[Federal Register: December 19, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 244)]
[Notices]               
[Page 65575-65576]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19de01-86]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No. 84.215L]

 
Smaller Learning Communities Program

ACTION: Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year 
(FY) 2001.

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    Purpose of Program: The Smaller Learning Communities program will 
support the planning, implementation or expansion of small, safe, and 
successful learning environments in large public high schools to help 
ensure that all students graduate with the knowledge and skills 
necessary to make successful transitions to college and careers. These 
grants are authorized by title X, part A, section 10105 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA)(20 U.S.C. 8005).
    Eligible Applicants: Local educational agencies (LEAs), applying on 
behalf of large high schools, or schools funded by the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs (BIA schools), are eligible to apply. For purposes of this 
program, a large high school is defined as a school that includes 
grades 11 and 12 and enrolls at least 1,000 students in grades 9 and 
above.
    Applications Available: December 19, 2001.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 19, 2002.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 18, 2002.
    Estimated Available Funds: $96,700,000.
    Types and Ranges of Awards: The Secretary will award both planning 
grants and implementation grants under this notice. LEAs may apply on 
behalf of one or more eligible schools. For a one-year planning grant, 
an LEA may receive, on behalf of a single school, $25,000 to $50,000 
per project. LEAs applying on behalf of a group of eligible schools may 
receive funds up to $250,000 per planning grant. For a three-year 
implementation grant, an LEA may receive, on behalf of a single school, 
$250,000 to $500,000 per project. LEAs applying on behalf of a group of 
eligible schools may receive funds up to $2,500,000 per implementation 
grant. LEAs may submit multiple applications targeting up to ten 
distinct schools under a single application. However, an LEA may not 
apply on behalf of an eligible high school in more than one 
application.
    Schools that benefited from FY 2000 implementation awards are not 
eligible to receive additional implementation support under this 
competition. Schools that benefited from FY 2000 planning awards are 
not eligible to receive additional planning support under this 
competition, but may apply for an implementation grant. The total 
amount an LEA may receive through any combination of awards, in any 
fiscal year of this program, may not exceed $5 million.

    Note: The size of awards will be based on a number of factors. 
These factors include the scope, quality, and comprehensiveness of 
the proposed program; the size of the population to be served; and 
the recommended range of awards indicated in the application.

    Estimated Number of Awards: The Secretary anticipates making 
approximately 190 new planning grant awards and approximately 90 new 
implementation awards under this competition.

    Note: The Department of Education is not bound by any estimates 
in this notice.

    Project Period: Planning grants will fund activities up to 12 
months. Implementation grants will fund activities up to 36 months.

    Note: Applicants for multi-year awards must provide detailed, 
yearly budget information for the total grant period requested. 
Understanding the unique complexities of implementing a program that 
affects a school's organization, physical design, curriculum, 
instruction, and preparation of teachers, the Secretary anticipates 
awarding the entire grant amount for implementation projects at the 
time of the initial award. This will provide the applicant with the 
capacity to effectively carry out the comprehensive long-term 
activities involved in model development, documentation, evaluation, 
and dissemination of products and practices developed through the 
federal grant. Uninterrupted access to funds will depend upon a 
grantee's close adherence to its yearly budget projections as well 
as submission of an annual performance report, showing adequate 
progress, during the three-year period of the grant.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 
82, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99; and (b) the regulations in the notice of 
final priorities, application requirements, and selection criteria for 
FY 2001 as published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

Competitive Priority--Low-Performing Schools

    This competition gives a competitive priority to projects that meet 
the priority in the Notice of the Final Priorities for this program, 
which is published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the program and to 
download an application, you may access the SLC program web site at

[[Page 65576]]

www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/SLCP/. If you have questions pertaining to the 
application, you may send an email to 
smallerlearningcommunities@ed.gov. If you need further assistance and 
need to speak with someone in the SLC program, you may contact Andrew 
Abrams, (202) 260-7430, 330 C Street, SW, MES Bldg., Room 5512, 
Washington, DC 20202. You may also contact Diane Austin (202) 260-1280, 
400 Maryland Ave., SW, Room 5C149, Washington, DC 20202-6200. Requests 
for applications may also be sent by fax to (202) 260-8969.
    Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-
8339. Individuals with disabilities may obtain this notice in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to one of the contact persons listed in the 
preceding paragraph.

Electronic Access to This Document

    You may view this document, as well as all other Department of 
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe 
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site: 
www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister
    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at this site. If you have any questions about using PDF, call the 
U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO); toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or 
in the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.

    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the 
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal 
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://
www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html


    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 8005.

    Dated: December 14, 2001.
Susan B. Neuman,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
Carol D'Amico,
Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education.
[FR Doc. 01-31274 Filed 12-18-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U