FR Doc E6-9287
[Federal Register: June 14, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 114)]
[Notices]
[Page 34330-34331]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14jn06-62]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA No. 84.357]
Reading First
AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice announcing application deadline.
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SUMMARY: Under the Reading First program, we award Targeted Assistance
Grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) that demonstrate an
increase in student achievement in schools and districts participating
in the Reading First program.
As discussed elsewhere in this notice, the data that States must
submit to demonstrate an increase in student achievement are the same
data that States must submit in their annual performance reports for
their Reading First State grants. We are therefore permitting States to
apply for Targeted Assistance Grants by submitting their annual Reading
First performance reports. No separate application is required. This
notice establishes July 31, 2006 as the deadline date for submitting
the annual performance report to apply for a Targeted Assistance Grant.
Application Deadline: July 31, 2006.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Which SEAs Are Eligible for a Targeted Assistance Grant?
An SEA is eligible for a Targeted Assistance Grant if it can show
an increase in student achievement over two consecutive years.
Therefore, an SEA's eligibility for this grant begins when the State
has three years of student achievement data. This may include either--
(a) Student data representing three years of school-level
implementation of the Reading First program; or
(b) Student data representing two years of school-level
implementation of the Reading First program, along with baseline data
from the year preceding implementation.
Specifically, the SEA's application must demonstrate that an
increasing percentage of third-grade students in the schools served by
the local educational agencies that receive Reading First funds are
reaching the proficient level in reading for each of two consecutive
years in each of the following categories--
(a) Economically disadvantaged students;
(b) Students from each major racial and ethnic group;
(c) Students with disabilities; and
(d) Students with limited English proficiency.
The SEA must also demonstrate in its application that for each of
those two consecutive years, the schools receiving Reading First funds
are improving the reading skills of students in grades 1, 2, and 3
based on instructional reading assessments, and that increasing
percentages of students in the State are reading at grade level or
above.
Who Will Review State Applications for Targeted Assistance Grants?
The expert review panel convened to evaluate State applications for
Reading First State Grants will also review
[[Page 34331]]
applications for Targeted Assistance Grants to determine whether the
data the SEA submits demonstrate an increase in student achievement in
schools and districts participating in the Reading First program.
How Is the Targeted Assistance Grant Application Submitted?
The data that States must submit to demonstrate an increase in
student achievement are the same data States must submit in their
annual performance reports. Accordingly, the annual performance report
will serve as the Targeted Assistance Grant application, and States may
apply for a Targeted Assistance Grant by submitting their annual
performance reports. The annual performance report is available and
submitted electronically at: https://www.readingfirstapr.org. States
should indicate that they want their data reviewed in consideration for
a Targeted Assistance Grant by checking the appropriate box on the
annual performance report and by providing the assurances and
information requested. In order to be considered for a Targeted
Assistance Grant, the annual performance report must be submitted by
July 31, 2006. Only those States that want to be considered for a
Targeted Assistance Grant this year must submit their annual
performance reports by this date. All other States must submit their
reports no later than November 30, 2006.
How Will Targeted Assistance Grants be Awarded to Eligible States?
The Department will award the grants to eligible SEAs based on the
information provided in the annual performance report and a statutory
formula for determining award amounts. The statutory formula is
calculated based on the proportion of children aged 5 to 17 who reside
within the State and are from families with incomes below the poverty
line, compared to the number of children aged 5 to 17 from families
with incomes below the poverty line who reside in all States with
approved Targeted Assistance Grant applications for that year. Poverty
data are drawn from the most recent fiscal year for which satisfactory
data are available.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandi Jacobs, telephone: (202) 401-
4877 or by e-mail: sandi.jacobs@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) 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) by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Electronic Access To This Document: You may view this document, as
well as other U.S. Department of Education documents published in the
Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on
the Internet at the following site:
http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have 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 version of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6364.
Dated: June 8, 2006.
Henry Johnson,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. E6-9287 Filed 6-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P