[Federal Register: April 16, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 73)] [Notices] [Page 19085-19105] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr16ap98-132] [[Page 19085]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part III Department of Education _______________________________________________________________________ Migrant Education Even Start Program; Notice [[Page 19086]] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CFDA No. 84.214A] Migrant Education Even Start Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1998 AGENCY: Department of Education. 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 The Migrant Education Even Start (MEES) Program is designed to help break the cycle of poverty and improve the literacy of participating migrant families by integrating early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic education, and parenting education into a unified family literacy program. Eligible Applicants While any entity is eligible to apply for a grant under the MEES program, the Secretary specifically invites applications from State educational agencies (SEAs) that administer Migrant Education Programs; local educational agencies (LEAs) that have a high percentage of migrant students; and non-profit community-based organizations that work with migrant families. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 1, 1998. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 31, 1998. Available Funds: For FY 1998, $3,720,000 is available for this program. The amount of funding available to begin new projects is approximately $1,200,000. Estimated Range of Awards: $88,000-$270,000. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $200,000. Estimated Number of Awards: 5. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: Up to 48 months. Maximum Award: The Secretary will not consider an application that proposes a budget exceeding $270,000 for each 12-month budget period. Applicable Regulations (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) as follows: (1) 34 CFR Part 74 (Administration of Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Nonprofit Organizations). (2) 34 CFR Part 75 (Direct Grant Programs). (3) 34 CFR Part 77 (Definitions that Apply to Department Regulations). (4) 34 CFR Part 79 (Intergovernmental Review of Department of Education Programs and Activities). (5) 34 CFR Part 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments). (6) 34 CFR Part 81 (General Education Provisions Act--Enforcement). (7) 34 CFR Part 82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying). (8) 34 CFR Part 85 (Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Non- procurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)). (b) The definitions of a migratory child, a migratory agricultural worker, and a migratory fisher contained in 34 CFR 200.40. Description of Program Under the authority of section 1202(a)(1)(A) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended, the Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education (Assistant Secretary) awards grants to eligible applicants under the MEES Program for projects that-- (1) Improve the educational opportunities of migrant families by integrating early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic education, and parenting education into a unified family literacy program; (2) Implement cooperative activities that build on existing community resources to create a new range of services to migrant families; (3) Promote achievement of the National Education Goals (section 102 of the Goals 2000 Educate America Act) especially goals one (school readiness), six (adult literacy), and eight (parent involvement and participation); and (4) Assist children and adults from migrant families to achieve challenging State content standards and challenging State student performance standards. Required Program Elements (a)(1) Eligible participants. Eligible MEES participants consist of migratory children and their parents as defined in Secs. 200.30 and 200.40 who also meet the following conditions specified in section 1206(a) of the ESEA: (2) The parent or parents-- (i) Are eligible for participation in an adult basic education program under the Adult Education Act; or (ii) Are within the State's compulsory school attendance age range, so long as a local educational agency provides (or ensures the availability of) the basic education component required under this part; and (3) The child or children must be younger than eight years of age. Note: Family members of eligible participants described in paragraphs one through three, above, also may participate in MEES activities when appropriate to serve Even Start purposes. In addition, section 1206(b) of the ESEA permits families to remain eligible for MEES services until all family members become ineligible to participate. For example, in the case of a family in which the parent or parents lose eligibility because of their educational advancement, the parent or parents can still participate in MEES activities until all children in the family reach age eight. In addition, the Department interprets 34 CFR 200.30 together with section 1206(b) of ESEA to mean that MEES services can continue to be provided to a parent or child who is no longer migratory provided that the family has at least one parent or child who is a migratory worker or child as defined under 34 CFR 200.40. (b) Required program elements. Any MEES project must, at a minimum, incorporate the following program elements specified in section 1205 of the ESEA: * Identification and recruitment of migrant families most in need of MEES services, as indicated by a low level of income, a low level of adult literacy or English language proficiency of the eligible parent or parents, and other need-related indicators; * Screening and preparation of parents, including teenage parents and children, to enable these parents to participate fully in program activities and services, including testing, referral to counseling, other developmental and support services and related services; * The provision of MEES services to those migrant families most in need of project services and activities; * High-quality instructional programs that promote adult literacy and empower parents to support the educational growth of their children, with developmentally appropriate early childhood educational services, and the preparation of children for success in the regular school programs; * A design for service delivery that accommodates the participants' work schedule and other responsibilities, including the provision of support services, when such services are unavailable from other sources, necessary for participation in project activities, such as-- --Scheduling and locating of services to allow joint participation by parents and children; [[Page 19087]] --Child care for the period that parents are involved in the project activities; and --Transportation for the purpose of enabling parents and their children to participate in project activities. * Special training of staff, including child care staff, to develop the skills necessary to work with parents and young children in the full range of instructional services offered by the project; * Provision of integrated instructional services, and monitoring of these services, to participating parents and children through home-based activities; * Operation on a year-round basis, including the provision of some program services, instructional or enrichment, during the summer months; Note: Given the mobility of the migrant population to be served by the MEES program, the Secretary interprets this requirement to operate on a year-round basis to mean that activities must be conducted throughout the period in which participating migrant families reside in the project area. Applicants are free to interpret the requirement in other ways that are consistent with section 1205(7) of the ESEA. * Appropriate coordination with other programs funded under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), any relevant programs under the Adult Education Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Job Training Partnership Act, the Head Start program, volunteer literacy programs, and other relevant programs; and * An independent evaluation. In addition, to promote the kind of strong community collaboration needed for effective Even Start Projects, sections 1202(e) and 1207(a) of the ESEA require applicants for grants under the basic Even Start program administered by SEAs to be ``eligible entities'', i.e., partnerships composed of (1) a local educational agency (LEA); and (2) a non-profit community-based organization, a public agency other than an LEA, an institution of higher education, or a public or private nonprofit organization of demonstrated quality other than an LEA. While those operating a MEES project do not need to be eligible entities, the Secretary strongly encourages those who would operate MEES projects to enhance the effectiveness of those projects through formation of strong, on-going collaborative relationships among these kinds of local entities. (c) Federal and local funding. A MEES project's funding is comprised of both a Federal portion of funds (Federal share) and a portion contributed by the eligible applicant (local share). However, the Federal share of the program may not exceed-- * Ninety percent of the total cost of the program in the first year; * Eighty percent in the second year; * Seventy percent in the third year; * Sixty percent in the fourth year; and * Fifty percent in any subsequent year. The Federal share for any MEES grantee receiving a grant for a second cycle shall not exceed 50 percent. A grantee may receive funds under the MEES program for a period not to exceed eight years. The local share of the MEES project may be provided in cash or in kind and may be obtained from any source, including other Federal programs funded under the ESEA. Federal funds may not be used for indirect costs of a MEES project. Invitational Priorities The Secretary is especially interested in funding applications that include a plan demonstrating that grant activities will focus on one or more of the following priorities. An application that meets one of more of these invitational priorities does not receive competitive or absolute preference over other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)). The invitation to coordinate services is meant to strengthen the delivery of family literacy services to migrant agricultural families. Coordination across State education agencies is at the heart of migrant education's purpose: to mitigate disruptions in the education of qualifying migrant students. Short-term Migrant Education Even Start seasonal projects can provide intensity of services to migratory families, but those projects may not provide sufficient duration to demonstrate long-term gains for students and may be another disruption in completing their educational goals. To promote opportunities for continuous learning for migrant families, the Secretary is particularly interested in funding applications that address the following invitational priorities: * Coordinate continuing family literacy services across State and local school district boundaries to meet the needs of highly mobile migrant agricultural families; or * Coordinate their activities with State and local endeavors under the America Reads Challenge initiative, including Federal Work- Study tutoring programs and America Reads/Read*Write*Now pilot sites (information about the America Reads Challenge is available by telephone at 1-800-USA-LEARN, or TDD 1-800-437-0833; and through the Department's Web site at www.ed.gov/inits/americareads); or * Build networks with agricultural employers and communities to coordinate and integrate resources that support English literacy for migrant agricultural families with limited English proficiency needs. Selection Criteria The Secretary uses the following selection criteria to evaluate applications for grants under this competition. (1) The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points. (2) The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. (a) Meeting the purposes of the authorizing statute (10 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine how well the project will-- (i) Improve the educational opportunities of migrant families by integrating early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic education, and parenting education into a unified family literacy program; (ii) Be implemented through cooperative projects that build on existing community resources to create a new range of services to migrant families; (iii) Promote achievement of the National Education Goals, especially the goals that address school readiness, student achievement, and parent involvement and participation; and (iv) Assist children and adults from migrant families to achieve the challenging State content standards and challenging State student performance standards. (b) Need for project. (20 points) The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors: (i) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or the activities to be carried out by the proposed project. (ii) The extent to which the proposed project will focus on serving or otherwise addressing the needs of disadvantaged individuals (i.e., eligible migrant agricultural families). (iii) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude of those gaps or weaknesses. Note: Applicants may address (b)(iii) in any way that is reasonable. Given the purpose of the MEES program, the Secretary believes that applicants would want [[Page 19088]] particularly to focus on the following key areas: (A) The area or areas to be served have high percentages or large numbers of migratory children and their parents, guardians, or primary caretakers in need of Migrant Education Even Start (MEES). (B) The lack of availability of comprehensive family literacy services for the migrant population. (C) How community resources will be used to benefit project participants. Note to (C): An applicant could address (C) in any way that is reasonable. An applicant might, for example, provide a brief description of each of the resources the project intends to include, or a list of these resources. (D) How the project will integrate child development, adult literacy, and parenting activities. (E) How the project will assist migrant children and adults to achieve the State content standards and student performance standards. (c) Quality of the project design. (20 points) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors: (i) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target population or other identified needs. (ii) The extent to which the project is designed to build capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of Federal financial assistance. (iii) The extent to which the proposed project will establish linkages with other appropriate agencies and organizations providing services to the target population. Note: An applicant may address criterion (c) in any way that is reasonable. However, concerning design of the project, the Secretary believes that an effective application would incorporate, at a minimum, the various program elements required under section 1205 of the ESEA and listed in the Required Program Elements section of this notice. (d) Quality of project services. (20 points) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project. (i) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (ii) In addition, the Secretary considers the extent to which the training or professional development services to be provided by the proposed project are of sufficient quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice among the recipients of those services. (e) Adequacy of resources. (15 points) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed project. In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors: (i) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project. (ii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project. (iii) The potential for continued support of the project after Federal funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated commitment of appropriate entities to such support. (f) Quality of the project evaluation. (15 points) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers of the following factors: (i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies. (ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward achieving intended outcomes. Note: This plan must permit the preparation of an evaluation that meets the requirements of 34 CFR 75.590 as well as an annual performance report that evaluates whether project objectives are being met and, if not, includes the changes in program activities that will be adopted (see 34 CFR 75.118 and 75.253). (Instructions for the annual performance report are included in the APPENDIX to this document.) See also the discussion under National Evaluation. National Evaluation The Department is conducting a national evaluation of Even Start Family Literacy projects. Grantees must cooperate with the Department's efforts by adopting an evaluation plan that is consistent with the national evaluation (as well as with the grantee's responsibilities under 34 CFR 75.118, 75.253, and 75.590). It is not expected that the application will include a complete evaluation plan because grantees will be asked to cooperate with the national evaluation of the Even Start Family Literacy Program to be conducted by an independent contractor. Grantees may be required to amend their plans, however, to conform with the national evaluation. The Secretary suggests that each applicant budget for evaluation activities as follows: a project with an estimated cost of up to $120,000 should designate $10,000 for this purpose. These funds will be used for expenditures related to the collection and aggregation of data required for the Department's national evaluation. The Secretary also recommends that applicants budget for the cost of travel to Washington, DC and two nights' lodging for the project director and project evaluator, for their participation in annual evaluation meetings. Information by project and budget periods. Under 34 CFR 75.112 and 75.117, an eligible applicant must propose a project period, and provide budgetary information for each budget period of that proposed project period. The Secretary requests that the budgetary information include an amount for all key project components with an accompanying breakdown of any subcomponents, along with a written justification for all requested amounts. (A form for reporting this information is contained in the appendix of this notice.) 34 CFR 75.112(b) also requires that an applicant describe how and when, in each budget period of the project, it plans to meet each objective of the project. (NOTE: The Department will use this information, in conjunction with the grantee's annual performance report required under 34 CFR 75.118(a), to determine whether a continuation award for the subsequent budget year should be made. Under 34 CFR 75.253 a grantee can receive a continuation award only if it demonstrates that it either has made substantial progress toward meeting the objectives of the approved project, or has received the Assistant Secretary's approval of changes in the project to enable it to meet the objectives in the succeeding budget periods.) 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 [[Page 19089]] 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. The addresses of individual State Single Point of Contact are in the appendix to this notice. 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# 84.214A, 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 #84.214A), 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 or before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA#84.214A), 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. (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 notice contains the following 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, various assurances and certifications, and required documentation. Instructions for the Application Narrative. Estimated Public Reporting Burden Statement. Notice to All Applicants. Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 (Rev. 4-88)) and instructions. Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED Form No. 524) and instructions. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B) and instructions. 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: DonnaMarie Marlow, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Migrant Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 4100, Portals Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-6135. Telephone Number: (202) 260- 1164. 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 listed in the preceding paragraph. Please note, however, that the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternate format the standard forms included in the notice. 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. [[Page 19090]] Note: The official version of a document is the document published in the Federal Register. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6362(a)(1)(A) Dated: April 13, 1998. Gerald N. Tirozzi, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. Instructions for the Application Narrative Before preparing the Application Narrative, an applicant should read carefully the description of the program and 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. (NOTE: While applicants can address the criteria in any way that is reasonable, given the required emphasis of any MEES project on early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic education, and parenting education, the Secretary believes that a reasonable plan of operation would address these three objectives. Moreover, consistent with 34 CFR 75.112(b), which requires that the application describe how and when, in each budget period, the applicant plans to meet each project objective, the Secretary believes that applicants would want particularly to describe each goal in terms of measurable objectives, specific activities that are proposed to meet each objective, time lines associated with these activities, the resources believed to be needed to achieve each objective, and how each objective will be evaluated.) 3. Provide the following information in response to the attached ``NOTICE TO ALL APPLICANTS''; (1) a reference to the portion of the application in which the applicant has described the steps that the applicant proposes to take to remove barriers to equitable access to, and equitable participation in, project activities; or (2) a separate statement that includes this information. 4. Include any other pertinent information that might assist the Secretary in reviewing the application. The Application Narrative must be double-spaced, typed on one side only, and must not exceed 50 numbered pages--appendices excepted. 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 information collection is 1810-0541. (Expiration date: March 31, 1999). The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 60 hours per response including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. 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. If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Office of Migrant Education, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-6135. 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 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 may 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 intends 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). [[Page 19091]] 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 [[Page 19092]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16AP98.015 [[Page 19093]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16AP98.016 [[Page 19094]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16AP98.017 [[Page 19095]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16AP98.018 [[Page 19096]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16AP98.019 [[Page 19097]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16AP98.020 [[Page 19098]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16AP98.021 [[Page 19099]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16AP98.022 [[Page 19100]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16AP98.023 [[Page 19101]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16AP98.024 [[Page 19102]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16AP98.025 [[Page 19103]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16AP98.026 BILLING CODE 4000-01-C [[Page 19104]] State Single Points of Contact (as of April 13, 1997) Note: In accordance with Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs, this listing represents the designated State Single Points of Contact (SPOCs). Because participation is voluntary, some States and territories no longer participate in the process. These include: Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. The jurisdictions not listed no longer participate in the process. However, an applicant is still eligible to apply for a grant or grants even if its respective State, Territory, Commonwealth, etc. does not have a SPOC. Arizona Joni Saad, Arizona State Clearinghouse, 3800 N. Central Avenue, Fourteenth Floor, Phoenix, Arizona 85012, Telephone: (602) 280-1315, FAX: (602) 280-8144 Arkansas Mr. Tracy L. Copeland, Manager, State Clearinghouse, Office of Intergovernmental Services, Department of Finance and Administration, 1515 W. 7th Street, room 412, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203, Telephone: (501) 682-1074, FAX: (501) 682-5206 California Grants Coordinator, Office of Planning & Research, 1600 Ninth Street, room 250, Sacramento, California 95814, Telephone: (916) 323-7480, FAX: (916) 323-3018; Block Grants only that pertain to Mental Health Substance Abuse; PATH Delaware Francine Booth, State Single Point of Contact, Executive Department, Office of the Budget, Thomas Collins Building, P.O. Box 1401, Dover, Delaware 19903, Telephone: (302) 739-3326, FAX: (302) 739-5661 District of Columbia Charles Nichols, State Single Point of Contact, Office of Grants Management & Development, 717 14th Street, NW., suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20005, Telephone: (202) 727-6554, FAX: (202) 727- 1617 Florida Florida State Clearinghouse, Department of Community Affairs, 2740 Centerview Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100, Telephone: (904) 922-5438, FAX: (904) 487-2899 Georgia Tom L. Reid, III, Coordinator, Georgia State Clearinghouse, 270 Washington Street, S.W.--8th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30334, Telephone: (404) 656-3855, FAX: (404) 656-3828 Illinois Ms. Virginia Bova, Single Point of Contact, Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, James R. Thompson Center, 100 West Randolph, Suite 3-400, Chicago, IL 60601, Telephone: (312) 814-6028, FAX: (312) 814-1800 Indiana Frances Williams, State Budget Agency, 212 State House, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2796, Telephone: (317) 232-5619, FAX: (317) 233-3323 Iowa Steven R. McCann, Division for Community Assistance, Iowa Department of Economic Development, 200 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309, Telephone: (515) 242-4719, FAX: (515) 242-4809 Kentucky Kevin J. Goldsmith, Director, John-Mark Hack, Deputy Director, Sandra Brewer, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of the Governor, 700 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Telephone: (502) 564-2611, FAX: (502) 564-2849 Maine Joyce Benson, State Planning Office, 184 State Street, 38 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333, Telephone: (207) 287-3261, FAX: (207) 287-6489 Maryland William G. Carroll, Manager, Plan & Project Review, Maryland Office of Planning, 301 W. Preston Street, room 1104, Baltimore, Maryland 21201-2365, Staff Contact: Linda Janey, Telephone: (410) 767-4490, FAX: (410) 767-4480 Michigan Richard Pfaff, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, 660 Plaza Drive, suite 1900, Detroit, Michigan 48226, Telephone: (313) 961- 4266, FAX: (313) 961-4869 Mississippi Cathy Mallette, Clearinghouse Officer, Department of Finance and Administration, 455 North Lamar Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39302- 3087, Telephone: (601) 359-6762, FAX: (601) 359-6764 Missouri Lois Pohl, Federal Assistance Clearinghouse, Office of Administration, P.O. Box 809, Room 760, Truman Building, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, Telephone: (314) 751-4834, FAX: (314) 751-7819 Nevada Department of Administration, State Clearinghouse, Capitol Complex, Carson City, Nevada 89710, Telephone: (702) 687-4065, FAX: (702) 687-3983 New Hampshire Jeffrey H. Taylor, Director, New Hampshire Office of State Planning, Attn: Mike Blake, Intergovernmental Review Process, 2\1/2\ Beacon Street, Concord, New Hampshire 03301, Telephone: (603) 271-2155, FAX: (603) 271-1728 New Mexico Robert Peters, State Budget Division, Room 190, Bataan Memorial Building, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503, Telephone: (505) 827-3640 New York New York State Clearinghouse, Division of the Budget, State Capitol, Albany, New York 12224, Telephone: (518) 474-1605, FAX: (518) 486- 5617 North Carolina Chrys Baggett, Director, N.C. State Clearinghouse, Office of the Secretary of Admin., 116 West Jones Street, suite 5106, Raleigh, North Carolina 27603-8003, Telephone: (919) 733-7232, FAX: (919) 733-9571 North Dakota North Dakota Single Point of Contact, Office of Intergovernmental Assistance, 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, North Dakota 58505- 0170, Telephone: (701) 224-2094, FAX: (701) 224-2308 Rhode Island Kevin Nelson, Review Coordinator, Department of Administration, Division of Planning, One Capitol Hill, 4th floor, Providence, Rhode Island 02908-5870, Telephone: (401) 277-2656, FAX: (401) 277-2083 South Carolina Rodney Grizzle, State Single Point of Contact, Grant Services, Office of the Governor, 1205 Pendleton Street, room 331, Columbia, South Carolina 29201, Telephone: (803) 734-0494, FAX: (803) 734-0356 Texas Tom Adams, Governor's Office, Director, Intergovernmental Coordination, P.O. Box 12428, Austin, Texas 78711, Telephone: (512) 463-1771, FAX: (512) 463-1880 Utah Carolyn Wright, Utah State Clearinghouse, Office of Planning and Budget, Room 116, State Capitol, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114, Telephone: (801) 538-1535, FAX: (801) 538-1547 West Virginia Fred Cutlip, Director, Community Development Division, W. Virginia Development Office, Building #6, room 553, Charleston, West Virginia 25305, Telephone: (304) 558-4010, FAX: (304) 558-3248 Wisconsin Jeff Smith, Section Chief, State/Federal Relations, Wisconsin Department of Administration, 101 East Wilson Street, 6th floor, P.O. Box 7868, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, Telephone: (608) 266-0267, FAX: (608) 267-6931 Wyoming Matthew Jones, State Single Point of Contact, Office of the Governor, 200 West 24th Street, State Capitol, room 124, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002, Telephone: (307) 777-7446, FAX: (307) 632-3909, Territories Guam Mr. Giovanni T. Sgambelluri, Director, Bureau of Budget and Management Research, Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 2950, Agana, Guam 96910, Telephone: [[Page 19105]] 011-671-472-2285, FAX: 011-671-472-2825 Puerto Rico Norma Burgos/Jose E. Caro, Chairwoman/Director, Puerto Rico Planning Board, Federal Proposals Review Office, Minillas Government Center, P.O. Box 41119, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00940-1119, Telephone: (809) 727-4444; (809) 723-6190, FAX: (809) 724-3270; (809) 724-3103 Northern Mariana Islands Mr. Alvaro A. Santos, Executive Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Office of the Governor, Saipan, MP 96950, Telephone: (670) 664-2256, FAX: (670) 664-2272, Contact person: Ms. Jacoba T. Seman, Federal Programs Coordinator, Telephone: (670) 664-2289, FAX: (670) 664-2272 Virgin Islands Nellon Bowry, Director, Office of Management and Budget, #41 Norregade Emancipation Garden Station, Second Floor, Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802; Please direct all questions and correspondence about intergovernmental review to: Linda Clarke, Telephone: (809) 774-0750, FAX: (809) 776-0069 Note: This list is based on the most current information provided by the States. Information on any changes or apparent errors should be provided to Donna Rivelli (Telephone: (202) 395- 5858) at the Office of Management and Budget and to the State in question. Changes to the list will only be made upon formal notification by the State. The list is updated every six months and is also published biannually in the Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance. The last changes made were Kentucky (12-2-97) and California telephone and FAX numbers (1-29-98). [FR Doc. 98-10115 Filed 4-15-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P