[Federal Register: March 13, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 49)]
[Notices]
[Page 12583-12584]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13mr98-158]
[[Page 12583]]
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Part II
Department of Education
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Magnet Schools Assistance Program; Notice
[[Page 12584]]
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA No.: 84.165A]
Magnet Schools Assistance Program
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice extending closing date for receipt of applications for
new awards for fiscal year (FY) 1998 and for submission of approved
modifications to required plans and school board approval for voluntary
plans.
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SUMMARY: On February 17, 1998, a notice was published in the Federal
Register (63 FR 8021) that established the closing date for transmittal
of applications for the FY 1998 Magnet Schools Assistance Program
(MSAP). The purpose of this notice is to extend the closing date for
the transmittal of applications until April 27, 1998 in response to
requests from school districts.
This notice also changes the procedures for the submission of
applications, as described under PROCEDURES FOR SUBMISSION OF
APPLICATIONS to require that applications are received on or before the
due date. In making the decision to give applicants additional time to
prepare their applications, the Secretary also recognizes that this
decision reduced the amount of time available for the review of
applications and will delay the announcement of awards. In order to
minimize the impact of these delays, while giving applicants as much
time as possible for the development of their applications, this change
has been made to reduce the amount of time that it takes before
application review activities can begin after the deadline date.
DEADLINE FOR TRANSMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS: The new closing date is April
27, 1998.
PROCEDURES FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS: In order to ensure timely
receipt and processing of applications, an application must be received
on or before the deadline date announced in this application notice.
The Secretary will not consider an application for funding if it is not
received by the deadline date unless the applicant can show proof that
the application was: (1) Sent by registered or certified mail not later
than five days before the deadline date; or (2) sent by commercial
carrier not later than two days before the deadline date. An applicant
must show proof of mailing in accordance with 34 CFR 75.102(d) and (e).
Applications delivered by hand must be received by 4:30 p.m. (Eastern
Time) on the deadline date. For the purposes of this program
competition, the Secretary does not apply 34 CFR 75.102(a) and (b)(1)
which require an application to be mailed, rather than received, by the
deadline date.
These procedures replace the application submission procedures
contained in the MSAP application package.
Note: All applications must be received on or before the
deadline date unless one of the mailing conditions noted in the
previous paragraph applies. This requirement takes exception to
EDGAR, 34 CFR 75.102(a) and (b)(1). In accordance with the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), it is the practice of
the Secretary to offer interested parties the opportunity to comment
on proposed regulations. However, this amendment makes procedural
changes only and does not establish new substantive policy.
Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553 (b)(A), proposed rulemaking is not
required.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Districts submitting voluntary plans also
expressed concern that even with the extension of the application due
date, additional time might be needed to obtain school board approval
of their plans. Therefore, we are extending the date for the submission
of school board approval of the plans submitted with applications until
May 22,1998. All other voluntary plan information must be submitted by
the closing date.
Additionally, the date by which applicants must submit any
modifications to required plans (i.e., a modification to include a new
magnet schools component in a previously approved plan) is also
changed. All applicants must submit proof to ED of approval of all
modifications by May 22, 1998.
FOR APPLICATIONS OR INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven L. Brockhouse, U.S.
Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Portals Room
4509, Washington, D.C. 20202-6140. Telephone (202) 260-2476.
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 of 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
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.
Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an
electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511
or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option
G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases.
Note: The official version of a document is the document
published in the Federal Register.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 3021-3032.
Dated: March 10, 1998.
Gerald N. Tirozzi,
Assistant Secretary, Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 98-6520 Filed 3-12-98; 8:45 am]
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