[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: X94-30223]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 23, 1994]


_______________________________________________________________________

Part IX





Department of Education





_______________________________________________________________________



Star Schools Program; Notice Inviting Application for New Awards for 
Fiscal Year 1994
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA Nos.: 84.203 A, B and C]

 

Star Schools Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards 
for Fiscal Year 1994

    Note to applicants: This notice is a complete application package. 
Together with 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 
the Star Schools Program competitions.
    Organization of notice: This notice applies to three separate grant 
competitions under the Star Schools Program. The notice is organized in 
four parts plus an appendix. Part I contains certain information that 
is pertinent to all competitions. Part II consists of fiscal 
information for each competition announced in this notice. Part III 
consists of programmatic information for each competition. Part IV 
consists of the selection criteria that applies to all competitions. 
The appendix contains all forms necessary for applying for grant awards 
under each of the individual competitions.
    Part I: The following information applies to all three competitions 
in this notice:
    Deadline for transmittal of applications: April 18, 1994.
    Deadline for intergovernmental review: June 17, 1994.
    Project period: Up to 24 months.
    Budget period: 12 months.
    Applicable regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) as follows:
    (a) 34 CFR Part 74 (Administration of Grants to Institutions of 
Higher Education, Hospitals, and Nonprofit Organizations).
    (b) 34 CFR Part 75 (Direct Grant Programs).
    (c) 34 CFR Part 77 (Definitions that Apply to Department 
Regulations).
    (d) 34 CFR Part 79 (Intergovernmental Review of Department of 
Education Programs and Activities).
    (e) 34 CFR Part 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants 
and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments).
    (f) 34 CFR Part 81 (General Education Provisions Act--Enforcement).
    (g) 34 CFR Part 82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying).
    (h) 34 CFR Part 85 (Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension 
(Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free 
Workplace (Grants)).
    (i) 34 CFR Part 86 (Drug-Free Schools and Campuses).
    Description of program: The Star Schools Program is authorized by 
Title IX of the Education for Economic Security Act (the ``Act''), 
Public Law 100-297, as amended by Public Law 102-103. The purpose of 
the program is to encourage improved instruction in mathematics, 
science, foreign languages, and other subjects, such as literacy skills 
and vocational education, and to serve underserved populations, 
including disadvantaged, illiterate, limited-English proficient, and 
disabled students through distance learning technologies. The Star 
Schools Program, as well as the absolute priorities for this year, 
supports Goals 2000, the President's strategy for moving the Nation 
toward the National Education Goals. Specifically, in the Goals 2000 
legislation pending before Congress, National Education Goal 3 calls 
for students' mastery of challenging subject matter in the following 
subjects: English, mathematics, science, foreign languages, the arts, 
history, civics, and geography. Goal 4 calls for U. S. students to be 
first in the world in mathematics and science. Goal 5 calls for all 
Americans to be literate and to possess the knowledge and skills 
necessary to compete in a global economy and exercise the rights and 
responsibilities of citizenship.
    Geographic distribution: In determining which applications shall be 
funded, the Secretary shall assure an equitable geographic distribution 
of funds and services.
    Special requirement: The Federal Government maintains an interest 
in all equipment purchased through projects funded under this program 
for the useful life of the equipment. Therefore, grantees are required 
to maintain an annual inventory of equipment and the use of such 
equipment for ten years after purchase.
    Definitions: The following definitions apply to the terms used in 
this notice:
    ``Educational institution'' means an institution of higher 
education, a local educational agency, and a State educational agency.
    ``Institution of higher education'' has the same meaning given that 
term under section 1201(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (20 U.S.C. 1141(2)).
    ``Instructional programming'' means courses of instruction, 
training courses, and materials used in such instruction and training 
which have been prepared in audio and visual form on tape, disc, film, 
or live interactive presentations, and presented by means of 
telecommunications devices.
    ``Local educational agency'' has the same meaning given the term 
under section 1471(12) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 2891(12)).
    ``Public broadcasting entity'' has the same meaning as that given 
that term in section 397 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
397).
    ``State'' means each of the several States, the District of 
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the 
Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the 
Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands.
    ``State educational agency'' has the same meaning given that term 
under section 1471(23) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 2891(23)).
    ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Education.

                                          Part II--Fiscal Information                                           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Estimated 
            CFDA No. and name                   Estimated       Estimated range   Estimated average   number of 
                                             available funds       of awards        size of awards     awards   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.203ADistance Education Projects........        $20,096,800  $1,500,000-4,000,                                
                                                                             000         $2,500,000            8
84.203BSpecial Statewide Project..........          4,000,000          4,000,000          4,000,000            1
84.203CDissemination Grants...............          1,297,200    250,000-350,000            300,000           4 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note: The Act limits any one award to not more than $10,000,000 
for any one fiscal year. The Department is not bound by any 
estimates in this notice.

Part III

CFDA No. 84.203A  Star Schools--Distance Education Projects

    Purpose of the program: To encourage improved instruction in 
various subject areas for underserved populations through the use of 
telecommunications networks.
    Eligible applicants: Only eligible telecommunications partnerships 
may receive grants under this program. Eligible telecommunications 
partnerships must be organized on a statewide or multistate basis. Two 
types of partnerships are eligible:
    (a) A public agency or corporation established for the purposes of 
developing and operating telecommunications networks to enhance 
educational opportunities provided by educational institutions, teacher 
training centers, and other entities, provided that the agency or 
corporation represents the interests of elementary and secondary 
schools which are eligible for assistance under Chapter 1 of Title 1 of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; or
    (b) A partnership which includes three or more of the following, 
and at least one of which shall be an agency described in (1) or (2), 
and which will provide a telecommunications network:
    (1) A local educational agency, which has a significant number of 
elementary and secondary schools which are eligible for assistance 
under Chapter 1 of Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 or elementary and secondary schools operated for Indian 
children by the Department of the Interior eligible under section 
1005(d) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;
    (2) A State educational agency;
    (3) An institution of higher education or a State higher education 
agency;
    (4) A teacher training center or academy which--
    (A) Provides teacher preservice and inservice training; and
    (B) Receives Federal financial assistance or has been approved by a 
State agency;
    (5)(A) A public or private entity with experience and expertise in 
the planning and operation of a telecommunications network, including 
entities involved in telecommunications through satellite, cable, 
telephone, or computers; or
    (B) A public broadcasting entity with such experience; or
    (6) A public or private elementary or secondary school.
    Continuing eligibility: An eligible telecommunications partnership 
currently funded under the Star Schools Program is eligible to receive 
an additional grant if it demonstrates that the partnership will:
    (a) Continue to provide services in the subject areas and 
geographic areas in which services were provided under the previous 
Star Schools grant; and
    (b) Use all grant funds to provide expanded services by:
    (1) Increasing the number of students, schools, or school districts 
served by the courses of instruction assisted under this program in the 
previous grant period;
    (2) Providing new courses of instruction; or
    (3) Serving new populations of underserved individuals, such as 
children or adults who are disadvantaged, have limited-English 
proficiency, are disabled, are illiterate, or lack high school diplomas 
or their equivalent.
    Priorities: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), the Secretary gives an 
absolute preference for applications that meet one or more of the 
following priorities. The Secretary funds under this competition only 
applications that meet one or more of these absolute priorities.

Absolute Priority 1--National Education Goals

    Projects that develop and deliver instructional programming for 
elementary or secondary school students, or both, that supports 
achievement of one or more of the National Education Goals, and that is 
consistent with challenging national or State content standards.

Absolute Priority 2--Preparation for Work

    Projects that develop and deliver instructional programming to 
enhance the workplace and literacy skills of high school students, or 
young adults who are not in school, or both, in order to prepare 
students for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive 
employment, and make the school-to-work transition more successful.

Absolute Priority 3--Preservice and Inservice Teacher Education

    Projects that develop and deliver programming for preservice 
teachers attending colleges and universities, or professional 
development for practicing teachers and other educational personnel, or 
both. In meeting this priority, projects must provide information about 
the National Education Goals, emerging national or State content 
standards, and ways in which standards-driven systemic reform can help 
ensure that all students have opportunities to reach high levels of 
achievement. In addition, projects must provide professional 
development activities that include strong academic content and 
subject-specific pedagogical components to help teachers provide 
challenging learning experiences in the core academic subjects for 
their students.
    Competitive priority: Under 20 U.S.C. 4084(c) and 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(2)(ii), the Secretary gives preference to applications that 
meet the following competitive priority. For those applications that 
include a mathematics or science component, the Secretary gives 
preference to applications that meet paragraphs (a)-(i) of the 
competitive priority. For those applications that include a foreign 
language component, the Secretary gives preference to applications that 
meet paragraphs (a)-(h) of the competitive priority. For those 
applications that do not include a mathematics, science or foreign 
language component, the Secretary gives preference to applications  
that  meet  paragraphs (b)-(g) of the competitive priority. An 
application that meets the applicable paragraph of the following 
competitive priority is selected by the Secretary over applications of 
comparable merit that do not meet this priority:
    (a) The applicant will provide a concentration and quality of 
mathematics, science, and foreign languages resources which, by their 
distribution through the eligible telecommunications partnership, will 
offer significant new educational opportunities to network participants 
and particularly to traditionally underserved populations and areas 
with scarce resources and limited access to courses in mathematics, 
science, and foreign languages.

    Note: Although an application that focuses on a subject area 
other than mathematics, science or foreign languages is not required 
to meet paragraph (a) of the competitive priority, the Secretary 
encourages the applicant to address the needs of traditionally 
underserved populations and areas with scarce resources and limited 
access to courses in the subject area addressed in the application.

    (b) The applicant has secured the direct cooperation and 
involvement of public and private educational institutions, State and 
local government, and industry in planning the network.
    (c) The applicant will serve the broadest range of institutions, 
including, in the case of elementary and secondary schools, those 
elementary and secondary schools having significant numbers of children 
counted for the purpose of Chapter 1 of Title 1 of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965, programs providing instruction outside 
of the school setting, institutions of higher education, teacher 
training centers, research institutions, and private industry.
    (d) The applicant will demonstrate that a significant number of 
educational institutions have agreed to participate in the use of the 
telecommunications system for which assistance is sought.
    (e) The applicant will have substantial academic and teaching 
capabilities including the capability of training, retraining, and 
inservice upgrading of teaching skills.
    (f) The applicant will provide a comprehensive range of courses for 
educators with different skill levels to teach them instructional 
strategies for students with different levels of skills, provide 
training to participating educators in ways to integrate 
telecommunications courses into existing school curricula, and include 
instruction for students, teachers, and parents.
    (g) The applicant will serve a multistate area.
    (h) The applicant will demonstrate that a telecommunications entity 
(such as a satellite, cable, telephone, or computer company, or public 
or private television station) will participate in the partnership and 
will donate equipment or in-kind services for telecommunications 
linkages.
    (i) The applicant will, in providing services with funds provided 
under this program, meet the needs of groups of individuals 
traditionally excluded from careers in mathematics and science because 
of discrimination, inaccessibility, or economically disadvantaged 
backgrounds.
    Funding requirement: The Federal share for each fiscal year shall 
be 75 percent of the cost of the project. The eligible 
telecommunications partnership shall provide the remainder of the funds 
from non-Federal sources. The matching funds for the project may be in 
cash or in-kind support, fairly evaluated. In the case of financial 
hardship, an applicant may request that the Secretary reduce or waive 
the matching requirement.

CFDA NO. 84.203B  Star Schools--Special Statewide Network

    Purpose of the program: In addition to the Star Schools Distance 
Education Projects (CFDA # 84.203A), the Secretary will fund one 
statewide telecommunications network to demonstrate the delivery of 
instructional programming through a fiber optic telecommunications 
network using two-way full motion interactive video, voice and data 
telecommunications.
    Eligible applicants: An eligible telecommunications partnership 
that meets the criteria described under Part III 84.203A and is 
organized on a statewide basis may apply for a grant under this 
section.
    Priorities: The competitive priority described under Part III 
84.203A of this notice applies to this section, with the exception of 
paragraph (g) of the competitive priority.
    Funding requirement: The Federal share for each fiscal year shall 
be not more than 50 percent of the cost of the project. The statewide 
telecommunications partnership shall provide the remainder of the funds 
from non-Federal sources. The matching funds for the project may be in 
cash or in-kind support, fairly evaluated.
    Special program requirements: (a) A project funded under this 
section must demonstrate the use of a fiber optic telecommunications 
network to carry two-way interactive voice, video, and data 
transmissions.
    (b) During the funding period, the project must link together 
public and private institutions of higher education and secondary 
schools, and must include a participant in every county in the State.

CFDA No. 84.203C  Star Schools--Dissemination Grants

    Purpose of the program: To provide dissemination and technical 
assistance to State and local educational agencies not presently served 
by telecommunications partnerships to assist them to plan and implement 
technology-based distance learning systems.
    Eligible applicants: (a) Telecommunications partnerships previously 
or currently funded through the Star Schools Program.
    (b) Other eligible entities, which are defined as federally funded 
programs or institutions of higher education that have demonstrated 
expertise in educational applications of technology and provide 
comprehensive technical assistance to educators and policymakers at the 
local level.
    Priority: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), the Secretary gives an 
absolute preference for applications that meet the following priority. 
The Secretary funds under this competition only applications that meet 
this absolute priority.
    Absolute priority: Dissemination projects that will provide 
services nationwide.
    Special program requirements: A project funded under this section 
must provide technical assistance to State and local educational 
agencies to plan and implement technology-based systems including--
    (a) Information regarding successful distance learning resources 
for States, local educational agencies, and schools;
    (b) Assistance in connecting users of distance learning, regional 
educational service centers, colleges, and universities, the private 
sector, and other relevant entities;
    (c) Assistance and advice in the design and implementation of 
systems to include needs assessment and technology design; and
    (d) Assistance in the identification of possible connections and 
cost-sharing arrangements for users of such systems.
    Part IV: The following information applies to all competitions in 
this notice:
    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 purposes of the Star 
Schools Program, P.L. 100-297 as amended by P.L. 102-103, including 
consideration of--
    (i) The objectives of the project; and
    (ii) How the objectives of the project further the purposes of the 
Star Schools Program.
    (2) Extent of need for the project. (20 points) The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine the extent to which the project 
meets specific needs recognized in the statute authorizing the program, 
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;
    (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. (10 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.
    (6) Evaluation plan. (10 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. (5 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 Friday, September 24, 1993.
    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 # 84.203 A, B or C , U.S. Department of Education, 
room 4161, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20202-0125.
    Proof of mailing will be determined on the same basis as it is for 
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: (CFDA #[Applicant must insert number and 
letter]), 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 the deadline date to: U.S. 
Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA # 
(Applicant must insert number and letter)), Room #3633, Regional Office 
Building #3 7th and D Streets, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4725.


    Note: Although applicants are not obligated to do so, it would 
be quite helpful if an additional two copies of the application were 
submitted (an original and four copies). The additional copies would 
be used during the review process.


    (b) An applicant must show one of the following as proof of 
mailing:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (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 an 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 in which 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 (Standard 
Form 424A) and instructions.

Part III: Application Narrative

Additional Materials

    Estimated Public Reporting Burden.
    Star Schools Program Assurances.
    Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B).
    Certifications regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and Other 
Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED 80-
0013, 6/90).
    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).
    An applicant may submit 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: Richard Lallmang or Deborah Williams, 
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and 
Improvement, 555 New Jersey Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20208-5644. 
Telephone 202-219-1770. Individuals who use a telecommunications device 
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service 
(FIRS) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.


    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 4081-4086.

    Dated: February 17, 1994.
Sharon P. Robinson,
Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.

Appendix

BILLING CODE 4000-01-P

TN23FE94.000


TN23FE94.001


TN23FE94.002


TN23FE94.003


TN23FE94.004


TN23FE94.005


BILLING CODE 4000-01-C