[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 47 (Friday, March 10, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13326-13328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-5897]



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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of final priorities.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary announces absolute priorities and a competitive 
preference priority under the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented 
Students Education Program. The Secretary takes this action to focus 
Federal financial assistance on specific approaches to identifying and 
serving gifted and talented students and to developing ways in which 
the programs and services developed for gifted and talented students 
can be used to benefit all children. The priorities bring special 
attention to programs and services for students (including economically 
disadvantaged individuals, individuals of limited-English proficiency, 
and individuals with disabilities) who may not be identified and served 
through traditional gifted and talented programs. The priorities also 
encourage programs and projects to develop and improve the capability 
of schools in an entire State or region of the Nation to plan, conduct, 
and improve programs in schools using, where appropriate, methods and 
materials developed in gifted and talented programs to improve the 
educational opportunities for all children. These projects must involve 
cooperative efforts and participation of State and local educational 
agencies, institutions of higher education, and other public and 
private agencies and organizations, such as business, industry, and 
labor.

EFFECTIVE DATE: These priorities take effect April 10, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carolyn Warren, U.S. Department of 
Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue NW., Room 504, Washington, DC 20208-
5572. Telephone: (202) 219-2206. 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented 
Students Education Program is designed to build nationwide capability 
in gifted and talented education and encourage rich and challenging 
curricula for all children.
    The Secretary seeks to improve the education of gifted and talented 
children, and to use the strategies developed in gifted and talented 
education programs to improve the education of all children in a 
school. The Secretary believes that this is an integral part of the 
National Education Goals, which require that every student attain 
higher standards of academic excellence. Gifted and talented education 
programs can contribute to systemic reform by modeling a coordinated 
system of high standards, assessments, challenging curricula, and 
teacher preparation to improve education. In addition, the Secretary 
believes that the educational needs of gifted and talented students 
from populations historically underserved by gifted and talented 
education programs must be addressed.
    In order to carry out these improvements, the Secretary announces a 
priority that would support the [[Page 13327]] development of model 
demonstration programs that focus on economically disadvantaged 
children, children with limited English proficiency or children with 
disabilities. The projects are required to involve a school or schools 
that serve at least 50 percent low-income children and to incorporate 
professional development of staff and training of parents into their 
programs.
    In addition, the Secretary announces a second priority that 
encourages cooperative efforts of technical assistance and information 
dissemination throughout a State or region that focus on how programs 
and methods for teaching gifted and talented students, where 
appropriate, could be adapted to improve instruction for all students 
in schools.
    In both absolute priorities, the projects must be based on 
challenging content and performance standards in one or more of the 
core subject areas. These priorities focus on projects that incorporate 
challenging content and performance standards in the core subjects 
because the Secretary believes that this is the most promising way to 
raise students' achievement.
    The Secretary estimates that at least 75 percent of available funds 
will be used to support model projects in schools, and 25 percent of 
available funds will support technical assistance and dissemination 
projects.
    For the first priority involving model programs, the Secretary 
shall direct financial assistance to projects that primarily benefit 
urban or rural areas that have been designated as Empowerment Zones or 
Enterprise Communities in accordance with Section 1391 of the Internal 
Revenue Code (IRC), as amended by Title XIII of the Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1993.

Background on Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Program

    The Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community program is a critical 
element of the Administration's community revitalization strategy. The 
program is the first step in rebuilding communities in America's 
poverty-stricken inner cities and rural heartlands. It is designed to 
empower people and communities by inspiring Americans to work together 
to create jobs and opportunity.
    On December 21, 1994, the President announced the designation of 6 
urban and 3 rural empowerment zones and 65 urban and 30 rural 
enterprise communities in accordance with Internal Revenue Code section 
1311, as amended by Title XIII of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act 
of 1993 (Pub. L. 103-66). A list of these empowerment zones and 
enterprise communities will be included in the application package.
    To have been eligible for designation, an area must have been 
nominated by one or more local governments and the State or States in 
which it is located or by a State-Chartered Economic Development 
Corporation. A nominated area must be one of pervasive poverty, 
unemployment, and general distress, and must have a poverty rate of not 
less than the level specified in section 1392 of the Internal Revenue 
Code.
    In the Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community program 
communities were invited to submit strategic plans that comprehensively 
address how the community would link economic development with 
education and training as well as how community development, public 
safety, human services, and environmental initiatives will together 
support sustainable communities. Empowerment Zones and Enterprise 
Communities were designated by the Department of Agriculture and the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) based on the quality 
of their strategic plans. Designated areas will receive Federal grant 
funds and substantial tax benefits and will have access to other 
Federal programs. (For additional information on the Empowerment Zones 
and Enterprise Community program contact HUD at 1-800-998-9999.)
    The Department of Education is supporting the Empowerment Zone and 
Enterprise Community initiative in a variety of ways. It is encouraging 
Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities to use funds they already 
receive from Department of Education programs (including Title I of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Drug-Free Schools and 
Communities Act, the Adult Education Act, and the Carl D. Perkins 
Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act) to support the 
comprehensive vision of their strategic plans. In addition, the 
Department of Education is giving preferences to Empowerment Zones and 
Enterprise Communities in a number of discretionary grant programs that 
are well suited for inclusion in a comprehensive approach to economic 
and community development. For example, the Department has already 
given preference in the following programs: the Urban Community Service 
program, Rehabilitation Act Projects with Industry program, the 
Rehabilitation Act Special Demonstration Projects program, the Parent 
Training program, and the Early Childhood Education program under the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In addition to the Javits 
Gifted and Talented Students Education Program described in this 
notice, the Department intends to give preferences to Empowerment Zones 
and Enterprise Communities in a variety of discretionary programs under 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Notices concerning those 
programs will be published at a later date.
    The Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community initiative and the 
Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program share some common 
features. Both programs are concerned with the educational advancement 
of students caught in high-poverty communities. Under the Javits Gifted 
and Talented Students Education Program, at least one-half of the 
grants in any given year must serve students who are economically 
disadvantaged, limited English proficient or who have disabilities.
    Communities that are designated under the Empowerment Zone and 
Enterprise Community program will already have demonstrated a capacity 
for the type of cooperative planning that allows communities to use, 
where appropriate, methods and materials developed in gifted and 
talented programs to improve the educational opportunities for all 
children.
    On October 28, 1994, the Secretary published a notice of proposed 
priorities for this program in the Federal Register (59 FR 54368).

    Note: This notice of final priorities does not solicit 
applications. A notice inviting applications under these priorities 
for fiscal year 1995 is published in a separate notice in this issue 
of the Federal Register.

Analysis of the Comments and Changes

    In response to the Secretary's invitation on the notice of proposed 
priorities, two of the five parties submitting comments made 
recommendations. One of the commenters expressed support for the 
priority without making recommendations for change. Two of the 
commenters asked for more information on Empowerment Zones and 
Enterprise Zones when this information is available. An analysis of the 
recommendations submitted by two commenters follows.
    Comments: One commenter asked for clarification on the term 
``technical assistance'' used in Priority 2.
    Discussion: ``Technical assistance'' refers to a broad array of 
activities designed to help schools and local communities serve 
students more effectively. The Secretary believes that technical 
assistance could include such activities as professional development 
[[Page 13328]] of teachers and administrators, consultation with local 
schools and community groups on promising practices, demonstrations by 
staff of successful projects, evaluation of current practices in a 
school or of an individual educator with recommendations for 
improvement, brokering of resources to serve a school or community 
better, mentoring of novice educators by more experienced educators, 
and establishing networks of educators interested in specific topics.
    Changes: None.
    Comments: One commenter objected to the idea of commingling the 
worthwhile objectives to serve disadvantaged students with those 
objectives devoted to gifted and talented students, as the commenter 
believes they are not the same. The commenter urged the withdrawal of 
these proposed priorities.
    Discussion: The legislation creating the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and 
Talented Students Education Program gives priority to programs serving 
economically disadvantaged, limited English proficient, and disabled 
students who are gifted and talented. The Secretary believes that there 
are many gifted and talented students who come from disadvantaged 
backgrounds, and who are not recognized or served by traditional gifted 
and talented education programs. He believes that these projects will 
serve as models for ways to identify and serve these students more 
effectively.
    Changes: None.

Priorities

    The Secretary announces that at least 75 percent of available funds 
will support model projects in schools developed under absolute 
priority number 1, and 25 percent of available funds will support 
technical assistance and dissemination projects developed under 
absolute priority number 2.
    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) the Secretary gives an absolute 
preference to applications that meet one of the following two 
priorities. The Secretary funds under this competition only 
applications that meet one of these absolute priorities:

Absolute Priority 1--Model Programs

    Projects that establish and operate model programs for serving 
gifted and talented students in schools in which at least 50 percent of 
the students enrolled are from low-income families. Projects must 
include students who may not be served by traditional gifted and 
talented programs, including economically disadvantaged students, 
individuals of limited English proficiency and individuals with 
disabilities. The projects must incorporate high-level content and 
performance standards in one or more of the core subject areas as well 
as utilize innovative teaching strategies. The projects must provide 
comprehensive ongoing professional development opportunities for staff. 
The projects must incorporate training for parents in ways to support 
their children's educational progress. Projects must also include 
comprehensive evaluation of project activities.

Competitive Preference Priority--Empowerment Zone or Enterprise 
Community

    Within this absolute priority concerning model projects, the 
Secretary, under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), gives preference to 
applications that meet the following competitive priority. The 
Secretary awards five (5) points to an application that meets this 
competitive priority. These points would be in addition to any points 
the application earns under the selection criteria for the program:
    Projects that implement model programs in one or more schools in an 
Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community. Applicants must ensure that 
the proposed program relates to the strategic plan and will be an 
integral part of the Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community program.

Absolute Priority 2--Technical Assistance and Information Dissemination 
Throughout a State or Region

    Projects to provide technical assistance and disseminate 
information throughout a State or region to improve the capability of 
schools to plan, conduct and improve programs for serving gifted and 
talented students. Projects must include assistance and information on 
how programs and methods for teaching gifted and talented students can 
be adapted, where appropriate, to improve instruction for all students 
in schools. These projects must be based on challenging content and 
performance standards in one or more of the core subject areas, and 
incorporate innovative teaching strategies. The projects must involve 
cooperative efforts among State and local education agencies, 
institutions of higher education, and/or other public and private 
agencies and organizations (including business, industry, and labor).

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.
    Applicable Regulations: 34 CFR part 791.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 8031-8036.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.206A, Jacob K. 
Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program)

    Dated: March 6, 1995.
Sharon P. Robinson,
Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 95-5897 Filed 3-9-95; 8:45 am]
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