[Federal Register: April 5, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 64)]
[Notices]
[Page 16573-16576]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05ap99-149]
[[Page 16573]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part IV
Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________
Notice Inviting Applications and Establishing Requirements for New
Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999; Notice
[[Page 16574]]
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA No. 84.338]
Notice Inviting Applications and Establishing Requirements for
New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice Inviting Applications and Establishing Requirements for
New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Reading Excellence Program
Purpose of Program: The Reading Excellence Program provides
competitive reading and literacy grants to eligible State educational
agencies (SEAs). SEAs, in turn, will award competitive subgrants to
local educational agencies (LEAs) to fund local reading improvement
programs and tutorial assistance programs.
Background: The Reading Excellence Act (REA), Part C, Title II of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), was enacted
as Title VIII of the Labor-HHS-ED Appropriations Act of 1999 by Section
101(f) of Pub. L. 105-277, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of FY 1999.
Section 2253 of the REA authorizes a Reading and Literacy Grant Program
to SEAs. Grants are to be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible
SEAs, which in turn will make competitive subgrants to LEAs for two
types of programs: Local Reading Improvement subgrants and Tutorial
Assistance subgrants.
The purposes of the program are: (1) To provide children with the
readiness skills they need to learn to read once they enter school; (2)
to teach every child to read in the child's early childhood years--(a)
as soon as the child is ready to read; or (b) as soon as possible once
the child enters school, but not later than the third grade; (3) to
improve the reading skills of students, and the instructional practices
for current teachers (and, as appropriate, other instructional staff)
who teach reading, through the use of findings from scientifically
based reading research, including findings relating to phonemic
awareness, systematic phonics, fluency, and reading comprehension; (4)
to expand the number of high-quality family literacy programs; and (5)
to provide early literacy intervention to children who are experiencing
reading difficulties in order to reduce the number of children who are
incorrectly identified as a child with a disability and inappropriately
referred to special education.
Each SEA that receives funds must award subgrants on a competitive
basis to eligible LEAs under two programs: Local Reading Improvement
and Tutorial Assistance.
To be eligible for a Local Reading Improvement subgrant, an LEA
must: (a) have at least one school that is identified for school
improvement under section 1116(c) of ESEA in the geographic area served
by the agency; (b) have the largest or second largest number of
children who are counted under section 1124(c) of ESEA, in comparison
to all other LEAs in the State; or (c) have the highest or second
highest school-age child poverty rate, in comparison to all other LEAs
in the State.
To be eligible for a Tutorial Assistance subgrant, an LEA must meet
one of the three conditions listed for Local Reading Improvement
subgrants or have at least one school in the geographic area served by
the agency that (i) is located in an area designated as an empowerment
zone under part I of sub-chapter U of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986; or (ii) is located in an area designated as an enterprise
community under the same part.
Eligible Applicants: SEAs of each of the 50 states, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa,
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are eligible to
apply for a grant.
Applications Available: April 5, 1999.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 7, 1999.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 6, 1999.
Note: Applications must be submitted on or before May 7, 1999,
to be considered for funding. An application for an award may be
submitted by electronic mail (email), regular mail, or hand
delivery. Applications may not be faxed. The following are accepted
for proof of submittal: (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) an electronic
return receipt (for emailed applications); or (5) any other proof of
mailing acceptable to the Secretary.
Special instructions for applications submitted by email:
Applications submitted by email should include an electronic return
receipt and should be mailed to grantspolicy@ed.gov. Applications
submitted by email may be submitted in one of the following formats:
(1) Microsoft Word (Version Word 95 or Word 97) or (2) portable
document format (PDF). The preferred version is Word 97; however, all
versions must have text search capability. The electronic version will
be the official file copy. To ensure the integrity of the program, the
Department will return a printed version to the applicant. The returned
receipt and copy will be considered proof of receipt. All forms
requiring original signatures (ED-424, Application for Federal
Education Assistance; SF 424B, Assurances: Non-Construction Programs;
ED 80-0013, Certifications Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension
and other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements;
ED 80-0014, Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension,
Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions;
and Form LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities) must be mailed to the
Department by the deadline date, as set out above under Deadline for
Transmittal.
Available Funds: $241,100,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000--$30,000,000 per award.
Minimum Grant Award for SEAs Receiving a Grant: $500,000 for SEAs;
$100,000 minimum for territories.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $11,500,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 22.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81,
82, 85, and 86; and (b) 34 CFR Part 299, General Provisions governing
Titles I through XIII of ESEA.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: 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. 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 Secretary, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of
GEPA, has decided to forgo public comment on an absolute priority and a
requirement in order to ensure the timely award of funds. The Secretary
issues an absolute priority elsewhere in this notice and establishes
the following requirement: the SEA must submit with its application the
proposed LEA subgrant application(s) and a description of the
procedures, including review criteria, the SEA will use to award
subgrants; the LEA application(s) and description will be reviewed as
part of the State application by the peer review panel.
[[Page 16575]]
This requirement will apply only to the competition for FY 1999 funds.
Absolute Priority: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) of EDGAR, the
Secretary has the authority to establish an absolute priority for
applications under programs administered by the Department. For all
funds to be awarded under this competition, the Secretary establishes
an absolute priority to applicants that propose projects that
exclusively fund, at the subgrant level, activities to improve
elementary school reading instruction and related early childhood,
professional development, family literacy, and tutorial assistance
activities. To qualify for this priority, States could not fund, at the
subgrant level, any activities for middle schools or high schools.
Under this competition, the Secretary will consider for funding only
those applications that meet this absolute priority.
Competitive Priority: Section 2253(c)(2)(C) of the Reading
Excellence Act requires that priority shall be given to applications
from SEAs whose States have modified, are modifying, or provide an
assurance that they will modify within 18 months after receiving an REA
grant the SEA's elementary school teacher certification requirements.
The modification must increase the training and the methods of teaching
reading required for certification as an elementary school teacher to
reflect scientifically based reading research. However, nothing in the
REA shall be construed to establish a national system of teacher
certification.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv) and (c)(2), respectively, the
Secretary is not required to seek public comment on a specific priority
set out in the statute and can implement that priority as a competitive
preference. The Secretary will award 10 additional points to applicants
that meet the REA competitive priority.
Selection Criteria: Under 34 CFR 75.210, the Secretary has chosen
the following selection criteria. The maximum possible score for each
criterion is indicated in parentheses with the criterion. The Secretary
awards up to 100 points for all criteria. In addition, an applicant may
be awarded 10 additional points under the Competitive Priority
announced in this notice.
(a) Significance (10 points). (1) The Secretary considers the
significance of the proposed project. In determining the significance
of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factor:
(i) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build
local capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the
needs of the target population.
(b) Quality of project design (30 points). (1) The Secretary
considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. (2) In
determining the quality of the proposed project design, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated
with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community,
State, and Federal resources.
(ii) The extent to which the proposed project design reflects up-
to-date knowledge from research and effective practice.
(iii) The extent to which the proposed project is based upon a
specific research design, and the quality and appropriateness of that
design, including the scientific rigor of the studies involved.
(iv) The extent to which the proposed project is part of a
comprehensive effort to improve teaching and learning and support
rigorous academic standards for students.
(v) The extent to which the proposed project encourages parental
involvement.
(c) Quality of project services (35 points). (1) The Secretary
considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed
project. (2) 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. (3) In addition, the Secretary
considers the following:
(i) 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.
(ii) The extent to which the technical assistance services to be
provided by the proposed project involve the use of efficient
strategies, including the use of technology, as appropriate, and the
leveraging of non-project resources.
(iii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the
proposed project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and
effective practice.
(iv) The extent to which the services to be provided by the
proposed project are appropriate to the needs of the intended
recipients or beneficiaries of those services.
(v) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed
project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for
maximizing the effectiveness of project services.
(d) Adequacy of resources (10 points). (1) The Secretary considers
the adequacy of resources for the proposed project. (2) In determining
the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary
considers the following factor:
(i) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the
number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and
benefits.
(e) Quality of the management plan (5 points). (1) The Secretary
considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factor:
(i) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives
are brought to bear in the operation of the proposed project, including
those of parents, teachers, the business community, a variety of
disciplinary and professional fields, recipients or beneficiaries of
services, or others, as appropriate.
(f) Quality of the project evaluation (10 points). (1) The
Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of
the proposed project. (2) In determining the quality of the evaluation,
the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and
qualitative data to the extent possible.
(ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward
achieving intended outcomes.
Intergovernmental Review
The Reading and Excellence Act in this notice is subject to the
requirements of Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR
Part 79. The objective of the Executive order is to foster an
intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism by relying
on processes developed by State and local governments for coordination
and review of proposed Federal financial assistance.
In accordance with the order, this document is intended to provide
early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for
this program.
For Applications or Information Contact: To request an application
or to
[[Page 16576]]
obtain further information about the competition, contact Dr. Joseph
Conaty, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room
5C141, Washington, DC 20202-6200; call (202) 260-8228; or email
reading__excellence@ed.gov.
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) by contacting Katie Mincey, Director, Alternate Format
Center, 330 C St. SW, Room 1000, Washington, DC 20202-4560; by calling
(202) 260-9895 or 205-8113; or by emailing katie__mincey@ed.gov.
Individuals with disabilities also may obtain a copy of the application
package in an alternate format by contacting Ms. Mincey. 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 the following
site:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
To use the PDF version you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader
program, which is available free by going through the previous site. If
you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing
office at (202) 512-1530 or toll free at 1-888-293-6498.
Anyone may 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 this document is the document
published in the Federal Register.
Electronic Submission of Applications: Applications for this grant
may be submitted by email, regular mail, or hand delivery. Electronic
submission is the preferred method of submission. To ensure application
integrity, a printed version of all electronic submissions will be
returned to applicants.
Program Authority: Reading Excellence Act, Part C, Title II of
ESEA, was enacted as Title VIII of the Labor-HHS-ED Appropriations
Act of 1999 by Section 101(f) of Pub. L. 105-277, the Omnibus
Appropriations Act of FY 1999.
Dated: March 30, 1999.
Judith Johnson,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 99-8278 Filed 3-31-99; 3:27 pm]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P