FR Doc E5-145
[Federal Register: January 14, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 10)]
[Notices]
[Page 2625-2627]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14ja05-47]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Teaching American History
AGENCY: Office of Innovation and Improvement, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of proposed selection criteria and other application
requirements.
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SUMMARY: We propose selection criteria and other application
requirements under the Teaching American History (TAH) grant program.
We may use these criteria and the application requirements for
competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2005 and in later years. We take this
action to add selection criteria and to provide more specificity with
regard to the range of awards and the number of awards a local
educational agency (LEA) may receive in each competition.
DATES: We must receive your comments on or before February 14, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments about this proposed priority and other
application requirements to Alex Stein, U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4W218, FOB6, Washington, DC 20202-6140.
If you prefer to send your comments through the Internet, you may send
them to us at the following address: comments@ed.gov.
You must include the term ``Teaching American History'' in the
subject line of your electronic message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex Stein. Telephone: (202) 205-9085
or via Internet: Alex.Stein@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications devise 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 contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Invitation To Comment
We invite you to submit comments regarding these selection criteria
and other application requirements. Also, we invite you to assist us in
complying with the specific requirements of Executive Order 12866 and
its overall requirement of reducing regulatory burden that might result
from these criteria and other application requirements. Please let us
know of any further opportunities we should take to reduce potential
costs or increase potential benefits while preserving the effective and
efficient administration of the program.
During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public
comments about these proposed selection criteria and other application
requirements in room 4W218, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC,
between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., eastern time, Monday through
Friday of each week except Federal holidays.
Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities in Reviewing the Rulemaking
Record
On request, we will supply an appropriate aid, such as a reader or
print magnifier, to an individual with a disability who needs
assistance to review the comments or other documents in the public
rulemaking record for these proposed selection criteria and other
application requirements. If you want to schedule an appointment for
this type of aid, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
General Information
We will announce the final selection criteria and other application
requirements in a notice in the Federal Register. We will determine the
final selection criteria and other application requirements after
considering responses to this notice and other information available to
the Department. This notice does not preclude us from proposing
additional requirements, subject to meeting applicable rulemaking
requirements.
Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in
which we choose to use these proposed selection criteria and other
application requirements, we invite applications through a notice in
the Federal Register.
Discussion of Proposed Selection Criteria
Background
In the past, the selection criteria for the TAH program were taken
directly from the program statute and the Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). Our experience with competitions,
peer reviewers, applicants, and funded grantees demonstrates the need
to develop selection criteria that more adequately reflect the
qualities of successful TAH grantees. These proposed selection criteria
would, therefore, provide the applicant with more detail and clarity
with regard to the information that is most likely to result in a high-
quality application. Through the selection criteria, we are encouraging
applicants to describe: (1) The specific history content to be taught
under the grant; (2) how the professional development provided by the
grant will improve the quality of instruction; (3) how the evaluation
will be aligned with the project design; and (4) the importance of the
outcomes likely to be attained through the grant. We also encourage
applicants to explain their rationale for selecting certain partners so
that the reviewers will have a greater understanding of the potential
role and contribution of the partner(s) in achieving the objectives of
the grant.
We also encourage applicants to ensure that grant activities will
focus on building capacity in the LEA receiving the award. Teachers in
the LEA receiving the grant should be the primary recipients of the
grant services, and the LEA should be actively involved in the
administration of the grant.
We are proposing the additional criteria so that, along with
providing a description of the goals and objectives of the application,
applicants will describe clear and specific means by which they will
achieve those goals and objectives.
[[Page 2626]]
Proposed Selection Criteria
The Secretary proposes to use the following selection criteria to
evaluate applications under this program. The maximum score for all of
these criteria is 100 points. In any given year we will announce the
maximum possible score for each criterion, either in the application
notice published in the Federal Register or in the application package.
(1) Project quality. The Secretary considers the quality of the
proposed project by considering--
(a) The likelihood that the proposed project will develop,
implement, and strengthen programs to teach traditional American
history as a separate academic subject (not as a component of social
studies) within elementary school and secondary school curricula,
including the implementation of activities:
(i) To provide professional development and teacher education
activities with respect to traditional American history; and
(ii) To improve the quality of instruction in traditional American
history.
(b) How specific traditional American history content will be
covered by the grant (including the significant issues, episodes, and
turning points in the history of the United States; how the words and
deeds of individual Americans have determined the course of our Nation;
and how the principles of freedom and democracy articulated in the
founding documents of this nation have shaped America's struggles and
achievements and its social, political, and legal institutions and
relations); the format in which the project will deliver the history
content; and the quality of the staff and consultants responsible for
delivering these content-based professional development activities. The
applicant may also attach curriculum vitae for individuals who will
provide the content training to the teachers.
(c) How teachers will use the knowledge acquired from project
activities to improve the quality of instruction. This description may
include plans for reviewing how teachers' lesson planning and classroom
teaching are affected by their participation in project activities.
(d) How well the applicant describes a plan that meets the
statutory requirement to carry out activities under the grant in
partnership with one or more of the following:
(i) An institution of higher education.
(ii) A nonprofit history or humanities organization.
(iii) A library or museum.
(e) The applicant's rationale for selecting the partners and its
description of specific activities that the partner(s) will contribute
to the grant during each year of the project. The applicant should
include a memorandum of understanding or detailed letters of commitment
from the partner(s) in an appendix to the application narrative.
(2) Significance. The Secretary considers the significance of the
proposed project. In determining the significance of the project, the
Secretary considers--
(a) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build the
local capacity, and locally implement services, to improve or expand
the LEA's ability to provide American history teachers professional
development in traditional American history subject content and
content-related teaching strategies.
(b) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely
to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in
teaching and student achievement.
Note: In meeting this criterion, the Secretary encourages the
applicant to include background and statistical information to
explain the project's significance. For example, the applicant could
include information on: The extent to which teachers in the LEA are
not certified in history or social studies; student achievement data
in American history; and rates of student participation in courses
such as Advanced Placement American History.
(3) Quality of the management plan. The Secretary considers the
quality of the management plan for the proposed project. In determining
the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the
Secretary considers the following factors:
(a) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing
project tasks.
(b) The extent to which the time commitments of the project
director and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate
to meet the objectives of the proposed project.
(4) Quality of the project evaluation. The Secretary considers the
quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project. In
determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers:
(a) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and
qualitative data to the extent possible.
(b) How well the evaluation plans are aligned with the project
design explained under the Project Quality criterion.
(c) Whether the evaluation includes benchmarks to monitor progress
toward specific project objectives, and outcome measures to assess the
impact on teaching and learning or other important outcomes for project
participants.
(d) Whether the applicant identifies the individual and/or
organization that has agreed to serve as evaluator for the project and
includes a description of the qualifications of that evaluator.
(e) The extent to which the applicant indicates the following:
(i) What types of data will be collected;
(ii) When various types of data will be collected;
(iii) What methods will be used to collect data;
(iv) What data collection instruments will be developed;
(v) How the data will be analyzed;
(vi) When reports of results and outcomes will be available;
(vii) How the applicant will use the information collected through
the evaluation to monitor the progress of the funded project and to
provide accountability information about both success at the initial
site and effective strategies for replication in other settings; and
(viii) How the applicant will devote an appropriate level of
resources to project evaluation.
Discussion of Proposed Funding of Projects
Background
The TAH program currently awards $350,000-$1,000,000 total funding
for a project period for LEAs with enrollments of fewer than 300,000
students; and $500,000-$2,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments above
300,000. The proposed requirements would permit a maximum of $500,000
for LEAs with enrollments of fewer than 20,000 students; $350,000-
$1,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments of 20,000-300,000 students; and
$500,000-$2,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments above 300,000 students.
As revised, the award amounts would be more proportionate to the number
of teachers likely to be served and the number of students enrolled by
the LEA.
Currently there is no limit on the number of grants that may be
awarded per LEA. The proposed requirements would permit only one award
per LEA per competition. This will enable more LEAs to participate in
this program.
[[Page 2627]]
Proposed Funding
(1) Total funding for a three-year project period is a maximum or
$500,000 for LEAs with enrollments of fewer than 20,000 students;
$350,000-$1,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments of 20,000-300,000
students; and $500,000-$2,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments above
300,000 students.
(2) A maximum of one grant will be awarded per LEA per competition.
Executive Order 12866
This notice of proposed selection criteria and other application
requirements has been reviewed in accordance with Executive Order
12866. Under the terms of the order, we have assessed the potential
costs and benefits of this regulatory action.
The potential costs associated with the notice of proposed
selection criteria and other application requirements are those
resulting from statutory requirements and those we have determined as
necessary for administering this program effectively and efficiently.
In assessing the potential costs and benefits--both quantitative
and qualitative--of this notice of proposed selection criteria and
other application requirements, we have determined that the benefits of
the proposed selection criteria and other application requirements
justify the costs.
We have also determined that this regulatory action does not unduly
interfere with State, local, and tribal governments in the exercise of
their governmental functions.
Summary of potential costs and benefits: The potential cost
associated with these proposed selection criteria and other application
requirements is minimal while the benefits are significant. Grantees
may anticipate costs with completing the application process in terms
of staff and partner time, copying, and mailing or delivery. The use of
E-Application technology reduces mailing and copying costs
significantly.
The benefit of the proposed selection criteria is that they will
help applicants prepare higher-quality and more comprehensive
proposals.
Intergovernmental Review
This program is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the
regulations in 34 CFR part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive
order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened
federalism. The Executive order relies on processes developed by State
and local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal
financial assistance.
This document provides early notification of our specific plans and
actions for this program.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents 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 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.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6721-6722.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.215X)
Dated: January 11, 2005.
Nina Shokraii Rees,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. E5-145 Filed 1-13-05; 8:45 am]
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