[Federal Register: May 7, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 88)]
[Notices]
[Page 23009-23010]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07my01-42]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA No. 84.310A]
Parental Assistance Program
AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice of Final Priority for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary announces a final funding priority for the FY
2001 grant competition under Parental Assistance Program (20 U.S.C.
5911 et seq.). This program provides grants to eligible non-profit
organizations, and eligible non-profit organizations in consortium with
local educational agencies (LEAs), to establish parental information
and resource centers. Under the funding priority, the Secretary gives
competitive preference to eligible non-profit organizations that apply
in consortium with one or more LEAs with low-performing schools and
propose to implement comprehensive strategies designed to strengthen
school-family-community partnerships in order to help children in low-
performing schools reach challenging academic standards.
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 6, 2001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 12, 2001, we published in the
Federal Register a notice of proposed priority (NPP) for the FY 2001
grant competition under the Parental Assistance Program. In the NPP we
announced our intent to give applicants that meet the preference up to
10 additional points in the competition with the number of points
awarded to be determined on the basis of how well the applicant
addressed the competitive preference. This notice of final funding
priority announces the final competitive preference for the
competition.
Note: This notice of final priority does not solicit
applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition
is published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
Analysis of Comments and Changes
Four parties submitted comments in response to the proposed
priority. Two of the parties supported the priority, one party
requested that the Department specify the percentage of grant funds
that should be focused on the priority, and another party indicated
that a parent center-LEA consortium priority would eliminate the
autonomy and effectiveness of the centers. The comments of the latter
two parties are summarized below.
Comment: One commenter recommended that the Department indicate the
amount of staff and funds that should be focused on the priority.
Discussion: The Secretary believes that applicants should be given
as much flexibility as possible in designing proposals that best
address the funding priority. The number of points that an applicant
receives under the priority should be based on how well the applicant
addresses the priority, and not on the amount of resources that the
applicant proposes to spend on the priority.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter indicated that requiring parent centers to
work more formally with school districts in a consortium would
eliminate the autonomy and effectiveness of the
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centers. The commenter believes that by working independently of
schools, the centers can better assist families who do not feel
connected with the schools and provide families with the tools needed
to create change in the schools.
Discussion: The Secretary is not requiring non-profit organizations
to apply in consortium with one or more LEAs. However, the Secretary
believes that strengthening school-community-family partnerships will
help children in low-performing schools succeed in school. Under the
priority, the parent centers still will have considerable autonomy in
designing proposals that best meet local needs and in coordinating with
low-performing schools in implementing comprehensive strategies to
assist children in these schools. The Secretary notes that the
legislation explicitly supports consortia of non-profit organizations
and school districts. The priority is designed to encourage such
consortia.
Changes: None.
Competitive Preference: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2), the Secretary
gives a competitive preference in the FY 2001 competition under the
Parental Assistance Program. To receive this preference, an applicant
must--
(1) Consist of a consortium that includes a non-profit organization
and one or more LEAs with low-performing schools. The low-performing
schools must be schools identified as in need of improvement under
section 1116(c) of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965, as amended.
(2) Propose to implement comprehensive strategies designed to
strengthen school-family-community partnerships in order to help
children in the low-performing schools reach challenging academic
standards. The applicant must clearly describe the role of the non-
profit organization and the LEA(s) in conducting these activities with
the low-performing schools.
(3) Provide documentation from the identified low-performing
schools demonstrating that the schools will cooperate and coordinate
with the applicant in implementing the proposed activities.
An applicant that meets the competitive preference will receive up
to 10 points in the competition. These points are in addition to any
points the applicant earns under the selection criteria. The number of
points that will be awarded will be determined on the basis of how well
the applicant addresses the competitive preference.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachael Couch, (202) 401-0039, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., FOB 6, Room 3E243,
Mail Stop 6400, Washington, DC 20202. The e-mail address for Ms. Couch
is: Rachael.couch@ed.gov.
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-888-877-
8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed above.
Individuals with disabilities may also obtain a copy of the
application package in an alternative format on request to the contact
person listed. However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an
alternative format the standard forms included in the application
package.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may view this document, as well as other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site:
www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at the preceding site. If you have questions about using PDF, call
the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-
6498, or in the Washington, DC area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://
www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 5911 et seq.
Dated: May 1, 2001.
Thomas M. Corwin,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary
Education.
[FR Doc. 01-11439 Filed 5-4-01; 8:45 am]
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