[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 141 (Wednesday, July 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39502-39503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19342]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Assistance to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs)

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of a Program for Providing Financial Assistance to LEAs.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 386 of Public Law 102-484, as amended by 
Section 373 of Public Law 103-160, the ``National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 1994,'' and Section 1074 of Public Law 104-106, the 
``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996,'' and 
pursuant to Section 372 of Public Law 104-201, the ``National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997,'' September 23, 1996, notice is 
hereby given of a program to provide financial assistance to eligible 
LEAs that are impacted by the presence of military dependent children 
or by the base closure process.

DATES: July 23, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Personnel Support, 
Families & Education), room 3A280, The Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-
4000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Linda L. Renz or Mr. Norman R. Heitzman, Domestic Dependent 
Elementary and Secondary Schools, 4040 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, 
VA 22203-1635; telephone (703) 696-4354 or 4361; facsimile number (703) 
696-8920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Program Announcement

    During fiscal year (FY) 1997, the Department of Defense (DoD) is 
authorized 35 million dollars to assist eligible Local Education 
Agencies (LEAs) affected by the impact of military dependent students 
or by reductions in the size of the Armed Forces. DoD shall rely on 
data from the Department of Education for the purpose of determining 
eligibility of an LEA.
    Pursuant to subsection 386(c) of Public Law 102-484, as amended, 
and subsection 372(a)(1) of Public Law 104-484, 30 million dollars will 
be provided to eligible LEAs for educational agency assistance if 
without such assistance, that LEA would be unable to provide its 
students with a level of education equivalent to the minimum available 
in other LEAs in the same state, and
    (1) At least 20 percent (as rounded to the nearest whole percent) 
of the students in average daily attendance in the schools of that LEA 
in that fiscal year are military dependent students counted under 
subsection 8003(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7703(a)(1));
    (2) there has been a significant increase, as determined by the 
Secretary, in the number of military dependent students in average 
daily attendance in the LEA's schools as a result of relocation of 
Armed Forces personnel or civilian employees of the Department of 
Defense or as a result of a realignment of one or more military 
installations: or
    (3) an LEA is a successor of one or more LEAs that was eligible for 
payments in Fiscal Year 1992 under DoD Directive 1342.18, and satisfies 
one of the two previously listed criteria.
    Pursuant to subsection 386(d) of Public Law 102-484, as amended, 
and subsection 372(a)(2) of Public Law 104-201, 5 million dollars is 
authorized for the Secretary to make educational agency payments to 
LEAs that are impacted by reductions in the size of the Armed Forces. 
Eligible LEAs are those that during the period between the end of the 
school year preceding the fiscal year for which the payments are 
authorized and the beginning of the school year immediately preceding 
that school year, had an overall reduction of not less than 20 percent 
of military dependent students, as a result of closure or realignment 
of military installations.
    Any funds provided under this notice shall be available only for 
eligible LEAs who (1) Exercise our diligence in obtaining State and 
other financial assistance; (2) are treated the same as other LEAs 
under State law for the purpose of receiving State aid for public 
education; and (3) file with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
(Force Management Policy), a letter of application (see Sample Letter 
at the end of this notice) and a copy of an independently audited 
financial report on the LEA for the preceding fiscal year.
    Applications for financial assistance in response to this notice 
must be received no later than August 13, 1997.

Definition

    For the purposes of this program, the following definitions are 
applicable: (a) Applicant. Any LEA requesting assistance under this 
notice. (b) Local Education Agency (LEA). A public board of education 
or other public authority legally constituted within a State for either 
administrative control or direction of, or to perform a service 
function for, public elementary or secondary schools in a city, county, 
township, school district, or other political subdivision of a State, 
or such combination of school districts or counties as are recognized 
in a State as an administrative agency for its public elementary or 
secondary schools. Such term includes any other public institution or 
agency having administrative control and direction of a public 
elementary or secondary school. (c) Military Dependent Student. A 
student that is a dependent child of a member of the Armed Forces or a 
dependent child of a civilian employee of the Department of Defense.

Amount of Assistance

    An applicant requesting assistance under this notice shall submit a 
letter of application (see sample letter at end of this notice) and a 
copy of an independently audited financial report of the applicant LEA 
for the second preceding FY, requesting a DoD contribution and assuring 
the ASD(FMP) that the LEA has applied for, has received or shall 
receive all financial assistance from other sources for which it is 
qualified. Letters of application must be addressed as follows: 
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Management Policy), Attn: DoD 
Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS), 4040 North 
Fairfax Drive, Arlington VA 22203-1635.
    The applicant shall also file a copy of the letter of application 
for financial assistance and required supportive information with the 
State educational agency (SEA). The SEA may submit comments on the 
LEA's application to the Department of Defense (at the above address) 
by August 13, 1997. Such comments shall be considered when applications 
are reviewed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The LEA's 
application and all required supporting information must reach the 
ASD(FMP) no later than August 13, 1997. No assurances of 
confidentiality are being made, other than the assurance that the 
audits will not be released.
    This information collection has been approved as OMB Control Number 
0704-0389, with an expiration date of June 30, 2000. The public 
reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to 
average 20 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. Send comments

[[Page 39503]]

regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection 
of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to 
Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate 
for Information Operation and Reports (0704-0389), 1215 Jefferson Davis 
Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be 
aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall 
be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of 
information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control 
number.

Sample Letter of Application for Financial Assistance

Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Management Policy), Attn: DoD 
Domestic Dependent Elementary, and Secondary Schools (DDESS), 4040 
North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1635.

    Dear Mr. Assistant Secretary: Pursuant to this ``Notice of a 
Program for Providing Financial Assistance to LEAs,'' Federal 
Register Vol. ________, No. ________, dated________, 1997, the (name 
of the local educational agency (LEA)) requests financial assistance 
for the LEA for school year 1996-1997. We certify that the LEA has 
applied for financial assistance from all sources, including the 
State/Commonwealth of (name). We understand that funds available for 
that purpose shall be paid on a per-pupil basis for military 
dependent students, as in the ``Notice of a Program for Providing 
Financial Assistance to LEAs.'' Enclosed find a copy of our 
independent audit ``(Title)'' prepared by (name of firm or agency). 
We have submitted a complete and timely application for Section 3 
impact aid assistance to the Secretary of Education and have 
submitted applications for all other assistance for which the LEA 
may be entitled. This LEA is treated the same as other LEAs under 
state law for the purpose of state aid for public education. A copy 
of this letter, with the above supporting information, is being 
submitted to the State educational agency.

        Sincerely,

(Authorized LEA Official)

    Dated: July 17, 1997.
Patricia L. Topping,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 97-19342 Filed 7-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M