[Federal Register: March 5, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 43)] [Notices] [Page 11081-11082] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr05mr98-141] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CFDA No. 84.303A] Technology Innovation Challenge Grants; Notice Inviting Applications For New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1998 Purpose of Program The Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program provides grants to consortia that are working to improve and expand new applications of technology to strengthen school reform efforts, improve student achievement, and provide for sustained professional development of teachers, administrators, and school library media personnel. In FY 1998, the Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program will focus on professional development by providing support to consortia that have developed programs, or are adapting or expanding existing programs, for technology training for teachers and other educators to improve instruction. Eligible Applicants Only consortia may receive grants under this program. A consortium must include at least one local educational agency (LEA) with a high percentage or number of children living below the poverty line. A consortium may also include other LEAs, private schools, State educational agencies, institutions of higher education, businesses, academic content experts, software designers, museums, libraries, and other appropriate entities. Note: In each consortium a participating LEA shall submit the application on behalf of the consortium and serve as the fiscal agent for the grant. Deadline For Receipt of Applications: May 29, 1998. Deadline For Intergovernmental Review: July 29, 1998. Applications Available: March 31, 1998. Estimated Available Funds: $30,000,000. Estimated Range of Awards: $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 per year. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,500,000 per year. Estimated Number of Awards: 20. Project Period: 5 years. Please note that all applicants for multi- year awards are required to provide detailed budget information for the total grant period requested. The Department will negotiate at the time of the initial award the funding levels for each year of the grant award. Note: The Department of Education is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Maximum Award: The Secretary will not consider an application that proposes a budget exceeding $2,000,000 for one or more 12-month budget periods. Applicable Regulations: (a) the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 74, 75 (except 34 CFR 75.102(b), 75.200(b)(3), 75.210, and 75.217), 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86, and (b) 34 CFR Part 299. Priorities: The absolute and invitational priorities in the notice of final priority and selection criteria for this program, as published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, apply to this competition. Selection Criteria The selection criteria in the notice of final priority and selection criteria for this program, as published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, apply to this competition. Other Requirements The procedures for evaluation and selection of applications in the notice of final selection criteria, selection procedures, and application procedures for Technology Innovation Challenge Grants, published in the Federal Register on May 12, 1997 (62 FR 26175), apply to this competition. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program is authorized under Title III, section 3136, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 6846). The statute authorizes the use of funds for activities similar to the following activities: (a) Developing, adapting, or expanding existing and new applications of technology to support the school reform effort. [[Page 11082]] (b) Providing ongoing professional development in the integration of quality educational technologies into school curriculum and long- term planning for implementing educational technologies. (c) Funding projects of sufficient size and scope to improve student learning and, as appropriate, support professional development, and provide administrative support. (d) Acquiring connectivity linkages, resources, and services, including the acquisition of hardware and software, for use by teachers, students, and school library media personnel in the classroom or in school library media centers, in order to improve student learning by supporting the instructional program offered and to ensure that students in schools will have meaningful access on a regular basis to such linkages, resources, and services. (e) Acquiring connectivity with wide area networks for purposes of accessing information and educational programming sources, particularly with institutions of higher education and public libraries. (f) Providing educational services for adults and families. Note: Section 14503 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 8893), is applicable to the Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program. Section 14503 requires that an LEA, SEA, or educational service agency receiving financial assistance under this program must provide private school children and teachers, on an equitable basis, special educational services or other program benefits under this program. The section further requires SEAs, LEAs, and educational service agencies to consult with private school officials during the design and development of the Technology Innovation Challenge Grant projects. Each application must describe the ways in which the proposed project will address the needs of private school children and teachers. Application Deadline In order to ensure timely receipt and processing of applications, an application must be received on or before the deadline date announced in this application notice. The Secretary will not consider an application for funding if it is not received by the deadline date unless the applicant can show proof that the application was: (1) sent by registered or certified mail not later than five days before the deadline date; or (2) sent by commercial carrier not later than two days before the deadline date. An applicant must show proof of mailing in accordance with 34 CFR 75.102(d) and (e). Applications delivered by hand must be received by 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the deadline date. For the purposes of this program competition, the Secretary does not apply 34 CFR 75.102(a) and (b)(1) which require an application to be mailed, rather than received, by the deadline date. Note: All applications must be received on or before the deadline date unless one of the mailing conditions noted in the previous paragraph applies. This requirement takes exception to EDGAR, 34 CFR 75.102(a) and (b)(1). In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), it is the practice of the Secretary to offer interested parties the opportunity to comment on proposed regulations. However, this amendment makes procedural changes only and does not establish new substantive policy. Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553 (b)(A), proposed rulemaking is not required. FOR APPLICATIONS OR INFORMATION CONTACT: For applications, telephone 1- 800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327) or fax requests to Sharon Morgan at (202) 208-4042. The application package is also available from the Technology Innovation Challenge Grant web site at: http://www.ed.gov/Technology/ chalgrnt.html. For information contact Technology Innovation Challenge Grants, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20208-5544. Telephone (202) 208-3882. 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 person identified in this notice. 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. 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://gcs.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. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.303A, Technology Innovation Challenge Grants) Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6846. Dated: February 27, 1998. Ricky T. Takai, Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement. [FR Doc. 98-5735 Filed 3-4-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P