[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 138 (Monday, July 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38814-38815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19210]


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

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Request for Comment on Proposed Criteria Used to Select and 
Evaluate National Service Programs

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service 
(Corporation) invites comments on proposed changes to the criteria it 
uses to select and evaluate national service programs. The Corporation 
applies these criteria to the following categories of national service 
programs: Learn and Serve America; National Senior Service Corps; 
AmeriCorps*VISTA; and AmeriCorps*State and National. The revised 
criteria will apply beginning in 1999 to the Corporation's selection of 
projects and programs, including recompetitions, and will be phased in 
for continuing projects and programs over the next year.

DATES: The deadline for the submission of comments is August 19, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to the Office of Planning and 
Program Integration, Corporation for National Service, 1201 New York 
Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20525.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Talbot, (202) 606-5000, ext. 
470. T.D.D. (202) 565-2799. For individuals with disabilities, 
information will be made available in alternative formats upon request.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    The Corporation for National and Community Service was established 
in 1993 to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to 
their communities. The Corporation's national and community service 
programs provide opportunities for participants to serve full-time and 
part-time, with or without stipend, as individuals or as a part of a 
team. AmeriCorps*State and National, VISTA, and National Civilian 
Community Corps engage thousands of Americans on a full-or part-time 
basis at more than 1,000 locations to help communities meet their 
toughest challenges. Learn and Serve America integrates service into 
the academic life of more than 800,000 students in all 50 states. The 
National Senior Service Corps utilizes the skills, talents and 
experience of over 500,000 older Americans to help make communities 
stronger, safer, healthier and smarter.
    The Corporation provides assistance to organizations that carry out 
AmeriCorps*State and National, Learn and Serve America, and National 
Senior Service Corps programs. AmeriCorps*State and National programs, 
which involve 25,000 Americans each year in results-driven community 
service, are grant programs managed by (1) State Commissions that 
select and oversee programs operated by local organizations, (2) 
national non-profit organizations that identify and act as parent 
organizations for operating sites across the country; (3) Indian 
tribes; or (4) U.S. Territories. Learn and Serve America grants provide 
service learning opportunities for students in K-12 and higher 
education settings. The National Senior Service Corps operates through 
grants to local organizations for Retired Senior Volunteer Programs 
(RSVP), Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions to provide service to 
their communities.
    The Corporation plays a direct role in carrying out the 
AmeriCorps*VISTA program in assigning more than 4,000 AmeriCorps*VISTA 
members to service programs across the nation where they develop 
grassroots programs, mobilize resources and build capacity. The 
Corporation itself operates the AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian 
Community Corps) program, providing an opportunity for approximately 
1,000 individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 to participate in a 
residential program principally located on downsized military bases.
    For additional information on the national service programs 
supported by the Corporation, go to http://www.nationalservice.org.
    While recognizing the particular aspects of the different types of 
national service programs, the Corporation seeks to make its evaluation 
criteria more consistent across programs. The proposed criteria for 
1999 reflect an ongoing effort by the Corporation to streamline and 
harmonize the various application processes for organizations seeking 
support for their national service programs. The Corporation's Board of 
Directors has reviewed and endorsed the proposed 1999 evaluation 
criteria.
    The Corporation will use the proposed evaluation criteria in 
selecting new and recompeting projects and programs and to assess the 
performance of organizations who have received assistance to carry out 
national service programs. Implementation of the criteria will begin 
with the issuance of 1999 guidance to the field. Because the criteria 
relate principally to programming and operations, they will not 
necessarily apply to other activities, such as technical assistance, 
supported by the Corporation.
    The Corporation will provide additional guidance in application 
materials for each category of national service program. The additional 
guidance will state how the criteria will be applied, depending on the 
category of program (e.g., Learn and Serve America, National Senior 
Service Corps) and the nature of the application for assistance (new, 
recompeting, or continuation).

B. Evaluation Criteria Common to National Service Programs Assisted 
by the Corporation

1. Criteria

    The following three categories (and the three sub-categories under 
Program Design) constitute the criteria by which the Corporation will 
select and evaluate organizations receiving assistance in Learn and 
Serve America, National Senior Service Corps, AmeriCorps*VISTA, and 
AmeriCorps*State and National.
    a. Program Design (60%), which includes as subcategories:
    i. Getting Things Done, meeting needs in the areas of education, 
public safety, the environment, and health and human needs;
    ii. Strengthening Communities; and
    iii. Fostering Participant Development.
    b. Organizational Capacity (25%)
    c. Budget/Cost-Effectiveness (15%)

2. Factors That May Be Applied Within Each Category or Sub-Category

    Within each category or subcategory, the Corporation may apply the 
following factors, depending on the type of program and the nature of 
the application. While the majority of factors will apply to all 
programs supported by the Corporation, some may not, and each type of 
program may place a different emphasis on the respective factors. In 
addition, some of the factors may be used to assess program outcomes 
rather than initial applications for assistance. The Corporation will 
provide subsequent guidance in its application materials for each 
category of national service program, stating whether and how these 
factors will be applied.

[[Page 38815]]

a. Program Design (60%)
    i. Getting Things Done
     Well-documented compelling community need(s).
     Well-designed activities with measurable goals and 
objectives that meet community needs.
     Well-defined roles for participants that lead to 
measurable outcomes/impact.
     Effective involvement of target community in planning/
implementation.
     Ability to provide or secure effective technical 
assistance.
    ii. Strengthening Communities.
     Strong community partnerships including well-defined roles 
for community partners.
     Potential for sustainability, innovation and/or 
replicability of project activities.
     Enhanced capacity of organizations and institutions.
     Mobilization of community resources, including volunteers.
     Bring together persons of diverse backgrounds.
    iii. Participant Development.
     Effective plans for recruiting, developing, training, 
supervising, and recognizing participants.
     Well-designed activities that promote an ethic of service/
civic responsibility.
     Well-designed plan to engage participants in high quality 
service-learning as defined by the Corporation.
     Learn to serve together with persons of diverse 
backgrounds.
b. Organizational Capacity (25%)
     Ability to provide sound programmatic and fiscal 
oversight.
     Sound track record in the issue area(s) to be addressed by 
the project.
     Well-defined roles for staff/administrators.
     Well-designed plans or systems for self-assessment, 
evaluation and continuous improvement.
c. Budget/Cost-Effectiveness (15%)
     Budget adequately supports program design.
     Applicant organization/host agency is committed to 
securing resources for program implementation and/or sustainability.
     Cost-effective within program guidance.

3. Subcategories Within Program Design

    To reflect the differences between Learn and Serve America, 
National Senior Service Corps, AmeriCorps*VISTA, and AmeriCorps*State 
and National, the Corporation proposes to apply different values to the 
three subcategories within Program Design for each category of national 
service program. Thus, while Program Design will uniformly constitute 
60% of an organization's evaluation, the Corporation may, for each 
national service program, place a different value on getting things 
done, strengthening communities and fostering participant development, 
as follows:
    AmeriCorps*State and National: Getting things done in communities--
things that would not have gotten done but for AmeriCorps--has been the 
core purpose for AmeriCorps*State and National. Program emphasis is 
placed on well-designed program activities that result in direct and 
demonstrable benefits that are both needed and valued by communities. 
Strengthening communities is mainly accomplished by mobilizing 
community resources and enhancing the capacity of organizations and 
institutions in order to achieve sustainability. AmeriCorps* State and 
National programs are required to develop specific strengthening 
communities and participant development objectives with demonstrable 
outcomes.
    AmeriCorps*VISTA shifts the emphasis and gets things done more by 
mobilizing community resources and developing the capacity of community 
organizations. Strengthening communities is at the heart of 
AmeriCorps*VISTA's mission. The potential for sustainability, enhanced 
capacity, and mobilization of community resources (including 
volunteers), encompasses AmeriCorps*VISTA's most significant program 
measures and forms the basis of virtually all overall program 
evaluation activity.
    Learn and Serve America's definition of getting things done must 
include measures of service-learning. A major concern is how 
participants will learn while engaging in projects that get things done 
and benefit the community. Learn and Serve emphasizes lasting impact on 
the community as a result of community involvement and school or 
institutional change. Increasing the acceptance of service-learning as 
a pedagogy and tool for strengthening communities is an essential goal 
of the program. Within Learn and Serve America appropriate participant 
development occurs through well-designed service-learning experiences 
that have as an integral component, positive community impact.
    The National Senior Service Corps' incorporation of Programming for 
Impact has placed a new and significant emphasis on getting things 
done. Aside from the previous focus of providing a volunteer 
opportunity, there is an emphasis on channeling and utilizing the 
capabilities of participants to address critical community and human 
needs. The traditional Senior Corps philosophy is that participant 
development is very important. However, the starting point must be 
good, solid roles and activities viewed by the community as valued and 
important, that establish a context within which participant 
development occurs.
    Within Program Design, the Corporation will consider the three 
subcategories in descending order of importance, as follows:

AmeriCorps*State and National
    (1) Getting Things Done
    (2) Participant Development
    (3) Strengthening Communities
AmeriCorps*VISTA
    (1) Strengthening Communities
    (2) Getting Things Done
    (3) Participant Development
Learn and Serve America
    Getting Things Done--equal
    Strengthening Communities--equal
    Participant Development--equal
National Senior Service Corps
    (1) Getting Things Done
    (2) Strengthening Community
    (3) Participant Development

    Dated: July 14, 1998.
Kenneth L. Klothen,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 98-19210 Filed 7-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-P