[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 100 (Friday, May 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28201-28203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-13035]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No. 84.304A]


Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools--Cooperative Civic Education 
and Economic Education Exchange Program; Notice Inviting Applications 
for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003

    Purpose of Program: The Cooperative Civic Education and Economic 
Education Exchange Program provides grants to improve the quality of 
civic education through cooperative civic education exchange programs 
with emerging democracies.
    For FY 2003 the competition for new awards focuses on statutory 
requirements we describe in the Statutory Requirements section of this 
notice.
    Eligible Applicants: Organizations in the United States experienced 
in the development of curricula and programs in civics and government 
education and economic education for students in elementary schools and 
secondary schools in countries other than the United States, to carry 
out civic education activities.
    Applications Available: May 23, 2003.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 7, 2003.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: 60 days from transmittal 
deadline.
    Estimated Available Funds: $2,007,618.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $2,007,618
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $2,007,618.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $2,007,618 for a single budget period of up to 24 
months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

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

    Project Period: Up to 24 months.
    Applicable Regulations and Statute: (a) The Education Department 
General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 
79, 80, 81, 82, 85, 86 (only as it applies to institutions of higher 
education), 97, 98, and 99. (b) Education for Democracy Act, sections 
2341-2346 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended, 20 
U.S.C. 6711-6716.
    Statutory Requirements: We will award grants to eligible applicants 
to--
    (1) Provide to the participants from eligible countries--
    (A) Seminars on the basic principles of United States 
constitutional democracy, including seminars on the major governmental 
institutions and systems in the United States, and visits to such 
institutions;
    (B) Visits to school systems, institutions of higher education, and 
nonprofit organizations conducting exemplary programs in civics and 
government education in the United States;
    (C) Translations and adaptations with respect to United States 
civics and government education curricular programs for students and 
teachers, and in the case of training programs for teachers, 
translations and adaptations into forms useful in school in eligible 
countries, and joint research projects in such areas; and
    (D) Independent research and evaluation assistance to determine the 
effects of the cooperative education exchange programs on students' 
development of the knowledge, skills, and traits of character essential 
for the preservation and improvement of constitutional democracy.
    (2) Provide to the participants from the United States--
    (A) Seminars on the histories and systems of government of eligible 
countries;
    (B) Visits to school systems, institutions of higher education, and 
organizations conducting exemplary programs in civics and government 
education located in eligible countries;
    (C) Assistance from educators and scholars in eligible countries in 
the development of curricular materials on the histories and 
governments of such countries that are useful in United States 
classrooms;
    (D) Opportunities to provide onsite demonstrations of United States 
curricula and pedagogy for educational leaders in eligible countries; 
and
    (E) Independent research and evaluation assistance to determine the 
effects of the Cooperative Education Exchange Program assisted under 
this section on students' development of the knowledge, skills, and 
traits of character essential for the preservation and improvement of 
constitutional democracy.
    (3) Assist participants from eligible countries and the United 
States to participate in international conferences on civics and 
government education for educational leaders, teacher trainers, 
scholars in related disciplines, and educational policymakers.

Primary Participants

    The primary participants in the Cooperative Education Exchange 
Program assisted under this section shall be leaders in the areas of 
civics and government education, including teachers, curriculum and 
teacher training specialists, scholars in relevant disciplines, 
educational policymakers, and government and private sector leaders 
from the United States and eligible countries.
    Definition: For the purpose of this competition, the term eligible 
country means a Central European country, an Eastern European country, 
Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the independent states of the former Soviet 
Union as defined in section 3 of the FREEDOM Support Act (22 U.S.C. 
5801), the Republic of Ireland, the province of Northern Ireland in the 
United Kingdom, and any developing country (as such term is defined in 
section 209(d) of the Education for the Deaf Act) if the Secretary, 
with concurrence of the Secretary of State, determines that such 
developing country has a democratic form of government. A list of 
countries is included in the application package.

Election Criteria

    We use the following criteria to evaluate applications for new 
grant

[[Page 28202]]

awards under this competition. The maximum score for all of these 
criteria is 100 points. The maximum score of each criterion or factor 
under the criterion is indicated in parentheses.
    (1) Significance. (15 points)
    In determining the significance of the proposed project, the 
following factors are considered:
    (a) The national significance of the proposed project.
    (b) The potential contribution of the proposed project to increased 
knowledge or understanding of educational problems, issues or effective 
strategies.
    (c) The extent to which the proposed project involves the 
development or demonstration of promising new strategies that build on, 
or are alternatives to, existing strategies.
    (d) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project especially improvements in 
teaching and student achievement.
    (2) Quality of the project design. (25 points)
    In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, 
the following factors are considered:
    (a) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
    (b) 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 
activities.
    (c) The extent to which the proposed project represents an 
exceptional approach for meeting statutory purposes and requirements.
    (3) Quality of project services. (30 points)
    In determining the quality of the services to be provided by the 
proposed project, the quality and sufficiency of strategies for 
ensuring equal access and treated for eligible project participants who 
are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented 
based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability is 
considered. In addition, the following factors are considered:
    (a) 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.
    (b) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective 
practice.
    (c) 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.
    (d) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for 
maximizing the effectiveness of project services.
    (4) Quality of project personnel. (15 points)
    In determining the quality of project personnel, the following 
factors are considered:
    (a) 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.
    (b) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator.
    (c) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel.
    (d) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of project consultants or subcontractors.
    (5) Adequacy of resources. (5 points)
    In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, 
the following factors are considered:
    (a) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, 
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization.
    (b) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the 
proposed project.
    (6) Quality of the project evaluation. (10 points)
    In determining the quality of the evaluation, the following factors 
are considered:
    (a) The extent to which the methods of evaluation, are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project.
    (b) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes.
    For Applications and Further Information Contact: Rita Foy Moss, 
U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW., Room 513c, 
Washington, DC 20208-5573.Telephone: (202) 219-2027 or via Inernet 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TTD), you may 
call 1-877-576-7734.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document or an 
application package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large 
print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the program 
contact person listed at the beginning of this section. However, the 
Department is not able to reproduce in an alternative format the 
standard forms included in the application package.

Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications

    In FY 2003, the U.S. Department of Education is continuing to 
expand its pilot project of electronic submission of applications to 
include additional formula grant programs, as well as discretionary 
grant competitions. The Cooperative Civic Education and Economic 
Education Exchange Program is one of the programs included in the pilot 
project. If you are an applicant under this grant competition, 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 invite your 
participation in this pilot project. We will continue to evaluate its 
success and solicit suggestions for improvement.
    If you participate in this e-APPLICATION pilot, please note the 
following:
    [sbull] Your participation is voluntary.
    [sbull] You will not receive any additional point value or penalty 
because you submit a grant application in electronic or paper format.
    [sbull] You can submit all documents electronically, including the 
Application for Federal Assistance (ED Form 424), Budget Information--
Non-Construction Programs, (ED Form 524), and all necessary assurances 
and certifications.
    [sbull] Within three working days of submitting your electronic 
application, fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal 
Assistance (ED Form 424) to the Application Control Center following 
these steps:
    1. Printed ED Form 424 from the e-APPLICATION system.
    2. Make sure that the applicant's Authorizing Representative signs 
this form.
    3. Before faxing this form, submit your electronic application via 
the e-APPLICATION system. You will receive 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 corner of ED Form 
424.

[[Page 28203]]

    5. Fax ED Form 424 to the Application Control Center within three 
business days of submitting your electronic application at (202) 260-
1349.
    6. We may request that you give us original signatures on all other 
forms at a later date.
    7. Closing Date Extension in the Case of System Unavailability: If 
you elect to participate in the e-Application pilot for the Cooperative 
Civic Education and Economic Education Exchange Program and you are 
prevented from submitting your application on the closing date because 
the e-Application system is unavailable, we will grant you an extension 
of one business day in order to transmit your application via e-
Application, by mail, or by hand delivery. For use to grant this 
extension:
    (1) You must be a registered user of e-Applications, and have 
initiated an e-Application for this competition; and
    (2)(a) The e-Application system must be unavailable for 60 minutes 
or more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. (ET), on the 
deadline date; or
    (b) The e-Application system must be unavailable for any period of 
time during the last hour of operation (that is, for any period of time 
between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (ET)) on the deadline date. The 
Department must acknowledge and confirm the period of unavailability 
before granting you an extension. To request this extension you must 
contact Rita Foy Moss by e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at 
(202) 219-2077 or the e-Grants help desk at (888) 336-8930.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Cooperative 
Civic Education and Economic Education Exchange Program at: http:/e-grants.ed.gov.
    We have included additional information on the e-Application pilot 
project (see Parity Guidelines between Paper and Electronic 
Applications) in the application package.
    If you want to apply for a grant and be considered for funding, you 
must meet the deadline requirements included in this 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 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. 6711-6716.


    Dated: May 19, 2003.
Judge Eric Andell,
Deputy Under Secretary, Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools.
[FR Doc. 03-13035 Filed 5-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-M