[Federal Register: April 16, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 73)]
[Notices]
[Page 18887-18890]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16ap99-55]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA No.: 84.282A]
Public Charter Schools Program (PCSP)
Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY)
1999.
Purpose of Program: The major purpose of the PCSP is to expand the
number of high-quality charter schools available to students across the
Nation by providing financial assistance for the planning, program
design, and initial implementation of public charter schools;
evaluation of the effects of charter schools; and the dissemination of
information about charter schools and successful practices in charter
schools.
Who May Apply: (a) State educational agencies (SEAs) in States with
a specific State statute authorizing the establishment of charter
schools. The Secretary awards grants to SEAs to enable them to conduct
charter school programs in their States. SEAs use their PCSP funds to
award subgrants to ``eligible applicants,'' as defined in this notice,
for planning, program design, and initial implementation of a charter
school; and to support the dissemination of information about, and
successful practices in, charter schools. A charter school may apply
for funds to carry out dissemination activities, whether or not the
charter school has applied for or received funds under the PCSP for
planning or implementation, if the charter school has been in operation
for at least 3 consecutive years and has demonstrated overall success ,
including--
(i) Substantial progress in improving student achievement;
(ii) High levels of parent satisfaction; and
(iii) The management and leadership necessary to overcome initial
start-up problems and establish a thriving, financially viable charter
school.
(b) Under certain circumstances, an authorized public chartering
agency participating in a partnership with a charter school developer.
Such a partnership is eligible to receive funding directly from the
U.S. Department of Education if--
(i) The SEA in its State elects not to participate in this program;
or
(ii) The SEA in its State does not have an application approved
under this program.
If an SEA's application is approved in this competition, applications
received from non-SEA eligible applicants in that State will be
returned to the applicants. In such a case, the eligible applicant
should contact the SEA for information related to its subgrant
competition.
Note: The following States currently have approved applications
under this program: California, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Rhode Island,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas. In these States, only the
SEA is eligible to receive an award under this competition. Eligible
applicants in these States should contact their respective SEAs for
information about participation in the State's charter school
subgrant program.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 1, 1999.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 30, 1999.
Applications Available: April 16, 1999.
Available Funds: $50,000,000.
Estimated Range of Awards:
State educational agencies: $500,000-$5,000,000 per year
Other eligible applicants: $25,000-$150,000 per year
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
State educational agencies: $3,000,000 per year
Other eligible applicants: $100,000 per year
Estimated Number of Awards:
State educational agencies: 10-15
Other eligible applicants: 20-30
Note: These estimates are projections for the guidance of
potential applicants. The Department is not bound by any estimates
in this notice.
[[Page 18888]]
Project Period:
State educational agencies: Up to 36 months
Other eligible applicants: Up to 36 months
Note: Grants awarded by the Secretary directly to non-SEA
eligible applicants or subgrants awarded by SEAs to eligible
applicants will be awarded for a period of up to 36 months, of which
the eligible applicant may use--
(a) Not more than 18 months for planning and program design;
(b) Not more than two years for the initial implementation of a
charter school; and
(c) Not more than two years to carry out dissemination
activities.
Applicable Regulations and Statute: The Education Department
General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 75 (except
75.210), 76, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86. Title X, Part C,
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended, 20
U.S.C. 8061-8067.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of wider education reform efforts to
strengthen teaching and learning, charter schools can be an innovative
approach to improving public education and expanding public school
choice. While there is no one model, public charter schools are
exempted from most statutory and regulatory requirements in exchange
for performance-based accountability. They are intended to stimulate
the creativity and commitment of teachers, parents, students, and
citizens and contribute to better student academic achievement.
Congress reauthorized the PCSP in October 1998, by enacting the
Charter School Expansion Act of 1998. Under the new legislation, SEA
applicants for funding are required to include in their applications
descriptions of how the SEA (a) will inform each charter school in the
State about Federal funds the charter school is eligible to receive and
Federal programs in which the charter school may participate; (b) will
ensure that each charter school in the State receives the charter
school's commensurate share of Federal education funds that are
allocated by formula each year, including during the charter school's
first year of operation; and (c) will disseminate best or promising
practices of charter schools to LEAs in the State. The new legislation
also added a requirement that SEA applicants as well as charter school
applicants include in their applications descriptions of how charter
schools that are considered to be LEAs under State law and LEAs in
which a charter school is located will comply with sections 613(a)(5)
and 613(e)(1)(B) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Additional information regarding the required contents of applications,
diversity of projects, and waivers are provided in the application
package for this program.
The following definitions, selection criteria, priority criteria,
amount criteria, authorized uses of funds for dissemination activities,
and allowable activities are taken from the Public Charter Schools
statute, in Title X, Part C, of the ESEA. They are being repeated in
this application notice for the convenience of the applicant.
Definitions
The following definitions apply to this program:
(a) Charter school means a public school that--
(i) In accordance with a specific State statute authorizing the
granting of charters to schools, is exempted from significant State or
local rules that inhibit the flexible operation and management of
public schools, but not from any rules relating to the other
requirements of this definition;
(ii) Is created by a developer as a public school, or is adapted by
a developer from an existing public school, and is operated under
public supervision and direction;
(iii) Operates in pursuit of a specific set of educational
objectives determined by the school's developer and agreed to by the
authorized public chartering agency;
(iv) Provides a program of elementary or secondary education, or
both;
(v) Is nonsectarian in its programs, admissions policies,
employment practices, and all other operations, and is not affiliated
with a sectarian school or religious institution;
(vi) Does not charge tuition;
(vii) Complies with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, title IX of the Education Amendments of
1972, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and part B of the
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act;
(viii) Is a school to which parents choose to send their children,
and that admits students on the basis of a lottery, if more students
apply for admission than can be accommodated;
(ix) Agrees to comply with the same Federal and State audit
requirements as do other elementary and secondary schools in the State,
unless the requirements are specifically waived for the purposes of
this program;
(x) Meets all applicable Federal, State, and local health and
safety requirements;
(xi) Operates in accordance with State law; and
(xii) Has a written performance contract with the authorized public
chartering agency in the State that includes a description of how
student performance will be measured in charter schools pursuant to
State assessments that are required of other schools and pursuant to
any other assessments mutually agreeable to the authorized public
chartering agency and the charter school.
(b) Developer means an individual or group of individuals
(including a public or private nonprofit organization), which may
include teachers, administrators and other school staff, parents, or
other members of the local community in which a charter school project
will be carried out.
(c) Eligible applicant means an authorized public chartering agency
participating in a partnership with a developer to establish a charter
school in accordance with this program.
(d) Authorized public chartering agency means a State educational
agency, local educational agency, or other public entity that has the
authority under State law and is approved by the Secretary to authorize
or approve a charter school.
Selection Criteria for SEAs
The maximum possible score for all of the criteria in this section
is 140 points. The maximum possible score for each criterion is
indicated in parentheses following each criterion. In evaluating an
application from an SEA, the Secretary considers the following
criteria:
(a) The contribution that the charter schools grant program will
make in assisting educationally disadvantaged and other students to
achieve State content standards, State student performance standards,
and, in general, a State's education improvement plan (20 points).
(b) The degree of flexibility afforded by the SEA to charter
schools under the State's charter schools law (20 points).
(c) The ambitiousness of the objectives for the State charter
school grant program (20 points).
(d) The quality of the strategy for assessing achievement of those
objectives (20 points).
(e) The likelihood that the charter schools grant program will meet
those objectives and improve educational results for students (20
points).
(f) The number of high quality charter schools created under this
part in the State (20 points).
(g) In the case of State educational agencies that propose to use
grant funds to support dissemination activities under section
10302(c)(2)(C)of the
[[Page 18889]]
ESEA, the quality of those activities and the likelihood that those
activities will improve student achievement (20 points).
Selection Criteria for Non-SEA Eligible Applicants
The maximum possible score for all of the criteria in this section
is 140 points. The maximum possible score for each criterion is
indicated in parentheses following each criterion. In evaluating an
application from an eligible applicant other than an SEA the Secretary
considers the following criteria:
(a) The quality of the proposed curriculum and instructional
practices (20 points).
(b) The degree of flexibility afforded by the SEA and, if
applicable, the local educational agency to the charter school (20
points).
(c) The extent of community support for the application (20
points).
(d) The ambitiousness of the objectives for the charter school (20
points).
(e) The quality of the strategy for assessing achievement of those
objectives (20 points).
(f) The likelihood that the charter school will meet those
objectives and improve educational results for students (20 points).
(g) In the case of an eligible applicant that proposes to use grant
funds to support dissemination activities under section 10302(c)(2)(C)
of the ESEA, the quality of those activities and the likelihood that
those activities will improve student achievement (20 points).
Priority Criteria
In awarding grants for FYs 1999, 2000, and 2001 from funds
appropriated under section 10311 of the ESEA that are in excess of $51
million for the FY, the Secretary gives priority under this competition
to States to the extent that the States meet the criteria described in
paragraph (a) below, and one or more of the criteria described in
paragraphs (b) through (d) below (20 points).
(a) The State provides for periodic review and evaluation by the
authorized public chartering agency of each charter school, at least
once every 5 years unless required more frequently by State law, to
determine whether the charter school is meeting the terms of the
school's charter, and is meeting or exceeding the academic performance
requirements and goals for charter schools as set forth under State law
or the school's charter.
(b) The State has demonstrated progress, in increasing the number
of high quality charter schools that are held accountable in the terms
of the schools' charters for meeting clear and measurable objectives
for the educational progress of the students attending the schools, in
the period prior to the period for which a State educational agency or
eligible applicant applies for a grant under this competition.
(c) The State--
(i) Provides for one authorized public chartering agency that is
not a local educational agency, such as a State chartering board, for
each individual or entity seeking to operate a charter school pursuant
to such State law; or
(ii) In the case of a State in which local educational agencies are
the only authorized public chartering agencies, allows for an appeals
process for the denial of an application for a charter school.
(d) The State ensures that each charter school has a high degree of
autonomy over the charter school's budgets and expenditures.
Amount Criteria
In determining the amount of a grant to be awarded under this
competition to a State educational agency, the Secretary shall take
into consideration the number of charter schools that are operating or
approved to open in the State.
Allowable Activities
An eligible applicant receiving a grant or subgrant under this
program may use the grant or subgrant funds for only--
(a) Post-award planning and design of the educational program,
which may include--
(i) Refinement of the desired educational results and of the
methods for measuring progress toward achieving those results; and
(ii) Professional development of teachers and other staff who will
work in the charter school; and
(b) Initial implementation of the charter school, which may
include--
(i) Informing the community about the school;
(ii) Acquiring necessary equipment and educational materials and
supplies;
(iii) Acquiring or developing curriculum materials; and
(iv) Other initial operating costs that cannot be met from State or
local sources.
Use of Funds for Dissemination Activities
A State educational agency may reserve not more than 10 percent of
the grant funds to support dissemination activities. A charter school
may use such funds to assist other schools in adapting the charter
school's program (or certain aspects of the charter school's program),
or to disseminate information about the charter school, through such
activities as--
(a) Assisting other individuals with the planning and startup of
one or more new public schools, including charter schools, that are
independent of the assisting charter school and the assisting charter
school's developers, and that agree to be held to at least as high a
level of accountability as the assisting charter school;
(b) Developing partnerships with other public schools, including
charter schools, designed to improve student performance in each of the
schools participating in the partnership;
(c) Developing curriculum materials, assessments, and other
materials that promote increased student achievement and are based on
successful practices within the assisting charter school; and
(d) Conducting evaluations and developing materials that document
the successful practices of the assisting charter school and that are
designed to improve student achievement.
FOR APPLICATIONS OR INFORMATION CONTACT: John Fiegel, U.S. Department
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Room 3E122, Washington, D.C.
20202-6140. Telephone (202) 260-2671. Internet address: John--
Fiegel@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) upon request to the contact person listed in the preceding
paragraph. 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://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html
To use the pdf, you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with
[[Page 18890]]
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.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 8061-8067.
Dated: April 12, 1999.
Judith Johnson,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 99-9616 Filed 4-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P