[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 73 (Monday, April 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19437-19471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9293]



[[Page 19437]]

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.290U]


Bilingual Education: Comprehensive School Grants; 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 the 
Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 
this notice contains all of the information, application forms, and 
instructions needed to apply for an award under this program. The 
statutory authorization for this program, and the application 
requirements that apply to this competition, are contained in 
sections 7114 and 7116 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965, as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 
(Pub. L. 103-382, enacted October 20, 1994 (the Act) (20 U.S.C. 7424 
and 7426)).

    Purpose of Program: This program provides grants to implement 
schoolwide bilingual education programs or schoolwide special 
alternative instruction programs for reforming, restructuring, and 
upgrading all relevant programs and operations, within an individual 
school, that serve all or virtually all limited English proficient 
(LEP) children and youth in one or more schools with significant 
concentrations of these children and youth.
    Eligible Applicants: (a) One or more local educational agencies 
(LEAs); or (b) one or more LEAs in collaboration with an institution of 
higher education, community-based organizations, other LEAs, or a State 
educational agency.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 15, 2001.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 14, 2001.
    Available Funds: $8 million.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000-$300,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $250,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 32.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.


    Project Period: 60 months.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria reviewers 
use to evaluate your application. You must limit the application 
narrative to the equivalent of no more than 50 pages, using the 
following standards:
     A page is 8\1/2\" by 11", on one side only, with 1" 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     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.
     Use a font that is either 12-point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, 
the budget section, including the budget justification and the cost 
itemization; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the table 
of contents or the one-page abstract. However, you must include all of 
the application narrative in Part III.
    If, to meet the page limit, you use more than one side of the page, 
you use a larger page, or you use a print size, spacing, or margins 
smaller than the standards in this notice, we will reject your 
application.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 85, 86, and 99. (b) The regulations in 34 CFR part 299.
    Description of Program: Funds under this program are to be used to 
reform, restructure, and upgrade all relevant operations and programs, 
within a school, that serve LEP children and youth. Before carrying out 
a project assisted under this program, a grantee will plan, train 
personnel, develop curriculum, and acquire or develop materials. In 
addition, grantees are authorized, under this program, to improve the 
education of LEP children and youth and their families by implementing 
family education programs, improving the instructional program for LEP 
children, compensating personnel who have been trained--or are being 
trained--to serve LEP children and youth, providing tutorials and 
academic or career counseling for LEP children and youth, and providing 
intensified instruction.

Priorities

    Absolute Priority: The priority in the notice of final priority for 
this program, as published in the Federal Register on October 30, 1995 
(60 FR 55245) and repeated immediately below, applies to this 
competition.
    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and section 7114(a) of the Act, the 
Secretary gives an absolute preference to applications that meet the 
following priority. The Secretary funds under this competition only 
applications that meet this absolute priority:
    Projects that serve only schools in which the number of LEP 
students, in each school served, equals at least 25 percent of the 
total student enrollment.
    Competitive Priority: Within the absolute priority specified in 
this notice, the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii) and 34 CFR 
299.3(b) gives preference to applications that meet the following 
competitive priority. An application that meets this competitive 
priority is selected by the Secretary over applications of comparable 
merit that do not meet the priority:
    Projects that will contribute to systemic educational reform in an 
Empowerment Zone or an Enterprise Community designated by the United 
States Department of Housing and Urban Development or the United States 
Department of Agriculture, and are made an integral part of the Zone's 
or Community's comprehensive community revitalization strategies.
    A list of areas that have been designated as Empowerment Zones and 
Enterprise Communities is provided at the end of this notice and is 
also available on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ezec.gov.
    Invitational Priorities: Within the absolute priority specified in 
this notice, the Secretary is particularly interested in applications 
that meet one or more of the following invitational priorities. 
However, under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) an application that meets one or 
more of these invitational priorities does not receive competitive or 
absolute preference over other applications.

Invitational Priority 1--Reading

    Projects that focus on reforming, restructuring, and upgrading 
reading instruction to assist limited English proficient students to 
read independently and well by the end of third grade.

Invitational Priority 2--Mathematics

    Projects that focus on reforming, restructuring, and upgrading 
mathematics instruction to assist limited English proficient students 
to master challenging mathematics, including the foundations of algebra 
and geometry, by the end of eighth grade.

Invitational Priority 3--Preparation for Postsecondary Education

    Projects that focus on motivating and academically preparing 
limited English proficient students for successful participation in 
college and other postsecondary education.

Invitational Priority 4--Professional Development

    Applicants that consider the U.S. Department of Education 
Professional

[[Page 19438]]

Development Principles in planning and designing a Comprehensive School 
Grant project.
    Those principles call for educator professional development that 
focuses on teachers as central to student learning, yet includes all 
other members of the school community; focuses on individual, 
collegial, and organizational improvement; respects and nurtures the 
intellectual and leadership capacity of teachers, principals, and 
others in the school community; reflects best available research and 
practice in teaching, learning, and leadership; enables teachers to 
develop further expertise in subject content, teaching strategies, uses 
of technologies, and other essential elements in teaching to high 
standards; promotes continuous inquiry and improvement embedded in the 
daily life of schools; is planned collaboratively by those who will 
participate in and facilitate that development; requires substantial 
time and other resources; is driven by a coherent long-term plan; is 
evaluated ultimately on the basis of its impact on teacher 
effectiveness and student learning; and uses this assessment to guide 
subsequent professional development efforts.

Selection Criteria

    (a)(1) The Secretary uses the following selection criteria in 34 
CFR 75.210 and sections 7114, 7116, and 7123 of the Act to evaluate 
applications for new grants under this competition.
    (2) The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points.
    (3) The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in 
parentheses.
    (b) The criteria--(1) Meeting the purposes of the authorizing 
statute. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to 
determine how well the proposed project will implement schoolwide 
bilingual education programs or schoolwide special alternative 
instruction programs for reforming, restructuring, and upgrading all 
relevant programs and operations, within an individual school, that 
serve all (or virtually all) children and youth of limited English 
proficiency in schools with significant concentrations of those 
children and youth.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7424(a))

    (2) Need for the project. (10 points) The Secretary considers the 
need for the proposed project. In determining the need for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The number of children and youth of limited English proficiency 
in the school or school district to be served, and
    (ii) The characteristics of those children and youth, such as--
    (A) Language spoken;
    (B) Dropout rates;
    (C) Proficiency in English and the native language;
    (D) Academic standing in relation to the English proficient peers 
of those children and youth; and
    (E) If applicable, the recency of immigration.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7426(g)(1)(A))

    (3) Quality of the project design. (15 points) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. 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 design of the proposed project is 
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 
population or other identified needs.
    (iii) 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. (Authority: 34 CFR 
75.210(c)(2)(i), (ii), and (xviii))
    (4) Project activities. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine--
    (i) How well the proposed project will improve the education of 
limited English proficient students and their families by carrying out 
some or all of the following authorized activities:
    (A) Implementing family education programs and parent outreach and 
training activities designed to assist parents to become active 
participants in the education of their children.
    (B) Improving the instructional program for limited English 
proficient students by identifying, acquiring, and upgrading 
curriculum, instructional materials, educational software, and 
assessment procedures, and, if appropriate, applying educational 
technology.
    (C) Compensating personnel, including teacher aides who have been 
specifically trained, or are being trained, to provide services to 
children and youth of limited English proficiency.
    (D) Providing training for personnel participating in or preparing 
to participate in the program that will assist that personnel in 
meeting State and local certification requirements and, to the extent 
possible, obtaining college or university credit.
    (E) Providing tutorials and academic or career counseling for 
children and youth of limited English proficiency.
    (F) Providing intensified instruction.
    (ii) The degree to which the program for which assistance is sought 
involves the collaborative efforts of institutions of higher education, 
community-based organizations, and the appropriate local and State 
educational agency or businesses; and
    (iii) How well the proposed project provides for utilization of the 
State and national dissemination sources for program design and in 
dissemination of results and products. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 
7424(b)(3); 7426(h)(6) and (i)(4)-(5))
    (5) Quality of the management plan. (10 points) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project. 
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 other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate 
to meet the objectives of the proposed project. (Authority: 34 CFR 
75.210(g)(1) and (2)(i) and (iv))
    (6) Quality of project personnel. (5 points) (i) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed 
project.
    (ii) 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.
    (iii) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (A) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director.
    (B) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel. (Authority: 34 CFR 75.210(e)(1)-(3)(i) and 
(ii))
    (7) Language skills of personnel. (3 points) The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine how well the proposed project meets the 
following requirements:
    (i) The program will use qualified personnel, including personnel 
who are

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proficient in the language or languages used for instruction.
    (ii) The applicant will employ teachers in the proposed program 
who, individually or in combination, are proficient in English, 
including written, as well as oral, communication skills. (Authority: 
20 U.S.C. 7426(g)(1)(E) and (h)(1))
    (8) Adequacy of resources. (4 points) The Secretary considers the 
adequacy of resources for the proposed project. 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.

(Authority: 34 CFR 75.210(f)(1) and (2)(iii)-(iv))

    (9) Integration of project funds. (3 points) The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine how well funds received under this 
program will be integrated with all other Federal, State, local, and 
private resources that may be used to serve children and youth of 
limited English proficiency.
(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7426(g)(2)(A)(iii))

    (10) Evaluation plan. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine how well the proposed project's evaluation 
will meet the following requirements:
    (i) Student evaluation and assessment procedures must be valid, 
reliable, and fair for limited English proficient students.
    (ii) The evaluation must include--
    (A) How students are achieving the State student performance 
standards, if any, including data comparing children and youth of 
limited English proficiency with nonlimited English proficient children 
and youth with regard to school retention, academic achievement, and 
gains in English (and, if applicable, native language) proficiency;
    (B) Program implementation indicators that provide information for 
informing and improving program management and effectiveness, including 
data on appropriateness of curriculum in relationship to grade and 
course requirements, appropriateness of program management, 
appropriateness of the program's staff professional development, and 
appropriateness of the language of instruction; and
    (C) Program context indicators that describe the relationship of 
the activities funded under the grant to the overall school program and 
other Federal, State, or local programs serving children and youth of 
limited English proficiency.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7426(h)(3) and 7433(c)(1)-(3))

    (11) Commitment and capacity building. (5 points) The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine how well the proposed project 
meets the following requirements:
    (i) The proposed project must contribute toward building the 
capacity of the applicant to provide a program on a regular basis, 
similar to that proposed for assistance, that will be of sufficient 
size, scope, and quality to promise significant improvement in the 
education of students of limited English proficiency.
    (ii) The applicant will have the resources and commitment to 
continue the program when assistance under this program is reduced or 
no longer available.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7426(h)(5))

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.
    One of the objectives of the Executive order is to foster an 
intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism. The 
Executive order relies on processes developed by State and local 
governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal financial 
assistance.
    If you are an applicant, you must contact the appropriate State 
Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to find out about, and to comply with, 
the State's process under Executive order 12372. If you propose to 
perform activities in more than one State, you should immediately 
contact the SPOC 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 SPOC, see the list in the appendix to 
this application notice; or you may view the latest official SPOC list 
on the Web site of the Office of Management and Budget 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 
SPOC and any comments from State, areawide, regional, and local 
entities must be mailed or hand-delivered by the date indicated in this 
application notice to the following address: The Secretary, E.O. 
12372--CFDA# 84.290U, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland 
Avenue, SW., Room 7E200, Washington, DC 20202-0125.
    We will determine proof of mailing under 34 CFR 75.102 (Deadline 
date for applications). Recommendations or comments may be hand-
delivered until 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) on the date indicated 
in this notice.
    Please note that the above address is not the same address as the 
one to which an applicant submits its completed application. do not 
send applications to the above address.

Instructions for Transmittal of Applications

    Note: Some of the procedures in these instructions for 
transmitting applications differ from those in the Education 
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) (34 CFR 
75.102). Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the 
Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to 
comment on proposed regulations. However, these amendments make 
procedural changes only and do not establish new substantive policy. 
Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), the Secretary has determined 
that proposed rulemaking is not required.

Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications

    The U.S. Department of Education is expanding its pilot project of 
electronic submission of applications to include certain formula grant 
programs, as well as additional discretionary grant competitions. The 
Bilingual Education Comprehensive School Grants Program (CFDA No. 
84.290U) is one of the programs included in the pilot project. If you 
are an applicant under the Bilingual Education Comprehensive School 
Grants Program, you may submit your application to us in either 
electronic or paper format.
    The pilot project involves the use of the Electronic Grant 
Application System (e-APPLICATION, formerly e-GAPS) portion of the 
Grant Administration and Payment System (GAPS). We request your 
participation in this pilot project. We shall continue to evaluate its 
success and solicit suggestions for improvement.
    If you participate in this e-APPLICATION pilot, please note the 
following:
     Your participation is voluntary.
     You will not receive any additional point value or penalty 
because you submit a grant application in electronic or paper format.

[[Page 19440]]

     You can submit all documents electronically, including the 
Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424), Budget 
Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary 
assurances and certifications.
     Fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal Education 
Assistance (ED 424) after following these steps:
    1. Print ED 424 from the e-APPLICATION system.
    2. Make sure that the institution's Authorizing Representative 
signs this form.
    3. Before faxing this form, submit your electronic application via 
the e-APPLICATION system. You will receive an automatic 
acknowledgement, which will include a PR/Award number (an identifying 
number unique to your application).
    4. Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of ED 
424.
    5. Fax ED 424 to the Application Control Center within three 
working days of submitting your electronic application. We will 
indicate a fax number in e-APPLICATION at the time of your submission.
     We may request that you give us original signatures on all 
other forms at a later date.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Bilingual 
Education Comprehensive School Grants Program at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    We have included additional information about the e-APPLICATION 
pilot project (see Parity Guidelines between Paper and Electronic 
Applications) elsewhere in this notice.
    If you want to apply for a grant and be considered for funding, you 
must meet the following deadline requirements.
(A) If You Send Your Application by Mail
    You must 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 No. 84.290U, Washington, DC 20202-4725.
    You 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.
    If you mail an application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
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.
(B) If You Deliver Your Application by Hand
    You or your courier must hand-deliver the original and two copies 
of the application by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) on or before the 
deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control 
Center, Attention: CFDA No. 84.290U, Room 3633, Regional Office 
Building 3, 7th and D Streets, SW., Washington, DC.
    The Application Control Center accepts application deliveries daily 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time), except 
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. The Center accepts 
application deliveries through the D Street entrance only. A person 
delivering an application must show identification to enter the 
building.
(C) If You Submit Your Application Electronically
    You must submit your grant application through the Internet using 
the software provided on the e-Grants Web site (http://e-grants.ed.gov) 
by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) on the deadline date.
    The regular hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site are 6:00 
a.m. until 12:00 midnight (Washington, DC time) Monday--Friday and 6:00 
a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Saturdays. The system is unavailable on the second 
Saturday of every month, Sundays, and Federal holidays. Please note 
that on Wednesdays the Web site is closed for maintenance at 7:00 p.m. 
(Washington, DC time).


    Notes: (1) The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a 
dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with 
your local post office.
    (2) If you send your application by mail or deliver it by hand 
or by a courier service, the Application Control Center will mail a 
Grant Application Receipt Acknowledgment to you. If you do not 
receive the notification of application receipt within 15 days from 
the date of mailing the application, you should call the U.S. 
Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 708-
9493.
    (3) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by 
the Department--in Item 4 of the Application for Federal Education 
Assistance (ED 424; revised November 12, 1999) the CFDA number--and 
suffix letter, if any--of the competition under which you are 
submitting your application.
    (4) If you submit your application through the Internet via the 
e-Grants Web site, you will receive an automatic acknowledgment when 
we receive your application.

Application Instructions and Forms

    The appendix to this application notice contains the following 
forms and instructions, including a statement regarding estimated 
public reporting burden, a checklist for applicants, a notice to 
applicants regarding compliance with section 427 of the General 
Education Provisions Act (GEPA), and various assurances, 
certifications, and required documentation:
    a. Estimated Burden Statement.
    b. Application Instructions.
    c. Checklist for Applicants.
    d. Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424) and 
Instructions.
    e. Group Application Certification.
    f. Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524) and 
Instructions.
    g. Student Data.
    h. Project Documentation.
    i. Program Assurances.
    j. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B) and 
Instructions.
    k. Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and 
Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED 
80-0013) and Instructions.
    l. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and 
Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions (ED 80-0014) and 
Instructions.
    m. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL) and 
Instructions.
    n. Notice to All Applicants (GEPA Requirement) (OMB No. 1801-0004).
    o. List of Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities.
    p. List of State Single Points of Contact.
    An applicant may submit information on a photostatic copy of the 
application forms, assurances, and certifications. However, if an 
application is submitted in conventional paper form, one copy of the 
application forms, assurances, and certifications must have an original 
signature.
    All applicants submitting their applications in conventional paper 
form 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 complete application has been received.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margarita Ackley, Lorena Dickerson, or 
Jessica Knight, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,

[[Page 19441]]

Room 5086, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-6510. Telephone: 
Margarita Ackley (202) 205-0506, Lorena Dickerson (202) 205-9044, 
Jessica Knight (202) 205-0706. E-mail: [email protected]; 
[email protected]; [email protected].
    Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Washington, DC time), Monday through Friday.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this notice in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to one of the contact persons listed above. 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 the following site: 
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister.
    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at the preceding site. 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, 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. 7424.

    Dated: April 10, 2001.
Art Love,
Acting Director, Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages 
Affairs.

Appendix--Estimated 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. 1885-0535 (Exp. 12/31/2001). The time 
required to complete this information collection is estimated to 
average 120 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

Parity Guidelines Between Paper and Electronic Applications

    The Department of Education is expanding the pilot project, which 
began in FY 2000, that allows applicants to use an Internet-based 
electronic system for submitting applications. This competition is 
among those that have an electronic submission option available to all 
applicants. The system, called e-APPLICATION, formerly e-GAPS 
(Electronic Grant Application Package System), allows an applicant to 
submit a grant application to us electronically, using a current 
version of the applicant's Internet browser. To see e-APPLICATION visit 
the following address: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    In an effort to ensure parity and a similar look between 
applications transmitted electronically and applications submitted in 
conventional paper form, e-APPLICATION has an impact on all applicants 
under this competition.
    Users of e-APPLICATION, a data driven system, will be entering data 
on-line while completing their applications. This will be more 
interactive than just e-mailing a soft copy of a grant application to 
us. If you participate in this voluntary pilot project by submitting an 
application electronically, the data you enter on-line will go into a 
database and ultimately will be accessible in electronic form to our 
reviewers.
    This pilot project is another step in the Department's transition 
to an electronic grant award process. In addition to e-APPLICATION, the 
Department is conducting a limited pilot of electronic peer review (e-
READER) and electronic annual performance reporting (e-REPORTS).
    To help ensure parity and a similar look between electronic and 
paper copies of grant applications, we are asking each applicant that 
submits a paper application to adhere to the following guidelines:
     Submit your application on 8\1/2\" by 11" paper.
     Leave a 1-inch margin on all sides.
     Use consistent font throughout your document. You may also 
use boldface type, underlining, and italics. However, please do not use 
colored text.
     Please use black and white, also, for illustrations, 
including charts, tables, graphs, and pictures.
     For the narrative component, your application should 
consist of the number and the heading of each selection criterion 
followed by the narrative. The heading of the selection criterion, if 
included, does not count against any page limitation.
     Place a page number at the bottom right of each page of 
the narrative component, beginning with 1; and number your pages 
consecutively throughout the narrative component.

Abstract

    The narrative component should be preceded by a one-page abstract 
that includes a short description of the population to be served by the 
project, project objectives, and planned project activities.

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. Do not include bibliographies, letters 
of support, or appendices in your application.

GPRA Program Performance Indicators

    The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 directs 
Federal agencies to improve the effectiveness of their programs by 
setting outcome-related goals for programs and measuring program 
results against those goals. One of the steps taken by the U.S. 
Department of Education to implement this Act is to ask its grantees to 
report annually their progress toward meeting the objectives of their 
projects in relation to the GPRA program performance indicators. 
Therefore applicants for new grants should ensure that the project 
goals and objectives they propose in the narrative component of their 
applications include outcome-oriented performance goals and objectives 
that are measurable and reportable in relation to the GPRA performance 
indicators for the particular program under which they are seeking 
Federal assistance.
    Applicants under the Bilingual Education Comprehensive School

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Grants Program should, in devising project goals and objectives, take 
into account the following GPRA performance indicators:
     English proficiency: Students in the project will annually 
demonstrate continuous and educationally significant progress on oral 
and written English proficiency measures. Target: 75 percent of project 
students will make gains in oral and written English proficiency.
     Other academic achievement: Students in the project will 
annually demonstrate continuous and educationally significant progress 
on appropriate academic achievement measures of language arts, reading, 
and mathematics. Target: 75 percent of project students will make gains 
in academic achievement in language arts, reading, and mathematics.
     Students exiting programs: Students in Title VII projects 
who have received bilingual education/ESL services continuously since 
first grade will exit those projects in three years. This GPRA program 
performance indicator applies to students in transitional bilingual 
education projects or special alternative instruction projects. The 
indicator also applies to students in dual language education projects 
to the extent that those projects must assist the participating 
students to become proficient in English, but the participating 
students do not need to exit the projects in three years.
     Teacher training: The number of teachers in Title VII 
Comprehensive School projects who receive quality professional 
development in the instruction of limited English proficient students 
will increase each year by 20 percent.

Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community Priority

    Applicants that wish to be considered under the competitive 
priority for Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities, as specified 
in a previous section of this notice, should identify in Section D of 
the Project Documentation Form the applicable Empowerment Zone or 
Enterprise Community. The application narrative should describe the 
extent to which the proposed project will contribute to systemic 
educational reform in the particular Empowerment Zone or Enterprise 
Community and be an integral part of the Zone's or Community's 
comprehensive revitalization strategies. A list of areas that have been 
designated as Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities is provided 
at the end of this notice and is also available on the Internet at the 
following site: http://www.ezec.gov.

Table of Contents

    The application should include a table of contents listing the 
various parts of the narrative in the order of the selection criteria. 
The table should include the page numbers where the parts of the 
narrative are found.

Budget

    A separate budget summary and cost itemization must be provided on 
the Budget Information Form (ED 524) and in the itemized budget for 
each project year. Budget line items should be directly related to the 
activities that are proposed to achieve the goals and objectives of the 
project.

Submission of Application to State Educational Agency

    Section 7116(a)(2) of the authorizing statute (Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Improving America's 
Schools Act of 1994, Pub. L. 103-382) requires all applicants except 
schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to submit a copy of 
their application to their State educational agency (SEA) for review 
and comment (20 U.S.C. 7426(a)(2)). This requirement applies both to 
applicants that submit their application to the U.S. Department of 
Education electronically and to applicants that submit their 
application in conventional paper form. Section 75.156 of the Education 
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) requires 
applicants to submit their application to the SEA on or before the 
deadline date for submitting the application to the U.S. Department of 
Education. This section of EDGAR also requires applicants to attach to 
the application they submit to the U.S. Department of Education a copy 
of their letter that requests the SEA to comment on the application (34 
CFR 75.156). This letter should be attached to the Project 
Documentation Form contained in this application package. APPLICANTS 
THAT DO NOT SUBMIT A COPY OF THEIR APPLICATION TO THEIR STATE 
EDUCATIONAL AGENCY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE STATUTORY AND REGULATORY 
REQUIREMENTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING.

Continued Eligibility of Current or Prior Grantees for New Grants

    Please note that the authorizing statute for the Comprehensive 
School Program provides that entities that have received Title VII 
grants are eligible for funding under this competition only if their 
new applications propose activities that do not duplicate activities 
currently or previously funded by a Title VII grant.

Final Application Preparation

    Use the Checklist for Applicants provided below to verify that your 
application is complete. If you submit your application in conventional 
paper form, provide three copies of the application, including one copy 
with an original signature on each form that requires the signature of 
the authorized representative. Do not use elaborate bindings, 
notebooks, or covers. If you mail your application, the application 
must be postmarked by the deadline date.

Checklist for Applicants

Application Forms and Other Items

    1. Application for Federal Education Assistance Form (ED 424).
    2. Group Application Certification Form (if applicable).
    3. Budget Information Form (ED 524).
    4. Itemized budget for each project year.
    5. Student Data Form.
    6. Project Documentation Form, including:

Section A--Copy of transmittal letter to SEA (if applicable);
Section B--Documentation of consultation with nonprofit private school 
officials (if applicable);
Section C--Appropriate box checked;
Section D--Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community identified (if 
applicable).

    7. Program Assurances Form.
    8. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs Form (SF 424B).
    9. Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and 
Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements Form 
(ED 80-0013).
    10. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility 
and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions Form (ED 80-
0014) (if applicable).
    11. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Form (SF LLL).
    12. Notice to All Applicants (GEPA Requirement) (OMB No. 1801-
0004).
    13. One-page abstract.
    14. Table of contents.
    15. Application narrative (subject to page limit specifications).

Application Transmittal

    1. By mail or hand delivery: one original and two copies of the 
application to the U.S. Department of Education Application Control 
Center;

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or by electronic transmission: software provided on the e-Grants Web 
site.
    2. One copy to the appropriate State Educational Agency (if 
applicable).
    3. One copy to the appropriate State Single Point of Contact (if 
applicable).

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[FR Doc. 01-9293 Filed 4-13-01; 8:45 am]
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