[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 105 (Thursday, June 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28660-28677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13409]




[[Page 28659]]

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Part II





Department of Education





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Grants and Cooperative Agreements: Star Schools Program; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 105 / Thursday, June 1, 1995 / 
Notices   
[[Page 28660]] 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.203D]


Star Schools Program; Notice inviting applications for new awards

    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 
this Star Schools Program competition.
    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Star Schools Program is to 
encourage improved instruction through distance learning technologies. 
Under this competition, the Secretary intends to support a project 
designed to advance adult literacy and the completion of requirements 
for a high school diploma or its equivalent.
    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 purpose 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 to participate under Title 1 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 as amended by Public Law 
103-382; or
    (b) A partnership that will provide telecommunications services and 
which includes three or more of the following entities, at least one of 
which shall be an agency described in (1) or (2):
    (1) A local educational agency, that serves a significant number of 
elementary and secondary schools that are eligible for assistance under 
Part A of Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
as amended by P.L. 103-382 or elementary and secondary schools operated 
or funded for Indian children by the Department of the Interior 
eligible under section 1121(c) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965, as amended;
    (2) A State educational agency;
    (3) Adult and family education programs;
    (4) An institution of higher education or a State higher education 
agency;
    (5) A teacher training center or academy which--
    (i) Provides teacher preservice and inservice training; and
    (ii) Receives Federal financial assistance or has been approved by 
a State agency;
    (6) 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 computer; or
    (i) A public broadcasting entity with such experience; or
    (7) A public or private elementary or secondary school.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 17, 1995.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 15, 1995
    Available Funds: $3,000,000.

    Note: The Department currently has funds available to make 
awards under this competition in FY 1995. However, changes to the 
Star Schools program, including the rescission of FY 1995 funds, 
have been under consideration by the Congress. If adequate funds are 
not available, the Department will not make awards in FY 1995. 
However, if sufficient funds are appropriated for FY 1996, the 
Department may evaluate applications submitted under this 
competition and make awards in FY 1996 without holding a separate FY 
1996 competition.
    Estimated Size of Awards: $3,000,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.

Applicable Regulations

    The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) 
as follows:
    (a) 34 CFR Part 74 (Administration of Grants and agreements with 
Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other 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 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, (ESEA), 
Title III, Part B (20 U.S.C. 6891-6900). Section 3210(c) of the ESEA 
authorizes the Secretary to award grants, on a competitive basis, to 
eligible entities to enable partnerships to develop and operate one or 
more programs that provide on-line access to educational resources in 
support of continuing education and curriculum requirements relevant to 
achieving a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent. The 
programs funded under this authority shall be designed to advance adult 
literacy, secondary school completion and the acquisition of specified 
competency by the end of the 12th grade, as envisioned by the Goals 
2000: Educate America Act.
    Definitions: The following definitions apply to the terms used in 
this notice:
    Educational institution means an institution of higher education, a 
local educational agency, or 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. 8801(17)).
    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 14101(18) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 8801(18)).
    Public broadcasting entity has the same meaning 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 14101(28) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 8801(28)) and includes the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs for purposes of serving schools funded by the 
BIA in accordance with Title III of the ESEA of 1965, as amended.
    Secretary means the Secretary of Education. [[Page 28661]] 

Priorities

Absolute Priority

    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and 20 U.S.C. 6900(c), the Secretary 
gives an absolute preference to applications that meet the following 
priority. The Secretary funds under this competition only applications 
that meet this absolute priority:
    Eligible entities, under the provisions of section 3210(c) of ESEA, 
which provide on-line access to educational resources in support of 
continuing education and curriculum requirements relevant to achieving 
a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent.

Invitational Priority

    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), 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:
     Each entity receiving funds under this program is encouraged to 
provide--(a) closed captioning of the verbal content of instructional 
programming, where appropriate, to be broadcast by way of line 21 of 
the vertical blanking interval, or by way of comparable successor 
technologies; and
    (b) descriptive video of the visual content of instructional 
programming as appropriate.
    Application Requirements: Each eligible entity desiring a grant 
under this program shall submit an application to the Secretary. Each 
such application shall--
    (a) Demonstrate that the applicant will use publicly funded or free 
public telecommunications infrastructure to deliver video, voice and 
data in an integrated service to support and assist in the acquisition 
of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent;
    (b) Assure that the content of the materials to be delivered is 
consistent with the accreditation requirements of the State for which 
such materials are used;
    (c) Incorporate, to the extent feasible, materials developed in the 
Federal departments and agencies and under appropriate federally funded 
projects and programs; and
    (d) Assure that the applicant has the technological and substantive 
experience to carry out the program.

Selection Criteria

     (a)(1) The Secretary uses the following selection criteria to 
evaluate applications for new grants under this competition. These are 
the criteria for evaluating discretionary grants contained in the 
Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR).
    (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 Star 
Schools Program, 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 Star Schools 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. (15 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; and
    (vi) For grants under a program that requires the applicant to 
provide an opportunity for participation of students enrolled in 
private schools, the quality of the applicant's plan to provide that 
opportunity.
    (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 paragraph (b)(4)(i) 
(A) and (B) will commit to the project; and
    (D) How the applicant, as part of its non-discriminatory 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. (15 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 [[Page 28662]] 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, March 31, 
1995 (60 FR 16713-16715).
    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, U.S. Department of Education, Room 6213, 600 
Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20202-0125.
    In those States that require review for this program, applications 
are to be submitted simultaneously to the State Review Process and the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    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, 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 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 #84.203D), Washington, D.C. 20202-
4725, or
    (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 
#84.203D), Room #3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets, 
S.W., Washington, D.C.
    The Application Control Center will accept deliveries between 8:00 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) daily, except Saturdays, 
Sundays and Federal holidays.
    Individuals delivering applications must use the D Street entrance. 
Proper identification is necessary to enter the building.
    In order for an application sent through a Courier Service to be 
considered timely, the Courier Service must be in receipt of the 
application on or before the closing date.

    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 524) and instructions.

Special Budget Instructions

    The Department is participating in the Administration's Reinventing 
Government Initiative. As part of that initiative, the National 
Performance Review urged the Department to ``eliminate the continuation 
application process for budget years within the project period'' and 
replace it with ``yearly program progress reports focusing on program 
outcomes and problems related to program implementation and service 
delivery.'' The Department is implementing this recommendation for as 
many programs as possible beginning in fiscal year 1995. This will 
require all applicants for multi-year awards to provide detailed budget 
information for the total grant period requested. The Department will 
negotiate at the time of the initial award the funding levels for each 
year of the grant award. A new generic budget form, included in this 
package, requests the information needed to implement this initiative.
    By requesting detailed budget information in the initial 
application for the total project period, the need for formal 
noncompeting continuation applications in the remaining years will be 
eliminated. An annual report will be used in place of the continuation 
application to determine progress, thereby relieving grantees of the 
burden to resubmit assurances, certifications, etc.
    PART III: Application Narrative.
    ADDITIONAL MATERIALS:
    Estimated Public Reporting Burden.
    Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B).
    Certification 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 [[Page 28663]] certifications 
must each have an original signature. No grant may be awarded unless a 
completed application form has been received.
    For Further Information Contact: Gregory Dennis, U.S. Department of 
Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, 555 New 
Jersey Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20208-5644. Telephone 202-219-1919. 
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). 
However, the official application notice for a discretionary grant 
competition is the notice published in the Federal Register.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6891-6900.

    Dated: May 26, 1995.
Sharon P. Robinson,
Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.

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Appendix
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Instructions For Part III--Application Narrative

    Before preparing the Application Narrative, an applicant should 
read carefully the description of the program, the information 
regarding the priority, and the selection criteria the Secretary uses 
to evaluate applications.
    1. The applicant may include other pertinent information that may 
assist the Secretary in reviewing the application, including the scope 
and degree of services to be provided, who will render the 
telecommunications service, and when it will be delivered.
    2. Justifications and specifications for equipment purchases should 
be clearly related to existing facilities and resources as well as to 
distance learning services to be delivered.
    3. Applicants that apply for the production of instructional 
programming should be specific in the scope and sequence of the content 
and the tasks required to produce the proposed courses of instruction.
    4. The application should enable reviewers to make clear linkages 
between the proposed budget and the specific tasks, operations, and 
service delivery.
    The Secretary strongly requests the applicant to limit the 
Application Narrative to no more than 45 double-spaced, typed 8\1/2\" 
x  11" pages (on one side only), although the Secretary will consider 
applications of greater length.
    The applicant may include an appendix, also on 8\1/2\"  x  11" 
paper or any other pertinent information (e.g., letters of support, 
footnotes, resumes, etc.) that might assist the Secretary in reviewing 
the application.
    The applicant may provide a VHS \1/2\ inch videotape, however such 
a tape should be limited to no more than 12 minutes.
Estimated Public Reporting Burden

    Under terms of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, as amended, and 
the regulations implementing that Act, the Department of Education 
invites comment on the public reporting burden in this collection of 
information. Public reporting burden for this collection of information 
is estimated to average 100 hours per response, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. You may send comments regarding this burden 
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, 
including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department 
of Education, Information Management and Compliance Division, 
Washington, D.C. 20202-4651. Information collection approved under OMB 
control number 1850-0623. Expiration date: 4/30/98.

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[FR Doc. 95-13409 Filed 5-31-95; 8:45 am]
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