[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 70 (Friday, April 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18006-18007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9314]



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Part VIII





Department of Education





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Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI)--Education 
Research and Development Centers Program (Center on Policy and Teaching 
Excellence); Notice Inviting Applications for a New Award for FY 1997 
and Notice of Final Priority for FY 1997

  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 70 / Friday, April 11, 1997 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA Number: 84.308B]


Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI)--Education 
Research and Development Centers Program (Center on Policy and Teaching 
Excellence); 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 policymaking and policies to support excellence in teaching.
    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 Receipt of Applications: June 6, 1997.

    Note: All applications must be received on or before that date. 
This requirement takes exception to EDGAR, 34 CFR 75.102. In 
accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), it 
is the practice of the Secretary to offer interested parties the 
opportunity to comment on proposed regulations. However, this 
amendment makes procedural changes only and does not establish new 
substantive policy. Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), proposed 
rulemaking is not required.

    Applications Available: April 17, 1997
    Estimated Available Funds: The estimated funding level over the 
five-year project period for the national research center on policy and 
teaching excellence is $1,500,000 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) 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.
    (b) (1) 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)(D), 
(5)(ii)(E), and (5)(ii)(F).
    (2) The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in 
parentheses (34 CFR 700.3(c)).
    (3) The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points.
    (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) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives 
are brought to bear in the operation of the project,

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including those of parents and teachers, where appropriate.
    (D) Whether there is substantial staff commitment to the work of 
the center.
    (E) 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.
    (F) The manner in which the results of the education research will 
be disseminated for further use, including how the center will work 
with the Office of Reform Assistance and Dissemination.
    For Applications or Information Contact: Ron Anson, U.S. Department 
of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20208-5510. 
Telephone: (202) 219-2214. Internet address: ([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: April 7, 1997.
Ramon C. Cortines,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 97-9314 Filed 4-10-97; 8:45 am]
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