[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 37339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12855]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No. 84.357]


Reading First

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Notice announcing application deadline.

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SUMMARY: Under the Reading First program, we award Targeted Assistance 
Grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) that demonstrate an 
increase in student achievement in schools and districts participating 
in the Reading First program.
    As discussed elsewhere in this notice, the data that States must 
submit to demonstrate an increase in student achievement are the same 
data that States must submit in their annual performance reports for 
their Reading First State grants. We are therefore permitting States to 
apply for Targeted Assistance Grants by submitting their annual Reading 
First performance report. No separate application is required. This 
notice establishes July 30, 2005, as the deadline date for submitting 
the annual performance report to apply for a Targeted Assistance Grant.

DATES: Application Deadline: July 30, 2005.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Which SEAs Are Eligible for a Targeted Assistance Grant?

    An SEA is eligible for a Targeted Assistance Grant if it can show 
an increase in student achievement over two consecutive years. 
Therefore, an SEA's eligibility for this grant begins when the State 
has three years of student achievement data. This may include either--
    (a) Student data representing three years of school-level 
implementation of the Reading First program; or
    (b) Student data representing two years of school-level 
implementation of the Reading First program, along with baseline data 
from the year preceding implementation.
    Specifically, the SEA's application must demonstrate that an 
increasing percentage of third-grade students in the schools served by 
the LEAs that receive Reading First funds are reaching the proficient 
level in reading for each of two consecutive years in the following 
categories--
    (a) Economically disadvantaged students;
    (b) Students from each major racial and ethnic group;
    (c) Students with disabilities; and
    (d) Students with limited English proficiency.
    The SEA must also demonstrate in its application that for each of 
those two consecutive years, the schools receiving Reading First funds 
are improving the reading skills of students in grades 1, 2, and 3 
based on instructional reading assessments, and that increasing 
percentages of students in the State are reading at grade level or 
above.

Who Will Review State Applications for Targeted Assistance Grants?

    The expert review panel convened to evaluate State applications for 
Reading First State Grants will also review applications for Targeted 
Assistance Grants to determine whether the data the SEA submits 
demonstrate an increase in student achievement in schools and districts 
participating in the Reading First program.

How Is the Targeted Assistance Grant Application Submitted?

    The data that States must submit to demonstrate an increase in 
student achievement are the same data States must submit in their 
annual performance reports. Accordingly, the annual performance report 
will serve as the Targeted Assistance Grant application and States may 
apply for a Targeted Assistance Grant by submitting their annual 
performance report. The annual performance report is available and 
submitted electronically at: https://www.readingfirstapr.org. States 
should indicate that they want their data reviewed in consideration for 
a Targeted Assistance Grant by checking the appropriate box on the 
annual performance report and providing the assurances and information 
requested. In order to be considered for a Targeted Assistance Grant, 
the annual performance report must be submitted by July 30, 2005. Only 
those States that want to be considered for a Targeted Assistance Grant 
this year must submit their annual performance report by this date. All 
other States must submit their reports no later than November 30, 2005.

How Will Targeted Assistance Grants Be Awarded to Eligible States?

    The Department will award the grants to eligible SEAs based on the 
information provided in the annual performance report and a statutory 
formula for determining award amounts. The statutory formula is 
calculated based on the proportion of children aged 5 to 17 who reside 
within the State and are from families with incomes below the poverty 
line, compared to the number of children aged 5 to 17 from families 
with incomes below the poverty line who reside in all States with 
approved Targeted Assistance Grant applications for that year. Poverty 
data are drawn from the most recent fiscal year for which satisfactory 
data are available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandi Jacobs, telephone: (202) 401-
4877 or by e-mail: [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 notice 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. Electronic Access To This Document: You may view 
this document, as well as 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 version 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. 6364.

    Dated: June 23, 2005.
Raymond Simon,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 05-12855 Filed 6-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4001-01-P