[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8685-8688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4084]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Elementary and Secondary Education--Reading Excellence 
Program; Notice of Proposed Priorities, Application Requirements, and 
Selection Criteria for Fiscal Year 2000 and Subsequent Years

AGENCY: Department of Education.
SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes priorities, application requirements, 
and selection criteria for fiscal year (FY) 2000 and, at the discretion 
of the Secretary, for subsequent years. The Secretary takes this action 
to focus Federal financial assistance on an identified need--children 
in kindergarten to grade three.

DATES: Comments must be received by the Department March 23, 2000.

ADDRESSES: All comments concerning these proposed priorities, 
application requirements, and selection criteria should be addressed to 
Joseph Conaty, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, 
Room 5C141, Washington, DC 20202-6200. Comments may be sent through the 
Internet: [email protected]. You must include the term ``Reading 
Excellence Program'' in the subject line of your electronic message.

[[Page 8686]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Rhett, Reading Excellence 
Program, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 
5C141, Washington, DC 20202-6200, (202) 260-8228. Fax: (202) 260-8969. 
Internet: http://www.ed.readingexcellence.gov. Individuals who use the 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    If you want to comment on the information collection requirements, 
please send your comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, OMB, room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 
20503; Attention: Desk Officer for U.S. Department of Education. You 
may also send a copy of these comments to the Department of Education 
representative named in the ADDRESSES section of this preamble.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact person listed above.
    This notice does not solicit applications. A notice inviting 
applications under this competition will be published in the Federal 
Register concurrent with or following the publication of the final 
priorities, application requirements, and selection criteria.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Reading Excellence Act (REA), Part C, 
Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), 
was enacted as Title VIII of the Labor-HHS-ED Appropriations Act of 
1999 by Section 101(f) of Public Law 105-277, the Omnibus 
Appropriations Act of FY 1999. Section 2253 of the REA authorizes a 
Reading and Literacy Grant Program to State educational agencies 
(SEAs). Grants are to be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible 
SEAs, which in turn will make competitive subgrants to local 
educational agencies (LEAs) for two types of activities: Local Reading 
Improvement subgrants (LRI) and Tutorial Assistance (TAG) subgrants. 
Section 2255 and Section 2256 of REA establish in detail the 
eligibility requirements for LEAs for both subgrant programs. The 
legislation also requires that each LRI subgrant must be large enough 
to enable a grant recipient to operate a program for a 2-year period.
    Section 2253(c)(2)(C) of the legislation requires that a panel of 
expert reviewers recommend applications for funding. Panels are 
generally composed of a minimum of three reviewers. Panel reviewers 
give each application a numerical score weighted against the selection 
criteria. Each reviewer also makes a recommendation to fund or not to 
fund the application.

    Note: We will announce the final priorities in a notice in the 
Federal Register. We will determine the final priorities after 
considering responses to this notice and other information available 
to the Department. This notice does not preclude us from proposing 
or funding additional priorities, subject to meeting applicable 
rulemaking requirements.

Priorities

    A key purpose of the Reading Excellence Act is to help every child 
to be able to read independently by grade three using research-based 
approaches to reading instruction. The proposed priorities are 
necessary to focus available funds on projects that help students in 
kindergarten through grade three to meet this objective and enable 
teachers to meet the challenge.
    The proposed absolute priority is necessary to ensure that States 
focus on providing services to the children during the early grades.

Absolute Priority

    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) of EDGAR, the Secretary has the authority 
to propose an absolute priority. The Secretary proposes that awards 
under this competition be made only to applications that meet the 
following absolute priority:
    Projects that exclusively fund, at the subgrant level, activities 
to improve kindergarten through grade three reading instruction and 
related early childhood, professional development, family literacy, 
extended learning and tutorial activities.

Competitive Priority

    Section 2253(c)(2)(C) of REA requires that priority shall be given 
to applications from SEAs whose States have modified, are modifying, or 
provide an assurance that they will modify within 18 months after 
receiving an REA grant the SEA's elementary school teacher 
certification requirements. The modification must increase the training 
and the methods of teaching reading required for certification as an 
elementary school teacher to reflect scientifically based reading 
research. However, nothing in the REA shall be construed to establish a 
national system of teacher certification.
    The Secretary proposes to award up to 5 additional points to 
applicants that meet this priority. Two points will be awarded to 
applicants that provide an assurance only. To receive the additional 
three points, the SEA must include detailed plans or implemented 
changes that describe high quality teacher preparation that reflects 
scientifically based reading research.

Application Requirements

    A discussion of each proposed requirement follows.

A. Eligible LEAS and schools (Sec. 2255 and Sec. 2256)

    We propose that to be considered for funding, an application must 
include a list of all eligible LEAs and the number of eligible schools, 
and the number of children and teachers in the eligible schools at the 
time the application is submitted. Successful applicants must provide a 
list of eligible LEAs and schools at the time that subgrants are 
awarded.
Rationale
    While the legislation clearly defines the requirements for 
eligibility, it does not require the applicants to identify the 
eligible LEAs or schools. We propose that each applicant include a list 
of the eligible LEAs and the number of eligible schools, as well as the 
number of children and teachers in each eligible school at the time 
that the application is submitted. This will enable the panelists to 
determine the likelihood that the requested funding amount will 
sufficiently fund the number of proposed subgrants for two years and at 
a level that will make a substantive improvement in reading instruction 
and student outcomes. Successful applicants will be required to provide 
an updated list of eligible LEAs and schools to the Department at the 
time that subgrants are awarded.

B. Funding Recommendations (Sec. 2253(c)(2)(C))

    We propose that to be considered for funding, an application must 
receive a majority recommendation from the panel of reviewers. Any 
applications not receiving recommendations to be funded from a majority 
of the review panel, regardless of the numerical score, will not be 
considered.
Rationale
    The legislation requires that the panel reviewers make a 
recommendation for funding. The requirement that an application must 
receive a recommendation for funding from a majority of the review 
panel will ensure that only quality applications are funded.

[[Page 8687]]

Selection Criteria

    The Secretary proposes that the following selection criteria be 
used 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 
the parentheses. There are not specific point totals for the 
subcategories within each criterion.
(1) Understanding and commitment to effective reading instruction based 
on scientifically based reading research. (15 points)
    In determining the State's understanding and commitment to 
effective reading instruction based on scientifically based reading 
research, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (a) The extent to which the proposed project incorporates a deep 
understanding of the scientifically based reading research literature 
and how it applies in their State and local education systems.
    (b) The extent to which the scientific literature on reading is 
implemented in proposed grant activities.
(2) Demonstration of Need. (10 points)
    In determining the need for the proposed project, the following 
factors are included:
    Demographic and social data on the target population for this 
program (children and families) and State efforts and initiatives in 
reading, including current professional development activities related 
to the teaching of reading and family literacy, standards and 
assessments, and other related activities; and their relation, if any, 
to findings from scientifically based reading research.
(3) Quality of local district and school activities. (35 points)
    In determining the quality of the services to be provided by local 
activities, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (a) How the proposed project would change classroom instruction in 
schools under Local Reading Improvement subgrants. In particular, what 
professional development activities would be implemented.
    (b) The extent to which the proposed activities support research 
based classroom reading instruction (including extended learning such 
as tutoring and summer programs, kindergarten transition, family 
literacy/involvement, and use of technology).
    (c) The extent to which the proposed activities will improve 
reading instruction for all children, including English language 
learners and children with special needs.
    (d) The extent to which the Tutorial Assistance subgrant activities 
of the proposed project reflect up-to-date knowledge of reading 
research and effective practice.
(4) Quality of the plan for State leadership, oversight and evaluation. 
(25 points)
    In determining the quality of the plan for State leadership, 
oversight and evaluation, the Secretary considers the following 
factors:
    (a) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring success under this 
grant, including how the State will ensure that school activities will 
use practices based on scientifically based reading research, 
especially professional development activities for K-3 teachers.
    (b) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including:

--Development of the reading and literacy partnership for overseeing 
proposed grant activities;
--Guidance provided to eligible districts and schools for developing 
applications;
--Subgrant processes and criteria; and
--Leadership, technical assistance, and monitoring activities for 
subgrantees that ensure continuous improvement in reading.

    (c) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the key SEA staff responsible for managing the grant activities 
described above.
    (d) The quality of the State's design, including student outcome 
measures or indicators for grades K-3, subgrant (LRIs and TAGs) and 
school implementation measures and indicators, a timeline for data 
collection and reporting, provisions or feedback to districts and 
identification of a qualified evaluator or inclusion of appropriate 
criteria.
    (e) The extent to which the proposed activities coordinate REA with 
other State initiatives and programs including how the REA grant will 
add to current State and local efforts.
(5) Adequacy of Resources. (15 points)
    In determining the adequacy of resources, the Secretary considers 
the following factors:
    (a) The average and range of amounts proposed, including the 
amounts per school/classroom, will provide sufficient resources to 
accomplish the tasks of Local Reading Improvement and Tutorial 
Assistance subgrants.
    (b) The budget provides sufficient detail and an appropriate level 
of funding to accomplish the purposes of this grant.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This notice and the proposed application packet contain information 
collection requirements. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3507(d)), the Department of Education has submitted a copy of 
this notice and application package to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for its review.

Collection of Information: Reading Excellence Program

    The Reading Excellence Program competitively awards grants to 
States to improve reading. The SEA will subgrant to LEAs and support 
activities that are designed to provide children with the skills needed 
to learn once they enter school, teach every child to read by the end 
of the third grade, and support teachers and other instructional staff 
in their efforts to teach reading. Information in the application would 
include:
    (1) A description of the applicant's teacher certification 
requirements and how they have been or will be modified.
    (2) Evidence that the SEA has the demographic and social data of 
the target population and its impact upon the ability of the local 
school districts to implement scientifically based reading activities.
    (3) The evaluation plan proposed to be used by the State to 
determine student outcome.
    (4) The list of eligible LEAs and schools and the number of 
teachers and students in those schools.
    All information is to be collected once only from each applicant. 
Annual reporting and record keeping burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 48 hours for each response for 39 
respondents, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching 
existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needs, and 
completing and reviewing the collection of information.
    We consider your comments on this proposed collection of 
information in--
     Deciding whether the proposed collection is necessary for 
the proper performance of our functions, including whether the 
information will have practical use:
     Evaluating the accuracy of our estimate of burden of the 
proposed collection, including the validity of our methodology and 
assumptions;
     Enhancing the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the 
information we collect; and

[[Page 8688]]

     Minimizing the burden on those who must respond. This 
includes exploring the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology; e.g., permitting electronic submission of 
response.
    OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collection of 
information contained in this notice of proposed eligibility and 
selection criteria between 30 and 60 days after publication of this 
document in the Federal Register. Therefore to ensure that OMB gives 
your comments full consideration, it is important that OMB receives the 
comments within 30 days of publication. This does not affect the 
deadline for your comments to us on the notice of proposed eligibility 
and selection criteria.

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 process developed by State and 
local government for coordination and review of proposed Federal 
assistance.
    In accordance with this order, this document is intended to provide 
early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for 
this program.

Invitation to Comment

    We invite you to submit comments regarding the rules proposed in 
this notice. To ensure that your comments have the maximum effect in 
developing the Secretary's final notice of priorities, application 
requirements, and selection criteria we urge you to identify clearly 
the specific section of this notice that each of your comments 
addresses and to arrange your comments in the same order as the 
sections appear in the notice.
    All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available 
for public inspection, during and after the comment period, in Room 
5C141, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, between the hours of 
8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday of each 
week except Federal holidays.
    On request, the Department supplies an appropriate aid, such as a 
reader or print magnifier, to an individual with a disability that 
needs assistance to review the comments. An individual with a 
disability may call (202) 205-8113 or (202) 260-9895. An individual who 
uses a TDD may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-
800-877-8339.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6661 et seq.

Electronic Access to This Document:

    You may view this document, as well as all other Department of 
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe 
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at either of the 
following sites: http://ocfo.ed.gov.fedreg.htm; http://www.ed.gov/news.html.To use the PDF file you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader 
Program with Search, which is available free at either of the preceding 
sites. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government 
Printing Office (GPO), toll free at 1-888-293-6498; or in the 
Washington, D.C., area at (202) 512-1530.

    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the 
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal 
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html.

    Catalogue of Federal Assistance Number: 84.338

    Dated: February 15, 2000.
Michael Cohen,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 00-4084 Filed 2-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U