[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 111 (Friday, June 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30757-30758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14223]



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21st Century Community Learning Centers

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of Final Priority for FY 1995.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary announces a priority for Fiscal Year 1995 under 
the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. The Secretary 
takes this action to focus Federal financial assistance in areas of the 
country identified as areas of pervasive poverty, unemployment and 
general distress. The priority restricts the funds available under the 
21st Century Program to applicants that are located in Empowerment 
Zones or Supplemental Empowerment Zones.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This priority takes effect July 10, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Seresa Simpson, U.S. Department of 
Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Room 522, Washington, DC 20208-
5524. Telephone (202) 219-1935. 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: This notice contains one final priority 
under the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. The purpose 
of this program is to award grants to rural and inner-city public 
elementary or secondary schools, or consortia of such schools, to 
enable them to plan, implement, or to expand projects that benefit the 
educational, health, social service, cultural, and recreational needs 
of a rural or inner-city community.

Background on Empowerment Zone Initiative

    The Empowerment Zone initiative is a critical element of the 
Administration's community revitalization strategy. The program is the 
first step in rebuilding communities in America's poverty-stricken 
inner cities and rural heartlands. It is designed to empower people and 
communities by inspiring Americans to work together to create jobs and 
opportunity.
    The Departments of Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development 
have designated 6 urban and 3 rural empowerment zones and two 
supplemental urban empowerment zones. These urban zones are located 
within the following cities: Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; 
Chicago, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Los Angeles, 
California; New York, New York; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/Camden, 
New Jersey. The rural zones are located in the following states and 
counties: Kentucky (Clinton, Jackson and Wayne Counties); Mississippi 
(Bolivar, Holmes, Humphreys, and LeFlore Counties); and Texas (Cameron, 
Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy Counties).
    The Empowerment Zones and Supplemental Empowerment Zones were 
designated based on locally-developed strategic plans that 
comprehensively address how the community will link economic 
development with education and training, as well as how community 
development, public safety, human services, and environmental 
initiatives will together support sustainable communities. Designated 
areas will receive Federal grant funds and substantial tax benefits and 
will have access to other Federal programs. (For additional information 
on the Empowerment Zones program contact HUD at 1-800-998-9999.)
    The Department of Education is supporting the Empowerment Zone 
initiative in a variety of ways. It is encouraging zones to use funds 
they already receive from Department of Education programs (including 
Chapter 1 of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the 
Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, the Adult Education Act, and the 
Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act) to 
support the comprehensive vision of their strategic plans. In addition, 
the Department of Education is giving preferences to zones in a number 
of discretionary grant programs that are well suited for inclusion in a 
comprehensive approach to economic and community development.
    The Empowerment Zone initiative and the 21st Century Community 
Learning Centers Program share some common features. Both programs are 
concerned with helping communities that have areas with high poverty 
rates address educational, health, social service, cultural, and 
recreational needs. Communities that have been designated as 
Empowerment Zones or Supplemental Empowerment Zones have demonstrated a 
capacity for the type of cooperative planning that is required to 
implement a 21st Century Community Learning Center. The Secretary 
believes that the limited resources available under the 21st Century 
Program will have the greatest impact if the funds are directed to 
communities that have the greatest need and have already established 
comprehensive community development plans. Therefore, the Secretary 
establishes the following absolute priority to focus Federal funds on 
21st Century projects that will address the needs of Empowerment Zones 
or Supplemental Empowerment Zones.
    Absolute Priority: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), 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:
    Projects that offer a broad selection of services that address the 
needs of the community. Grants may be used to plan, implement, or 
expand community learning centers and projects must be carried out by a 
school or consortia of schools located in an Empowerment Zone or 
Supplemental Empowerment Zone.
    Applicants must ensure that the proposed program relates to the 
strategic plan and will be an integral part of the Empowerment Zone 
program.

Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking

    In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), 
it is the practice of the Department of Education to offer interested 
parties the opportunity to comment on proposed regulations. However, in 
order to make timely grant awards in Fiscal Year (FY) 1995, the 
Assistant Secretary, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the 
General Education Provisions Act, has decided to issue these final 
priorities which will apply only to the FY 1995 grant competition.

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.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 8241-8246.

[[Page 30758]] (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 
84.287, 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program)

    Dated: June 6, 1995.
Sharon P. Robinson,
Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 95-14223 Filed 6-8-95; 8:45 am]
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