[Federal Register: April 16, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 73)]
[Notices]
[Page 19472]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16ap01-44]
[[Page 19472]]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Bilingual Education Graduate Fellowship Program
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of proposed waiver.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes to waive the requirements in Education
Department General Administrative Regulations at 34 CFR 75.261 as they
apply to the currently funded Bilingual Education Graduate Fellowship
Programs. Section 75.261 sets forth the conditions for extending a
project period, including the general prohibition against extending
projects that involve the obligation of additional Federal funds. The
Secretary proposes to issue continuation awards to the Bilingual
Education Graduate Fellowship Program grantees in order to ensure the
most efficient use of Federal funds. The Department is therefore
soliciting public comment on the proposed waiver.
DATES: Comments must be received on May 16, 2001.
ADDRESSES: All comments concerning this proposal should be addressed to
Joyce Brown, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
room 5618, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-6642.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Brown, Telephone: (202) 205-
9727, or Cynthia Ryan, Telephone: (202) 205-8842. Individuals who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339. Individuals with disabilities
may obtain this document in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by requesting it from the
contact person listed under ADDRESSES.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On October 15, 1997, the Department issued a notice inviting
applications for new awards under the Bilingual Education Graduate
Fellowship Program for Fiscal Year 1998. In this notice the Department
announced that it would make approximately 35 awards of up to 36 months
under section 7145 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965, as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (Public
Law 103-382, enacted October 20, 1994 (the Act) (20 U.S.C. 7475). This
section authorizes the Secretary to award fellowships for masters,
doctoral, and post-doctoral study related to instruction of children
and youth of limited English proficiency in such areas as teacher
training, program administration, research and evaluation, and
curriculum development, and for the support of dissertation research
related to such study. The award period for the 34 participating
institutions of higher education ends August 31, 2001. An extension
would permit only the continued funding of currently enrolled fellows
who have not received the maximum allowable years of assistance.
However, to do so, the Department must waive the requirements in EDGAR
at 34 CFR 75.261.
Basis for Extension
Due to the impending reauthorization of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965, which authorizes the Bilingual
Education Graduate Fellowship Program, the Secretary believes that
extending the performance period of current grantees represents a wiser
course of action than holding a competition for new projects under
expiring legislation. This action would allow support to continue for
approximately 175 fellows who have received fewer than the maximum
allowable years of assistance under this program. An additional year of
assistance would enable most of these students to complete their
programs of study and begin to repay the assistance as required under
the current statute. Therefore, the Department proposes to issue
continuation awards to the current grantees for one year.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
The Secretary certifies that the proposed waiver would not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
The small entities that would be affected by this proposal are the 34
institutions of higher education currently receiving Federal funds.
However, the proposal would not have a significant economic impact on
the institutions because the waiver would not impose excessive
regulatory burdens or require unnecessary Federal supervision. The
proposal would impose minimal requirements to ensure the proper
expenditure of program funds, including requirements that are standard
to continuation awards.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980
This proposal has been examined under the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1980 and has been found to contain no information collection
requirements.
Intergovernmental Review
This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. The objective of the
Executive order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a
strengthened federalism by relying on processes developed by State and
local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal
financial assistance. In accordance with the order, this document is
intended to provide early notification of the Department's specific
plans and actions for this program.
Invitation To Comment
Interested persons are invited to submit comments and
recommendations regarding this proposed waiver. All comments submitted
in response to this proposal will be available for public inspection,
during and after the comment period, in room 3521, 300 C Street, SW.,
Washington, DC, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday
through Friday of each week except Federal holidays.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site:
www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister
To use PDF, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free
at the preceding site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the
U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) toll free at 1-888-293-6498; or
in the Washington, DC area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://
www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.195C, Bilingual
Education Graduate Fellowship Program)
Dated: April 11, 2001.
Art Love,
Acting Director, Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 01-9385 Filed 4-13-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U