[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 39 (Monday, February 28, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page ]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4427]


[Federal Register: February 28, 1994]


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Part V





Department of Education





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Dwight D. Eisenhower National Program for Mathematics and Science 
Education; Notice
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

RIN 1850-ZA00


Dwight D. Eisenhower National Program for Mathematics and Science 
Education--Model Projects in Encouraging Female and Minority Students 
in Mathematics and Science; Model Science-Based Professional 
Development Projects in Environmental Education

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of proposed priorities for fiscal year 1994.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes two priorities for fiscal year 1994 
under the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Program for Mathematics and 
Science Education: Model projects in encouraging female and minority 
students in mathematics and science, and model science-based 
professional development projects in environmental education. The 
Secretary expects projects to generate findings that have wide 
applicability; accordingly, grantees will be expected to evaluate their 
activities and disseminate information about them.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 30, 1994.

ADDRESSES: All comments concerning this proposed priority should be 
addressed to Charles Stalford, U.S. Department of Education, 555 New 
Jersey Avenue NW., room 500F, Washington, DC 20208-5572.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lois Weinberg or Annora Dorsey, U.S. 
Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue NW., room 500, 
Washington, DC 20208-5572. Telephone: (202) 219-2175. 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The goal of the Eisenhower National Program 
is to support projects of national significance in elementary and 
secondary schools in mathematics and science education designed to 
improve the skills of teachers and the quality of instruction in these 
areas and to increase the access of students to that instruction. The 
program is authorized under title II, part A, subpart 1, section 2012 
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended.
    On November 12, 1993, the Secretary announced in the Federal 
Register (58 FR 60007) a proposed priority for the Eisenhower National 
Program in model professional development in the use of technology for 
mathematics and science instruction. Now, after considering the intent 
of the Senate Report that accompanied the Fiscal Year 1994 Department 
of Education Appropriations Act, the Secretary has decided to propose 
two additional priorities, announced herein. These priorities will 
serve (1) to encourage the interest and attainments of female and 
minority students in mathematics and science and (2) to improve teacher 
professional development in environmental education.
    The Secretary may subsequently conduct an external study or studies 
of the effectiveness and lessons learned from projects funded under 
this program. If he does so, projects will be required to cooperate 
with the conduct of the study, by sharing their experiences, project 
evaluations, and data.
    Regarding priority 1, the Secretary is concerned that the Nation's 
schools encourage too few minority and female students to study and 
pursue careers in the fields of mathematics and science. The Secretary 
believes that the well-documented underrepresentation of minorities and 
women in these disciplines represents a waste of human talent that the 
Nation can ill afford. This priority would therefore support, and learn 
from, projects that seek to stimulate and sustain the interest and 
attainments of female and minority children in mathematics and science.
    Regarding priority 2, the Secretary believes that environmental 
education can stimulate students' interest in scientific fields and 
enhance their understanding of these disciplines. The Secretary also 
believes that environmental issues are important in their own right and 
are, therefore, eminently worthy of study. The Secretary finds, 
however, that environmental education programs of high quality are 
available in too few of the Nation's schools, in part because American 
teachers have very limited opportunities to increase their knowledge of 
environmental issues and to learn the most successful means of 
providing environmental education. The Secretary proposes, therefore, 
to support and learn from projects in professional development for 
teachers in environmental education.
    The Secretary draws to the attention of potential applicants 
responding to priority 2 the National Consortium for Environmental 
Education and Training (NCEET) at the University of Michigan, an 
undertaking funded by the Environmental Protection Agency under section 
5 of the National Environmental Education Act of 1990. NCEET's primary 
emphasis is professional development for teachers in environmental 
education. Potential applicants should consult with NCEET to ensure 
that their projects are not duplicative of the National Consortium's 
efforts.
    The Secretary will announce the final priorities in a notice in the 
Federal Register. The final priorities will be determined by responses 
to this notice, available funds, and other considerations of the 
Department. Funding of particular projects depends on the availability 
of funds, the nature of the final priorities, and the quality of the 
applications received. The publication of these proposed priorities 
does not preclude the Secretary from proposing additional priorities; 
nor does it limit the Secretary to funding only these priorities, 
subject to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.

    Note: This notice of proposed priorities does not solicit 
applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition 
will be published in the Federal Register concurrently with or 
following publication of the notice of final priorities.

    Applications are not available at this time. However, to have your 
name placed on a mailing list, please write to: Dwight D. Eisenhower 
National Program for Mathematics and Science Education, 555 New Jersey 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20208-5572, or FAX your request to: 
Eisenhower Program: 202-219-2106.

Absolute Priorities

    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) the Secretary proposes to give an 
absolute preference to applications that meet one of the following 
priorities. Each application shall respond to only one of the two 
priorities, although an applicant could submit more than one 
application to respond to more than one priority. The Secretary funds 
under this competition only applications that meet one of these 
absolute priorities:

Proposed Priority 1--Encouraging Female and Minority Students in 
Mathematics and Science

    The Secretary will support model projects designed to stimulate and 
sustain the interest and attainments of female and minority children in 
mathematics and science.
    Each project must:
    (a) Make use of research and the experience of projects that have 
achieved success in the area of the priority.
    (b) Collaborate in the planning and operation of the project with 
the State science teachers' association and/or the State mathematics 
teachers' association and with at least one other party such as a 
school, an educational institution, a local or state educational 
agency, a national education organization, a science-technology center, 
or a private sector party; with these other parties, develop plans for 
continuing project activities after Federal support has ended.
    (c) Evaluate lessons learned from the project and use them to 
improve activities on a continuing basis.
    (d) Disseminate lessons learned to interested parties. 
Dissemination must begin while the project is in progress and use 
electronic as well as other forms of communication.
    (e) In the case of projects serving elementary and middle schools, 
increase teachers' own mastery of mathematics and science in order to 
increase their confidence and skill in teaching these subjects 
(including skills in providing hands-on learning).
    (f) Involve parents and community members as role models and/or 
mentors for female and minority children.

Proposed Priority 2--Science-Based Teacher Professional Development in 
Environmental Education

    The Secretary will support model science-based professional 
development projects designed to improve student achievement in 
environmental education.
    Each project must:
    (a) Make use of research and the experience of projects that have 
achieved success in the area of the priority.
    (b) Collaborate in the planning and operation of the project with 
at least two other parties such as schools, educational institutions, 
local or state educational agencies, national education organizations, 
science-technology centers, or private sector parties; with these other 
parties, develop plans for continuing project activities after Federal 
support has ended.
    (c) Evaluate lessons learned from the project and use them to 
improve activities on a continuing basis.
    (d) Disseminate lessons learned to interested parties. 
Dissemination must begin while the project is in progress and use 
electronic as well as other forms of communication.
    (e) Use environmental education as a means to enhance students' 
interest, literacy, and achievement in science.
    (f) Increase teachers' own mastery of environmental issues, 
including related scientific issues.
    (g) Train teachers to develop varied learning experiences for 
students in environmental education that include field components and 
the study of individual themes, such as ecosystems (e.g., wetlands), 
the water cycle, and global climate change; enable teachers to pilot-
test these varied learning experiences with students.

Intergovernmental Review

    This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order 
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. The objective of the 
Executive order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a 
strengthened federalism by relying on processes developed by State and 
local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal 
financial assistance.
    In accordance with the order, this document is intended to provide 
early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for 
this program.

Invitation to Comment

    Interested persons are invited to submit comments and 
recommendations regarding these proposed priorities.
    All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available 
for public inspection, during and after the comment period, in room 
500, 555 New Jersey Avenue NW., Washington, DC, between the hours of 
8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week except Federal 
holidays.
    Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 755.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2992.

    Dated: January 14, 1994.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.168, Dwight D. 
Eisenhower National Program for Mathematics and Science Education)
Sharon P. Robinson,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 94-4427 Filed 2-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P