[Federal Register: September 30, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 189)] [Notices] [Page 51089-51091] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr30se97-45] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RIN 1850-ZA01 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Notice of proposed priorities. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes priorities for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program, administered by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI). The Secretary may use these priorities in fiscal year 1998 and subsequent years. The Secretary takes this action to focus Federal assistance on stimulating and expanding significant learning programs available to children and youth beyond regular school hours. The proposed absolute priority is also designed to ensure wide and effective use of program funds to support centers that provide expanded learning opportunities for children and youth in a safe and drug-free environment, and engage the support of citizens in those efforts. The proposed competitive priorities concern serving early adolescents and middle school students and services related to core academic subjects. DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 14, 1997. ADDRESSES: All comments concerning the proposed priority should be addressed to Dr. Robert Stonehill, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Room 504, Washington, DC 20208-5644. Comments may also be sent by fax (202-219-2198) or e-mail (robert__stonehill@ed.gov). 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, Room 504, Washington, DC 20208- 5644. E-mail addresses are: carol__j.__mitchell@ed.gov or amanda__clyburn@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. Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audio tape, or computer diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding paragraph. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 21st Century Community Learning Centers Act authorizes the Secretary to award grants to rural and inner-city public elementary or secondary schools, or consortia of such schools, to enable them to plan, implement, or expand projects that benefit the educational, health, social service, cultural and recreational needs of a rural or inner-city community. A Community Learning Center established in a local public school can, among other things, be a stimulating, safe, supervised and cost- effective after-school, weekend or summer haven for [[Page 51090]] children and youth--and their families. As reported in the recent Department of Education publication Keeping Schools Open as Community Learning Centers: Extending Learning in a Safe, Drug-free Environment Before and After School, recent research shows that a stimulating environment of this type can improve thinking and language performance of participating children and youth. Research also indicates that these programs reduce crime, delinquency, and victimization of children and youth. However, although the number of after-school child care programs has grown over the last 20 years, there are still far too few communities that offer effective, organized and extended opportunities for learning outside the regular school day. Of the 49,000 before- and after-school programs available in the U.S. in 1991, only about a third were housed in public schools. And, for in-school and out-of-school care programs, only a tiny percent served older children and youth. In 1995, there were 23.5 million school-age children with parents in the workforce. But as recently as the 1993-94 school year, only 3.4 percent of children in public elementary and combined schools were enrolled in any of the estimated 18,000 before- or after-school programs at public schools. Seventy percent of all public elementary and combined schools did not have before- or after-school programs. The needs and demands are clear: a 1994 survey of parents found that 56 percent think that many parents leave their children alone too much after school, and a 1989 survey of school principals found that 84 percent agreed that there is a need for before- and after-school programs. But even though the number of after-school programs is growing, the demand is growing faster, as thousands of parents who currently care for their children during the day are encouraged to enter the workforce. After-school programs are well positioned to reduce the incidence of drug use and violence and their detrimental effects on learning. Research by the Federal Bureau of Investigation indicates that the hours between 3 and 6 p.m. are when youth aged 12 to 17 are most at risk of committing or of being victims of violent acts. After-school programs located at Community Learning Centers will give youth a safe and supervised place to go during these hours. For that reason, the Secretary is proposing a competitive priority for those applicants for Community Learning Centers that will serve early adolescents and middle-school students. Priorities The proposed absolute priority supports centers that have a goal of providing learning opportunities for students in a safe and drug-free environment. For example, before- and after-school programs can be a place in which tutors provide reading help to younger children or in which mentors guide older children to take challenging mathematics and science courses that pave the way to college, and help them succeed in those courses. However, programs applying for assistance are required to carry out at least four of the activities listed in section 10905 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. 8245), and should propose an array of inclusive and supervised services that include extended learning opportunities (such as enriched instruction, tutoring or homework help) but may also include safety and drug-free interventions; recreational, musical and artistic activities; and opportunities to use advanced technology, particularly for those children who do not have access to computers or telecommunications at home. Although the proposed absolute priority requires that children and youth be served, applicants may propose projects that also serve and involve other members of the community. The proposed priorities authorize the Department to give a preference to applicants that propose to serve the academic needs of participating children and youth. These can include services that will assist students who need additional support to master reading and literacy skills, both by directly providing reading services as well as tutoring and mentoring programs in supervised locations. For younger children who are not reading as well as they should, Community Learning Centers can provide extended time in which to overcome the obstacles that have in the past prevented them from becoming good readers. The proposed priorities will also encourage schools to develop strategies to address the needs of students who can benefit from additional enrichment or challenge in mathematics or science, or who are not performing as well as they should. Community learning centers can provide extended hours for students to learn and review basic concepts they may have missed during class, to delve deeper into a more challenging curriculum, or to participate in enjoyable hands-on activities and experiments. The Secretary will announce the final priorities in a notice in the Federal Register. The final priorities will be determined by responses to this notice, available funds, and other considerations of the Department. Funding of particular projects depends on the availability of funds, the content of the final priorities, the quality of the applications received, and the requirements in the law for equitable representation nationally and within states of rural and inner-city programs. The first cycle of awards will be made from fiscal year 1998 funds. If applications of high quality remain unfunded, additional awards may be made in fiscal year 1999, pending availability of funds. The publication of the proposed 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. Note: This notice does not solicit applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition will be published in the Federal Register concurrent with or following publication of the notice of final priorities. If you would like your name to be put on a mailing list to receive an application package, you may fax your request to Annie Thompson at (202) 219-2198, or e-mail it to her at: annie__ thompson@ed.gov. Proposed Absolute Priority Under 34 CFR 75.105 (c)(3), the Secretary proposes to give an absolute preference to applications that meet the proposed absolute priority in the next paragraph. The Secretary proposes to fund under this competition only applications that meet this absolute priority. Activities to Expand Learning Opportunities The Secretary proposes to fund only those applications for 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants that include, among the array of services required and authorized by the statute, activities that offer significant expanded learning opportunities for children and youth in the community and that contribute to reduced drug use and violence. Proposed Competitive Priorities Under 34 CFR 75.105 (c)(2)(i), the Secretary proposes to give preference to applications that meet one or both of the two competitive priorities in the next two paragraphs. The Secretary proposes to give up to five (5) points for each competitive priority addressed in an application (for a maximum of 10 points if an application addresses both competitive priorities). These points would be in addition to any points the application earns under the selection [[Page 51091]] criteria which will be published in the application package. Proposed Competitive Priority 1--Projects that propose to serve early adolescents and middle-school students. Proposed Competitive Priority 2--Projects designed to assist students to meet or exceed state and local standards in core academic subjects such as reading, mathematics or science, as appropriate to the needs of the participating children. Executive Order 12866 This notice of proposed priorities has been reviewed in accordance with Executive Order 12866. Under the terms of the order the Secretary has assessed the potential costs and benefits of this regulatory action. The potential costs associated with the notice of proposed priorities are those resulting from statutory requirements and those determined by the Secretary 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 priorities, the Secretary has determined that the benefits of the proposed priorities justify the costs. To assist the Department in complying with the specific requirements of Executive Order 12866, the Secretary invites comment on whether there may be further opportunities to reduce any potential costs or increase potential benefits resulting from these proposed priorities without impeding the effective and efficient administration of the program. Summary of Potential Costs and Benefits There are no identified costs associated with this notice of proposed priorities. Announcement of the priorities will not result in costs to State and local governments or to recipients of grant funds. Intergovernmental Review This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. The objective of the Executive Order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism by relying on processes developed by State and local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance. In accordance with the order, this document is intended to provide early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for this program. Invitation To Comment Interested persons are invited to submit comments and recommendations regarding this notice of proposed priorities. All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available for public inspection, during and after the comment period, in Room 504, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Thursday of each week except Federal holidays. On request the Department supplies 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 docket for these proposed priorities. An individual with a disability who wants to schedule an appointment for this type of aid may call (202) 205-8113 or (202) 260-9895. An individual who uses a TDD may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339, between 8 a.m., and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday. 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 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 this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 8241-8247. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.287, 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program) Dated: September 19, 1997. Ricky T. Takai, Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement. [FR Doc. 97-25917 Filed 9-29-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P