[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 71 (Thursday, April 11, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16180-16202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8993]




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_______________________________________________________________________

Part IV





Department of Education





_______________________________________________________________________



Migrant Education Even Start Program: Fiscal Year 1996 New Award 
Applications; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 71 / Thursday, April 11, 1996 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA NO.: 84.214A]


Migrant Education Even Start Program; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for FY 1996

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: This notice is a complete application package. 
Together with the statute authorizing the program and 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 competition.

PURPOSE OF PROGRAM: The Migrant Education Even Start (MEES) Program is 
designed to help break the cycle of poverty and improve the literacy of 
participating migrant families by integrating early childhood 
education, adult literacy or adult basic education, and parenting 
education into a unified family literacy program.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: While any entity is eligible to apply for a grant 
under the MEES program, the U.S. Secretary of Education (Secretary) 
specifically invites applications from State educational agencies 
(SEAs) that administer Migrant Education Programs; local educational 
agencies (LEAs) that have a high percentage of migrant students; and 
non-profit community-based organizations that work with migrant 
families.

DEADLINE FOR TRANSMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS: June 11, 1996.

DEADLINE FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: August 12, 1996.

AVAILABLE FUNDS: While final FY 1996 funding for this program is 
contingent upon final congressional action, the Secretary estimates 
that approximately $3,000,000 will be available for new awards.

ESTIMATED RANGE OF AWARDS: $88,000-$270,000.

ESTIMATED AVERAGE SIZE OF AWARDS: $200,000.

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF AWARDS: 15 Grants.

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

PROJECT PERIOD: Up to 48 months.

MAXIMUM AWARD: The Secretary does not consider an application that 
proposes a budget exceeding $270,000 for each 12-month budget period.

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS:
    (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations 
(EDGAR) as follows:
    (1) 34 CFR part 74 (Administration of Grants and Agreements with 
Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Nonprofit 
Organizations).
    (2) 34 CFR part 75 (Direct Grant Programs).
    (3) 34 CFR part 77 (Definitions that Apply to Department 
Regulations).
    (4) 34 CFR part 79 (Intergovernmental Review of Department of 
Education Programs and Activities).
    (5) 34 CFR part 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants 
and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments).
    (6) 34 CFR part 81 (General Education Provisions Act--Enforcement).
    (7) 34 CFR part 82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying).
    (8) 34 CFR part 85 (Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Non-
procurement) and Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace 
(Grants)).
    (b) The definitions of migratory child, migratory agricultural 
worker and migratory fisher contained in 34 CFR 200.30 and 200.40

Description of the Program

    Under the authority of section 1202(a)(1)(A) of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended, the Secretary awards grants 
to eligible applicants under the MEES Program for projects that--
    (1) Improve the educational opportunities of migrant families by 
integrating early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic 
education, and parenting education into a unified family literacy 
program;
    (2) Implement cooperative activities that build on existing 
community resources to create a new range of services to migrant 
families;
    (3) Promote achievement of the National Education Goals (section 
102 of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act), especially goals one 
(school readiness), six (adult literacy), and eight (parent involvement 
and participation); and
    (4) Assist children and adults from migrant families to achieve 
challenging State content standards and challenging State student 
performance standards.

Required Program Elements

    (a) Eligible participants. Eligible MEES participants consist of 
migratory children and their parents, as defined in 34 CFR 200.30 and 
200.40, who also meet the following conditions specified in section 
1206(a) of the ESEA:
    (1) The parent or parents--
    (i) Are eligible for participation in an adult basic education 
program under the Adult Education Act; or
    (ii) Are within the State's compulsory school attendance age range, 
so long as a local educational agency provides (or ensures the 
availability of) the basic education component required under this 
part; and
    (2) The child or children must be younger than eight years of age.

    Note: Family members of eligible participants also may 
participate in MEES activities when appropriate to service Even 
Start purposes. In addition, section 1206(b) of the ESEA permits a 
family found eligible for MEES services to remain so until all 
family members become ineligible to participate. For example, in the 
case of a family in which the parent or parents lose eligibility 
because of their educational advancement, the parent or parents can 
still participate in MEES activities until all children in the 
family reach age eight. In addition, the Department interprets 34 
CFR 200.30 together with section 1206(b) or ESEA to mean that MEES 
services can continue to be provided to a parent or child who is no 
longer migratory provided that the family has at least one parent or 
child who is a migratory worker or child as defined under 34 CFR 
200.40.

    (b) Required program elements. Any MEES project must, at a minimum, 
incorporate the following program elements specified in section 1205 of 
the ESEA--
     Identification and recruitment of migrant families most in 
need of MEES services, as indicated by a low level of income, a low 
level of adult literacy or English language proficiency of the eligible 
parent or parents, and other need-related indicators:
     Screening and preparation of parents, including teenage 
parents and children, to enable these parents to participate fully in 
program activities and services, including testing, referral to 
counseling, other developmental and support services, and related 
services;
     The provision of MEES services to those migrant families 
most in need of project services and activities;
     High-quality instructional programs that promote adult 
literacy and empower parents to support the educational growth of their 
children, developmentally appropriate early childhood educational 
services, and the preparation of children for success in the regular 
school programs;
     A design for service delivery that accommodates the 
participants' work schedule and other responsibilities, including the 
provision of support services, when such services are unavailable from 
other sources, but are necessary for participation in project 
activities, such as--
    --Scheduling and locating of services to allow joint participation 
by parents and children;
    --Child care for the period that parents are involved in the 
project activities; and

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    --Transportation for the purpose of enabling parents and their 
children to participate in project activities;
     Special training of staff, including child care staff, to 
develop the skills necessary to work with parents and young children in 
the full range of instructional services offered by the project;
     Provision of integrated instructional services, and 
monitoring of these services, to participating parents and children 
through home-based activities;
     Operation on a year-round basis, including the provision 
of some program services, instructional or enrichment, during the 
summer months;

    Note: Given the mobility of the population to be served by the 
MEES program, the Secretary interprets the requirement for the 
project to operate on a year-round basis to mean that activities 
must be conducted throughout the period in which participating 
migrant families reside in the project area. Applicants are free to 
interpret the requirement in other ways that are consistent with 
section 1205(7) of the ESEA.

     Appropriate coordination with other programs funded under 
ESEA, any relevant programs under the Adult Education Act, the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Job Training 
Partnership Act, the Head Start program, volunteer literacy programs, 
and other relevant programs; and
     An independent evaluation.
    In addition, to promote the kind of strong community collaboration 
needed for effective Even Start projects, sections 1202(e) and 1207(a) 
of the ESEA require applicants for grants under the basic Even Start 
program administered by SEAs to be ``eligible entities'', i.e., 
partnerships composed of (1) a local educational agency (LEA); and (2) 
a nonprofit community-based organization, a public agency other than an 
LEA, an institution of higher education, or a public or private 
nonprofit organization, of demonstrated quality, other than an LEA. 
While those operating a MEES project do not need to be eligible 
entities, the Secretary strongly encourages those who would operate 
MEES projects to enhance the effectiveness of those projects through 
formation of strong, on-going collaborative relationships among these 
kinds of local entities.
    --(c) Federal and local funding. A MEES project's funding is 
comprised of both a Federal portion of funds (Federal share) and a 
portion contributed by the eligible applicant (local share). However, 
the Federal share of the program may not exceed--
     90 percent of the total cost of the program in the first 
year;
     80 percent in the second year;
     70 percent in the third year;
     60 percent in the fourth year; and
     50 percent in any subsequent year.
    The Federal share of a grant for a second four-year cycle shall not 
exceed 50 percent. The local share of the MEES project may be provided 
in cash or in kind and may be obtained from any source, including other 
Federal programs funded by ESEA. Federal funds may not be used for 
indirect costs of a MEES project.

    Note: While section 1204(b)(2) of the ESEA permits SEAs, under 
certain circumstances, to waive the local share requirement for 
eligible entities receiving grants under the basic Even Start 
program administered by SEAs, the program statute contains no 
comparable provision allowing the Secretary to waive the local share 
requirement for those receiving MEES grants.

Selection Criteria

    (a) (1) The Secretary uses the following selection criteria to 
evaluate applications for new grants under this competition.
    (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. (20 points) 
The Secretary reviews each application to determine how well the 
project will--
    (i) Improve the educational opportunities of migrant families by 
integrating early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic 
education, and parenting education into a unified family literacy 
program;
    (ii) Implement cooperative projects that build on existing 
community resources to create a new range of services to migrant 
families;
    (iii) Promote achievement of the National Education Goals, 
especially the goals that address school readiness, student 
achievement, and parent involvement and participation; and
    (iv) Assist children and adults from migrant families to achieve 
challenging State content standards and challenging State student 
performance standards.
    (2) Extent of need for the project. (20 points) The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine the extent to which the project 
would meet the needs of eligible migratory children and their parents 
(including guardians and primary caretakers) for the services and 
activities that the project would provide, including consideration of--
    (i) The needs addressed by the project;
    (ii) How the applicant identifies those needs;
    (iii) How those needs will be met by the project; and
    (iv) The benefits gained by meeting those needs.

    Note: Applicants may address this criterion in any way that is 
reasonable, given the purpose of the MEES program. Applicants may, 
for example, address such factors as the following:
    (A) The area(s) to be served have high percentages or large 
numbers of migratory children and their parents, guardians, or 
primary caretakers in need of MEES services;
    (B) The lack of availability of comprehensive family literacy 
services for the migrant population;
    (C) How community resources will be used to benefit project 
participants.

    Note: An applicant can address this criterion in any way that is 
reasonable. An applicant can address this riterior in any way that 
is reasonable. An applicant might, for example, provide a brief 
description of each resource the project intends to include, or a 
list of these resources.
    (D) How the project will integrate child development, adult 
literacy, and parenting activities; and
    (E) How the project will assist migrant children and adults to 
achieve the State content standards and student performance 
standards.

    (3) Plan of operation. (35 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;

    Note: Applicants may address this criterion in any way that is 
reasonable. However, concerning design of the project, the Secretary 
believes that an effective application would incorporate, at a 
minimum, the various program elements required under section 1205 of 
the ESEA and listed in the Required program elements section of this 
notice.

    (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; and
    (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 disability.
    (4) Quality of key personnel. (10 points) The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine the quality of key personnel the 
applicant plans to use on the project, including--
    (i) The qualifications of the project director (if one is to be 
used);
    (ii) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be 
used in the project;

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    (iii) The time that the project director and the other key 
personnel will commit to the project; and
    (iv) How the applicant, as part if its nondiscriminatory employment 
practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected for employment 
without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or 
handicapping condition.
    To determine personnel qualifications under paragraphs (i) and (ii) 
of this criterion, the Secretary will review--
    (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.

    Note: Applicants may address this criterion in any way that is 
reasonable. Any applicant may, for example, (1) demonstrate that it 
has the qualified personnel needed to develop, administer, and 
implement a MEES project, and if not, will provide access to the 
special training necessary to prepare staff for the project, or (2) 
include a resume for each proposed project staff member or a 
position description for each proposed but not-yet-filled position.

    (5) Budget and cost effectiveness. (2 points) The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine the extent of which--
    (i) The budget is adequate to support the project; and
    (ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to the goals and objectives 
of the project.
    (6) Evaluation plan. (10 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.

    Note: This plan must permit the preparation of an evaluation 
that meets the requirements of 34 CFR 75.590, as well as an annual 
performance report that evaluates whether project objectives are 
being met and, if not, includes the changes in program activities 
that will be adopted (see 34 CFR 75.118 and 75.253). (Instructions 
for the annual performance report are included in the Appendix to 
this document.) See also the discussion under NATIONAL EVALUATION.

    (7) Adequacy of resources. (3 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.

National Evaluation

    The Department is conducting a national evaluation of Even Start 
Family Literacy projects. Grantees must cooperate with the Department's 
efforts by adopting an evaluation plan that is consistent with the 
national evaluation (as well as with the grantee's responsibilities 
under 34 CFR 75.118, 75.253 and 75.590). It is not expected that the 
application will include a complete evaluation plan because grantees 
will be asked to cooperate with the national evaluation of the Even 
Start Family Literacy Program to be conducted by an independent 
contractor. Grantees may be required to amend their plans, however, to 
conform with the national evaluation.
    The Secretary suggests that each applicant budget for evaluation 
activities as follows: a project with an estimated cost of up to 
$120,000 should designate $5,000 for this purpose; a project with an 
estimated cost of over $120,000 should designate $10,000 for this 
purpose. These funds will be used for expenditures related to the 
collection and aggregation of data required for the Department's 
national evaluation. The Secretary also recommends that applicants 
budget for the cost of travel to Washington, DC, and two nights' 
lodging for the project director and project evaluator, for their 
participation in annual evaluation meetings.

Information by Project and Budget Periods

    Under 34 CFR 75.112 and 75.117, a project application must propose 
a project period, and include budgetary information for each budget 
period of the proposed project period. The Secretary requests that the 
budgetary information include an amount for all key project components 
with an accompanying breakdown of any subcomponents (a form for 
reporting this information is contained in the appendix to this 
notice), along with a written justification for all requested amounts.
    34 CFR 75.112(b) also requires that an applicant describe how and 
when, in each budget period of the project, it plans to meet each 
objective of the project.

    Note: The Department will use this information, in conjunction 
with the grantee's annual performance report required under 34 CFR 
75.118(a), to determine whether to make a continuation award for the 
subsequent budget year. Under 34 CFR 75.253, a grantee can receive a 
continuation award only if it demonstrates that it either has made 
substantial progress toward meeting the objectives of the approved 
project, or has received the Secretary's approval of changes in the 
project to enable it to meet the objectives in the succeeding budget 
periods.

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 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 August 10, 1995. (60 FR 40956)
    In States that have not established a process or chosen a program 
for review, State, area-wide, 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, area-wide, 
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# 84.214A, U.S. Department of Education, Room 6213, 600 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-0125.
    Proof of mailing will be determined on the same basis as 
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,

[[Page 16183]]
Attention: (CFDA #84.214A), 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 
#84.214A), Room #3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets, 
S.W., Washington, DC.
    (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 that 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 (ED Form No. 
524) and instructions.
    Part III: Application Narrative.

Additional Materials

    Estimated Public Reporting Burden.
    Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B).
    Certifications 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 information on a photostatic copy of the 
application and budget forms, the assurances, and the certifications. 
However, the application form, the assurances, and the certifications 
must each have an original signature. No grant may be awarded unless a 
completed application form has been received.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Martha Chavez, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and 
Secondary Education, Office of Migrant Education, 600 Independence 
Avenue, SW, Room 4100, Portals Building, Washington, DC 20202-6135. 
Telephone Number: (202) 260-2114. 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. 6362(a)(1)(A).

    Dated: March 27, 1996.
Gerald N. Tipozzi,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.

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Part III

Instructions for Part III--Application Narrative

    Before preparing the Application Narrative, an applicant should 
read carefully the description of the program and the selection 
criteria the Secretary uses to evaluate applications.
    The narrative should encompass each function or activity for which 
funds are being requested and should--
    The narrative should encompass each function or activity for which 
finds are being requested and should--
    1. Begin with an Abstract; that is, a summary of the proposed 
project.
    2. Describe the proposed project in light of each of the selection 
criteria in the order in which the criteria are listed in this 
application package. [Note: While applicants can address the criteria 
in any way that is reasonable, given the required emphasis of any MEES 
project on early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic 
education, and parenting education, the Secretary believes that a 
reasonable plan of operation would address these three objectives. 
Moreover, consistent with 34 CFR 75.112(b), which requires that the 
application describe how and when, in each budget period, the applicant 
plans to meet each project objective, the Secretary believes that 
applicants would want particularly to describe each goal in terms of 
measurable objectives, specific activities that are proposed to meet 
each objective, time lines associated with these activities, the 
resources believed to be needed to achieve each objective, and how each 
objective will be evaluated.]
    3. Provide the following information in response to the attached 
``NOTICE TO ALL APPLICANTS'': (1) a reference to the portion of the 
application in which the applicant has described the steps that the 
applicant proposes to take to remove barriers to equitable access to, 
and equitable participation in, project activities; or (2) a separate 
statement that contains this information.
    4. Include any other pertinent information that might assist the 
Secretary in reviewing the application.
    The Application Narrative must be double-spaced, typed on one side 
only, and must not exceed 50 numbered pages--appendices excepted.

Instructions for Estimated Public Reporting Burden

    According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are 
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this 
information collection is 1810-0541. (Expiration date: March 31, 1999) 
The time required to complete this information collection is estimated 
to average 60 hours per response, including the time to review 
instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, 
and complete and review the information collection. If you have any 
comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or suggestions 
for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, 
Washington, D.C. 20202-4651. If you have comments or concerns regarding 
the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly 
to: Office of Migrant Education, U.S. Department of Education, 600 
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., 20202-4651.

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Notice to All Applicants

    Thank you for your interest in this program. The purpose of this 
enclosure is to inform you about a new provision in the Department of 
Education's General Education Provision Act (GEPA) that applies to 
applicants for new grant awards under Department programs. This 
provision is section 427 of GEPA, enacted as part of the Improving 
America's Schools Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-382).

To Whom Does This Provision Apply?

    Section 427 of GEPA affects applicants for new discretionary grant 
awards under this program. ALL APPLICANTS FOR NEW AWARDS MUST INCLUDE 
INFORMATION IN THEIR APPLICATIONS TO ADDRESS THIS NEW PROVISION IN 
ORDER TO RECEIVE FUNDING UNDER THIS PROGRAM.

What Does This Provision Require?

    Section 427 requires each applicant for funds (other than an 
individual person) to include in its application a description of the 
steps the applicant proposes to take to ensure equitable access to, and 
participation in, its federally-assisted program for students, 
teachers, and other program beneficiaries with special needs.
    This section allows applicants discretion in developing the 
required description. The statute highlights six types of barriers that 
can impede equitable access or participation that you may address: 
gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age. Based on 
local circumstances, you can determine whether these or other barriers 
may prevent your students, teachers, etc. from equitable access or 
participation. Your description need not be lengthy; you may provide a 
clear and succinct description of how you plan to address those 
barriers that are applicable to your circumstances. In addition, the 
information may be provided in a single narrative, or, if appropriate, 
may be discussed in connection with related topics in the application.
    Section 427 is not intended to duplicate the requirements of civil 
rights statutes, but rather to ensure that, in designing their 
projects, applicants for Federal funds address equity concerns that may 
affect the ability of certain potential beneficiaries to fully 
participate in the project and to achieve to high standards. Consistent 
with program requirements and its approved application, an applicant 
may use the Federal funds awarded to it to eliminate barriers it 
identifies.

What are Examples of How an Applicant Might Satisfy the Requirement of 
This Provision?

    The following examples may help illustrate how an applicant may 
comply with section 427.
    (1) An applicant that proposes to carry out an adult literacy 
project serving, among others, adults with limited English proficiency, 
might describe in its application how it intends to distribute a 
brochure about the proposed project to such potential participants in 
their native language.
    (2) An applicant that proposes to develop instructional materials 
for classroom use might describe how it will make the materials 
available on audio tape or in braille for students who are blind.
    (3) An applicant that proposes to carry out a model science program 
for secondary students and is concerned that girls may be less likely 
than boys to enroll in the course, might indicate how it tends to 
conduct ``outreach'' efforts to girls, to encourage their enrollment.
    We recognize that many applicants may already be implementing 
effective steps to ensure equity of access and participation in their 
grant programs, and we appreciate your cooperation in responding to the 
requirements of this provision.
Estimated Burden Statement
    According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are 
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this 
information collection is 1801-0004 (Exp. 8/31/98). The time required 
to complete this information collection is estimated to vary from 1 to 
3 hours per response, with an average of 1.5 hours, including the time 
to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather and 
maintain the data needed, and complete and review the information 
collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the 
time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write 
to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202-4651.

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    The time required to complete this information collection is 
estimated to average 20 hours per response, including the time to 
review instructions, search existing data resources, gather and 
maintain the data needed, and complete and review the information 
collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the 
time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving the form, please write 
to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202-4651. If you 
have any comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual 
submission of this form, write directly to: [insert program sponsor/
official], U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., 
Washington, DC 20202-----.

Instructions for the Annual Performance Report

    To receive a continuation award, recipients of discretionary grants 
must submit an annual performance report that establishes substantial 
progress toward meeting their project objectives. The instructions for 
the annual performance report have been designed to provide the 
Department with the information that it needs to determine whether 
recipients have done so. (See sections 75.118, 75.253 and 75.590 of the 
Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR).) Do 
not use these instructions to prepare the final performance report 
after the project is completed.
    Parts I-III and V of these instructions request from recipients the 
information that EDGAR requires to permit the Secretary to make 
decisions on whether or not to make continuation awards. Part IV of 
these instructions requests a summary of new information that may bear 
on the direction of future activities. This information is requested to 
help the Department to monitor grant activities and provide technical 
assistance to recipients. For convenience, an optional form for 
reporting Parts I and V has been provided with these instructions. 
However, the requested information may be provided in any reasonable 
format.
    Recipients will need to submit an original and one copy of the 
annual performance report. The Department will notify recipients of the 
due date for submission of the performance report, which will be as 
late as possible in the project's current budget period.
    For those programs that operate under statutes or regulations that 
require additional (or different) reporting for performance or 
monitoring purposes, the Department also will inform recipients whether 
any other (or different) reporting is necessary, and when this 
additional reporting should be made.
I. Cover Sheet
    Please provide the following information:
    1. Recipient name and address. Unless changed repeat from Block 1 
on your last Notification of Grant Award.
    2. PR/Award number (e.g., H158A20021-95). See BLOCK 4 on your last 
Notification of Grant Award.
    3. Project title. This should be identical to the title of the 
approved application.
    4. Contact person--name and title. Please provide the name of the 
project director or other individual who is most familiar with the 
content of the performance report.
    5. Project telephone number and FAX number.
    6. E-Mail address.
    7. Performance reporting period. This is the time-frame that is 
requested in Parts III and IV of the performance report for information 
on project status and supplementary information/changes.
    a. For projects that are operating in their first budget period, 
this period covers the start of the project through 30 days before the 
due date of this report.
    b. For projects that are operating in interim budget periods, and 
that submitted a non-competing continuation grant application in the 
prior period, this period covers the date of submission of that 
application (unless the Department establishes another beginning date) 
through 30 days before the due date of this report.
    c. For all other projects that are operating in interim budget 
periods, this period covers the end of the reporting period for the 
annual performance report that the recipient submitted to receive its 
previous continuation award, through 30 days before the due date of 
this report.
    8. Current budget period. See Block 5 of your last Notification of 
Grant Award.
    The cover sheet also must contain the name, title and signature of 
the authorized representative of the grantee.
II. Project Summary
    (One or two paragraphs.)
III. Project Status*
    Report your progress in accomplishing the objectives of the 
project. In doing so, for each project objective, describe the project 
activities, accomplishments and outcomes since the submission of the 
last performance report, or, if you are currently in the first budget 
period, since the start of the project. Also reference the page numbers 
and sections of the approved application that address the planned 
activities or anticipated accomplishments and outcomes. Where it is 
possible to do so, information on current activities, accomplishments 
and outcomes should be quantified.
    If a planned objective was not attained, or a planned activity was 
not conducted as scheduled, explain why, what steps are being taken to 
address the problem, and the schedule for doing so.
    If performance indicators for evaluating your project have been 
established for your program, or were approved as part of a project 
evaluation plan contained in your project application, provide 
information on your project's performance using those indicators.
IV. Supplemental Information/Changes*
    As a result of actual performance, recipients often gain additional 
information (beyond that provided in their initial applications) that 
affects their future grant activities and/or strategies for 
accomplishing their approved scope of work. If this is the case for 
your project, please provide a summary of this information (quantified, 
where possible) and any change in project strategies, activities, or 
project outcomes.
V. Budget Report*
    1. For the current budget period, provide for each approved budget 
category the total amount of project funds obligated as of 30 days 
before the due date of the performance report. (See Blocks 9.A--L of 
the reporting form.) For projects that require recipients to provide 
matching funds or other non-federal resources, also provide the total 
of all non-federal contributions as of 30 days before the due date of 
the performance report. (See Block 10 of the reporting form.)
    2. Indicate whether the project expects to have any unobligated 
grant funds at the end of the current budget period. (See Block 11 of 
the reporting form.)
    Remember: Recipients must request authorization to carry over funds 
that were unobligated in one budget period for use in the following 
budget period. If unobligated funds are needed to complete activities 
that were approved for the current budget period, section 75.253 of 
EDGAR permits the Secretary to add the amount of these funds to funds 
that will be awarded through a continuation award for use in the 
following budget period. Conversely, if

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any unobligated funds are NOT needed to complete activities that were 
approved for the current budget period, section 75.253 permits the 
Secretary to deduct the amount of these unobligated funds from the 
amount of funds that will be awarded for use in the following budget 
period.

    *Note for Parts III, IV, and V: Most projects submit with their 
applications a single budget form, and have a single approved 
budget, for each budget period. However, if your project has 
multiple components, and was required to submit for approval a 
separate budget form for each component, please ensure that the 
information that you provide in Parts III, IV, and V of the 
performance report reflects activities or expenditures for each of 
these components.

[FR Doc. 96-8993 Filed 4-10-96; 8:45 am]
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