[Federal Register: February 26, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 38)] [Notices] [Page 8690-8692] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr26fe97-43] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CFDA No.: 84.304A] International Education Exchange Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 Purpose of Program: To support international education exchange activities between the United States and eligible countries in civics and government education and economic education. Eligible Applicants: Independent nonprofit educational organizations that-- (a) Have expertise in international achievement comparisons, and are experienced in-- (1) The development and national implementation of curricular programs in civics and government education and economic education for students from grades kindergarten through 12 in local, intermediate, and State educational agencies, in schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and in private schools throughout the Nation with the cooperation and assistance of national professional educational organizations, colleges and universities and private sector organizations; (2) The development and implementation of cooperative university and school-based inservice training programs for teachers of grades kindergarten through 12 using scholars from such relevant disciplines as political science, political philosophy, history, law, and economics; (3) The development of model curricular frameworks in civics and government education and economic education; [[Page 8691]] (4) The administration of international seminars on the goals and objectives of civics and government education or economic education in constitutional democracies (including the sharing of curricular materials) for educational leaders, teacher trainers, scholars in related disciplines, and educational policymakers; and (5) The evaluation of civics and government education or economic education programs; and (b) Have the authority to subcontract with other organizations to carry out these provisions. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 5, 1997. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 7, 1997. Applications Available: March 5, 1997. Available Funds: $4,980,000. Estimated Range of Awards: $2,290,000 to $2,690,000. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $2,490,000. Estimated Number of Awards: 2. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Maximum award: In no case does the Secretary make an award greater than $2,690,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The Secretary does not consider an application that proposes a budget exceeding this maximum amount. Budget period: 12 months. Project Period: Up to 48 months. Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86; and (b) the regulations in 34 CFR parts 98, 99, and 700. PRIORITIES Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and 20 U.S.C. 5951(c)(2)(B) the Secretary gives an absolute preference to applications that meet one of the priorities in the next two paragraphs. The Secretary funds under this competition only applications that meet one of these absolute priorities. Absolute Priority 1--International Education Exchange Program in Civics and Government Education. Absolute Priority 2--International Education Exchange Program in Economic Education. To meet one of these two priorities, each applicant must propose to carry out the following activities, in either civics and government education or economic education: (a) Provide eligible countries with-- (1) Seminars on the basic principles of the United States constitutional democracy and economics, including seminars on the major governmental and economic institutions and systems in the United States, and visits to such institutions; (2) Visits to school systems, institutions of higher learning, and nonprofit organizations conducting exemplary programs in civics and government education and economic education in the United States; (3) Home stays in United States communities; (4) Translations and adaptations regarding the United States civics and government education and economic education curricular programs for students and teachers, and in the case of training programs for teachers translations and adaptations into forms useful in schools in eligible countries, and joint research projects in such areas; (5) Translation of basic documents of United States constitutional government for use in eligible countries, such as The Federalist Papers, selected writings of Presidents Adams and Jefferson, and the Anti-Federalists, and more recent works on political theory, constitutional law and economics; (6) Research and evaluation assistance to determine-- (i) The effects of educational programs on students' development of the knowledge, skills and traits of character essential for the preservation and improvement of constitutional democracy; and (ii) Effective participation in and the preservation and improvement of an efficient market economy; (b) Provide United States participants with-- (1) Seminars on the histories, economies, and governments of eligible countries; (2) Visits to school systems, institutions of higher learning, and organizations conducting exemplary programs in civics and government education and economic education located in eligible countries; (3) Home stays in eligible countries; (4) Assistance from educators and scholars in eligible countries in the development of curricular materials on the history, government, and economies of such countries that are useful in United States classrooms; (5) Opportunities to provide on-site demonstrations of United States curricula and pedagogy for educational leaders in eligible countries; and (6) Research and evaluation assistance to determine-- (i) The effects of educational programs on students' development of the knowledge, skills, and traits of character essential for the preservation and improvement of constitutional democracy; and (ii) Effective participation in and improvement of an efficient market economy; and (7) Educational programs which draw upon the experiences of emerging constitutional democracies that are created and implemented for United States students; and (c) Assist participants from eligible countries and the United States in participating in international conferences on civics and government education and economic education. The primary participants in these conferences shall be leading educators in the areas of civics and government education and economic education, including curriculum and teacher training specialists, scholars in relevant disciplines, and educational policymakers, from the United States and eligible countries. Also, provide a means for the exchange of ideas and experiences in civics and government education and economic education among political, educational, and private sector leaders of participating eligible countries. Note: For this program, the term ``eligible country'' means a Central European country, an Eastern European country, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and any country that formerly was a republic of the Soviet Union whose political independence is recognized in the United States. Selection Criteria: The Secretary selects from the criteria in 34 CFR 700.30(e) to evaluate applications for new grants under this competition. Under 34 CFR 700.30(a), the Secretary will announce in the application package the evaluation criteria selected for this competition and the maximum weight assigned to each criterion. For Applications or Information Contact: Dr. Ram N. Singh or Ms. Rita Foy, U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Room 610, Washington, DC 20208-5573. Telephone: (202)-219-2079. 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 [[Page 8692]] for a discretionary grant competition is the notice published in the Federal Register. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 5951. Dated: February 21, 1997. Marshall Smith, Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement. [FR Doc. 97-4770 Filed 2-25-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P