[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 155 (Thursday, August 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49050-49053]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20326]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3382]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Proposals: 
Bilkent University (Turkey) Student Teacher Internship Program; Notice: 
Request for Proposals

SUMMARY: The Office of Global Educational Programs of the Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the 
Bilkent University Student Teacher Internship Program. University 
schools of education meeting the provisions described in IRS regulation 
26 CFR 1.501(c) may submit proposals to administer an eight-week 
teacher training program for graduate students of education from 
Bilkent University, a private institution in Ankara, Turkey. The focus 
of the internship is to familiarize participants with student-centered 
teaching methods and the use of technology in the classroom. Interested 
organizations must have strong contacts with local school districts, 
preferably in both their own and neighboring states in order to provide 
exposure to different educational approaches. The successful proposal 
will demonstrate the organization's experience in international 
educational exchange and

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internship programs, and an understanding of Turkish history, culture, 
religion and education. Internship schools may be public, private, 
magnet or charter schools, but should exemplify best practices.

Program Information

Background

    The participants will be graduate students enrolled in Bilkent 
University Graduate School of Education's MA in Teacher Education, an 
innovative Master's Degree program to train high school level teachers 
of all subjects in constructivist, student-centered teaching methods. 
Endorsed by the Turkish Ministry of Education, this is the first 
program of its kind in the country. Bilkent course requirements include 
civic education, the history of civilization, and classical texts in 
humanities and political philosophy. Students will have completed one 
year of academic work before their internships in the U.S. Twenty-five 
English-speaking student teachers will be selected by Bilkent 
University and the Fulbright Commission in Turkey. Following the 
internship, the students will return to Bilkent for approximately seven 
more months of academic study.
    In the long-term, this program is expected to assist Turkish 
educators as they prepare students to live in an increasingly 
interdependent world. Additional background information on Bilkent 
University and the Turkish educational system can be found in the 
Program Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document.

Objectives

    The goal of the eight-week program is to provide participants with 
thorough exposure to student-centered teaching approaches and the use 
of technology in American schools. After an academic and cross-cultural 
orientation in the U.S., the teachers will be placed in small groups at 
local schools. Student teachers will be paired with experienced U.S. 
teachers whose fields of study match their own. Internship activities 
will include: observing a variety of teaching methods (inquiry, active 
classroom, group projects, etc.) as well as computer-based lessons; 
working individually with a mentor teacher on curriculum development; 
and team teaching. While the greatest emphasis is placed on immersing 
student teachers actively in the American classroom environment, 
experiential learning will be complemented by professional development 
seminars on related topics. The internship and seminars will also help 
participants to create a curriculum development project or portfolio.

Components of U.S. Program

     Orientation (2-4 days): introduction to U.S. government as 
it relates to education, U.S. education system, American culture 
through site visits and a cross-cultural adjustment seminar;
     Site visits in school districts (2-3 days): to all levels 
and types of schools, including economically and ethnically diverse 
schools;
     Internships in high schools (6 weeks): each student 
teacher will work individually with a mentor teacher; activities 
include classroom observation, team teaching, and cultural 
presentations;
     Exposure to local school governance: through such 
activities as attendance at faculty, board of education, and PTA 
meetings;
     Professional development seminars to complement school-
based training: topics may include classroom management, conflict 
resolution, diversity, and curriculum development. Seminars may be 
dispersed throughout the six weeks or take place in the form of a mid-
program conference/debriefing;
     Final debriefing (1-2 days): Student teachers will share 
what they have observed and learned, perhaps through presentations they 
make to each other;
     Curriculum development project: By the end of the eight-
week program, the student teachers will complete a project, 
incorporating a new teaching method or technology that they will find 
useful in conjunction with a course at Bilkent University or in the 
classroom when they begin to teach. This component is crucial for 
continuity and impact of the U.S. experience;
     Cultural experiences: This should include interaction with 
the local community through home stays and non-school-based groups, 
activities reflecting the diversity of American society, and 
opportunities for participants to speak about Turkish history and 
culture.

Grantee's Responsibilities

     Locate school districts to host groups for internships 
through informal competition (schools must submit brief proposal 
outlining their interest, understanding of goals, examples of best 
practices, and commitment to mentoring). School districts should be 
reasonably near the administering organization, but may be located in 
different states if feasible, to expose participants to more than one 
educational system or approach;
     Conduct orientation, professional development seminars and 
debriefing;
     Monitor and evaluate the program;
     Administer all participant logistics: international 
transportation, ground transportation to local schools and training 
sites, participant per diem and housing, U.S. government forms such as 
tax and social security, etc.
     Arrange for home stays, perhaps through local schools or 
other participating organization; if home stays are not available, 
arrange other cost efficient housing; home stay hosts, as well as 
schools, should be sensitive to accommodating participants' religious 
observance;
     Administer all financial aspects of the program and comply 
with reporting requirements;
     Plan follow-on activities with host schools and 
participants in conjunction with participants' academic program.
    The Fulbright Commission in Turkey will assist in obtaining 
international airline tickets, visas, and health insurance. The grantee 
will pay the airline office in Ankara for air tickets. There will be no 
cost to the program for visas and insurance. The Fulbright Commission 
will also conduct a pre-departure orientation and post-program 
evaluation. The grantee will coordinate with the Fulbright Commission 
in Turkey on all non-U.S. based aspects of program administration. The 
proposal should address mechanisms for communication and coordination.

The grantee will coordinate with the Fulbright Teacher Exchange 
Branch in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs regarding 
all U.S.-based activities, reporting and evaluation.

    It is envisioned that, contingent upon availability of funding and 
successful completion of the program, this program may be renewed for 
two more years, thus training a corps of 75 student teachers in new 
student-centered teaching methods and classroom technology. It will be 
important for the grantee to help create a network for participants to 
communicate and support each other in using the new methodologies after 
they have become teachers. A strong proposal will address follow-on 
activities in conjunction with the Fulbright Commission and Bilkent 
University (without Bureau funding) to increase future impact and 
participant support.
    The grant will begin on or about March 1, 2001 and the grantee 
should complete all exchange activities by May, 2002. The internship 
program will take place in October-November, 2001.

[[Page 49052]]

Please refer to additional program specific guidelines in the Project 
Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document.
    Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to 
Solicitation Package for further information.

Budget Guidelines

    Since grants awarded to eligible organizations with fewer than four 
years of experience in coordinating international exchanges are limited 
to $60,000, such organizations are not eligible to compete for this 
grant.
    Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire 
program. Maximum funding available for this program is $170,000. There 
must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both 
administrative and program budgets. Applicants may provide separate 
sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or activity to 
provide clarification. Cost-sharing is encouraged. Allowable costs for 
the program, on a per participant basis, include the following:

1. International Travel
2. U.S. Ground Transportation
3. Host Schools (for administrative costs)
4. Professional Development Seminars/Conference and Debriefing 
(instruction, materials, logistics)
5. Participant lodging and per diem
6. Cultural Activities
7. Book Allowance/Shipping
8. Grantee Administrative Costs

    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.

Announcement Title and Number

    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/S/X-01-02.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Teacher Exchange Branch of the 
Office of Global Educational Programs, ECA/A/S/X, Room 349, U.S. 
Department of State, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, 
telephone: 202-619-4568, fax: 202-401-1433, e-mail: 
[email protected], to request a Solicitation Package. The 
Solicitation Package contains detailed award criteria, required 
application forms, specific budget instructions, and standard 
guidelines for proposal preparation. Please specify Bureau Program 
Officer Rachel Waldstein on all other inquiries and correspondence.
    Please read the complete Federal Register announcement before 
sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFP deadline has 
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with applicants 
until the proposal review process has been completed.

To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet

    The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's 
website at http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfps. Please read all 
information before downloading.

Deadline for Proposals

    All proposal copies must be received at the Bureau of Educational 
and Cultural Affairs by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Monday, November 
6. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. Documents 
postmarked the due date but received on a later date will not be 
accepted. Each applicant must ensure that the proposals are received by 
the above deadline.
    Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation 
Package. The original and seven copies of the application should be 
sent to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/S/X-01-02, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, 
Room 336, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547.
    Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and 
``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal on a 3.5'' diskette, 
formatted for DOS. These documents must be provided in ASCII text (DOS) 
format with a maximum line length of 65 characters. The Bureau will 
transmit these files electronically to the Public Affairs section at 
the US Embassy for its review, with the goal of reducing the time it 
takes to get embassy comments for the Bureau's grants review process.

Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines

    Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must 
maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and 
representative of the diversity of American political, social, and 
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest 
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to 
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic 
status, and physical challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
adhere to the advancement of this principle both in program 
administration and in program content. Please refer to the review 
criteria under the `Support for Diversity' section for specific 
suggestions on incorporating diversity into the total proposal. Public 
Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of educational and 
cultural exchange in countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom 
and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take appropriate steps to provide 
opportunities for participation in such programs to human rights and 
democracy leaders of such countries.'' Proposals should reflect 
advancement of this goal in their program contents, to the full extent 
deemed feasible.

Review Process

    The Bureau will acknowledge receipt of all proposals and will 
review them for technical eligibility. Proposals will be deemed 
ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the guidelines stated herein 
and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible proposals will be 
reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public Diplomacy section 
overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to 
panels of Bureau officers for advisory review. Proposals may also be 
reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by other Department 
elements. Final funding decisions are at the discretion of the 
Department of State's Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public 
Affairs. Final technical authority for assistance awards (grants or 
cooperative agreements) resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.

Review Criteria

    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:

1. Quality of the program idea
2. Program planning and ability to achieve program objectives
3. Cross-Cultural Sensitivity
4. Support of Diversity
5. Institutional Capacity and Record
6. Impact/Follow-on Activities
7. Project Evaluation
8. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing

    Please see the Program Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) 
document for a more detailed description of Review Criteria.

Authority

    Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-
256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of 
the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United States to increase 
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the 
people of other countries * * *; to strengthen the ties which unite us

[[Page 49053]]

with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural 
interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United 
States and other nations * * * and thus to assist in the development of 
friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States 
and the other countries of the world.'' The funding authority for the 
program above is provided through legislation and is subject to 
availability of Congressional funding.

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding and may 
not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information 
provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language will not be 
binding. Issuance of the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on 
the part of the Government. The Bureau reserves the right to reduce, 
revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of 
the program and the availability of funds. Awards made will be subject 
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.

Notification

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures.

    Dated: July 31, 2000.
Evelyn S. Lieberman,
Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 00-20326 Filed 8-9-00; 8:45 am]
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