[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 111 (Friday, June 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30757-30758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14223]
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21st Century Community Learning Centers
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of Final Priority for FY 1995.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary announces a priority for Fiscal Year 1995 under
the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. The Secretary
takes this action to focus Federal financial assistance in areas of the
country identified as areas of pervasive poverty, unemployment and
general distress. The priority restricts the funds available under the
21st Century Program to applicants that are located in Empowerment
Zones or Supplemental Empowerment Zones.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This priority takes effect July 10, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Seresa Simpson, U.S. Department of
Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Room 522, Washington, DC 20208-
5524. Telephone (202) 219-1935. 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: This notice contains one final priority
under the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. The purpose
of this program is to award grants to rural and inner-city public
elementary or secondary schools, or consortia of such schools, to
enable them to plan, implement, or to expand projects that benefit the
educational, health, social service, cultural, and recreational needs
of a rural or inner-city community.
Background on Empowerment Zone Initiative
The Empowerment Zone initiative is a critical element of the
Administration's community revitalization strategy. The program is the
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.
The Departments of Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development
have designated 6 urban and 3 rural empowerment zones and two
supplemental urban empowerment zones. These urban zones are located
within the following cities: Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland;
Chicago, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Los Angeles,
California; New York, New York; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/Camden,
New Jersey. The rural zones are located in the following states and
counties: Kentucky (Clinton, Jackson and Wayne Counties); Mississippi
(Bolivar, Holmes, Humphreys, and LeFlore Counties); and Texas (Cameron,
Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy Counties).
The Empowerment Zones and Supplemental Empowerment Zones were
designated based on locally-developed strategic plans that
comprehensively address how the community will 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. 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 Zones program contact HUD at 1-800-998-9999.)
The Department of Education is supporting the Empowerment Zone
initiative in a variety of ways. It is encouraging zones 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 is giving preferences to zones in a number
of discretionary grant programs that are well suited for inclusion in a
comprehensive approach to economic and community development.
The Empowerment Zone initiative and the 21st Century Community
Learning Centers Program share some common features. Both programs are
concerned with helping communities that have areas with high poverty
rates address educational, health, social service, cultural, and
recreational needs. Communities that have been designated as
Empowerment Zones or Supplemental Empowerment Zones have demonstrated a
capacity for the type of cooperative planning that is required to
implement a 21st Century Community Learning Center. The Secretary
believes that the limited resources available under the 21st Century
Program will have the greatest impact if the funds are directed to
communities that have the greatest need and have already established
comprehensive community development plans. Therefore, the Secretary
establishes the following absolute priority to focus Federal funds on
21st Century projects that will address the needs of Empowerment Zones
or Supplemental Empowerment Zones.
Absolute Priority: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), the Secretary gives
an absolute preference to applications that meet the following
priority. The Secretary funds under this competition only applications
that meet the following absolute priority:
Projects that offer a broad selection of services that address the
needs of the community. Grants may be used to plan, implement, or
expand community learning centers and projects must be carried out by a
school or consortia of schools located in an Empowerment Zone or
Supplemental Empowerment Zone.
Applicants must ensure that the proposed program relates to the
strategic plan and will be an integral part of the Empowerment Zone
program.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking
In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553),
it is the practice of the Department of Education to offer interested
parties the opportunity to comment on proposed regulations. However, in
order to make timely grant awards in Fiscal Year (FY) 1995, the
Assistant Secretary, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the
General Education Provisions Act, has decided to issue these final
priorities which will apply only to the FY 1995 grant competition.
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.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 8241-8246.
[[Page 30758]] (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
84.287, 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program)
Dated: June 6, 1995.
Sharon P. Robinson,
Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 95-14223 Filed 6-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
