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities, increase the
productivity of businesses located in Empowerment Zones and Enterprise
Communities, and help attract new businesses to these needy areas.
Further, an amendment to the program, contained in the National
Literacy Act of 1991, establishes a statutory priority for serving
small businesses. This is the type of business most likely to be found
in the zones.
In addition, the National Workplace Literacy Program is an
important vehicle for achieving the National Education Goal that by the
year 2000, every adult American will be literate and will possess the
knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global economy and
exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. The program
helps further this goal by improving approaches and methods used in
meeting the literacy needs of adults in the workplace, including those
with limited English proficiency. The National Workplace Literacy
Program will also benefit by establishing an absolute priority related
to Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities. Communities receiving
these designations will already have demonstrated a capacity for the
type of cooperative planning that is critical to a successful workplace
literacy partnership. Projects funded under the priority will provide
models for partnerships in other distressed areas and show how the
National Workplace Literacy Program furthers the National Education
Goal that every adult American will be literate and able to compete in
the global economy.
Note: This notice of proposed priority does not solicit
applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition
will be published in the Federal Register concurrent with or
following publication of the notice of final priority.
Priority
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) the Secretary proposes to give an
absolute preference to applications that are otherwise eligible for
funding under the National Workplace Literacy Program and that meet the
following priority. The Secretary may implement this priority for
fiscal year 1995 and for any later fiscal year:
Projects that provide workplace literacy services only for (a)
persons who reside in and work in Empowerment Zones and Enterprise
Communities; (b) persons who work in Empowerment Zones and Enterprise
Communities although they do not reside there; or (c) persons who
reside in Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities and who may work
outside the Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community. If necessary to
the proper functioning of a project serving a substantial number of
persons in category (c), services may also be provided to a small
number of their coworkers who neither work nor reside in an Empowerment
Zone or Enterprise Community.
The proposed project under the National Workplace Literacy Program
must contribute to the strategic plan of the Empowerment Zone or
Enterprise Community and be made an integral component of the
Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community activities.
In providing workplace literacy services, partnerships must develop
curricula related to work or use or modify curricula developed by
successful workplace literacy partnerships. For competitions under this
absolute priority, the Secretary will waive the selection criterion
``Evaluation Plan'' in 34 CFR 472.22(f) and the evaluation requirements
in 34 CFR 472.31 and, in their place, conduct a national evaluation of
projects serving Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities. The
purpose of the waiver is to allow Empowerment Zone and Enterprise
Community projects to focus maximum resources on the provision of
quality services and to further a Federal evaluation study that
particularly can benefit other distressed areas.
Additional Factor the Secretary Considers
After evaluating each application according to the proposed
selection criteria, the Secretary may select for funding one or more
applications of high quality, other than the most highly rated
applications, if the Secretary concludes that this selection would
improve the distribution of grants among applicants serving urban and
rural areas.
Executive Order 12866
This notice of proposed priority has been reviewed in accordance
with Executive Order 12866. Under the terms of the order the Secretary
has assessed the potential costs and benefits of this regulatory
action.
The potential costs associated with the notice of proposed priority
are those resulting from statutory requirements and those determined by
the Secretary to be necessary for administering this program
effectively and efficiently.
In assessing the potential costs and benefits--both quantitative
and qualitative--of this notice of proposed priority, the Secretary has
determined that the benefits of the proposed priority justify the
costs.
The Secretary has also determined that this regulatory action does
not unduly interfere with State, local, and tribal governments in the
exercise of their governmental functions.
To assist the Department in complying with the specific
requirements of Executive Order 12866, the Secretary invites comment on
whether there may be further opportunities to reduce any potential
costs or increase potential benefits resulting from this proposed
priority without impeding the effective and efficient administration of
the program.
Intergovernmental Review
This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. The objective of the
Executive order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a
strengthened federalism by relying on processes developed by State and
local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal
financial assistance.
In accordance with the order, this document is intended to provide
early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for
this program.
Invitation to Comment
Interested persons are invited to submit comments and
recommendations regarding this proposed priority.
All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available
for public inspection, during and after the comment period, in room
4428, Switzer Building, 330 C Street, SW., Washington, DC, between the
hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week,
except Federal holidays.
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR Part 472.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.198B National
Workplace Literacy Program)
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1211(a).
Dated: June 2, 1994.
Augusta Souza Kappner,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Vocational and Adult Education.
[FR Doc. 94-14591 Filed 6-15-94; 8:45 am]
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