[Federal Register: June 28, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 126)] [Notices] [Page 33716-33717] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CDFA No.: 84.165B] Magnet Schools Assistance--Innovative Programs; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1996 Purpose of Innovative Programs To award grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) or consortia of LEAs to enable them to conduct innovative programs that will assist in the desegregation of schools served by the LEA or LEAs. Eligible Applicants An LEA or consortium of LEAs that (1) is implementing a plan undertaken pursuant to a final order issued by a court of the United States, a court of any State, or any other State agency or official of competent jurisdiction that requires the desegregation of minority- group-segregated children or faculty in elementary and secondary schools of that agency; or (2) has voluntarily adopted and is implementing, or, if assistance is made available under the Innovative Programs section of the Magnet Schools Assistance statute, will voluntarily implement such a plan that has been approved by the Secretary of Education as adequate under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 2, 1996. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: October 1, 1996. Applications Available: July 2, 1996. Available Funds: $3 million. Estimated Range of Awards: $300,000-$500,000. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $400,000. Estimated Number of Awards: 6-9. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: Up to 36 months. Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86. General Requirements Innovative Programs are authorized under the Magnet Schools Assistance (MSA) statute. However, while these programs must carry out the purpose of the MSA statute, (i.e., assist in the desegregation of schools served by an eligible LEA or consortium of LEAs), they must involve strategies other than magnet schools, such as neighborhood or community model schools. In addition, they must be organized around a special emphasis, theme, or concept and involve extensive parent and community involvement. In order to be eligible for an Innovative Programs grant, an LEA or consortium of LEAs must be implementing a required desegregation plan or have adopted and implemented, or will implement if assistance is made available under the MSA statute, a voluntary desegregation plan. Accordingly, an applicant that is eligible due to a required desegregation plan shall submit a copy of its plan including, if the applicant is submitting a desegregation plan ordered by a State agency or official, documentation showing that the plan was ordered based on a determination that State law was violated. An applicant that is eligible due to a voluntary desegregation plan also shall submit a copy of its plan. In addition, the applicant shall submit evidence of final official action adopting and implementing the desegregation plan or agreeing to adopt and implement the desegregation plan upon award of assistance. Innovative Programs are exempt from certain provisions of the MSA statute, including section 5106 (Applications and Requirements), section 5107 (Priority), and section 5108 (Use of Funds). Other MSA statute requirements apply to applications submitted under Innovative Programs. Under section 5109, grants may not be used for transportation or any activity that does not augment academic improvement. In addition, an LEA or consortium may not expend funds for planning activities associated with its Innovative Programs grant after the third year of Federal funding. Under section 5110, a grantee may expend for planning not more than 50 percent of the funds received for the first year of the project, 15 percent of the grant funds for the second year, and 10 percent of the grant funds for the third year. Selection Criteria The selection criteria are included in full in the application package for this competition. These selection criteria were established based on the regulations for evaluating discretionary grants found in 34 CFR 75.200 through 75.210 (as amended December 12, 1995). For Applications or Information Contact: Carrolyn N. Andrews, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Portals 4500, Washington, D.C. 20202-6140. Telephone (202) 260-2670. 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.ED.GOV (under Announcements, Bulletins, and Press Releases); or on the World Wide Web (at http://www.ed.gov/money.html). However, the official application notice for a discretionary grant competition is the notice published in the Federal Register. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7211. [[Page 33717]] Dated: June 24, 1996. Gerald N. Tirozzi, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. [FR Doc. 96-16508 Filed 6-27-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P