Community Alliance for Math, Science and Technology Literacy (CASTL)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No. 990517136-9136-01]

RIN 0693-ZA30

Community Alliance for Math, Science and Technology Literacy

(CASTL)

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Invitation for proposals to establish pilot programs partnering

local school boards and businesses for enhanced professional

development of K-12 math, science and technology teachers.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to invite proposals from local educational

agencies (LEAs) or non-profit organizations acting on their behalf to

participate in the CASTL program. This pilot program will partner local

school boards, non-profit educational organizations, and the local

business community to develop and conduct innovative professional

development activities for K-12 math, science and technology teachers.

A community based effort will create new professional development

activities to help increase teacher recruitment and retention, assist

teachers in developing hands-on workplace-based math, science and

technology curriculum, and increase communication between the

educational and business enterprises. It is anticipated that ten awards

will be made in fiscal year 1999 affecting teachers employed as of

September 1999. Seed funding for the pilot program will focus on urban

and rural statistical areas, and other areas identified as requiring

special assistance in promoting math, science and technology education.

Applications must be prepared by a partnership between the LEA and the

business and/or research communities.

DATES: Applications must be received at the address below no later than

5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time on July 1, 1999, in order to be

considered for the Fiscal Year 1999 awards. Late applications will be

rejected and returned to the sender. Applications which have been

provided to a delivery service will be accepted for review if the

applicant can document that the application was provided to the

delivery service by June 30, 1999, with delivery to the address listed

below guaranteed prior to the closing date and time. Applications will

not be accepted via facsimile machine transmission or electronic mail.

[[Page 29266]]

ADDRESSES: Applicants must submit one signed original plus two (2)

copies of the proposal along with the required forms (Refer to

``Application Forms'' section) to: CASTL Program Coordinator; Division

109; National Institute of Standards and Technology; 100 Bureau Drive,

Stop 1090; Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1090.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Jack Hsia, Program Coordinator, telephone (301) 975-3067, or e-mail

[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

This program is an implementation of section 7 of the Technology

Administration Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-309), codified at section 19a

of the NIST Act, as amended (15 USC 278g-2a). This statute authorizes

the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish

a teacher science and technology enhancement program to provide for the

professional development of mathematics and science teachers of

elementary, middle, and secondary schools, including providing for the

improvement of these teachers with respect to the understanding of

science and the impact of science on commerce. Under section 278g-

2a(e), NIST may use means it deems appropriate to accomplish the goals

of the program. The CASTL program accomplishes the statutory goals

because it will allow K-12 teachers to experience firsthand how math,

science, and technology impact commerce. This will both enhance

teachers' professional development and enable teachers to incorporate

these experiences into their math, science, and technology curricula. A

community based effort will create new professional development

activities to help increase teacher recruitment and retention, assist

teachers in developing hands-on workplace-based math, science and

technology curriculum, and increase communication between the

educational and business enterprises, consistent with the statutory

goals.

Program Description

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) wishes to

initiate a pilot program partnering local school boards and businesses

to foster high quality K-12 education through enhanced professional

development of K-12 math, science and technology teachers. Together,

the school board and the local businesses are expected to leverage

their collected strengths to develop and implement a program to

increase teachers' understanding of math, science and technology and to

assist them in development of innovative curriculum. Businesses will

provide on-site opportunities for teachers to experience hands-on

inquiry based learning and workplace based application of math, science

and technology skills. This partnership is expected to commit to

providing at least 4 years of support for the teachers. The pilot

program is expected to complement existing reform and professional

development activities.

Enhanced professional development is expected to increase the

hiring and retention rates for math, science and technology teachers.

Experiences in the workplace will provide opportunities for teachers to

develop innovative teaching methods reflecting real-world experience of

math, science and technology. As teachers develop a greater

understanding and comfort with the foundations and applications of math

and science, they are better able to pass along such an understanding

to their students. Students are anticipated to graduate with an

increased understanding about the application of and excitement for

math and science, leading to an increase in the overall scientific

literacy of society. Local businesses and the overall community are

expected to benefit from students better prepared for jobs in the

technology-based industries that contribute more than half the nation's

economic growth.

Using a relatively small amount of federal seed money, local school

board in ten pilot program sites will implement the pilot program. The

pilot program will directly impact only a tiny fraction of the 15,000

independent school districts nationwide. However, these pilot programs

are anticipated to provide models that can be adopted by communities

and businesses nationwide. Successful demonstration and refinement of

the pilot program will be followed by dissemination of the model across

the nation, with relatively little additional federal funding required

(local communities and businesses will assume the bulk of the expenses

after successful demonstration of the pilot program). Thus a small

federal investment is leveraged into substantial nationwide results.

Background Information

Advances in technology fuel at least one half of the economic

growth of the U.S. and the industrialized nations, and this fraction is

expected to continue to increase in the next century. However, industry

and government leaders identify the shortage of employees with adequate

science and mathematics skills, at all levels, as a major impediment to

continued national economic growth. International studies such as the

recently reported Third International Mathematics and Science Study

show U.S. K-12 students performing near the bottom of industrialized

nations in tests of science and math knowledge. To maintain and improve

U.S. economic competitiveness and provide opportunities for all

citizens, the quality of science and math education in the United

States must be significantly increased.

Improving science and math education is a complex problem requiring

many different approaches. Many governmental and non-governmental

organizations are each contributing towards the solution. The goal of

this pilot program is to enhance the professional development of U.S.

science and technology teachers through education-business partnership.

It is expected that proper professional and financial support of

science and math teachers will immediately increase successful

recruitment and retention of qualified new science and math teachers,

and will eventually lead to increases enrollment of teaching students

specializing in science and math as the greater opportunities become

known.

Business-Education Partnership

This pilot program will create a partnership between the local

school board and the local business community to develop and implement

enhanced professional development for K-12 math, science and technology

teachers. Goals and outcomes of the pilot program should include the

following elements:

Increase teachers' understanding about the application of

any excitement for math and science.

Provide specialized professional development for K-12

math, science and technology teachers, aiming to reach needs of

teachers of all grades.

Increase teacher recruitment and/or retention rates.

Integrate insight of the business/research community into

new curriculum elements.

Investigate creating an infrastructure for a sustainable

program.

Maximize atmosphere for teacher learning and creativity.

Local business partners may include industrial firms, corporations

employing technology, research institutions and other organizations

which can provide teachers experience with real-world based application

of math, science and technology.

This pilot program may incorporate a range of activities depending

on the

[[Page 29267]]

needs of the community. Funds are intended to supplement the work of

the LEA, not the business or community partners. The objectives

include:

Collecting data regarding the needs of math, science, and

technology teachers in the school district,

Integrating several existing professional development

programs into a single, coordinated effort,

Providing staff time for teachers to develop and implement

new curriculum changes resulting from pilot program and/or participate

in cohort groups of pilot program participants,

Coordinating with local technical and community colleges,

Providing alternative certification activities for math,

science and technology teachers, and

Coordinating curriculum elements through grades K-12.

NIST expects each pilot program to directly involve at least 10

teachers in the pilot phase. However, with greater commitment from

local businesses, more teachers may be involved. Participating local

businesses, possibly through a central organization, will commit to

working with the LEA for a minimum of four years. The businesses'

contribution must provide teachers hands-on experience with workplace

applications of math, science and technology. This exposure will assist

teachers in gaining a better understanding of the business' science and

technology skill needs and goals. From this experience, the teachers

and administrators will work together to translate the experiences into

more effective classroom lessons. Students will learn from real-world

based examples, increasing their scientific inquiry skills and overall

understanding of the use of math, science and technology.

NIST will evaluate the implementation of the pilot programs. Award

recipients agree to participate in the evaluation of these pilot

programs. This may involve a meeting among all recipients. Each pilot

program coordinator is expected to track the progress of the teachers

and their hiring and retention rates as part of the evaluation process.

Applicants are encouraged to indicate additional evaluation activities

they will perform.

Creating the Partnership

A unique feature of the pilot programs will be the ability of the

partnership to tailor the pilot program to best fit local community and

schools needs, and best make use of local resources. The 15,000

independent schools districts across the nation represent an enormous

diversity in financial resources, student and community demographics,

types of local businesses, and other factors: from inner city urban

districts, to affluent suburbs, to geographically extended rural and

Indian reservation districts. Attempts at ``one size fits all''

programs rarely succeed in addressing such a diversity of needs and

resources.

The support of locally selected program champions and businesses is

vital to pilot program success. A partnership development team led by

the local champion will guide and structure a community math and

science education and workforce development plan. Team members will

represent local school boards, businesses, teachers, students, the

public, and other stakeholders who can identify and focus on local

needs.

Both the school board and the business community will make

commitments to the pilot program. Local school boards must commit to

working collaboratively with the businesses. Staff must be allocated

time for curriculum development to translate their experiences into

classroom lessons and for instructing their colleagues about what they

have learned. This time may occur during a summer program and/or as

part of regularly scheduled professional development. School boards

will integrate this pilot program into existing educational reform

efforts. Businesses will commit to participating in the pilot program's

development, implementation and support for multiple years. Employees

will be allocated time to work with the teachers.

Several Federal departments and agencies have on-going research and

programs in the areas of K-12 math, science and technology education.

This pilot program will tie into these existing programs when possible,

especially if a particular effort is underway in the community.

Nationwide programs are being sponsored by the National Science

Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department

of Labor, among other agencies. Contingent upon success of the pilot

program and additional federal and private funding, the program may

grow in future years.

Organizational Involvement

Participation by community and professional organizations heightens

the level of community commitment to this pilot program. These

organizations lend their resources, knowledge, and experience to the

process and help facilitate the creation of partnerships. The

partnership development team is encouraged to engage any and all

community organizations that will add to the success of the pilot

programs.

Funding Availability

Approximately $200,000 will be available and it is anticipated that

ten awards in the range of up to $20,000 will be selected to pay the

administrative cost for starting the program. The pilot program will be

integrated into the community as a self-sustaining activity over time.

Based on preliminary results and future NIST appropriations, NIST may

provide additional support in future years.

Grant funds may be used only for direct costs of administering this

pilot program. Such costs may include salary for one person, excluding

benefits. by August 1, 1999 a detailed accounting of all funds is due

to the NIST program office at the above address. Any additional costs,

including indirect costs, are the responsibility of the educational and

business partners.

Award Period

Funds will be awarded for a 12 month period.

Matching Requirements

Cost sharing and matching are not required under this pilot

program.

Application Forms

Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Financial Assistance, SF

424A, SF 424B, and CD-511 shall be used for applying for financial

assistance. Awards resulting from this competition will be administered

in accordance with 15 CFR part 14, ``Uniform Administration

Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher

Education, Hospitals, Other Non-Profit, and Commercial Organizations''

or 15 CFR part 24, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and

Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments,'' as applicable;

OMB Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles for Educational Institutions,'' or

OMB Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations,''

or OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian

Tribal Governments,'' as applicable; and other award terms and

conditions. An application kit may be requested from the contact person

at the address listed above. All required forms may be downloaded from

the following website: http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/\grants/pdf.

Proposals may be structured in any way that the applicants believe

will best present their proposed project, but should be limited to a

maximum of 40 pages. A format that NIST offers for consideration by

applicants is as follows:

[[Page 29268]]

Proposal Summary

I. Executive Summary

II. Pilot Program Participants

List all partnership members identified to date, their contact

persons, addresses, telephone numbers and fax numbers. Indicate which

members serve on the partnership development team.

III. Pilot Program

Personnel List key pilot program staff, including the principal

coordinator.

IV. Narrative

Provide a concise summary (maximum of 10 pages) describing the

implementation plan for the pilot program, including:

(a) Need assessment

(b) Objectives

(c) Program implementation

(d) Professional development opportunities for participating

teachers

(e) Relationship to existing school reform efforts

(f) Evaluation

V. Budget Prepare SF-424-A.

VI. Supporting Materials

(a) Required forms

(b) Letters of support from partners

Type of Funding Instrument

NIST expects to award up to 10 grants. This information is provided

in the interest of maximum oppeness of the agency's intent. It is not

intended to bind the agency to any specific number of grants.

Eligibility Criteria

Partnerships between an LEA and the local business and/or research

communities are eligible to prepare applications for CASTL grants. An

LEA may not submit an application without written commitment from these

outside representatives. Applications will only be accepted from an LEA

or non-profit administrator acting on behalf of the partnership. An LEA

is defined in Title XIV, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary

Education Act, as amended, 20 U.S.C. section 8801(18)(A). An LEA is ``a

public board of education or other public authority legally constituted

within a State for either administrative control or direction of, or to

perform a service function for, public elementary or secondary schools

in a city, county, township, school district, or other political

subdivision of a State, or for such combination of school districts or

counties as are recognized in a State as an administrative agency for

its public elementary or secondary schools.'' An official from the LEA

must certify in writing that a third party administrator will act on

its behalf with regard to this project. A principal coordinator must be

identified to serve as a point of contact.

Application Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated by a panel of at least three

independent reviewers who are knowledgeable in the subject matter of

this solicitation and its objectives. All applications will be

evaluated and scored on the basis of the evaluation criteria delineated

below.

1. Local needs assessment. The proposal demonstrates an

identifiable need for financial assistance to promote science and math

education in the local area. (20 points)

2. The proposal provides specialized professional development for

K-12 math, science and technology teachers, which complements existing

professional development and/or reform efforts within the school

district. (20 points)

3. Identification of an adequate number of relevant business and

community partners. (15 points)

4. The proposed activities match the goals of this grant program,

including adding to a sustainable infrastructure for community

involvement and contribution to the educational system. (15 points)

5. Demonstration of meaningful provisions for academic year follow-

up, continued dialogue among participants, and development of new

curriculum based on the experience. (15 points)

6. Commitment to program evaluation, including participation in

meetings, reporting requirements, and other evaluation criteria. (10

points)

7. Appropriateness of budget. (5 points)

Selection Procedures

The selection of LEAs to be recommended for an award will be made

by Director of the Office of International and Academic Affairs (OIAA)

at NIST. In recommending applications for funding, the OIAA Director

will take into consideration the results of the evaluations and scores

of the independent review panel, geographic distribution of funds, and

the selection official's judgment as to which applications, taken as a

whole, are likely to best further the goals of the CASTL program. In

addition, school districts that represent urban on rural statistical

areas as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau or who document needs

requiring special assistance in promoting science and math education

will be given priority. The final selection of applications and award

of cooperative agreements will be made by the NIST Grants Officer.

Other Requirements

Federal Policies and Procedures

Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and

Federal and DoC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to

Federal financial assistance awards.

Past Performance

Insatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in

an application not being considered for funding.

Preaward Activities

If applicants incur any costs prior to an award being made, they do

so solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government.

Notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that may have been

received, there is no obligation on the part of DoC/NIST to cover

preaward costs.

Award Payments

Advances shall be limited to the minimum amounts necessary to meet

immediate disbursement needs. Advanced funds not disbursed in a timely

manner must be promptly returned to the Department of Commerce (DoC).

Advances will be approved for periods not to exceed 30 days.

Budget Changes

When the terms of an award allow the recipient to transfer funds

among approved direct cost categories, the transfer authority does not

authorize the recipient to create new budget categories within an

approved budget unless the Grants officer has provided prior approval.

Tax Refunds

Refunds of FICA/FUTA taxes received by the Recipient during or

after the award period must be refunded or credited to the DoC where

the benefits were financed with Federal funds under the award. The

Recipient agrees to contact the Grants Officer immediately upon receipt

of these refunds. The Recipient further agrees to refund portions of

FICA/FUTA taxes determined to belong to the Federal Government,

including refunds received after the expiration of the award.

Other Federal Awards with Similar Programmatic Activities

The Recipient must immediately provide written notification to the

Federal Program Officer and the Grants Officer in the event that,

subsequent to receipt of the DoC award, other financial assistance is

received to support or fund

[[Page 29269]]

any portion of the scope of work incorporated into the DoC award. DoC

will not pay for costs that are funded by other sources.

No Obligation for Future Funding

If an application is selected for funding, DoC/NIST has no

obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection with

that award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the

period of performance is at the total discretion of DoC/NIST.

Payment of Debts Owed the Federal Government

Any debts determined to be owned the Federal Government shall be

paid promptly by the Recipient. Unless otherwise provided by law, a

debt will be considered delinquent if it is not paid within 15 days of

the due date. Failure to pay a debt by the due date shall result in the

imposition of late payment charges. In addition, failure to pay the

debt or establish a repayment agreement by the due date will also

result in the referral of the debt for collection action any may result

in DoC taking further action as specified in the terms of the award.

Payment of a debt must not come from other Federally sponsored

programs. Verification that other Federal funds have not been used will

be made during future program visits and audits.

Competition and Codes of Conduct for Subawards

Any subawards must be made in a manner that will provide, to the

maximum extent practicable, open and free competition. The Recipient

must be alert to organizational conflicts of interest as well as other

practices among subrecipients that may restrict or eliminate

competition. In order to ensure objective subrecipient performance and

eliminate unfair competitive advantage, subrecipients that develop or

draft work requirements, statements of work, or requests for proposals

shall be excluded from competing for such subawards.

The Recipient shall maintain written standards of conduct governing

the performance of its employees engaged in the award and

administration subawards. No employee, officer, or agent shall

participate in the selection, award, or administration of a subaward

supported by Federal funds if a real or apparent conflict of interest

would be involved. Such a conflict would arise when the employee,

officer, or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or

her partner, or an organization which employs or is about to employ any

of the parties mentioned in this section, has a financial interest or

other interest in the organization selected for a subaward. The

officers, employees, and agents of the Recipient may not solicit nor

accept anything of monetary value from subrecipients. However, the

Recipient may set standards for situations in which the financial

interest is not substantial or the gift is an unsolicited item of

nominal value. The standards of conduct must provide for disciplinary

actions to be applied for violations of such standards by officers,

employees, or agents of the Recipient.

Subaward and/or Contract to a Federal Agency

Recipient, subrecipients, contractors, and/or subcontractors shall

not sub-grant or sub-contract any part of the approved project to any

agency of the DoC and/or other Federal department, agency or

instrumentality, without the prior written approval of the Grants

Officer.

Name Check Review

All non-profit and for-profit applicants are subject to a name

check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any key

individuals associated with the applicant have been convicted of or are

presently facing criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or

other matters which significantly reflect on the applicants' management

honesty or financial integrity.

Primary Applicant Certifications

All primary applicants must subject a completed Form CD-511,

Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility

Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying, and the

following explanations are hereby provided:

1. Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension

Prospective participants (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, section

105) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, Nonprocurement Debarment and

Suspension and the related section of the certification form prescribed

above apply;

2. Drug-Free Workplace

Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR 26.605) are subject to 15 CFR part

26, subpart F, Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace

(Grants) and the related section of the certification form prescribed

above applies;

3. Anti-Lobbying

Persons (as defined at 15 CFR 28.105) are subject to the lobbying

provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, Limitation on use of appropriated funds

to influence certain Federal contracting and financial transactions,

and the lobbying section of the certification form prescribed above

applies to applicants/bids for cooperative agreements for more than

$100,000; and

4. Anti-Lobbying Disclosures

Any applicant who has paid or will pay for lobbying using any funds

must submit an SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, as required

under 15 CFR part 28, appendix B.

False Statements

A false statement on an application is grounds for denial or

termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or

imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.

Intergovernmental Review

Applications under this program are not subject to Executive Order

12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''

Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products

Applicants are hereby notified that they are encouraged, to the

greatest practicable extent, to purchase American-made equipment and

products with funding provided under this program.

Non-Compliance With Award Provisions

Failure to comply with any or all of the provisions of the award

may be considered grounds for any or all of the following actions:

Establishment of an account receivable, withholding payments under any

DoC awards to the Recipient, changing the method of payment from

advance to reimbursement only, termination of any DoC active awards,

and may have a negative impact on future funding by the DoC.

Prohibition Against Assignment by the Recipient

Notwithstanding any other provision of the award, the Recipient

shall not transfer, pledge, mortgage, or otherwise assign the award, or

any interest therein, or any claim arising thereunder, to any party or

parties, bank trust companies, or other financing or financial

institutions.

[[Page 29270]]

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Information

Any Recipient classified for tax purposes as an individual,

partnership, proprietorship, corporation, or medical corporation is

required to submit a taxpayer identification number (TIN) (either

social security number, employer identification number as applicable,

or registered foreign organization number) on Form W-9, ``Payer's

Request for Taxpayer Identification Number.'' Tax-exempt organizations

and corporations (with the exception of medical corporations) are

excluded from this requirement. Form W-9 shall be submitted to the

Grants Officer within 60 days of the award start date. The TIN will be

provided to the IRS by DoC on Form 1099-G, ``Statement for Recipients

of Certain Government Payments.'' Recipients who either fail to provide

their TIN or provide an incorrect TIN may have funding suspended until

the requirement is met.

Disclosure of Recipient's TIN is mandatory for Federal income tax

reporting purposes under the authority of 26 USC, section 6011 and

6109(d), and 26 CFR 301.6109-1. This is to ensure the accuracy of

income computation by the IRS. This information will be used to

identify an individual who is compensated with DoC funds or paid

interest under the Prompt Payment Act.

Foreign Travel

Recipients must comply with the provisions of the Fly America Act

(49 U.S.C. 40118). The Fly America Act requires that Federal travelers

and others performing U.S. Government-financed foreign air travel must

use U.S. flag air carriers, to the extent that service by such carriers

is available. Foreign air carriers may be used only when a U.S. flag

air carrier is unavailable, or use of U.S. flag air carrier service

will not accomplish the agency's mission.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Disclosure

To the extent permitted under the FOIA, contents of applications

and proposals submitted by successful applicants may be released in

response to FOIA requests.

Executive Order 12866

This rule has been determined not to be significant for purposes of

Executive Order 12866.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This Notice involves collections of information subject to the

Paperwork reduction Act (PRA), which have been approved by the Office

of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Numbers 0348-0043,

0348-0044, 0348-0040 and 0348-0046. Notwithstanding, any other

provisions of law no person is required to respond to nor shall a

person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection

of information subject to the requirements of the PRA unless that

collection displays a current valid OMB Control number.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

These awards fall under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program No. 11.609.

Dated: May 24, 1999.

Karen H. Brown,

Deputy Director.

[FR Doc. 99-13690 Filed 5-28-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-13-M