[Federal Register: February 24, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 36)] [Notices] [Page 9227-9229] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr24fe99-140] [[Page 9227]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part III Department of Education _______________________________________________________________________ Even Start Statewide Family Literacy Initiative Grants; Notices [[Page 9228]] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CFDA NO.: 84.314B] Even Start Statewide Family Literacy Initiative Grants AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Notice of Final Priority for Fiscal Year 1999. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Secretary announces an absolute priority for competitive grants awarded under the Even Start Statewide Family Literacy Initiative grants for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999. Under this priority, the Department will support only Even Start Statewide Family Literacy Initiatives for any State applicant that includes in its application (1) indicators of program quality as described in Section 1210 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) (as amended by the Reading Excellence Act) that the State has developed for Even Start Family Literacy projects; or (2) a plan and timeline for the development of those indicators within a reasonable time period, not to exceed one year from the date of the grant award. The law requires States to base these program quality indicators on the best available research and evaluation data. Upon development, the law requires States to use these quality indicators in evaluating Even Start projects' program performance and improvement for the purpose of continued funding. Note: This notice of final priority does not solicit applications. A notice inviting applications under the FY1999 competition for Even Start Statewide Family Literacy Initiative Grants is published in a separate notice in this issue of the Federal Register. EFFECTIVE DATE: February 24, 1999. WAIVER OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING: It is the Secretary's practice, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), to offer interested parties the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities that are not taken directly from statute. Ordinarily, this practice would have applied to the absolute priority in this notice. Section 437(d)(1) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), however, exempts from this requirement rules that apply to the first competition under a new or substantially revised program. The Reading Excellence Act, as enacted by Public Law 105-277, greatly expanded the funds available for these grants and added new substantive requirements, making this grant authority a ``substantially revised program.'' The Secretary, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, has decided to forego public comment with respect to the absolute priority in order to ensure timely awards. The absolute priority will apply only to the FY 1999 grant competition, which is being conducted in two stages. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary LeGwin, U. S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-6132. Telephone (202) 260-2499. 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, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the contact listed in the preceding paragraph. Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application package in an alternate format, also, by contacting that person. However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternate format the standard forms included in the application package. Absolute Priority: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), the Secretary gives an absolute preference to any State applicant that includes in its application (1) indicators of program quality, as described in Section 1210 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) (as amended by the Reading Excellence Act) that the State has developed for Even Start family literacy projects; or (2) a plan and timeline for the development of those indicators within a reasonable time period, not to exceed one year. States are required to develop these indicators by Section 1210 of the ESEA. The law requires these indicators to be based upon the best available research and evaluation data. Once developed, the law requires States to use the indicators in evaluating Even Start projects' program performance and improvement for the purpose of continued funding. To improve family literacy outcomes for adults and children, performance indicators must provide data to identify areas in which the programs are working well and areas in which improvement is needed. Even Start quality indicators will provide a measure of accountability to assess the extent to which overall program goals and objectives are being achieved and provide the basis for continuous improvement of local family literacy projects. The indicators of performance quality as described in Section 1210 of the ESEA must include the following: (1) With respect to eligible participants in a program who are adults-- (A) Achievement in the areas of reading, writing, English language acquisition, problem solving, and numeracy; (B) Receipt of a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma; (C) Entry into a postsecondary school, job retraining program, or employment or career advancement, including the military; and (D) Such other indicators as the State may develop. (2) With respect to eligible participants in a program who are children-- (A) Improvement in ability to read on grade level or reading readiness; (B) School attendance; (C) Grade retention and promotion; and (D) Such other indicators as the State may develop. The Secretary funds under the FY 1999 competition for these grants only applicants that meet this absolute priority. 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 the 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 a document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may view information about the Department's funding opportunities, including copies of application notices for discretionary grant competitions, on the Department's electronic bulletin board (ED Board), telephone (202) 260-9950; or on the Internet Gopher Server at GOPHER.ED.GOV (under Announcements, Bulletins, and Press Releases). However, the official [[Page 9229]] application notice for a discretionary grant competition is the notice published in the Federal Register. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6362(c). Dated: February 19, 1999. Judith Johnson, Acting Assistant Secretary, Elementary and Secondary Education. [FR Doc. 99-4553 Filed 2-23-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P