[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12058-12060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5496]



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Part II





Department of Education





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Indian Education Professional Development Grant Program; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 7, 2000 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Indian Education Professional Development Grant Program

AGENCY: Office of Indian Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of proposed priorities for fiscal year (FY) 2000 and 
subsequent fiscal years.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary announces proposed funding priorities under the 
Indian Education Professional Development Grant program. The Secretary 
may use these priorities for competitions in FY 2000 and in subsequent 
fiscal years. The Secretary takes this action to support training 
opportunities to increase the number of Indian teachers, education 
administrators and personnel in other fields.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before April 6, 2000.

ADDRESSES: All comments concerning these proposed priorities should be 
addressed to Cathie Martin, Office of Indian Education, U.S. Department 
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, FOB-6 Room 3W111, Washington, 
D.C. 20202-6335. Comments may be sent through the Internet: __Cathie--
[email protected]. You must include the term ``Professional Development 
Program'' in the subject line of your electronic message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cathie Martin. Telephone: (202) 260-
1683. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) you may 
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    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 in the preceding 
paragraph.
    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 final 
priorities.

Invitation To Comment

    We invite you to submit comments regarding these proposed 
priorities.
    We invite you to assist us in complying with the specific 
requirements of Executive Order 12866 and its overall requirement of 
reducing regulatory burden that might result from these proposed 
priorities. Please let us know of any further opportunities we should 
take to reduce potential costs or increase potential benefits while 
preserving the effective and efficient administration of the program.
    During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public 
comments about these proposed priority, in Room 3W115, 400 Maryland 
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., 
Eastern time, Monday through Friday of each week except Federal 
holidays.

Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities in Reviewing the 
Rulemaking Record

    On request, we will supply an appropriate aid, such as a reader or 
printer magnifier, to an individual with a disability who needs 
assistance to review the comments or other documents in the public 
rulemaking record for these proposed priorities. If you want to 
schedule an appointment for this type of aid, you may call (202) 205-
8113 or (202) 260-9895. If you use a TDD, you may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8330.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

General

    The Secretary has authority to establish priorities, including 
absolute preferences, under section 75.105(c)(3) of the Education 
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). This notice 
contains proposed absolute priorities for the Professional Development 
program authorized by Section 9122 of Subpart 2 of Part A, Title IX of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965; 20 U.S.C. 
7832.
    The Professional Development program is a competitive grant program 
that supports activities to increase the number of qualified Indian 
individuals in professions that serve Indian people. Individuals who 
receive training under the Professional Development program are 
required to perform work related to the training received and that 
benefits Indian people, or are required to repay all or a prorated part 
of the assistance received. The requirements for the payback provision 
(required by Section 9122(h) of ESEA; 20 U.S.C. 7832(h)) are governed 
by 34 CFR 263. For the purposes of this program, the term ``Indian'' 
includes both American Indians and Alaska Natives as defined in 34 CFR 
263.3(b) and Sec. 9161(4) of ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7881(4)).
    One component of the Professional Development program supports 
training for qualified Indian individuals to: (1) Become teachers, 
administrators, teacher aides, social workers, and ancillary 
educational personnel; and (2) improve the skills of Indian individuals 
serving in these capacities. The second component of the program 
supports training of qualified Indian individuals in fields other than 
education that result in a degree at the graduate level. The proposed 
priorities support these training efforts by focusing all or a portion 
of available funds for new awards on projects that train Indians to 
become teachers and administrators, to improve the skills of 
individuals serving in those capacities, and to train personnel in 
fields other than education.
    The Secretary also proposes procedures for implementation of the 
statutory requirement to give a preference for awards under the 
Professional Development program to: (1) programs that provide training 
to Indian individuals (Section 9122(e)(2); 20 U.S.C. 7832(e)(2)) and 
(2) eligible Indian tribes, Indian organizations and Indian 
institutions of higher education (Section 9153 of ESEA; 20 U.S.C. 
7873).
    The Secretary will announce the final priorities for this program 
in a notice in the Federal Register. The final priorities will be 
determined on the basis of responses to this notice and other 
considerations by the Department. On an annual basis the Secretary may 
select, from the final priorities, the absolute priorities that will 
apply for that fiscal year and the amount of available program funds. 
Funding of a particular project depends on the availability of funds, 
the requirements of the final priorities selected, and the quality of 
the applications received. The publication of these proposed priorities 
does not preclude the Secretary from proposing additional priorities, 
nor does it limit the Secretary to funding only one or more of these 
priorities, subject to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.

Eligible Applicants

    (1) Institutions of higher education, including Indian institutions 
of higher education;
    (2) State or local educational agencies in consortium with 
institutions of higher education; and
    (3) Indian tribes or Indian organizations in consortium with 
institutions of higher education.
    Applications submitted by a consortium under categories (2) and (3) 
must meet the requirements of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 of EDGAR in 
order to be an eligible applicant.

Absolute Priority

    Under section 34 CFR 75.105 of EDGAR, the Secretary proposes to 
give an absolute preference to applications that meet one of the 
priorities selected

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for that fiscal year. The Secretary proposes to reserve all or a 
portion of the funds available for new awards under the Professional 
Development program to fund only those applications that meet one of 
these absolute priorities:

(1) Pre-Service Training for Teachers--

    (a) Provide support and training to a minimum of 25 Indian 
individuals to complete a pre-service education program leading to a 
bachelor degree in education that allows participants to meet the 
requirements for State certification or licensure as a teacher within a 
two-year period; and
    (b) Provide graduates of the program with one-year of induction 
services while they are working in schools with predominately Indian 
student populations.

(2) In-Service Training for Teachers--

    (a) Provide professional development activities to retrain a 
minimum of 25 existing teachers of Indian students that allow 
participants to meet State certification or licensure requirements to 
increase the number of teachers certified or licensed in:
    (i) Subject area(s) being taught;
    (ii) High-need areas where a shortage of qualified teachers exist;
    (iii) Subject content area specializations such as reading or math; 
or
    (iv) specializations in teaching culturally and linguistically 
unique Indian student populations; and
    (b) Provide graduates of the program with one-year of induction 
services while they are working in schools with predominately Indian 
student populations.

(3) Pre-Service and In-Service Training for Teachers--

    (a) Provide support and training to a minimum of 25 Indian 
individuals to complete a pre-service education program leading to a 
bachelor degree in education that allows participants to meet the 
requirements for State certification or licensure as a teacher within a 
two-year period;
    (b) Provide professional development activities to retrain a 
minimum of 25 existing teachers of Indian students that allow 
participants to meet State certification or licensure requirements to 
increase the number of teachers certified or licensed in:
    (i) Subject area or areas being taught;
    (ii) High-need areas where a shortage of qualified teachers exist;
    (iii) Subject content area specializations such as reading or math; 
or
    (iv) Specializations in teaching culturally and linguistically 
unique Indian student populations; and
    (c) Provide graduates of the program with one-year of induction 
services while they are working in schools with predominately Indian 
student populations.

(4) Pre-Service Administrator Training--

    (a) Provide support and training to a minimum of 25 Indian 
individuals to complete a master degree in education administration 
that allows participants to meet the requirements for State 
certification or licensure as an education administrator within a two-
year period, and
    (b) Provide graduates of the program with one-year of induction 
services while they are working in schools with predominately Indian 
student populations.

(5) In-Service Administrator Training--

    (a) Provide professional development activities to a minimum of 25 
existing administrators that enhance their skills and knowledge in more 
than one of the following areas;
    (i) Standards and assessments;
    (ii) Integrating reliable, research-based teaching methods and 
technology into the curriculum;
    (iii) Mentoring, coaching and evaluating the performance of 
teachers;
    (iv) Site-based management;
    (v) Reform efforts to improve teacher quality; and
    (b) Provide graduates of the program with one-year of induction 
services while they are working in schools with predominately Indian 
student populations.

(6) Pre-Service and In-Service Training for Administrators--

    (a) Provide support and training to a minimum of 25 Indian 
individuals to complete a master degree in education administration 
that allows participants to meet State certification or licensure as an 
education administrator within a two-year period;
    (b) Provide professional development activities to a minimum of 25 
existing education administrators that enhance their skills and 
knowledge in more than one of the following areas--
    (i) Standards and assessments;
    (ii) Integrating reliable, research-based teaching methods and 
technology into the curriculum;
    (iii) Mentoring, coaching and evaluating the performance of 
teachers;
    (iv) Site-based management;
    (v) Reform efforts to improve teacher quality; and
    (c) Provide graduates of the program one-year of induction services 
while they are working in schools with predominately Indian student 
populations.

(7) Training in Fields Other Than Education--

    (a) Provide support and training to a minimum of 25 Indian 
individuals to complete a master or doctoral degree in a field other 
than education, or a related field, within a two-year period, and
    (b) Provide graduates of the program with one-year of induction 
services while they are employed in positions relating to the training 
received and that benefits Indians.
    Applications meeting one of the absolute priorities may offer 
professional development activities that include, but are not limited 
to, continuing programs, symposia, workshops, conferences, and direct 
financial support.
    Induction services to be provided must include the following 
activities, at a minimum:
    (1) Mentoring, coaching and consultation services for the 
participant;
    (2) Participant access to research materials and information on 
teaching and learning or, for non-education fields of study, subject 
matter related to the participant's field of study;
    (3) Periodic assessment of and feedback sessions on participant 
performance in coordination with the participant's supervisor; and
    (4) Periodic meetings or seminars for participants to enhance 
collaboration, feedback and peer networking and support.
    Applications submitted by a consortium must meet the requirements 
of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 of EDGAR in order to be an eligible 
applicant. The specific requirements for the group agreement are found 
in 34 CFR 75.128(b).
    The Secretary may select more than one absolute priority for this 
program in any given fiscal year.

Competitive Preference

    The Secretary also proposes procedures for implementing the 
statutory requirement to give a preference to eligible Indian tribes, 
Indian organizations and Indian institutions of higher education for 
grants awarded under the Professional Development program (Section 9153 
of ESEA; 20 U.S.C. 7873).
    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) of EDGAR and Sections 9122 and 9153 of 
ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7832 and 7873), the Secretary gives preference to 
applications that meet the following competitive priorities. The total 
number of points the Secretary proposes to

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award to an application that meets a competitive priority is indicated 
in parentheses next to the title of the priority. These points are in 
addition to any points the application earns under the selection 
criteria for the program.

Competitive Priority 1--Preference for Training Indian Individuals (5 
Points)

Background
    Grants under this program may be used to provide support and 
training for Indian individuals to increase the number of qualified 
Indian individuals in professions that serve Indian people. Activities 
may include, but are not limited to, continuing programs, symposia, 
workshops, conferences, and direct financial support.
    Grants for training educational personnel may be for pre-service or 
in-service training. For individuals who are being trained to enter any 
field other than education, the training received must be in a program 
resulting in a graduate degree. In awarding grants under this program, 
the Secretary is required to give preference to applications describing 
programs that train Indian individuals.
Priority
    The Secretary would award 5 points to applications submitted under 
the Professional Development program that include only Indian 
individuals as training participants.

    Authority: Section 9122(e)(2) of ESEA; 20 U.S.C. 7832(e)(2).

Competitive Priority 2--Preference for Indian Applicants (10 Points)

Background
    An eligible entity for this program includes an institution of 
higher education, including an Indian institution of higher education; 
a State or local educational agency, in consortium with an institution 
of higher education; an Indian tribe or organization, in consortium 
with an institution of higher education. In making grants under this 
program, the Secretary gives preference to applications submitted by 
Indian tribes, Indian organizations, and Indian institutions of higher 
education, including a consortium of any of these entities with other 
eligible entities.
Priority
    The Secretary would award 10 points to applications submitted by 
Indian tribes, Indian organizations, and Indian institutions of higher 
education that are eligible to participate in the Professional 
Development program. A consortium application of eligible entities that 
meets the requirements of 34 CFR 75.127-.129 of EDGAR and includes an 
Indian tribe, Indian organization or Indian institution of higher 
education would be considered eligible to receive the 10 priority 
points.

    Authority: Section 9153 of ESEA; 20 U.S.C. 7873.

Intergovernmental Review

    These programs are subject to the requirements of Executive Order 
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. However, Part 79 does not 
apply to assistance to federally recognized Indian tribes. 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.

Invitation To Comment

    Interested persons are invited to submit comments and 
recommendations regarding these proposed priorities.
    All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available 
for public inspection, during and after the comment period, in Room 
3W115, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, between the hours of 9 
a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday of each week 
except Federal holidays.

    Program Authority: Section 9122 of ESEA; U.S.C. 7832.

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 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 (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC 
area at (202) 512-1530.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 84.299 Indian 
Education--Special Programs)
Michael Cohen,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 00-5496 Filed 3-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P