[Federal Register: July 2, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 128)]
[Notices]
[Page 34671-34687]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA No.: 84.184E]
Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Federal Activities
Grants Program (Hate Crimes Prevention)
Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY)
1996.
Note to Applicants: This notice is a complete application package.
Together with the statute authorizing the program and applicable
regulations governing the program, including the Education Department
General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), the notice contains all of
the information, application forms, and instructions needed to apply
for a grant under this competition.
Purpose of Program: To fund the development and implementation of
innovative, effective strategies for preventing and reducing the
incidence of crimes and conflicts motivated by hate in localities
directly affected by hate crimes.
Eligible Applicants: Public and private nonprofit organizations and
individuals, including local educational agencies.
Deadline for Receipt of Applications: August 2, 1996.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 2, 1996.
Available Funds: $2,000,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$300,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $200,000.
Estimate Number of Awards: 10.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 12 months.
Applicable Regulations:
(a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations
(EDGAR) as follows:
(1) 34 CFR Part 74 (Administration of Grants to Institutions of
Higher Education, Hospitals, and Nonprofit Organizations).
(2) 34 CFR Part 75 (Direct Grant Programs).
(3) 34 CFR Part 77 (Definitions that Apply to Department
Regulations).
(4) 34 CFR Part 79 (Intergovernmental Review of Department of
Education Programs and Activities).
(5) 34 CFR Part 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants
and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments).
(6) 34 CFR Part 81 (General Education Provisions Act--Enforcement).
(7) 34 CFR Part 82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying).
(8) 34 CFR Part 85 (Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension
(Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free
Workplace (Grants)).
(9) 34 CFR Part 86 (Drug-Free Schools and Campuses).
Note: As of July 1, 1995, Part 86 of EDGAR no longer applies to
SEAs and LEAs. It continues to apply to IHEs. This change results
from the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994, Pub.L. 103-382.
Description of Program: The seventh National Education Goal
provides that, by the year 2000, all schools in America will be free of
drugs and violence and the unauthorized presence of firearms and
alcohol and offer a disciplined environment that is conducive to
learning. The State grant portion of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and
Communities Act (SDFSCA) provides funding to 97 percent of school
districts in the nation to assist them in preventing violence in and
around schools, promoting safety and discipline for students, and
preventing the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The
Safe and Drug-Free Schools Federal Activities Grants Program reinforces
that effort by supporting the development of innovative programs that
(1) demonstrate effective new methods of ensuring safe and drug-free
schools and communities, and (2) ultimately will provide models of
proven effective practice that will assist schools and communities
around the nation to improve their programs under the SDFSCA.
Public and private nonprofit organizations and individuals
receiving funds under this program may not use funds for construction
(except for minor remodeling needed to carry out the activities
described in the application) and medical services, drug treatment or
rehabilitation, except for pupil services or referral to treatment for
students who are victims of or witnesses to crime or who use alcohol,
tobacco, or drugs.
The term `nonprofit', as applied to a school, agency, organization,
or institution means a school, agency, organization, or institution
owned and operated by one or more nonprofit corporations or
associations, no part of the net earnings of which inures, or may
lawfully inure, to the benefit of any private shareholder or
individual.
In making awards under this grant program, the Secretary may take
into consideration the geographic distribution and diversity of
activities addressed by the projects, in addition to the rank order of
applications.
Background
Consistent with the definition used by the Department of Justice, a
hate crime
[[Page 34672]]
is a criminal offense committed against a person or property that is
motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender's bias against a race,
religion, ethnic/national origin, or sexual orientation group.
National attention has focused on the recent wave of church
burnings and the need to intervene forcefully to prevent these criminal
acts and to promote tolerance among races, cultures, and religions. A
recent report in The Washington Post (Wednesday, June 19, 1996, page
A1) notes: ``The people burning down black churches in the South are
generally white, male and young, usually economically marginalized or
poorly educated, frequently drunk or high on drugs, rarely affiliated
with hate groups, but often deeply driven by racism. * * *'' In the
last 18 months, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms, there have been 37 suspicious fires at predominantly African
American churches and 23 suspicious fires at predominantly white
churches.
Data collected from six States as part of the Department of Justice
study on juvenile hate crime suggest that an estimated 17 percent to 26
percent of all hate crimes recorded by law enforcement can be
attributed to persons under the age of 18. The study also identified a
correlation between involvement in hate crime offenses and gang-related
crime.
Priority: The priority in the notice of final priorities for this
program, as published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register
and repeated below, applies to this competition.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and
Communities Act of 1994, the Secretary gives an absolute preference to
applications that meet the following priority. The Secretary funds
under this competition only applications that meet the absolute
priority.
Absolute Priority--Developing and implementing innovative,
effective strategies for preventing and reducing the incidence of
crimes and conflicts motivated by hate in localities directly affected
by hate crimes.
Applicants proposing a project under this priority must--
(1) Describe the problem that will be addressed, including an
assessment of the number of persons who will benefit from the project;
(2) Demonstrate that the community to be served by the project has
a significant level of crime or conflict motivated by hate;
(3) Describe the activities to be implemented and explain how they
are based on research and best practices, how they will lead to
sustained improvements in the school and community environment, and how
they will be cost-effective and replicable;
(4) Provide evidence of collaboration with the following groups in
the planning and implementation of the program--
(i) Students and families,
(ii) Local school officials and teachers,
(iii) Community leaders and representatives from groups such as
religious, business, and civic organizations, and
(iv) Juvenile justice, law enforcement, and community policing
representatives;
(5) Identify the roles and responsibilities of each participating
group;
(6) Describe the behavioral, developmental, or theoretical basis
for the proposed project and provide evidence for its effectiveness in
preventing and reducing the incidence of crimes and conflicts motivated
by hate;
(7) Identify the intended audience to be served and describe how
the proposed activities are appropriate for the target population;
(8) Provide a detailed plan of implementation, including evidence
of ability to begin service delivery within four months of the grant
award;
(9) Identify performance goals for the project and provide a
description of how progress toward achieving goals will be measured;
and
(10) Provide evidence of the proposed strategy's potential to
provide a replicable model of effective practice for other schools and
communities facing similar problems.
Selection Criteria: (a)(1) The Secretary uses the following
selection criteria to evaluate applications for new grants under this
competition.
(2) The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points.
(3) The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in
parentheses.
(b) The criteria.--(1) Meeting the purposes of the authorizing
statute. (30 Points) the Secretary reviews each application to
determine how well the project will meet the purpose of the Safe and
Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1994 including consideration
of--
(i) The objectives of the project; and
(ii) How the objectives of the project further the purposes of the
Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1994.
(2) Extent of need for the project. (30 points) The Secretary
reviews each application to determine the extent to which the project
meets specific needs recognized in the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and
Communities Act of 1994, including consideration of--
(i) The needs addressed by the project;
(ii) How the applicant identified those needs;
(iii) How those needs will be met by the project; and
(iv) The benefits to be gained by meeting those needs.
(3) Plan of Operation. (20 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine the quality of the plan of operation for the
project, including--
(i) The quality of the design of the project;
(ii) The extent to which the plan of management is effective and
ensures proper and efficient administration of the project;
(iii) How well the objectives of the project relate to the purpose
of the program;
(iv) The quality of the applicant's plan to use its resources and
personnel to achieve each objective; and
(v) How the applicant will ensure that project participants who are
otherwise eligible to participate are selected without regard to race,
color, national origin, gender, age, or handicapping condition.
(4) Quality of key personnel. (7 points)
(i) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality
of key personnel the applicant plans to use on the project, including--
(A) The qualifications of the project director (if one is to be
used);
(B) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be
used in the project;
(C) The time that each person referred to in paragraphs (b)(4)(i)
(A) and (B) will commit to the project; and
(D) How the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment
practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected for employment
without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or
handicapping condition.
(ii) To determine personnel qualifications under paragraphs
(b)(4)(i) (A) and (B), the Secretary considers--
(A) Experience and training in fields related to the objectives of
the project; and
(B) Any other qualifications that pertain to the quality of the
project.
(5) Budget and cost effectiveness. (5 points) The Secretary reviews
each application to determine the extent to which--
(i) The budget is adequate to support the project; and
(ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the
project.
[[Page 34673]]
(6) Evaluation plan. (5 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine the quality of the evaluation plan for the
project, including the extent to which the applicant's methods of
evaluation--
(i) Are appropriate to the project; and
(ii) To the extent possible, are objective and produce data that
are quantifiable.
(Cross-reference: See 34 CFR 75.590 Evaluation by the grantee.)
(7) Adequacy of resources. (3 points) The Secretary reviews each
application to determine the adequacy of the resources that the
applicant plans to devote to the project, including facilities,
equipment, and supplies.
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs: This program is
subject to the requirements of Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental
Review of Federal Programs) and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79.
The objective of the Executive order is to foster an
intergovernmental partnership and to strengthen federalism by relying
on State and local processes for State and local government
coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance.
Applicants must contact the appropriate State Single Point of
Contact to find out about, and to comply with, the State's process
under Executive Order 12372. Applicants proposing to perform activities
in more than one State should immediately contact the Single Point of
Contact for each of those States and follow the procedure established
in each State under the Executive order. If you want to know the name
and address of any State Single Point of Contact, see the list
published in the Federal Register on August 10, 1995 (60 FR 40980 and
40981).
In States that have not established a process or chosen a program
for review, State, areawide, regional, and local entities may submit
comments directly to the Department.
Any State Process Recommendation and other comments submitted by a
State Single Point of Contact and any comments from State, areawide,
regional, and local entities must be received by the date indicated in
this notice at the following address: The Secretary, E.O.12372--CFDA #
84.184E, U.S. Department of Education, Room 6213, 600 Independence
Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-0125.
Recommendations or comments may be hand-delivered until 4:30 p.m.
(Washington, D.C. time) on the date indicated in this notice.
Please note that the above address is not the same address as the
one to which the applicant submits its completed application. Do not
send applications to the above address.
Instructions for transmittal and receipt of applications.
(a) If an applicant wants to apply for a grant, the applicant
shall--
(1) Mail the original and two copies of the application to: U.S.
Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA #
84.184E), Washington, D.C. 20202-4725.
Note: All applications must be received by August 2, 1996.
Applications received after that time will not be eligible for
funding. Postmarked dates will not be accepted.
(2) Hand deliver the original and two copies of the application by
4:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on the deadline date to: U.S.
Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA#
84.184E), Room #3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets,
S.W., Washington, D.C.
Notes:
(1) The Application Control Center will mail a Grant Application
Receipt Acknowledgement to each applicant. If an applicant fails to
receive the notification of application receipt within 15 days from
the date of mailing the application, the applicant should call the
U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202)
708-9494.
(2) The applicant must indicate on the envelope and--if not
provided by the Department--in Item 10 of the Application for
Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424) the CFDA number--and suffix
letter, if any--of the competition under which the application is
being submitted.
Application Instructions and Forms: The appendix to this
application is divided into three parts plus a statement regarding
estimated public reporting burden and various assurances and
certifications. These parts and additional materials are organized in
the same manner that the submitted application should be organized. The
parts and additional materials are as follows:
PART I: Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 (Rev.
4-88)) and instructions.
PART II: Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED Form No.
524) and instructions.
PART III: Application Narrative.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS:
Estimated Public Reporting Burden.
Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B).
Certifications regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and Other
Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED 80-
0013).
Certification regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and
Voluntary Exclusion: Lower Tier Covered Transactions (ED 80-0014, 9/90)
and instructions. (Note: ED 80-0014 is intended for the use of grantees
and should not be transmitted to the Department.)
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL) (if
applicable) and instructions. This document has been marked to reflect
statutory changes. See the notice published by the Office of Management
and Budget at 61 FR 1413 (January 19, 1996).
Notice to All Applicants.
An applicant may submit information on a photostatic copy of the
application and budget forms, the assurances, and the certifications.
However, the application form, the assurances, and the certifications
must each have an original signature. No grant may be awarded unless a
completed application form has been received.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charlotte D. Gillespie, U.S.
Department of Education, 600 Independence Ave., SW, Room 604 Portals,
Washington, D.C. 20202-6123. 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; or on the Internet Gopher Server at
GOPHER.ED.GOV (under Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases); or
on the World Wide Web at (http://www/ed/gov/money.html). However, the
official application notice for a discretionary grant competition is
the notice published in the Federal Register.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7131
Dated: June 26, 1996.
Gerald N. Tirozzi,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
[[Page 34674]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY96.038
[[Page 34675]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY96.039
[[Page 34676]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY96.040
[[Page 34677]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY96.041
[[Page 34678]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY96.042
BILLING CODE 4000-01-C
[[Page 34679]]
Part III--Application Narrative
Instructions for Part III--Application Narrative
Before preparing the Application Narrative an applicant should read
carefully the description of the program, the information regarding
priorities, and the selection criteria the Secretary uses to evaluate
applications.
The narrative should encompass each function or activity for which
funds are being required and should--
1. Begin with an Abstract; that is, a summary of the proposed
project;
2. Describe the proposed project in light of each of the selection
criteria in the order in which the criteria are listed in this
application package; and
3. Include any other pertinent information that might assist the
Secretary in reviewing the application.
The Secretary strongly requests the applicant to limit the
Application Narrative to no more than 25 double-spaced, typed pages (on
one side only), although the Secretary will consider applications of
greater length.
Instructions for Estimated Public Reporting Burden
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this
information collection is OMB No. 1810-0551, Exp. Date: 9/11/96. The
time required to complete this information collection is estimated to
average 28 hours per response, including the time to review
instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed,
and complete and review the information collection. If you have any
comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate or suggestions
for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education,
Washington, DC 20202-4651. If you have comments or concerns regarding
the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly
to: Charlotte D. Gillespie, Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program, Office
of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education,
600 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-6123.
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
[[Page 34680]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY96.043
[[Page 34681]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY96.044
[[Page 34682]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY96.045
[[Page 34683]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY96.046
[[Page 34684]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY96.047
[[Page 34685]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY96.048
[[Page 34686]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02JY96.049
BILLING CODE 4000-01-C
[[Page 34687]]
Notice to All Applicants
Thank you for your interest in this program. The purpose of this
enclosure is to inform you about a new provision in the Department of
Education's General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) that applies to
applicants for new grant awards under Department programs. This
provision is section 427 of GEPA, enacted as part of the Improving
America's Schools Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-382).
To Whom Does This Provision Apply?
Section 427 of GEPA affects applicants for new discretionary grant
awards under this program. ALL APPLICANTS FOR NEW AWARDS MUST INCLUDE
INFORMATION IN THEIR APPLICATIONS TO ADDRESS THIS NEW PROVISION IN
ORDER TO RECEIVE FUNDING UNDER THIS PROGRAM.
What Does This Provision Require?
Section 427 requires each applicant for funds (other than an
individual person) to include in its application a description of the
steps the applicant proposes to take to ensure equitable access to, and
participation in, its federally-assisted program for students,
teachers, and other program beneficiaries with special needs.
This section allows applicants discretion in developing the
required description. The statute highlights six types of barriers that
can impede equitable access or participation that you may address:
gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age. Based on
local circumstances, you can determine whether these or other barriers
may prevent your students, teachers, etc. from equitable access or
participation. Your description need not be lengthy; you may provide a
clear and succinct description of how you plan to address those
barriers that are applicable to your circumstances. In addition, the
information my be provided in a single narrative, or, if appropriate,
may be discussed in connection with related topics in the application.
Section 427 is not intended to duplicate the requirements of civil
rights statutes, but rather to ensure that, in designing their
projects, applicants for Federal funds address equity concerns that may
affect the ability of certain potential beneficiaries to fully
participate in the project and to achieve to high standards. Consistent
with program requirements and its approved application, an applicant
may use the Federal funds awarded to it to eliminate barriers it
identifies.
What are Examples of How an Applicant Might Satisfy the Requirement
of This Provision?
The following examples may help illustrate how an applicant may
comply with section 427.
(1) An applicant that proposes to carry out an adult literacy
project serving, among others, adults with limited English proficiency,
might describe in its application how it intends to distribute a
brochure about the proposed project to such potential participants in
their native language.
(2) An applicant that proposes to develop instructional materials
for classroom use might describe how it will make the materials
available on audio tape or in braille for students who are blind.
(3) An applicant that proposes to carry out a model science program
for secondary students and is concerned that girls may be less likely
than boys to enroll in the course, might indicate how it tends to
conduct ``outreach'' efforts to girls, to encourage their enrollment.
We recognize that many applicants may already be implementing
effective steps to ensure equity of access and participation in their
grant programs, and we appreciate your cooperation in responding to the
requirements of this provision.
Estimated Burden Statement
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this
information collection is 1801-0004 (Exp. 8/31/98). The time required
to complete this information collection is estimated to vary from 1 to
3 hours per response, with an average of 1.5 hours, including the time
to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather and
maintain the data needed, and complete and review the information
collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the
time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write
to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202-4651.
[FR Doc. 96-16836 Filed 6-28-96; 9:01 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-M