[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 127 (Monday, July 3, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34785-34787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16203]



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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Bilingual Education: Academic Excellence Awards

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of funding priority and selection criteria for fiscal 
year (FY) 1995.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary establishes the selection criteria for 
evaluating applications and an absolute funding priority under the 
Academic Excellence Awards program for FY 1995. The Secretary 
establishes selection criteria and an absolute funding priority to 
support those applicants that have implemented high quality education 
programs and have been nominated by their State education agency (SEA) 
for a grant.

EFFECTIVE DATES: This notice takes effect on August 2, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
MAry T. Mahony, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue 
SW., Room 5609, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-6510. Telephone: 
(202) 205-8728. 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 Academic Excellence Awards program is 
authorized by Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965 as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (Pub. 
L. 103-382, enacted October 20, 1994) (the Act).
    Under section 7133 of the Act, this program promotes the adoption 
and implementation of bilingual education, special alternative 
instruction programs, and professional development programs that 
demonstrate promise of assisting limited English proficient (LEP) 
children and youth to meet challenging State standards by providing 
grants to SEAs, local educational agencies, nonprofit organizations, 
and institutions of higher education. The new law represents a 
substantial change from previous legislation governing the Academic 
Excellence Awards program.
    The Secretary is establishing an absolute priority for applications 
that are nominated by an applicant's SEA and that have been implemented 
already at one or more sites. The Secretary has exempted applications 
submitted by SEAs from the nomination requirement because the Secretary 
believes that an application submitted by an SEA is equivalent to an 
SEA nomination of the application. The Secretary establishes this 
absolute priority to ensure that the Department funds only exemplary 
programs that have the support of a reliable entity, i.e., the SEA, 
that is familiar with the exemplary program. The Secretary requires the 
applicant to have an existing model site to show that it is feasible to 
implement the exemplary program.
    Section 7133 of the Act provides that the Secretary must establish 
effectiveness criteria for a peer review of applications for a grant 
under this program. In accordance with this provision, the Secretary 
will consider the effectiveness of the exemplary program, the exemplary 
program's potential for adoption, and the applicant's dissemination 
plan including sustained training, evaluation plan, and coordination 
strategies.
    The Secretary believes that new selection criteria are necessary to 
carry out the purposes of the new Academic Excellence Awards program 
authority. The new criteria offer applicants flexibility to design new 
dissemination approaches and ensure integration with State and local 
reform efforts.

    Note: This notice does not solicit applications. A notice 
inviting applications under this competition is published elsewhere 
in this issue of the Federal Register.

Priority

    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and section 7133 of the Act, the 
Secretary gives an absolute preference to applications that meet the 
following priority. The Secretary funds under this program only 
applications that meet this absolute priority:
    (a) Applications that are submitted by local educational agencies, 
nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education must be 
nominated by their SEA. (This requirement does not apply to 
applications submitted by SEAs.) This nomination must be included with 
the application and must contain an assurance by the SEA that the 
applicant's program is exemplary and consistent with the State plan for 
systemic educational reform; and
    (b) All the exemplary programs that are submitted for funding under 
this program must have been implemented already at one or more model 
sites. Applications must describe how all the essential elements of the 
exemplary programs have been implemented at these model sites.

Selection Criteria

    (a) In evaluating applications for grants under this competition, 
the Secretary uses the following criteria.
    (b) The maximum score for all of the criteria in this section is 
115 points.
    (c) The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in 
parentheses following the heading of each criterion.
    (d) The Secretary evaluates each application for a grant under this 
program by using the following selection criteria, which are based on 
section 7133 of the Act:
    (1) Evidence of effectiveness. (25 points) The extent to which the 
exemplary program provides demonstrated evidence of effectiveness in 
assisting LEP students to attain high academic standards and 
challenging State standards.
    (2) Sound research. (15 points) How well the pedagogical approach 
and materials of the exemplary program reflect sound research and 
current professional development practices.
    (3) Potential for adoption. (20) points The extent to which the 
exemplary program demonstrates potential for adoption by other 
education service providers.
    (4) Management plan. (20 points) How well the proposed management 
plan will support--
    (i) National dissemination of the exemplary program; and
    (ii) Sustain training for teachers, other educational personnel, 
parents, and other members of the school communities where the 
exemplary program will be adopted.
    (5) Evaluation plan. (15 points) The extent to which the evaluation 
plan includes collection of impact data on student learning and 
documentation of the outcomes of technical assistance at the adoption 
sites.
    (6) Key personnel. (10 points) The extent to which key personnel 
have the experience, training, and skills to implement the project 
successfully.
    (7) Coordination of activities. (10 points) The quality of the 
applicant's plan to coordinate activities with regional, State, and 
local reform efforts to assist LEP students.

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 priorities and 
regulations. However, in order to make timely grant awards in FY 1995, 
the Director, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the General 
Education Provisions Act, has 

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decided to issue this final notice of funding priority and selection 
criteria, 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. 7453.

    Dated: June 27, 1995.
Eugene E. Garcia,
Director, Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.003G Bilingual 
Education: Academic Excellence Awards)
[FR Doc. 95-16203 Filed 6-30-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-M