[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 26, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14570-14571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7678]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA Number: 84.305R]


Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI)--Education 
Research and Development Centers Program; Notice Inviting Applications 
for a New Award for Fiscal Year (FY) 1997

    Purpose of Program: To support a national research and development 
center to carry out sustained research that will lead to improvements 
in early reading instruction and related practices.
    Eligible Applicants: 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: May 28, 1997.
    Applications Available: March 28, 1997.
    Estimated Available Funds: The estimated funding level over the 
five-year project period for the national research center on early 
reading is $2,500,000 each year. Actual funding will depend upon the 
availability of funds and needs as reflected in the approved 
application.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

    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 in 34 CFR Part 700.
    Priority: The absolute priority in the notice of final priority and 
post-award requirements for this program, as published elsewhere in 
this issue of the Federal Register apply to this competition.

Selection Criteria

    (a)(1)(A) The Secretary uses the selection criteria in 20 U.S.C. 
6031(c)(3)(E)(i)-(vi) and 34 CFR 700.30(e) to evaluate applications for 
new grants under this program.

[[Page 14571]]

    (b) The Secretary has incorporated the statutory selection criteria 
into the criteria established under 34 CFR 700.30. The statutory 
criteria are: (3)(ii)(C); (4)(ii)(D); (4)(ii)(E); (5)(ii)(C); 
(5)(ii)(D); and, (5)(ii)(H).
    (2) The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points.
    (3) The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in 
parentheses (34 CFR 700.30(c)).
    (c) The criteria.
    (1) National Significance. (30 points)
    (i) The Secretary considers the national significance of the 
proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the national significance of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (A) The importance of the problem or issue to be addressed.
    (B) The potential contribution of the project to increased 
knowledge or understanding of educational problems, issues, or 
effective strategies.
    (C) The potential contribution of the project to the development 
and advancement of theory and knowledge in the field of study.
    (D) 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)
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the 
proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (A) Whether there is a conceptual framework underlying the proposed 
activities and the quality of that framework.
    (B) Whether the proposed activities constitute a coherent, 
sustained program of research and development in the field, including a 
substantial addition to an ongoing line of inquiry.
    (C) 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.
    (D) 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)
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality and potential contributions 
of personnel for the proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the quality and potential contributions of 
personnel for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the 
following factors:
    (A) The qualifications, including training and experience, of the 
project director or principal investigator.
    (B) The qualifications, including training and experience, of key 
project personnel.
    (C) 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)
    (i) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the 
proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (A) The adequacy of support from the lead applicant organization.
    (B) The relevance and commitment of each partner in the project to 
the implementation and success of the project.
    (C) Whether the costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, 
design, and potential significance of the project.
    (D) Whether the proposed organizational structure and arrangements 
will facilitate achievement of the mission of the center.
    (E) 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)
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan of 
the proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the quality of the management plan of a 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (A) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the project, including the specification of staff responsibility, 
timelines, and benchmarks for accomplishing project tasks.
    (B) The adequacy of plans for ensuring high-quality products and 
services.
    (C) The contributions of primary researchers (other than 
researchers at the proposed center) and the appropriateness of such 
researchers' experiences and expertise in the context of the proposed 
center activities, and the adequacy of such primary researchers' time 
and commitment to achievement of the mission of the center.
    (D) Whether there is a substantial staff commitment to the work of 
the center.
    (E) 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.
    (F) 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 (an organizational 
unit within the Office of Educational Research and Improvement).
    For Applications or Information Contact: Dr. Anne P. Sweet, U.S. 
Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20208-5521. Telephone: (202) 219-2079. Internet address: (anne_
[email protected]). 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; 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.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6031(c)(1)(B)(i).

    Dated: March 20, 1997.
Marshall Smith,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 97-7678 Filed 3-21-97; 3:28 pm]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P