[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 17, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47220-47222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18030]



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Part VI





Department of Education





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Office of Educational Research and Improvement; Fund for the 
Improvement of Education--Ready To Teach; Digital Educational 
Programming; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2002; Notices

  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 17, 2002 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No. 84.286B]


Office of Educational Research and Improvement; Fund for the 
Improvement of Education--Ready To Teach: Digital Educational 
Programming; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2002

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to support 
grants to eligible entities to enable them to develop, produce, and 
distribute innovative educational and instructional programming that is 
designed for use by elementary schools or middle schools and based on 
challenging State academic content and student academic achievement 
standards in reading or mathematics.
    For FY 2002 this competition for new awards focuses on projects 
designed to meet the priorities we describe in the Priorities section 
of this application notice.
    Eligible Applicants: An eligible applicant is a local public 
telecommunications entity, as defined in section 397(12) of the 
Communications Act of 1934, that is able to demonstrate a capacity for 
the development and distribution of educational and instructional 
television programming of high quality. Section 397(12) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 provides that:
    The term public telecommunications entity means any enterprise 
which--
    (A) Is a public broadcast station or a noncommercial 
telecommunications entity; and
    (B) Disseminates public telecommunications services to the public.
    Applications Available: July 17, 2002.
    The application package for this competition is available online 
at: http://ed.gov/GrantApps/.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 15, 2002.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 15, 2002.
    Estimated Available Funds: $2,300,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $250,000 to $2,300,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1 to 4.

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

    Project Period: 36 months.
    Budget Period: 12 months.
    Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, 
address the selection criteria that reviewers will use to evaluate your 
application. It is strongly suggested that you limit the narrative to 
the equivalent of no more than 20 pages using the following standards:
     A page is 8.5'' x 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.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger and no 
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

Priorities

    This competition focuses on projects designed to meet the following 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications 
that meet the absolute priority.

Absolute Priority

    The project shall develop, produce, and distribute digital 
instructional programming to assist teachers in implementing reading or 
mathematics instruction for students in kindergarten through grade 8. 
Programming for reading shall include the essential components of 
reading instruction as defined in Title I of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 as reauthorized by the No Child Left 
Behind Act of 2001. Programming for mathematics shall include both 
problem solving and mental computation. The programming developed shall 
include tools for classroom-based instructional assessment, which 
evaluates children's learning based on systematic observations by 
teachers of children performing academic tasks that are part of their 
daily classroom experience and is used to improve instruction. 
Applicants may choose to develop programming for certain grades rather 
than all grades between kindergarten and eighth or for certain types of 
learners, such as students with limited English proficiency, students 
with learning disabilities, or students with low levels of readiness 
for reading or mathematics, rather than all learners.

Competitive Preference

    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional 20 
points to an application, depending on how well the application meets 
the following competitive preference. These points are in addition to 
any points the application earns under the selection criteria.
    The project shall be designed to determine whether the programming 
developed with the grant funds produces meaningful effects on student 
learning. In order to do this, the project preferably employs an 
experimental design with random assignment. If random assignment is not 
feasible, the project may employ a quasi-experimental design with 
carefully matched comparison conditions. For experimental designs, 
random assignment to the ready to teach program being evaluated versus 
one or more comparison conditions should occur at the level of students 
or classrooms or schools. Alternatively, in a quasi-experimental 
design, students or classrooms or schools that are receiving the ready 
to teach program are matched with comparable students, classrooms, or 
schools that are not receiving the ready to teach program. Data from 
reliable and valid measures of reading or mathematics achievement in 
children and related instructional practices should be collected before 
and after participation in the ready to teach program or the comparison 
condition.
    Selection Criteria: We will use a peer review process to select 
eligible entities to receive grants under this program. Peer reviewers 
will use the following criteria to evaluate applications. The maximum 
score for all these criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each 
criterion is indicated in parentheses.
    (1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable. 
(20 points)
    (2) The quality of the plan for developing, producing, and 
distributing innovative educational and instructional video programming 
that is based on challenging State academic content standards and can 
be distributed through digital broadcasting and school digital 
networks. (30 points)
    (3) The extent to which the programming to be developed will 
include built-in teacher utilization and support components to ensure 
that teachers understand and can easily use the content of the 
programming with group instruction or for individual student use. (20 
points)
    (4) The extent to which the applicant will enter into multiyear 
content development collaborative arrangements with State educational 
agencies and local educational agencies. (20 points)
    (5) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance about 
effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other 
settings. (10 points)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   

Background

    Grants are awarded under this program to facilitate the development 
of

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educational programming that: (1) Includes student assessment tools to 
provide feedback on student academic achievement; (2) includes built-in 
teacher utilization and support components to ensure that teachers 
understand and can easily use the content of the programming with group 
instruction or for individual student use; (3) is created for, or 
adaptable to, challenging State academic content standards and student 
academic achievement standards; and (4) may be distributed through 
digital broadcasting and school digital networks.
    An entity that receives a grant under this program must enter into 
multiyear content development collaborative arrangements with State 
educational agencies, local educational agencies, institutions of 
higher education, businesses, or other agencies or organizations.
    To be eligible to receive a grant under this program, an entity 
must contribute to the activities assisted under such grant non-Federal 
matching funds in an amount equal to not less than 100 percent of the 
amount of the grant. Such matching funds may include funds provided for 
the transition to digital broadcasting, as well as in-kind 
contributions.
    An entity that receives a grant under this program may not use more 
than 5 percent of the amount received under the grant for 
administrative costs.

Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking

    Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), the 
Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to 
comment on proposed requirements. Section 437(d)(1) of the General 
Education Provisions Act, however, exempts from this requirement rules 
that apply to the first competition under a new or substantially 
revised program authority. This is the first competition under the Fund 
for the Improvement of Education: Ready to Teach Digital Educational 
Programming Program, which was substantially revised by the No Child 
Left Behind Act of 2001. The requirements will apply to the FY 2002 
grant competition only.

Application Procedures

    The Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) of 1998, (Pub. L. 
105-277) and the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement 
Act of 1999, (Pub. L. 106-107) encourage us to undertake initiatives to 
improve our grant processes. Enhancing the ability of individuals and 
entities to conduct business with us electronically is a major part of 
our response to these Acts. Therefore, we are taking steps to adopt the 
Internet as our chief means of conducting transactions in order to 
improve services to our customers and to simplify and expedite our 
business processes.
    We are requiring that applications to the FY 2002 Ready to Teach 
Digital Educational Programming Program be submitted electronically 
using e-Application available through the Education Department's e-
GRANTS system. The e-GRANTS system is accessible through its portal 
page at: http://www.e-grants.ed.gov.
    Applicants who are unable to submit an application through the e-
GRANTS system may apply for a waiver to the electronic submission 
requirement. To apply for a waiver, applicants must explain the 
reason(s) that prevent them from using the Internet to submit their 
applications. The reasons(s) must be outlined in a letter addressed to: 
Tawanna Coles, U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, 
NW., room 522K, Washington, DC 20208-5645. We must receive your letter 
no later than two weeks before the closing date.
    Any application that receives a waiver to the electronic submission 
requirement will be given the same consideration in the review process 
as an electronic application.

Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications

    In fiscal year 2002, the U.S. Department of Education is continuing 
to expand its pilot project of electronic submission of applications to 
include additional formula grant programs and additional discretionary 
grant competitions. The Fund for the Improvement of Education: Ready to 
Teach Digital Educational Programming Program (84.286B) is one of the 
programs included in the pilot project. If you are an applicant under 
the Ready to Teach Digital Educational Programming Program, you must 
submit your application to us in electronic format or receive a waiver.
    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 shall continue to 
evaluate its success and solicit suggestions for improvement.
    Please note the following:
     On the deadline date, the deadline time for transmitting 
applications is 4:30 p.m. Washington, DC time.
     If you wait until the deadline date to submit your 
application electronically and you are unable to access the e-
Application system, you must contact the Help Desk by 4:30 p.m. 
Washington, DC time on the deadline date.
     Keep in mind that e-Application is not operational 24 
hours a day every day of the week. Click on Hours of Web Site Operation 
for specific hours of access during the week.
     You will have access to the e-Application Help Desk for 
technical support: 1-888-336-8930 (TTY: 1-866-697-2696, local 202-401-
8363). The Help Desk hours of operation are limited to: 8 a.m. to 6 
p.m. Washington, DC time Monday through Friday.
     If you submit your application electronically by the 
transmittal date but also wish to submit a paper copy of your 
application, then you must mail the paper copy of the application on or 
before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application 
Control Center, Attention: CFDA  84.286B, 7th and D Streets, 
SW., Room 3671, Regional Office Building 3, Washington, DC 20202-4725.
     You can submit all documents electronically, including the 
Application for Federal Assistance (ED 424 Standard Face Sheet), Budget 
Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary 
assurances and certifications.
     Within three working days of submitting your electronic 
application, fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal 
Assistance (ED 424 Standard Face Sheet) to the Application Control 
Center after following these steps:
    1. Print ED 424 from the e-APPLICATION system.
    2. Make sure that the institution's Authorized 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 at 202-260-1349.
     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 Ready to 
Teach Digital Educational Programming Program at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tawanna Coles, U.S. Department of 
Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW., room 522K, Washington, DC 20208-
5645. Telephone: (202) 219-2143, FAX: 202-208-4046, or via the 
Internet: [email protected].

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    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternative format, e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette, on request to the program contact person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Individuals with disabilities also may obtain a copy of the 
application package in an alternative format by contacting that person. 
However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternative 
format the standard forms included in the application package.

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 this 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. 5484.

    Dated: July 11, 2002.
Grover J. Whitehurst,
Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 02-18030 Filed 7-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P