[Federal Register: April 1, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 63)]
[Notices]
[Page 14391-14393]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
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Part IV
Department of Education
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Fund for the Improvement of Education Program; Notice
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Fund for the Improvement of Education Program
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of final priorities.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary announces final priorities to fund projects that
develop, evaluate and field-test State assessments aligned with
challenging State content standards. The Secretary may use these
priorities in fiscal year (FY) 1996 and subsequent years. The Secretary
intends to provide Federal financial assistance to assist States in the
development of assessments that can be used to improve classroom
instruction, motivate all students to improve educational performance,
and provide examples for students, teachers and parents of the learning
outcomes that can be expected for all students.
EFFECTIVE DATE: These priorities take effect May 1, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. David Sweet, U.S. Department of
Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, 555 New
Jersey Avenue NW., Room 508H, Washington, D.C. 20208-5573. Telephone:
(202) 219-2079. Internet: (David--Sweet@ed.gov). 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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Fund for the Improvement of Education
(FIE) supports nationally significant projects to improve the quality
of education, assist all students to meet challenging State content and
student performance standards and contribute to the achievement of the
National Education Goals. The FIE program is authorized under Part A of
Title X of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as
amended by the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (20 U.S.C.
8001).
The Secretary is expressly authorized to use FIE program funds to
support systemic education reform at the State and local levels through
activities such as the development and evaluation of model strategies
for assessment of student learning. The Secretary believes that the
alignment of State content standards and State assessments is an
important part of systemic educational reform. Exemplifying the forms
and levels of educational performance that students in a State should
be able to achieve is a critical step in the process of ensuring that
students are reaching the State's challenging content standards. While
many States are developing new content standards for the core academic
subjects, some States are using assessments that are not aligned to
their new content standards. The Secretary believes that helping to
defray the cost of developing assessments aligned with challenging
State content standards will advance State reform efforts.
State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies
(LEAs), institutions of higher education, and other public and private
agencies, organizations, and institutions are eligible to receive funds
under these priorities. However, the Secretary believes that SEAs and
LEAs have the resources, knowledge, and authority necessary to lead
systemic reform efforts. Therefore, SEAs and LEAs must participate as
lead agents in the development of State assessments to ensure that the
assessment systems are aligned with State content standards and the
content of the curriculum. If reform is to be systemic, State agencies
that are working on content and curriculum must either direct the
development of assessments themselves or provide direction to LEAs to
do so.
It is imperative that State assessments take into account the needs
of all students. Therefore, funds awarded under the proposed priority
may be used to develop, modify, field-test and evaluate assessments
that take into account the needs of students with disabilities or
students who have limited English proficiency.
Awards under these proposed priorities may be jointly funded under
three statutory authorities:
(1) The Fund for the Improvement of Education (20 U.S.C. 8001);
(2) Section 618(c) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA) regarding Evaluation and Program Information (20 U.S.C.
1418(c));
(3) Bilingual Education Research, Evaluation, and Dissemination
Program, authorized by Title VII, Part A, Subpart 2 of the Improving
America's Schools Act of 1994 (20 U.S.C. 7451-7452).
The Secretary has determined that the availability of this joint
funding option would enhance the Department's ability to support
projects that integrate into a single effort the development of
assessments for all students and the modification of those assessments
to take into account the needs of disabled and limited English
proficient students.
Funds provided under Section 618 of IDEA can only be used for
projects that modify, field-test, and evaluate assessments that take
into account the needs of children and youth with disabilities. A
project funded under Section 618 of IDEA should address how the
assessments will improve the ability of SEAs and LEAs to provide full
educational opportunities to children and youth with disabilities and
to better assess the progress of children and youth with disabilities
while in special education. As part of the post-award requirements for
a project funded under Section 618 of IDEA, a grantee must prepare its
procedures, findings, and other relevant information in a form that
will maximize their dissemination and use, especially through
dissemination networks and mechanisms authorized by Section 618, and in
a form for inclusion in the annual report to Congress submitted
pursuant to Section 618(g). Funds provided under Section 618 may be
used to fund projects proposed by applicants that are private for-
profit agencies only when necessary because of the unique nature of the
study.
In accordance with 20 U.S.C. 7452(b)(4), funds provided under the
Bilingual Education Research, Evaluation, and Dissemination Program
must be administered by individuals with expertise in bilingual
education and the needs of limited English proficient students and
their families. Funds provided under this program must be used to
improve bilingual education and special alternative instruction
programs for children and youth of limited English proficiency.
As part of the efforts to improve student assessment, the
Department made awards in FY 1995 under the Assessment Development and
Evaluation Grants Program, authorized by section 220 of the Goals 2000:
Educate America Act. Under this program, the Secretary provides grants
to SEAs, LEAs or partnerships of such agencies to help defray the costs
of developing, field-testing and evaluating State assessments aligned
to State content standards. Applications involving 43 States were
received in 1995 and grants were made to support 9 projects. The
Secretary expects these projects to develop model strategies for the
assessment of student learning that will have a significant impact on
State and local level systemic reform efforts.
Depending on the availability of funds in FY 1996 and subsequent
years, the Secretary may decide to use funds under the final priorities
to continue projects initially funded under the Assessment Development
and Evaluation Grants program or to fund additional applications
considered in the 1995 competition. Alternatively, the Secretary may
decide to hold a
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competition for new awards under the final priorities.
Funding of particular projects depends on the availability of funds
and the quality of the applications received. The publication of these
final priorities does not preclude the Secretary from proposing
additional priorities, nor does it limit the Secretary to funding only
these priorities, subject to meeting applicable rulemaking
requirements.
On December 12, 1995 the Secretary published a notice of proposed
priorities for this program in the Federal Register (60 FR 63691).
Note: This notice of final priorities does not solicit
applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition
will be published in the Federal Register at a later date.
Public Comment
In the notice of proposed priorities, the Secretary invited
comments on the proposed priorities. Fourteen parties submitted written
comments. All 14 commenters expressed interest in the Department
holding a competition under the proposed priorities. Only two of the
commenters suggested any changes. The Secretary has made no changes in
these proposed priorities since publication of the notice of proposed
priorities.
Comments: Two commenters recommended changes that they thought
would broaden eligibility and reduce costs for developing assessments.
One commenter indicated that Absolute Priority 1 should ``not preclude
the use of existing assessments with or without appropriate adaptations
and modifications. A State should have the opportunity to review
existing assessments and determine the extent that such measures are
aligned to content standards or can be adapted to meet the content
standards.''
Discussion: The Secretary agrees that applicants may propose to
evaluate and field-test existing State assessments as well as develop
new or partially new State assessments. The projects may also propose
to develop, evaluate, and field test adaptations and accommodations to
either new or existing State assessments as long as such assessments
are aligned to challenging State content standards. We believe that the
modification of existing State assessments is fully covered by Absolute
Priority 1 language.
Changes: None.
Comments: One commenter recommended changes to make the validity
requirements more specific. The commenter emphasized the importance of
two concerns: the validity of each assessment for its intended purposes
and the appropriateness of each assessment for all students. The
commenter called for detailed discussion of validity issues in each
proposal, including discussion of existing evidence or specification of
forms of evidence that would be produced under the project.
Discussion: The Secretary agrees that validity is important but
does not believe that additional specification is required in the
absolute priority. The Secretary believes that validity discussion in
each proposal will be evaluated in the peer review process.
Changes: None.
Comments: One commenter recommended changes to add another
selection criterion that should be considered in making awards. The
commenter called for giving preference to applicants proposing to
``provide some level of comparison of students across States or LEAs
having different content standards.''
Discussion: The Secretary believes that the suggested change would
give a preference to comparisons where States have different content
standards. This change is undesirable because it would have the effect
of penalizing comparisons where the same content standards are in
place. Projects calling for either type of comparison are eligible for
awards under this competition but neither should be given a preference.
Changes: None.
Absolute Priorities
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), the Secretary gives an absolute
preference to projects that meet one or more of the following
priorities. The Secretary will fund only projects that meet one or more
of these absolute priorities:
Absolute Priority 1--Projects that develop, field-test, and
evaluate assessments that are aligned to State content standards.
Absolute Priority 2--Projects that modify, field-test, and evaluate
assessments to address the needs of children and youth with
disabilities or limited English proficiency. Assessments to be modified
must be those developed under priority (1) or similar assessments
developed for all students and aligned to State content standards.
All projects must--
(a) Examine the validity and reliability of the assessment for the
particular purposes for which the assessment was developed;
(b) Ensure that the assessment is consistent with relevant,
nationally recognized professional and technical standards for
assessments;
(c) Devote special attention to how the assessment treats all
students, especially with regard to race, gender, ethnicity,
disability, and language proficiency of those students; and
(d) Be developed by, or under the direction of, an SEA, LEA, or
consortia of those agencies.
Selection Criteria
With respect to new awards made with funds from Section 618 of
IDEA, the Secretary does not intend to use the selection criteria in 34
CFR 327.31. With respect to any new awards made with funds from the
Bilingual Education Research, Evaluation, and Dissemination Program,
the Secretary does not intend to use the selection criteria in 34 CFR
75.210. The Secretary intends to use the evaluation criteria in 34 CFR
Part 700 to select all new awards under these priorities.
Applicable Program Regulations: (a) 34 CFR part 327, with the
exception of 34 CFR 327.31; and (b) the final regulations for the
Standards for the Conduct and Evaluation of Activities Carried Out by
the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI)--Evaluation
of Applications for Grants and Cooperative Agreements and Proposals for
Contracts, published on September 14, 1995 in the Federal Register (60
FR 47808) and to be codified as 34 CFR Part 700.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 8001.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.215L--Fund for the
Improvement of Education Program)
Dated: March 26, 1996.
Sharon P. Robinson,
Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 96-7783 Filed 3-29-96; 8:45 am]
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