Migrant Education Even Start Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for FY 1996

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 71 (Thursday, April 11, 1996)]

[Notices]

[Pages 16180-16202]

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[FR Doc No: 96-8993]

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_______________________________________________________________________

Part IV

Department of Education

_______________________________________________________________________

Migrant Education Even Start Program: Fiscal Year 1996 New Award

Applications; Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 71 / Thursday, April 11, 1996 /

Notices

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA NO.: 84.214A]

Migrant Education Even Start Program; Notice Inviting

Applications for New Awards for FY 1996

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: This notice is a complete application package.

Together with the statute authorizing the program and the Education

Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), the notice

contains all of the information, application forms, and instructions

needed to apply for a grant under this competition.

PURPOSE OF PROGRAM: The Migrant Education Even Start (MEES) Program is

designed to help break the cycle of poverty and improve the literacy of

participating migrant families by integrating early childhood

education, adult literacy or adult basic education, and parenting

education into a unified family literacy program.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: While any entity is eligible to apply for a grant

under the MEES program, the U.S. Secretary of Education (Secretary)

specifically invites applications from State educational agencies

(SEAs) that administer Migrant Education Programs; local educational

agencies (LEAs) that have a high percentage of migrant students; and

non-profit community-based organizations that work with migrant

families.

DEADLINE FOR TRANSMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS: June 11, 1996.

DEADLINE FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: August 12, 1996.

AVAILABLE FUNDS: While final FY 1996 funding for this program is

contingent upon final congressional action, the Secretary estimates

that approximately $3,000,000 will be available for new awards.

ESTIMATED RANGE OF AWARDS: $88,000-$270,000.

ESTIMATED AVERAGE SIZE OF AWARDS: $200,000.

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF AWARDS: 15 Grants.

Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this

notice.

PROJECT PERIOD: Up to 48 months.

MAXIMUM AWARD: The Secretary does not consider an application that

proposes a budget exceeding $270,000 for each 12-month budget period.

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS:

(a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations

(EDGAR) as follows:

(1) 34 CFR part 74 (Administration of Grants and Agreements with

Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Nonprofit

Organizations).

(2) 34 CFR part 75 (Direct Grant Programs).

(3) 34 CFR part 77 (Definitions that Apply to Department

Regulations).

(4) 34 CFR part 79 (Intergovernmental Review of Department of

Education Programs and Activities).

(5) 34 CFR part 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants

and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments).

(6) 34 CFR part 81 (General Education Provisions Act--Enforcement).

(7) 34 CFR part 82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying).

(8) 34 CFR part 85 (Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Non-

procurement) and Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace

(Grants)).

(b) The definitions of migratory child, migratory agricultural

worker and migratory fisher contained in 34 CFR 200.30 and 200.40

Description of the Program

Under the authority of section 1202(a)(1)(A) of the Elementary and

Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended, the Secretary awards grants

to eligible applicants under the MEES Program for projects that--

(1) Improve the educational opportunities of migrant families by

integrating early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic

education, and parenting education into a unified family literacy

program;

(2) Implement cooperative activities that build on existing

community resources to create a new range of services to migrant

families;

(3) Promote achievement of the National Education Goals (section

102 of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act), especially goals one

(school readiness), six (adult literacy), and eight (parent involvement

and participation); and

(4) Assist children and adults from migrant families to achieve

challenging State content standards and challenging State student

performance standards.

Required Program Elements

(a) Eligible participants. Eligible MEES participants consist of

migratory children and their parents, as defined in 34 CFR 200.30 and

200.40, who also meet the following conditions specified in section

1206(a) of the ESEA:

(1) The parent or parents--

(i) Are eligible for participation in an adult basic education

program under the Adult Education Act; or

(ii) Are within the State's compulsory school attendance age range,

so long as a local educational agency provides (or ensures the

availability of) the basic education component required under this

part; and

(2) The child or children must be younger than eight years of age.

Note: Family members of eligible participants also may

participate in MEES activities when appropriate to service Even

Start purposes. In addition, section 1206(b) of the ESEA permits a

family found eligible for MEES services to remain so until all

family members become ineligible to participate. For example, in the

case of a family in which the parent or parents lose eligibility

because of their educational advancement, the parent or parents can

still participate in MEES activities until all children in the

family reach age eight. In addition, the Department interprets 34

CFR 200.30 together with section 1206(b) or ESEA to mean that MEES

services can continue to be provided to a parent or child who is no

longer migratory provided that the family has at least one parent or

child who is a migratory worker or child as defined under 34 CFR

200.40.

(b) Required program elements. Any MEES project must, at a minimum,

incorporate the following program elements specified in section 1205 of

the ESEA--

Identification and recruitment of migrant families most in

need of MEES services, as indicated by a low level of income, a low

level of adult literacy or English language proficiency of the eligible

parent or parents, and other need-related indicators:

Screening and preparation of parents, including teenage

parents and children, to enable these parents to participate fully in

program activities and services, including testing, referral to

counseling, other developmental and support services, and related

services;

The provision of MEES services to those migrant families

most in need of project services and activities;

High-quality instructional programs that promote adult

literacy and empower parents to support the educational growth of their

children, developmentally appropriate early childhood educational

services, and the preparation of children for success in the regular

school programs;

A design for service delivery that accommodates the

participants' work schedule and other responsibilities, including the

provision of support services, when such services are unavailable from

other sources, but are necessary for participation in project

activities, such as--

--Scheduling and locating of services to allow joint participation

by parents and children;

--Child care for the period that parents are involved in the

project activities; and

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--Transportation for the purpose of enabling parents and their

children to participate in project activities;

Special training of staff, including child care staff, to

develop the skills necessary to work with parents and young children in

the full range of instructional services offered by the project;

Provision of integrated instructional services, and

monitoring of these services, to participating parents and children

through home-based activities;

Operation on a year-round basis, including the provision

of some program services, instructional or enrichment, during the

summer months;

Note: Given the mobility of the population to be served by the

MEES program, the Secretary interprets the requirement for the

project to operate on a year-round basis to mean that activities

must be conducted throughout the period in which participating

migrant families reside in the project area. Applicants are free to

interpret the requirement in other ways that are consistent with

section 1205(7) of the ESEA.

Appropriate coordination with other programs funded under

ESEA, any relevant programs under the Adult Education Act, the

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Job Training

Partnership Act, the Head Start program, volunteer literacy programs,

and other relevant programs; and

An independent evaluation.

In addition, to promote the kind of strong community collaboration

needed for effective Even Start projects, sections 1202(e) and 1207(a)

of the ESEA require applicants for grants under the basic Even Start

program administered by SEAs to be ``eligible entities'', i.e.,

partnerships composed of (1) a local educational agency (LEA); and (2)

a nonprofit community-based organization, a public agency other than an

LEA, an institution of higher education, or a public or private

nonprofit organization, of demonstrated quality, other than an LEA.

While those operating a MEES project do not need to be eligible

entities, the Secretary strongly encourages those who would operate

MEES projects to enhance the effectiveness of those projects through

formation of strong, on-going collaborative relationships among these

kinds of local entities.

--(c) Federal and local funding. A MEES project's funding is

comprised of both a Federal portion of funds (Federal share) and a

portion contributed by the eligible applicant (local share). However,

the Federal share of the program may not exceed--

90 percent of the total cost of the program in the first

year;

80 percent in the second year;

70 percent in the third year;

60 percent in the fourth year; and

50 percent in any subsequent year.

The Federal share of a grant for a second four-year cycle shall not

exceed 50 percent. The local share of the MEES project may be provided

in cash or in kind and may be obtained from any source, including other

Federal programs funded by ESEA. Federal funds may not be used for

indirect costs of a MEES project.

Note: While section 1204(b)(2) of the ESEA permits SEAs, under

certain circumstances, to waive the local share requirement for

eligible entities receiving grants under the basic Even Start

program administered by SEAs, the program statute contains no

comparable provision allowing the Secretary to waive the local share

requirement for those receiving MEES grants.

Selection Criteria

(a) (1) The Secretary uses the following selection criteria to

evaluate applications for new grants under this competition.

(2) The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points.

(3) The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in

parentheses.

(b) The criteria:

(1) Meeting the purposes of the authorizing statute. (20 points)

The Secretary reviews each application to determine how well the

project will--

(i) Improve the educational opportunities of migrant families by

integrating early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic

education, and parenting education into a unified family literacy

program;

(ii) Implement cooperative projects that build on existing

community resources to create a new range of services to migrant

families;

(iii) Promote achievement of the National Education Goals,

especially the goals that address school readiness, student

achievement, and parent involvement and participation; and

(iv) Assist children and adults from migrant families to achieve

challenging State content standards and challenging State student

performance standards.

(2) Extent of need for the project. (20 points) The Secretary

reviews each application to determine the extent to which the project

would meet the needs of eligible migratory children and their parents

(including guardians and primary caretakers) for the services and

activities that the project would provide, including consideration of--

(i) The needs addressed by the project;

(ii) How the applicant identifies those needs;

(iii) How those needs will be met by the project; and

(iv) The benefits gained by meeting those needs.

Note: Applicants may address this criterion in any way that is

reasonable, given the purpose of the MEES program. Applicants may,

for example, address such factors as the following:

(A) The area(s) to be served have high percentages or large

numbers of migratory children and their parents, guardians, or

primary caretakers in need of MEES services;

(B) The lack of availability of comprehensive family literacy

services for the migrant population;

(C) How community resources will be used to benefit project

participants.

Note: An applicant can address this criterion in any way that is

reasonable. An applicant can address this riterior in any way that

is reasonable. An applicant might, for example, provide a brief

description of each resource the project intends to include, or a

list of these resources.

(D) How the project will integrate child development, adult

literacy, and parenting activities; and

(E) How the project will assist migrant children and adults to

achieve the State content standards and student performance

standards.

(3) Plan of operation. (35 points) The Secretary reviews each

application to determine the quality of the plan of operation for the

project, including--

(i) The quality of the design of the project;

Note: Applicants may address this criterion in any way that is

reasonable. However, concerning design of the project, the Secretary

believes that an effective application would incorporate, at a

minimum, the various program elements required under section 1205 of

the ESEA and listed in the Required program elements section of this

notice.

(ii) The extent to which the plan of management is effective and

ensures proper and efficient administration of the project;

(iii) How well the objectives of the project relate to the purpose

of the program;

(iv) The quality of the applicant's plan to use its resources and

personnel to achieve each objective; and

(v) How the applicant will ensure that project participants who are

otherwise eligible to participate are selected without regard to race,

color, national origin, gender, age, or disability.

(4) Quality of key personnel. (10 points) The Secretary reviews

each application to determine the quality of key personnel the

applicant plans to use on the project, including--

(i) The qualifications of the project director (if one is to be

used);

(ii) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be

used in the project;

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(iii) The time that the project director and the other key

personnel will commit to the project; and

(iv) How the applicant, as part if its nondiscriminatory employment

practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected for employment

without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or

handicapping condition.

To determine personnel qualifications under paragraphs (i) and (ii)

of this criterion, the Secretary will review--

(A) Experience and training in fields related to the objectives of

the project, and

(B) Any other qualifications that pertain to the quality of the

project.

Note: Applicants may address this criterion in any way that is

reasonable. Any applicant may, for example, (1) demonstrate that it

has the qualified personnel needed to develop, administer, and

implement a MEES project, and if not, will provide access to the

special training necessary to prepare staff for the project, or (2)

include a resume for each proposed project staff member or a

position description for each proposed but not-yet-filled position.

(5) Budget and cost effectiveness. (2 points) The Secretary reviews

each application to determine the extent of which--

(i) The budget is adequate to support the project; and

(ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to the goals and objectives

of the project.

(6) Evaluation plan. (10 points) The Secretary reviews each

application to determine the quality of the evaluation plan for the

project, including the extent to which the applicant's methods of

evaluation--

(i) Are appropriate to the project; and

(ii) To the extent possible, are objective and produce data that

are quantifiable.

Note: This plan must permit the preparation of an evaluation

that meets the requirements of 34 CFR 75.590, as well as an annual

performance report that evaluates whether project objectives are

being met and, if not, includes the changes in program activities

that will be adopted (see 34 CFR 75.118 and 75.253). (Instructions

for the annual performance report are included in the Appendix to

this document.) See also the discussion under NATIONAL EVALUATION.

(7) Adequacy of resources. (3 points) The Secretary reviews each

application to determine the adequacy of the resources that the

applicant plans to devote to the project, including facilities,

equipment, and supplies.

National Evaluation

The Department is conducting a national evaluation of Even Start

Family Literacy projects. Grantees must cooperate with the Department's

efforts by adopting an evaluation plan that is consistent with the

national evaluation (as well as with the grantee's responsibilities

under 34 CFR 75.118, 75.253 and 75.590). It is not expected that the

application will include a complete evaluation plan because grantees

will be asked to cooperate with the national evaluation of the Even

Start Family Literacy Program to be conducted by an independent

contractor. Grantees may be required to amend their plans, however, to

conform with the national evaluation.

The Secretary suggests that each applicant budget for evaluation

activities as follows: a project with an estimated cost of up to

$120,000 should designate $5,000 for this purpose; a project with an

estimated cost of over $120,000 should designate $10,000 for this

purpose. These funds will be used for expenditures related to the

collection and aggregation of data required for the Department's

national evaluation. The Secretary also recommends that applicants

budget for the cost of travel to Washington, DC, and two nights'

lodging for the project director and project evaluator, for their

participation in annual evaluation meetings.

Information by Project and Budget Periods

Under 34 CFR 75.112 and 75.117, a project application must propose

a project period, and include budgetary information for each budget

period of the proposed project period. The Secretary requests that the

budgetary information include an amount for all key project components

with an accompanying breakdown of any subcomponents (a form for

reporting this information is contained in the appendix to this

notice), along with a written justification for all requested amounts.

34 CFR 75.112(b) also requires that an applicant describe how and

when, in each budget period of the project, it plans to meet each

objective of the project.

Note: The Department will use this information, in conjunction

with the grantee's annual performance report required under 34 CFR

75.118(a), to determine whether to make a continuation award for the

subsequent budget year. Under 34 CFR 75.253, a grantee can receive a

continuation award only if it demonstrates that it either has made

substantial progress toward meeting the objectives of the approved

project, or has received the Secretary's approval of changes in the

project to enable it to meet the objectives in the succeeding budget

periods.

Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs

This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order

12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs) and the

regulations in 34 CFR part 79.

The objective of the Executive Order is to foster an

intergovernmental partnership and to strengthen federalism by relying

on State and local processes for State and local government

coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance.

Applicants must contact the appropriate State Single Point of

Contact to find out about, and to comply with, the State's process

under Executive Order 12372. Applicants proposing to perform activities

in more than one State should immediately contact the Single Point of

Contact for each of those States and follow the procedure established

in each State under the Executive Order. If you want to know the name

and address of any State Single Point of Contact, see the list

published in the Federal Register on August 10, 1995. (60 FR 40956)

In States that have not established a process or chosen a program

for review, State, area-wide, regional, and local entities may submit

comments directly to the Department.

Any State Process Recommendation and other comments submitted by a

State Single Point of Contact and any comments from State, area-wide,

regional, and local entities must be mailed or hand-delivered by the

date indicated in this notice to the following address: The Secretary,

E.O. 12372--CFDA# 84.214A, U.S. Department of Education, Room 6213, 600

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-0125.

Proof of mailing will be determined on the same basis as

applications (see 34 CFR 75.102). Recommendations or comments may be

hand-delivered until 4:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on the date

indicated in this notice.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE ADDRESS IS NOT THE SAME ADDRESS AS THE

ONE TO WHICH THE APPLICANT SUBMITS ITS COMPLETED APPLICATION. DO NOT

SEND APPLICATIONS TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS.

Instructions for Transmittal of Applications

(a) If an applicant wants to apply for a grant, the applicant

shall--

(1) Mail the original and two copies of the application on or

before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application

Control Center,

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Attention: (CFDA #84.214A), Washington, D.C. 20202-4725; or

(2) Hand deliver the original and two copies of the application by

4:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on the deadline date to: U.S.

Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA

#84.214A), Room #3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets,

S.W., Washington, DC.

(b) An applicant must show one of the following as proof of

mailing:

(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.

(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the

U.S. Postal Service.

(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial

carrier.

(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary.

(c) If an application is mailed through the U.S. Postal Service,

the Secretary does not accept either of the following as proof of

mailing:

(1) A private metered postmark.

(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.

Notes: (1) The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a

dated postmark. Before relying on this method, an applicant should

check with its local post office.

(2) The Application Control Center will mail a Grant Application

Receipt Acknowledgment to each applicant. If an applicant fails to

receive the notification of application receipt within 15 days from

the date of mailing the application, the applicant should call the

U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202)

708-9494.

(3) The applicant must indicate on the envelope and--if not

provided by the Department--in Item 10 of the Application for

Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424) the CFDA number--and suffix

letter, if any--of the competition under which the application is

being submitted.

Application Instructions and Forms

The appendix to this application is divided into three parts plus a

statement regarding estimated public reporting burden and various

assurances and certifications. These parts and additional materials are

organized in the same manner that the submitted application should be

organized. The parts and additional materials are as follows:

Part I: Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 (Rev.

4-88)) and instructions.

Part II: Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED Form No.

524) and instructions.

Part III: Application Narrative.

Additional Materials

Estimated Public Reporting Burden.

Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B).

Certifications regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and Other

Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED 80-

0013, 6/90).

Certification regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and

Voluntary Exclusion: Lower Tier Covered Transactions (ED 80-0014, 9/90)

and instructions. (NOTE: ED 80-0014 is intended for the use of grantees

and should not be transmitted to the Department.)

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL) (if

applicable) and instructions; and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

Continuation Sheet (Standard Form LLL-A).

An applicant may submit information on a photostatic copy of the

application and budget forms, the assurances, and the certifications.

However, the application form, the assurances, and the certifications

must each have an original signature. No grant may be awarded unless a

completed application form has been received.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Martha Chavez, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and

Secondary Education, Office of Migrant Education, 600 Independence

Avenue, SW, Room 4100, Portals Building, Washington, DC 20202-6135.

Telephone Number: (202) 260-2114. 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.

Information about the Department's funding opportunities, including

copies of application notices for discretionary grant competitions, can

be viewed on the Department's electronic bulletin board (ED Board),

telephone (202) 260-9950; or on the Internet Gopher Server at

GOPHER.ED.GOV (under Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases).

However, the official application notice for a discretionary grant

competition is the notice published in the Federal Register.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6362(a)(1)(A).

Dated: March 27, 1996.

Gerald N. Tipozzi,

Assistant Secretary, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.

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Part III

Instructions for Part III--Application Narrative

Before preparing the Application Narrative, an applicant should

read carefully the description of the program and the selection

criteria the Secretary uses to evaluate applications.

The narrative should encompass each function or activity for which

funds are being requested and should--

The narrative should encompass each function or activity for which

finds are being requested and should--

1. Begin with an Abstract; that is, a summary of the proposed

project.

2. Describe the proposed project in light of each of the selection

criteria in the order in which the criteria are listed in this

application package. [Note: While applicants can address the criteria

in any way that is reasonable, given the required emphasis of any MEES

project on early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic

education, and parenting education, the Secretary believes that a

reasonable plan of operation would address these three objectives.

Moreover, consistent with 34 CFR 75.112(b), which requires that the

application describe how and when, in each budget period, the applicant

plans to meet each project objective, the Secretary believes that

applicants would want particularly to describe each goal in terms of

measurable objectives, specific activities that are proposed to meet

each objective, time lines associated with these activities, the

resources believed to be needed to achieve each objective, and how each

objective will be evaluated.]

3. Provide the following information in response to the attached

``NOTICE TO ALL APPLICANTS'': (1) a reference to the portion of the

application in which the applicant has described the steps that the

applicant proposes to take to remove barriers to equitable access to,

and equitable participation in, project activities; or (2) a separate

statement that contains this information.

4. Include any other pertinent information that might assist the

Secretary in reviewing the application.

The Application Narrative must be double-spaced, typed on one side

only, and must not exceed 50 numbered pages--appendices excepted.

Instructions for Estimated Public Reporting Burden

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are

required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a

valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this

information collection is 1810-0541. (Expiration date: March 31, 1999)

The time required to complete this information collection is estimated

to average 60 hours per response, including the time to review

instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed,

and complete and review the information collection. If you have any

comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or suggestions

for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education,

Washington, D.C. 20202-4651. If you have comments or concerns regarding

the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly

to: Office of Migrant Education, U.S. Department of Education, 600

Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., 20202-4651.

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Notice to All Applicants

Thank you for your interest in this program. The purpose of this

enclosure is to inform you about a new provision in the Department of

Education's General Education Provision Act (GEPA) that applies to

applicants for new grant awards under Department programs. This

provision is section 427 of GEPA, enacted as part of the Improving

America's Schools Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-382).

To Whom Does This Provision Apply?

Section 427 of GEPA affects applicants for new discretionary grant

awards under this program. ALL APPLICANTS FOR NEW AWARDS MUST INCLUDE

INFORMATION IN THEIR APPLICATIONS TO ADDRESS THIS NEW PROVISION IN

ORDER TO RECEIVE FUNDING UNDER THIS PROGRAM.

What Does This Provision Require?

Section 427 requires each applicant for funds (other than an

individual person) to include in its application a description of the

steps the applicant proposes to take to ensure equitable access to, and

participation in, its federally-assisted program for students,

teachers, and other program beneficiaries with special needs.

This section allows applicants discretion in developing the

required description. The statute highlights six types of barriers that

can impede equitable access or participation that you may address:

gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age. Based on

local circumstances, you can determine whether these or other barriers

may prevent your students, teachers, etc. from equitable access or

participation. Your description need not be lengthy; you may provide a

clear and succinct description of how you plan to address those

barriers that are applicable to your circumstances. In addition, the

information may be provided in a single narrative, or, if appropriate,

may be discussed in connection with related topics in the application.

Section 427 is not intended to duplicate the requirements of civil

rights statutes, but rather to ensure that, in designing their

projects, applicants for Federal funds address equity concerns that may

affect the ability of certain potential beneficiaries to fully

participate in the project and to achieve to high standards. Consistent

with program requirements and its approved application, an applicant

may use the Federal funds awarded to it to eliminate barriers it

identifies.

What are Examples of How an Applicant Might Satisfy the Requirement of

This Provision?

The following examples may help illustrate how an applicant may

comply with section 427.

(1) An applicant that proposes to carry out an adult literacy

project serving, among others, adults with limited English proficiency,

might describe in its application how it intends to distribute a

brochure about the proposed project to such potential participants in

their native language.

(2) An applicant that proposes to develop instructional materials

for classroom use might describe how it will make the materials

available on audio tape or in braille for students who are blind.

(3) An applicant that proposes to carry out a model science program

for secondary students and is concerned that girls may be less likely

than boys to enroll in the course, might indicate how it tends to

conduct ``outreach'' efforts to girls, to encourage their enrollment.

We recognize that many applicants may already be implementing

effective steps to ensure equity of access and participation in their

grant programs, and we appreciate your cooperation in responding to the

requirements of this provision.

Estimated Burden Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are

required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a

valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this

information collection is 1801-0004 (Exp. 8/31/98). The time required

to complete this information collection is estimated to vary from 1 to

3 hours per response, with an average of 1.5 hours, including the time

to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather and

maintain the data needed, and complete and review the information

collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the

time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write

to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202-4651.

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The time required to complete this information collection is

estimated to average 20 hours per response, including the time to

review instructions, search existing data resources, gather and

maintain the data needed, and complete and review the information

collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the

time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving the form, please write

to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202-4651. If you

have any comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual

submission of this form, write directly to: [insert program sponsor/

official], U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W.,

Washington, DC 20202-----.

Instructions for the Annual Performance Report

To receive a continuation award, recipients of discretionary grants

must submit an annual performance report that establishes substantial

progress toward meeting their project objectives. The instructions for

the annual performance report have been designed to provide the

Department with the information that it needs to determine whether

recipients have done so. (See sections 75.118, 75.253 and 75.590 of the

Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR).) Do

not use these instructions to prepare the final performance report

after the project is completed.

Parts I-III and V of these instructions request from recipients the

information that EDGAR requires to permit the Secretary to make

decisions on whether or not to make continuation awards. Part IV of

these instructions requests a summary of new information that may bear

on the direction of future activities. This information is requested to

help the Department to monitor grant activities and provide technical

assistance to recipients. For convenience, an optional form for

reporting Parts I and V has been provided with these instructions.

However, the requested information may be provided in any reasonable

format.

Recipients will need to submit an original and one copy of the

annual performance report. The Department will notify recipients of the

due date for submission of the performance report, which will be as

late as possible in the project's current budget period.

For those programs that operate under statutes or regulations that

require additional (or different) reporting for performance or

monitoring purposes, the Department also will inform recipients whether

any other (or different) reporting is necessary, and when this

additional reporting should be made.

I. Cover Sheet

Please provide the following information:

1. Recipient name and address. Unless changed repeat from Block 1

on your last Notification of Grant Award.

2. PR/Award number (e.g., H158A20021-95). See BLOCK 4 on your last

Notification of Grant Award.

3. Project title. This should be identical to the title of the

approved application.

4. Contact person--name and title. Please provide the name of the

project director or other individual who is most familiar with the

content of the performance report.

5. Project telephone number and FAX number.

6. E-Mail address.

7. Performance reporting period. This is the time-frame that is

requested in Parts III and IV of the performance report for information

on project status and supplementary information/changes.

a. For projects that are operating in their first budget period,

this period covers the start of the project through 30 days before the

due date of this report.

b. For projects that are operating in interim budget periods, and

that submitted a non-competing continuation grant application in the

prior period, this period covers the date of submission of that

application (unless the Department establishes another beginning date)

through 30 days before the due date of this report.

c. For all other projects that are operating in interim budget

periods, this period covers the end of the reporting period for the

annual performance report that the recipient submitted to receive its

previous continuation award, through 30 days before the due date of

this report.

8. Current budget period. See Block 5 of your last Notification of

Grant Award.

The cover sheet also must contain the name, title and signature of

the authorized representative of the grantee.

II. Project Summary

(One or two paragraphs.)

III. Project Status*

Report your progress in accomplishing the objectives of the

project. In doing so, for each project objective, describe the project

activities, accomplishments and outcomes since the submission of the

last performance report, or, if you are currently in the first budget

period, since the start of the project. Also reference the page numbers

and sections of the approved application that address the planned

activities or anticipated accomplishments and outcomes. Where it is

possible to do so, information on current activities, accomplishments

and outcomes should be quantified.

If a planned objective was not attained, or a planned activity was

not conducted as scheduled, explain why, what steps are being taken to

address the problem, and the schedule for doing so.

If performance indicators for evaluating your project have been

established for your program, or were approved as part of a project

evaluation plan contained in your project application, provide

information on your project's performance using those indicators.

IV. Supplemental Information/Changes*

As a result of actual performance, recipients often gain additional

information (beyond that provided in their initial applications) that

affects their future grant activities and/or strategies for

accomplishing their approved scope of work. If this is the case for

your project, please provide a summary of this information (quantified,

where possible) and any change in project strategies, activities, or

project outcomes.

V. Budget Report*

1. For the current budget period, provide for each approved budget

category the total amount of project funds obligated as of 30 days

before the due date of the performance report. (See Blocks 9.A--L of

the reporting form.) For projects that require recipients to provide

matching funds or other non-federal resources, also provide the total

of all non-federal contributions as of 30 days before the due date of

the performance report. (See Block 10 of the reporting form.)

2. Indicate whether the project expects to have any unobligated

grant funds at the end of the current budget period. (See Block 11 of

the reporting form.)

Remember: Recipients must request authorization to carry over funds

that were unobligated in one budget period for use in the following

budget period. If unobligated funds are needed to complete activities

that were approved for the current budget period, section 75.253 of

EDGAR permits the Secretary to add the amount of these funds to funds

that will be awarded through a continuation award for use in the

following budget period. Conversely, if

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any unobligated funds are NOT needed to complete activities that were

approved for the current budget period, section 75.253 permits the

Secretary to deduct the amount of these unobligated funds from the

amount of funds that will be awarded for use in the following budget

period.

*Note for Parts III, IV, and V: Most projects submit with their

applications a single budget form, and have a single approved

budget, for each budget period. However, if your project has

multiple components, and was required to submit for approval a

separate budget form for each component, please ensure that the

information that you provide in Parts III, IV, and V of the

performance report reflects activities or expenditures for each of

these components.

[FR Doc. 96-8993 Filed 4-10-96; 8:45 am]

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