[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2625-2627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-145]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Teaching American History

AGENCY: Office of Innovation and Improvement, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of proposed selection criteria and other application 
requirements.

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SUMMARY: We propose selection criteria and other application 
requirements under the Teaching American History (TAH) grant program. 
We may use these criteria and the application requirements for 
competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2005 and in later years. We take this 
action to add selection criteria and to provide more specificity with 
regard to the range of awards and the number of awards a local 
educational agency (LEA) may receive in each competition.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before February 14, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments about this proposed priority and other 
application requirements to Alex Stein, U.S. Department of Education, 
400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4W218, FOB6, Washington, DC 20202-6140. 
If you prefer to send your comments through the Internet, you may send 
them to us at the following address: [email protected].
    You must include the term ``Teaching American History'' in the 
subject line of your electronic message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex Stein. Telephone: (202) 205-9085 
or via Internet: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications devise for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) 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 under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Invitation To Comment

    We invite you to submit comments regarding these selection criteria 
and other application requirements. Also, we invite you to assist us in 
complying with the specific requirements of Executive Order 12866 and 
its overall requirement of reducing regulatory burden that might result 
from these criteria and other application requirements. Please let us 
know of any further opportunities we should take to reduce potential 
costs or increase potential benefits while preserving the effective and 
efficient administration of the program.
    During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public 
comments about these proposed selection criteria and other application 
requirements in room 4W218, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, 
between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., eastern time, Monday through 
Friday of each week except Federal holidays.

Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities in Reviewing the Rulemaking 
Record

    On request, we will supply an appropriate aid, such as a reader or 
print magnifier, to an individual with a disability who needs 
assistance to review the comments or other documents in the public 
rulemaking record for these proposed selection criteria and other 
application requirements. If you want to schedule an appointment for 
this type of aid, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

General Information

    We will announce the final selection criteria and other application 
requirements in a notice in the Federal Register. We will determine the 
final selection criteria and other application requirements after 
considering responses to this notice and other information available to 
the Department. This notice does not preclude us from proposing 
additional requirements, subject to meeting applicable rulemaking 
requirements.

    Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in 
which we choose to use these proposed selection criteria and other 
application requirements, we invite applications through a notice in 
the Federal Register.

Discussion of Proposed Selection Criteria

Background

    In the past, the selection criteria for the TAH program were taken 
directly from the program statute and the Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). Our experience with competitions, 
peer reviewers, applicants, and funded grantees demonstrates the need 
to develop selection criteria that more adequately reflect the 
qualities of successful TAH grantees. These proposed selection criteria 
would, therefore, provide the applicant with more detail and clarity 
with regard to the information that is most likely to result in a high-
quality application. Through the selection criteria, we are encouraging 
applicants to describe: (1) The specific history content to be taught 
under the grant; (2) how the professional development provided by the 
grant will improve the quality of instruction; (3) how the evaluation 
will be aligned with the project design; and (4) the importance of the 
outcomes likely to be attained through the grant. We also encourage 
applicants to explain their rationale for selecting certain partners so 
that the reviewers will have a greater understanding of the potential 
role and contribution of the partner(s) in achieving the objectives of 
the grant.
    We also encourage applicants to ensure that grant activities will 
focus on building capacity in the LEA receiving the award. Teachers in 
the LEA receiving the grant should be the primary recipients of the 
grant services, and the LEA should be actively involved in the 
administration of the grant.
    We are proposing the additional criteria so that, along with 
providing a description of the goals and objectives of the application, 
applicants will describe clear and specific means by which they will 
achieve those goals and objectives.

[[Page 2626]]

Proposed Selection Criteria

    The Secretary proposes to use the following selection criteria to 
evaluate applications under this program. The maximum score for all of 
these criteria is 100 points. In any given year we will announce the 
maximum possible score for each criterion, either in the application 
notice published in the Federal Register or in the application package.
    (1) Project quality. The Secretary considers the quality of the 
proposed project by considering--
    (a) The likelihood that the proposed project will develop, 
implement, and strengthen programs to teach traditional American 
history as a separate academic subject (not as a component of social 
studies) within elementary school and secondary school curricula, 
including the implementation of activities:
    (i) To provide professional development and teacher education 
activities with respect to traditional American history; and
    (ii) To improve the quality of instruction in traditional American 
history.
    (b) How specific traditional American history content will be 
covered by the grant (including the significant issues, episodes, and 
turning points in the history of the United States; how the words and 
deeds of individual Americans have determined the course of our Nation; 
and how the principles of freedom and democracy articulated in the 
founding documents of this nation have shaped America's struggles and 
achievements and its social, political, and legal institutions and 
relations); the format in which the project will deliver the history 
content; and the quality of the staff and consultants responsible for 
delivering these content-based professional development activities. The 
applicant may also attach curriculum vitae for individuals who will 
provide the content training to the teachers.
    (c) How teachers will use the knowledge acquired from project 
activities to improve the quality of instruction. This description may 
include plans for reviewing how teachers' lesson planning and classroom 
teaching are affected by their participation in project activities.
    (d) How well the applicant describes a plan that meets the 
statutory requirement to carry out activities under the grant in 
partnership with one or more of the following:
    (i) An institution of higher education.
    (ii) A nonprofit history or humanities organization.
    (iii) A library or museum.
    (e) The applicant's rationale for selecting the partners and its 
description of specific activities that the partner(s) will contribute 
to the grant during each year of the project. The applicant should 
include a memorandum of understanding or detailed letters of commitment 
from the partner(s) in an appendix to the application narrative.
    (2) Significance. The Secretary considers the significance of the 
proposed project. In determining the significance of the project, the 
Secretary considers--
    (a) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build the 
local capacity, and locally implement services, to improve or expand 
the LEA's ability to provide American history teachers professional 
development in traditional American history subject content and 
content-related teaching strategies.
    (b) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in 
teaching and student achievement.

    Note: In meeting this criterion, the Secretary encourages the 
applicant to include background and statistical information to 
explain the project's significance. For example, the applicant could 
include information on: The extent to which teachers in the LEA are 
not certified in history or social studies; student achievement data 
in American history; and rates of student participation in courses 
such as Advanced Placement American History.

    (3) Quality of the management plan. The Secretary considers the 
quality of the management plan for the proposed project. In determining 
the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (a) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks.
    (b) The extent to which the time commitments of the project 
director and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate 
to meet the objectives of the proposed project.
    (4) Quality of the project evaluation. The Secretary considers the 
quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project. In 
determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers:
    (a) 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 to the extent possible.
    (b) How well the evaluation plans are aligned with the project 
design explained under the Project Quality criterion.
    (c) Whether the evaluation includes benchmarks to monitor progress 
toward specific project objectives, and outcome measures to assess the 
impact on teaching and learning or other important outcomes for project 
participants.
    (d) Whether the applicant identifies the individual and/or 
organization that has agreed to serve as evaluator for the project and 
includes a description of the qualifications of that evaluator.
    (e) The extent to which the applicant indicates the following:
    (i) What types of data will be collected;
    (ii) When various types of data will be collected;
    (iii) What methods will be used to collect data;
    (iv) What data collection instruments will be developed;
    (v) How the data will be analyzed;
    (vi) When reports of results and outcomes will be available;
    (vii) How the applicant will use the information collected through 
the evaluation to monitor the progress of the funded project and to 
provide accountability information about both success at the initial 
site and effective strategies for replication in other settings; and
    (viii) How the applicant will devote an appropriate level of 
resources to project evaluation.

Discussion of Proposed Funding of Projects

Background

    The TAH program currently awards $350,000-$1,000,000 total funding 
for a project period for LEAs with enrollments of fewer than 300,000 
students; and $500,000-$2,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments above 
300,000. The proposed requirements would permit a maximum of $500,000 
for LEAs with enrollments of fewer than 20,000 students; $350,000-
$1,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments of 20,000-300,000 students; and 
$500,000-$2,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments above 300,000 students. 
As revised, the award amounts would be more proportionate to the number 
of teachers likely to be served and the number of students enrolled by 
the LEA.
    Currently there is no limit on the number of grants that may be 
awarded per LEA. The proposed requirements would permit only one award 
per LEA per competition. This will enable more LEAs to participate in 
this program.

[[Page 2627]]

Proposed Funding

    (1) Total funding for a three-year project period is a maximum or 
$500,000 for LEAs with enrollments of fewer than 20,000 students; 
$350,000-$1,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments of 20,000-300,000 
students; and $500,000-$2,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments above 
300,000 students.
    (2) A maximum of one grant will be awarded per LEA per competition.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice of proposed selection criteria and other application 
requirements has been reviewed in accordance with Executive Order 
12866. Under the terms of the order, we have assessed the potential 
costs and benefits of this regulatory action.
    The potential costs associated with the notice of proposed 
selection criteria and other application requirements are those 
resulting from statutory requirements and those we have determined as 
necessary for administering this program effectively and efficiently.
    In assessing the potential costs and benefits--both quantitative 
and qualitative--of this notice of proposed selection criteria and 
other application requirements, we have determined that the benefits of 
the proposed selection criteria and other application requirements 
justify the costs.
    We have also determined that this regulatory action does not unduly 
interfere with State, local, and tribal governments in the exercise of 
their governmental functions.
    Summary of potential costs and benefits: The potential cost 
associated with these proposed selection criteria and other application 
requirements is minimal while the benefits are significant. Grantees 
may anticipate costs with completing the application process in terms 
of staff and partner time, copying, and mailing or delivery. The use of 
E-Application technology reduces mailing and copying costs 
significantly.
    The benefit of the proposed selection criteria is that they will 
help applicants prepare higher-quality and more comprehensive 
proposals.

Intergovernmental Review

    This program is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the 
regulations in 34 CFR part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive 
order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened 
federalism. The Executive order relies on processes developed by State 
and local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal 
financial assistance.
    This document provides early notification of our specific plans and 
actions for this program.

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/news/fedregister.
    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at this site. If you have questions about 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.


    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6721-6722.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.215X)

    Dated: January 11, 2005.
Nina Shokraii Rees,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. E5-145 Filed 1-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P