[Federal Register: April 20, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 75)] [Notices] [Page 19347-19349] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr20ap99-57] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Elementary and Secondary Education--Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities National Programs--Federal Activities--State and Regional Coalition Grant Competition To Prevent High-Risk Drinking Among College Students AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Notice of proposed priority, eligible applicants, and selection criteria for fiscal year 1999 and subsequent years. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Secretary announces a proposed priority, eligible applicants, and selection criteria for fiscal year (FY) 1999 and, at the discretion of the Secretary, for subsequent years under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities National Programs--Federal Activities-- State and Regional Coalition Grant Competition to Prevent High-Risk Drinking Among College Students. The Secretary takes this action to focus Federal financial assistance on an identified national need. This competition seeks to reduce and prevent high-risk drinking among college students by funding State or regional coalitions for a two-year period to bring together institutions of higher education (IHEs) to share ideas and develop, implement, and evaluate collaborative strategies. Invitation to Comment: Interested persons are invited to submit comments and recommendations regarding this proposed priority. All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available for public inspection, during and after the comment period, in Room 3E222, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday of each week except Federal holidays. On request the Department supplies an appropriate aid, such as a reader or print magnifier, to an individual with a disability that needs assistance to review the comments. An individual with a disability who wants to schedule an appointment for this type of aid may call (202) 205-8113 or (202) 260-9895. An individual who uses a TDD may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877- 8339. DATES: Comments must be received by the Department on or before May 20, 1999. ADDRESSES: All comments concerning these proposed priorities should be addressed to Kimberly Light, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 3E222, Washington, DC 20202-6123. Comments may be sent through the Internet: comments@ed.gov You must include the term ``Alcohol, Other Drug, and Violence Prevention for IHEs'' in the subject line of your electronic message. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Light, (202) 260-2647. Individuals who use a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339. Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the contact person listed above. Note: This notice of proposed priorities does not solicit applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition will be published in the Federal Register concurrent with or following the publication of the notice of final priorities. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: High-risk drinking, including ``binge'' drinking, continues to affect the health, learning, and safety of college students. Excessive use of alcohol has resulted in deaths, serious injuries, vandalism, and sexual assault on college campuses. There is strong evidence that environmental factors, including alcohol availability, high-risk alcohol use norms, and the restrictiveness of State drunk driving laws, play a major role in student alcohol use. Different IHEs may have high-risk drinking problems that are affected by similar environmental concerns; therefore, developing partnerships with other IHEs can provide a forum to develop common solutions as well as a mechanism to create the ``critical mass'' of concerned stakeholders needed to influence broader environmental changes. The recent development of a number of IHE coalitions across the country suggests that such partnerships may be an effective method for IHEs with common environmental concerns to build local capacity to address high-risk drinking within their campus-communities. In addition, these efforts can have an impact within a larger community context, such as geographic regions within States (e.g., a large metropolitan area), similar institutions within States (e.g., all public universities), or institutions in States that share common borders. This competition seeks to [[Page 19348]] encourage these collaborative efforts and evaluate their effectiveness so that other IHEs may adopt effective strategies. Absolute Priority: 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 following absolute priority: Implement and Evaluate the Impact of a State or Regional Coalition to Develop Strategies for Reducing and Preventing High-Risk Drinking Among College Students Applicants proposing a project under this priority must: (1) Propose to expand an existing or establish a new State or regional coalition of IHEs and other relevant organizations that includes key stakeholders who will have an impact on the development and implementation of State, local, and campus policies and programs to reduce and prevent high-risk drinking; (2) Explain how coalition members will work together on a regular basis, including meeting to discuss common problems and share effective strategies; (3) Use community collaboration prevention approaches, including involvement of students, that research or evaluation has shown to be effective in preventing or reducing high-risk drinking; (4) Use a qualified evaluator to design and implement an evaluation of the project using outcomes-based (summative) performance indicators in addition to process (formative) measures that documents strategies used and measures the effectiveness of the coalition; (5) Demonstrate the ability to start the project within 60 days after receiving Federal funding in order to maximize the time available to show impact within the grant period; and (6) Share information about their projects with the Department of Education or its agents. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants under this competition are IHEs and consortia of IHEs, and other public and private nonprofit organizations. Selection Criteria The following selection criteria will be used to evaluate applications for new grants under this competition. The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each criterion or factor under that criterion is indicated in parentheses. (1) Need for project (15 points). In determining the need for the proposed project, the following factors are considered: (a) The magnitude or severity of the problem to be addressed by the proposed project. (10 points) (b) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude of those gaps or weaknesses. (5 points) (2) Significance (14 points). In determining the significance of the proposed project, the following factors are considered: (a) The likelihood that the proposed project will result in system change or improvement. (10 points) (b) The potential replicability of the proposed project or strategies, including, as appropriate, the potential for implementation in a variety of settings. (4 points) (3) Quality of the project design (15 points). In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the following factors are considered: (a) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable. (4 points) (b) The extent to which the design of the proposed project reflects up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice. (6 points) (c) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of Federal financial assistance. (5 points) (4) Quality of the project personnel (15 points). In determining the quality of project personnel, the following factors are considered: (a) The extent to which the applicant encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (3 points) (b) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of key project personnel. (12 points) (5) Adequacy of resources (16 points). In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the following factors are considered: (a) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in the proposed project the implementation and success of the project. (8 points) (b) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and benefits. (4 points) (c) The potential for continued support of the project after Federal funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated commitment of appropriate entities to such support. (4 points) (6) Quality of the management plan (14 points). In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the following factors are considered: (a) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives are brought to bear in the operation of the proposed project, including those of students, faculty, parents, the business community, a variety of disciplinary and professional fields, recipients or beneficiaries of services, or others, as appropriate. (10 points) (b) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project tasks. (4 points) (7) Quality of the project evaluation (11 points). In determining the quality of the evaluation, the following factors are considered: (a) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives and outcomes of the proposed project. (4 points) (b) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward achieving intended outcomes. (3 points) (c) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and qualitative data to the extent possible. (4 points) 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 Search, [[Page 19349]] which is available free at either of the preceding sites. If you have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government Printing officer toll free at 1-888-293-6498. Note: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7131. Dated: April 16, 1999. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.184H Office of Elementary and Secondary Education--Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities National Programs--Federal Activities --State and Regional Coalition Grant Competition to Prevent High-Risk Drinking Among College Students) Judith Johnson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. [FR Doc. 99-10025 Filed 4-19-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P