95-95-22339. Office of Vocational and Adult Education; School-to-Work Opportunities; Local Partnership Grants; Application Procedures  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 174 (Friday, September 8, 1995)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 46984-47009]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-95-22339]
    
    
    
    
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    Part V
    
    
    
    
    
    Department of Labor
    
    
    
    
    
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    Employment and Training Administration
    
    
    
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    Department of Education
    
    
    
    
    
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    Office of Vocational and Adult Education; School-to-Work Opportunities; 
    Local Partnership Grants; Application Procedures; Notice
    
    Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 174 / Friday, September 8, 1995 / 
    Notices
    
    [[Page 46984]]
    
    
    DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
    
    Employment and Training Administration
    
    DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
    
    
    Office of Vocational and Adult Education; School-to-Work 
    Opportunities; Local Partnership Grants; Application Procedures
    
    AGENCIES: Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor; 
    Office of Vocational and Adult Education, Department of Education.
    
    ACTION: Notice of availability of funds, solicitation for grant 
    application (SGA), an administrative cost cap, a definition of 
    administrative costs, and final selection criteria for School-to-Work 
    Opportunities Local Partnership Grants.
    
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    SUMMARY: This notice announces the fiscal year (FY) competition for 
    Local Partnership Grants authorized under Title III of the School-to-
    Work Opportunities Act of 1994 (the Act). This notice contains all of 
    the necessary information and forms needed to apply for grant funding 
    in FY 1995. The Departments also establish final selection criteria to 
    be used in evaluating applications submitted under the Local 
    Partnership Grants competition in FY 1995 and in succeeding years. The 
    Departments also establish a definition for the term ``administrative 
    costs,'' as well as a 10 percent cap on administrative costs incurred 
    by local partnerships receiving grants under Title III of the Act.
    
    DATES: Applications for grant awards will be accepted commencing 
    September 8, 1995. The closing date for receipt of applications is 
    November 7, 1995, at 2 p.m. (Eastern time) at the following address. 
    Telefacsimile (FAX) applications will NOT be accepted.
    
    ADDRESSES: Applications must be mailed to: U.S. Department of 
    Education, Application Control Center, Attention: CFDA #278C, 
    Washington, D.C. 20202-4725.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Kniesler, National School-to-
    Work Office. Telephone: (202) 401-6222. (This is not a toll-free 
    number). 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:
    
    Section A. Background
    
        The Departments of Labor and Education are reserving funds 
    appropriated for FY 1995 under Pub. L. 103-329 (the Act) for a 
    competition for Local Partnership Grants authorized under Title III of 
    the Act. In accordance with the authority provided in section 5 of the 
    Act, the Departments have determined that the administrative provisions 
    contained in the Education Department General Administrative 
    Regulations (EDGAR) at 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 85 and 86, 
    will apply to grants awarded to local partnerships under this 
    competition.
        This notice contains a definition of the term ``administrative 
    costs,'' a 10 percent cap on administrative costs incurred by local 
    partnerships receiving grants under Title III, and the selection 
    criteria that will be used in evaluating applications submitted in 
    response to this year's competition, and all of the other necessary 
    information and forms needed to apply for grant funding.
    
    Section B. Purpose
    
        Under this competition, the Departments will award grants to local 
    partnerships that have built a sound planning and development base for 
    their school-to-work programs, to begin implementation of School-to-
    Work Opportunities initiatives that will become part of statewide 
    School-to-Work Opportunities systems. These local initiatives will 
    offer young Americans access to programs designed to prepare them for 
    first jobs in high-skill, high-wage careers, and to increase their 
    opportunities for further education and training.
    
    Section C. Application Process
    
    1. Eligible Applicants
    
        A local entity that meets the definition of ``local partnership'' 
    in section 4(11) of the Act, is eligible to apply for a Local 
    Partnership Grant. However, local partnerships that are located in the 
    eight States that were awarded School-to-Work Opportunities State 
    Implementation Grants in 1994 are not eligible to apply for a Local 
    Partnership Grant under this competition. These eight States are: 
    Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Kentucky, Wisconsin, 
    Michigan, and Oregon. In addition, it should be noted that local 
    partnerships located in States that are slated to receive School-to-
    Work Opportunities State Implementation Grants in 1995 are eligible to 
    apply for grants under this competition.
        As defined in the Act, an eligible partnership must include 
    employers, representatives of local educational agencies and local 
    postsecondary educational institutions (including representatives of 
    area vocational education schools, where applicable), local educators, 
    representatives of labor organizations or nonmanagerial employee 
    representatives, and students. Other entities appropriate to effective 
    implementation of a local School-to-Work Opportunities initiative 
    should also be included in the partnership.
        Under section 302(a) of the Act a local partnership is eligible to 
    receive only one (1) Local Partnership Grant.
    
    2. State Comments
    
        The local partnership must submit its application to the State for 
    review and comment before submitting the application to the 
    Departments, in accordance with section 303(a) of the Act. The 
    application should be submitted to the State's School-to-Work Contact. 
    A list of State School-to-Work Contacts is included in Appendix D of 
    this notice. The Departments expect that the State School-to-Work 
    Contact will provide all members of the State School-to-Work 
    Partnership listed in section 213(b)(4)(A)-(K) of the Act, an 
    opportunity to review and comment on the local partnership's 
    application.
        Of particular importance to the Departments are each State's 
    comments on the consistency of the local partnership's planned 
    activities with the State's plan for a comprehensive statewide School-
    to-Work Opportunities system and the relationship of any proposed 
    activities with other local plans, especially if the grant applicant is 
    not specifically identified as a local partnership within the State 
    system.
        In accordance with section 305 of the Act, if a State has an 
    approved State School-to-Work Opportunities plan, the State must 
    confirm that the plan submitted by the local partnership is in 
    accordance with the State plan. The application from the local 
    partnership must contain this confirmation.
        Section 303(b)(1) of the Act requires each State to review and 
    comment on a local partnership's application within 30 days from the 
    date on which the State receives the application from the local 
    partnership. Therefore, even though applicants have 60 days to apply 
    for a Local Partnership Grant under this notice, they must provide 
    their application to their State in time for the State to have at least 
    30 days before the due date to review and comment on their application.
        Furthermore, under section 303(c)(2) of the Act, the State's 
    comments must be included in the local partnership's application. 
    However, if the State does not provide review and comment within the 
    30-day time period described above, the local partnership may submit 
    the 
    
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    application without State comment. In such a case, the local 
    partnership should provide proof that the State received a copy of the 
    local partnership's application at least 30 days prior to the 
    application due date.
    
    3. Period of Performance
    
        The period of performance for Local Partnership Grants is twelve 
    months from the date of award by the Departments.
    
    4. Option to Extend
    
        Local Partnership Grants may be extended up to four additional 
    years, but not beyond the second year of a School-to-Work Opportunities 
    State Implementation Grant for the State in which the partnership is 
    located. Extensions will be based upon availability of funds and the 
    progress of the local partnership towards its objectives as approved in 
    its application and will be subject to the annual approval of the 
    Secretaries of Labor and Education (the Secretaries). It is likely that 
    the amount of Federal funds, if any, that are awarded to local 
    partnerships under this notice in subsequent years will decrease.
    
    5. Available Funds
    
        Approximately $15 million is available for this competition.
    
    6. Estimated Range of Awards
    
        The amount of an award under this competition will depend upon the 
    scope, quality, and comprehensiveness of the proposed initiative and 
    the relative size of the community to be served by the local 
    partnership.
        The Departments expect that first-year grant amounts will be about 
    $200,000 for areas with populations under 250,000; $200,000 to $300,000 
    for areas with populations of 250,000 to 499,999; $300,000 to $500,000 
    for areas with populations of 500,000 to 749,999; $500,000 to $700,000 
    for areas with populations of 750,000 to 999,999; $700,000 to 
    $1,000,000 for areas with populations of 1,000,000 to 1,499,999; and 
    upwards of $1,500,000 for areas with populations of 1,500,000 or more. 
    These ranges are provided to assist applicants in developing plans. The 
    exact amounts awarded may exceed or be less than the amounts reflected 
    in these ranges.
    
    7. Estimated Number of Awards
    
        The Departments expect to award 25-35 grants under this 
    competition.
    
        Note: The Departments are not bound by any estimates in this 
    notice.
    
    8. Reporting Requirements/Deliverables
    
        (a) Reporting Requirements
        The local partnership will be required, at a minimum, to submit--
         Quarterly Financial Reports (SF 269-A);
         Quarterly Narrative Progress Reports;
         An Annual Continuation Application package, if 
    appropriate, including--
         A revised SF-524 and renewed Assurances and 
    Certifications;
         A narrative report describing progress toward stated 
    goals, and identifying goals and objectives for the coming year;
         Annual financial reports (ED Form 524B, and SF 269);
         Budget Information for Upcoming Years;
         An Annual Performance Report providing data on performance 
    measures; and
         A close-out report at the end of the grant.
        (b) Deliverables
        The local partnership will be required to--
         Provide information on best practices and innovative 
    school- and work-based curricula suitable for dissemination to States 
    and other stakeholders;
         Participate in two grantee meetings per year sponsored by 
    the National School-to-Work Office;
         Act as a host to outside visitors who are interested in 
    developing and implementing School-to-Work Opportunities initiatives 
    and to other visitors interested in the replication, adaptation or 
    impact of successful program elements; and
         Participate as needed in evaluation and special data 
    collection activities.
    
    9. Application Transmittal Instructions
    
        An application for an award must be mailed or hand-delivered by the 
    closing date.
    (A) Applications Delivered by Mail
        An application sent by mail must be addressed to the U.S. 
    Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention CFDA # 
    278C, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C 20202-4725.
        An application must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the 
    following:
         A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service Postmark.
         A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by 
    the U.S. Postal Service.
         A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a 
    commercial carrier.
         Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the U.S. 
    Secretary of Education.
        If an application is sent through the U.S. Postal Service, the 
    Secretary does not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
         A private metered postmark.
         A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal 
    Service.
        An applicant should note that 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. An applicant is 
    encouraged to use registered or at least first class mail. Each late 
    applicant will be notified that its application will not be considered.
    (B) Applications Delivered by Hand
        An application that is hand-delivered must be taken to the U.S. 
    Department of Education, Application Control Center, Room 3633, 
    Regional Office Building 3, 7th and D Streets SW., Washington, DC.
        The Application Control Center will accept hand-delivered 
    applications between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) 
    daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and Federal Holidays.
        Individuals delivering applications must use the D Street entrance. 
    Proper identification is necessary in order to enter the building.
        In order for an application sent through a courier service to be 
    considered timely, the courier service must be in receipt of the 
    application on or before the closing date.
    
    Section D. Organization and Content of Applications
    
        Applicants are encouraged to submit an original and four copies of 
    their application. The Departments suggest that the application be 
    divided into five distinct parts: budget and certifications, abstract, 
    State comments, program narrative and appendices. To ensure a 
    comprehensive and expedient review, the Departments strongly suggest 
    that applicants submit an application formatted as seen below:
    
    Table of Contents
    
    I. Budget and Certifications
    
        Part I should contain the Standard Form SF 424, ``Application for 
    Federal Assistance,'' and SF 524, ``Budget.'' All copies of the SF 424 
    must have original signatures of the designated fiscal agent. In 
    addition, the budget should include--on a separate page or pages--a 
    detailed cost breakout of each line item on SF 524. All assurances and 
    certifications included in this notice 
    
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    should also be included in Part I of the application.
    
    II. Abstract
    
        Part II should consist of a one-page abstract summarizing the 
    essential components and key features of the local partnership's plan.
    
    III. State Comments
    
        Part III should contain the State's comments on the application. 
    Details on this section can be found under State Comments heading of 
    this notice.
    
    IV. Program Narrative
    
        Part IV should contain the application narrative that demonstrates 
    the applicant's plan and capabilities in accordance with the selection 
    criteria contained in section F of this notice. In order to assist 
    applicants in the preparation of their applications and to facilitate 
    expeditious evaluation by the panel, applicants should describe their 
    proposed plan in light of each of the selection criteria. No cost data 
    or reference to price should be included in this part of the 
    application. The Departments strongly request that applicants limit the 
    program narrative section to no more than 40 one-sided, double-spaced 
    pages.
    
    V. Appendices
    
        All applicable appendices, including letters of support, resumes 
    and organizational charts, should be included in this section. The 
    Departments recommend that all appendix entries cross-reference the 
    applicable sections in the program narrative.
    
        Note: Applicants are advised that the peer review panels 
    evaluate each application solely on the basis of the selection 
    criteria contained in this notice, and the School-to-Work 
    Opportunities Act. Appendices may be used to provide supporting 
    information. However, in scoring applications, reviewers are 
    required to take into account only information that is presented in 
    the application narrative, which must address the selection 
    criteria, and requirements of the Act. Letters of support are 
    welcome, but applicants should be aware that support letters 
    contained in the application will strengthen the application only if 
    they contain commitments that pertain to the selection criteria.
    
    Section E. Safeguards
    
        The Departments will apply certain safeguards, as required under 
    section 601 of the Act, to School-to-Work Opportunities programs funded 
    under this notice. The application must include a brief assurance that 
    the following safeguards will be implemented and maintained throughout 
    all program activities:
        (a) No student shall displace any currently employed worker 
    (including a partial displacement, such as a reduction in the hours of 
    non-overtime work, wages, or employment benefits).
        (b) No School-to-Work Opportunities program shall impair existing 
    contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements, and no 
    program funded under this notice shall be undertaken without the 
    written concurrence of the labor organization and employer concerned.
        (c) No student shall be employed or fill a job--
        (1) When any other individual is on temporary layoff, with the 
    clear possibility of recall, from the same or any substantially 
    equivalent job with the participating employer; or
        (2) When the employer has terminated the employment of any regular 
    employee or otherwise reduced its workforce with the intention of 
    filling the vacancy so created with the student.
        (d) Students shall be provided with adequate and safe equipment and 
    safe and healthful workplaces in conformity with all health and safety 
    requirements of Federal, State, and local law.
        (e) Nothing in the Act shall be construed so as to modify or affect 
    any Federal or State law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of 
    race, religion, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, or 
    disability.
        (f) Funds awarded under the Act shall not be expended for wages of 
    students or workplace mentors.
        (g) The grantee shall implement and maintain such other safeguards 
    as the Secretaries may deem appropriate in order to ensure that School-
    to-Work Opportunities participants are afforded adequate supervision by 
    skilled adult workers, or to otherwise further the purposes of the Act.
    
    Section F. Waivers
    
        Under Title V of the Act the Secretaries may waive certain Federal 
    requirements that impede the ability of a State or local partnership to 
    carry out the purposes of the Act. Only local partnerships in States 
    with approved School-to-Work Opportunities plans may apply for waivers. 
    A local partnership that seeks a waiver should contact its State 
    School-to-Work Contact to determine what documentation is required and 
    to whom it should be sent.
        In May, 1995, the National School-to-Work Opportunities Office 
    issued a document entitled ``School-to-Work Opportunities Waiver and 
    Plan Approval Process Questions and Answers.'' This document was sent 
    to every Governor and State School-to-Work Contact. The document 
    contains answers to many of the questions that localities may have when 
    preparing their waiver requests. Local Partnerships interested in 
    applying for waivers should contact the National School-to-Work 
    Opportunities Office or their State School-to-Work Contact for a copy 
    of the waivers document.
    
    Section G. Bidders' Conferences
    
        Bidders' Conferences for interested School-to-Work Opportunities 
    Local Partnership representatives are scheduled from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 
    p.m., on the dates and locations listed below:
         September 15, 1995, Bartle Hall, 13th and Broadway, Room 
    2210, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
         September 18, 1995, Jackson Federal Building, 915 2nd 
    Avenue, North and South Auditorium, 4th Floor, Seattle, Washington 
    98174.
        Participants at the conferences will receive a detailed description 
    of the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, and the selection criteria and 
    how they will be applied, and will have the opportunity to ask 
    questions of Federal School-to-Work officials.
        All partnerships must preregister by faxing the names and addresses 
    of up to three members of the local partnership planning to attend, the 
    name of the local partnership, and a phone number to: Kevin Shelton, 
    Training and Technical Assistance Corporation, 2409 18th, NW., 
    Washington, DC; FAX #: (202) 408-8282.
        Questions regarding the solicitation may be submitted in advance. 
    If you are unable to attend the Bidders' Conference, but would like the 
    conference materials and a conference transcript, submit your request 
    via fax to the fax number listed above. All information must be 
    submitted no later than September 13, 1995. Conferees will be sent a 
    confirmation along with hotel accommodation information once their 
    registration has been received.
    
    Local Partnership Grant Competition
    
    Analysis of Comments and Changes
    
        On May 25, 1995, the Departments of Labor and Education published a 
    notice containing proposed selection criteria, a 10 percent cap on 
    administrative costs, and a definition of the term ``administrative 
    costs'' for this competition and competitions in succeeding years in 
    the Federal Register (60 FR 27812-27814). In response to the invitation 
    to comment, 34 parties submitted comments. An analysis of the comments 
    received in response to the publication of that notice and of the 
    changes made to the selection criteria, administrative cost cap, and 
    definition 
    
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    since publication of the notice of proposed selection criteria and 
    proposed definition, is published as an appendix to this notice.
    
    School-to-Work Local Partnership Grants-- Administrative Cost Cap
    
        The Departments are applying the 10 percent cap on administrative 
    costs contained in section 215(b)(6) of the Act to local partnerships 
    receiving grants directly under this competition. Section 215(b)(6) of 
    the Act applies the 10 percent administrative cap to subgrants received 
    by local partnerships from a State. The Departments have concluded that 
    applying the 10 percent cap to local partnerships under Title III of 
    the Act is consistent with the Act's intent and its broader limitations 
    on administrative costs. Further, this limitation is consistent with 
    section 305 of Title III, which requires conformity between School-to-
    Work Opportunities plans of local partnerships and State School-to-Work 
    Opportunities plans.
    
    Definition
    
        All definitions in the Act apply to local School-to-Work 
    Opportunities systems funded under this and future Local Partnership 
    Grant competitions. Since the Act does not contain a definition of the 
    term ``administrative costs'' as used in section 217 of the Act, the 
    Departments will apply the following definition to this and future 
    competitions for Local Partnership Grants.
        The term ``administrative costs'' means the activities of a local 
    partnership that are necessary for the proper and efficient performance 
    of its duties under the Local Partnership Grant pursuant to the School-
    to-Work Opportunities Act and that are not directly related to the 
    provision of services to participants or otherwise allocable to the 
    program's allowable activities listed in section 215(b)(4) and section 
    215(c) of the Act. Administrative costs may be either personnel or non-
    personnel costs, and may be either direct and indirect. Costs of 
    administration include those costs that are related to this grant in 
    such categories as--
        A. Costs of salaries, wages, and related costs of the grantee's 
    staff engaged in--
         Overall system management, system coordination, and 
    general administrative functions;
         Preparing program plans, budgets, and schedules, as well 
    as applicable amendments;
         Monitoring of local initiatives, pilot projects, 
    subrecipients, and related systems and processes;
         Procurement activities, including the award of specific 
    subgrants, contracts, and purchase orders;
         Developing systems and procedures, including management 
    information systems, for ensuring compliance with the requirements 
    under the Act;
         Preparing reports and other documents related to the Act; 
    and
         Coordinating the resolution of audit findings;
        B. Costs for goods and services required for administration of the 
    School-to-Work Opportunities system;
        C. Costs of system-wide management functions; and
        D. Travel costs incurred for official business in carrying out 
    grants management or administrative activities.
    
    Selection Criteria
    
        Under the School-to-Work Opportunities Local Partnership Grant 
    competition, the Departments will use the following selection criteria 
    in evaluating applications and will utilize a peer review process in 
    which review teams, including peers, will evaluate applications using 
    the selection criteria and the associated point values. The Departments 
    will base final funding decisions on the ranking of applications as a 
    result of the peer review, and such other factors as replicability, 
    sustainability, innovation, geographic balance, and diversity of system 
    approaches.
    
    Selection Criterion 1: Comprehensive Local School-to-Work Opportunities 
    System (40 Points)
    
        Considerations: In applying this criterion, reviewers will 
    consider--
        A. 20 Points. The extent to which the partnership has designed a 
    comprehensive local School-to-Work Opportunities plan that--
         Includes effective strategies for integrating school-based 
    and work-based learning, integrating academic and vocational education, 
    and establishing linkages between secondary and postsecondary 
    education;
         Is likely to produce systemic change that will have 
    substantial impact on the preparation of all students for a first job 
    in a high-skill, high-wage career and in increasing their opportunities 
    for further learning;
         Ensures all students will have a full range of options, 
    including options for higher education, additional training and 
    employment in high-skill, high-wage jobs;
         Ensures coordination and integration with existing school-
    to-work programs, and with related programs financed from State and 
    private sources, with funds available from Federal education and 
    training programs (such as the Job Training Partnership Act and the 
    Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act); and 
    where applicable, communities designated as Empowerment Zones or 
    Enhanced Enterprise Communities (EZ/EEC);
         Serves a geographical area that reflects the needs of the 
    local labor market, and is able to adjust to regional structures that 
    the State School-to-Work Opportunities plan may identify; and
         Targets occupational clusters that represent growing 
    industries in the partnership's geographic area; and, where applicable, 
    demonstrates that the clusters are included among the occupational 
    clusters being targeted by the State School-to-Work Opportunities 
    system.
        B. 20 Points. The extent to which the partnership's plan 
    demonstrates its capability to achieve the statutory requirements and 
    to effectively put in place the system components in Title I of the 
    School-to-Work Opportunities Act, including--
         A work-based learning component that includes the 
    statutory ``mandatory activities'' and that contributes to the 
    transformation of workplaces into active learning components of the 
    education system through an array of learning experiences such as 
    mentoring, job-shadowing, unpaid work experiences, school-sponsored 
    enterprises, and paid work experiences;
         A school-based learning component that provides students 
    with high-level academic and technical skills consistent with academic 
    standards that the State establishes for all students, including, where 
    applicable, standards established under the Goals 2000: Educate America 
    Act;
         A connecting activities component to provide a functional 
    link between students' school and work activities, and between 
    workplace partners, educators, community organizations and other 
    appropriate entities;
         Effective processes for assessing skills and knowledge 
    required in career majors, and issuing portable skill certificates that 
    are benchmarked to high-quality standards such as those States will 
    establish under the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, and for 
    periodically assessing and collecting information on student outcomes, 
    as well as a realistic strategy and timetable for implementing the 
    process in concert with the State.
         A flexible School-to-Work Opportunities system that allows 
    students participating in the local 
    
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    system to develop new career goals over time, and to change career 
    majors; and
         Effective strategies for: providing staff development for 
    teachers, worksite mentors and other key personnel; developing model 
    curricula and innovative instructional methodologies; expanding career 
    and academic counseling in elementary and secondary schools; and 
    utilizing innovative technology-based instructional techniques.
    
    Selection Criterion 2: Quality and Effectiveness of the Local 
    Partnership (20 Points) 
    
        Considerations: In applying this criterion, reviewers will refer to 
    section 4(11) of the Act and consider--
         Whether the partnership's plan demonstrates an effective 
    and convincing strategy for continuing the commitment of required 
    partners and other interested parties in the local School-to-Work 
    Opportunities system. As defined by the Act, partners must include 
    employers, representatives of local educational agencies and local 
    postsecondary educational institutions (including representatives of 
    area vocational education schools, where applicable), local educators 
    (such as teachers, counselors, or administrators), representatives of 
    labor organizations or nonmanagerial employee representatives, and 
    students, and may include other relevant stakeholders such as those 
    listed in section 4(11)(B) of the Act, including employer 
    organizations, community-based organizations, national trade 
    associations working at the local levels, industrial extension centers, 
    rehabilitation agencies and organizations, registered apprenticeship 
    agencies, local vocational education entities, proprietary institutions 
    of higher education, local government agencies, parent organizations, 
    teacher organizations, vocational student organizations, private 
    industry councils under JTPA, federally recognized Indian tribes, 
    Indian organizations, and Alaska Native villages, and Native Hawaiian 
    entities.
         Whether the partnership's plan demonstrates an effective 
    and convincing strategy for continuing the commitment of workplace 
    partners and other interested parties in the local School-to-Work 
    Opportunities system;
         The effectiveness of the partnership's plan to include 
    private sector representatives as joint partners with educators in both 
    the design and the implementation of the local School-to-Work 
    Opportunities system;
         The extent to which the local partnership has developed 
    strategies to provide a range of opportunities for workplace partners 
    to participate in the design and implementation of the local School-to-
    Work Opportunities system, including membership on councils and 
    partnerships; assistance in setting standards, designing curricula, and 
    determining outcomes; providing worksite experiences for teachers; 
    helping to recruit other employers; and providing worksite learning 
    activities for students such as mentoring, job shadowing, unpaid work 
    experiences, and paid work experiences;
         The extent to which the roles and responsibilities of the 
    key parties and any other relevant stakeholders, are clearly defined 
    and are likely to produce the desired changes in the way students are 
    prepared for the future.
         The extent to which the partnership demonstrates the 
    capacity to build a quality local School-to-Work Opportunities system;
         Whether the partnership has included methods for 
    sustaining and expanding the partnership, as the program expands in 
    scope and size.
    
    Selection Criterion 3: Participation of All Students (15 Points) 
    
        Considerations: In applying this criterion, reviewers will refer to 
    the definition of the term ``all students'' in section 4(2) of the Act, 
    and consider--
         The extent to which the partnership will implement 
    effective strategies and systems: to provide all students with equal 
    access to the full range of program components specified in sections 
    102 through 104 of the Act and related activities such as recruitment, 
    enrollment and placement activities; and to ensure that all students 
    have meaningful opportunities to participate in School-to-Work 
    Opportunities programs;
         Whether the partnership has identified potential barriers 
    to the participation of any students, and the degree to which it 
    proposes effective ways of overcoming these barriers;
         The degree to which the partnership has developed 
    realistic goals and methods for assisting young women to participate in 
    School-to-Work Opportunities programs leading to employment in high-
    performance, high-paying jobs, including non-traditional jobs;
         The partnership's methods for ensuring safe and healthy 
    work environments for students, including strategies for encouraging 
    school to provide students with general awareness training in 
    occupational safety and health as part of the school-based learning 
    component, and for encouraging workplace partners to provide risk-
    specific training as part of the work-based learning component, as well 
    the extent to which the partnership has developed realistic goals to 
    ensure environments free from racial and sexual harassment;
         The extent to which the partnership's plan provides for 
    the participation of a significant number or percentage of students in 
    School-to-Work Opportunities activities listed under Title I of the 
    Act.
    
    Selection Criterion 4: Collaboration With State (15 Points)
    
        Considerations: In applying this criterion, reviewers will 
    consider--
         The extent to which the local partnership has effectively 
    consulted with its State School-to-Work Opportunities Partnership, and 
    has established realistic methods for ensuring consistency of its local 
    strategies with the statewide School-to-Work Opportunities system being 
    developed by that State Partnership;
         Whether the local partnership has developed a sound 
    strategy for integrating its plan, as necessary, with the State plan 
    for a statewide School-to-Work Opportunities system;
         The extent to which the local partnership has developed 
    effective processes through which it is able to assist and collaborate 
    with the State in establishing the statewide School-to-Work system, and 
    is able to provide feedback to the State on their system-building 
    process.
         Whether the plan includes a feasible workplan that 
    describes the steps that will be taken in order to make the local 
    system part of the State School-to-Work Opportunities System, including 
    a timeline that includes major planned objectives during the grant 
    period.
    
    Selection Criterion 5: Management Plan (10 Points)
    
        Considerations: In applying this criterion, reviewers will 
    consider--
         The feasibility and effectiveness of the partnership's 
    strategy for using other resources, including private sector resources, 
    to maintain the system when Federal resources under the School-to-Work 
    Opportunities Act are no longer available.
         The extent to which the partnership's management plan 
    anticipates barriers to implementation and proposes effective methods 
    for addressing barriers as they arise.
         Whether the plan includes feasible measurable goals for 
    the School-to-Work Opportunities system, based on performance outcomes 
    established under section 402 of the Act, and an effective method for 
    collecting 
    
    [[Page 46989]]
    information relevant to the local partnership's progress in meeting its 
    goals.
         Whether the plan includes a regularly scheduled process 
    for improving or redesigning the School-to-Work Opportunities system 
    based on performance outcomes established under section 402 of the Act.
         The extent to which the resources requested will be used 
    to develop information, products and ideas that will assist other 
    States and local partnerships as they design and implement local 
    systems.
         The extent to which the partnership will limit equipment 
    and other purchases in order to maximize the amounts spent on delivery 
    of services to students.
    
    
        Dated: September 1, 1995.
    Tim Barnicle,
    Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Department of Labor.
    Patricia McNeil,
    Acting Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education, 
    Department of Education.
    Appendix--Analysis of Comments and Changes--Administrative Costs
    
    10 Percent Cap on Administrative Costs
    
        Comment: Eleven commenters suggested that the proposed 10 
    percent cap on administrative costs was too low. Several of the 
    commenters felt that the cap should be set at a higher level, such 
    as 15 percent or 20 percent. Other commenters felt that the cap 
    should be set on a flexible scale that would fluctuate according to 
    the size of the grant award. Many commenters felt that the 10 
    percent cap on administrative costs would ultimately undermine local 
    efforts to build and sustain a strong school-to-work implementation 
    effort, and that it would sacrifice the quality and effectiveness of 
    the local partnerships. Finally, one commenter felt that School-to-
    Work Opportunities systems in rural areas would have an especially 
    difficult time being able to stay within the 10 percent cap on 
    administrative costs.
        Discussion: The Departments have concluded that applying the 10 
    percent cap to Title III grants awarded to local partnerships is 
    consistent with the Act's broader limitations on administrative 
    costs, with the 10 percent cap imposed on local partnerships 
    receiving School-to-Work Opportunities subgrants from States, and 
    with section 305 of Title III, which requires conformity between 
    School-to-Work Opportunities plans of local partnerships and State 
    School-to-Work Opportunities plans.
        Changes: None.
    
    Definition of Administrative Costs
    
        Comment: Twelve commenters suggested that changes be made to the 
    definition of the term ``administrative costs.'' Some of these 
    commenters felt that evaluation and monitoring are functions so 
    central to the local partnerships' ability to implement systemic 
    change that they should be excluded from the definition of 
    administrative costs. One of these commenters also felt that 
    language should be added that would specifically outline allowable 
    activities. Another commenter felt that the definition of the term 
    ``administrative costs'' under EDGAR should be used.
        Discussion: The Departments chose to create a new definition of 
    administrative costs rather than use a generic definition such as 
    the one contained in EDGAR in order to address the unique nature of 
    the Act. This definition was established as part of the 1995 School-
    to-Work Opportunities State Implementation grant process. It should 
    be noted that activities that are directly related to the provision 
    of services to participants or otherwise allocable to the program's 
    allowable activities under the grant are not defined as 
    administrative costs. The Departments believe that since the 
    definition specifically states that activities under section 
    215(b)(4) and 215 of the Act are not administrative 
    costs, there is no need to mention specific activities such as the 
    provision of technical assistance or developing model curriculum. 
    The Departments believe that the independent evaluation function is 
    especially critical because of the need for an ongoing process of 
    measuring system effectiveness and therefore have not included it in 
    the definition of the term ``administrative costs.'' The Departments 
    believe, however, that monitoring and establishing compliance 
    systems are activities appropriately charged to the administrative 
    cost category.
        Changes: None.
    
    Equipment Cost as an Administrative Cost
    
        Comment: Three commenters asked for clarification as to whether 
    equipment cost is an administrative cost, especially in relation to 
    the last bullet point under selection criterion 5, which asks 
    reviewers to consider the extent to which a local partnership will 
    limit equipment purchases in order to maximize the amounts spent on 
    direct delivery of students.
        Discussion: The Departments believe that equipment purchased for 
    the purpose of administering the School-to-Work Opportunities system 
    is an administrative cost, and therefore is subject to the 10 
    percent cap. However, equipment purchased for classroom 
    instructional use would not be subject to the 10 percent cap.
        Changes: None.
    
    Suggested Changes to the Structure of the Notice
    
    Need to Include Sections of the Act in the Notice
    
        Comment: One commenter believed that the selection criteria 
    should more exactly reiterate key components contained in the Act in 
    Title I, sections 101-104 (``General Program Requirements'' and 
    basic program components).
        Discussion: While the Departments concur with the commenter on 
    the importance of these provisions, they do not believe it is 
    necessary to restate in the notice most of the legislative language 
    emphasized by the commenter. The notice advises local partnerships 
    that applications must meet all the requirements of the Act, 
    reiterates that all definitions in the Act apply to systems funded 
    under the Local Partnership Grant competitions, and emphasizes, 
    under Criterion 1, the need for local partnership plans to 
    demonstrate consistency with all statutory requirements and with all 
    system components in Title I of the Act. Therefore, the Departments 
    strongly encourage applicants to refer to the Act as well as the 
    criteria in developing School-to-Work Opportunities plans that 
    reflect the full intent of the law. The Departments wish to assure 
    the commenter that panelists reviewing the applications are selected 
    for their understanding of the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, are 
    required to participate in a carefully designed orientation, and 
    will be directed to score applications based on the criteria, in 
    conjunction with the requirements of the Act.
        Changes: None.
    
    Distribution of Points
    
        Comment: One commenter questioned the distribution of points in 
    this section, and believed that Criterion 1 B, under Comprehensive 
    Local School-to-Work Opportunities System, should receive more 
    weight than 20 out of 100 points. This commenter also indicated that 
    Criterion 3, ``Participation of All Students,'' should receive more 
    than 15 points. Another commenter recommended making Criterion 3 a 
    ``threshold criterion''. This commenter felt that unless this 
    component was adequately addressed, no local partnership should be 
    considered for funding.
        Discussion: In response to this comment, the Departments gave 
    careful consideration to the distribution of points among the 
    selection criteria, and have concluded that the distribution 
    provided for in the notice results in the most appropriate balance 
    among the criteria. The Departments are committed to assisting 
    partnerships develop and implement school-to-work systems that 
    provide opportunities to all students, but they do not agree that 
    Criterion 3 should be replaced with a threshold criterion or an 
    eligibility requirement, or that either of these would be consistent 
    with the Act. Criterion 3 requires that a partnership describe its 
    strategies for effectively ensuring opportunities for all students 
    to participate in the school-to-work system, and to identify ways of 
    overcoming barriers to the participation of any students. This 
    criterion now states that the partnership's strategies must address 
    equal access to the full range of components for all students. The 
    Departments again wish to emphasize that to receive the maximum 
    points for Criterion 3, applicants must not neglect the needs of any 
    students, and must convincingly describe how the School-to-Work 
    Opportunities system will provide the same options and produce the 
    same results for all participating students, while recognizing that 
    groups of students have different needs and, therefore, that 
    specific strategies may be required for the various groups listed in 
    the definition of ``all students.'' Applications that fail to 
    address the critical needs of any category of 
    
    [[Page 46990]]
    student and fail to develop effective strategies in response to 
    identified student barriers will not be as competitive as those that 
    have comprehensive and effective strategies for all students. To be 
    competitive, partnerships that have not fully implemented all 
    components of the strategies devised for all students should at 
    least have established a timetable for putting these components in 
    place within a reasonable period of time.
        Changes: None.
    
    Restructuring Criteria
    
        Comments: Several commenters recommended adding or restating key 
    concerns under several criteria, changing the order of the bullets 
    under a given criterion, or moving bullets from under one criterion 
    heading to another. One commenter suggested moving the first bullet 
    under Selection Criterion 3 concerning strategies for ensuring that 
    all students have effective and meaningful opportunities to 
    participate in the local School-to-Work Opportunities system to 
    Selection Criterion 1(B). Another commenter suggested reordering the 
    bullets under Selection Criterion 2 in order to enhance the 
    continuity of the section. This commenter also felt that Selection 
    Criterion 1(A) should be made a part of Selection Criterion (2) 
    since geographic coverage is more closely related to the quality and 
    effectiveness of the local partnership.
        Discussion: The Departments recognize that there are certain key 
    elements that have a direct bearing on several aspects of local 
    School-to-Work Opportunities systems. The notice has been carefully 
    developed to weave these issues throughout the notice while still 
    capturing the major points most germane to each specific criterion. 
    However, the Departments do not believe it is always necessary to 
    restate these issues as bullet points under multiple criteria. As 
    discussed in response to another comment, applicants are encouraged 
    to refer to the Act as well as the notice in order to develop 
    School-to-Work Opportunities plans that fully implement the law. In 
    response to suggested changes in sequence and placement, the order 
    of importance, or that a greater percentage of the maximum points 
    for that criterion is to be assigned to any particular bullet, all 
    bullets under each selection criterion will be duly considered by 
    the reviewers. The Departments again wish to emphasize that all 
    applications are subject to a thorough review. Panelists are 
    selected for their expertise in school-to-work, receive a thorough 
    orientation, and are grouped in carefully balanced teams 
    representing a range specializations and interests, to ensure that 
    decisions reflect the full intent of the Act.
        Changes: None.
    
    Selection Criterion 1: Comprehensive Local School-to-Work Opportunities 
    System (A)
    
    Coordination and Integration With Existing School-to-Work Programs
    
        Comment: Four commenters felt that language should be added that 
    would ensure coordination with Federal systems change grants 
    authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 
    (IDEA). One commenter felt that specific reference should not be 
    made to the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and the Carl D. 
    Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act.
        Discussion: Achieving comprehensive reform will require local 
    partnerships to coordinate and integrate a great number and variety 
    of initiatives having training and education related goals. The 
    Departments agree that the lessons learned from initiatives and 
    programs that are related to School-to-Work should be incorporated 
    in the local partnership's plan. The fourth bullet under Selection 
    Criterion 1(A) is intended to encourage local partnerships to review 
    the many Federal, State and local programs and initiatives and to 
    develop plans for creating mutually supportive strategies.
        Changes: None.
    
    Difficulty of Rural Areas in Targeting High-wage, High-skill Jobs
    
        Comment: One commenter was concerned that the emphasis placed 
    throughout the notice on high-wage, high-skill jobs would favor 
    urban partnerships over rural partnerships, which may be unable to 
    offer paid work experiences or match metropolitan pay schedules. 
    This commenter pointed out that rural communities have limited 
    access to such paid jobs due to geographic isolation, slow economic 
    growth, and comparatively lower wages for most employees. The 
    commenter suggested that points be awarded for plans developed by 
    rural School-to-Work consortia to allow employees to live in their 
    home community while commuting to high-wage, high-skill jobs in 
    neighboring communities.
        Discussion: The Departments are committed to a fair and 
    equitable review of all applications, and recognize that, in order 
    to be successful, a local School-to-Work system must respond to the 
    needs and conditions of the community for which it has been 
    developed. While the Departments recognize the unique challenges 
    faced by rural areas, they do not feel that developing School-to-
    Work systems tailored to rural locations is incompatible with the 
    emphasis on preparing students for high-skill, high wage jobs as 
    given in the Act. They encourage local partnerships in these areas 
    to design School-to-Work systems that enable young people to explore 
    as broad a range of career options as possible, and develop the 
    skills to compete in a global economy, wherever they ultimately 
    reside and work. The Departments are also interested in applications 
    that link innovative education strategies with local workforce 
    development and economic development strategies. The Departments 
    wish to clarify that this emphasis on high-wage, high-skill jobs 
    should not place rural partnerships at a disadvantage, since 
    reviewers rank each application against the criteria, not against 
    other applications. While the notice will not reserve specific 
    points for rural strategies such as the one suggested by the 
    commenter, reviewers will consider the quality of the partnership's 
    plan in light of what is feasible for that community, as described 
    in the application. Therefore, the extent to which an application 
    describes what is possible and appropriate for the partnership, as 
    well as the partnership's strategies to provide students with 
    opportunities to explore a range of occupational clusters and 
    acquire skills relevant to high-wage, high-skill jobs, will 
    determine the number of points awarded. Rural partnerships that 
    present this information thoroughly and convincingly will score as 
    highly against the criteria as partnerships with a greater range of 
    opportunity due to higher concentrations of business and industry.
        Changes: None.
    
    Selection Criterion 1: Comprehensive Local School-to-Work Opportunities 
    System (B)
    
    Need to More Broadly Define Entities to be Linked in the Connecting 
    Activities Component
    
        Comments: Two commenters felt that this criterion described the 
    connecting activities component too narrowly. The commenters pointed 
    out that, while building links with employers (as highlighted in the 
    third bullet) is necessary to successful school-to-work transitions, 
    this group is not the only one that must be linked in a successful 
    system. The commenters urged that this bullet be broadened to 
    emphasize the need for links with all workplace partners, as well as 
    community organizations.
        Discussion: The Departments agree with the commenters that a 
    successful connecting activities component maintains a continuous 
    feedback loop between the school and work communities, and that work 
    communities include labor organizations and non-managerial employees 
    as well as employers. The Departments also agree that the connecting 
    activities component should assist students with access to a range 
    of support services, provided through entities like community-based 
    organizations and one-stop career centers.
        Changes: The third bullet of Selection Criterion 1(B) has been 
    changed to read: ``A connecting activities component to provide a 
    functional link between students' school and work activities, and 
    between workplace partners, educators, community organizations and 
    other appropriate entities.''
    
    Providing All Students with a Full Range of Options:
    
        Comment: Four commenters suggested that Selection Criteria 1 A 
    and 3 be changed to reflect the language in section 101(5) of the 
    Act regarding the partnership's plan for providing all students with 
    equal access to the full range of program components (including the 
    school-based and work-based learning components) and related 
    activities, such as recruitment, enrollment, and placement 
    activities.
        Discussion: The Departments agree with the commenter on the 
    importance of emphasizing the need for strategies to provide all 
    students equal access to the full range of program components, 
    rather than offering any student an abbreviated menu of options.
        Changes: The third bullet under Selection Criterion 1(A) has 
    been changed to recognize the importance of all students having 
    equal access to a full range of options. An additional reference has 
    been added to bullet 6 under Selection Criterion 3. 
    
    [[Page 46991]]
    
    
    Consistency with Other Initiatives
    
        Comment: One commenter noted references in the notice to the 
    Goals 2000 and Empowerment Zones/Enhanced Enterprise Communities 
    (EZ/EEC) initiatives, and expressed concern that applications from 
    local partnerships in States not currently participating in the 
    Goals 2000 initiative might be less competitive than applications 
    from partnerships in States that are.
        Discussion: References in the notice to these and other 
    initiatives are intended to stress the need for coordination of 
    related efforts in the areas of education reform, workforce 
    development, and economic development. A major purpose of the 
    School-to-Work initiative is to unify categorical programs into 
    coherent and comprehensive systems, and to avoid duplication of 
    effort across various agencies and funding streams. The EZ/EEC 
    initiative, for which the Department of Housing and Urban 
    Development and the Department of Agriculture are the lead agencies, 
    is an economic development initiative targeting urban and rural 
    areas, with a major focus on rebuilding inner cities. Partnerships 
    are funded against an approved strategic plan, and all proposals 
    include an education component. Similarly, the Goals 2000: Educate 
    America Act provides a broad vehicle for education reform supportive 
    of the objectives of School-to-Work. Where these initiatives 
    coincide at the local level, it is important that they be 
    coordinated. However, participation in activities under both Goals 
    2000 and School-to-Work is strictly voluntary, and a State's 
    participation in Goals 2000 is in no way a condition for award of a 
    School-to-Work Local Partnership Grant. By including references to 
    Goals 2000, the Departments intend to emphasize the need for local 
    systems to incorporate high-quality academic and skill standards 
    consistent with any standards developed by the State as part of 
    education reform or restructuring, and for local partnership 
    activities to coincide with the State or region's overall vision for 
    improving education and employment opportunities.
        Changes: None.
    
    Selection Criterion 2: Quality and Effectiveness of the Local 
    Partnership
    
    Key Stakeholders
    
        Comment: Several commenters felt this section focused too 
    narrowly on the role of employers, and did not adequately convey the 
    range of required partners and other interested parties that are 
    given in the Act. Commenters were particularly concerned about the 
    comparative lack of emphasis on union representatives and frontline 
    workers, teachers, and community-based organizations as members of 
    local partnerships. The commenters felt that these groups should be 
    explicitly identified in this criterion, since their involvement is 
    as vital to system development and implementation as that of 
    employers. Various suggestions were made as to how the bullets under 
    this criterion could be amended to be more inclusive of key 
    stakeholders. One commenter noted that students, also listed as 
    required members of local partnerships in the Act, are unlikely to 
    be involved as partners in decision-making, and recommended specific 
    language emphasizing their participation.
        Discussion: This criterion immediately refers reviewers to the 
    definitions of local partners given in the Act. However, the 
    Departments agree that it would be useful to list in Selection 
    Criterion 2 all the parties referred to in sections 4(11)(A) and 
    (B). In this way, the criterion will not appear to omit any of the 
    entities that have important contributions to make to a 
    comprehensive local School-to-Work system. It is vitally important 
    to the success of local School-to-Work systems that key local 
    groups, including those highlighted by the commenters, be involved 
    at every stage of system development and implementation. The 
    Departments wish to emphasize that only those applications that 
    involve all key parties substantively and continuously, effectively 
    incorporating their perspectives and strengths in the system plan, 
    will be competitive.
        Changes: The first bullet of Criterion 2 now lists the required 
    members of local partnerships as given in section 4(11)(A) of the 
    Act, including representatives of organized labor or nonmanagerial 
    employees, teachers, and students. This first bullet also lists the 
    examples of interested parties noted in section 4(11)(B), including 
    community-based organizations. Subsequent bullets refer to the lists 
    given in the first bullet, and where appropriate, the term 
    ``workplace partners'' has been substituted for ``employers''. 
    Similar clarifications were included in the final notice for the 
    State Implementation Grants competition.
    
    Role of Private Industry Councils
    
        Comment: Three commenters suggested that it should not be 
    necessary to form a new local partnership when the Private Industry 
    Councils are able to perform the function. They commented that not 
    including the Private Industry Councils would be detrimental to the 
    School-to-Work Opportunities system.
        Discussion: The Departments agree that the Private Industry 
    Councils, as established under section 102 of the Job Training 
    Partnership Act, are key partners in the School-to-Work 
    Opportunities initiative. The Departments believe that Private 
    Industry Councils can play many important roles in local School-to-
    Work systems, and encourage their participation in local 
    partnerships. However, in order to be eligible for a grant under 
    this notice, a local partnership must include all of the entities 
    included in section 4(11)(A) of the Act, and may include other 
    parties such as those listed in section 4(11)(B). The Departments 
    believe that it is up to each local community to determine which 
    parties are the most appropriate for their local partnership, and 
    that the Act is structured in a way that allows them such 
    flexibility. The Departments believe that the criteria as written 
    adequately allow for the inclusion of the Private Industry Councils 
    in local School-to-Work Opportunities system-building activities.
        Changes: None.
    
    Selection Criterion 3: Participation of All Students
    
    Define ``All Students''
    
        Comment: Several commenters suggested that a definition of the 
    term ``all students'' be added to the notice or that the specific 
    student categories be defined.
        Discussion: Although all definitions and requirements of the Act 
    apply, the Departments agree that it would be helpful to remind 
    applicants that the Act's definition of the term ``all students'' 
    applies to this competition.
        Changes: A reference to the definition of ``all students'' in 
    Section 4(2) of the Act has been included in Criterion 3. Inclusion 
    of Safety Skills in the Work-based and School-based Components.
        Comment: One commenter recommended that specific language be 
    added to the first and second bullets in this section, requiring the 
    acquisition of skills relating to safety as elements of the school-
    based and work-based learning components.
        Discussion: The Departments strongly agree that issues of health 
    and safety are important to any School-to-Work system. In the fourth 
    bullet under Criterion 3, ``Participation of All Students,'' 
    reviewers will consider the partnership's methods for ensuring safe 
    and healthy work environments for students. Many activities may be a 
    part of strategies for ensuring that students are provided with such 
    environments. The Departments believe that work-based and school-
    based modules that inform students of safety issues, as well as 
    their rights and responsibilities at the workplace, are among the 
    methods that would appropriately address this criterion. For 
    example, the work-based component could include risk-specific 
    training for students participating in learning experiences at the 
    work site. Outcomes of this training could include a student's being 
    able to demonstrate an understanding of: specific tasks or 
    operations associated with the learning experience that pose risks; 
    proper use of tools, devices, and equipment provided to control 
    identified risks; procedures for responding to any potential hazards 
    the youth identifies; and procedures for reporting illness and 
    injury. The school-based learning component can provide students 
    with general awareness training in occupational safety and health. 
    Outcomes of this training might include a student's being able to 
    describe the general nature and types of work-related health 
    problems, describe the risk factors associated with the most common 
    jobs held by young workers, describe the concept of hazard control 
    strategies and give examples, list the jobs prohibited to young 
    workers by applicable local, State, and Federal laws, and describe 
    the procedures and policies regarding the reporting of work-related 
    diseases and injuries.
        Changes: While the Departments do not believe it is appropriate 
    for them to define the strategies that all partnerships must use to 
    ensure safe and healthy work environments, the fourth bullet has 
    been modified to clarify that these strategies should include both 
    the school-based and work-based components, making the Local 
    Partnership notice consistent with the State Implementation Grant 
    notice published in the Federal Register of May 18. 
    
    [[Page 46992]]
    
    
    Environments Free From Harassment
    
        Comment: One commenter suggested that partnerships be required 
    to describe how they will ensure that student environments are free 
    from racial and sexual harassment.
        Discussion: The Departments agree with the commenter on the 
    importance of provisions to ensure that School-to-Work activities 
    take place in atmospheres conducive to learning, and free from 
    racial and sexual harassment. In response to public comment, similar 
    changes were made to the State Implementation Grants notice 
    published in the Federal Register on May 18, 1995. Requiring 
    reviewers to consider whether applications present strategies for 
    harassment-free environments will emphasize the importance of this 
    issue and ensure consistency between the ``Participation of All 
    Students'' sections of the Local Partnership and State notices.
        Changes: Under the fourth bullet of Criterion 3, reviewers will 
    consider the extent to which a partnership has developed realistic 
    goals to ensure environments free from racial and sexual harassment, 
    as well as to guarantee safe and healthy work environments.
    
    Selection Criterion 4: Collaboration With State
    
    State Ability to Sustain Local Partnership
    
        Comment: One commenter suggested that a section be added to this 
    criterion related to the ability of the State School-to-Work 
    Opportunities system to sustain a local partnership once Federal 
    funding to that local partnership has ended. The commenter suggested 
    that a long term sustainability plan that would include the 
    integration of a variety of Federal, State, and local funding 
    streams should be included in this criterion.
        Discussion: The Departments expect a State School-to-Work 
    Opportunities System to sustain local partnerships funded under 
    section 302(a) of the Act once Federal funding to that local 
    partnership has ended. However, the Departments are not in a 
    position to prescribe at what level the partnership shall be 
    sustained.
        Changes: None.
    
    Selection Criterion 5 Management Plan:
    
    Evaluation
    
        Comments: Three commenters suggested that the bullets under 
    Selection Criterion 1 and 4, regarding performance outcomes, should 
    be more specific. One commenter suggested that language be added 
    stating that performance outcomes should include measures of the 
    extent to which special populations are included. Two commenters 
    felt that it was important to require that both individual and 
    aggregate data be collected.
        Discussion: The Departments believe that States and local 
    partnerships should have the flexibility to design evaluations 
    appropriate to their own needs and goals and encourage local 
    partnerships to work closely with their State when developing 
    performance outcomes and evaluation plans. Section 402 of the Act 
    describes the overall framework and emphasis of the performance 
    measurement and evaluation systems for the School-to-Work 
    Opportunities initiative.
        Changes: None.
    
    Limit on Equipment Purchases
    
        Comment: One commenter felt that the bullet point under 
    Criterion 4 regarding the limitation of equipment purchases would 
    keep rural partnerships from purchasing distance learning equipment 
    which can often play a critical role in the implementation School-
    to-Work Opportunities systems in rural areas.
        Discussion: The Departments agree that distance learning 
    technology can play a key role in the implementation of local 
    School-to-Work systems in rural areas. Bullet six under Criterion 
    1(B) states that the Departments are looking for effective 
    strategies for utilizing innovative technology-based instructional 
    techniques such as distance learning. However, applicants are 
    reminded that their overall goal should be to maximize direct 
    services to students. Applicants proposing equipment purchases such 
    as distance learning systems should be sure that such purchases 
    clearly link back to the overall purpose and design of the proposed 
    local School-to-Work Opportunities system. Applicants should also be 
    aware that such purchases would be seen by the Departments as one-
    time expenditures and would not be refunded in any future years of 
    funding.
        Changes: None.
    
    BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
    
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    BILLING CODE 4000-01-C
    
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    Estimated Public Reporting Burden
    
        Under terms of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, as amended, and 
    the regulations implementing that Act, the Department of Education 
    invites comment on the public reporting burden in this collection of 
    information. Public reporting burden for this collection of information 
    is estimated to average 90 hours per response, including the time for 
    reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
    maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
    collection of information. You may send comments regarding this burden 
    estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, 
    including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department 
    of Education, Information Management and Compliance Division, 
    Washington, D.C. 20202-4651; and to the Office of Management and 
    Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project 1830-0530, Washington, D.C. 20503.
        (Information collection approved under OMB control number 1830-
    0530, Expiration date: 6/30/98.)
    
    BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
    
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    BILLING CODE 4000-01-C
    
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    School-to-Work State Contacts
    
    Alabama
    
    Stephen B. Franks, Department of Education, 50 N. Ripley St., 
    Montgomery, AL 36130-3901, Telephone: 205-242-9111, Fax: 205-242-
    0234
    
    Alaska
    
    Susan Doherty or Roxanne Sinz, Alaska School-to-Work Project, c-o 
    Unocal Corporation, P.O. Box 196247, Anchorage, AK 99519-6247, 
    Telephone: 907-263-7638 or 7623, Fax: 907-263-7698
    
    Arizona
    
    Susan Leeper, School-to-Work Coordinator, Governor's Office of 
    Community and Family Programs, 1700 West Washington, Room 320, 
    Phoenix, AZ 85007, Telephone: 602-542-3461, Fax: 602-542-3520
    
    Arkansas
    
    Mary Swoope, School-to-Work Coordinator, Arkansas Department of 
    Education, Vocational and Technical, Education Division, Three 
    Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201-1083, Telephone: 501-682-1666, 
    Fax: 501-682-1509
    
    California
    
    Robert J. Hotchkiss, Employment Development Dept., Program and 
    Policy Development Branch, 800 Capitol Mall, MIC88, P.O. Box 826880, 
    Sacramento, CA 94280-0001, Telephone: 916-654-8656, Fax: 916-654-
    5981
    
    Colorado
    
    Alaine Ginocchio, Governor's Office, 136 State Capitol, Denver, CO 
    80203, Telephone: 303-866-2155, Fax: 303-866-2003
    
    Connecticut
    
    Susan Vinkowski, Department of Education, Bureau of Applied 
    Curriculum, Technology and Career Information, Middletown, CT 06457, 
    Telephone: 203-638-4054, Fax: 203-638-4062
    
    Delaware
    
    Dr. Nikki Castle, Executive Director, Delaware School-to-Work, 
    Delaware Chamber of Commerce, 1201 N. Orange, Wilmington, DE 19801, 
    Telephone: 302/577-3762, Fax: 302-577-3281
    
    District of Columbia
    
    Dr. Deborah Evans, Executive Office of the Mayor, 441 North 4th 
    Street, NW, Suite 510S, Washington, D.C. 20001, Telephone: 202-727-
    2578, Fax: 202-727-3486
    
    Florida
    
    Michael Brawer, School-to-Work Program Coordinator, Department of 
    Education, Florida Education Ctr., Room 1232, Tallahassee, FL 32399, 
    Telephone: 904-488-7394, Fax: 904-487-0426
    
    Georgia
    
    Gail Trapnell, GA School-to-Work Transition Project Administrator, 
    148 International Blvd., NE, Suite 638, Atlanta, GA 30303, 
    Telephone: 404-657-6740, Fax: 404-656-2683
    
    Idaho
    
    Karen M. Fraley, Idaho School-to-Work, IBM Complex, 500 East 
    Baybrook Court, Boise, ID 83706, Telephone: 208-338-8633
    
    Illinois
    
    Fran Beaumann, Dept. of Adult, Vocational and Technical Education, 
    100 N. First St., E-426, Springfield, IL 62777-0001, Telephone: 217-
    782-4620, Fax: 217-782-9224
    
    Indiana
    
    Peggy O'Malley, Deputy Commissioner, Dept. of Workforce Development, 
    Indiana Government Center South, SE302, 10 North Senate Avenue, 
    Indianapolis, IN 46204, Telephone: 317-232-1832, Fax: 317-233-4793
    
    Iowa
    
    Harriet Howell Custer, Administrator, Division of Community 
    Colleges, Department of Education, Grimes State Office Building, Des 
    Moines, IA 50319-0146, Telephone: 515-281-8260, Fax: 515-281-6544
    
    Hawaii
    
    Kenneth Yamamoto, Assistant Superintendent, Department of Education, 
    P.O. Box 2360, Honolulu, HI 96804, Telephone: 808-586-3446, Fax: 
    808-586-3429
    
    Kansas
    
    Lee Droegemuller, Commissioner of Education, Kansas State Board of 
    Education, 120 SE 10th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66612-1182, Telephone: 
    913-296-3202, Fax: 913-296-7933
    
    Kentucky
    
    Ruth Bunch or Beth Brinly, Office of School-to-Work, Berry Hill 
    Annex, 700 Louisville Road, Frankfort, KY 40601, Telephone: 502-564-
    5901, Fax: 502-564-5904
    
    Louisiana
    
    Chris W. Weaver, State Director, Secondary Vocational Education, 
    P.O. Box 94064, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064, Telephone: 504-342-5173, 
    Fax: 504-342-2059
    
    Maine
    
    Christopher D. Lyons, Maine Department of Education, State House 
    Station 23, Augusta, ME 04333, Telephone: 207-287-5854
    
    Massachusetts
    
    John Niles, Executive Director, Massachusetts Office for, School-to-
    Work Transition, 101 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02110, Telephone: 
    617-451-5130, Fax: 617-451-1291
    
    Michigan
    
    Tom Benton, Michigan Jobs Commission, Victor Office Center, 3rd 
    Floor, 201 N. Washington Square, Lansing, MI 48913, Telephone: 517-
    373-6432, Fax: 517-373-8179
    
    Minnesota
    
    John W. Mercer or Thomas Berg, Department of Education, 550 Cedar 
    Street, St. Paul, MN 55101, Telephone: 612-297-3115 or 282-6277, 
    Fax: 612-297-7201
    
    Mississippi
    
    Worth E. Haynes, Vocational and Technical Ed., Department of 
    Education, P.O. Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205-0771, Fax: 207-287-5894
    
    Maryland
    
    Lynne Gilli, Branch Chief of Career and Technology Services, 
    Maryland State Dept. of Education, 200 W. Baltimore Street, 
    Baltimore, MD 21201, Telephone: 410-767-0170, Fax: 410-333-2099
    
    Montana
    
    Jane A. Karas, Office of the Commissioner of Education, 2500 
    Broadway, Helena, MT 59620-3101, Telephone: 406-444-0316, Fax: 406-
    444-1469
    
    Nebraska
    
    Darl Naumann, NE Dept. of Economic Development School-to-Work, P.O. 
    Box 94666, Lincoln, NE 68509-4666, Telephone: 402-471-3741, Fax: 
    402-471-3778
    
    Nevada
    
    Barbara Weinberg, Dept. of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, 
    400 W. King, Suite 108, Carson City, NV 89710, Telephone: 702-687-
    4310, Fax: 702-687-8917, Telephone: 601-359-3089, Fax: 601-359-2326
    
    Missouri
    
    Don Eisinger, Missouri Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education, 
    P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102, Telephone: 314-751-7563, 
    Fax: 314-526-3897
    
    New Mexico
    
    James Jimenez, Department of Finance and Administration, 180 Battaan 
    Memorial Building, Santa Fe, NM 87503, Telephone: 505-827-4985, Fax: 
    505-827-4984
    
    New York
    
    Johanna Duncan-Poitier, Assistant Commissioner, New York State 
    Education Dept., 89 Washington Avenue, Education Bldg., Rm 319EB, 
    Albany, NY 12234, Telephone: 518-474-8892, Fax: 518-474-0319
    
    North Carolina
    
     Loretta Martin, Governor's Comm. on Workforce Preparedness, 116 
    West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27603, Telephone: 919-715-3300, Fax: 
    919-715-3974
    
    [[Page 47009]]
    
    
    New Hampshire
    
    Stephen B. Bos, New Hampshire Job Training Council, 64 Old Suncook 
    Road, Concord, NH 03301, Telephone: 603-228-9500, Fax: 603-228-8557
    
    New Jersey
    
    Thomas Henry, Director, Office of STW Initiatives, New Jersey Dept. 
    of Education, CN500, Trenton, NJ 08625-0550, Telephone: 609-633-
    0665, Fax: 609-633-0568
    
    Oklahoma
    
    Dr. Richard Makin, State Coordinator of School-to-Work, Department 
    of Vocational-Technical Education, 1500 West Seventh Avenue, 
    Stillwater, OK 74074-4364, Telephone: 405-743-5434, Fax: 405-743-
    5541
    
    Oregon
    
    Bill Brady, Oregon Department of Education, 255 Capitol Street, NE, 
    Salem, OR 97310, Telephone: 503-378-3584, ext. 327, Fax: 503-378-
    5156
    
    Pennsylvania
    
    Jean Wolfe, Department of Education, 333 Market Street, Tenth Floor, 
    Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333, Telephone: 717-787-5820, Fax: 717-787-
    7222
    
    North Dakota
    
    Dean Monteith, Admin. for School-to-Work, State Board for Vocational 
    and Technical Education, State Capitol, 15th Floor, Bismarck, ND 
    58505, Telephone: 701-328-3074, Fax: 701-328-1255
    
    Ohio
    
    Mary A. McCullough, Director, Ohio School-to-Work, 145 South Front 
    Street, Columbus, OH 43215, Telephone: 614-728-4630 or 4631, Fax: 
    614-466-5025
    
    Rhode Island
    
    Miriam Coleman, Dept. of Employment and Training, 101 Friendship 
    Street, Providence, RI 02903-3740, Telephone: 401-277-3930, Fax: 
    401-861-8030
    
    or
    
    Frank Santoro, Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education, 22 Hayes 
    Street, Providence, RI 02908, Telephone: 401-277-2691, Fax: 401-277-
    2537
    
    South Carolina
    
    Bob Falls, Employment Security Commission, 1550 Gadsden Street, P.O. 
    Box 995, Columbia, SC 29202, Telephone: 803-737-0459
    
    Puerto Rico
    
    Agustin Marquez, Executive Director, School-to-Work, P.O. Box 
    366955, San Juan, PR 00936-6955, Telephone: 809-745-3478 or 765-
    3644, Fax: 809-745-3478 or 765-3644
    
    Tennessee
    
    Russell Smith, Department of Education, Division of Vocational and 
    Technical Education, Gateway Plaze Building, 4th Floor, 710 
    Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243-0383, Telephone: 615-532-
    4725, Fax: 615-532-8226
    
    Texas
    
    Ann Dorsey, Texas Council on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness, 
    P.O. Box 2241, Austin, TX 78768-2241, Telephone: 512-912-7150, Fax: 
    512-912-7172
    
    Utah
    
    Robert Brems, Associate Superintendent, Utah State Office of 
    Education, 250 East 500 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, Telephone: 
    801-538-7841, Fax: 801-538-7868
    
    Vermont
    
    Rich Tulikangas, Office of the Governor, 109 State Street, 
    Montpelier, VT 05609, Telephone: 802-828-3326, Fax: 802-828-3339
    
    South Dakota
    
    Mary Ellen Johnson, School-to-Work Coordinator, Department of Labor, 
    700 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501, Telephone: 605-773-5017, Fax: 
    605-773-4211
    
    Washington
    
    Don Walgamott, Office of the Governor, 100 Insurance Building, 
    Olympia, WA 98504-3113, Telephone: 360-586-0828, Fax: 360-586-8380
    
    West Virginia
    
    David A. Mohr, Dept. of Education and the Arts, 1900 Kanawha Blvd., 
    East, Charleston, WV, Telephone: 304-558-2440, Fax: 304-558-1311
    
    Wisconsin
    
    Vicki Poole, Director, Governor's Office for Workforce Excellence, 
    201 Washington Ave., Room 231, Madison, WI 53707, Telephone: 608-
    266-0223, Fax: 608-261-6698
    
     Wyoming
    
    Marsha Price, School-to-Work Manager, 6106 Yellowstone Road, 
    Cheyenne, WY 82009, Telephone: 307-632-4907, Fax: 307-637-7773
    
    Virginia
    
    Randolph Beales, Office of the Secretary of Education, VA Business-
    Education Partnership Program, 200-202 North 9th Street, Richmond, 
    VA 23219, Telephone: 804-692-0244, Fax: 804-692-0430.
    
    [FR Doc. 95-95-22339 Filed 9-7-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
    
    

Document Information

Published:
09/08/1995
Department:
Education Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of availability of funds, solicitation for grant application (SGA), an administrative cost cap, a definition of administrative costs, and final selection criteria for School-to-Work Opportunities Local Partnership Grants.
Document Number:
95-95-22339
Dates:
Applications for grant awards will be accepted commencing September 8, 1995. The closing date for receipt of applications is
Pages:
46984-47009 (26 pages)
PDF File:
95-95-22339.pdf