[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12036-12038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5522]


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NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LITERACY

[CFDA No. 84.2571]


Literacy Leadership Fellowship Program

AGENCY: National Institute for Literacy.

ACTION: Notice Inviting Applications for the Literacy Leader Fellowship 
Program.

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    Purpose of Program: The Literacy Program is designed to provide 
Federal financial assistance to adult learners and to individuals 
pursuing careers in adult education or literacy in the areas of 
instruction, research, or innovation. Under the program, literacy 
workers and adult learners are applicants for fellowships.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: Applications must be 
received at the National Institute for Literacy no later than 5:00 p.m. 
May 8, 2000.
    Available Funds: $125,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $40,000-09$70,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $60,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 2-3.

    Note:  The National Institute for Literacy is not bound by any 
estimates in this notice.


[[Page 12037]]


    Project Period: Projects will be not less than three and no more 
than 12 months of full or part-time activity. Projects will begin no 
earlier than September 2000, and end no later than September 2001.
    Applicable Regulations: The regulations governing the National 
Institute for Literacy's Literacy Fellowship Program as published in 
the March 7, 2000 issue of the Federal Register. The regulations are 
also available on-line at http://www.nifl.gov/activities/fllwhome.htm.
    While the Institute is administered by an Interagency agreement 
with the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human 
Services, the specific policies and procedures of these agencies 
regarding rulemaking and administration of grants are not adopted by 
the Institute except as expressly stated in this Notice and in the 
regulations.
    Transmittal of Applications: An original and seven (7) copies of 
applications for award must be received by the Institute on or before 
the deadline date by May 8, 2000.
    Applications delivered by mail: Applications sent by mail must be 
addressed to National Institute for Literacy, 1775 I Street, NW, Suite 
730, Washington, DC 20006-2417, Attention: (CFDA#84.257I).
    An applicant is encouraged to use registered, certified, or first-
mail.
    Late applicants will be notified that their applications will not 
be considered, and their applications will be returned.
    Applications delivered by Hand: Applications that are hand-
delivered must be taken to the National Institute for Literacy, 1775 I 
Street, NW, Suite 730, Washington, DC 20006-2417.
    The Institute will accept hand-delivered applications between 8:30 
a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Washington, DC time) daily, except Saturdays, 
Sundays and Federal holidays. Applications that are hand-delivered will 
not be accepted by the Institute after 5:00 p.m. on the due date:
    Acknowledgement of Applications: The Institute will mail an 
Applicant Receipt Acknowledgment to each applicant within 15 days from 
the due date. If an applicant fails to receive the application 
acknowledgment, call the National Institute for Literacy at (202) 233-
2055.
    The applicant must indicate on the outside of the envelope the CFDA 
number of the competition under which the application is being 
submitted.
    Application Forms: Applicants are required to submit the following 
forms, assurances and certifications:
    (a) Application Information and Budget Summary (NIFL Form No. 001)
    (b) Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B).
    (c) Certification Regarding Lobbying: Debarment, Suspension, and 
other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED 
80-0013).
    (d) Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL) (if 
applicable); and
    (e) Certification of Eligibility for Federal Assistance in Certain 
Programs (ED 80-0016).
    The NIFL form, assurances, and certifications must each have an 
original signature. No award can be made unless these forms are 
submitted.
    Prescribed Format: (a) Applicants will also be required to submit a 
proposal narrative. The narrative should be no more than 8 pages in 
length.
    (b) The narrative format should meet the following criteria:
    (i) The application should be double spaced
    (ii) The application should use 12 point font
    (iii) The application should have one inch margins on all four 
sides.
    (c) Applicants should also submit a resume, budget narrative, and 
four letters of recommendation.

    Note:  For applicants who propose to conduct the fellowship 
project on a part-time basis while undertaking other paid 
employment, one of the four required letter of recommendation must 
be from the applicant's employer, and must include a statement that 
the applicant's workload will not exceed 100% of time.

    Prescribed Order: Applicants should arrange their application 
submission in the following order:

i. NIFL Form 001
ii. Budget Narrative
iii. Application Narrative
iv. Resume
v. Letters of Recommendation
vi. Standard Form 424B
vii. ED 80-0013
viii. Standard Form LLL (if applicable)
ix. ED 80-0016

    Priorities: (a) The Director invites applications for Literacy 
Leader Fellowships that meet one of the following priorities for 2000.
    (b) The priorities for 2000 are major areas of concern in the 
literacy field that are currently being addressed in the Institute's 
work.
    (c) An application may be awarded up to 5 bonus points for 
addressing a priority, depending on how well the application meets the 
priority.
    (d) The publication of these priorities does not bind the Institute 
to fund only applications addressing a priority. The Director is 
especially interested in fellowship applications that address one of 
the priorities, but not to the exclusion of other significant issues 
that may be proposed by applicants.
    (e) The priorities selected from the regulations for 2000 are as 
follows:
    (1) Developing Leadership in Adult Learners. Because Adult learners 
are the true experts on literacy, they are an important resource for 
the field. Their firsthand experience as ``customers'' of the literacy 
system can be invaluable in assisting the field in moving forward, 
particularly in terms of raising public awareness and understanding 
about literacy. Projects that enhance best practices or the adult 
learner network will be given priority consideration.
    (2) Expanding the Use of Technology in Literacy Programs. One of 
the NIFL'S major projects is the Literacy Information and Communication 
System (LINCS), an Internet based information system that provides 
timely information and abundant resources to the literacy community. 
Keeping the literacy community up to date in the information age is 
vital. Projects that improve or increase use of technology will be 
given priority consideration.
    (3) Improving Accountability for Literacy Programs. Legislation 
that has passed both houses of the U.S. Congress emphasizes that 
literacy programs must develop accountability systems that demonstrate 
their effectiveness in helping adult learners contribute more fully in 
the workplace, family and community. Projects that focus on results-
oriented literacy practice, especially as related to the Equipped for 
the Future (EFF) framework, are a priority.
    (4) Raising Public Awareness about Literacy. The NIFL is leading a 
national effort to raise public awareness that literacy is part of the 
solution to many social concerns, including the well-being of children, 
health, welfare and the economy. Projects that enhance this effort will 
be given priority consideration.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: National Educational Goal 6, which is 
included in the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, puts forward an 
ambitious agenda for adult literacy and lifelong learning in America. 
To further this goal, the Congress passed Public Law 105-220, the 
National Literacy Act of 1991, which was the first piece of national 
legislation to focus exclusively on literacy [the act has since been 
superseded by the Public Law 105-220, the Workforce Investment Act of 
1998]. The overall intent of the National Literacy Act, as stated, is:

To enhance the literacy and basic skills of adults, to ensure that 
all adults in the United States acquire the basic skills necessary 
to

[[Page 12038]]

function effectively and achieve the greatest possible opportunity 
in their work and in their lives and to strengthen and coordinate 
adult literacy programs.

    In designing the National Literacy Act, among the primary concerns 
shared by the Congress and literacy stakeholders was the fragmentation 
and lack of coordination among the many efforts in the field. To 
address these concerns, the National Literacy Act created the National 
Institute for Literacy to:
    (A) provide a national focal point for research, technical 
assistance, and research dissemination, policy analysis and program 
evaluation in the area of literacy; and
    (B) facilitate a pooling of ideas and expertise across fragmented 
programs and research efforts.
    Among the Institute's authorized activities is the awarding of 
fellowships to outstanding individuals who are pursuing careers in 
adult education or literacy in the areas of instruction, management, 
research, or innovation. These fellowships are to be awarded for 
activities that advance the field of adult education and literacy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  To receive an application package, 
contact EDPubs, P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794, 1-800-228-8813, TTY/
TTD 1-877-576-7734, email: [email protected]. Substantive questions 
regarding proposal content can be obtained from: Jennifer Cromley, 
National Institute for Literacy, 1775 I Street, NW, Suite 730, 
Washington, DC 20006-2417. Telephone: 202/233-2053, Fax: 202/233-2051. 
E-mail: [email protected]. The entire application package and 
information about the Literacy Leader Fellowship program is also 
available on-line (including all of the required forms) at http://www.nifl.gov/activities/fllwhome.htm.

Instructions for Estimated Public Reporting Burden

    According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are 
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this 
information collection is 3430-0003, Expiration Date 6/30/2000. The 
time required to complete this information collection is estimated to 
average 20 hours per response, including the time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
disseminating the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. If you have any comments concerning the 
accuracy of the time estimate or suggestions for improving this form, 
please write to: the National Institute for Literacy, 1775 I Street, 
NW, Suite 730, Washington, DC 20006-2417.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1213c.
    Dated: March 2, 2000.
Carolyn Staley,
Deputy Director, NIFL.
[FR Doc. 00-5522 Filed 3-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6055-01-M