[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 9, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62961-62963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25700]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No. 84.256]


Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Territories and 
Freely Associated States Educational Grant (T&FASEG) Program; Notice 
Inviting Applications for New Awards

    Purpose of Program: This program provides local educational 
agencies (LEAs) in the U.S. Territories (American Samoa (AS), the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CMNI), Guam (GU), and the 
Virgin Islands (VI)) and the Freely Associated States (the Federated 
States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), 
and the Republic of Palau (RP)) with financial assistance to provide 
direct educational services to assist all students with meeting 
challenging State academic standards and to carry out activities 
described in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as reauthorized 
by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), including teacher 
training, curriculum development, development or acquisition of 
instructional materials, and general school improvement and reform.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: December 9, 2002.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: January 7, 2003.
    Applications Available: October 9, 2002.
    Eligible Applicants: LEAs in AS, CNMI, GU, VI, FSM, RMI, and the 
RP.

    Note: The Freely Associated States (FSM, RMI and RP) are 
eligible for these funds only until an agreement for the extension 
of U.S. educational assistance under new Compacts of Free 
Association for those States become effective.

    Available Funds: $4,750,000.00.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $250,000-800,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $475,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 10.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.
    Supplemental Information:
    The T&FASEG program provides financial assistance to the 
Territories and Freely Associated States for programs that will enable 
students to make progress toward achieving high State academic 
standards and the high levels of educational achievement envisioned by 
the NCLB. The T&FASEG program is a supplemental resource to local 
school jurisdictions to help improve the quality of teaching and 
learning to ensure that no child is left behind. The grants may be used 
for educational purposes that are consistent with the purposes and 
programs authorized in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
(ESEA), as reauthorized by the NCLB.
    Under the T&FASEG program, the Secretary awards grants for projects 
to'
    (a) Conduct activities consistent with the purposes of the ESEA as 
reauthorized by the NCLB, including the types of activities authorized 
by ESEA--

[[Page 62962]]

    (1) Title I--Improving The Academic Achievement of the 
Disadvantaged.
    (2) Title II--Preparing, Training and Recruiting High Quality 
Teachers and Principals.
    (3) Title III--Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient 
and Immigrant Students.
    (4) Title IV--21st Century Schools.
    (5) Title V--Promoting Informed Parental Choice and Innovative 
Programs.
    (b) Provide direct educational services that assist all students 
with meeting challenging State content standards. For the purposes of 
this program, the term ``direct educational services''--
    (1) Means activities that are designed to improve student 
achievement or the quality of education; and
    (2) Includes instructional services for students and teacher 
training.

Allowable Activities

    The following illustrates some of the many types of activities that 
a grantee may conduct with funds under this program:
    [sbull] Programs based on scientifically based research that are 
designed to strengthen the knowledge and skills of elementary and 
secondary students in primarily reading, language arts and mathematics, 
but may also include science, foreign languages, civics and government, 
economics, history, and geography.
    [sbull] The establishment of professional development programs that 
provide pre-service and in-service training and give teachers, 
principals, and administrators the knowledge and skills to help 
students meet challenging State or local academic content standards and 
student academic achievement standards.
    [sbull] Programs to recruit, train, and hire highly-qualified 
teachers.
    [sbull] The planning, design, and operation of model, innovative 
schools and programs that--
    (1) Are based on scientifically based research and methods of 
teaching and learning; and
    (2) Are specially tailored to meet the educational needs of 
children in the area to be served.
    [sbull] Programs for early language, literacy, and pre-reading 
development, particularly for students from low-income families.
    [sbull] Programs for the development of curricula and instructional 
materials and the acquisition and use of instructional materials, 
including library and reference materials, academic assessments, 
reference materials, computer software and hardware for instructional 
use, and other curricular materials that are tied to high academic 
standards, that are used to improve student achievement, and that are a 
part of an overall education reform plan.
    [sbull] Programs that involve families, communities, and businesses 
in the planning and operation of educational programs for their 
children.
    [sbull] Programs to enhance student and parental choice among 
public schools, including charter schools.

    Note: The full text of the NCLBA may be found on the Internet 
at: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/ESEA02/.

    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 
82, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
    Selection Criteria: The Secretary will use the following selection 
criteria in accordance with 34 CFR 75.209-75.210 to evaluate 
applications under this competition. As provided for in the authorizing 
legislation, the Secretary, in making awards under this program, will 
take into consideration the recommendations of Pacific Resources for 
Education and Learning (PREL). PREL will use the following criteria in 
developing its recommendations, and the Secretary will use them in 
making final funding decisions.
    (a) Need for Project. (25 points.)
    (1) The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (i) The magnitude or severity of the problem to be addressed by the 
proposed project.
    (ii) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or 
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.
    (iii) The extent to which the proposed project will address the 
needs of disadvantaged and other students who are at risk of 
educational failure.
    (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 proposed project to education in the 
area to be served.
    (ii) The significance of the problems or issues to be addressed by 
the proposed project.
    (iii) 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. (25 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, 
and the extent to which they will be measured.
    (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 will be coordinated 
with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community, 
State, and Federal resources.
    (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.
    (v) The extent to which the proposed project encourages parental 
involvement.
    (vi) The extent to which performance feedback and continuous 
improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project.
    (d) 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.
    (iii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to 
the number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and 
benefits.
    (e) Quality of project personnel. (10 points.)
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the project personnel 
who will carry out the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the 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:

[[Page 62963]]

    (i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director.
    (ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of key project personnel.
    (iii) The qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of project consultants or subcontractors.
    (f) Quality of the project evaluation. (15 points.)
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be 
conducted of the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide a 
scientific basis for examining the effectiveness of project 
implementation strategies.
    (ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data.
    (g) Quality of project services. (10 points.)
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be 
provided by the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by 
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and 
sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for 
eligible project participants 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 extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or 
beneficiaries of those services.
    (ii) The likely impact of the services to be provided by the 
proposed project on the intended recipients of those services.
    (iii) The extent to which the training or professional development 
services to be provided by the proposed project are of sufficient 
quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice 
among the recipients of those services.
    (iv) The extent to which the services to be provided by the 
proposed project are focused on individuals with greatest needs.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: It is the Secretary's practice, in 
accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), to 
offer interested parties the opportunity to comment on proposed rules, 
competitive preferences and program definitions. Section 437 (d)(1) of 
the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), however, allows the 
Secretary to exempt from rulemaking requirements rules governing the 
first grant competition under a new or substantially revised program 
authority (20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1)). The Secretary, in accordance with 
section 437 (d)(1) of GEPA, has decided to forego public comment in 
order to ensure timely grant awards.
    For Applications and Further information contact: Valerie Rogers, 
U. S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 3E245, 
Washington, DC 20202-6140. Telephone (202) 260-2543.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-888-877-8339.
    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 in this section.
    Individuals with disabilities also may obtain a copy of the 
application package in 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 the previous site. If you have questions about using, call the 
U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free at 1-888-293-6498; or 
in 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. 6331.

    Dated: October 4, 2002.
Susan B. Neuman,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 02-25700 Filed 10-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P