[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 250 (Friday, December 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68524-68540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32942]


      

[[Page 68523]]

_______________________________________________________________________

Part XI





Department of Education





_______________________________________________________________________



Parental Assistance Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New 
Awards Using Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 and 1998 Funds; Notice



_______________________________________________________________________

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 250 / Friday, December 27, 1996 / 
Notices  

[[Page 68524]]



DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.310A]


Parental Assistance Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New 
Awards Using Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 and 1998 Funds

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: To assist nonprofit organizations, and nonprofit 
organizations in consortia with local educational agencies (LEAs), in 
establishing parental information and resource centers that would (1) 
increase parents' knowledge of and confidence in child-rearing 
activities, such as teaching and nurturing their young children; (2) 
strengthen partnerships between parents and professionals in meeting 
the educational needs of children aged birth through five years and the 
working relationship between home and school; and (3) enhance the 
developmental progress of the children assisted under the program.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: Nonprofit organizations, and nonprofit 
organizations in consortia with LEAs, in the following States are 
eligible to apply for funding: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, 
Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, 
Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode 
Island, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. In 
addition, nonprofit organizations in Puerto Rico and in the outlying 
areas may apply for funding. Eligible outlying areas include the Virgin 
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of 
Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
    The statute requires the Secretary to ensure that grants are 
distributed, to the greatest extent possible, to all geographic regions 
of the United States. In the initial competition, nonprofit 
organizations (either individually or in consortia with LEAs) in 27 
States and in the District of Columbia were awarded grants. This 
competition is for eligible applicants in the remaining States, as 
previously identified, Puerto Rico, and the outlying areas.
    An LEA, by itself, is not eligible for an award. However, an LEA 
may be part of a consortium with a nonprofit organization that applies. 
In those instances, the award would be made to the nonprofit 
organization, which would serve as the fiscal agent.
    For purposes of this competition, nonprofit organizations do not 
include institutions of higher education, State educational agencies, 
LEAs, intermediate school districts, government entities, or hospitals.

DEADLINE FOR TRANSMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS: February 21, 1997.

DEADLINE FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: April 25, 1997.

AVAILABLE FUNDS: $5,000,000 in FY 1997 funds.
    The Secretary does not intend to conduct a separate competition 
using FY 1998 funds if funds are appropriated for this program for FY 
1998. Instead, pursuant to 34 CFR 75.253, from the FY 1998 funds that 
may be available, the Secretary intends first to make continuation 
awards to successful applicants under this notice and to the grantees 
that were initially funded from the FY 1995 appropriation. If the FY 
1998 funding level for this program exceeds the FY 1997 level, the 
Secretary intends to use the excess FY 1998 funds to make awards, on 
the basis of the selection criteria in this notice, to eligible 
entities that applied under this competition but failed to receive FY 
1997 funding. Thus, in order to be considered for either FY 1997 or FY 
1998 funding, an eligible entity must apply for funding by the 
application deadline announced in this notice.

ESTIMATED RANGE OF AWARDS: $50,000 to $500,000 per year.

(Note: Due to anticipated variances in the scope of proposed 
activities, the estimated range is very broad. Higher award amounts 
are for broad-based programs that would serve a substantial number 
of persons in large geographic regions.)

ESTIMATED NUMBER of AWARDS: 14.

    Note: These estimates are projections for the guidance of 
potential applicants. The Department of Education is not bound by 
any estimates in this notice.

PROJECT PERIOD: Up to 48 months.

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS: The Education Department General Administrative 
Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, and 85.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR Part 80 (Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and 
Local Governments) apply to an LEA that is part of a consortium 
receiving assistance.

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM: Increased parental involvement and 
participation in the social, emotional, and academic growth of children 
are an essential part of comprehensive education reform. Title IV of 
the Goals 2000: Educate America Act (Pub. L. 103-227) (20 U.S.C 5801 et 
seq.) (the Act) helps foster parental involvement by authorizing grants 
to nonprofit organizations, and nonprofit organizations in consortia 
with LEAs, to establish and fund parent information and resource 
centers. These centers will provide training, information, and support 
to (a) parents of children aged birth through five years; (b) parents 
of children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools; and (c) 
individuals who work with these parents.
    Grant funds received under this program may be used--
    (a) For parent training, information, and support programs that 
assist parents to--
    (1) Better understand their children's educational needs;
    (2) Provide follow-up for their children's educational achievement;
    (3) Communicate more effectively with teachers, counselors, 
administrators, and other professional educators and support staff;
    (4) Participate in the design and provision of assistance to 
students who are not making adequate educational progress;
    (5) Obtain information about the range of options, programs, 
services, and resources available at the national, State, and local 
levels to assist parents of children aged birth through five years and 
parents of children in elementary and secondary schools;
    (6) Seek technical assistance regarding compliance with the 
requirements of title IV and of other Federal programs relevant to 
achieving the National Education Goals;
    (7) Participate in State and local decisionmaking;
    (8) Train other parents; and
    (9) Plan, implement, and fund activities that coordinate the 
education of their children with other Federal programs that serve 
their children or their families; and
    (b) To include State or local educational personnel if that 
participation will further the activities assisted under the grant.
    Entities are encouraged to develop and implement their projects 
through broad-based outreach and collaborative processes that reflect 
the diverse needs of parents to be served. The proposed project may not 
be a narrow activity that benefits parents in only a small portion of 
the State. Rather, it must provide a mix of direct training services 
and statewide information and support services. These projects must 
facilitate and support opportunities for broad-

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based participation of communities and parents in the project from 
throughout the State or throughout a large area of the State, 
including--
    (a) Areas with high concentrations of low-income families;
    (b) Urban and rural areas; and
    (c) Parents of children who are low-income, minority, or have 
limited English proficiency.
    A meritorious proposal might also describe how the applicant would 
coordinate project activities with the activities being conducted by 
other organizations and agencies, parent centers, and parent groups. 
Particularly appropriate, for example, would be applications from 
eligible entities that would provide training, information, and support 
to parents who reside in communities that are developing or 
implementing a comprehensive education reform plan in which family 
involvement is an integral strategy, such as those communities that 
include LEAs supported by a subgrant under section 309(a) of the Goals 
2000 Act or by other funds.
    Applicants should be aware that section 1118(g) of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Improving America's 
Schools Act of 1994, requires schools and districts receiving Title I 
funds to assist parents and parent organizations by informing them of 
the existence and purpose of the parent information and resource center 
in their State, providing them with a description of the services and 
programs provided by the center, advising parents on how to use the 
center, and helping them contact the center. Consequently, applicants 
should be prepared to address the demand for their services created by 
this requirement.
    In developing proposals for increasing the involvement of parents 
in their children's learning and for strengthening partnerships between 
parents and educational professionals, applicants might consider issues 
such as the following:
    (1) How the participating communities have assessed or propose to 
assess the interests and needs of parents in these communities, 
particularly the interests and needs of parents of low-income, 
minority, and limited English proficient children, in order to provide 
services that meet their needs.
    (2) How parent groups, schools, and organizations and agencies in 
the local communities would collaborate to initiate or expand 
opportunities for parents to be involved in their children's learning 
and to strengthen their relationships in order to meet the educational 
needs of children.
    (3) How the applicant organization and participating communities 
would use information currently available concerning best practices in 
parent and family involvement activities to meet parents' information, 
training, and support needs.
    (4) How participating communities would implement activities that 
enable parents to engage in learning activities with their children at 
home and at school.
    (5) How the applicant organization would establish, expand, or 
otherwise participate in a broad-based statewide or areawide network of 
parents, school personnel, business and community leaders, 
organizations that work with parents and their children, and others as 
appropriate, that helps the communities participating in the project as 
well as other communities learn from and support each other.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: Each application must include assurances that the 
grantee will--
    (a)(1) Be governed by a board of directors the membership of which 
includes parents; or
    (2) Be an organization that represents the interests of parents;
    (b) Establish a special advisory committee the membership of which 
includes--
    (1) Parents of children aged birth through five years and parents 
of children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools; and
    (2) Representatives of educational professionals with expertise in 
improving services for disadvantaged children; and
    (3) A broad representation of minority, low-income, and other 
individuals and groups that have an interest in compensatory education 
and family literacy;
    (c) Use at least one-half the funds provided in the grant in each 
fiscal year to serve areas with high concentrations of low-income 
families in order to serve parents who are severely educationally or 
economically disadvantaged;
    (d) Operate a center of sufficient size, scope, and quality to 
ensure that the center is adequate to serve the parents in the area;
    (e) Serve both urban and rural areas;
    (f) Design a center that meets the unique training, information, 
and support needs of parents of children aged birth through five years 
and of parents of children enrolled in elementary and secondary 
schools, particularly parents who are economically or educationally 
disadvantaged;
    (g) Demonstrate the capacity and expertise to conduct the effective 
training information and support activities for which assistance is 
sought;
    (h) Network with--
    (1) Clearinghouses;
    (2) Parent centers for the parents of infants, toddlers, children, 
and youth with disabilities served under section 631(e) of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Act;
    (3) Other organizations and agencies;
    (4) Established national, State, and local parent groups 
representing the full range of parents of children aged birth through 
five years; and
    (5) Parents of children enrolled in elementary and secondary 
schools;
    (i) Focus on serving parents of children aged birth through five 
years and parents of children enrolled in elementary and secondary 
schools, who are parents of low-income, minority, and limited English 
proficient children; and
    (j) Use part of the funds received under this program to establish, 
expand, or operate Parents as Teachers (PAT) programs or Home 
Instruction Programs for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) programs, as 
defined in section 405 of the Act.
    The statute does not require a specific amount or percentage of 
funds to be spent on PAT or HIPPY programs. However, the PAT and HIPPY 
programs, like the other components of the center, should be integrated 
with the center's overall activities.
    For further information on PAT programs, contact: Sue Sheehan, 
Training Director, or Joy Rouse, Deputy Director, PAT National Center, 
Inc., 10176 Corporate Square Drive, St. Louis, MO 63132, (314) 432-
4330, (314) 432-8963 (FAX).
    For further information on HIPPY programs, contact: Alice Smothers, 
Director of Policy and Program Development, HIPPY USA, c/o Teachers 
College, Box 113, 525 W. 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, (212) 678-
3500, (212) 678-4136 (FAX).
    In the initial competition that was conducted with FY 1995 funds, 
certain applicants were ineligible for funding because they failed to 
meet or address one or more of the above requirements. For example, 
certain applicants failed to describe in their applications how they 
would serve both urban and rural areas. To be eligible for funding, an 
applicant must meet each of the statutory requirements referenced in 
the PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS section of this notice.
    Each application for assistance must include assurances that the 
grantee will comply with these requirements.

NON-FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION: To be eligible for a continuation award, in

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each fiscal year after the first fiscal year a grantee receives 
assistance under this program, the grantee must demonstrate that a 
portion of the services provided by the grantee will be supported 
through non-Federal contributions. Those contributions may be in cash 
or in kind.

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. (25 points) 
The Secretary reviews each application to determine how well the 
project will meet the purpose of the authorizing statute (i.e., title 
IV of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act), including consideration 
of--
    (i) The objectives of the project; and
    (ii) How the objectives of the project further the purposes of the 
authorizing statute.
    (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 statute that authorizes the 
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. (25 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; 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 handicapping condition.
    (4) Quality of key personnel. (7 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 paragraphs 
(b)(4)(i)(A) and (B) will commit to the project; and
    (D) How the applicant, as part of 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.
    (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 recipient.)
    (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.

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 20, 1996 (61 FR 43133 
through 43135).
    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# 84.310A, U.S. Department of Education, Room 6213, 600 
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-0124.
    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; Attention: (CFDA # 84.310A), 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 # 
84.310A), Room #3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets, 
S.W., Washington, D.C.
    (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.

[[Page 68527]]

    (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 contains forms and instructions 
plus a statement regarding estimated public reporting burden, a notice 
to applicants regarding compliance with section 427 of the General 
Education Provisions Act, and various assurances and certifications. In 
preparing your application for submission to the Department, please 
organize the parts and additional materials in the following order:
    Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 (Rev. 4-88)).
    Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 524).
    Application Narrative.
    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. This document has been marked to reflect 
statutory changes. See the notice published in the Federal Register (61 
FR 1413) by the Office of Management and Budget on January 19, 1996.
    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: Elizabeth O'Driscoll, U.S. Department 
of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Portals Building, Room 
4000, Washington, D.C. 20202-6135. Telephone: (202) 401-0039. 
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; on the Internet Gopher Server (at gopher://
gcs.ed.gov); or on the World Wide Web (at http://gcs.ed.gov). However, 
the official application notice for a discretionary grant competition 
is the notice published in the Federal Register. Abstracts of 
currently-funded parental assistance center programs are available at 
these sites or by contacting Elizabeth O'Driscoll at (202) 401-0039.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 5911 et seq.

    Dated: December 23,1996.
Gerald N. Tirozzi,
Assistant Secretary Elementary and Secondary Education.

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 
collection of information is 1810-0578. Expiration date: 5/31/98. The 
time required to complete this collection of information is estimated 
to average 48 hours per response, including the time to review 
instructions, search existing data sources, gather the data needed, and 
complete and review the collection of information. If you have any 
comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate or suggestions 
for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, 
Washington, D.C. 20202-4651.
    If you have any comments or concerns regarding the status of your 
individual submission of this form, write directly to: Elizabeth 
O'Driscoll, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, 
S.W., Portals Building, Room 4000, Washington, D.C. 20202-2110.

Instructions for Application Narrative

    Before preparing the Application Narrative an applicant should read 
carefully the authorizing statute and the information in this notice, 
including 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--
    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; and
    3. Include any other pertinent information that might assist the 
Secretary in reviewing the application.
    The Secretary strongly requests the applicant to limit the 
Application Narrative to no more than 20 double-spaced, typed pages (on 
one side only), although the Secretary will consider applications of 
greater length. The Department has found that successful applications 
for similar programs generally meet this page limit.

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 Provisions 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

[[Page 68528]]

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 my 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.

BILLING CODE 4000-01-P

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[FR Doc. 96-32942 Filed 12-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-C