[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 72 (Friday, April 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19939-19942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7598]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Teaching American History

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

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

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement 
announces selection criteria and other application requirements for the 
Teaching American History program. We may use these selection criteria 
and other application requirements for competitions in fiscal

[[Page 19940]]

year (FY) 2005 and later years. We take this action 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. We 
intend these selection criteria and other application requirements to 
provide a description of the goals and objectives of the Teaching 
American History program so that applicants will describe clear and 
specific means by which they will achieve those goals and objectives.

DATES: Effective Date: These selection criteria and other application 
requirements are effective May 16, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex Stein, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4W218, Washington, DC 20202-
5910. Telephone: (202) 205-9085 or via Internet: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device 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: The Teaching American History (TAH) program 
is authorized by Title II, Part C, Subpart 4 of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965, as reauthorized by the No Child Left 
Behind Act of 2001 (ESEA). TAH grants support projects to raise student 
achievement by improving teachers' knowledge, understanding, and 
appreciation of traditional American history. This notice is intended 
to ensure that the TAH program is using the highest-quality selection 
criteria, so that the program in turn receives the highest-quality 
grant applications.
    We published a notice of proposed selection criteria and other 
application requirements for this program in the Federal Register on 
January 14, 2005 (70 FR 2625). The notice of proposed selection 
criteria and other application requirements included a discussion of 
the significant issues and analysis used in the determination of the 
selection criteria and other application requirements. (See pages 2625 
through 2626 of that notice).
    No significant changes were made to these final selection criteria 
and other application requirements, but we have added language to 
provide better clarity and facilitate better understanding of the 
intent of the selection criteria.

Analysis of Comments and Changes

    In response to our invitation in the notice of proposed selection 
criteria and other application requirements, 10 parties submitted 
comments. An analysis of the comments we received and our responses 
follows.
    We discuss substantive issues under the title of the selection 
criteria and other application requirements to which they pertain. 
Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes--and 
suggested changes that we are not authorized to make under the 
applicable statutory authority. Please note, however, that we did make 
a minor change to the Funding section in which we eliminated minimum 
funding levels for each LEA category and changed the name of that 
section to Maximum Awards.

A. Proposed Selection Criteria

    Comment: One commenter praised the Department, stating that the 
proposed selection criteria made clearer what the Department considered 
important in a grant proposal and that the criteria would be a good 
improvement over the application notices issued in past years.
    Discussion: We agree with this comment.
    Change: None.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that the Department delete the 
language from criterion (1) Project Quality, paragraph (a), ``including 
the implementation of activities,'' and paragraphs (i) and (ii), 
stating that the addition of this language focuses reviewer attention 
on instruction and away from carefully examining history content.
    Discussion: We agree that an emphasis on history content is primary 
to the TAH program and that the language cited by the commenter might 
distract reviewers from carefully examining history content.
    Change: We have deleted the language and paragraphs cited by the 
commenter.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that the Department move paragraph 
1(c) under selection criterion, Project Quality, to the selection 
criterion, Significance.
    Discussion: We agree that this paragraph should be placed under the 
Significance criterion because it emphasizes teaching strategies.
    Change: We have moved this paragraph from the Project Quality 
criterion to the Significance criterion.
    Comment: Three commenters recommended that one sentence in 
paragraph 1(b) under the Project Quality criterion, which relates to 
the ways in which American history will be covered by the grant, be 
changed to emphasize TAH's goal of implementing high-quality American 
history scholarship. Specifically, the comments suggested that we 
change the sentence to read as follows: ``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, emphasizing, where relevant, their 
postsecondary teaching experience and scholarship in subject areas 
relevant to the teaching of traditional American history.''
    Discussion: We agree that the addition of a phrase about 
emphasizing experience and scholarship in traditional American history 
is important. We also believe that the sentence with the addition of 
the suggested phrase expresses a realistic and powerful view of 
traditional American history.
    Change: We have added a phrase to paragraph 1(b) in the Project 
Quality criterion that emphasizes that those who provide professional 
development to participating teachers in the TAH program should possess 
experience and scholarship relevant to American History.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that the Department delete the 
phrase ``and locally implement services'' from criterion (2), 
Significance. This suggestion is based on the commenter's view that it 
is not necessary that all services be delivered locally, given that 
summer institutes and other professional development services may be 
held some distance from the schools in which teachers work.
    Discussion: We agree that all services need not be delivered 
locally and that high-quality professional development can be delivered 
at some distance from schools and school districts.
    Change: We have deleted the phrase from the selection criterion.

B. Proposed Application Requirements

    Comment: Three commenters suggested that the Department provide 
information on whether school district

[[Page 19941]]

consortia may be formed to apply for grant funds, so that an applicant 
may be eligible for a larger award.
    Discussion: We agree with the need to provide clarification of this 
issue.
    Change: We have revised the language on funding by adding a 
sentence to the Maximum Awards section indicating that schools may form 
consortia when applying.
    Comment: Five commenters suggested that the Department delete the 
funding provision that limits school districts with student enrollment 
under 20,000 to a grant of $500,000.
    Discussion: With the change to allow school districts to form 
consortia and to pool their enrollments, there should be no obstacle to 
small districts joining together to apply for this grant as consortium 
members in order to receive a larger grant. For districts with a 
student enrollment of less than 20,000 students that choose to apply 
for the grant on their own, a three-year grant of $500,000 should be 
adequate for addressing the professional development needs of their 
U.S. history teachers, and would be proportionate to the number of 
teachers likely to be served.
    Change: None.

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

Selection Criteria

    The Secretary uses 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.
    (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, 
emphasizing, where relevant, their postsecondary teaching experience 
and scholarship in subject areas relevant to the teaching of 
traditional American history. The applicant may also attach curriculum 
vitae for individuals who will provide the content training to the 
teachers.
    (c) 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.
    (d) The applicant's rationale for selecting the partner(s) 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 
local capacity 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.
    (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.


    Note: In meeting this criterion, the Secretary encourages the 
applicant to include a description of its commitment to build local 
capacity by primarily serving teachers in its LEA or consortium of 
LEAs. The Secretary also 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 U.S. 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

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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.

Maximum Awards

    (1) Total funding for a three-year project period is a maximum of: 
$500,000 for LEAs with enrollments of less than 20,000 students; 
$1,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments of 20,000-300,000 students; and 
$2,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments above 300,000 students. LEAs may 
form consortia and combine their enrollments in order to receive a 
grant reflective of their combined enrollment. For districts applying 
jointly as a consortium, the maximum award is based on the combined 
enrollment of the individual districts in the consortium. If more than 
one LEA wishes to form a consortium, they must follow the procedures 
for group applications described in 34 CFR 75.127 through 34 CFR 75.129 
of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations.
    (2) A maximum of one grant will be awarded per applicant per 
competition.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice of final 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 final 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 final selection criteria and other 
application requirements, we have determined that the benefits of the 
final selection criteria and other application requirements justify the 
costs.
    We also have determined that this regulatory action does not unduly 
interfere with State, local, and tribal governments in the exercise of 
their governmental functions.
    We fully discussed the costs and benefits in the notice of proposed 
selection criteria and other application requirements.

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 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.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.215X Teaching 
American History Program)

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

    Dated: April 12, 2005.
Michael J. Petrilli,
Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 05-7598 Filed 4-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P