[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8930-8931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4942]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Availability of Funds for Technical and Administrative Support 
for the National Service Leader Schools Program

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National Service (the Corporation) 
announces the availability of up to $350,000 to provide assistance in 
developing and implementing a National Service Leader Schools (NSLS) 
program. The NSLS program will recognize outstanding middle and high 
schools providing community service and service learning opportunities 
to students. Under this new program, the Corporation intends to (1) 
Work with local communities and experts to identify standards for model 
community service and service learning programs in middle and high 
schools; (2) offer opportunities for all schools to meet those 
standards and receive recognition for doing so; and (3) provide awards 
to a select group of leader schools, recognized at the State and 
national levels.
    The successful applicant organization will assist in the design of 
the program; conduct outreach and promote the activity; set up and work 
with a group of qualified individuals to define appropriate standards; 
and work with schools, local school districts, and States to select and 
recognize programs.

DATES: Application materials will be available beginning March 10, 
1997. Applications must be received by the Corporation at the address 
listed below by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on

[[Page 8931]]

April 18, 1997. Applications may not be submitted by facsimile.

ADDRESSES: Interested organizations may request application materials 
by writing to the Corporation for National Service, Attn: Patricia 
Holliday, 1201 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20525, or by 
facsimile at (202) 565-2777.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact 
Patricia Holliday at (202) 606-5000, ext. 187. This notice may be 
requested in an alternative format for the visually impaired.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Corporation is a federal government corporation that encourages 
Americans of all ages and backgrounds to engage in community-based 
service. This service addresses the nation's educational, public 
safety, environmental, and other human needs to achieve direct and 
demonstrable results. In supporting service programs, the Corporation 
fosters civic responsibility, strengthens the ties that bind us 
together as a people, and provides educational opportunity for those 
who make a substantial commitment to service.
    Pursuant to the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 12501, et seq., the Corporation may ``support 
innovative and model programs.'' Under this authority, the Corporation 
intends to support a National Service Leader Schools (NSLS) program 
that will (1) Identify standards for model community service and 
service learning programs in middle and high schools; (2) offer 
opportunities for schools to meet those standards and receive 
recognition for doing so; and (3) make awards to several schools at 
State and national levels. To accomplish this, the Corporation will 
enter into a cooperative agreement with an organization selected in 
accordance with this notice. Through this notice, the Corporation 
invites applications from interested organizations to assist in the 
development and implementation of the NSLS program, working closely 
with staff at the Corporation.

Organizations Eligible to Apply

    Public agencies, non-profit organizations, institutions of higher 
education, Indian tribes, and for-profit companies are eligible to 
apply. Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 
Sec. 1611, an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(4), that engages 
in lobbying activities is not eligible to apply.

Purpose and Scope of the National Service Leader Schools Program

    The purpose of this program is to encourage community service and 
service learning programs at middle and high schools across the 
country. To this end, the NSLS program will recognize, at various 
levels, outstanding schools and will assist other schools in adopting 
outstanding programs and practices. This program is national in scope 
and will involve the participation of experts in the field as well as 
State and local stakeholders, including State Educational Agencies, 
State Commissions on National and Community, schools, and school 
districts.

Activities under this Cooperative Agreement

    The successful applicant will work with representatives of local 
schools and other experts in education to develop a set of criteria to 
be used in selecting leader schools, with possible considerations 
including the extent to which schools: (1) Incorporate service-learning 
into their mission and curriculum; (2) emphasize both service and 
learning; (3) foster service activities that benefit both those serving 
and those served; (4) involve students, faculty, administrators, 
parents, and other community members.
    The successful applicant will assist in designing a selection 
process that effectively utilizes State agencies, schools, and other 
community resources. The Corporation anticipates that schools would 
initially self-select to be recognized as leader schools, and that a 
limited number of leader schools would also be selected for special 
recognition at the State or national level. Recognition at the State or 
national level may include the funding of scholarships to particularly 
noteworthy individuals.
    The successful applicant will assist in developing an effective 
process, utilizing State Educational Agencies or State Commissions, 
through which information about the NSLS program is disseminated to 
other schools and school districts within a State.
    The Corporation anticipates that it will be substantially involved 
in carrying out the NSLS program, with the successful applicant 
providing administrative and technical support during all phases of the 
program. The Corporation's involvement will include approval of the 
final program design and implementation plan prepared by the successful 
applicant. The Corporation expects that the project period will be June 
1, 1997, through May 31, 1998, with the possibility of renewal subject 
to performance, continuing need, and the availability of funds.

Selection Criteria

    The Corporation will initially determine whether the organization 
is eligible and whether the application contains the information 
required in the application materials. After this initial screening, 
the Corporation will assess applications based on the criteria listed 
below (in descending order of importance):
    1. The applicant's organizational experience and capacity to carry 
out the activities described in this notice;
    2. The quality of the applicant's proposed plan of operation, 
including a description of how and when the applicant plans to meet 
each objective of the program;
    3. The quality of key personnel the applicant plans to use in 
carrying out the NSLS program;
    4. The extent to which (a) The budget is adequate to support the 
NSLS program and (b) proposed costs are reasonable in relation to the 
objectives of the NSLS program.

    Dated: February 21, 1997.
Barry W. Stevens,
Acting General Counsel, Corporation for National and Community Service.
[FR Doc. 97-4942 Filed 2-26-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-P