[Federal Register: December 27, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 250)] [Notices] [Page 68523-68540] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [[Page 68523]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part XI Department of Education _______________________________________________________________________ Parental Assistance Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards Using Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 and 1998 Funds; Notice _______________________________________________________________________ [[Page 68524]] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CFDA No.: 84.310A] Parental Assistance Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards Using Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 and 1998 Funds NOTE TO APPLICANTS: This notice is a complete application package. Together with the statute authorizing the program and the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), the notice contains all of the information, application forms, and instructions needed to apply for a grant under this competition. PURPOSE OF PROGRAM: To assist nonprofit organizations, and nonprofit organizations in consortia with local educational agencies (LEAs), in establishing parental information and resource centers that would (1) increase parents' knowledge of and confidence in child-rearing activities, such as teaching and nurturing their young children; (2) strengthen partnerships between parents and professionals in meeting the educational needs of children aged birth through five years and the working relationship between home and school; and (3) enhance the developmental progress of the children assisted under the program. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: Nonprofit organizations, and nonprofit organizations in consortia with LEAs, in the following States are eligible to apply for funding: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. In addition, nonprofit organizations in Puerto Rico and in the outlying areas may apply for funding. Eligible outlying areas include the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. The statute requires the Secretary to ensure that grants are distributed, to the greatest extent possible, to all geographic regions of the United States. In the initial competition, nonprofit organizations (either individually or in consortia with LEAs) in 27 States and in the District of Columbia were awarded grants. This competition is for eligible applicants in the remaining States, as previously identified, Puerto Rico, and the outlying areas. An LEA, by itself, is not eligible for an award. However, an LEA may be part of a consortium with a nonprofit organization that applies. In those instances, the award would be made to the nonprofit organization, which would serve as the fiscal agent. For purposes of this competition, nonprofit organizations do not include institutions of higher education, State educational agencies, LEAs, intermediate school districts, government entities, or hospitals. DEADLINE FOR TRANSMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS: February 21, 1997. DEADLINE FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: April 25, 1997. AVAILABLE FUNDS: $5,000,000 in FY 1997 funds. The Secretary does not intend to conduct a separate competition using FY 1998 funds if funds are appropriated for this program for FY 1998. Instead, pursuant to 34 CFR 75.253, from the FY 1998 funds that may be available, the Secretary intends first to make continuation awards to successful applicants under this notice and to the grantees that were initially funded from the FY 1995 appropriation. If the FY 1998 funding level for this program exceeds the FY 1997 level, the Secretary intends to use the excess FY 1998 funds to make awards, on the basis of the selection criteria in this notice, to eligible entities that applied under this competition but failed to receive FY 1997 funding. Thus, in order to be considered for either FY 1997 or FY 1998 funding, an eligible entity must apply for funding by the application deadline announced in this notice. ESTIMATED RANGE OF AWARDS: $50,000 to $500,000 per year. (Note: Due to anticipated variances in the scope of proposed activities, the estimated range is very broad. Higher award amounts are for broad-based programs that would serve a substantial number of persons in large geographic regions.) ESTIMATED NUMBER of AWARDS: 14. Note: These estimates are projections for the guidance of potential applicants. The Department of Education is not bound by any estimates in this notice. PROJECT PERIOD: Up to 48 months. APPLICABLE REGULATIONS: The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, and 85. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR Part 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments) apply to an LEA that is part of a consortium receiving assistance. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM: Increased parental involvement and participation in the social, emotional, and academic growth of children are an essential part of comprehensive education reform. Title IV of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act (Pub. L. 103-227) (20 U.S.C 5801 et seq.) (the Act) helps foster parental involvement by authorizing grants to nonprofit organizations, and nonprofit organizations in consortia with LEAs, to establish and fund parent information and resource centers. These centers will provide training, information, and support to (a) parents of children aged birth through five years; (b) parents of children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools; and (c) individuals who work with these parents. Grant funds received under this program may be used-- (a) For parent training, information, and support programs that assist parents to-- (1) Better understand their children's educational needs; (2) Provide follow-up for their children's educational achievement; (3) Communicate more effectively with teachers, counselors, administrators, and other professional educators and support staff; (4) Participate in the design and provision of assistance to students who are not making adequate educational progress; (5) Obtain information about the range of options, programs, services, and resources available at the national, State, and local levels to assist parents of children aged birth through five years and parents of children in elementary and secondary schools; (6) Seek technical assistance regarding compliance with the requirements of title IV and of other Federal programs relevant to achieving the National Education Goals; (7) Participate in State and local decisionmaking; (8) Train other parents; and (9) Plan, implement, and fund activities that coordinate the education of their children with other Federal programs that serve their children or their families; and (b) To include State or local educational personnel if that participation will further the activities assisted under the grant. Entities are encouraged to develop and implement their projects through broad-based outreach and collaborative processes that reflect the diverse needs of parents to be served. The proposed project may not be a narrow activity that benefits parents in only a small portion of the State. Rather, it must provide a mix of direct training services and statewide information and support services. These projects must facilitate and support opportunities for broad- [[Page 68525]] based participation of communities and parents in the project from throughout the State or throughout a large area of the State, including-- (a) Areas with high concentrations of low-income families; (b) Urban and rural areas; and (c) Parents of children who are low-income, minority, or have limited English proficiency. A meritorious proposal might also describe how the applicant would coordinate project activities with the activities being conducted by other organizations and agencies, parent centers, and parent groups. Particularly appropriate, for example, would be applications from eligible entities that would provide training, information, and support to parents who reside in communities that are developing or implementing a comprehensive education reform plan in which family involvement is an integral strategy, such as those communities that include LEAs supported by a subgrant under section 309(a) of the Goals 2000 Act or by other funds. Applicants should be aware that section 1118(g) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994, requires schools and districts receiving Title I funds to assist parents and parent organizations by informing them of the existence and purpose of the parent information and resource center in their State, providing them with a description of the services and programs provided by the center, advising parents on how to use the center, and helping them contact the center. Consequently, applicants should be prepared to address the demand for their services created by this requirement. In developing proposals for increasing the involvement of parents in their children's learning and for strengthening partnerships between parents and educational professionals, applicants might consider issues such as the following: (1) How the participating communities have assessed or propose to assess the interests and needs of parents in these communities, particularly the interests and needs of parents of low-income, minority, and limited English proficient children, in order to provide services that meet their needs. (2) How parent groups, schools, and organizations and agencies in the local communities would collaborate to initiate or expand opportunities for parents to be involved in their children's learning and to strengthen their relationships in order to meet the educational needs of children. (3) How the applicant organization and participating communities would use information currently available concerning best practices in parent and family involvement activities to meet parents' information, training, and support needs. (4) How participating communities would implement activities that enable parents to engage in learning activities with their children at home and at school. (5) How the applicant organization would establish, expand, or otherwise participate in a broad-based statewide or areawide network of parents, school personnel, business and community leaders, organizations that work with parents and their children, and others as appropriate, that helps the communities participating in the project as well as other communities learn from and support each other. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: Each application must include assurances that the grantee will-- (a)(1) Be governed by a board of directors the membership of which includes parents; or (2) Be an organization that represents the interests of parents; (b) Establish a special advisory committee the membership of which includes-- (1) Parents of children aged birth through five years and parents of children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools; and (2) Representatives of educational professionals with expertise in improving services for disadvantaged children; and (3) A broad representation of minority, low-income, and other individuals and groups that have an interest in compensatory education and family literacy; (c) Use at least one-half the funds provided in the grant in each fiscal year to serve areas with high concentrations of low-income families in order to serve parents who are severely educationally or economically disadvantaged; (d) Operate a center of sufficient size, scope, and quality to ensure that the center is adequate to serve the parents in the area; (e) Serve both urban and rural areas; (f) Design a center that meets the unique training, information, and support needs of parents of children aged birth through five years and of parents of children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools, particularly parents who are economically or educationally disadvantaged; (g) Demonstrate the capacity and expertise to conduct the effective training information and support activities for which assistance is sought; (h) Network with-- (1) Clearinghouses; (2) Parent centers for the parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities served under section 631(e) of the Individuals with Disabilities Act; (3) Other organizations and agencies; (4) Established national, State, and local parent groups representing the full range of parents of children aged birth through five years; and (5) Parents of children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools; (i) Focus on serving parents of children aged birth through five years and parents of children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools, who are parents of low-income, minority, and limited English proficient children; and (j) Use part of the funds received under this program to establish, expand, or operate Parents as Teachers (PAT) programs or Home Instruction Programs for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) programs, as defined in section 405 of the Act. The statute does not require a specific amount or percentage of funds to be spent on PAT or HIPPY programs. However, the PAT and HIPPY programs, like the other components of the center, should be integrated with the center's overall activities. For further information on PAT programs, contact: Sue Sheehan, Training Director, or Joy Rouse, Deputy Director, PAT National Center, Inc., 10176 Corporate Square Drive, St. Louis, MO 63132, (314) 432- 4330, (314) 432-8963 (FAX). For further information on HIPPY programs, contact: Alice Smothers, Director of Policy and Program Development, HIPPY USA, c/o Teachers College, Box 113, 525 W. 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, (212) 678- 3500, (212) 678-4136 (FAX). In the initial competition that was conducted with FY 1995 funds, certain applicants were ineligible for funding because they failed to meet or address one or more of the above requirements. For example, certain applicants failed to describe in their applications how they would serve both urban and rural areas. To be eligible for funding, an applicant must meet each of the statutory requirements referenced in the PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS section of this notice. Each application for assistance must include assurances that the grantee will comply with these requirements. NON-FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION: To be eligible for a continuation award, in [[Page 68526]] each fiscal year after the first fiscal year a grantee receives assistance under this program, the grantee must demonstrate that a portion of the services provided by the grantee will be supported through non-Federal contributions. Those contributions may be in cash or in kind. SELECTION CRITERIA: (a)(1) The Secretary uses the following selection criteria to evaluate applications for new grants under this competition. (2) The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points. (3) The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. (b) The criteria-- (1) Meeting the purposes of the authorizing statute. (25 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine how well the project will meet the purpose of the authorizing statute (i.e., title IV of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act), including consideration of-- (i) The objectives of the project; and (ii) How the objectives of the project further the purposes of the authorizing statute. (2) Extent of need for the project. (20 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the project meets specific needs recognized in the statute that authorizes the program, including consideration of-- (i) The needs addressed by the project; (ii) How the applicant identified those needs; (iii) How those needs will be met by the project; and (iv) The benefits to be gained by meeting those needs. (3) Plan of operation. (25 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the plan of operation for the project, including-- (i) The quality of the design of the project; (ii) The extent to which the plan of management is effective and ensures proper and efficient administration of the project; (iii) How well the objectives of the project relate to the purpose of the program; (iv) The quality of the applicant's plan to use its resources and personnel to achieve each objective; and (v) How the applicant will ensure that project participants who are otherwise eligible to participate are selected without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or handicapping condition. (4) Quality of key personnel. (7 points) (i) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of key personnel the applicant plans to use on the project, including-- (A) The qualifications of the project director (if one is to be used); (B) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be used in the project; (C) The time that each person referred to in paragraphs (b)(4)(i)(A) and (B) will commit to the project; and (D) How the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or handicapping condition. (ii) To determine personnel qualifications under paragraphs (b)(4)(i)(A) and (B), the Secretary considers-- (A) Experience and training in fields related to the objectives of the project; and (B) Any other qualifications that pertain to the quality of the project. (5) Budget and cost effectiveness. (5 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which-- (i) The budget is adequate to support the project; and (ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the project. (6) Evaluation plan. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the evaluation plan for the project, including the extent to which the applicant's methods of evaluation-- (i) Are appropriate to the project; and (ii) To the extent possible, are objective and produce data that are quantifiable. (Cross-reference: See 34 CFR 75.590, Evaluation by the recipient.) (7) Adequacy of resources. (3 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the adequacy of the resources that the applicant plans to devote to the project, including facilities, equipment, and supplies. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS: This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs) and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. The objective of the Executive order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and to strengthen federalism by relying on State and local processes for State and local government coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance. Applicants must contact the appropriate State Single Point of Contact to find out about, and to comply with, the State's process under Executive Order 12372. Applicants proposing to perform activities in more than one State should immediately contact the Single Point of Contact for each of those States and follow the procedure established in each State under the Executive order. If you want to know the name and address of any State Single Point of Contact, see the list published in the Federal Register on August 20, 1996 (61 FR 43133 through 43135). In States that have not established a process or chosen a program for review, State, areawide, regional, and local entities may submit comments directly to the Department. Any State Process Recommendation and other comments submitted by a State Single Point of Contact and any comments from State, areawide, regional, and local entities must be mailed or hand-delivered by the date indicated in this notice to the following address: The Secretary, E.O. 12372--CFDA# 84.310A, U.S. Department of Education, Room 6213, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-0124. Proof of mailing will be determined on the same basis as applications (see 34 CFR 75.102). Recommendations or comments may be hand-delivered until 4:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on the date indicated in this notice. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE ADDRESS IS NOT THE SAME ADDRESS AS THE ONE TO WHICH THE APPLICANT SUBMITS ITS COMPLETED APPLICATION. DO NOT SEND APPLICATIONS TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. INSTRUCTIONS FOR TRANSMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS: (a) If an applicant wants to apply for a grant, the applicant shall-(1) Mail the original and two copies of the application on or before the deadline date to: U. S. Department of Education, Application Control Center; Attention: (CFDA # 84.310A), Washington, D.C. 20202- 4725; or (2) Hand deliver the original and two copies of the application by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center; Attention: (CFDA # 84.310A), Room #3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets, S.W., Washington, D.C. (b) An applicant must show one of the following as proof of mailing: (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. [[Page 68527]] (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier. (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary. (c) If an application is mailed through the U.S. Postal Service, the Secretary does not accept either of the following as proof of mailing: (1) A private metered postmark. (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. Notes: (1) The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, an applicant should check with its local post office. (2) The Application Control Center will mail a Grant Application Receipt Acknowledgment to each applicant. If an applicant fails to receive the notification of application receipt within 15 days from the date of mailing the application, the applicant should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 708-9494. (3) The applicant must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the Department--in Item 10 of the Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424) the CFDA number--and suffix letter, if any--of the competition under which the application is being submitted. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND FORMS: The appendix to this application contains forms and instructions plus a statement regarding estimated public reporting burden, a notice to applicants regarding compliance with section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act, and various assurances and certifications. In preparing your application for submission to the Department, please organize the parts and additional materials in the following order: Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 (Rev. 4-88)). Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 524). Application Narrative. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B). Certifications regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED 80- 0013-6/90). Certification regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion: Lower Tier Covered Transactions (ED 80-0014, 9/90) and instructions. (NOTE: ED 80-0014 is intended for the use of grantees and should not be transmitted to the Department.) Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL) (if applicable) and instructions. This document has been marked to reflect statutory changes. See the notice published in the Federal Register (61 FR 1413) by the Office of Management and Budget on January 19, 1996. An applicant may submit information on a photostatic copy of the application and budget forms, the assurances, and the certifications. However, the application form, the assurances, and the certifications must each have an original signature. No grant may be awarded unless a completed application form has been received. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth O'Driscoll, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Portals Building, Room 4000, Washington, D.C. 20202-6135. Telephone: (202) 401-0039. 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. Information about the Department's funding opportunities, including copies of application notices for discretionary grant competitions can be viewed on the Department's electronic bulletin board (ED Board), telephone (202) 260-9950; on the Internet Gopher Server (at gopher:// gcs.ed.gov); or on the World Wide Web (at http://gcs.ed.gov). However, the official application notice for a discretionary grant competition is the notice published in the Federal Register. Abstracts of currently-funded parental assistance center programs are available at these sites or by contacting Elizabeth O'Driscoll at (202) 401-0039. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 5911 et seq. Dated: December 23,1996. Gerald N. Tirozzi, Assistant Secretary Elementary and Secondary Education. Instructions for Estimated Public Reporting Burden According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this collection of information is 1810-0578. Expiration date: 5/31/98. The time required to complete this collection of information is estimated to average 48 hours per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data sources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the collection of information. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate or suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4651. If you have any comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Elizabeth O'Driscoll, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Portals Building, Room 4000, Washington, D.C. 20202-2110. Instructions for Application Narrative Before preparing the Application Narrative an applicant should read carefully the authorizing statute and the information in this notice, including the selection criteria the Secretary uses to evaluate applications. The narrative should encompass each function or activity for which funds are being requested and should-- 1. Begin with an Abstract; that is, a summary of the proposed project; 2. Describe the proposed project in light of each of the selection criteria in the order in which the criteria are listed in this application package; and 3. Include any other pertinent information that might assist the Secretary in reviewing the application. The Secretary strongly requests the applicant to limit the Application Narrative to no more than 20 double-spaced, typed pages (on one side only), although the Secretary will consider applications of greater length. The Department has found that successful applications for similar programs generally meet this page limit. Notice to all Applicants Thank you for your interest in this program. The purpose of this enclosure is to inform you about a new provision in the Department of Education's General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) that applies to applicants for new grant awards under Department programs. This provision is section 427 of GEPA, enacted as part of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-382). To Whom Does This Provision Apply? Section 427 of GEPA affects applicants for new discretionary grant awards under this program. ALL APPLICANTS FOR NEW AWARDS MUST INCLUDE INFORMATION IN THEIR APPLICATIONS TO ADDRESS THIS NEW PROVISION IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FUNDING UNDER THIS PROGRAM. What Does This Provision Require? Section 427 requires each applicant for funds (other than an individual person) to include in its application a description of the steps the applicant proposes to take to ensure equitable access to, and participation in, its [[Page 68528]] federally-assisted program for students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries with special needs. This section allows applicants discretion in developing the required description. The statute highlights six types of barriers that can impede equitable access or participation that you may address: gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age. Based on local circumstances, you can determine whether these or other barriers may prevent your students, teachers, etc. from equitable access or participation. Your description need not be lengthy; you may provide a clear and succinct description of how you plan to address those barriers that are applicable to your circumstances. In addition, the information my be provided in a single narrative, or, if appropriate, may be discussed in connection with related topics in the application. Section 427 is not intended to duplicate the requirements of civil rights statutes, but rather to ensure that, in designing their projects, applicants for Federal funds address equity concerns that may affect the ability of certain potential beneficiaries to fully participate in the project and to achieve to high standards. Consistent with program requirements and its approved application, an applicant may use the Federal funds awarded to it to eliminate barriers it identifies. What are Examples of How an Applicant Might Satisfy the Requirement of This Provision? The following examples may help illustrate how an applicant may comply with section 427. (1) An applicant that proposes to carry out an adult literacy project serving, among others, adults with limited English proficiency, might describe in its application how it intends to distribute a brochure about the proposed project to such potential participants in their native language. (2) An applicant that proposes to develop instructional materials for classroom use might describe how it will make the materials available on audio tape or in braille for students who are blind. (3) An applicant that proposes to carry out a model science program for secondary students and is concerned that girls may be less likely than boys to enroll in the course, might indicate how it tends to conduct ``outreach'' efforts to girls, to encourage their enrollment. We recognize that many applicants may already be implementing effective steps to ensure equity of access and participation in their grant programs, and we appreciate your cooperation in responding to the requirements of this provision. Estimated Burden Statement According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1801-0004 (Exp. 8/31/98). The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to vary from 1 to 3 hours per response, with an average of 1.5 hours, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather and maintain the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202-4651. BILLING CODE 4000-01-P BILLING CODE 4000-01-C