52916 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 196 / Thursday, October 9, 1997 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.083 A and B]

Women’s Educational Equity Act

Program (WEEA); Notice Inviting

Applications for New Awards for Fiscal

Year (FY) 1998

Purpose of Program: To promote

gender equity in education; to promote

equity in education for women and girls

who suffer from multiple forms of

discrimination based on sex and race,

ethnic origin, limited English

proficiency, disability or age; and to

provide financial assistance to enable

educational agencies to meet the

requirements of title IX of the Education

Amendments of 1972.

Eligible Applicants: Public agencies,

private nonprofit agencies,

organizations, institutions, student

groups, community groups, and

individuals.

Deadline for Transmittal of

Applications: November 24, 1997.

Deadline for Intergovernmental

Review: January 30, 1998.

Applications Available: October 15,

1997.

Estimated Available Funds: The

Congress has not yet appropriated fiscal

year 1998 funds for this program. At the

level requested by the President,

$1,570,000 would be available for new

awards.

Estimated Range of Awards:

Implementation Grants: $90,000–

$200,000; Research and Development

Grants: $80,000–$200,000.

Estimated Average Size of Awards:

Implementation Grants: $150,000;

Research and Development Grants:

$150,000.

Estimated Number of Awards:

Implementation Grants: 9; Research and

Development Grants: 2.

Note: The Department is not bound by any

estimates in the notice.

Project Period: Up to 48 months.

Funds available under this competition

would be used for the first 12 months

of a project.

Applicable Regulations: The

Education Department General

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in

34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82,

85, and 86.

Supplementary Information: The

Department will award two types of

grants: (a) grants for the implementation

of gender equity programs in schools;

and (b) research and development

grants to develop model equity

programs. Examples of authorized

activities under the program include—

Implementation Grants

(a) Assisting educational agencies and

institutions to implement policies and

practices to comply with title IX of the

Education Amendments of 1972;

(b) Training for teachers, counselors,

administrators, and other school

personnel, especially preschool and

elementary school personnel, in genderequitable teaching and learning

practices;

(c) Leadership training for women and

girls to develop professional and

marketable skills to compete in the

global marketplace, improve selfesteem, and benefit from exposure to

positive role models;

(d) School-to-work transition

programs, guidance and counseling

activities, and other programs to

increase opportunities for women and

girls to enter a technologically

demanding workplace and, in

particular, to enter highly skilled, highpaying careers in which women and

girls have been underrepresented;

(e) Enhancing educational and career

opportunities for those women and girls

who suffer multiple forms of

discrimination, based on sex and on

race, ethnic origin, limited-English

proficiency, disability, socioeconomic

status, or age;

(f) Assisting pregnant students and

students rearing children to remain in or

to return to secondary school, graduate,

and prepare their preschool children to

start school;

(g) Evaluating exemplary model

programs to assess the ability of such

programs to advance educational equity

for women and girls;

(h) Introduction into the classroom of

textbooks, curricula, and other materials

designed to achieve equity for women

and girls;

(i) Programs and policies to address

sexual harassment and violence against

women and girls and to ensure that

educational institutions are free from

threats to the safety of students and

personnel;

(j) Nondiscriminatory tests of aptitude

and achievement and of alternative

assessments that eliminate biased

assessment instruments from use;

(k) Programs to increase educational

opportunities, including higher

education, vocational training, and

other educational programs for lowincome women, including

underemployed and unemployed

women, and women receiving Aid to

Families with Dependent Children

benefits;

(l) Programs to improve

representation of women in educational

administration at all levels; and

(m) Planning, development, and

initial implementation of—

(1) Comprehensive institution- or

districtwide evaluation to assess the

presence or absence of gender equity in

educational settings;

(2) Comprehensive plans for

implementation of equity programs in

State and local educational agencies and

institutions of higher education,

including community colleges; and

(3) Innovative approaches to schoolcommunity partnerships for educational

equity.

Research and Development Activities

(a) Research and development of

innovative strategies and model training

programs for teachers and other

education personnel;

(b) The development of high-quality

and challenging assessment instruments

that are nondiscriminatory;

(c) The development and evaluation

of model curricula, textbooks, software,

and other educational materials to

ensure the absence of gender

stereotyping and bias;

(d) The development of instruments

and procedures that employ new and

innovative strategies to assess whether

diverse educational settings are gender

equitable;

(e) The development of instruments

and strategies for evaluation,

dissemination, and replication of

promising or exemplary programs

designed to assist local educational

agencies in integrating gender equity in

their educational policies and practices;

(f) Updating high-quality educational

materials previously developed through

Women’s Educational Equity Act

(WEEA) grants;

(g) The development of policies and

programs to address and prevent sexual

harassment and violence to ensure that

educational institutions are free from

threats to safety of students and

personnel;

(h) The development and

improvement of programs and activities

to increase opportunity for women,

including continuing educational

activities, vocational education, and

programs for low-income women,

including underemployed and

unemployed women, and women

receiving Aid to Families with

Dependent Children; and

(i) The development of guidance and

counseling activities, including career

education programs, designed to ensure

gender equity.

Selection Criteria for Implementation

Grants: The Secretary evaluates

applications for implementation grants

on the basis of the following criteria.

The maximum possible score for each
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 196 / Thursday, October 9, 1997 / Notices 52917

criterion is indicated in parentheses

with the criterion. The Secretary awards

up to 100 points for all of the criteria.

(a) Effectively Achieving the Purposes

of WEEA. (20 points)

Under 34 CFR 75.209 and 20 U.S.C

7235(a), the Secretary reviews each

application to determine how well the

project will effectively achieve the

purposes of the WEEA Program.

Note: Applicants should consider the

following statutory provisions in responding

to this criterion. Under 20 U.S.C. 7232, the

purpose of the WEEA program is: (1) to

promote gender equity in education in the

United States; (2) to provide financial

assistance to enable educational agencies and

institutions to meet the requirements of title

IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972;

and (3) to promote equity in education for

women and girls who suffer from multiple

forms of discrimination based on sex, race,

ethnic origin, limited-English proficiency,

disability, or age.

(b) Project as a component of a

comprehensive plan. (5 points)

Under 34 CFR 75.209 and 20 U.S.C.

7235(a)(2)(C), the Secretary reviews

each application to determine the extent

to which the project is a significant

component of a comprehensive plan for

educational equity and compliance with

title IX of the Educational Amendments

of 1972 in the particular school district,

institution of higher education,

vocational-technical institution, or other

educational agency or institution.

(c) Implementing an institutional

change strategy. (5 points)

Under 34 CFR 75.209 and 20 U.S.C.

7235(a)(2)(D), the Secretary reviews

each application to determine the extent

to which the project implements an

institutional change strategy with longterm impact that will continue as a

central activity of the applicant after the

WEEA grant has been terminated.

(d) Need for project. (10 points)

Under 34 CFR 75.210, the Secretary

considers the need for the proposed

project. In determining the need for the

proposed project, the Secretary

considers the following factors:

(1) The magnitude of the need for the

services to be provided or the activities

to be carried out by the proposed

project.

(2) The extent to which the proposed

project will enhance educational and

career opportunities for those women

and girls who suffer forms of

discrimination, based on sex and race,

ethnic origin, limited Englishproficiency, disability, socioeconomic

status or age.

(e) Significance. (5 points)

Under 34 CFR 75.210, the Secretary

considers the significance of the

proposed project. In determining the

significance of the proposed project, the

Secretary considers the following

factors:

(1) The potential contribution of the

proposed project to increased

knowledge or understanding of

educational problems, issues, or

effective strategies.

(2) The extent to which the proposed

project is likely to build local capacity

to provide, improve, or expand services

that address the needs of the target

population.

(3) The likely utility of the products

(such as information, materials,

processes, or techniques) that will result

from the proposed project, including the

potential for their being used effectively

in a variety of other settings.

(4) The importance or magnitude of

the results or outcomes likely to be

attained by the proposed project,

especially improvements in

employment, independent living, or

both, as appropriate.

(f) Quality of the project design. (15

points)

Under 34 CFR 75.210, 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:

(1) The extent to which the goals,

objectives, and outcomes to be achieved

by the proposed project are clearly

specified and measurable.

(2) 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.

(3) The extent to which the design of

the proposed project reflects up-to-date

knowledge from research and effective

practice.

(g) Quality of project services (10

points)

Under 34 CFR 75.210, 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 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:

(1) The likely impact of the services

to be provided by the proposed project

on the intended recipients of those

services.

(2) The extent to which the services

to be provided by the proposed project

are appropriate to the needs of the

intended recipients or benenficiaries of

those services.

(h) Quality of Project Personnel). (5

points)

Under 34 CFR 75.210, 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:

(1) The qualifications, including

relevant training and experience, of the

project director or principal

investigator.

(2) The qualifications, including

relevant training and experience, of key

project personnel.

(3) The qualifications, including

relevant training and experience, of

project consultants or subcontractors.

(i) Adequacy of resources. (5 points)

Under 34 CFR 75.210, 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:

(1) The adequacy of support,

including facilities, equipment,

supplies, and other resources, from the

applicant organization or the lead

applicant organization.

(2) The extent to which the budget is

adequate to support the proposed

project.

(j) Quality of the management plan.

(10 points)

Under 34 CFR 75.210, 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:

(1) The adequacy of the management

plan to achieve the objectives of the

proposed project on time and within

budget, including clearly defined

responsibilities, time lines, and

milestones for accomplishing project

tasks.

(2) 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.

(3) 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
52918 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 196 / Thursday, October 9, 1997 / Notices

variety of disciplinary and professional

fields, recipients or beneficiaries of

services, or others, as appropriate.

(k) Quality of the project evaluation.

(10 points)

Under 34 CFR 75.210, 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:

(1) The extent to which the methods

of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and

appropriate to the goals, objectives, and

outcomes of the proposed project.

(2) The extent to which the methods

of evaluation are appropriate to the

context within which the project

operates.

(3) The extent to which the methods

of evaluation provide for examining the

effectiveness of project implementation

strategies.

(4) 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.

(5) The extent to which the methods

of evaluation will provide performance

feedback and permit periodic

assessment of progress toward achieving

intended outcomes.

Note: Applicants should consider the

following statutory provision in responding

to this criterion. Under 20 U.S.C. 7234(1),

applicants for WEEA funds are required to

set forth policies and procedures that will

ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the

grant activities, including an evaluation of

the practices, policies, and materials used by

the applicant and an evaluation or estimate

of the continued significance of the work of

the project following completion of the

award period.

Priority for Implementation Grants:

Under 34 CFR 75.105 (b) and (c), the

Secretary gives a competitive preference

to applications that meet the following

priority found in 20 U.S.C. 7235(b) by

awarding bonus points depending on

how well the applicant meets the

priority:

Projects submitted by applicants that

have not received assistance under the

WEEA Program (5 points).

Selection Criteria for Research and

Development Grants: The Secretary

evaluates applications for research and

development grants on the basis of the

following criteria. The maximum

possible score for each criterion is

indicated in parentheses with the

criterion. The Secretary awards up to

100 points for all of the criteria.

(a) Effectively Achieving the Purposes

of WEEA. (20 points)

Under 34 CFR 75.209 and 20 U.S.C.

7235(a), the Secretary reviews each

application to determine how well the

project will effectively achieve the

purposes of the WEEA Program.

Note: Applicants should consider the

following statutory provisions in responding

to this criterion. Under 20 U.S.C. 7232, the

purpose of the WEEA program is: (1) to

promote gender equity in education in the

United States; (2) to provide financial

assistance to enable educational agencies and

institutions to meet the requirements of title

IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972;

and (3) to promote equity in education for

women and girls who suffer from multiple

forms of discrimination based on sex, race,

ethnic origin, limited-English

proficiency,disability, or age.

(b) Addressing multiple

discrimination. (5 points)

Under 34 CFR 75.209 and 20 U.S.C.

7235(a)(2)(A), the Secretary reviews

each application to determine the

quality of the applicant’s plan for

addressing the needs of women and

girls of color and women and girls with

disabilities.

(c) Need for project. (10 points)

Under 34 CFR 75.210, the Secretary

considers the need for the proposed

project. In determining the need for the

proposed project, the Secretary

considers the following factors:

(1) The magnitude or severity of the

problem to be addressed by the

proposed project.

(2) 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.

(d) Significance. (10 points)

Under 34 CFR 75.210, the Secretary

considers the significance of the

proposed project. In determining the

significance of the proposed project, the

Secretary considers the following

factors:

(1) The national significance of the

proposed project.

(2) The potential contribution of the

proposed project to increased

knowledge or understanding of

educational problems, issues, or

effective strategies.

(3) 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.

(4) The importance or magnitude of

the results or outcomes likely to be

attained by the proposed project,

especially improvements in teaching

and student achievement.

(e) Quality of the project design. (20

points)

Under 34 CFR 75.210, 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:

(1) The extent to which the goals,

objectives, and outcomes to be achieved

by the proposed project are clearly

specified and measurable.

(2) 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.

(3) The quality of the proposed

demonstration design and procedures

for documenting project activities and

results.

(4) The extent to which the design of

the proposed project reflects up-to-date

knowledge from research and effective

practice.

(5) The quality of methodology to be

employed in the proposed project.

(f) Quality of Project Personnel. (10

points)

Under 34 CFR 75.210, 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:

(1) The qualifications, including

relevant training and experience, of the

project director or principal

investigator.

(2) The qualifications, including

relevant training and experience, of key

project personnel.

(3) The qualifications, including

relevant training and experience, of

project consultants or subcontractors.

(g) Adequacy of resources. (5 points)

Under 34 CFR 75.210, 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:

(1) The adequacy of support,

including facilities, equipment,

supplies, and other resources, from the

applicant organization or the lead

applicant organization.

(2) The extent to which the budget is

adequate to support the proposed

project.

(h) Quality of the management plan.

(10 points)

Under 34 CFR 75.210, the Secretary

considers the quality of the management
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 196 / Thursday, October 9, 1997 / Notices 52919

plan for the proposed project. In

determining the quality of the

management plan for the proposed

project, the Secretary considers the

following factors:

(1) The adequacy of the management

plan to achieve the objectives of the

proposed project on time and within

budget, including clearly defined

responsibilities, time lines, and

milestones for accomplishing project

tasks.

(2) 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.

(3) 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 the project evaluation.

(10 points)

Under 34 CFR 75.210, 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:

(1) The extent to which the methods

of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and

appropriate to the goals, objectives, and

outcomes of the proposed project.

(2) 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.

(3) The extent to which the methods

of evaluation will provide performance

feedback and permit periodic

assessment of progress toward achieving

intended outcomes.

Note: Applicants should consider the

following statutory provision in responding

to this criterion. Under 20 U.S.C. 7234(1),

applicants for WEEA funds are required to

set forth policies and procedures that will

ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the

grant activities, including an evaluation of

the practices, policies, and materials used by

the applicant and an evaluation or estimate

of the continued significance of the work of

the project following completion of the

award period.

Priority for Research and

Development Grants: Under 34 CFR

75.105 (b) and (c), the Secretary gives a

competitive preference to applications

that meet the following priority found in

20 U.S.C. 7235(b) by awarding bonus

points depending on the extent to which

the applicant meets the priority:

Projects submitted by applicants that

have not received assistance under the

WEEA Program (5 points).

For Applications or Information

Contact: Beth Baggett, U.S. Department

of Education, 600 Independence

Avenue, SW, Portals Room 4500,

Washington, D.C. 20202–6140.

Telephone (202) 260–2502. 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.

Note: The official application notice for a

discretionary grant competition is the notice

published in the Federal Register.

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 or

http://ww.edgov/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.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7231–7238.

Dated: October 3, 1997.

Gerald N. Tirozzi,

Assistant Secretary for Elementary and

Secondary Education.

[FR Doc. 97–26716 Filed 10–8–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P