[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 43 (Thursday, March 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11081-11082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5735]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No. 84.303A]


Technology Innovation Challenge Grants; Notice Inviting 
Applications For New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1998

Purpose of Program

    The Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program provides grants 
to consortia that are working to improve and expand new applications of 
technology to strengthen school reform efforts, improve student 
achievement, and provide for sustained professional development of 
teachers, administrators, and school library media personnel. In FY 
1998, the Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program will focus on 
professional development by providing support to consortia that have 
developed programs, or are adapting or expanding existing programs, for 
technology training for teachers and other educators to improve 
instruction.

Eligible Applicants

    Only consortia may receive grants under this program. A consortium 
must include at least one local educational agency (LEA) with a high 
percentage or number of children living below the poverty line. A 
consortium may also include other LEAs, private schools, State 
educational agencies, institutions of higher education, businesses, 
academic content experts, software designers, museums, libraries, and 
other appropriate entities.

    Note: In each consortium a participating LEA shall submit the 
application on behalf of the consortium and serve as the fiscal 
agent for the grant.
    Deadline For Receipt of Applications: May 29, 1998.
    Deadline For Intergovernmental Review: July 29, 1998.
    Applications Available: March 31, 1998.
    Estimated Available Funds: $30,000,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,500,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 20.
    Project Period: 5 years. Please note that all applicants for multi-
year awards are required to provide detailed budget information for the 
total grant period requested. The Department will negotiate at the time 
of the initial award the funding levels for each year of the grant 
award.

    Note: The Department of Education is not bound by any estimates 
in this notice.

    Maximum Award: The Secretary will not consider an application that 
proposes a budget exceeding $2,000,000 for one or more 12-month budget 
periods.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) the Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 74, 75 (except 34 
CFR 75.102(b), 75.200(b)(3), 75.210, and 75.217), 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 
85, and 86, and (b) 34 CFR Part 299.
    Priorities: The absolute and invitational priorities in the notice 
of final priority and selection criteria for this program, as published 
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, apply to this 
competition.

Selection Criteria

    The selection criteria in the notice of final priority and 
selection criteria for this program, as published elsewhere in this 
issue of the Federal Register, apply to this competition.

Other Requirements

    The procedures for evaluation and selection of applications in the 
notice of final selection criteria, selection procedures, and 
application procedures for Technology Innovation Challenge Grants, 
published in the Federal Register on May 12, 1997 (62 FR 26175), apply 
to this competition.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Technology Innovation Challenge Grant 
Program is authorized under Title III, section 3136, of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 6846). The 
statute authorizes the use of funds for activities similar to the 
following activities:
    (a) Developing, adapting, or expanding existing and new 
applications of technology to support the school reform effort.

[[Page 11082]]

    (b) Providing ongoing professional development in the integration 
of quality educational technologies into school curriculum and long-
term planning for implementing educational technologies.
    (c) Funding projects of sufficient size and scope to improve 
student learning and, as appropriate, support professional development, 
and provide administrative support.
    (d) Acquiring connectivity linkages, resources, and services, 
including the acquisition of hardware and software, for use by 
teachers, students, and school library media personnel in the classroom 
or in school library media centers, in order to improve student 
learning by supporting the instructional program offered and to ensure 
that students in schools will have meaningful access on a regular basis 
to such linkages, resources, and services.
    (e) Acquiring connectivity with wide area networks for purposes of 
accessing information and educational programming sources, particularly 
with institutions of higher education and public libraries.
    (f) Providing educational services for adults and families.

    Note: Section 14503 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 8893), is applicable to the 
Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program. Section 14503 
requires that an LEA, SEA, or educational service agency receiving 
financial assistance under this program must provide private school 
children and teachers, on an equitable basis, special educational 
services or other program benefits under this program. The section 
further requires SEAs, LEAs, and educational service agencies to 
consult with private school officials during the design and 
development of the Technology Innovation Challenge Grant projects. 
Each application must describe the ways in which the proposed 
project will address the needs of private school children and 
teachers.

Application Deadline

    In order to ensure timely receipt and processing of applications, 
an application must be received on or before the deadline date 
announced in this application notice. The Secretary will not consider 
an application for funding if it is not received by the deadline date 
unless the applicant can show proof that the application was: (1) sent 
by registered or certified mail not later than five days before the 
deadline date; or (2) sent by commercial carrier not later than two 
days before the deadline date. An applicant must show proof of mailing 
in accordance with 34 CFR 75.102(d) and (e). Applications delivered by 
hand must be received by 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the deadline date. 
For the purposes of this program competition, the Secretary does not 
apply 34 CFR 75.102(a) and (b)(1) which require an application to be 
mailed, rather than received, by the deadline date.

    Note: All applications must be received on or before the 
deadline date unless one of the mailing conditions noted in the 
previous paragraph applies. This requirement takes exception to 
EDGAR, 34 CFR 75.102(a) and (b)(1). 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.

FOR APPLICATIONS OR INFORMATION CONTACT: For applications, telephone 1-
800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327) or fax requests to Sharon Morgan at 
(202) 208-4042.
    The application package is also available from the Technology 
Innovation Challenge Grant web site at: http://www.ed.gov/Technology/
chalgrnt.html. For information contact Technology Innovation Challenge 
Grants, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20208-5544. 
Telephone (202) 208-3882.
    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.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact person identified in this notice.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternate format, also, by contacting that person. 
However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternate format 
the standard forms included in the application package.

Electronic Access to This Document

    Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of 
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or 
portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the 
following sites:

http://gcs.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html

    To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with 
Search, which is available free at either of the previous sites. If you 
have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government Printing 
Office toll free at 1-888-293-6498.
    Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an 
electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511 
or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option 
G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases.

    Note: The official version of a document is the document 
published in the Federal Register.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.303A, Technology 
Innovation Challenge Grants)

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6846.

    Dated: February 27, 1998.
Ricky T. Takai,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 98-5735 Filed 3-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P