[Federal Register: March 30, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 60)]
[Notices]
[Page 16249-16253]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30mr05-68]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Vocational and Adult Education; Overview Information;
Smaller Learning Communities--Special Competition for Supplemental
Reading Program Research Evaluation; Notice Inviting Applications for
New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.215L.
DATES: Applications Available: March 30, 2005.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 16, 2005.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 13, 2005.
Eligible Applicants: Local educational agencies (LEAs), including
schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA schools) and
educational service agencies that meet the requirements specified in
the Educational Service Agencies section of the Application
Requirements in the notice of final priorities, requirements,
definitions and selection criteria for this competition (NFP),
published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, are eligible
to apply on behalf of two or four large high schools that agree to all
of the requirements of participation in the research evaluation.
Additional eligibility requirements aware listed in the Eligibility
section of the Application Requirements in the NFP, published elsewhere
in this issue of the Federal Register.
Estimated Available Funds: $40,000,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $1,250,000-$5,000,000. Additional
information regarding awards and budget determinations is in the Budget
Information for Determination of Award section in the Application
Requirements in the NFP, published elsewhere in this issue of the
Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 8-12.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Smaller Learning Communities
(SLC) program is to promote academic achievement through the planning,
implementation or expansion of small, safe, and successful learning
environments in large high schools to help ensure that all students
graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary to make successful
transitions to college and careers. The purpose of this special
competition is to fund, using a portion of FY 2004 SLC program funds, a
national research evaluation of supplemental reading programs in a
special type of SLC structure called freshman academies, and, in
addition, to support a broader range of activities to create or expand
SLCs in participating schools.
Priorities: This competition includes one absolute priority and one
competitive preference priority. Both of these priorities are from the
NFP, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
Absolute Priority: For this special competition, Priority 1 is an
absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only
applications that meet this priority.
The priority is:
Priority 1--Participation in a National Research Evaluation that
Assesses the Effectiveness of Supplemental Reading Programs in Freshman
Academies
To be eligible for consideration under this priority, an applicant
must--
(1) Apply on behalf of two or four large high schools that are
currently implementing freshman academies;
(2) Provide a detailed description of literacy classes and/or other
activities implemented within the last two years that were designed to
promote the reading achievement of striving ninth-grade readers (as
defined in the NFP, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
Register) at any of the schools on behalf of which the LEA has applied;
(3) Provide documentation of the LEA's and schools' willingness to
participate in a large-scale national evaluation that uses
scientifically based research methods. Each LEA must include in its
application a letter from its superintendent and the principals of the
high schools named in the application, agreeing to meet the
requirements of the research design, and each LEA must include in its
application a letter from its research office or research board
agreeing to meet the requirements of the research design, if such
approval is needed according to local policies;
(4) Agree to implement two designated supplemental reading programs
for striving ninth-grade readers, one in each eligible high school,
adhering strictly to the design of the reading program, with the
understanding that the supplemental reading program will be either the
Strategic Instruction Model or Reading Apprenticeship Academic
Literacy, as assigned to each school by the evaluation contractor;
(5) Assign a language arts or social studies teacher, providing his
or her name, resume, and a signed letter of interest, in each
participating high school to: (a) Participate in professional
development necessary to implement the supplemental reading program
(which will include travel to Washington, DC, or another off-site
location during the first two weeks in August of 2005); (b) teach the
selected supplemental reading program to participating students for a
minimum of 225 minutes per week for each week of the 2005-2006 and
2006-2007 school years; (c) complete two surveys; (d) assist with the
administration of surveys and student assessments; (e) work with the
LEA, school officials, MDRC, and AIR to recruit 125 or more students
for the program and the larger research evaluation; (f) determine
students'
[[Page 16250]]
eligibility to participate in the research evaluation, with the
guidance of the evaluation contractor; and (g) work with the LEA,
school officials, MDRC, and AIR to obtain parental consent for students
to participate in assessments and other data collections;
(6) Designate a substitute or replacement teacher in the event that
the teacher of the supplemental reading program takes a leave of
absence, resigns, or is otherwise unwilling or unable to participate;
and
(7) Agree to provide, prior to the start of school years 2005-06
and 2006-07, for each participating high school, a list of at least 125
striving ninth-grade readers who are eligible to participate in the
research evaluation; work with the contractor to assign by lottery 50
of those students in each participating high school to the supplemental
reading program and assign the remaining students to other activities
in which they would otherwise participate, such as a study hall,
electives, or other activity that does not involve supplemental reading
instruction; provide students selected for the supplemental reading
program with a minimum of 225 minutes per week of instruction in the
supplemental reading program for each week of the school year; and
allow enough flexibility in the schedules of all eligible students so
that students who are not initially selected by lottery to participate
in the supplemental reading program may be reassigned, at random, to
the program if students who were initially selected for the program
transfer to another school, drop out, or otherwise discontinue their
participation in supplemental reading instruction during the school
year.
Competitive Preference Priority: For this special competition,
Priority 2 is a competitive preference priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(2) we award 25 additional points to applications that meet
this priority. These points are in addition to any points the
application earns under the selection criteria.
The priority is:
Priority 2--Number of Schools
The Secretary gives priority to applications from LEAs applying on
behalf of four high schools that are implementing freshman academies
and that commit to participate in the research evaluation.
Application Requirements: Additional requirements for all projects
funded through this competition are in the NFP, published elsewhere in
this issue of the Federal Register.
These additional requirements are: Eligibility; School Report
Cards; Consortium Applications and Governing Authority; Educational
Service Agencies; Budget Information for Determination of Award;
Student Placement within the Broader SLC Project; Performance
Indicators for the Broader SLC Project; Evaluation of Broader SLC
Projects; Participation in the Research Evaluation; and High-Risk
Status and Other Enforcement Mechanisms.
Definitions: In addition to the definitions in the authorizing
statute and 34 CFR 77.1, the definitions in the NFP, published
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, apply.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7249.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81,
82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99; and (b) the priorities, requirements,
definitions, and selection criteria contained in the NFP, published
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
Note: The regulations in part 79 apply to all applicants except
federally recognized Indian tribes.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $40,000,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $1,250,000-$5,000,000.
Additional information regarding awards and budget determinations
is in the Budget Information for Determination of Award section in the
Application Requirements in the NFP, published elsewhere in this issue
of the Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 8-12.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: LEAs, including BIA schools and educational
service agencies that meet the requirements specified in the
Educational Service Agencies section of the Application Requirements in
the NFP, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, are
eligible to apply on behalf of two or four large high schools that
agree to all of the requirements of participation in the research
evaluation. Additional eligibility requirements are listed in the
Eligibility section of the Application Requirements in the NFP,
published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not involve cost
sharing or matching.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: Matthew Fitzpatrick,
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 11120,
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-7241. Telephone: (202) 245-
7770. Fax: (202) 245-7170.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
You may also obtain an application package via Internet from the
following address: http://www.ed.gov/programs/slcp/applicant.html.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the program contact
person listed in this section.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application)
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit Part III to
the equivalent of no more than 35 pages, using the following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II,
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the
resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, you must
include all of the application narrative in Part III.
Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application that
exceed the page limit if you apply these standards, or exceed the
equivalent of the page limit if you apply other standards.
3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: March 30,
2005.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 16, 2005.
Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted by
mail
[[Page 16251]]
or hand delivery. For information (including dates and times) about how
to submit your application by mail or hand delivery, please refer to
section IV. 6. Other Submission Requirements in this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 13, 2005.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this
competition.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this competition must be submitted in paper format by mail or hand
delivery.
a. Submission of Applications by Mail. If you submit your
application by mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial
carrier), you must mail the original and two copies of your
application, on or before the application deadline date, to the
Department at the applicable following address:
By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.215L
Special Competition), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-
4260; or
By mail through a commercial carrier: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center--Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.215L
Special Competition), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.
Regardless of the address you use, you must show proof of mailing
consisting of one of the following:
(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 the
U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
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.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your
local post office.
b. Submission of Applications by Hand Delivery. If you submit your
application by hand delivery, you (or a courier service) must deliver
the original and two copies of your application, by hand, on or before
the application deadline date, to the Department at the following
address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center,
Attention: (CFDA Number 84.215L Special Competition), 550 12th Street,
SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays,
Sundays, and Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail
or hand deliver your application to the Department:
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the
Department--in Item 4 of the ED 424 the CFDA number--and suffix letter,
if any--of the competition under which you are submitting your
application.
(2) The Application Control Center will mail a grant application
receipt acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the grant
application receipt acknowledgment within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this special
competition are described in this section. The maximum score for all
selection criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each criterion
or factor under that criterion is indicated in parentheses.
Need for Participation in the Supplemental Reading Program (10 Points)
In determining the need for participation in the supplemental
reading program, we will consider the extent to which the applicant
will--
(1) Involve schools that have the greatest need for assistance as
indicated by such factors as: Student achievement scores in English or
language arts; student achievement scores in other core curriculum
areas; enrollment; attendance and dropout rates; incidents of violence,
drug and alcohol use, and disciplinary actions; percentage of students
who have limited English proficiency, come from low-income families, or
are otherwise disadvantaged; or other need factors as identified by the
applicant (7 points); and
(2) Address the needs it has identified in accordance with
paragraph (1) through participation in the supplemental reading program
activities (3 points).
Foundation for Implementation of the Supplemental Reading Program (50
Points)
In determining the foundation for implementation of the
supplemental reading program, we will consider the extent to which--
(1) Administrators, teachers, and other school staff within each
school support the school's proposed involvement in the supplemental
reading program and have been and will continue to be involved in its
planning, development, and implementation, including, particularly,
those teachers who will be directly affected by the proposed project,
as evidenced in part by a letter of interest from the language arts or
social studies teacher who will teach the supplemental reading program
(15 points);
(2) Parents, students, and other community stakeholders support the
proposed implementation of the supplemental reading program and have
been and will continue to be involved in its planning, development, and
implementation (3 points);
(3) The proposed implementation of the supplemental reading program
is consistent with, and will advance, State and local initiatives to
increase student achievement and narrow gaps in achievement between all
students and students who are economically disadvantaged, students from
major racial and ethnic groups, students with disabilities, or students
with limited English proficiency (4 points);
(4) The applicant demonstrates that it has carried out sufficient
planning and preparatory activities, outreach, and consultation with
teachers, administrators, and other stakeholders to enable it to
participate effectively in the supplemental reading program at the
beginning of the 2005-6 school year (5 points);
(5) The applicant articulates a plan for using information gathered
from the evaluation of the supplemental reading program to inform
decision and policymaking at the LEA and school levels (3 points); and
[[Page 16252]]
(6) The applicant, in its description of literacy classes and/or
other activities (implemented, within the last two years, at each of
the high schools on behalf of which the LEA is applying in this
competition) that were designed to promote the reading achievement of
striving ninth-grade readers, demonstrates that those activities will
not affect the outcomes of the research evaluation, and that the ninth-
grade teachers in each school have not previously received professional
development in either the Strategic Instruction Model, Reading
Apprentice Academic Literacy, or a similar supplemental reading program
(20 points).
Quality of the Project Design for the Broader SLC Project (15 Points)
In determining the quality of the project design for the broader
SLC project we will consider the extent to which--
(1) The applicant demonstrates a foundation for implementing the
broader SLC project, creating or expanding SLC structures or strategies
in the school environment, including demonstrating--
(A) That it has the support and involvement of administrators,
teachers, and other school staff;
(B) That it has the support of parents, students, and other
community stakeholders;
(C) The degree to which the proposed broader SLC project is
consistent with, and will advance, State and local initiatives to
increase student achievement and narrow gaps in achievement; and
(D) The degree to which the applicant has carried out sufficient
planning and preparatory activities to enable it to implement the
proposed broader SLC project at the beginning of the 2005-6 school year
(5 points);
(2) The applicant will implement or expand strategies, new
organizational structures, or other changes in practice that are likely
to create an environment in which a core group of teachers and other
adults within the school know the needs, interests, and aspirations of
each student well, closely monitor each student's progress, and provide
the academic and other support each student needs to succeed (5
points); and
(3) The applicant will provide high-quality professional
development throughout the project period that advances the
understanding of teachers, administrators, and other school staff of
effective, research-based instructional strategies for improving the
academic achievement of students, including, particularly, students
with academic skills that are significantly below grade level; and
provide the knowledge and skills they need to participate effectively
in the development, expansion, or implementation of an SLC (5 points).
Quality of the Management Plan (15 Points)
In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed
project, we consider the following factors--
(1) The adequacy of the proposed management plan to allow the
participating schools to implement effectively the research evaluation
and broader SLC project on time and within budget, including clearly
defined responsibilities and detailed timelines and milestones for
accomplishing project tasks (3 points);
(2) The extent to which time commitments of the project director
and other key personnel, including the teachers who will be responsible
for providing instruction in the supplemental reading program, are
appropriate and adequate to implement effectively the supplemental
reading program and broader SLC project (2 points);
(3) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of the project director, program coordinator, and other key personnel
who will be responsible for implementing the broader SLC project (3
points);
(4) The qualifications, including relevant training and years of
experience, of the teachers who will be responsible for providing
instruction in the supplemental reading program, as indicated by a
resume and signed letter of interest (4 points); and
(5) The adequacy of resources, including the extent to which the
budget is adequate, the extent to which the budget provides sufficient
funds for the implementation of the supplemental reading program, and
the extent to which costs are directly related to the objectives and
design of the research evaluation and broader SLC activities (3
points).
Quality of the Broader SLC Project Evaluation (10 Points)
In determining the quality of the broader SLC project evaluation to
be conducted on the applicant's behalf by an independent, third-party
evaluator, we consider the following factors--
(1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough,
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the
proposed broader SLC project (2 points);
(2) The extent to which the evaluation will collect and annually
report accurate, valid, and reliable data for each of the required
performance indicators, including student achievement data that are
disaggregated for economically disadvantaged students, students from
major racial and ethnic groups, students with disabilities, and
students with limited English proficiency (2 points);
(3) The extent to which the evaluation will collect additional
qualitative and quantitative data that will be useful in assessing the
success and progress of implementation, including, at a minimum,
accurate, valid, and reliable data for the additional performance
indicators identified by the applicant in the application (2 points);
(4) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide
timely and regular feedback to the LEA and the school on the success
and progress of implementation and will identify areas for needed
improvement (2 points); and
(5) The qualifications and relevant training and experience of the
independent evaluator (2 points).
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a
final performance report, including financial information, as directed
by the Secretary. You must submit an annual performance report that
provides the most current performance and financial expenditure
information as specified by the Secretary in 34 CFR 75.118.
4. Performance Measures: We identify the specific performance
indicators and annual performance objectives that applicants must
identify in their applications and use to measure the progress of each
school in the Performance Indicators for the Broader SLC Project
section of the Application
[[Page 16253]]
Requirements in the NFP, published elsewhere in this issue of the
Federal Register.
Upon being awarded, grant recipients will be required to provide
baseline data responding to each of the specific performance indicators
for the three years preceding the baseline year. We will provide grant
recipients with specific instructions regarding this reporting
requirement. We also require grantees to include in their annual
performance reports and final performance reports, which are required
under the Reporting section of this notice, comparable data, if
available, for the preceding three school years so that trends in
performance will be more apparent.
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Fitzpatrick, U.S. Department
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 11120, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-7241. Telephone: (202) 245-7809 or by e-
mail: matthew.fitzpatrick@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) 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 program contact person listed in this
section.
VIII. Other Information
Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using 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.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html
.
Dated: March 25, 2005.
Susan Sclafani,
Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education.
[FR Doc. 05-6315 Filed 3-29-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P