[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48157-48159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18603]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.299B]


Indian Professional Development; Office of Elementary and 
Secondary Education, Office of Indian Education; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Discretionary Grant Program Awards for Fiscal Year 
(FY) 2002

    Purpose of Program: The purposes of this program are to (1) 
increase the number of qualified Indian individuals in professions that 
serve Indian people;

[[Page 48158]]

(2) provide training to qualified Indian individuals to become 
teachers, administrators, teacher aides, social workers, and ancillary 
educational personnel; and (3) improve the skills of qualified Indian 
individuals who serve in the capacities described in (2). Activities 
may include, but are not limited to, continuing programs, symposia, 
workshops, conferences, and direct financial support.
    For FY 2002 the competition for new awards focuses on projects 
designed to meet the priority described in the PRIORITY section of this 
application notice.
    Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants for this program are 
institutions of higher education, including Indian institutions of 
higher education; State or local educational agencies, in consortium 
with institutions of higher education; Indian tribes or organizations, 
in consortium with institutions of higher education; and Bureau-funded 
schools. An application from a consortium of eligible entities must 
meet the requirements of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129. The consortium 
agreement, signed by all parties, must be submitted with the 
application. Letters of support do not meet the consortium 
requirements.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 22, 2002.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 22, 2002.
    Applications Available: July 23, 2002.
    Available Funds: $5,000,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $300,000 to $500,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $333,333.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 15.
    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

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

    Budget Requirement: Projects funded under this competition must 
budget for a two-day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, DC 
during each year of the project.
    Maximum Annual Award Amount: In no case does the Secretary make an 
award greater than $500,000 for a single budget period of 12 months for 
the first 24 months of the award period. The last 12-month budget 
period of a 36-month award will be limited to induction services only 
at a cost not to exceed $75,000. The Secretary rejects and does not 
consider an application that proposes a budget exceeding these maximum 
amounts.
    Page Limit: The application narrative is where an applicant 
addresses the selection criteria that are used by reviewers in 
evaluating the application. An applicant must limit the narrative to 
the equivalent of no more than 75 double-spaced pages, using the 
following standards:
    (1) A ``page'' is 8\1/2\'' x 11'' (one side only) with one-inch 
margins (top, bottom and sides).
    (2) 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, must be double-spaced 
(no more than three lines per vertical inch).
    (3) For all text (including charts, tables, 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 the cover sheet; the budget 
section (including the narrative budget justification); the assurances 
and certifications; or the one-page abstract, appendices, resumes, 
bibliography, and letters of support. However, all of the application 
narrative addressing the selection criteria must be included in the 
narrative section.
    Reviewers will not read any pages of applications that--
     Exceed the page limit if one applies these standards; or
     Exceed the equivalent of the page limit if one applies 
other standards.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 85, and 86; and (b) 34 CFR part 263, Professional Development 
Program.

Absolute Priority

    Under Section 34 CFR 75.102 of EDGAR, the Secretary gives an 
absolute preference to applications that meet the priority selected. 
The program regulations at 34 CFR 263.5(c) identifies the absolute 
priorities for the Professional Development that may be selected by the 
Secretary. For the FY 2002 grant competition, the Secretary reserves 
all of the funds available for new awards under the Professional 
Development program to fund only those applications that meet the 
following absolute priority found at 34 CFR 263.5(c)(1):

Pre-Service Training for Teachers

    Provides support and training to Indian individuals to complete a 
pre-service education program that enables individuals to meet the 
requirements for full State certification or licensure as a teacher 
through:
    (i) Training that leads to a bachelor's degree in education before 
the end of the award period; or
    (ii) For States allowing a degree in a specific subject area, 
training that leads to a bachelor's degree in the subject area as long 
as the training meets the requirements for full State teacher 
certification or licensure; or
    (iii) Training in a current or new specialized teaching assignment 
that requires at least a bachelor's degree and in which a documented 
teacher shortage exists; and
    (iv) One year induction services after graduation, certification, 
or licensure, provided during the award period to graduates of the pre-
service program in which they are completing their first year of work 
in schools with significant Indian student populations.

    Note: In working with various institutions of higher education 
and State certification/licensure requirements, we found that States 
requiring a degree in a specific subject area (e.g., specialty areas 
or teaching at the secondary level), generally require a Master's 
degree or fifth-year requirement before an individual can be 
certified or licensed as a teacher. These students would be eligible 
to participate as long as their training meets the requirements for 
full State certification or licensure as a teacher.

Selection Criteria

    The selection criteria are included in full in the application 
package for this competition. These selection criteria are established 
in 34 CFR 263.6.
    Fiscal Information: Stipends may be paid only to full-time 
students. For the payment of stipends to project participants being 
trained, the Secretary expects to set the stipend maximum at $1,750 per 
month for full-time students and $175 allowance per month per dependent 
during the academic year. The terms ``stipend,'' ``full-time student,'' 
and ``dependent allowance'' are defined in 34 CFR 263.3.

Competitive Preference

    (1) The Secretary will award five (5) additional points to an 
application submitted by an Indian tribe, organization, or institution 
of higher education. A consortium application of eligible entities that 
meets the requirements of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 and includes an 
Indian tribe, organization or institution of higher education will be 
considered eligible to receive the five (5) additional priority points.

    Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7473.

    (2) The Secretary will award a total of five additional points to 
an application submitted by a consortium of eligible applicants that 
includes a tribal college or university and that designates that tribal 
college or university as the fiscal agency for the application. The

[[Page 48159]]

consortium application of eligible entities must meet the requirements 
of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 of EDGAR to be considered eligible to 
receive the five priority points. The consortium agreement must be 
signed by all partners and submitted with the application. Letters of 
support do not meet the consortium requirements. These competitive 
preference points are in addition to the five competitive preference 
points that may be given under Competitive Preference 1--Preference for 
Indian Applicants.
    Tribal colleges and universities are those institutions cited in 
section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 
(7 U.S.C. 301 note), any other institution that qualifies for funding 
under the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 
1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and Dine College, authorized in the 
Navajo Community College Assistance Act of 1978, Public Law 95-471, 
Title II (25 U.S.C. 640a note).

Application Procedures

    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

    In FY 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 Professional Development program, CFDA 84.299B, 
is one of the programs included in the pilot project. If you are an 
applicant under the Professional Development 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.
     You can submit all documents electronically, including the 
Application for Federal Assistance (ED 424), 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) to the Application Control Center after following these steps:
    1. Print the ED 424 form 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 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 
Professional Development 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 and Transmittal Instructions) in the application package.

    Note: Your e-APPLICATION must be submitted 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. All e-APPLICATION submissions that are attempted after that 
time on the closing date will not be accepted. Applicants that miss 
the e-APPLICATION submission time must print out their entire 
application (an original and two copies) and transmit hard copies of 
the application, following the transmittal procedures for mail or 
hand delivery, not later than midnight of the closing date.

    FOR APPLICATIONS CONTACT: Education Publications Center (ED Pubs), 
P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll free): 1-877-433-
7827. FAX: (301) 470-1244. If you use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD), you may call (toll free): 1-877-576-7734. You may also 
contact ED Pubs via its Web site (http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html) 
or its E-mail address ([email protected]). If you request an 
application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this competition as 
follows: CFDA number 84.299B.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format by contacting the Grants and Contracts 
Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
room 3317, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: 
(202) 205-8351. However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an 
alternative format the standard forms included in the application 
package.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cathie Martin, Office of Indian 
Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 
3W115, Washington, DC 20202-6335. Telephone: (202) 260-3774. Internet 
address: [email protected].
    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 contact person listed.

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.
    You may also view this document at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/oie/index.html.

    Note: The official version of this document is 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. 7442.

    Dated: July 18, 2002.
Susan B. Neuman,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 02-18603 Filed 7-22-02; 8:45 am]
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