Grants and cooperative agreements; availability, etc.: Even Start statewide family literacy initiative,
[Federal Register: April 1, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 62)]
[Notices]
[Page 15993-16022]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01ap98-119]
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Part V
Department of Education
Even Start Statewide Family Literacy Initiative Grants; Notice
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA NO.: 84.314A]
Even Start Statewide Family Literacy Initiative Grants
AGENCY: Department of Education.
Notice inviting State applications for new awards with fiscal year (FY) 1998 funds, and waiver of reporting requirements for Even Start Statewide Family Literacy Initiative grants
Note to Applicants: This notice is a complete application package. Together with the statute authorizing the program and 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. Only a State office or agency may apply.
Purpose of Program: To enable States to plan and implement statewide family literacy initiatives under the Even Start Family Literacy Program. Initiative activities must be conducted through a consortium of State, local, and other institutions, organizations, or agencies.
Eligible Applicants: State office or agency.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 29, 1998.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 28, 1998.
Available funds: $1,000,000.
Note: Under this program, States receiving grants must make available non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to not less than the Federal funds provided under the grant, as required by section 1202(c)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Grantees may not use funds awarded under these grants for indirect costs either as a direct charge or as part of the matching requirement.
Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$250,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $200,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 5.
Note: This Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 24 months.
Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) as follows:
(1) 34 CFR Part 75 (Direct Grant Programs).
(2) 34 CFR Part 77 (Definitions that Apply to Department Regulations).
(3) 34 CFR Part 79 (Intergovernmental Review of Department of Education Programs and Activities).
(4) 34 CFR Part 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments).
(5) 34 CFR Part 81 (General Education Provisions Act--Enforcement).
(6) 34 CFR Part 82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying).
(7) 34 CFR Part 85 (Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)).
Description of Program: States receiving funds under this grant authority will use these funds to plan and implement statewide family literacy initiatives under the Even Start Family Literacy Program to coordinate and integrate existing Federal, State, and local literacy resources. These resources must include, but are not limited to, resources available under Even Start, the Adult Education Act, Head Start, and the Family Support Act of 1988 (or successor statutes). Initiative activities must be conducted through a consortium of State, local, and other institutions, organizations, or agencies. The State must make available non-Federal contributions in an amount not less than the Federal funds provided under the grant for the costs to be incurred by the consortium in carrying out the activities for which the grant is awarded.
Invitational Priority: The Secretary is particularly interested in applications that meet the following invitational priority. However, an application that meets this invitational priority does not receive competitive or absolute preference over other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
Invitational Priority--Statewide family literacy initiatives that:
‹bullet› Coordinate their activities with State and local endeavors under the America Reads Challenge initiative, including Federal Work- Study tutoring programs and America Reads/Read*Write*Now pilot sites (information about the America Reads Challenge is available by telephone at 1-800-USA-LEARN, or TDD 1-800-437-0833; and through the Department's Web site at www.ed.gov/inits/americareads); and
‹bullet› Develop State capacity to coordinate and integrate existing resources that support family literacy and core family literacy components (early childhood education, adult basic and secondary education, and parenting education), and, especially resources focusing on--
(1) Young children's cognitive and language development, and parents' involvement in that early development; and
(2) English literacy for families with limited English proficiency.
Waiver of Reporting Requirement
Under the EDGAR, an applicant generally must submit annual performance and financial reports to the Department. (See 34 CFR 75.720, 80.40, and 80.41). However, in the interest of reducing burden at the State level, the Secretary has determined that performance and financial reports are unnecessary until the end of the project period (up to 24 months), and therefore waives the requirements for performance and financial reports at the end of the first year (unless the end of the first year coincides with the end of the project period). This waiver is in accordance with the Secretary's authority under these regulations.
Selection Criteria
The Secretary uses the following selection criteria to evaluate applications for grants under this competition.
(1) The maximum composite score for all of these criteria is 100 points.
(2) The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses.
(a) Meeting the purposes of the authorizing statute. (10 points). The Secretary considers how well the project will meet the purpose of section 1202(c) of the ESEA (Even Start Statewide Family Literacy Initiatives grants). In determining how well the project will meet the purpose of section 1202(c), the Secretary considers how well the project will enable the State to plan and implement a statewide family literacy initiative, through a consortium of entities, to coordinate and integrate existing Federal, State, and local literacy resources consistent with the purpose of the Even Start Family Literacy Program (Part B of Title I of the ESEA).
(b) Need for project. (10 points). The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.
Note: The Secretary invites applicants to describe any existing State initiatives to promote family literacy.
(ii) The extent to which the proposed project will focus on serving or otherwise addressing the needs of disadvantaged individuals.
(iii) The extent to which the proposed project will prepare personnel for fields in which shortages have been demonstrated.
(c) Significance. (20 points). The Secretary considers the significance of
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the proposed project. In determining the significance of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The national significance of the proposed project.
(ii) The likelihood that the proposed project will result in system change or improvement.
(iii) The potential contribution of the proposed project to the development and advancement of theory, knowledge, and practices in the field of study. (iv) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to yield findings that may be utilized by other appropriate agencies and organizations.
(d) Quality of the project design. (20 points). The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) 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.
(ii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project reflects up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice.
(iii) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community, State, and Federal resources.
(iv) The extent to which the proposed project is part of a comprehensive effort to improve teaching and learning and support rigorous academic standards for students.
(e) Quality of project personnel. (10 points). The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project. (1) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary considers 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. (2) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of the project director or principal investigator.
(ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of key project personnel.
(iii) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, or project consultants or subcontractors.
(f) Adequacy of resources. (10 points.) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed project. In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project.
(ii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.
(g) Quality of the management plan. (10 points). The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) 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.
(ii) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives are brought to bear in the operation of the proposed project, including those of parents, teachers, the business community, a variety of disciplinary and professional fields, recipients or beneficiaries of services, or others, as appropriate.
(h) Quality of project evaluation. (10 points). The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project.
(ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward achieving intended outcomes.
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. The addresses of individual State Single Point of Contact are in the appendix to this notice.
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 mailed or hand-delivered by the date indicated in this notice to the following address: The Secretary, E.O. 12372--CFDA #84.314A, U.S. Department of Education, Room 6300, 600 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202.
Proof of mailing will be determined on the same basis as applications (see 34 CFR 75.102). Recommendations or comments may be hand-delivered until 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC 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 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 on or before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: Patricia McKee (CFDA #84.314A), Compensatory Education Programs, Room 3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4725; or
(2) Hand deliver the original and two copies of the application by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) on or before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: Patricia McKee (CFDA #84.314A), Compensatory Education Programs, Room 3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4725.
(b) An applicant must show one of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
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(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary.
(c) If any application is mailed through the U.S. Postal Service, the Secretary does not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
Notes: (1) The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, an applicant should check with its local post office.
(2) The Application Control Center will mail a Grant Application Receipt Acknowledgment 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.
(3) 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 and submitted. 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; and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Continuation Sheet (Standard Form LLL-A). (See amendments by 61 FR 1412 (1/19/96).
Notice to all Applicants (Section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act).
An applicant may submit information on photostatic copies of the application, budget forms, assurances, and certifications. However, the application form, assurances, and certifications must each have an original signature. No grant may be awarded unless a completed application form, including the signed assurances and certifications, have been received.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia McKee, Compensatory Education Programs, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW (4400, Portals), Washington, DC 20202-6132. Telephone (202) 260-0991. 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) on 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 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.
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). However, the official application notice for a discretionary grant competition is the notice published in the Federal Register.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. section 6362(c).
Dated: March 26, 1998. Gerald N. Tirozzi, Assistant Secretary, Elementary and Secondary Education.
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[FR Doc. 98-8356Filed3-31-98; 8:45 am]
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