[Federal Register: March 7, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 45)]
[Notices]
[Page 12057-12060]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07mr00-131]
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Part II
Department of Education
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Indian Education Professional Development Grant Program; Notice
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Indian Education Professional Development Grant Program
AGENCY: Office of Indian Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of proposed priorities for fiscal year (FY) 2000 and
subsequent fiscal years.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary announces proposed funding priorities under the
Indian Education Professional Development Grant program. The Secretary
may use these priorities for competitions in FY 2000 and in subsequent
fiscal years. The Secretary takes this action to support training
opportunities to increase the number of Indian teachers, education
administrators and personnel in other fields.
DATES: We must receive your comments on or before April 6, 2000.
ADDRESSES: All comments concerning these proposed priorities should be
addressed to Cathie Martin, Office of Indian Education, U.S. Department
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, FOB-6 Room 3W111, Washington,
D.C. 20202-6335. Comments may be sent through the Internet: __Cathie--
Martin@ed.gov. You must include the term ``Professional Development
Program'' in the subject line of your electronic message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cathie Martin. Telephone: (202) 260-
1683. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) you 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) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding
paragraph.
This notice does not solicit applications. A notice inviting
applications under this competition will be published in the Federal
Register concurrent with or following the publication of final
priorities.
Invitation To Comment
We invite you to submit comments regarding these proposed
priorities.
We invite you to assist us in complying with the specific
requirements of Executive Order 12866 and its overall requirement of
reducing regulatory burden that might result from these proposed
priorities. Please let us know of any further opportunities we should
take to reduce potential costs or increase potential benefits while
preserving the effective and efficient administration of the program.
During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public
comments about these proposed priority, in Room 3W115, 400 Maryland
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.,
Eastern time, Monday through Friday of each week except Federal
holidays.
Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities in Reviewing the
Rulemaking Record
On request, we will supply an appropriate aid, such as a reader or
printer magnifier, to an individual with a disability who needs
assistance to review the comments or other documents in the public
rulemaking record for these proposed priorities. If you want to
schedule an appointment for this type of aid, you may call (202) 205-
8113 or (202) 260-9895. If you use a TDD, you may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8330.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
General
The Secretary has authority to establish priorities, including
absolute preferences, under section 75.105(c)(3) of the Education
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). This notice
contains proposed absolute priorities for the Professional Development
program authorized by Section 9122 of Subpart 2 of Part A, Title IX of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965; 20 U.S.C.
7832.
The Professional Development program is a competitive grant program
that supports activities to increase the number of qualified Indian
individuals in professions that serve Indian people. Individuals who
receive training under the Professional Development program are
required to perform work related to the training received and that
benefits Indian people, or are required to repay all or a prorated part
of the assistance received. The requirements for the payback provision
(required by Section 9122(h) of ESEA; 20 U.S.C. 7832(h)) are governed
by 34 CFR 263. For the purposes of this program, the term ``Indian''
includes both American Indians and Alaska Natives as defined in 34 CFR
263.3(b) and Sec. 9161(4) of ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7881(4)).
One component of the Professional Development program supports
training for qualified Indian individuals to: (1) Become teachers,
administrators, teacher aides, social workers, and ancillary
educational personnel; and (2) improve the skills of Indian individuals
serving in these capacities. The second component of the program
supports training of qualified Indian individuals in fields other than
education that result in a degree at the graduate level. The proposed
priorities support these training efforts by focusing all or a portion
of available funds for new awards on projects that train Indians to
become teachers and administrators, to improve the skills of
individuals serving in those capacities, and to train personnel in
fields other than education.
The Secretary also proposes procedures for implementation of the
statutory requirement to give a preference for awards under the
Professional Development program to: (1) programs that provide training
to Indian individuals (Section 9122(e)(2); 20 U.S.C. 7832(e)(2)) and
(2) eligible Indian tribes, Indian organizations and Indian
institutions of higher education (Section 9153 of ESEA; 20 U.S.C.
7873).
The Secretary will announce the final priorities for this program
in a notice in the Federal Register. The final priorities will be
determined on the basis of responses to this notice and other
considerations by the Department. On an annual basis the Secretary may
select, from the final priorities, the absolute priorities that will
apply for that fiscal year and the amount of available program funds.
Funding of a particular project depends on the availability of funds,
the requirements of the final priorities selected, and the quality of
the applications received. The publication of these proposed priorities
does not preclude the Secretary from proposing additional priorities,
nor does it limit the Secretary to funding only one or more of these
priorities, subject to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.
Eligible Applicants
(1) Institutions of higher education, including Indian institutions
of higher education;
(2) State or local educational agencies in consortium with
institutions of higher education; and
(3) Indian tribes or Indian organizations in consortium with
institutions of higher education.
Applications submitted by a consortium under categories (2) and (3)
must meet the requirements of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 of EDGAR in
order to be an eligible applicant.
Absolute Priority
Under section 34 CFR 75.105 of EDGAR, the Secretary proposes to
give an absolute preference to applications that meet one of the
priorities selected
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for that fiscal year. The Secretary proposes to reserve all or a
portion of the funds available for new awards under the Professional
Development program to fund only those applications that meet one of
these absolute priorities:
(1) Pre-Service Training for Teachers--
(a) Provide support and training to a minimum of 25 Indian
individuals to complete a pre-service education program leading to a
bachelor degree in education that allows participants to meet the
requirements for State certification or licensure as a teacher within a
two-year period; and
(b) Provide graduates of the program with one-year of induction
services while they are working in schools with predominately Indian
student populations.
(2) In-Service Training for Teachers--
(a) Provide professional development activities to retrain a
minimum of 25 existing teachers of Indian students that allow
participants to meet State certification or licensure requirements to
increase the number of teachers certified or licensed in:
(i) Subject area(s) being taught;
(ii) High-need areas where a shortage of qualified teachers exist;
(iii) Subject content area specializations such as reading or math;
or
(iv) specializations in teaching culturally and linguistically
unique Indian student populations; and
(b) Provide graduates of the program with one-year of induction
services while they are working in schools with predominately Indian
student populations.
(3) Pre-Service and In-Service Training for Teachers--
(a) Provide support and training to a minimum of 25 Indian
individuals to complete a pre-service education program leading to a
bachelor degree in education that allows participants to meet the
requirements for State certification or licensure as a teacher within a
two-year period;
(b) Provide professional development activities to retrain a
minimum of 25 existing teachers of Indian students that allow
participants to meet State certification or licensure requirements to
increase the number of teachers certified or licensed in:
(i) Subject area or areas being taught;
(ii) High-need areas where a shortage of qualified teachers exist;
(iii) Subject content area specializations such as reading or math;
or
(iv) Specializations in teaching culturally and linguistically
unique Indian student populations; and
(c) Provide graduates of the program with one-year of induction
services while they are working in schools with predominately Indian
student populations.
(4) Pre-Service Administrator Training--
(a) Provide support and training to a minimum of 25 Indian
individuals to complete a master degree in education administration
that allows participants to meet the requirements for State
certification or licensure as an education administrator within a two-
year period, and
(b) Provide graduates of the program with one-year of induction
services while they are working in schools with predominately Indian
student populations.
(5) In-Service Administrator Training--
(a) Provide professional development activities to a minimum of 25
existing administrators that enhance their skills and knowledge in more
than one of the following areas;
(i) Standards and assessments;
(ii) Integrating reliable, research-based teaching methods and
technology into the curriculum;
(iii) Mentoring, coaching and evaluating the performance of
teachers;
(iv) Site-based management;
(v) Reform efforts to improve teacher quality; and
(b) Provide graduates of the program with one-year of induction
services while they are working in schools with predominately Indian
student populations.
(6) Pre-Service and In-Service Training for Administrators--
(a) Provide support and training to a minimum of 25 Indian
individuals to complete a master degree in education administration
that allows participants to meet State certification or licensure as an
education administrator within a two-year period;
(b) Provide professional development activities to a minimum of 25
existing education administrators that enhance their skills and
knowledge in more than one of the following areas--
(i) Standards and assessments;
(ii) Integrating reliable, research-based teaching methods and
technology into the curriculum;
(iii) Mentoring, coaching and evaluating the performance of
teachers;
(iv) Site-based management;
(v) Reform efforts to improve teacher quality; and
(c) Provide graduates of the program one-year of induction services
while they are working in schools with predominately Indian student
populations.
(7) Training in Fields Other Than Education--
(a) Provide support and training to a minimum of 25 Indian
individuals to complete a master or doctoral degree in a field other
than education, or a related field, within a two-year period, and
(b) Provide graduates of the program with one-year of induction
services while they are employed in positions relating to the training
received and that benefits Indians.
Applications meeting one of the absolute priorities may offer
professional development activities that include, but are not limited
to, continuing programs, symposia, workshops, conferences, and direct
financial support.
Induction services to be provided must include the following
activities, at a minimum:
(1) Mentoring, coaching and consultation services for the
participant;
(2) Participant access to research materials and information on
teaching and learning or, for non-education fields of study, subject
matter related to the participant's field of study;
(3) Periodic assessment of and feedback sessions on participant
performance in coordination with the participant's supervisor; and
(4) Periodic meetings or seminars for participants to enhance
collaboration, feedback and peer networking and support.
Applications submitted by a consortium must meet the requirements
of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 of EDGAR in order to be an eligible
applicant. The specific requirements for the group agreement are found
in 34 CFR 75.128(b).
The Secretary may select more than one absolute priority for this
program in any given fiscal year.
Competitive Preference
The Secretary also proposes procedures for implementing the
statutory requirement to give a preference to eligible Indian tribes,
Indian organizations and Indian institutions of higher education for
grants awarded under the Professional Development program (Section 9153
of ESEA; 20 U.S.C. 7873).
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) of EDGAR and Sections 9122 and 9153 of
ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7832 and 7873), the Secretary gives preference to
applications that meet the following competitive priorities. The total
number of points the Secretary proposes to
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award to an application that meets a competitive priority is indicated
in parentheses next to the title of the priority. These points are in
addition to any points the application earns under the selection
criteria for the program.
Competitive Priority 1--Preference for Training Indian Individuals (5
Points)
Background
Grants under this program may be used to provide support and
training for Indian individuals to increase the number of qualified
Indian individuals in professions that serve Indian people. Activities
may include, but are not limited to, continuing programs, symposia,
workshops, conferences, and direct financial support.
Grants for training educational personnel may be for pre-service or
in-service training. For individuals who are being trained to enter any
field other than education, the training received must be in a program
resulting in a graduate degree. In awarding grants under this program,
the Secretary is required to give preference to applications describing
programs that train Indian individuals.
Priority
The Secretary would award 5 points to applications submitted under
the Professional Development program that include only Indian
individuals as training participants.
Authority: Section 9122(e)(2) of ESEA; 20 U.S.C. 7832(e)(2).
Competitive Priority 2--Preference for Indian Applicants (10 Points)
Background
An eligible entity for this program includes an institution of
higher education, including an Indian institution of higher education;
a State or local educational agency, in consortium with an institution
of higher education; an Indian tribe or organization, in consortium
with an institution of higher education. In making grants under this
program, the Secretary gives preference to applications submitted by
Indian tribes, Indian organizations, and Indian institutions of higher
education, including a consortium of any of these entities with other
eligible entities.
Priority
The Secretary would award 10 points to applications submitted by
Indian tribes, Indian organizations, and Indian institutions of higher
education that are eligible to participate in the Professional
Development program. A consortium application of eligible entities that
meets the requirements of 34 CFR 75.127-.129 of EDGAR and includes an
Indian tribe, Indian organization or Indian institution of higher
education would be considered eligible to receive the 10 priority
points.
Authority: Section 9153 of ESEA; 20 U.S.C. 7873.
Intergovernmental Review
These programs are subject to the requirements of Executive Order
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. However, Part 79 does not
apply to assistance to federally recognized Indian tribes. 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 these proposed priorities.
All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available
for public inspection, during and after the comment period, in Room
3W115, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, between the hours of 9
a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday of each week
except Federal holidays.
Program Authority: Section 9122 of ESEA; U.S.C. 7832.
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 either of the
following sites:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
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 (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC
area at (202) 512-1530.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 84.299 Indian
Education--Special Programs)
Michael Cohen,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 00-5496 Filed 3-6-00; 8:45 am]
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