Foreign Language Assistance Grants (Local Educational Agencies) Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.293B]

Foreign Language Assistance Grants (Local Educational Agencies)

Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1999

Note to Applicants: This notice is a complete application package.

Together with the statute authorizing the program and applicable

regulations governing the program, including the Education Department

General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), this notice contains all of

the information, application forms, and instructions needed to apply

for an award under this competition.

Purpose of Program: This program provides grants to pay for the

Federal share of the cost of innovative model programs providing for

the establishment, improvement, or expansion of foreign language study

for elementary and secondary school students.

In awarding grants under this program, the Secretary supports

projects that--

(A) show the promise of being continued beyond their project

period;

(B) demonstrate approaches that can be disseminated and duplicated

in other local educational agencies; and

(C) may include a professional development component.

Eligible Applicants: Local educational agencies.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 26, 1999.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 26, 1999.

Available Funds: $4,800,000.

Estimated Range of Awards: $50,000-$175,000.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $112,500.

Estimated Number of Awards: 43.

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

notice.

Project Period: 36 months.

Applicable Regulations

(a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations

(EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85 and 86.

(b) 34 CFR part 299.

Description of Programs

Part B of Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

of 1965, as amended (the Act), authorizes the Foreign Language

Assistance Grants program. Appropriations for this program are

authorized by section 7206 of the Act. Applicants should note that

section 7203(c)(1) provides that the Federal share of the cost of

activities assisted under this part for each fiscal year is 50 percent.

The Secretary may waive this requirement for any local educational

agency which the Secretary determines does not have adequate resources

to pay the non-Federal share of the cost of the activities assisted

under this part. Section 7203(c)(3) of the Act provides that at least

75 percent of the funds appropriated under section 7206 must be used

for the expansion of foreign language learning in elementary grades.

The Secretary does not fund projects that propose Native American

languages.

Priority

Under 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv) and (c)(2)(i) and section 7204(b) of

the Act (20 U.S.C. 7514(b)), the Secretary gives preference to

applications that meet the following competitive priority. The

Secretary awards three points depending on how well an application

meets this competitive priority. These points would be in addition to

any points the application earns under the selection criteria for the

program.

Competitive Preference Priority--Special Considerations (3 points)

Projects that propose to carry out one or more of the following

activities: (1) intensive summer foreign language programs for

professional development; (2) linking non-native English speakers in

the community with the schools in order to promote two-way language

learning; or (3) promoting the sequential study of a foreign language,

beginning in elementary schools.

Selection Criteria

(a)(1) The Secretary uses the following selection criteria in 34

CFR 75.209 and 75.210 and section 7203 of the Act 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)(1) Need for the project. (10 points).

The Secretary considers the need for the 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.

(2) Significance. (20 points).

The Secretary reviews each application to determine how well the

proposed project will implement foreign language instructional programs

that will:

(i) Show the promise of being continued beyond the grant period;

and

(ii) Demonstrate approaches that can be disseminated and duplicated

in other local educational agencies.

(3) Quality of the project design. (25 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 goals, objectives, and outcomes to be

achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.

(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 design for implementing and

evaluating the proposed project will result in information to guide

possible replication of project activities or strategies, including

information about the effectiveness of the approach or strategies

employed by the project.

(4) Quality of Project Services (20 points).

(i) The Secretary considers the quality of services to be provided

by the proposed project.

(ii) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by

the proposed project, the Secretary 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.

(iii) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(A) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed

project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or

beneficiaries of those services.

(B) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed

project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective

practice.

(C) 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.

(5) Quality of Project Personnel. (10 points).

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(i) The Secretary considers the quality of the key personnel who

will carry out the proposed project.

(ii) 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.

(iii) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:

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

of the project director or principal investigator.

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

of key project personnel.

(6) Adequacy of resources. (4 points).

The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the project.

In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the

Secretary considers the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the

proposed project.

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

the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed

project.

(7) Quality of the management plan. (5 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 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.

(8) Quality of project evaluation plan. (6 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 are thorough,

feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the

proposed project.

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

performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward

achieving intended outcomes.

(iii) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance

about effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other

settings.

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 November 3, 1998 (63 FR 59452

through 59455).

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

for review, State, areawide, 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, areawide,

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# 84.293B, U.S. Department of Education, Room 6213, 600

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-0124.

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. (Eastern 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

must--

(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: (CFDA# 84.293B), Washington, D.C. 20202-4725

or

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

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

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

84.293B), Room #3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets,

SW, Washington, D.C.

(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, guidance on

addressing the EDGAR selection criteria, and various assurances,

certifications, and required documentation. These parts and

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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 (ED 424) and

instructions.

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

524) and instructions.

Part III: Application Narrative.

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS:

a. Estimated Public Reporting Burden.

b. Part B of Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education

Act of 1965, as amended (the Act).

c. Program Questions and Answers.

d. Group Application Certification.

e. Student Data.

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

instructions.

g. Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and

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

80-0013) and instructions.

h. 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).

i. 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 at

(61 FR 1413)by the Office of Management and Budget on January 19,

1996).

j. Notice to All Applicants concerning a new provision in the

Department of Education's General Education Provisions Act (GEPA).

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. All applicants must submit ONE

original signed application, including ink signatures on all forms and

assurances, and TWO copies of the application. Please mark each

application as ``original'' or ``copy''. No grant may be awarded unless

a completed application form has been received.

For Further Information Contact: Rebecca Richey, or Ki Lee U.S.

Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 5090, Switzer

Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-6510. Rebecca Richey, Telephone: (202)

205-9717 or Ki Lee Telephone: (202) 205-8730. 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 notice in an

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

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

paragraph. Please note, however, that the Department is not able to

reproduce in an alternate format the standard forms included in the

notice.

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 preceding sites. If

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

Printing Office toll free at 1-800-293-6498.

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 this document is the document

published in the Federal Register.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7511-7514.

Dated: January 8, 1999.

Delia Pompa,

Director, Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs.

Editor's Note: An excerpt of Public Law 103-382 is published for

the convenience of the reader. The official text is published at 108

Stat. 3737.

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APPENDIX

Part I

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Part II

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Part III--Application Narrative

Application Narrative Instructions

Mandatory Page Limit for the Application Narrative

The narrative is the section of the application where you address

the selection criteria used by reviewers in evaluating the application.

You must limit the narrative to the equivalent of no more than 35

pages, using the following standards:

(1) A page is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only with 1'' margins at

the top, bottom, and both sides.

(2) You must double space (no more than three lines per vertical

inch) all text in the application narrative, including titles,

headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as

all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.

If you use a proportional computer font, you may not use a font

smaller than a 12-point font. If you use a non-proportional font or a

typewriter, you may not use more than 12 characters per inch.

The page limit does not apply to the Application for Federal

Education Assistance Form (ED 424); the Budget Information Form (ED

524) and attached itemization of costs; the other application forms and

attachments to those forms; the assurances and certifications; or the

one-page abstract and table of contents described below.

IF, IN ORDER TO MEET THE PAGE LIMIT, YOU USE PRINT SIZE, SPACING,

OR MARGINS SMALLER THAN STANDARDS SPECIFIED IN THIS NOTICE, YOUR

APPLICATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING.

Additional Guidance

Abstract

The narrative section should be preceded by a one-page abstract

that includes a short description of the population to be served by the

project, project objectives, and planned project activities.

Table of contents

The application should include a table of contents listing the

parts of the narrative in the order of the selection criteria. Be sure

that the table includes the page numbers where the parts of the

narrative are found.

Budget

Budget line items must support the goals and objectives of the

proposed project and must be directly related to the instructional

design and all other project components.

Selection Criteria

The narrative should address fully all aspects of the selection

criteria in the order listed and should give detailed information

regarding each criterion. Do not simply paraphrase the criteria. Do not

include resumes or curriculum vitae for project personnel; provide

position descriptions instead. Do not include bibliographies, letters

of support, or appendices in your application.

Final Application Preparation

Submit three copies of the application, including an original copy

containing an original signature for each form requiring the signature

of the authorized representative. Do not use elaborate bindings or

covers. The application package must be mailed or hand-delivered to the

Application Control Center (ACC) and postmarked by the deadline date.

Additional Materials

Estimated Burden Statement

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

required to respond to a collection of information unless such

collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control

number for this information collection is 1885-0540 (Exp. 12/31/2001).

The time required to complete this information collection is estimated

to average 80 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

Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs, U.S. Department of

Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 5603, Switzer Building,

Washington, D.C. 20202-6510.

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[FR Doc. 99-778 Filed 1-12-99; 8:45 am]

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