[Federal Register: April 6, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 65)] [Notices] [Page 16715-16716] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr06ap99-50] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Notice of Final Funding Priorities for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999 Under the Native Hawaiian Curriculum Development, Teacher Training, and Recruitment Program ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Secretary announces final funding priorities for fiscal year (FY) 1999 under the Native Hawaiian Curriculum Development, Teacher Training, and Recruitment Program. Under the priorities, funds under the Native Hawaiian Curriculum Development, Teacher Training and Recruitment Program will be used to support activities in the areas of (1) computer literacy and technology education, (2) agriculture education partnerships, (3) astronomy, (4) indigenous health, (5) waste management, and (6) prisoner education. EFFECTIVE DATE: May 6, 1999. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 29, 1998, the Secretary published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed funding priorities announcing that the Secretary intended to use $1,500,000 of FY 1999 funds available under the Curriculum Development, Teacher Training and Recruitment Program to fund one or two projects in each of six identified priority categories: (1) computer literacy and technology education, (2) agriculture education partnerships, (3) astronomy, (4) indigenous health, (5) waste management, and (6) prisoner education. This notice announces the final funding priorities for the program. Note: This notice of final funding priorities does not solicit applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition is published in a separate notice in this issue of the Federal Register. Analysis of Comments and Changes Four parties submitted various comments in response to the Secretary's notice of proposed funding priorities for the program. Comment: One commenter recommended that the Department run a broader competition without any absolute priorities. Discussion: The Secretary believes that the absolute priorities are necessary to help focus limited resources on addressing some of the specific needs of the Native Hawaiian community. Changes: None. Comment: One commenter suggested that the Department support a new Native Hawaiian student-centered academy, governed by a local school board, and independent of the Hawaii Department of Education. Discussion: The Secretary believes that the priorities that have been adopted better further the statutory purposes of the program. Changes: None. Comments: The other two commenters were generally supportive of the priorities, and offered various suggestions for strengthening or clarifying some of the priorities. These commenters also recommended that the Department continue to support activities in the field of aquaculture. In addition, one of the two commenters recommended that the astronomy priority be expanded to include support of educational and training opportunities for all grade levels, including community college, baccalaureate, graduate, and postgraduate levels. Discussion: The Department has just completed the support of aquaculture projects under this program, and has determined that it would be more appropriate at this time to use the resources available to fund new projects in the identified priority categories. Furthermore, the Secretary believes that the astronomy priority as originally proposed better meets the statutory purposes of the program. The Secretary believes that many of the other suggestions from these commenters, which form the basis for the additional program design information provided in the notice inviting applications for new awards published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, can be incorporated into applications as part of the proposed projects. Changes: None. ABSOLUTE PRIORITIES: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), the Secretary gives an absolute preference to applications that focus entirely on activities in one of the following six areas: (1) Computer literacy and technology education--to support curriculum development, teacher training and model programs designed to increase computer literacy and access for Native [[Page 16716]] Hawaiian elementary and secondary school students; (2) Agriculture education partnerships--to support the integration of agricultural and business practices into high school curriculum through the expansion of partnerships between community-based agricultural businesses and high schools with high concentrations of Native Hawaiian students; (3) Astronomy--to support the development of educational programs in astronomy for Native Hawaiian elementary and secondary school students to assist them in reaching challenging science and mathematics standards and to encourage them to enter the field of astronomy; (4) Indigenous health--to support curriculum development, teacher training, and instruction activities that will foster a better understanding and knowledge of Native Hawaiian traditional medicine, particularly among Native Hawaiian elementary and secondary students; (5) Waste management innovation--to study and document traditional Hawaiian practices of sustainable waste management and to prepare teaching materials for educational purposes and for demonstration of the use of native Hawaiian plants and animals for waste treatment and environmental remediation; and (6) Prisoner education--to support programs that target juvenile offenders and/or youth at risk of becoming juvenile offenders. Comprehensive and culturally sensitive strategies for reaching the target population will include family counseling, basic education/job skills training, and the involvement of community elders as mentors. The Secretary funds under the FY 1999 competition under this program only applicants that meet one of these absolute priorities. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Baggett, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-6140. Telephone (202) 260-2502. 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. Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding paragraph. Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application package in an alternate format, also, by contacting that person. However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternate format the standard forms included in the application package. Electronic Access to This Document: Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of Education Documents published in the Federal Register, in text or portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the following sites: http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm or http://www.ed.gov/ news.html. To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with Search, which is available free at either of the previous sites. If you have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government Printing Office toll free at 1-888-293-6498. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7905. Dated: March 30, 1999. Judith Johnson, Acting Assistant Secretary, Elementary and Secondary Education. [FR Doc. 99-8395 Filed 4-5-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P