13492 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 54 / Thursday, March 20, 1997 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA Nos.: 84.305F, 84.306F, 84.307F,

84.308F, and 84.309F]

Office of Educational Research and

Improvement—National Institutes’

Field-Initiated Studies Grant Program;

Combined Notice Inviting Applications

for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY)

1997

SUMMARY: The Secretary invites

applications for new awards for FY 1997

and announces closing dates for the

transmittal of applications under the

Field-Initiated Studies Grant Program

supported by the five National Research

Institutes:

1. Student Achievement, Curriculum,

and Assessment (84.305F).

2. Education of At-Risk Students

(84.306F).

3. Educational Governance, Finance,

Policymaking, and Management

(84.307F).

4. Early Childhood Development and

Education (84.308F).

5. Postsecondary Education, Libraries,

and Lifelong Learning (84.309F).

The Field-Initiated Studies Grant

Program will support educational

research projects related to the missions

of the Institutes.

ADDRESSES: For Applications or Further

Information: The address and telephone

number for requesting an application or

obtaining further information about

individual institutes are listed in this

notice under the section ‘‘Institute

Mission Statements.’’

For Users of TDD or FIRS: 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.

For Electronic Access to Information:

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

for a discretionary grant competition is

the notice published in the Federal

Register.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Educational Research, Development,

Dissemination, and Improvement Act of

1994 (‘‘Act’’) (20 U.S.C. 6001 et seq.)

established five national research

institutes within the Department. Each

of the institutes supports a FieldInitiated Studies (FIS) Grant program to

fund field-initiated research projects on

topics related to the legislative mission

of the relevant Institute. Only

applications for educational research

projects will be considered for funding.

Section 931 of the Act (20 U.S.C. 6031)

contains a complete description of the

mission of each Institute.

The Field-Initiated Studies Grant

program provides assistance to

institutions of higher education, public

and private organizations, institutions,

agencies, and individuals for

educational research and development

to improve American education. The

Act defines ‘‘educational research’’ to

include basic and applied research,

inquiry with the purpose of applying

tested knowledge gained to specific

educational settings and problems,

development, planning, surveys,

assessments, evaluation, investigation,

experiments, and demonstrations in the

field of education and other fields

relating to education (20 U.S.C.

6011(l)(6)). The Act also defines the

term ‘‘field-initiated research’’ to mean

education research in which topics and

methods of study are generated by

investigators, including teachers and

other practitioners (20 U.S.C.

6011(l)(7)).

Invitational Priorities

National Research Priorities Plan

The Secretary is particularly

interested in applications that meet one

or more of the following priorities

included in the Department’s published

Research Priorities Plan. If an applicant

addresses one of the priorities in the

plan, please indicate in the application

which one is addressed. However,

under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) an applicant

that addresses one of these priorities

will not receive competitive or absolute

preference over other applicants.

The priorities include:

• 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 in the

nation.

The Department’s Research Priorities

Plan is available on-line at (http://

www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/

RschPriority/). Copies may also be

requested by calling Paulette Lee at

202–219–1519.

Eligible Applicants: Eligible

applicants are institutions of higher

education, state and local agencies;

public and private organizations,

institutions, and agencies; and

individuals.

Deadline for Transmittal of

Applications: June 9, 1997.

Note: All applications must be received on

or before that date. This requirement takes

exception to EDGAR, 34 CFR 75.102. In

accordance with the Administrative

Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), it is the

practice of the Secretary to offer interested

parties the opportunity to comment on

proposed regulations. However, this

amendment makes procedural changes only

and does not establish new substantive

policy. Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A),

proposed rulemaking is not required.

Tentative Award Date: August 29,

1997.

Applications Available: April 18,

1997.

Available Funds: $1,050,000 per

Institute.

Estimated Range of Awards:

$100,000–225,000.

Estimated Average Size of Awards:

$150,000.

Estimated Number of Awards: 7.

Note: The Department is not bound by any

estimates in this notice.

Project Periods: Research projects may

extend from one to three years.

Applicable Regulations: (a) The

Education Department General

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in

34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 85

and 86 (Part 86 applies to IHEs only);

and (b) The regulations in 34 CFR Part

700.

Length of Application: The

application narrative must not exceed a

total of 40 pages, with printing on only
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 54 / Thursday, March 20, 1997 / Notices 13493

one side of the paper, on 81⁄2×11 inch

paper. This includes the title page form,

table of contents, abstract, proposal

narrative, the budget summary form,

budget narrative, and all attachments.

We strongly encourage applicants to use

double-spacing, a 12 point or larger font

size, and 1-inch margins. Applications

should be concise, clearly written, and

pages should be consecutively

numbered.

Applicable Evaluation Criteria

In accordance with 34 CFR 700.30,

the Secretary applies the following

evaluation criteria to the Field-Initiated

Studies Grant program competitions.

(1) National Significance (30 points).

(i) The Secretary considers the

national significance of the proposed

project.

(ii) In determining the national

significance of the proposed project, the

Secretary considers the following

factors—

(A) The importance of the problem or

issue to be addressed.

(B) The potential contribution of the

project to increased knowledge or

understanding of educational problems,

issues, or effective strategies.

(C) The potential contribution of the

project to the development and

advancement of theory and knowledge

in the field of study.

(2) Quality of the Project Design (30

points).

(i) The Secretary considers the quality

of the design of the proposed project.

(ii) In determining the quality of the

design of the proposed project, the

Secretary considers the following

factors—

(A) Whether the goals, objectives, and

outcomes to be achieved by the project

are clearly specified and measurable.

(B) Whether a specific research design

has been proposed, and the quality and

appropriateness of that design,

including the scientific rigor of the

studies involved.

(3) Quality and potential

contributions of personnel (20 points).

(i) The secretary considers the quality

and potential contributions of personnel

for the proposed project.

(ii) In determining the quality and

potential contributions of personnel for

the proposed project, the Secretary

considers the following factors—

(A) The qualifications, including

training and experience, of the project

director or principal investigator.

(B) The qualifications, including

training and experience, of key project

personnel.

(4) Adequacy of Resources (10 points).

(i) The Secretary considers the

adequacy of resources for the proposed

project.

(ii) In determining the adequacy of

resources for the proposed project, the

Secretary considers the following

factors—

(A) Whether the budget is adequate to

support the project.

(B) Whether the costs are reasonable

in relation to the objectives, design, and

potential significance of the project.

(5) Quality of the Management Plan

(10 points).

(i) The Secretary considers the quality

of the management plan of the proposed

project.

(ii) In determining the quality of the

management plan of a proposed project,

the Secretary considers the following

factors—

(A) The adequacy of the management

plan to achieve the objectives of the

project, including the specification of

staff responsibility, timelines, and

benchmarks for accomplishing project

tasks.

(B) Whether time commitments of the

project director or principal investigator

and other key personnel are appropriate

and adequate to meet project objectives.

(C) How the applicant will ensure that

persons who are otherwise eligible to

participate in the project are selected

without regard to race, color, national

origin, gender, age, or disability.

Institute Mission Statements

CFDA No. 84.305F—The National

Institute on Student Achievement,

Curriculum, and Assessment, FieldInitiated Studies Program

Purpose of Program

The purpose of the National Institute

on Student Achievement, Curriculum,

and Assessment is to provide leadership

to improve teaching and learning. The

Institute will carry out a program of

research to identify, develop, and

evaluate innovative and exemplary

methods to improve student knowledge

K–12 in the core academic subject areas;

to examine the areas of learning,

cognition and performance, including

the organization of schools which

promote excellence in learning and

instruction, and motivational issues

related to student achievement; to

identify, develop, and evaluate

programs designed to enhance academic

achievement and narrow performance

gaps in a variety of subject areas; and to

address such issues as validity,

reliability, generalizability, costs,

relative merits, and appropriate uses of

various approaches and methods of

assessing student learning and

achievement.

For Applications or Information

Contact: Clara Lawson-Holmes, or Carol

Cameron Lyons, National Institute on

Student Achievement, Curriculum, and

Assessment, U.S. Department of

Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue,

NW., Room 510, Washington, DC

20208–5573. Telephone (202) 219–2079

or E-Mail: clawson@inet.ed.gov or

CarollLyons@ed.gov

CFDA No. 84.306F—The National

Institute on the Education of At-Risk

Students, Field-Initiated Studies

Program

Purpose of Program

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 and youth placed at risk of

educational failure because of limitedEnglish 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 assessments, professional

development, and curricula.

For Applications or Information

Contact: Beth Fine or Karen Suagee,

National Institute on the Education of

At-Risk Students, U.S. Department of

Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue,

NW., Room 610, Washington, DC

20208–5521. Telephone (202) 219–1323

or E-Mail: bfine@inet.ed.gov; or (202)

219–2244 or E-Mail:

KarenlSuagee@ed.gov

CFDA 84.307F—The National Institute

on Early Childhood Development and

Education, Field-Initiated Studies

Program

Purpose of Program

The purpose of the National Institute

on Early Childhood Development and

Education is to identify, develop,

evaluate and assist others to replicate

methods and approaches that improve

early childhood development and

education. The Institute is to carry out

a program of research and development

for young children in areas such as the

social and educational development;

topics relating to school readiness,

including prenatal care, health services,

and nutrition; family literacy; the role of

parental involvement in their children’s

learning; effective learning methods and

curriculum for young children; methods

for integrating learning in settings other

than the classroom; the impact of

outside influences, such as television,

violence, and drug abuse; and
13494 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 54 / Thursday, March 20, 1997 / Notices

instruction that considers the cultural

environment of children.

For Applications or Information

Contact: Veda Bright, National Institute

on Early Childhood Development and

Education, U.S. Department of

Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue,

NW, Washington, DC 20208–5520.

Telephone (202) 219–1935 or E-Mail:

VedalBright@ed.gov

CFDA 84.308F—The National Institute

on Educational Governance, Finance,

Policy-Making, and Management, FieldInitiated Studies Program

Purpose of Program

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.

For Applications or Information

Contact: Jim Fox or Duc-Le To, National

Institute on Educational Governance,

Finance, Policy-Making, and

Management, U.S. Department of

Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue,

NW, Washington, DC 20208–5573.

Telephone (202) 219–2234 or E-Mail:

JimlFox@ed.gov; (202) 219–2248 or EMail: Duc-LelTo@ed.gov

CFDA 94.309F—The National Institute

on Postsecondary Education Libraries

and Lifelong Learning, Field-Initiated

Studies Program

Purpose of Program

The purpose of the National Institute

on Postsecondary Education, Libraries

and Lifelong Learning is to promote

greater coordination of Federal research

and development on issues related to

adult learning and to carry out a

program of research and development in

adult learning to provide nonpartisan,

research-based leadership to the United

States as it seeks to improve libraries,

postsecondary education, literacy, and

lifelong learning throughout the United

States.

For Applications or Information

Contract: Delores Monroe or Norman

Brandt, National Institute on

Postsecondary Education, Libraries, and

Lifelong Learning, U.S. Department of

Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue,

NW, Room 620, Washington, DC 20208–

5531. Telephone (202) 219–2229 or EMail: dmonroe@inet.ed.gov; or (202)

219–1662.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C.

6031(c)(2)(B).

Dated: March 14, 1997.

Marshall S. Smith,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational

Research and Improvement.

[FR Doc. 97–6949 Filed 3–19–97; 8:45 am]

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