[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78761-78762]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30553]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Teaching American History Grant Program

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.215X.
AGENCY: Office of Innovation and Improvement, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of final revisions to selection criteria.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement 
announces selection criteria under the Teaching American History Grant 
(TAH) Program. The Assistant Secretary may use these selection criteria 
for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2009 and later years. We take this 
action to provide the Secretary with the flexibility to use selection 
criteria (i) Established for the TAH Program in the notice of final 
selection criteria and other application requirements, published in the 
Federal Register on April 15, 2005 (70 FR 19939) (2005 Notice); (ii) 
from the menu of general selection criteria in the Education Department 
General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR 75.210; (iii) 
based on statutory provisions in accordance with 34 CFR 75.209; or (iv) 
from any combination of (i) through (iii) for competitions in fiscal 
year (FY) 2009 and in subsequent years. We intend that this choice of 
selection criteria will provide greater flexibility to evaluate TAH 
Program applications.

DATES: Effective Date: These final revisions to selection criteria are 
effective January 22, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mia D. Howerton, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4W212, Washington, DC 20202-
5960. Telephone: (202) 205-0147 or by e-mail: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the 
Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Purpose of Program: The TAH Program is authorized under Title II, 
Part C, Subpart 4 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The goal of 
the TAH Program is to support activities that raise student achievement 
by improving teachers' knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of 
American history.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6721.
    We published a notice of proposed revisions to selection criteria 
for this program in the Federal Register on October 29, 2008 (73 FR 
64310). That notice contained background information and our reasons 
for proposing these revisions to selection criteria.
    There is only one difference between the proposed revisions to 
selection criteria and these final revisions to selection criteria.
    Public Comment: In response to our invitation in the notice of 
proposed revisions to selection criteria, two parties submitted 
comments.
    We group major issues according to subject. Generally, we do not 
address technical and other minor changes.
    Analysis of Comments and Changes: An analysis of the comments and 
of any changes in the revisions to the selection criteria since 
publication of the notice of proposed revisions to selection criteria 
follows.
    Comment: A commenter questioned what it means to expand the range 
of selection criteria.
    Discussion: Expanding the range of selection criteria means that we 
will now have a larger pool of criteria from which to select for 
competitions under the TAH Program. In prior competitions, the 
Department was limited to using only the selection criteria that was 
established for the TAH Program in the 2005 Notice. With these final 
revisions to selection criteria, the Department will be able to use the 
selection criteria established for the TAH Program in the 2005 Notice 
as well as selection criteria chosen from the menu of general selection 
criteria in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations 
(EDGAR) in 34 CFR 75.210, selection criteria based on statutory 
provisions in accordance with 34 CFR 75.209, or selection criteria from 
any combination of these for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2009 and 
in subsequent years.
    Changes: None.
    Comment: A commenter questioned whether the selection criteria and 
the point value assigned to each criterion would remain constant from 
year to year.
    Discussion: The selection criteria for the TAH Program and the 
point value for each criterion (as well as the maximum number of points 
assigned to all selection criteria used for a competition) may change 
each year depending on the needs of the program. We will announce the 
maximum possible points assigned to each

[[Page 78762]]

criterion as well as the maximum possible points for all criteria in 
the notice inviting applications or the application package, or both.
    Changes: We have clarified that we will announce the maximum 
possible points for all criteria (not just the maximum possible points 
for each criterion) in the notice inviting applications or the 
application package, or both.
    Comment: A commenter questioned if the selection criteria 
established for the TAH Program in the 2005 Notice would be rescinded.
    Discussion: The selection criteria established for the TAH Program 
in the 2005 Notice will not be rescinded. Those criteria may still be 
used in a particular competition. These final revisions simply ensure 
that the Department has the flexibility to use selection criteria in 
addition to or in combination with those established for the TAH 
Program in the 2005 Notice in its competitions for FY 2009 and 
subsequent years.
    Changes: None.

Final Selection Criteria

    The Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement 
announces final revisions to the selection criteria under the Teaching 
American History Grant Program. In addition to the selection criteria 
established in the 2005 Notice, the Secretary may use any of the 
selection criteria in Sec.  75.210, criteria based on statutory 
requirements under Sec.  75.209, or any combination of these when 
establishing selection criteria for a particular TAH Program 
competition. We may apply one or more of these criteria in any year in 
which this program is in effect. In the notice inviting applications or 
the application package, or both, we will announce the maximum possible 
points assigned to each criterion as well as the maximum possible 
points for all criteria.
    This notice does not preclude us from proposing additional 
priorities, requirements, definitions, or selection criteria, subject 
to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.

    Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in 
which we choose to use one or more of these selection criterion, we 
invite applications through a notice in the Federal Register.

    Executive Order 12866: This notice 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 final regulatory 
action.
    The potential costs associated with this final regulatory action 
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 final regulatory action, we have determined 
that the benefits of the final selection criteria justify the costs.
    We have determined, also, that this final regulatory action does 
not unduly interfere with State, local, and tribal governments in the 
exercise of their governmental functions.
    We summarized the costs and benefits of this regulatory action in 
the notice of proposed revisions to selection criteria.
    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.
    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, 
audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the program contact 
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Electronic Access to This Document: You can 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: December 18, 2008.
Amanda L. Farris,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. E8-30553 Filed 12-22-08; 8:45 am]
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