[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 127 (Monday, July 3, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34785-34787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16203]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Bilingual Education: Academic Excellence Awards
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of funding priority and selection criteria for fiscal
year (FY) 1995.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary establishes the selection criteria for
evaluating applications and an absolute funding priority under the
Academic Excellence Awards program for FY 1995. The Secretary
establishes selection criteria and an absolute funding priority to
support those applicants that have implemented high quality education
programs and have been nominated by their State education agency (SEA)
for a grant.
EFFECTIVE DATES: This notice takes effect on August 2, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
MAry T. Mahony, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue
SW., Room 5609, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-6510. Telephone:
(202) 205-8728. 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: The Academic Excellence Awards program is
authorized by Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965 as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (Pub.
L. 103-382, enacted October 20, 1994) (the Act).
Under section 7133 of the Act, this program promotes the adoption
and implementation of bilingual education, special alternative
instruction programs, and professional development programs that
demonstrate promise of assisting limited English proficient (LEP)
children and youth to meet challenging State standards by providing
grants to SEAs, local educational agencies, nonprofit organizations,
and institutions of higher education. The new law represents a
substantial change from previous legislation governing the Academic
Excellence Awards program.
The Secretary is establishing an absolute priority for applications
that are nominated by an applicant's SEA and that have been implemented
already at one or more sites. The Secretary has exempted applications
submitted by SEAs from the nomination requirement because the Secretary
believes that an application submitted by an SEA is equivalent to an
SEA nomination of the application. The Secretary establishes this
absolute priority to ensure that the Department funds only exemplary
programs that have the support of a reliable entity, i.e., the SEA,
that is familiar with the exemplary program. The Secretary requires the
applicant to have an existing model site to show that it is feasible to
implement the exemplary program.
Section 7133 of the Act provides that the Secretary must establish
effectiveness criteria for a peer review of applications for a grant
under this program. In accordance with this provision, the Secretary
will consider the effectiveness of the exemplary program, the exemplary
program's potential for adoption, and the applicant's dissemination
plan including sustained training, evaluation plan, and coordination
strategies.
The Secretary believes that new selection criteria are necessary to
carry out the purposes of the new Academic Excellence Awards program
authority. The new criteria offer applicants flexibility to design new
dissemination approaches and ensure integration with State and local
reform efforts.
Note: This notice does not solicit applications. A notice
inviting applications under this competition is published elsewhere
in this issue of the Federal Register.
Priority
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and section 7133 of the Act, the
Secretary gives an absolute preference to applications that meet the
following priority. The Secretary funds under this program only
applications that meet this absolute priority:
(a) Applications that are submitted by local educational agencies,
nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education must be
nominated by their SEA. (This requirement does not apply to
applications submitted by SEAs.) This nomination must be included with
the application and must contain an assurance by the SEA that the
applicant's program is exemplary and consistent with the State plan for
systemic educational reform; and
(b) All the exemplary programs that are submitted for funding under
this program must have been implemented already at one or more model
sites. Applications must describe how all the essential elements of the
exemplary programs have been implemented at these model sites.
Selection Criteria
(a) In evaluating applications for grants under this competition,
the Secretary uses the following criteria.
(b) The maximum score for all of the criteria in this section is
115 points.
(c) The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in
parentheses following the heading of each criterion.
(d) The Secretary evaluates each application for a grant under this
program by using the following selection criteria, which are based on
section 7133 of the Act:
(1) Evidence of effectiveness. (25 points) The extent to which the
exemplary program provides demonstrated evidence of effectiveness in
assisting LEP students to attain high academic standards and
challenging State standards.
(2) Sound research. (15 points) How well the pedagogical approach
and materials of the exemplary program reflect sound research and
current professional development practices.
(3) Potential for adoption. (20) points The extent to which the
exemplary program demonstrates potential for adoption by other
education service providers.
(4) Management plan. (20 points) How well the proposed management
plan will support--
(i) National dissemination of the exemplary program; and
(ii) Sustain training for teachers, other educational personnel,
parents, and other members of the school communities where the
exemplary program will be adopted.
(5) Evaluation plan. (15 points) The extent to which the evaluation
plan includes collection of impact data on student learning and
documentation of the outcomes of technical assistance at the adoption
sites.
(6) Key personnel. (10 points) The extent to which key personnel
have the experience, training, and skills to implement the project
successfully.
(7) Coordination of activities. (10 points) The quality of the
applicant's plan to coordinate activities with regional, State, and
local reform efforts to assist LEP students.
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 priorities and
regulations. However, in order to make timely grant awards in FY 1995,
the Director, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the General
Education Provisions Act, has
[[Page 34787]]
decided to issue this final notice of funding priority and selection
criteria, 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. 7453.
Dated: June 27, 1995.
Eugene E. Garcia,
Director, Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.003G Bilingual
Education: Academic Excellence Awards)
[FR Doc. 95-16203 Filed 6-30-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-M
