[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 178 (Thursday, September 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47826-47827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22874]



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[CFDA Nos.: 84.305 A and B, 84.306A, 84.307A, 84.308A, and 84.309 A and 
B]


Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI)--Education 
Research and Development Centers Program; Notice Inviting Applications 
for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1996

    Purpose of Program: To support seven national research and 
development centers that would carry out sustained research and 
development to address nationally significant problems and issues in 
education.
    Eligible Applicants: The following are eligible for a new award 
under this program: institutions of higher education, institutions of 
higher education in consort with public agencies or private nonprofit 
organizations, and interstate agencies established by compact that 
operate subsidiary bodies established to conduct postsecondary 
educational research and development.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: December 15, 1995.
    Applications Available: September 29, 1995.
    Estimated Available Funds: The seven centers will be awarded as 
cooperative agreements. In fiscal year 1996, $21,350,000 is expected to 
be available for the first year of funding for the seven national 
research and development centers. The following table indicates the 
estimated funding levels over the five-year project period. The funding 
levels for years 1 through 5 are estimates. Actual funding will depend 
upon the availability of funds and needs as reflected in the approved 
application.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Fiscal year                                 
          Priority area          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1996            1997            1998            1999            2000     
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enhancing young children's                                                                                      
 development and learning.......       2,750,000       2,750,000       2,750,000       2,750,000       2,750,000
Improving student learning and                                                                                  
 achievement\1\.................       5,000,000       5,000,000       5,000,000       5,000,000       5,000,000
Improving student assessment and                                                                                
 educational accountability.....       2,800,000       2,800,000       2,800,000       2,800,000       2,800,000
Meeting the educational needs of                                                                                
 a diverse student population...       4,000,000       4,000,000       4,000,000       4,000,000       4,000,000
Increasing the effectiveness of                                                                                 
 state and local education                                                                                      
 reform efforts.................       2,800,000       2,800,000       2,800,000       2,800,000       2,800,000
Improving postsecondary                                                                                         
 education......................       2,500,000       2,500,000       2,500,000       2,500,000       2,500,000
Improving adult learning and                                                                                    
 literacy.......................       1,500,000       1,500,000       1,500,000       1,500,000       1,500,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Multiple awards may be made.                                                                                

    Estimated Number of Awards: 7.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 
82, 85, and 86; and (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR Part 
700, as published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

Priority

    The absolute priorities in the notice of final priorities and post-
award requirements for this program, as published elsewhere in this 
issue of the Federal Register apply to this competition.

Selection Criteria

    In evaluating applications for grants under this program, the 
Secretary uses the selection criteria in 20 U.S.C. 6031(c)(3)(E) and 34 
CFR 700.30.
    In accordance with 34 CFR 700.30 (b) and (c), the Secretary has 
selected evaluation criteria from among those established in 34 CFR 
700.30(e) and has assigned weights to each selected criterion.
    In addition, the legislation authorizing the Research and 
Development Centers program requires all applications for grants to be 
evaluated according to criteria specified in 20 U.S.C. 6031(c)(3)(E) 
(i)-(vi). The Secretary has incorporated the statutory selection 
criteria into the criteria established under 34 CFR 700.30. The 
statutory criteria are: (3)(B)(iii), (4)(B)(iv), (4)(B)(v), (5)(B)(iv), 
(5)(B)(v), and (5)(B)(vi).
    The Secretary announces the following evaluation criteria and 
assigned weights for this competition:
    (1) National Significance (30 points)
    (A) The Secretary considers the national significance of the 
proposed project.
    (B) In determining the national significance of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The importance of the problem or issue to be addressed.
    (ii) The potential contribution of the project to increased 
knowledge or understanding of educational problems, issues, or 
effective practice.
    (iii) The potential contribution of the project to the development 
and advancement of theory and knowledge in the field of study.
    (iv) The nature of the products (such as information, materials, 
processes, or techniques) likely to result from the project and the 
potential for their effective use in a variety of other settings.
    (2) Quality of the Project Design (30 points)
    (A) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the 
proposed project.
    (B) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) Whether there is a conceptual framework underlying the proposed 
activities and the quality of that framework.
    (ii) Whether the proposed activities constitute a coherent, 
sustained program 

[[Page 47827]]
of research and development in the field, including a substantial 
addition to an ongoing line of inquiry.
    (iii) The extent to which the research design includes a thorough, 
high-quality review of the relevant literature, a high-quality plan for 
research activities, and use of appropriate theoretical and 
methodological tools, including those of a variety of disciplines, 
where appropriate.
    (iv) The quality of the plan for evaluating the functioning and 
impact of the project, including the objectivity of the evaluation and 
the extent to which the methods of evaluation are appropriate to the 
goals, objectives, and outcomes of the project.
    (3) Quality and Potential Contributions of Personnel (20 points)
    (A) The Secretary considers the quality and potential contributions 
of personnel for the proposed project.
    (B) In determining the quality and potential contributions of 
personnel for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the 
following factors:
    (i) The qualifications, including training and experience, of the 
project director or principal investigator.
    (ii) The qualifications, including training and experience, of key 
project personnel.
    (iii) Whether the applicant has assembled a group of high quality 
researchers sufficient to achieve the mission of the center.
    (4) Adequacy of Resources (10 points)
    (A) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the 
proposed project.
    (B) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The adequacy of support from the lead applicant organization.
    (ii) The relevance and commitment of each partner in the project to 
the implementation and success of the project.
    (iii) Whether the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
objectives, design, and potential significance of the project.
    (iv) Whether the proposed organizational structure and arrangements 
will facilitate achievement of the mission of the center.
    (v) Whether the directors and support staff will devote a majority 
of their time to the activities of the center.
    (5) Quality of the Management Plan (10 points)
    (A) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan of 
the proposed project.
    (B) In determining the quality of the management plan of a proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the project, including the specifications of staff responsibility, 
timelines, and benchmarks for accomplishing project tasks.
    (ii) The adequacy of plans for ensuring high-quality products and 
services.
    (iii) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of 
perspectives are brought to bear in the operation of the project, 
including those of parents and teachers, where appropriate.
    (iv) Whether there is a substantial staff commitment to the work of 
the center.
    (v) The contributions of primary researchers (other than 
researchers at the proposed center) and the appropriateness of such 
researcher's experiences and expertise in the context of the proposed 
center activities, and the adequacy of such primary researcher's time 
and commitment to achievement of the mission of the center.
    (vi) The manner in which the results of education research will be 
disseminated for further use, including how the center will work with 
the Office of Reform Assistance and Dissemination.
    For Applications or Information Contact: Either--
    1. Jacqueline Jenkins, U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey 
Avenue, NW, Room 510G, Washington, DC 20208-5573. Telephone: (202) 219-
2232. Internet: Jackie__ Jenkins @ed.gov or;
    2. Judith Anderson, U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey 
Avenue, NW, Room 611B, Washington, DC 20208-5573. Telephone: (202) 219-
2086. Internet: Judith__ Anderson @ed.gov.
    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 or discretionary grant competitions, can 
be viewed on the Department's electronic bulletin board (ED Board), 
telephone (202) 260-9950; or on the Internet Gopher Servers 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: Pub. L. 103-227, Title IX.

    Dated: August 31, 1995.
Sharon Porter Robinson,
Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 95-22874 Filed 9-13-95; 8:45 am]
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