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| 84.304 CIVIC EDUCATION - COOPERATIVE EDUCATION EXCHANGE PROGRAM |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| OFFICE OF SAFE AND DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Elementary and Secondary Education, Title II, Part C, Subpart 3. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| (1) To make available to educators from eligible countries exemplary curricula and teacher training programs in civics, government, and economics education, developed in the United States; (2) to assist eligible countries in the adaptation, implementation, and institutionalization of such programs; (3) to create and implement civics, government, and economic education programs for students that draw upon the experiences of participating eligible countries; (4) to provide a means for the exchange of ideas and experiences in civics, government, and economic education among political, educational, governmental, and private sector leaders of participating eligible countries; and (5) to provide support for--(a) independent research and evaluation to determine the effects of educational programs on students' development of the knowledge, skills, and traits of character essential for the preservation and improvement of constitutional democracy; and (b) effective participation in, and the preservation and improvement of, an efficent market economy. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Of the funds available for this program, by statue, 37.5 percent must be used for a grant or contract with the Center for Civic Education and 37.5 percent must be used for a grant or contract for the National Council on Economic Education. The remaining 25 percent of the funds are for one to three competitive grants to eligible entities described below. Countries eligible to participate, in addition to the United States, include Central European countries, Eastern European countries, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the independent states of the former Soviet Union as defined in Section 3 of the FREEDOM Support Act (22 U.S.C. 5801) , the Republic of Ireland, the province of Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom, and any developing country (as such term is defined in section 209(d) of the Education for the Deaf Act) if the Secretary of Education, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, determines that such developing country has a democratic form of government. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| By statute, the Center for Civic Education and the National Council on Economic Education each receive program funds through a grant or contract. In addition, a competition is held for organizations experienced in the development of curricula and programs in civics and government education and economic education for students in elementary schools and secondary schools in countries other than the United States. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Educational leaders in the areas of civics and government education, and economic education, including teachers, curriculum and teacher training specialists, and scholars in relevant disciplines. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| None. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or the official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. |
| Application Procedure |
| Contact the Headquarters Office listed below for application packages containing the announcement, application, and assurance forms. |
| Award Procedure |
| Applications are reviewed and evaluated by outside experts and program staff annually, in accordance with EDGAR and 34 CFR 700, Evaluation of Applications for Grants and Cooperative Agreements. The Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement approves the selection of applications. |
| Deadlines |
| Application deadlines and other information for applicants are published as a notice in the Federal Register. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| Approximately 120 days. |
| Appeals |
| None. |
| Renewals |
| None. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| None. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Awards are made for twelve months. One award is made to the Center for Civic Education and one award to the National Council on Economic Education. One to three awards are competitively selected. |
| Reports |
| As required by the Education Department General Administrative Regulations for direct grants (34 CFR 75). A final performance report is due ninety days after termination of the grant. |
| Audits |
| See 34 CFR 74.26. Institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations are subject to the audit requirements of OMB Circular No. A-133. State and local governments are subject to the requirements in the Single Audit Act and the ED regulations implementing OMB Circular No. A-128 (see 34 CFR 80). |
| Records |
| As required by EDGAR for direct grant programs (34 CFR 75). Generally, records related to grant funds, compliance, and performance must be maintained for a period of five years after completion. |
| Account Identification |
| 91-0203-0-1-501. |
| Obligations |
| (Grants) FY 07 $12,072,000; FY 08 est $11,861,000; and FY 09 est $0. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| Not applicable because the range and average vary greatly by competition. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| In FY 2008, five continuation awards were made. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| The regulations applicable to this program are in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations, 34 CFR 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, 86, and 97. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| None. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Department of Education, OSDFS, 400 Maryland Ave, S.W., Washington, DC 20202. Contact: Rita Foy Moss E-mail: rita.foy.moss@ed.gov. Telephone (202) 205-8061. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.ed.gov/programs/coopedexchange/index.html |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| None. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| The Sage Colleges received an award to administer the Civic Mosaic, and exchange program that will help prepare young people in the United States and Russia to be more reponsible citizens. Through this program 12 American regions will be paired with 12 Russian regions, and each region will exchange 2 teachers (exchange fellows) annually. Exchange fellows will engage in joint research projects, seminars, present research at international conferences, and develop lesson plans and classroom resources. The Center for Civic Education will administer Civitas Latin America, an exchange program that will: 1) assist Latin American educators in creating, adapting, implementing, and institutionalizing civic educaiton programs in their own countries; 2) create and implement civic education programs for students in the United States that will help them better understand the history and experiences of emerging and advanced democracies in Latin America; and 3) facilitate the exchange of ideas related to civic education between educational, governmental, and private sector leaders in the United States and Latin America. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| The criteria for selecting applications under this program are contained in 34 CFR 700, Evaluation of Applications for Grants and Cooperative Agreements. The specific criteria to be used for a particular grant competition are selected from among those in 34 CFR 700, and announced in the application package or the application notice in the Federal Register. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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