[Federal Register: January 13, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 8)] [Notices] [Page 1825-1826] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [[Page 1825]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part III Department of Eduction _______________________________________________________________________ Postsecondary Education; State Student Incentive Grant Program; Notice [[Page 1826]] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Postsecondary Education; State Student Incentive Grant Program AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Notice of the closing date for receipt of State applications for fiscal year 1997. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Secretary of Education (Secretary) gives notice of the closing date for receipt of State applications for fiscal year 1997 funds under the State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) Program. This program, through matching formula grants to States for student awards, provides grants to students with substantial financial need. The SSIG Program supports Goals 2000, the President's strategy for moving the Nation toward the National Education Goals, by enhancing opportunities for postsecondary education. The National Education Goals call for increasing the rate at which students graduate from high school and pursue high quality postsecondary education. A State that desires to receive SSIG funds for this fiscal year must have an agreement with the Secretary as provided under section 1203(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). The State must submit an application through the State agency that administered its SSIG Program as of July 1, 1985, unless the Governor has subsequently designated, and the Secretary has approved, a different State agency. The Secretary is authorized to accept applications from the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Authority for this program is contained in sections 415A through 415E of the HEA. (20 U.S.C. 1070c-1070c-4.) CLOSING DATE FOR TRANSMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS: An application for fiscal year 1997 SSIG funds must be mailed or hand-delivered by March 31, 1997. APPLICATION FORM: The required application form for receiving SSIG funds will be mailed to officials of the appropriate State agency in each State at least 30 days before the closing date. Applications must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the HEA and the program regulations cited in this notice. The Secretary strongly urges that applicants only submit information that is requested. APPLICATIONS DELIVERED BY MAIL: An application sent by mail must be addressed to: Mr. Fred Sellers, Chief, Grants Branch, Room 3045, ROB-3, U.S. Department of Education, Student Financial Assistance Programs, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-5447. The Secretary will accept the following proof of mailing: (1) a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark; (2) a legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service; (3) a dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier; or (4) any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of Education. If an application is sent through the U.S. Postal Service, the Secretary does not accept either of the following as proof of mailing: (1) a private metered postmark; or (2) a mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. The Department of Education encourages applicants to use certified or at least first-class mail. A late applicant cannot be assured that its application will be considered for fiscal year 1997 funding. APPLICATIONS DELIVERED BY HAND: An application that is hand-delivered must be taken to Mr. Fred Sellers, U.S. Department of Education, Student Financial Assistance Programs, 7th and D Streets, S.W., Room 3045, General Service Administration Regional Office Building #3, Washington, D.C. Hand-delivered applications will be accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily (Eastern time), except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. An application that is hand-delivered will not be accepted after 4:30 p.m. on the closing date. PROGRAM INFORMATION: Section 415C(a) of the HEA requires that an annual application be submitted for a State to receive SSIG funds. In preparing the application, each State agency should be guided by the table of allotments provided in the application package. State allotments are determined according to the statutorily mandated formula under section 415B of the HEA and are not negotiable. A State may also request its share of reallotment, in addition to its basic allotment, which is contingent upon the availability of such additional funds. In fiscal year 1996, 49 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Island (Palau), and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands received funds under the SSIG Program. APPLICABLE REGULATIONS: The following regulations are applicable to the SSIG Program: (1) The SSIG Program regulations in 34 CFR Part 692. (2) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Part 75.60 through 75.62 (Ineligibility of Certain Individuals to Receive Assistance), Part 76 (State-Administered Programs), Part 77 (Definitions that Apply to Department Regulations), Part 79 (Intergovernmental Review of Department of Education Programs and Activities), Part 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments), Part 82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying), Part 85 (Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement), and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)), and Part 86 (Drug-Free Schools and Campuses). (3) The regulations in 34 CFR Part 604 that implement section 1203 of the HEA (Federal-State Relationship Agreements). (4) The Student Assistance General Provisions in 34 CFR Part 668. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Mrs. Jackie Butler, Pell and State Grant Section, U.S. Department of Education, Student Financial Assistance Programs, Washington, D.C. 20202-5447; telephone (202) 708-4607. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-730-8913 between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday. (20 U.S.C. 1070c-1070c-4.) (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.069, State Student Incentive Grant Program.) Dated: January 7, 1997. David A. Longanecker, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. [FR Doc. 97-736 Filed 1-10-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P