[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 197 (Friday, October 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53208-53210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26936]



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Part IV





Department of Education





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Visiting Scholars Fellowship Program at the U.S. Department of 
Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI); 
Combined Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year 
(FY) 1998; Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 197 / Friday, October 10, 1997 / 
Notices

[[Page 53208]]



DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.305V, 84.306V, 84.307V, 84.308V, and 84.309V]


Visiting Scholars Fellowship Program at the U.S. Department of 
Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI); 
Combined Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year 
(FY) 1998

    Purpose of Program: The OERI Visiting Scholars Fellowship Program 
allows individuals engaged in educational research to work at one of 
the following OERI national research institutes in Washington, DC for 
up to 18 months:
    1. National Institute on Student Achievement, Curriculum, and 
Assessment (CFDA No. 84.305V).
    2. National Institute on the Education of At-Risk Students (CFDA 
No. 84. 306V).
    3. National Institute on Early Childhood Development and Education 
(CFDA No. 84. 307V)
    4. National Institute on Educational Governance, Finance, Policy-
Making, and Management (CFDA No. 84.308V).
    5. National Institute on Postsecondary Education, Libraries and 
Lifelong Learning (CFDA No. 84.309V).
    Administration of Program: This fellowship competition will be 
administered by the National Research Council (the Council). The 
Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to 
associate the broad community of science and technology with the 
Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the Federal 
Government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined 
by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency 
of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of 
Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and 
the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered 
jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine.
    Fiscal and Programmatic Information: Except for the individual 
descriptions of the National Research Institutes, the fiscal and 
programmatic information in this notice applies separately for each of 
the competitions under the five institutes.
    Eligible Applicants: Scholars, researchers, policymakers, education 
practitioners, librarians, or statisticians who are engaged in the use, 
collection, and dissemination of information about education and 
educational research.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: January 5, 1998.

    Note: Decisions on awards will be made by the Council by April 
1998, and fellows will be able to commence their appointments as 
early as June 1998 or as late as January 1999.

    Applications Available: October 14, 1997.

                                               Fiscal Information                                               
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Estimated              
                                                      Available    Estimated range of     average     Estimated 
          CFDA No. and name of  institute               funds            awards           size of     number of 
                                                                                           awards       awards  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.305V, National Institute on Student Achievement,                                                             
 Curriculum, and Assessment........................     $200,000      $50,000-$100,000      $75,000          1-2
84.306V, National Institute on the Education of At-                                                             
 Risk Students.....................................      200,000        50,000-100,000       75,000          1-2
84.307V, National Institute on Early Childhood                                                                  
 Development and Education.........................      200,000        50,000-100,000       75,000          1-2
84.308V, National Institute on Educational                                                                      
 Governance, Finance, Policy-Making, and Management      200,000        50,000-100,000       75,000          1-2
84.309V, National Institute on Postsecondary                                                                    
 Education, Libraries and Lifelong Learning........      200,000        50,000-100,000       75,000         1-2 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Neither the U.S. Department of Education, nor the Council, is bound by the estimates in this notice.      

    Fellowship Period: From 9 to 18 months.
    Applicable Regulations: General procedures governing the 
application process and the evaluation and selection of fellows can be 
found in the 1998 Program Announcement for the OERI Visiting Scholars 
Fellowship Program. This Program Announcement, prepared by the Council, 
is available on the web site http://fellowships.nas.edu, and is also 
available from the address and telephone number listed at the end of 
this notice. More specific procedures governing the panel review 
process will be available from the Council after all applications have 
been received.
    The regulations in 34 CFR Part 700 and in the Education Department 
General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) govern the grant 
relationship between OERI and the Council and apply to the Council's 
administration of Federal funds under the grant.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OERI is authorized to make fellowship awards 
to visiting scholars under section 931(c)(1)(E) of the Educational 
Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994, 20 
U.S.C. 6001 et seq. This statute states, in relevant part, that the 
fellowships ``shall be awarded competitively following the publication 
of a notice in the Federal Register inviting the submission of 
applications.'' OERI made a grant to the National Research Council to 
carry out this activity pursuant to the regulations in 34 CFR Part 700 
and the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) 
in 34 CFR Part 75. OERI is publishing this application notice on behalf 
of the Council.
    The Council will fund applications for fellowships under the 
following OERI national research institutes:
    National Institute on Student Achievement, Curriculum, and 
Assessment (CFDA No. 84.305V). The purpose of the National Institute on 
Student Achievement, Curriculum, and Assessment is to support research, 
development, and evaluation activities to provide research-based 
leadership for improving student achievement in the core content areas. 
The institute supports work to identify, develop, and evaluate 
innovative and exemplary methods to improve student knowledge at all 
levels in the core academic subjects. The institute also supports basic 
and applied research in the areas of cognition, learning, and 
performance, including research on the educational contexts that 
promote excellence in teaching and learning, and research and 
development in the area of assessment.
    National Institute on the Education of At-Risk Students (CFDA No. 
84.306V). The purpose of the National Institute for the Education of 
At-Risk Students is to expand research-based knowledge and strategies 
that will promote excellence and equity in the education of children

[[Page 53209]]

and youth placed at risk of educational failure because of limited-
English proficiency, poverty, race or ethnicity, or geographic 
location. The institute will carry out a program of research and 
development to identify and assist others to replicate and adapt 
programs and models which promote greater achievement and educational 
success by at-risk students, including innovative methods of 
instruction, student assessment, professional development, and 
curricula.
    National Institute on Early Childhood Development and Education 
(CFDA No. 84.307V). The purpose of the National Institute on Early 
Childhood Development and Education is to carry out a comprehensive 
program of research and development to provide research-based 
leadership to the United States as it seeks to improve early childhood 
development and education. The priority is to improve learning and 
development in early childhood so that all children can enter 
kindergarten prepared to learn and succeed in elementary and secondary 
schools. The institute is interested in developmentally appropriate 
assessment of preschool children and programs, early literacy, early 
math and science learning, how the arts relate to early learning, 
development of the early childhood workforce, translating brain 
development research into policy and practice, how communities and 
schools support early learning, supporting diverse populations, and 
supporting adolescent parents and their children.
    National Institute on Educational Governance, Finance, Policy-
Making, and Management (CFDA No. 84.308V). The purpose of the National 
Institute on Educational Governance, Finance, Policy-Making, and 
Management is to develop and disseminate research-based information 
that helps guide the design and implementation of governance 
arrangements, finance systems, policy approaches, and management 
strategies that will support high levels of learning by all students. 
By law, the institute supports work which promises to improve education 
equity and excellence at the State, local, tribal, school building and 
classroom levels of elementary and secondary education in the United 
States.
    National Institute on Postsecondary Education, Libraries and 
Lifelong Learning (CFDA No. 84.309V). The purpose of the National 
Institute on Postsecondary Education, Libraries and Lifelong Learning 
is to support research and development activities designed to meet the 
following goals: improve successful participation and degree completion 
by students in postsecondary education; affordability, quality, and 
positive learning outcomes of postsecondary education; adult learning 
and literacy; and connections/transitions between education and work. 
Of central concern is the investigation of how adults learn--in formal 
educational institutions and work settings as well as in informal 
settings such as libraries, museums, and communities. Our vision is 
that all adults will be provided with opportunities for affordable, 
high quality education tailored to their individual, citizenship, and 
workplace needs.

Invitational Priorities

    The Council is particularly interested in applications that meet 
one or both of the following two invitational priorities. However, an 
application that addresses one or both of these invitational priorities 
does not receive competitive or absolute preference over other 
applications.

Invitational Priority 1--Research Priorities Plan--Making Connections

    The subjects under this invitational priority are taken from the 
OERI's Research Priorities Plan published on June 6, 1996 in the 
Federal Register (61 FR 28858), which defines national priorities for 
education research and development under section 912(f) of OERI's 
authorizing statute. An applicant that responds to this invitational 
priority is encouraged to address one or more of the following 
subjects:
    Improving curriculum, instruction, assessment, and student learning 
at all levels of education to promote high academic achievement, 
problem-solving abilities, creativity, and the motivation for further 
learning.
    Ensuring effective teaching by expanding the supply of potential 
teachers, improving teacher preparation, and promoting career-long 
professional development at all levels of education.
    Strengthening schools, particularly middle and high schools, as 
institutions capable of engaging young people as active and responsible 
learners.
    Supporting schools to effectively prepare diverse populations to 
meet high standards for knowledge, skills, and productivity, and to 
participate fully in American economic, cultural, social, and civic 
life.
    Promoting learning in informal and formal settings, and building 
the connections that cause out-of-school experiences to contribute to 
in-school achievement.
    Improving learning and development in early childhood so that all 
children can enter kindergarten prepared to learn and succeed in 
elementary and secondary schools.
    Understanding the changing requirements for adult competence in 
civic, work, and social contexts, and how these requirements affect 
learning and the futures of individuals and the nation.


    Note: The Department's Research Priorities Plan is available on-
line at www.ed.gov. Copies may also be requested by calling OERI at 
(202) 219-2000.

Invitational Priority 2--Traditionally Underrepresented Groups and 
Institutions

    Based on section 931(c)(5) of OERI's authorizing statute, the 
Council also invites applications from groups of researchers or 
institutions that have been historically underutilized in Federal 
educational research activities. Such groups and institutions include: 
Women, African-Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, and Alaskan 
Natives or other ethnic minorities; promising young or new researchers 
in the field, such as postdoctoral students and recently appointed 
assistant or associate professors, Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges, and other institutions of 
higher education with large numbers of minority students; institutions 
of higher education located in rural areas; and institutions and 
researchers located in States and regions of the United States which 
have historically received the least Federal support for educational 
research and development. Applicants are invited to propose projects 
that are designed to increase the participation in the activities of 
the institutes of the above groups and institutions.
    Selection Criteria: According to the Council's 1998 Program 
Announcement for the OERI Visiting Scholars Fellowship Program, 
qualifications of applicants will be evaluated by panels of 
distinguished scholars selected by the Council. The evaluation of 
applications will be based on achievement, experience, and training as 
evidenced by the application materials submitted, and by the importance 
of the proposed work to the field of education and the goals of the 
OERI. Panelists will carefully consider the application, proposed 
project plan, letters of recommendation, and other supporting 
documentation. The quality of the proposed project and the 
appropriateness of the proposed study at the OERI will also be 
carefully reviewed. The final selection of fellows, based on the 
panelists' recommendations, will be made by the National Research 
Council. The Council will set forth the specific procedures

[[Page 53210]]

governing the panel review process in a l988 ``Guide for Panelists'' 
after the number and composition of the applications have been 
determined.
    For Applications and Information Contact: Delores Banks, The 
Fellowship Program, National Research Council, 2101 Constitution 
Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20418, (202) 334-2872. 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 and the 
applications in an alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the contact person 
listed in the preceding paragraph.


    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
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. 6001 et seq. (OERI) and 36 U.S.C. 
253 (National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council).

    Dated: October 6, 1997.
Ricky Takai,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Educational Research and 
Improvement.
[FR Doc. 97-26936 Filed 10-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U