[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 4, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5434-5438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2286]



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Part V





Department of Education





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Office of Innovation and Improvement; Overview Information; DC School 
Choice Incentive Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards 
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 23 / Wednesday, February 4, 2004 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Innovation and Improvement; Overview Information; DC 
School Choice Incentive Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New 
Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.370A.

DATES: Applications Available: February 4, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 5, 2004.
    Eligible Applicants: (a) An educational entity of the District of 
Columbia Government.
    (b) A nonprofit organization.
    (c) A consortium of nonprofit organizations.

    Note: To receive an award under this program, an applicant must 
ensure that a majority of the members of its voting board or 
governing organization are residents of the District of Columbia.

    Estimated Available Funds: $12,505,778.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $5,000,000-$12,505,778.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $6,252,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1-2.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The DC School Choice Incentive Program provides 
low-income parents residing in the District of Columbia (District) with 
expanded options for the education of their children. This program is 
part of a broader school improvement effort in the District that is 
founded on the belief that all education sectors--public schools, 
public charter schools and non-public schools--can offer quality 
education experiences for the District's students, and that those 
students who are the most economically disadvantaged have the least 
access to such experiences.
    One or more grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to 
eligible applicants to establish a scholarship program to provide 
eligible students with expanded school choice options. Students who are 
residents of the District and who come from households whose income 
does not exceed 185 percent of the poverty line are eligible to apply 
for scholarships from a grantee under this program. These scholarships 
may be used to pay the tuition and fees and transportation expenses, if 
any, to enable students to attend the participating District non-public 
elementary or secondary school of their choice.
    Priorities: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), these 
priorities are from section 306 of the DC School Choice Incentive Act 
of 2003.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2004 these priorities are 
competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we 
award up to an additional 35 points to an application, depending on how 
well the application meets these priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Eligible Students (up to 15 
points). The Secretary will give priority to applications from eligible 
entities that will most effectively give priority to eligible students 
who, in the school year preceding the school year in which the student 
would use the scholarship, attend an elementary or secondary school 
identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring under 
section 1116 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (ESEA) (20 U.S.C. 6316).
    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Financial Resources (up to 10 
points). The Secretary will give priority to applications from eligible 
entities that will most effectively target resources to students and 
families who lack the financial resources to take advantage of 
available educational options.
    Competitive Preference Priority 3--Range of Options (up to 10 
points). The Secretary will give priority to applications from eligible 
entities that will most effectively provide students and families with 
the widest range of educational options.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally offers interested 
parties the opportunity to comment on proposed selection criteria and 
other non-statutory requirements. Section 437(d)(1) of the General 
Education Provisions Act (GEPA) (20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1)), however, allows 
the Secretary to exempt from rulemaking requirements rules governing 
the first grant competition under a new or substantially revised 
program authority. This is the first competition for this program under 
the DC School Choice Incentive Act of 2003 (Act). The Secretary and the 
Mayor of the District of Columbia also have informally solicited public 
comments on this program within the District of Columbia. Additionally, 
initiating a formal notice and comment process would preclude timely 
implementation of this program for the 2004-05 school year. In order to 
ensure timely grant awards, the Secretary has decided to forego public 
comment on the selection criteria and other non-statutory requirements 
under section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. These selection criteria and other 
non-statutory requirements will apply to the FY 2004 grant competition 
only.
    Program Authority: DC School Choice Incentive Act of 2003 (Title 
III of Division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004).
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 
82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98 and 99.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants or cooperative agreements.
    Estimated Available Funds: $12,505,778.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $5,000,000-$12,505,778.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $6,252,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1-2.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants:
    (a) An educational entity of the District of Columbia Government.
    (b) A nonprofit organization.
    (c) A consortium of nonprofit organizations.

    Note: To receive an award under this program, an applicant must 
ensure that a majority of the members of its voting board or 
governing organization are residents of the District of Columbia.

    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: Application Contents. The Secretary may not approve an 
application for a grant under this program unless the application 
includes a detailed description of--
    (a) How the entity will address the priorities described in this 
notice;
    (b) How the entity will ensure that, if more eligible students seek 
admission in the scholarship program than the program can accommodate, 
eligible students will be selected for admission through a lottery that 
gives weight to students and families described in competitive 
preference priorities (1) and (2) elsewhere in this notice. This 
lottery should be designed in such a way as to maximize the number of 
students receiving scholarships by matching accepted students with 
available slots at participating schools and allow parents

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of eligible students and participating schools to participate in 
determining the appropriate school and grade-level placements for 
eligible students;
    (c) How the entity will ensure that if more participating eligible 
students seek admission to a participating school than the school can 
accommodate, participating eligible students will be selected for 
admission through a lottery. Scholarship recipients may be admitted to 
a participating school without regard to the lottery if they are 
siblings of students already admitted to, or attending, that school;
    (d) How the entity will notify parents of eligible students of the 
expanded choice opportunities provided under the program and how the 
entity will ensure that parents receive sufficient information about 
their options to allow them to make informed decisions, including, but 
not limited to, information--for each participating school--about the 
qualifications of its teachers; the educational philosophy and 
available courses and programs of the school; the achievement of the 
school's students; student expectations (such as uniforms, discipline 
policy, honor code, and required classes); and the safety and school 
environment of the school;
    (e) The activities that the entity will carry out to provide 
parents of eligible students with expanded choice opportunities through 
the awarding of scholarships;
    (f) How the entity will determine the amount that will be provided 
to parents for the tuition and fees and for transportation expenses, if 
any, including how the entity will ensure compliance with the 
requirement that the amount of any tuition or fees charged by the 
school to an eligible student participating in the program does not 
exceed the amount of tuition and fees the school customarily charges to 
students who do not participate in the program;
    (g) How the entity will seek out non-public elementary and 
secondary schools in the District to participate in the program, and 
will ensure that participating schools will meet the applicable 
requirements of the Act and provide the information needed for the 
entity to meet the reporting requirements of this program;
    (h) How the entity will ensure that participating schools are 
financially responsible and will use the funds received under this 
program effectively;
    (i) How the entity will address the renewal of scholarships to 
participating eligible students, including their continued eligibility; 
and
    (j) How the entity will consult with private schools initially and 
throughout the planning and implementation, including consultation on 
how participating schools may require eligible students to abide by any 
rules of conduct and other requirements applicable to all other 
students in a school, in order to facilitate an effective and 
successful scholarship program for both participating students and 
private schools.

    Note: An eligible entity receiving a grant under this program 
may award a scholarship, for the second or any succeeding years of a 
student's participation in the scholarship program, to a student who 
was eligible for the first year of the scholarship and comes from a 
household whose income has subsequently increased but does not 
exceed 200 percent of the poverty line.

    Additionally, an eligible entity must assure that it will comply 
with all requests regarding the evaluation carried out under section 
309 of the Act. Additional information regarding this evaluation can 
be found in the application package for this program.
    An eligible entity must be willing and able to work with other 
entities affiliated with the Federal and District governments, as 
well as other organizations that might conduct activities integral 
to the success of the program, including, as appropriate, 
incorporating and building on any preparatory work conducted by 
other interested organizations, such as outreach activities to 
families of students eligible to participate in the program and non-
public schools.

    Definitions. As used in this program:
    (a) Elementary School means an institutional day or residential 
school that provides elementary education, as determined under District 
of Columbia law.
    (b) Eligible Student means a student who--
    (1) Is a resident of the District of Columbia; and
    (2) Comes from a household whose income does not exceed 185 percent 
of the poverty line applicable to a family of the size involved.
    (c) Parent includes a legal guardian or other person standing in 
loco parentis (such as a grandparent or stepparent with whom the child 
lives, or a person who is legally responsible for the child's welfare).
    (d) Poverty Line means the poverty line (as defined by the Office 
of Management and Budget and revised annually in accordance with 
section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act) applicable to 
a family of the size involved.
    (e) Secondary School means an institutional day or residential 
school that provides secondary education, as determined under District 
of Columbia law, except that the term does not include any education 
beyond grade 12.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Iris Lane, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3C156 FB6, 
Washington, DC 20202-5961. Telephone: (202) 260-1999 or by e-mail: 
[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 a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the program contact 
person listed in this section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this program.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria and 
priorities that reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must 
limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 50 pages, using the 
following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, 
with 1''3 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 narrative budget justification; Part 
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the 
resumes, or letters of support. However, you must include all of the 
application narrative in Part III.
    Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application that--
     Exceed the page limit if you apply these 
standards; or
     Exceed the equivalent of the page limit if you 
apply other standards.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: February 4, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 5, 2004.


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    Note: We are requiring that applications for grants under this 
program be submitted electronically using the Electronic Grant 
Application System (e-Application) available through the 
Department's e-GRANTS system. For information about how to access 
the e-GRANTS system or to request a waiver of the electronic 
submission requirement, please refer to Section IV, Other Submission 
Requirements, in this notice.

    The application package for this program specifies the hours of 
operation of the e-Application Web site. If you are requesting a 
waiver of the electronic submission requirement, the dates and times 
for the transmittal of applications by mail or by hand (including a 
courier service or commercial carrier) are also in the application 
package.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.

    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for this program.
    5. Funding Restrictions: Use of Funds.
    (a) Scholarships.
    (1) A grantee must use grant funds to provide eligible students 
with scholarships to pay the tuition, fees, and transportation 
expenses, if any, to enable them to attend a participating District 
non-public elementary or secondary school of their choice. A grantee 
must ensure that the amount of any tuition or fees charged by a school 
to an eligible student participating in the program does not exceed the 
amount of tuition or fees that the school customarily charges to 
students who do not participate in the program. An entity that receives 
an award under this program will be responsible for ensuring compliance 
with this requirement by each participating school.
    (2) A grantee may award scholarships in varying amounts (subject to 
paragraph (b) of this section), with larger amounts going to eligible 
students with the greatest need.
    (b) Annual Limit on Amount of Scholarship: The amount of assistance 
provided to any eligible student by a grantee with funds received under 
this program may not exceed $7,500 for any academic year.
    (c) Administrative Expenses: A grantee may not use more than 3 
percent of the amount provided under the grant each year for the 
administrative expenses of carrying out its program.
    We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions 
in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Instructions and requirements for 
the transmittal of applications by mail or by hand (including a courier 
service or commercial carrier) are in the application package for this 
program. 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 for grants under the DC School 
Choice Incentive Program--CFDA Number 84.370A be submitted 
electronically using the e-Application available through the 
Department's e-GRANTS system. The e-GRANTS system is accessible through 
its portal page at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    If you are unable to submit an application through the e-GRANTS 
system, you may submit a written request for a waiver of the electronic 
submission requirement. In your request, you should explain the reason 
or reasons that prevent you from using the Internet to submit your 
application. Address your request to: Iris Lane, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3C156, Washington, DC 20202-
5961. Please submit your request no later than two weeks before the 
application deadline date.
    If, within two weeks of the application deadline date, you are 
unable to submit an application electronically, you must submit a paper 
application by the application deadline date in accordance with the 
transmittal instructions in the application package. The paper 
application must include a written request for a waiver documenting the 
reasons that prevented you from using the Internet to submit your 
application.
    Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications: We are 
continuing to expand our pilot project for electronic submission of 
applications to include additional formula grant programs and 
additional discretionary grant competitions. The DC School Choice 
Incentive Program--CFDA Number 84.370A is one of the programs included 
in the pilot project. If you are an applicant under the DC School 
Choice Incentive Program, you must submit your application to us in 
electronic format or receive a waiver.
    The pilot project involves the use of e-Application. If you use e-
Application, you will be entering data online while completing your 
application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant 
application to us. The data you enter online will be saved into a 
database. We shall continue to evaluate the success of e-Application 
and solicit suggestions for its improvement.
    If you participate in e-Application, please note the following:
     When you enter the e-Application system, you 
will find information about its hours of operation. We strongly 
recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to 
initiate an e-Application package.
     You will not receive additional point value 
because you submit a grant application in electronic format, nor will 
we penalize you if you submit an application in paper format.
     You may 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.
     Your e-Application must comply with any page 
limit requirements described in this notice.
     After you electronically submit your 
application, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement, which will 
include a PR/Award number (an identifying number unique to your 
application).
     Within three working days after submitting your 
electronic application, fax a signed copy of the Application for 
Federal Education Assistance (ED 424) to the Application Control Center 
after following these steps:
    1. Print ED 424 from e-Application.
    2. The institution's Authorizing Representative must sign this 
form.
    3. Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the 
hard copy signature page of the ED 424.
    4. Fax the signed ED 424 to the Application Control Center at (202) 
260-1349.
     We may request that you give us original 
signatures on other forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System 
Unavailability: If you are prevented from submitting your application 
on the application deadline date because the e-Application system is 
unavailable, we will grant you an extension of one business day in 
order to transmit your application electronically, by mail, or by hand

[[Page 5437]]

delivery. We will grant this extension if--
    1. You are a registered user of e-Application, and you have 
initiated an e-Application for this competition; and
    2. (a) The e-Application system is unavailable for 60 minutes or 
more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, 
on the application deadline date; or
    (b) The e-Application system is 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., Washington, DC time) on the 
application deadline date.
    We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability 
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to 
confirm our acknowledgement of any system unavailability, you may 
contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under For 
Further Information Contact (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-
GRANTS help desk at 1-888-336-8930.
    You may access the electronic grant application for The DC School 
Choice Incentive Program at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

V. Application Review Information

    Selection Criteria: Points awarded under these selection criteria 
are in addition to any points an applicant earns under the competitive 
preference priorities in this notice. The maximum score an application 
may receive based on the priority points and the selection criteria is 
165 points. The selection criteria for this program are as follows:
    (a) Selection of students (up to 15 points). In determining the 
quality of the applicant's plan for the selection of students to 
receive scholarships, the Secretary considers the extent to which--
    (i) The application provides a description of the lottery that 
would be used to make selections of scholarship applicants in the event 
that the scholarship program is oversubscribed and for selecting 
students to attend a participating school if more students apply to, 
and are accepted for enrollment by, that school than it can 
accommodate;
    (ii) The application provides assurances and appropriate 
documentation that the applicant, if funded, will cooperate with the 
evaluation contractor selected by the Department and the District of 
Columbia Government in planning and implementing the lottery for 
selecting program participants;
    (iii) The selection process gives priority to applicants who attend 
a District elementary or secondary school identified for school 
improvement, corrective action, or restructuring under section 1116 of 
the ESEA; and
    (iv) The selection process gives priority to applicants whose 
families lack the financial resources to take advantage of available 
educational options.
    (b) Notification of parents (up to 20 points). In determining the 
quality of the applicant's plan to notify parents about the 
scholarships, the Secretary considers the extent to which the 
application--
    (i) Describes a plan for outreach such as direct mailings, forums, 
radio, television and print advertising to inform eligible students and 
their parents about the availability of scholarships and the procedures 
for applying to the scholarship program; and
    (ii) Provides evidence that parents will receive sufficient 
information about their options to allow them to make informed 
decisions, including, but not limited to, information on each 
participating school about the qualifications of its teachers; the 
educational philosophy and available courses and programs of the 
school; the achievement of the school's students; student expectations 
(such as uniforms, discipline policy, honor code, and required 
classes); and the safety and school environment of the school.
    (c) Amount of scholarship (up to 10 points). In determining the 
quality of the applicant's plan for establishing the amount of a 
scholarship to an eligible student, the Secretary considers the extent 
to which the applicant's methods--
    (i) Provides a mechanism to award scholarships for tuition and 
fees, and transportation expenses, if any, in larger amounts to those 
eligible students with the greatest need, provided they do not exceed 
the maximum annual scholarship amount; and
    (ii) Ensure that the amount of tuition and fees charged by a 
participating school to a scholarship student under the program will 
not exceed the amount of tuition and fees that the school customarily 
charges to students who do not participate in the program.
    (d) Participating schools (up to 20 points). In determining the 
quality of the applicant's plan for identifying participating non-
public schools, the Secretary considers the extent to which the 
application--
    (i) Describes the applicant's plan to seek out non-public 
elementary and secondary schools that operate lawfully in the District, 
to participate in the program during its initial year and subsequent 
years;
    (ii) Describes how the applicant will ensure that participating 
schools will comply with the requirements of the Act and will provide 
the information needed for the applicant to meet the reporting 
requirements of the Act; and
    (iii) Describes how the applicant will ensure that participating 
schools are financially responsible and will use the funds received 
under this title effectively.
    (e) Renewal of scholarships (up to 10 points). In determining the 
quality of the applicant's plan for the renewal of scholarships, the 
Secretary considers the applicant's methods for determining the 
eligibility of participating student to continue in the program.
    (f) Quality of project personnel (up to 15 points). In determining 
the quality of the personnel of the proposed project, the Secretary 
considers the qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of the project director, other key personnel, and any 
project consultants in such areas as--
    (i) Working with schools, parents, and government officials;
    (ii) Operating a scholarship program; and
    (iii) Establishing and maintaining record-keeping requirements.
    (g) Organizational capability (up to 20 points). In determining the 
applicant's organizational capability, the Secretary considers--
    (i) The amount and quality of experience the applicant has with the 
types of activities it proposes to undertake in its application, such 
as conducting outreach, administering funds, tracking scholarships, and 
ensuring that scholarship funds are used for the payment of tuition and 
fees and transportation expenses, if any, in accordance with the Act; 
and
    (ii) The applicant's financial soundness.
    (h) Reports (up to 10 points). In determining the quality of the 
applicant's reporting plan, the Secretary considers the extent to which 
the applicant's plan for assembling the information and submitting 
activities reports, achievement reports, and reports to parents 
complies with the requirements under section 310 of the Act.
    (i) Collection of baseline data (up to 10 points). In determining 
the quality of the applicant's plan to collect baseline data, the 
Secretary considers the extent to which the applicant documents how it 
will cooperate with the evaluation contractor to collect baseline data, 
including, but not limited to, student and parent demographics and 
income,

[[Page 5438]]

parent perception of a student's current school (including safety), 
parent awareness of their choice options, contact information for 
parents, and consent forms for ongoing data collection.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN). We 
may also notify you informally.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Reporting: (a) Requirements under EDGAR. At the end of your 
project period, you must submit a final performance report, including 
financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a 
multi-year award, you must submit an annual performance report that 
provides the most current performance and financial expenditure 
information as specified by the Secretary in 34 CFR 75.118.
    (b) Requirements under the Statute. (1) Activities Reports. Each 
grantee receiving funds under this program during a year shall submit a 
report to the Secretary not later than July 30 of the following year 
regarding the activities carried out with the funds during the 
preceding year.
    (2) Achievement Reports. (i) In general. In addition to the reports 
required under paragraph (1), each grantee shall, not later than 
September 1 of the year during which the second academic year of the 
grantee's program is completed and each of the next 2 years thereafter, 
submit a report to the Secretary regarding the data collected in the 
previous 2 academic years concerning--
    (A) The academic achievement of students participating in the 
program;
    (B) The graduation and college admission rates of students who 
participate in the program, where appropriate; and
    (C) Parental satisfaction with the program.
    (ii) Prohibiting disclosure of personal information. No report 
under this subsection may contain any personally identifiable 
information.
    (3) Reports to Parent. (i) In general. Each grantee shall ensure 
that each school participating in the grantee's program under this 
program during a year reports at least once during the year to the 
parents of each of the school's students who are participating in the 
program on--
    (A) The student's academic achievement, as measured by a comparison 
with the aggregate academic achievement of other participating students 
at the student's school in the same grade or level, as appropriate, and 
the aggregate academic achievement of the student's peers at the 
student's school in the same grade or level, as appropriate; and
    (B) The safety of the school, including the incidence of school 
violence, student suspensions, and student expulsions.
    (ii) Prohibiting disclosure of personal information. No report 
under this subsection may contain any personally identifiable 
information, except as to the student who is the subject of the report 
to that student's parent.
    4. Performance Measures: The long-term performance indicator for 
this program is whether, at the end of the program, the student 
achievement gains of participants are greater than that of students in 
control or comparison groups. Data for the performance measure will be 
collected through the program evaluation.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Iris Lane, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3C156, Washington, DC 20202-
5961. Telephone: (202) 260-1999 or by e-mail: [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 program contact person listed in this 
section.

VIII. Other Information

    Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as 
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the 
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/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.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: January 30, 2004.
Nina Shokraii Rees,
Deputy Under Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 04-2286 Filed 2-3-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P