Even Start Family Literacy Program for Federally Recognized Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations; Inviting Applications for New Awards Using Fiscal Year (FY) 1999 Funds

Federal RegisterFeb 12, 1999

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[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 29 (Friday, February 12, 1999)]

[Notices]

[Pages 7430-7456]

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

[FR Doc No: 99-3341]

[[Page 7429]]

_______________________________________________________________________

Part IX

Department of Education

_______________________________________________________________________

Even Start Family Literacy Program for Federally Recognized Indian

Tribes and Tribal Organizations; Inviting Applications for New Awards

Using Fiscal Year (FY) 1999 Funds; Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 29 / Friday, February 12, 1999 /

Notices

[[Page 7430]]

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.258]

Even Start Family Literacy Program for Federally Recognized

Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations; Inviting Applications for New

Awards Using Fiscal Year (FY) 1999 Funds

AGENCY: Department of Education.

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 Even Start Family Literacy Program for

Indian tribes and tribal organizations is designed to help break the

cycle of poverty and illiteracy by improving the educational

opportunities of low-income families by integrating early childhood

education, adult literacy or adult basic education, and parenting

education into a unified family literacy program for federally

recognized Indian tribes and tribal organizations.

Eligible Applicants: Federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal

organizations.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 30, 1999.

Available Funds: The Department estimates that there will be

sufficient FY 1999 funds for three new projects after funding

continuation awards in FY 1999.

Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000--$250,000.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $175,000.

Estimated Number of Awards: 3.

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

notice.

Project Period: Up to 48 months.

Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) as follows:

(1) 34 CFR Part 75 (Direct Grant Programs).

(2) 34 CFR Part 77 (Definitions that Apply to Department

Regulations).

(3) 34 CFR Part 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants

and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments).

(4) 34 CFR Part 81 (General Education Provisions Act--Enforcement).

(5) 34 CFR Part 82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying).

(6) 34 CFR Part 85 (Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension

(Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free

Workplace (Grants)).

Description of Program: Under the authority of section

1202(a)(1)(C) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the

Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education (Assistant

Secretary) awards grants to eligible applicants for projects that--

(1) Improve the educational opportunities of low-income families by

integrating early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic

education, and parenting education into a unified family literacy

program for federally recognized Indian tribe and tribal organization

projects;

(2) Are implemented through cooperative activities that build on

existing community resources to create a new range of services for

federally recognized Indian tribe and tribal organization projects;

(3) Promote achievement of the National Education Goals one, three,

five, and eight that address school readiness, student achievement, and

parent involvement in the education of their children; and

(4) Assist children and adults to achieve to challenging State

content standards and challenging State student performance standards.

Eligible participants. Eligible participants are children and their

parents who also meet the following conditions specified in section

1206(a) of the ESEA:

(1) The parent or parents must be eligible for participation in

adult education and literacy activities under the Adult Education and

Family Literacy Act; or

(2) For a parent or parents within the State's compulsory school

attendance age range, a local educational agency must provide (or

ensure the availability of) the basic education component; and

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

(Note: Family members of eligible participants described in

paragraphs one through three, above, also may participate in Even

Start Family Literacy Program activities when appropriate to serve

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

generally permits families to remain eligible for Even Start Family

Literacy services until all family members become ineligible for

participation. For example, in the case of a family in which the

parent or parents have become ineligible due to educational

advancement, eligibility would continue until all children in the

family reach age eight. If all children in a family have reached the

age of eight, the family continues to be eligible for two more

years, or until the parents no longer are eligible for adult

education and literacy activities under the Adult Education and

Family Literacy Act, whichever occurs earlier.)

Budget period. Under 34 CFR 75.112 and 75.117, an eligible

applicant must propose a project period of up to four years and provide

budgetary information for each year of that proposed project period in

its initial application. The budgetary information provided should

include, for each year, an amount for all key project components with

an accompanying breakdown of any subcomponents. A written justification

for all requested amounts should be provided.

An applicant is also required under 34 CFR Sec. 75.112(b) to

describe how and when, in each budget period of the project, it plans

to meet each objective of the project.

(Note: This information will be used by the Assistant Secretary,

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 Assistant Secretary's

approval of changes in the project to enable it to meet the

objectives in the succeeding budget periods.)

Federal and local funding. An Even Start Family Literacy project's

funding is comprised of both a Federal portion of funds (Federal share)

and a portion contributed by the eligible applicant (local project

share). The local share of the project may be provided in cash or in

kind and may be obtained from any source, including other Federal

programs. The Federal share of the project may not exceed--

90 percent of the total cost of the project 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 for any grantee receiving a grant for a second

grant cycle may not exceed 50 percent. Any grantee that wishes to

reapply for a second grant cycle at the end of its first project period

(up to 48 months) must recompete for funding with new applicants.

Indirect costs. Even Start Family Literacy Program funds generally

may not be used for the indirect costs of a project. Recipients of an

Even Start Indian tribe and tribal organization grant may request the

Secretary to waive this requirement. To obtain a waiver, however, the

recipient must demonstrate to the Secretary's satisfaction that the

recipient otherwise would not be able to participate in the Even Start

Family Literacy Program.

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National Evaluation: The Department is conducting a national

evaluation of Even Start Family Literacy projects. Grantees are

required to participate in the Department's national evaluation and to

conduct a separate, annual independent local evaluation consistent with

the grantee's responsibilities under 34 CFR 75.590 and section 1205(10)

of the ESEA.

The Secretary suggests that each applicant budget $10,000 for

evaluation activities. These funds will be used for expenditures

related to the project's independent local evaluation and for

collection and aggregation of data required for the Department's

national evaluation. The Secretary also recommends that projects budget

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

the project director and the project evaluator, for their participation

in annual evaluation meetings.

Selection Criteria

The Secretary uses the following selection criteria to evaluate

applications for grants under this competition.

(1) The maximum composite score for all of these criteria is 100

points.

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

parentheses.

(a) Meeting the purposes of the authorizing statute. (10 points).

The Secretary considers how well the project will meet the purpose of

the Even Start Family Literacy Program for federally recognized Indian

tribes and tribal organizations, which under sections 1201 and

1202(a)(1)(C) of the ESEA is to help break the cycle of poverty and

illiteracy by awarding grants for projects that--

Improve the educational opportunities of low-income

families by integrating early childhood education, adult literacy or

adult basic education, and parenting education into a unified family

literacy program for federally recognized Indian tribe and tribal

organization projects;

Are implemented through cooperative projects that build on

existing community resources to create a new range of services for

Indian tribe and tribal organization projects;

Promote achievement of the National Education Goals; and

Assist children and adults from low-income families to

achieve to challenging State content standards and challenging State

student performance standards.

(b) Need for project. (15 points). The Secretary considers the need

for the proposed project. In determining the need for the proposed

project, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(i) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or

the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.

(ii) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services,

infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be

addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude

of those gaps or weaknesses.

(Note: The Secretary invites applicants to address such factors

as the following: the number of families in the area who need Even

Start services, the lack of availability of comprehensive family

literacy services for that population, other resources that will be

used to benefit project participants, and any other factors that the

applicant considers relevant to the extent of need for the project.)

significance of the proposed project. In determining the significance

of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the proposed project involves the

development or demonstration of promising new strategies that build on,

or are alternatives to, existing strategies.

(ii) The potential replicability of the proposed project or

strategies, including, as appropriate, the potential for implementation

in a variety of settings.

(iii) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely

to be attained by the proposed project.

(d) Quality of the project design. (15 points). The Secretary

considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In

determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the

Secretary considers the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the design of the proposed project includes

a thorough, high-quality review of the relevant literature, a high-

quality plan for project implementation, and the use of appropriate

methodological tools to ensure successful achievement of project

objectives.

(ii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is

appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target

population or other identified needs.

(iii) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated

with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community,

State, and Federal resources.

(Note: Concerning design of the project, an eligible applicant

must propose a project that incorporates, at a minimum, the

following program elements required by section 1205 of the ESEA:

(A) Identification and recruitment of families most in need of

services provided under the Even Start Family Literacy Program, 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.

(B) Screening and preparation of parents, including teenage

parents and children, to enable those parents to participate fully

in the activities and services provided under the Even Start Family

Literacy Program, including testing, referral to necessary

counseling, other developmental and support services, and related

services.

other responsibilities, including the provision of support services,

when those services are unavailable from other sources, but are

necessary for participation in the activities assisted under the

Even Start Family Literacy Program, such as--

Scheduling and location of services to allow joint

participation by parents and children;

Child care for the period that parents are involved in

the project; and

Transportation to enable parents and their children to

participate in the project.

(D) High-quality, intensive instructional programs that promote

adult literacy and empower parents to support the educational growth

of their children, developmentally appropriate early childhood

educational services, and preparation of children for success in

regular school programs.

(E) 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 through the Even

Start Family Literacy Program.

(F) Providing and monitoring of integrated instructional

services to participating parents and children through home-based

programs.

(G) Operation on a year-round basis, including the provision of

some program services, instructional or enrichment, during the

summer months.

(H) Coordination with--

Programs assisted under other parts of Title I and

other programs under the ESEA;

Any relevant programs under the Adult Education and

Family Literacy Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education

Act, and the Job Training Partnership Act; and

The Head Start program, volunteer literacy programs,

and other relevant programs.

(I) Ensuring that the proposed project will serve those families

most in need of the activities and services provided by the Even

Start Family Literacy Program.

(J) An independent evaluation of the project.)

(e) Quality of project services. (20 points). The Secretary

considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed

project. In determining the quality of the services to be provided by

the proposed project, the Secretary

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considers the quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal

access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members

of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race,

color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. In addition, the

Secretary considers the following factors:

(i) The likelihood that the services to be provided by the proposed

project will lead to improvements in the achievement of students as

measured against rigorous academic standards.

(ii) The likely impact of the services to be provided by the

proposed project on the intended recipients of those services.

(Note: An eligible applicant must propose a project that has

``high-quality, intensive instructional programs'' in the three core

instructional areas (early childhood education, adult education and

parenting education), as required by section 1205(4) of the ESEA.

Concerning the quality of project services, the Secretary invites

applicants to describe the level of intensity in these three core

instructional services that the applicant believes sufficient to

produce positive and sustainable outcomes for families, and how the

project will provide that level of intensity of services.)

(f) Quality of project personnel. (5 points). The Secretary

considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed

project. In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary

considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for

employment from persons who are members of groups that have

traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national

origin, gender, age, or disability. In addition, the Secretary

considers the following factors:

(i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,

of key project personnel.

(ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and

experience, of project consultants or subcontractors.

(g) Adequacy of resources. (5 points.) The Secretary considers the

adequacy of resources for the proposed project. In determining the

adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary considers

the following factors:

(i) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment,

supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the

lead applicant organization.

(Note: Applicants may address this criteria in any way that is

reasonable. An eligible applicant must provide an increasing local

project share over the grant period (at least the following amounts:

10% in the first year, 20% in the second year, 30% in the third

year, and 40% in the fourth year), as required by section 1204(b) of

the ESEA. In addressing adequacy of resources, the Secretary invites

applicants to describe the resources that they will use to increase

the amount of the local project's share over the four years of the

grant, which will contribute to the applicant's ability to sustain

the project at the end of the Federal funding.)

(ii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to

the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed

project.

(iii) The potential for the incorporation of project purposes,

activities, or benefits into the ongoing program of the agency or

organization at the end of Federal funding.

(h) Quality of the management plan. (10 points). The Secretary

considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project.

In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed

project, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives

of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly

defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing

project tasks.

(ii) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and

continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project.

(iii) The extent to which the time commitments of the project

director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are

appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed

project.

(iv) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives

are brought to bear in the operation of the proposed project, including

those of parents, teachers, the business community, a variety of

disciplinary and professional fields, recipients or beneficiaries of

services, or others, as appropriate.

(i) Quality of project evaluation. (10 points). The Secretary

considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed

project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary

considers the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use

of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the

intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and

qualitative data to the extent possible.

(ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide

performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward

achieving intended outcomes.

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, Attention: Laura Chow (CFDA #84.258), Compensatory

Education Programs, Room 3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D

Streets, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4725 or

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

4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) on or before the deadline date to: U.S.

Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: Laura

Chow (CFDA #84.258), Compensatory Education Programs, Room 3633,

Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets, SW, Washington, DC

20202-4725.

(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.

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 notice contains the following forms and

instructions, plus a statement regarding estimated public reporting

burden, a notice to applicants regarding compliance with section 427 of

the General Education Provisions Act, and various assurances and

certifications.

[[Page 7433]]

a. Instructions for the Application Narrative.

b. Estimated Public Reporting Burden Statement.

c. Notice to all Applicants.

d. Objectives and Performance Indicators for the Even Start Family

Literacy Program.

e. Application for Federal Assistance (ED 424 (OMB No. 1875-0106,

Expires 6/30/01)) and instructions.

f. Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED Form No. 524)

and instructions.

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

h. Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and

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

80-0013).

i. 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.)

j. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL) (if

applicable) and instructions. This document has been marked to reflect

statutory changes. See the notice published in the Federal Register (61

FR 1413) by the Office of Management and Budget on January 19, 1996.

An applicant may submit information on photostatic copies of the

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

application form, assurances, and certifications must each have an

original signature. No grant may be awarded unless a completed

application form, including the signed assurances and certifications,

have been received.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Chow, Compensatory Education

Programs, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department

of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW (FOB 6, 3W208), Washington, DC

20202-6132. Telephone (202) 260-2683. 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.

Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an

alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer

diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding

paragraph.

Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application

package in an alternate format, also, by contacting that person.

However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternate format

the standard forms included in the application package.

Electronic Access to This Document

Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of

Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or

portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the

following sites:

http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm

http://www.ed.gov/news html

To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with

Search, which is available free at either of the previous sites. If you

have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government Printing

Office toll free at 1-888-293-6498.

Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an

electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone (202) 219-1511

or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option

G-Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases.

Note: The official version of a document is the document

published in the Federal Register.

Program authority: 20 U.S.C. section 6362(a)(1)(C).

Gerald N. Tirozzi,

Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.

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--

1. Begin with a one-page Abstract summarizing the proposed project;

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

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

package; and

3. Provide the following in response to the attached ``Notice to

all Applicants'': (1) a reference to the portion of the application in

which information appears as to how the applicant is addressing steps

to promote equitable access and participation, or (2) a separate

statement that contains that information.

4. Provide a copy of the signed set of assurances specified in

section 14306(a) of the ESEA (20 USC 8856(a)) that the applicant has

filed with its SEA and that is applicable to this grant application.

5. Include any other pertinent information that might assist the

Secretary in reviewing the application.

The Secretary strongly requests the applicant to limit the

Application Narrative to no more than 20 double-spaced, typed pages (on

one side only). The Department has found that successful applications

for similar programs generally meet this page limit.

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 1810-0540 (Expiration Date: 3/31/1999). The

time required to complete this information collection is estimated to

average 15 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 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: Patricia McKee,

Compensatory Education Programs, Office of Elementary and Secondary

Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW (FOB

6, Area 3 West), Washington D.C. 20202-6132.

Notice to All Applicants

The purpose of this enclosure is to inform you about a new

provision in the Department of Education's General Education Provisions

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 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

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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 provision allows applicants discretion in developing the

required description. The statute highlights six types of barriers that

can impede equitable access or participation: gender, race, national

origin, color, disability, or age. Based on local circumstances, you

should determine whether these or other barriers may prevent your

students, teachers, etc. from such access or participation in, the

Federally-funded project or activity. The description in your

application of steps to be taken to overcome these barriers 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