[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 87 (Tuesday, May 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24770-24773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11771]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities National Programs--
Federal Activities Grants Program

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of final priorities and selection criteria for fiscal 
year 1997.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary announces final priorities and selection 
criteria for fiscal year 1997 under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and 
Communities National Programs Federal Activities Grants Program. The 
Secretary takes this action to focus Federal financial assistance on 
identified needs to improve programs to prevent drug use and violence 
among youth.

EFFECTIVE DATE: These priorities and selection criteria take effect 
June 5, 1997.
DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: Applications for these 
competitions must be received at the address specified in the 
application package for these competitions no later than 4:30 p.m. on 
the deadline date in the notice inviting applications. Applications 
received after that time will not be eligible for funding. Postmarked 
dates will not be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about the two 
priorities under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities 
National Programs Federal Activities Grants Program, contact the U.S. 
Department of Education, Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program, 600 
Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20202-6123. Telephone: (202) 260-
3954. FAX (202) 260-7767. Internet: http//www.Bryan__W[email protected]. 
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may 
call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 (in the 
Washington, DC 202 area code, telephone 708-9300) between 8 am and 8 
pm, Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains two final priorities 
and related selection criteria under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and 
Communities National Programs Federal

[[Page 24771]]

Activities Grant Program. The purpose of the program is to prevent the 
illegal use of drugs and violence among, and promote safety and 
discipline for, students at all educational levels from preschool 
through the postsecondary level.

    Note: Contingent upon the availability of funds, the Secretary 
may make additional awards in fiscal year 1998 from the rank-ordered 
list of unfunded applicants from these competitions. In making 
awards under these grant competitions, the Secretary may take into 
consideration the geographic distribution and diversity of 
activities addressed by the projects, in addition to the rank order 
of applications.

Absolute Priorities

    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and 
Communities Act of 1994, the Secretary gives an absolute preference to 
applications that meet one of the following priorities. The Secretary 
will fund under these competitions only those applications that meet 
one of these absolute priorities:

Absolute Priority 1 and Selection Criteria--Replication of Effective 
Programs or Strategies to Prevent Youth Drug Use, Violent Behavior, or 
Both (CFDA # 84.184F)

Absolute Priority 1
    Under this priority, applicants must propose projects that--
    (1) Will replicate, with fidelity, a program or strategy that has 
demonstrated sustained reductions in youth drug use, violent behavior, 
or both, over at least a two-year period;
    (2) Are clearly responsive to identified needs of the student 
population that will be served; and
    (3) Will include a rigorous evaluation of the project that focuses 
on measurement and analysis of behavior change among students as a 
direct result of the program.
    Programs or strategies eligible for replication under this 
competition are those that (1) Have been evaluated and found effective 
in research studies funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse or 
another Federal agency, or (2) have findings demonstrating 
effectiveness published in a peer-reviewed journal of national 
distribution. Locally developed programs are also eligible for 
replication if they have been tested within a single population 
(cohort) of students over at least a two-year period and have 
demonstrated measurable reductions in student drug use, violent 
behavior, or both. Applicants proposing a locally developed project 
must provide evaluation data that is well documented and clearly 
demonstrates the program's effectiveness as of the date of this notice.
    For purposes of this competition, fidelity of implementation means 
implementing the program in the same manner as the program was 
implemented when it was proven to be effective in preventing or 
reducing drug use, or violent behavior, or both, inclusive of all 
components of the program or strategy that the developer and evaluator 
consider to be key, unique, and necessary features. These components 
may include, but need not be limited to, the use of specified 
materials, teaching techniques, and approaches; involvement of 
specified persons or stakeholders with particular functions or roles; 
and performing specified activities according to a specified sequence 
or schedule.

Additional Information

    This priority supports the implementation of drug and violence 
prevention programs and strategies that are data-driven--that is, are 
based on analysis of objective data about problems that need to be 
addressed, have measurable goals and objectives, and use prevention 
approaches that research has demonstrated to be effective in preventing 
or reducing drug use, violent behavior, or both.
    Examples of some drug prevention programs that have been proven 
effective may be found in Preventing Drug Use Among Children and 
Adolescents published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The 
document is available from the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and 
Drug Information (NCADI), PO Box 2345, Rockville, MD 20874-2345; 1-800-
729-6686. Examples of some approaches to violence prevention are 
contained in abstracts of programs evaluated by the Centers for Disease 
Control. The abstracts are available from the National Clearinghouse 
for Alcohol and Drug Information.

Selection Criteria

    The Secretary uses the following selection criteria to evaluate 
applications for new grants under this competition.
    The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points.
    The maximum score for each criterion or factor under that criterion 
is indicated in parentheses.
    (1) Significance. (30 points)
    (i) The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed 
project.
    (ii) In determining the significance of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (A) The extent to which the proposed project involves the 
development or demonstration of promising new strategies that build on, 
or are alternatives to, existing strategies. (15 points)
    (B) The potential replicability of the proposed project or 
strategies, including, as appropriate, the potential for implementation 
in a variety of settings. (10 points)
    (C) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project. (5 points)
    (2) Quality of the project design. (20 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) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable. 
(3 points)
    (B) The extent to which the design for implementing and evaluating 
the proposed project will result in information to guide possible 
replication of project activities or strategies, including information 
about the effectiveness of the approach or strategies employed by the 
project. (7 points)
    (C) The extent to which the design of the proposed project reflects 
up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice. (10 points)
    (3) Adequacy of resources. (20 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 extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project. 
(5 points)
    (B) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and 
benefits. (5 points)
    (C) The potential for the incorporation of project purposes, 
activities, or benefits into the ongoing program of the agency or 
organization at the end of Federal funding. (10 points)
    (4) Quality of the management plan. (5 points)
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed

[[Page 24772]]

project, the Secretary considers the adequacy of the management plan to 
achieve the objectives of the proposed project on time and within 
budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and 
milestones for accomplishing project tasks. (5 points)
    (5) Quality of the project evaluation. (25 points)
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be 
conducted of the proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (A) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives and outcomes of the 
proposed project. (5 points)
    (B) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data to the extent possible. (10 points)
    (C) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance about 
effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other 
settings. (10 points)

Absolute Priority 2 and Selection Criteria--State and Local Educational 
Agency Drug and Violence Prevention Data Collection (CFDA 
#84.184)

Absolute Priority 2
    Under this priority, applicants must propose projects that--
    (1) Develop, improve, expand, or enhance the collection of data 
related to youth drug use and violence; and
    (2) Develop and implement processes that ensure that high-quality 
data is used to assess needs, select interventions, and assess success 
of drug and violence prevention activities funded under the SDFSCA 
State Grants Program. Projects may be state-wide in scope or limited to 
an individual local educational agency with a student enrollment that 
exceeds 30,000.
    To be considered for funding under this competition, a project must 
include--
    (1) Concrete plans, with timelines, that detail how the results of 
new or improved data collection efforts will be incorporated into State 
and local educational agency efforts to inform policy, assess needs, 
select interventions, and assess success of drug and violence 
prevention efforts;
    (2) Outcomes-based performance indicators that will be used to 
judge the success of the project; and
    (3) A description of how efforts proposed as part of the project 
have been coordinated with and will not duplicate data collection 
efforts being implemented by other State or local agencies.

Additional Information

    This priority supports development and improvement of the capacity 
of State and local educational agencies to collect and use objective 
data to make informed decisions about drug and violence prevention 
programming in schools. The Secretary expects that projects funded 
under this priority will emphasize the collection and use of outcomes 
measures, such as reduced rates of drug use and violence, rather than 
relying solely on process measures that simply describe the 
implementation of a program or participants' levels of satisfaction 
with the activity. State and local educational agencies are expected to 
use the data to develop baseline information about the nature and 
extent of the drug and violence problems in their schools; to use 
SDFSCA State Grant and other funds to design and implement appropriate 
programs and activities to address those problems; and to assess the 
success of those programs and activities following implementation.

Selection Criteria

    The Secretary uses the following criteria to evaluate proposals 
submitted under this priority.
    The maximum score for all of the criteria in this section is 100 
points.
    The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses 
with the criterion.
    (1) Need for project. (15 points)
    (i) The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the need for the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (A) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or 
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.
    (B) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be 
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude 
of those gaps or weaknesses.
    (2) Significance. (25 points)
    (i) The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed 
project.
    (ii) In determining the significance of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (A) The significance of the problem or issue to be addressed by the 
proposed project.
    (B) The likelihood that the proposed project will result in system 
change or improvement.
    (C) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build 
local capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the 
needs of the target population.
    (3) Quality of the project design. (25 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) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
    (B) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of 
Federal financial assistance.
    (C) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated 
with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community, 
State and Federal resources.
    (4) Adequacy of resources. (15 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 extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.
    (B) The potential for the incorporation of project purposes, 
activities, or benefits into the ongoing program of the agency or 
organization at the end of Federal funding.
    (5) Quality of the management plan. (10 points)
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the adequacy of the 
management plan to achieve the objectives of the proposed project on 
time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, 
timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project tasks.
    (6) Quality of the project evaluation. (10 points)
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be 
conducted of the proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the methods of

[[Page 24773]]

evaluation will provide performance feedback and permit periodic 
assessment of progress toward achieving intended outcomes.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    The selection criteria for this program contain information 
collection requirements. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3504(h)), the Department of Education will submit a 
copy of this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
its review.
    Collection of Information: Safe and Drug-Free Schools and 
Communities National Programs--Federal Activities Grants Program
    These selection criteria will affect the following types of 
entities eligible to apply for a grant under this program: State and 
local educational agencies, institutions or higher education, other 
nonprofit agencies, organizations, and institutions; and any 
combinations of these types of entities. The Department needs, and will 
use, the information related to the selection criteria for this program 
to enable the Secretary to determine which applicants would most likely 
develop, implement, and validate successful model projects for 
demonstration throughout the Nation. Annual public reporting and 
record-keeping burden for this collection of information is estimated 
to average 20 hours per response for 300 respondents, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, 
gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing 
the collection of information.
    Organizations and individuals desiring to submit comments on the 
information collection requirements should direct them to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Room 10235, New Executive 
Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20503; Attention: Desk Officer for 
U.S. Department of Education.
    The Department considers comments by the public on this proposed 
collection of information in--
     Evaluating whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
     Evaluating the accuracy of the Department's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhancing the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimizing the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    OMB is required to make a decision concerning the information 
collection requirements between 30 and 60 days after publication of 
this document in the Federal Register. Therefore, a comment to OMB is 
best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 
days of publication of this notice.

Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking

    In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), 
it is the practice of the Department to offer interested parties the 
opportunity to comment on proposed rules. Ordinarily, this practice 
would have applied to the rules in this notice. However, the Secretary 
waives rulemaking under section 553(b)(B) of the Administrative 
Procedure Act. This section provides that rulemaking is not required 
when the agency for good cause finds that notice and public procedure 
are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. The 
Secretary believes that, in order to make timely grant awards using 
Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 funds, public comment on these rules is 
impracticable. Congress did not provide authority to use FY 1997 funds 
for Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities National Programs until 
March 1997. The Secretary must make new awards no later than September 
30, 1997, and recipients should be able to implement projects as early 
as possible in the 1997-98 school year. Therefore, in order to give 
applicants enough time to prepare their applications and the Department 
sufficient time to conduct the lengthy review process in this notice, 
it is now impracticable to receive public comments and still allow FY 
1997 awards to be made by September 30, 1997.

Intergovernmental Review

    This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order 
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. The objective of the 
Executive Order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a 
strengthened federalism by relying on processes developed by State and 
local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal 
financial assistance.
    In accordance with the order, this document is intended to provide 
early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for 
this program.

    Note: This notice of final priorities and selection criteria 
does not solicit applications. A notice inviting applications under 
these competitions is published elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7131.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.184F and 84.184G 
Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act National Programs--
Federal Activities Grants Program)

    Dated: May 1, 1997.
Gerald N. Tirozzi,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 97-11771 Filed 5-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P