[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1774-1794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-559]



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Part IV





Department of Education





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Bilingual Education: Field-Initiated Research Program; Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 9, 2001 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.292B]


Bilingual Education: Field-Initiated Research Program; Notice 
Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001

    Note to Applicants: This notice is a complete application 
package. Together with the statute authorizing the program and 
applicable regulations governing this program, including the 
Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 
this notice contains all of the information, application forms, and 
instructions needed to apply for a grant under this program. The 
statutory authorization for this program is contained in section 
7132 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), 
20 U.S.C. 7452, as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act of 
1994, Public Law 103-382 (October 20, 1994).

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to provide 
grants for field-initiated research activities related to the 
improvement of bilingual education and special alternative 
instructional programs for limited English proficient (LEP) children 
and youth.
    Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education, nonprofit 
organizations, State educational agencies, and local educational 
agencies that have received grants under subparts 1 or 2 of Part A of 
title VII of the ESEA within the previous five years.
    Applications Available: January 9, 2001
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 8, 2001.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: March 12, 2001.
    Available Funds: $1,000,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$150,000.
    Estimated Average Per Year: $115,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 8.

    Note: The Administration has requested $1,000,000 for new awards 
under the Field-Initiated Research program in FY2001. The actual 
level of funding, if any, depends upon final congressional action.

    Project Period: 24 months.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99; and, (b) The regulations in 34 CFR part 
299, General Provisions, ESEA.

Description of Program

    Funds under this program are available to carry out field-initiated 
research conducted by current or recent recipients of grants under 
subparts 1 or 2 who have received those grants within the previous five 
years. Research under this program may provide for longitudinal studies 
of students or teachers in bilingual education, monitoring the 
education of those students from entry in bilingual education through 
secondary school completion.

Priorites

    Invitational Priorities: The Secretary is particularly interested 
in applications that meet the following invitational priorities. 
However, an application that meets these invitational priorities does 
not receive competitive or absolute preference over other applications 
(34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)):
    Applications that propose to focus on research that leads to 
answering significant questions on the assessment of academic 
achievement for LEP students.
    Applications that propose to address the following question: At 
what point along the language proficiency continuum does testing a 
student in the second language in the content areas yield meaningful 
and valid results?
    Applications that propose to study the comprehensiveness, 
alignment, and validity of state-wide testing and data analysis 
systems. Information related to the substance of this invitational 
priority can be found at the LEP Students and High-Stakes Assessment 
published in April, 2000, available at the NCBE website: 
www.ncbe.gwu.edu and also in the report: An Analysis of State Policies 
for the Inclusion and Accommodation of English Language Learners in 
State Assessment Programs. During 1998-1999, available at the website 
of the Center for Equity and Excellence in Education of the George 
Washington University: http://ceee.gwu.edu.


    Note: The Secretary is particularly interested in applications 
from SEAs that address these invitational priorities.


    Note: For further information on assessment issues, see ``High 
Stakes Assessment: A Research Agenda for English Language 
Learners'', which is available from the National Clearinghouse for 
Bilingual Education, telephone--1-800-321-6223 or website at: http://www.ncbe.gwu.edu.

Selection Criteria

    The Secretary uses the following selection criteria in 34 CFR 
75.210 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 is indicated in parentheses.
    (a) Need for the project (5 points). (1) The Secretary considers 
the need for the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be 
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude 
of those gaps or weaknesses.
    (b) Significance (10 points). (1) The Secretary considers the 
significance of the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the significance of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The significance of the problem or issue to be addressed by the 
proposed project.
    (ii) The potential contribution of the proposed project to 
increased knowledge or understanding of educational problems, issues, 
or effective strategies.
    (iii) The likelihood that the proposed project will result in 
system change or improvement.
    (iv) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in 
teaching and student achievement.
    (c) Quality of the project design (50 points). (1) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the design of the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
    (ii) The extent to which the proposed project is based upon a 
specific research design, and the quality and appropriateness of that 
design, including the scientific rigor of the studies involved.
    (iii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project 
includes a thorough, high-quality review of the relevant literature, a 
high-quality plan for project implementation, and the use of 
appropriate methodological tools to ensure successful achievement of 
project objectives.
    (iv) The extent to which the proposed project is part of a 
comprehensive effort to improve teaching and learning and support 
rigorous academic standards for students.
    (d) Quality of project personnel (20 points). (1) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed 
project.

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    (2) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability.
    (3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator.
    (ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of key project personnel.
    (e) Adequacy of resources (5 points). (1) The Secretary considers 
the adequacy of resources for the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the 
proposed project.
    (ii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to 
the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed 
project.
    (f) Quality of the management plan (10 points). (1) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks.
    (ii) The extent to which the time commitments of the project 
director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are 
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed 
project.

Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs

    This program is subject to the requirements of Executive order 
12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs) and the 
regulations in 34 CFR part 79. The objective of the Executive Order is 
to foster an intergovernmental partnership and to strengthen federalism 
by relying on State and local processes for State and local government 
coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance.
    Applicants must contact the appropriate State Single Point of 
Contact to find out about, and to comply with, the State's process 
under Executive Order 12372. Applicants proposing to perform activities 
in more than one State should immediately contact the Single Point of 
Contact for each of those States and follow the procedure established 
in each State under the Executive order. If you want to know the name 
and address of any State Single Point of Contact, see the list 
published in the Federal Register on April 28, 1999 (64 FR 22963); or 
you may view the latest SPOC list on the OMB Web site at the following 
address: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants.
    In States that have not established a process or chosen a program 
for review, State, areawide, regional, and local entities may submit 
comments directly to the Department. Any State Process Recommendation 
and other comments submitted by a State Single Point of Contact and any 
comments from State, areawide, regional, and local entities must be 
mailed or hand-delivered by the date indicated in this notice to the 
following address: The Secretary, E.O. 12372--CFDA# 84.292B, U.S. 
Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-0124.
    Proof of mailing will be determined on the same basis as 
applications (see 34 CFR 75.102). Recommendations or comments may be 
hand-delivered until 4:30 p.m. (EST) on the date indicated in this 
Notice.
    Please note that the above address is not the same address as the 
one to which the applicant submits its completed application. Do not 
send applications to the above address.
    Grants involving research on human subjects will require compliance 
with the Department's Protection of Human Subjects Regulations, 34 CFR 
part 97. The regulations and information about the regulations can be 
found at http://ocfo.ed/humansub.htm. For quick overview, see in 
particular ``Information About the Requirements at the Application/
Proposal Stage and After Award.''

Instructions for Transmittal of Applications

    (a) If an applicant wants to apply for a grant, the applicant 
must--
    (1) Mail the original and two copies of the application on or 
before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application 
Control Center, Attention (CFDA #84.292B), Washington, DC 20202-4725 or
    (2) Hand-deliver the original and two copies of the application by 
4:30 p.m. (EST) on or before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of 
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA #84.292B), Room 
#3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets SW., Washington, 
DC.
    (b) An applicant must show one of the following as proof of 
mailing:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary.
    (c) If an application is mailed through the U.S. Postal Service, 
the Secretary does not accept either of the following as proof of 
mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.


    Note: (1) The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a 
dated postmark. Before relying on this method, an applicant should 
check with its local post office.
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail a Grant Application 
Receipt Acknowledgment to each applicant. If an applicant fails to 
receive the notification of application receipt within 15 days from 
the date of mailing the application, the applicant should call the 
U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 
708-9495.
    (3) The applicant must indicate on the envelope and--if not 
provided by the Department--in Item 3 of the Application for Federal 
Education Assistance (ED 424) the CFDA number--and suffix letter, if 
any--of the competition under which the application is being 
submitted.

Application Instructions and Forms

    The appendix to this notice contains the following forms and 
instructions, plus a statement regarding estimated public reporting 
burden, a notice to applicants regarding compliance with section 427 of 
the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), a checklist for 
applicants, various assurances, certifications, and required 
documentation:
    a. Instructions for the Application Narrative.
    b. Additional Guidance.
    c. Estimated Public Reporting Burden Statement.
    d. Notice to All Applicants.
    e. Checklist for Applicants.
    f. Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424) and 
instructions.
    g. Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 524) and 
instructions.
    h. Eligibility Certification.
    i. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B) and 
instructions.

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    j. Certifications Regarding: Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and 
Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED 
80-0013) and instructions.
    k. Certification Regarding Human Subject Regulations 34 CFR part 
97. Grants involving research on human subjects will require compliance 
with the Department's Protection of Human Subjects Regulations (ED 
424).
    l. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and 
Voluntary Exclusion: Lower Tier Covered Transactions (ED 80-0014, 9/90) 
and instructions.

(Note: ED 80-0014 is intended for the use of grantees and should not 
be transmitted to the Department.)

    m. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL) (if 
applicable) and instructions. This document has been marked to reflect 
statutory changes. See the notice published in the Federal Register (61 
FR 1413) by the Office of Management and Budget on January 19, 1996.
    An applicant may submit information on a photostatic copy of the 
application and budget forms, the assurances, and the certifications. 
However, the application form, the assurances, and the certifications 
must each have an original signature.
    All applicants must submit ONE original signed application, 
including ink signatures on all forms and assurances, and TWO copies of 
the application. Please mark each application as original or copy. No 
grant may be awarded unless a completed application has been received.
    For Further Information Contact: Socorro Lara, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., Room 5090, Switzer Building, 
Washington, DC 20202-6510. Telephone: (202) 205-9730. Individuals who 
use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this notice in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding 
paragraph. Please note, however, that the Department is not able to 
reproduce in an alternative format the standard forms included in the 
notice.

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 PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free 
at either of the preceding sites. If you have questions about using 
PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office toll free at 1-888-293-
6498 or in the Washington, DC 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://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html.


    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7452.

    Dated: January 3, 2001.
Art Love,
Acting Director, Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages 
Affairs.

Estimated Public Reporting Burden Statement

    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 OMB No. 1885-0547 (Exp. 04/30/2002). The time 
required to complete this information collection is estimated to 
average 145 hours per response, including the time to review 
instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, 
and complete and review the information collection. If you have any 
comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate or suggestions 
for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, 
Washington, DC 20202-4651.
    If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your 
individual submission of this form, write directly to: Office of 
Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5086, Switzer Building, 
Washington, DC 20202-6510.

Application Instructions

Mandatory Page Limit for the Application Narrative

    The narrative is the section of the application where you address 
the selection criteria used by reviewers in evaluating the application. 
You must limit the narrative to the equivalent of no more than 50 
pages, using the following standards: (1) A page is 8.5" x 11", on one 
side only with 1" margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. (2) You 
must double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text 
in the application narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes, 
quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, 
tables, figures and graphs. If you use a proportional computer font, 
you may not use a font smaller than a 12-point font. If you use a non-
proportional font or a typewriter, you may not use more than 12 
characters per inch. The page limit does not apply to the Application 
for Federal Education Assistance Form (ED 424); the Budget Information 
Form (ED 524) and attached itemization of costs; the other application 
forms and attachments to those forms; the assurances and 
certifications; or the one-page abstract and table of contents 
described below. If, in order to meet the page limit, you use print 
size, spacing or margins smaller than the standards specified in this 
notice, your application will not be considered for funding.

Selection Criteria

    The narrative should address fully all aspects of the selection 
criteria in the order listed and should give detailed information 
regarding each criterion. Do not simply paraphrase the criteria. Do not 
include resumes or curriculum vitae for project personnel; provide 
position descriptions instead.

Additional Guidance

Table of Contents

    The application should include a table of contents listing the 
sections in the order required.

Budget

    Budget line items must support the goals and objectives of the 
proposed project and must be directly related to the instructional 
design and all other project components.

Final Application Preparation

    Use the Checklist for Applicants to verify that your application is 
complete. Submit three copies of the application, including an original 
copy containing an original signature for each form requiring the 
signature of the authorized representative. Do not use elaborate 
bindings or covers. The application package must be mailed or hand-
delivered to the Application Control Center (ACC) and postmarked by the 
deadline date.

Checklist for Applicants

    The following forms and other items must be included in the 
application in the order listed below:
    1. Application for Federal Education Assistance Form (ED 424).
    2. Eligibility Certification.
    3. Budget Information Form (ED Form 524).

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    4. Itemized budget for each year.
    5. Certification Regarding Human Subject Regulations 34 CFR Part 
97. Grants involving research on human subjects will require compliance 
with the Department's Protection of Human Subjects Regulations (ED 
424).
    6. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs Form (SF 424B).
    7. Certifications Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension and 
Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements Form 
(ED 80-0013).
    8. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and 
Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions Form (ED 80-0014) 
(if applicable).
    9. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Form (SF-LLL).
    10. Form on General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) Requirement.
    11. Table of Contents.
    12. Application narrative, including abstract (not to exceed 50 
pages).
    13. One original and two copies of the application for transmittal 
to the Education Department's Application Control Center.

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[FR Doc. 01-559 Filed 1-8-01; 8:45 am]
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