Dwight D. Eisenhower National Program for Mathematics and Science EducationModel Projects in Encouraging Female and Minority Students in Mathematics and Science; Model Science-Based Professional Development Projects in Environmental Education

SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes two priorities for fiscal year 1994

under the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Program for Mathematics and

Science Education: Model projects in encouraging female and minority

students in mathematics and science, and model science-based

professional development projects in environmental education. The

Secretary expects projects to generate findings that have wide

applicability; accordingly, grantees will be expected to evaluate their

activities and disseminate information about them.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 30, 1994.

ADDRESSES: All comments concerning this proposed priority should be

addressed to Charles Stalford, U.S. Department of Education, 555 New

Jersey Avenue NW., room 500F, Washington, DC 20208-5572.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lois Weinberg or Annora Dorsey, U.S.

Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue NW., room 500,

Washington, DC 20208-5572. Telephone: (202) 219-2175. Individuals who

use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal

Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8

p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The goal of the Eisenhower National Program

is to support projects of national significance in elementary and

secondary schools in mathematics and science education designed to

improve the skills of teachers and the quality of instruction in these

areas and to increase the access of students to that instruction. The

program is authorized under title II, part A, subpart 1, section 2012

of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended.

On November 12, 1993, the Secretary announced in the Federal

Register (58 FR 60007) a proposed priority for the Eisenhower National

Program in model professional development in the use of technology for

mathematics and science instruction. Now, after considering the intent

of the Senate Report that accompanied the Fiscal Year 1994 Department

of Education Appropriations Act, the Secretary has decided to propose

two additional priorities, announced herein. These priorities will

serve (1) to encourage the interest and attainments of female and

minority students in mathematics and science and (2) to improve teacher

professional development in environmental education.

The Secretary may subsequently conduct an external study or studies

of the effectiveness and lessons learned from projects funded under

this program. If he does so, projects will be required to cooperate

with the conduct of the study, by sharing their experiences, project

evaluations, and data.

Regarding priority 1, the Secretary is concerned that the Nation's

schools encourage too few minority and female students to study and

pursue careers in the fields of mathematics and science. The Secretary

believes that the well-documented underrepresentation of minorities and

women in these disciplines represents a waste of human talent that the

Nation can ill afford. This priority would therefore support, and learn

from, projects that seek to stimulate and sustain the interest and

attainments of female and minority children in mathematics and science.

Regarding priority 2, the Secretary believes that environmental

education can stimulate students' interest in scientific fields and

enhance their understanding of these disciplines. The Secretary also

believes that environmental issues are important in their own right and

are, therefore, eminently worthy of study. The Secretary finds,

however, that environmental education programs of high quality are

available in too few of the Nation's schools, in part because American

teachers have very limited opportunities to increase their knowledge of

environmental issues and to learn the most successful means of

providing environmental education. The Secretary proposes, therefore,

to support and learn from projects in professional development for

teachers in environmental education.

The Secretary draws to the attention of potential applicants

responding to priority 2 the National Consortium for Environmental

Education and Training (NCEET) at the University of Michigan, an

undertaking funded by the Environmental Protection Agency under section

5 of the National Environmental Education Act of 1990. NCEET's primary

emphasis is professional development for teachers in environmental

education. Potential applicants should consult with NCEET to ensure

that their projects are not duplicative of the National Consortium's

efforts.

The Secretary will announce the final priorities in a notice in the

Federal Register. The final priorities will be determined by responses

to this notice, available funds, and other considerations of the

Department. Funding of particular projects depends on the availability

of funds, the nature of the final priorities, and the quality of the

applications received. The publication of these proposed priorities

does not preclude the Secretary from proposing additional priorities;

nor does it limit the Secretary to funding only these priorities,

subject to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.

Note: This notice of proposed priorities does not solicit

applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition

will be published in the Federal Register concurrently with or

following publication of the notice of final priorities.

Applications are not available at this time. However, to have your

name placed on a mailing list, please write to: Dwight D. Eisenhower

National Program for Mathematics and Science Education, 555 New Jersey

Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20208-5572, or FAX your request to:

Eisenhower Program: 202-219-2106.

Absolute Priorities

Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) the Secretary proposes to give an

absolute preference to applications that meet one of the following

priorities. Each application shall respond to only one of the two

priorities, although an applicant could submit more than one

application to respond to more than one priority. The Secretary funds

under this competition only applications that meet one of these

absolute priorities:

Proposed Priority 1--Encouraging Female and Minority Students in

Mathematics and Science

The Secretary will support model projects designed to stimulate and

sustain the interest and attainments of female and minority children in

mathematics and science.

Each project must:

(a) Make use of research and the experience of projects that have

achieved success in the area of the priority.

(b) Collaborate in the planning and operation of the project with

the State science teachers' association and/or the State mathematics

teachers' association and with at least one other party such as a

school, an educational institution, a local or state educational

agency, a national education organization, a science-technology center,

or a private sector party; with these other parties, develop plans for

continuing project activities after Federal support has ended.

(c) Evaluate lessons learned from the project and use them to

improve activities on a continuing basis.

(d) Disseminate lessons learned to interested parties.

Dissemination must begin while the project is in progress and use

electronic as well as other forms of communication.

(e) In the case of projects serving elementary and middle schools,

increase teachers' own mastery of mathematics and science in order to

increase their confidence and skill in teaching these subjects

(including skills in providing hands-on learning).

(f) Involve parents and community members as role models and/or

mentors for female and minority children.

Proposed Priority 2--Science-Based Teacher Professional Development in

Environmental Education

The Secretary will support model science-based professional

development projects designed to improve student achievement in

environmental education.

Each project must:

(a) Make use of research and the experience of projects that have

achieved success in the area of the priority.

(b) Collaborate in the planning and operation of the project with

at least two other parties such as schools, educational institutions,

local or state educational agencies, national education organizations,

science-technology centers, or private sector parties; with these other

parties, develop plans for continuing project activities after Federal

support has ended.

(c) Evaluate lessons learned from the project and use them to

improve activities on a continuing basis.

(d) Disseminate lessons learned to interested parties.

Dissemination must begin while the project is in progress and use

electronic as well as other forms of communication.

(e) Use environmental education as a means to enhance students'

interest, literacy, and achievement in science.

(f) Increase teachers' own mastery of environmental issues,

including related scientific issues.

(g) Train teachers to develop varied learning experiences for

students in environmental education that include field components and

the study of individual themes, such as ecosystems (e.g., wetlands),

the water cycle, and global climate change; enable teachers to pilot-

test these varied learning experiences with students.

Intergovernmental Review

This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order

12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. The objective of the

Executive order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a

strengthened federalism by relying on processes developed by State and

local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal

financial assistance.

In accordance with the order, this document is intended to provide

early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for

this program.

Invitation to Comment

Interested persons are invited to submit comments and

recommendations regarding these proposed priorities.

All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available

for public inspection, during and after the comment period, in room

500, 555 New Jersey Avenue NW., Washington, DC, between the hours of

8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week except Federal

holidays.

Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 755.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2992.

Dated: January 14, 1994.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.168, Dwight D.

Eisenhower National Program for Mathematics and Science Education)

Sharon P. Robinson,

Assistant Secretary, Office of Educational Research and Improvement.

[FR Doc. 94-4427 Filed 2-25-94; 8:45 am]

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