[Federal Register: December 2, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 231)]
[Notices]               
[Page 63776-63778]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02de97-125]

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No. 84.287]

 
21st Century Community Learning Centers; Notice inviting 
applications for new awards for fiscal year 1998

    Purpose of Program: The 21st Century Community Learning Centers 
Program was established by Congress to award grants to rural and inner-
city public schools, or consortia of such schools, to enable them to 
plan, implement, or expand projects that benefit the educational, 
health, social services, cultural and recreational needs of the 
community. School-based community learning centers can provide a safe, 
drug-free, supervised and cost-effective after-school, weekend or 
summer haven for children, youth and their families.
    Eligible Applicants: Only rural or inner-city public elementary or 
secondary schools, consortia of those schools, or LEAs applying on 
their behalf, are eligible to receive a grant under the 21st Century 
Community Learning Centers Program. An LEA with many interested schools 
is encouraged to submit a consortium application on their behalf. 
Applicants must

[[Page 63777]]

demonstrate that they meet the statutory program purpose as being 
either a ``rural'' or ``inner-city'' school or a consortium of those 
schools.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 9, 1998
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 8, 1998
    Applications Available: December 16, 1997
    Available Funds: $40 million
    Estimated Range of Awards: $35,000--$200,000 per Center. Awards to 
consortia or LEAs involving multiple Centers will be adjusted to 
reflect the number of Centers included.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $100,000 (per Center)
    Estimated Number of Awards: 200-300, depending on how many awards 
will assist multiple Centers.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.

    Project Period: Up to 36 months. Please note that all applicants 
for multi-year awards are required to provide detailed budget 
information for the total grant period requested. The Department will 
negotiate at the time of the initial award the funding levels for each 
year of the grant award.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administration Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 
82, 85, and 86, and (b) 34 CFR part 299, General Provisions, Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act, published on May 22, 1997, in the Federal 
Register (62 FR 28247).
    Priorities: The priorities in the notice of final priorities for 
this program, as published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal 
Register, apply to this competition. In addition, the Secretary gives 
preference to applications that meet the following competitive 
priority. (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii) and 34 CFR 299.3(a)). The Secretary 
selects an application that meets this competitive priority over an 
application of comparable merit that does not meet this competitive 
priority.
    Competitive Priority--Projects that will use a significant portion 
of the program funds to address substantial problems in an Empowerment 
Zone, including a Supplemental Empowerment Zone, or an Enterprise 
Community designated by the United States Department of Housing and 
Urban Development or the United States Department of Agriculture.

    Note: A list of areas that have been designated as Empowerment 
Zones and Enterprise Communities is published as an appendix to this 
notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 21st Century Community Learning Centers 
Program is authorized under Title X, Part I (20 USC 8241) of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Grantees under this program are 
required to carry out at least four of the activities listed in section 
10905 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 USC 8245), as 
listed below:
    (1) Literacy education programs;
    (2) Senior citizen programs;
    (3) Children's day care services;
    (4) Integrated education, health, social service, recreational, or 
cultural programs;
    (5) Summer and weekend school programs in conjunction with 
recreation programs;
    (6) Nutrition and health programs;
    (7) Expanded library service hours to serve community needs;
    (8) Telecommunications and technology education programs for 
individuals of all ages;
    (9) Parenting skills education programs;
    (10) Support and training for child day care providers;
    (11) Employment counseling, training, and placement;
    (12) Services for individuals who leave school before graduating 
from secondary school, regardless of the age of such individual; and
    (13) Services for individuals with disabilities.
    Applicants should propose an array of inclusive and supervised 
services that include extended learning opportunities (such as 
instructional enrichment programs, tutoring, or homework assistance) 
but may also include recreational, musical and artistic activities; 
opportunities to use advanced technology, particularly for those 
children who do not have access to computers or telecommunications at 
home, or safety and substance-abuse prevention programs. Grants awarded 
under this program may be used to plan, implement, or expand community 
learning centers.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION: In awarding grants, the Secretary assures an 
equitable distribution of assistance among the States, among urban and 
rural areas of a State, and among urban and rural areas of the United 
States.

FOR APPLICATIONS OR INFORMATION CONTACT:

    To Obtain an Application Package: Written requests should be mailed 
to: Amanda Clyburn, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational 
Research and Improvement, 555 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington, DC 
20208-5644, Attn: 21st Century Center Learning Centers. Requests may 
also be e-mailed to Amanda Clyburn (amanda__clyburn@ed.gov) or faxed to 
(202) 219-2198.

For Further Information Contact: Carol J. Mitchell or Amanda Clyburn, 
U. S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and 
Improvement, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20208-5644. E-
mail addresses are: carol__j.__mitchell@ed.gov or 
amanda__clyburn@ed.gov respectively. Fax number is (202) 219-2198.
    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 persons identified in this notice.
    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. 8241-8246.


[[Page 63778]]


    Dated: November 25, 1997.
Ricky T. Takai,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.

Appendix--Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities

Empowerment Zones (Listed Alphabetically by State)

California: Oakland
Georgia: Atlanta
Illinois: Chicago
Kansas: Kansas City
Kentucky: Kentucky Highlands Area (Clinton, Jackson, and Wayne 
Counties)
Maryland: Baltimore
Massachusetts: Boston
Michigan: Detroit
Mississippi: Mid-Delta Area (Bolivar, Holmes, Humphreys, and LeFlore 
Counties)
Missouri: Kansas City
New Jersey: Camden
New York: Harlem, Bronx
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
Texas: Houston, Rio Grande Valley Area (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and 
Willacy Counties)

Supplemental Empowerment Zones (Listed Alphabetically by State)

California: Los Angeles
Ohio: Cleveland

Enterprise Communities (Listed Alphabetically by State)

Alabama: Birmingham, Chambers County, Greene County, Sumter County
Arizona: Arizona Border Area, (Cochise, Santa Cruz and Yuma Counties), 
Phoenix
Arkansas: East Central Area (Cross, Lee, Monroe, and St. Francis 
Counties), Mississippi County, Pulaski County
California: Imperial County, Los Angeles (Huntington Park), San Diego, 
San Francisco (Hayview, Hunter's Pointer), Watsonville
Colorado: Denver
Connecticut: Bridgeport, New Haven
Delaware: Wilmington
District of Columbia: Washington
Florida: Jackson County
Georgia: Central Savannah River Area (Burke, Hancock, Jefferson, 
McDuffie, Tallaferro, and Warrent Counties), Crisp County, Dooley 
County
Illinois: East St. Louis, Springfield
Indiana: Indianapolis
Iowa: Des Moines
Kentucky: Louisville, McCreary County
Louisiana: Macon Ridge Area (Catahouis, Concordia, Franklin, Morehouse, 
and Tensas Parishes), New Orleans, Northeast Delta Area (Madison 
Parish), Quachita Parish
Massachusetts: Lowell, Springfield
Michigan: Five Cap, Flint, Muskegon
Minnesota: Minneapolis, St. Paul
Mississippi: Jackson, North Delta Area (Panola, Quitman, and 
Tallahatchie Counties)
Missouri: East Prairie, St. Louis
Nebraska: Omaha
Nevada: Clarke County, Las Vegas
New Hampshire: Manchester
New Jersey: Newark
New Mexico: Albuquerque, Moro County, Rio Arriba County, Taos County
New York: Albany, Buffalo, Kingston, Newburgh, Rochester, Schenectady, 
Troy
North Carolina: Charlotte, Edgecombe County, Halifax County, Robeson 
County, Wilson County
Ohio: Akron, Columbus, Greater Portsmouth Area (Scioto County)
Oklahoma: Choctaw County, McCurtain County, Oklahoma City
Pennsylvania: Harrisburg, Lock Haven, Pittsburgh
Rhode Island: Providence
South Carolina: Charleston, Williamsburg County
South Dakota: Beadle County, Spink County
Tennessee: Fayette County, Haywood County, Memphis Nashville, Scott 
County
Texas: Dallas, El Paso, San Antonio, Waco
Utah: Ogden
Vermont: Accomack County, Norfolk
Washington: Lower Yakima County, Seattle, Tacoma
West Virginia: Huntington, McDowell County, West Central Areas 
(Braxton, Clay, Fayette, Nichols, and Roane Counties)
Wisconsin: Milwaukee

[FR Doc. 97-31568 Filed 12-1-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P