8690 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 38 / Wednesday, February 26, 1997 / Notices

unless the applicant can show, in

accordance with 34 CFR 75.102 (d) and

(e), proof that the application was (1)

sent by registered or certified mail not

later than five days before the deadline

date; or (2) sent by commercial carrier

not later than two days before the

deadline date. An applicant must show

proof of mailing in accordance with 34

CFR 75.102(d) and (e). Applications

delivered by hand must be received by

4:00 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on

the deadline date. For the purposes of

this competition the Secretary proposes

not to apply 34 CFR 75.102(b), which

requires an application to be mailed,

rather than received, by the deadline

date.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

The proposed selection criteria

contain information collection

requirements. As required by the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. 3507(d)), the Department of

Education has submitted a copy of these

selection criteria to the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) for

review.

Collection of Information: Technology

Innovation Challenge Grants Program.

Under this program consortia are

eligible to apply. Each consortium must

include at least one LEA with a high

percentage or number of children living

below the poverty line and may include

other LEAs, State educational agencies,

institutions of higher education,

businesses, academic content experts,

software designers, museums, libraries,

or other appropriate entities. The

information to be collected includes a

description of each proposed project,

including the professional development

that teachers and other educational

support staff will receive in the use of

technologies; the integration of acquired

technologies into curriculum to enhance

teaching, training, and student

achievement; and a project evaluation

including a dissemination strategy. The

Department needs and will use the

information to select, on the basis of

project feasibility and significance, the

highest quality applications.

All information is to be collected and

reported once, as part of the application

for assistance. Annual reporting and

recordkeeping burden for this collection

of information is estimated to average 40

hours for each response for 500

respondents, including time for

reviewing instructions, searching

existing data sources, gathering and

maintaining the data needed, and

completing and reviewing the collection

of information. Thus, the total annual

reporting and recordkeeping burden for

this collection is estimated to be 20,000

hours. Organizations and individuals

desiring to submit comments on the

information collection requirements

should direct them to the Office of

Information and Regulatory Affairs,

OMB, Room 10235, New Executive

Office Building, Washington, DC 20503;

Attention: Desk Officer for U.S.

Department of Education.

The Department considers comments

by the public on these proposed

collections of information in—

• Evaluating whether the proposed

collections of information are necessary

for the proper performance of the

functions of the Department, including

whether the information will have

practical utility;

• Evaluating the accuracy of the

Department’s estimate of the burden of

the proposed collections of information,

including the validity of the

methodology and assumptions used;

• Enhancing the quality, usefulness,

and clarity of the information to be

collected; and

• Minimizing the burden of the

collection of information on those who

are to respond, including through the

use of appropriate automated,

electronic, mechanical, or other

technological collection techniques or

other forms of information technology;

e.g., permitting electronic submission of

responses.

OMB is required to make a decision

concerning the collections of

information contained in these

proposed selection criteria, selection

procedures, and application procedures

between 30 and 60 days after

publication of this document in the

Federal Register. Therefore, a comment

to OMB is best assured of having its full

effect if OMB receives it within 30 days

of publication. This does not affect the

deadline for the public to comment to

the Department on the proposed

selection criteria and procedures.

Intergovernmental Review

This program is subject to the

requirements of Executive Order 12372

and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.

The objective of the Executive Order is

to foster an intergovernmental

partnership and a strengthened

federalism by relying on processes

developed by State and local

governments for coordination and

review of proposed Federal financial

assistance.

In accordance with the Order, this

document is intended to provide early

notification of the Department’s specific

plans and actions for this program.

Invitation to Comment

Interested persons are invited to

submit comments and recommendations

regarding these proposed selection

criteria and procedures. Comments will

be available for public inspection,

during and after the comment period, in

Room 606D, 555 New Jersey Avenue,

NW, Washington, DC, between the

hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday

through Friday of each week except

Federal holidays.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6846.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Number 84.303A, Challenge Grants for

Technology in Education)

Dated: February 21, 1997.

Marshall Smith,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational

Research and Improvement.

[FR Doc. 97–4768 Filed 2–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P

[CFDA No.: 84.304A]

International Education Exchange

Program; Notice Inviting Applications

for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY)

1997

Purpose of Program: To support

international education exchange

activities between the United States and

eligible countries in civics and

government education and economic

education.

Eligible Applicants: Independent

nonprofit educational organizations

that—

(a) Have expertise in international

achievement comparisons, and are

experienced in—

(1) The development and national

implementation of curricular programs

in civics and government education and

economic education for students from

grades kindergarten through 12 in local,

intermediate, and State educational

agencies, in schools funded by the

Bureau of Indian Affairs, and in private

schools throughout the Nation with the

cooperation and assistance of national

professional educational organizations,

colleges and universities and private

sector organizations;

(2) The development and

implementation of cooperative

university and school-based inservice

training programs for teachers of grades

kindergarten through 12 using scholars

from such relevant disciplines as

political science, political philosophy,

history, law, and economics;

(3) The development of model

curricular frameworks in civics and

government education and economic

education;
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 38 / Wednesday, February 26, 1997 / Notices 8691

(4) The administration of

international seminars on the goals and

objectives of civics and government

education or economic education in

constitutional democracies (including

the sharing of curricular materials) for

educational leaders, teacher trainers,

scholars in related disciplines, and

educational policymakers; and

(5) The evaluation of civics and

government education or economic

education programs; and

(b) Have the authority to subcontract

with other organizations to carry out

these provisions.

Deadline for Transmittal of

Applications: May 5, 1997.

Deadline for Intergovernmental

Review: July 7, 1997.

Applications Available: March 5,

1997.

Available Funds: $4,980,000.

Estimated Range of Awards:

$2,290,000 to $2,690,000.

Estimated Average Size of Awards:

$2,490,000.

Estimated Number of Awards: 2.

Note: The Department is not bound by any

estimates in this notice.

Maximum award: In no case does the

Secretary make an award greater than

$2,690,000 for a single budget period of

12 months. The Secretary does not

consider an application that proposes a

budget exceeding this maximum

amount.

Budget period: 12 months.

Project Period: Up to 48 months.

Applicable Regulations: (a) The

Education Department General

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in

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

85, and 86; and (b) the regulations in 34

CFR parts 98, 99, and 700.

PRIORITIES

Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and 20

U.S.C. 5951(c)(2)(B) the Secretary gives

an absolute preference to applications

that meet one of the priorities in the

next two paragraphs. The Secretary

funds under this competition only

applications that meet one of these

absolute priorities.

Absolute Priority 1—International

Education Exchange Program in

Civics and Government Education.

Absolute Priority 2—International

Education Exchange Program in

Economic Education.

To meet one of these two priorities,

each applicant must propose to carry

out the following activities, in either

civics and government education or

economic education:

(a) Provide eligible countries with—

(1) Seminars on the basic principles of

the United States constitutional

democracy and economics, including

seminars on the major governmental

and economic institutions and systems

in the United States, and visits to such

institutions;

(2) Visits to school systems,

institutions of higher learning, and

nonprofit organizations conducting

exemplary programs in civics and

government education and economic

education in the United States;

(3) Home stays in United States

communities;

(4) Translations and adaptations

regarding the United States civics and

government education and economic

education curricular programs for

students and teachers, and in the case

of training programs for teachers

translations and adaptations into forms

useful in schools in eligible countries,

and joint research projects in such areas;

(5) Translation of basic documents of

United States constitutional government

for use in eligible countries, such as The

Federalist Papers, selected writings of

Presidents Adams and Jefferson, and the

Anti-Federalists, and more recent works

on political theory, constitutional law

and economics;

(6) Research and evaluation assistance

to determine—

(i) The effects of educational programs

on students’ development of the

knowledge, skills and traits of character

essential for the preservation and

improvement of constitutional

democracy; and

(ii) Effective participation in and the

preservation and improvement of an

efficient market economy;

(b) Provide United States participants

with—

(1) Seminars on the histories,

economies, and governments of eligible

countries;

(2) Visits to school systems,

institutions of higher learning, and

organizations conducting exemplary

programs in civics and government

education and economic education

located in eligible countries;

(3) Home stays in eligible countries;

(4) Assistance from educators and

scholars in eligible countries in the

development of curricular materials on

the history, government, and economies

of such countries that are useful in

United States classrooms;

(5) Opportunities to provide on-site

demonstrations of United States

curricula and pedagogy for educational

leaders in eligible countries; and

(6) Research and evaluation assistance

to determine—

(i) The effects of educational programs

on students’ development of the

knowledge, skills, and traits of character

essential for the preservation and

improvement of constitutional

democracy; and

(ii) Effective participation in and

improvement of an efficient market

economy; and

(7) Educational programs which draw

upon the experiences of emerging

constitutional democracies that are

created and implemented for United

States students; and

(c) Assist participants from eligible

countries and the United States in

participating in international

conferences on civics and government

education and economic education. The

primary participants in these

conferences shall be leading educators

in the areas of civics and government

education and economic education,

including curriculum and teacher

training specialists, scholars in relevant

disciplines, and educational

policymakers, from the United States

and eligible countries. Also, provide a

means for the exchange of ideas and

experiences in civics and government

education and economic education

among political, educational, and

private sector leaders of participating

eligible countries.

Note: For this program, the term ‘‘eligible

country’’ means a Central European country,

an Eastern European country, Lithuania,

Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, the Commonwealth

of Independent States, and any country that

formerly was a republic of the Soviet Union

whose political independence is recognized

in the United States.

Selection Criteria: The Secretary

selects from the criteria in 34 CFR

700.30(e) to evaluate applications for

new grants under this competition.

Under 34 CFR 700.30(a), the Secretary

will announce in the application

package the evaluation criteria selected

for this competition and the maximum

weight assigned to each criterion.

For Applications or Information

Contact: Dr. Ram N. Singh or Ms. Rita

Foy, U.S. Department of Education, 555

New Jersey Avenue, NW, Room 610,

Washington, DC 20208–5573.

Telephone: (202)–219–2079. 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.

Information about the Department’s

funding opportunities, including copies

of application notices for discretionary

grant competitions, can be viewed on

the Department’s electronic bulletin

board (ED Board), telephone (202) 260–

9950; on the Internet Gopher Server (at

gopher://gcs.ed.gov); or on the World

Wide Web (at http://gcs.ed.gov).

However, the official application notice
8692 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 38 / Wednesday, February 26, 1997 / Notices

for a discretionary grant competition is

the notice published in the Federal

Register.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 5951.

Dated: February 21, 1997.

Marshall Smith,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational

Research and Improvement.

[FR Doc. 97–4770 Filed 2–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P

[CFDA No. 84.039D]

Library Research and Demonstration—

Demonstration of a Non-Profit

Regional Social Tolerance Resource

Center Operating Tolerance Tools and

Prejudice Reduction Programs and

Multimedia Tolerance and Genocide

Exhibits; Notice Inviting Applications

for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY)

1997

Purpose of Program: The Library

Research and Demonstration Program

provides grants to institutions of higher

education and other public or private

agencies, institutions, and organizations

for research and demonstration

programs related to the improvement of

libraries, education in library and

information science, the enhancement

of library services through effective and

efficient use of new technologies, and

dissemination of information derived

from such projects. For fiscal year (FY)

1997 the competition for new awards

focuses on projects designed to meet the

absolute priority specified in this notice.

Eligible Applicants: Institutions of

higher education that meet the

definition of eligibility under the terms

of 20 U.S.C. 1141(a) and other public or

private agencies, institutions, and

organizations.

Deadline for Transmittal of

Applications: April 30, 1997.

Deadline for Intergovernmental

Review: June 30, 1997.

Applications Available: March 12,

1997.

Available Funds: $1 million.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1

million.

Estimated Number of Awards: One.

Note: The Department is not bound by any

estimates in this notice.

Project Period: Up to 24 months.

Applicable Regulations: (a) The

Education Department General

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in

34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 85, and

86; and (b) the regulations in 34 CFR

part 700.

Absolute Priority: For fiscal year (FY)

1997 the Appropriations Act (P.L. 104–

208) specifies that $1,000,000 shall be

competitively awarded to a non-profit

regional social tolerance resource center

operating tolerance tools and prejudice

reduction programs and multimedia

tolerance and genocide exhibits.

Note: The Secretary funds only

applications that meet all elements of this

priority.

Selection Criteria: The Secretary

selects from the criteria in 34 CFR

700.30(e) to evaluate applications for

new grants under this competition.

Under 34 CFR 700.30(a), the Secretary

announces in the application package

the evaluation criteria selected for this

competition and the maximum weight

assigned to each criterion.

For Applications or Information

Contact: Chris Dunn, U.S. Department

of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue,

NW, Room 300, Washington, DC 20208–

5571. Telephone (202) 219–2299.

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.

Information about the Department’s

funding opportunities, including copies

of application notices for discretionary

grant competitions, can be viewed on

the Department’s electronic bulletin

board (ED Board), telephone (202) 260–

9950; or on the Internet Gopher Server

(at gopher://gcs.ed.gov); or on the World

Wide Web (at http://gcs.ed.gov).

However, the official application notice

for a discretionary grant competition is

the notice published in the Federal

Register.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1033.

Dated: February 21, 1997.

Marshall S. Smith,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational

Research and Improvement.

[FR Doc. 97–4769 Filed 2–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P

National Educational Research Policy

and Priorities Board; Meeting

AGENCY: National Educational Research

Policy and Priorities Board; Education.

ACTION: Notice of Closed Committee

Meeting.

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the

schedule and proposed agenda of a

forthcoming meeting of the Nominating

Committee of the National Educational

Research Policy and Priorities Board.

Notice of this meeting is required under

Section 10 (a) (2) of the Federal

Advisory Committee Act. This

document is intended to notify the

general public of the meeting.

DATE: March 14, 1997.

TIME: 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Room 100, 80 F St., N.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20208–7564.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Thelma Leenhouts, Designated Federal

Official, National Educational Research

Policy and Priorities Board, 80 F St.,

N.W., Washington, D.C. 20208–7564.

Telephone: (202) 219–2065; fax: (202)

219–1528; e-mail:

ThelmalLeenhouts@ed.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

National Educational Research Policy

and Priorities Board is authorized by

Section 921 of the Educational

Research, Development, Dissemination,

and Improvement Act of 1994. The

Board works collaboratively with the

Assistant Secretary for the Office of

Educational Research and Improvement

to forge a national consensus with

respect to a long-term agenda for

educational research, development, and

dissemination, and to provide advice

and assistance to the Assistant Secretary

in administering the duties of the Office.

The meeting of the Nominating

Committee is closed to the public under

the authority of Section 10(d) of the

Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub.

L. 92–463; 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2) and

under exemptions (2) and (6) of Section

552b(c) of the Government in the

Sunshine Act (Pub. L. 94–409; 5 U.S.C.

552b(c)). In preparing a slate of

candidates for the position of chair,

vice-chair, and members of the

Executive Committee, the Committee

will discuss matters that relate solely to

the internal rules and practices of the

Board and personal qualifications and

experience of potential candidates for

these positions, which would disclose

information of a personal nature where

disclosure would constitute a clearly

unwarranted invation of personal

privacy if conducted in open session.

A summary of the activities at the

closed session and related matters

which are informative to the public

consistent with the policy of Title 5

U.S.C. 552b(c) will be available to the

public within 14 days of the meeting.

Records are kept of all Board

proceedings and are available for public

inspection at the office of the National

Educational Research Policy and

Priorities Board, 555 New Jersey Ave.,

N.W., Washington, D.C. 20208–7564.

Dated: February 20, 1997.

Eve M. Bither,

Executive Director.

[FR Doc. 97–4764 Filed 2–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–M