18214 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 1996 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No. 84.206A]

Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented

Students Education Program; Notice

Inviting Applications for New Awards

for Fiscal Year 1996

Purpose of Program: To provide

grants to help build a nationwide

capability in elementary and secondary

schools to identify and meet the special

educational needs of gifted and talented

students; to encourage the development

of rich and challenging curricula for all

students; and to supplement and make

more effective the expenditures of State

and local funds for the education of

gifted and talented students.

Eligible Applicants: State educational

agencies; local educational agencies;

institutions of higher education; and

other public and private agencies and

organizations, including Indian tribes

and organizations—as defined by the

Indian Self-Determination and

Education Assistance Act—and Native

Hawaiian organizations.

Deadline for Transmittal of

Applications: June 14, 1996.

Deadline for Intergovernmental

Review: August 12, 1996.

Applications Available: May 3, 1996.

Estimated Available Funds:

$1,765,000.

Estimated Range of Awards:

$100,000–$275,000.

Estimated Average Size of Awards:

$250,000.

Estimated Number of Awards: 7.

Note: The Department is not bound by any

estimates in this notice.

Project Period: Up to 36 months.

Please note that all applicants for multiyear awards are required to provide

detailed budget information for the total

grant period requested. The Department

will negotiate at the time of the initial

award the funding levels for each year

of the grant award.

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 final regulations

for Standards for the Conduct and

Evaluation of Activities Carried Out by

the Office of Educational Research and

Improvement (OERI)—Evaluation of

Applications for Grants and Cooperative

Agreements and Proposals for Contracts,

published on September 14, 1995, in the

Federal Register (60 FR 47808) and to

be codified at 34 CFR Part 700.

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR Part 791

previously applicable to this program will no

longer apply to this program.

Priorities: The notice of final priorities

as published in this issue of the Federal

Register applies to this competition.

For Applications or Information

Contact: Janet Williams, U.S.

Department of Education, 555 New

Jersey Avenue, NW, room 502,

Washington, DC 20208–5645; Facsimile

machine: (202) 219–2053; Telephone:

(202) 219–1674. 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.ED.GOV (under

Announcements, Bulletins and Press

Releases); or world wide web site at

(http://www.ed.gov/money.html).

However, the official application notice

for a discretionary grant competition is

the notice published in the Federal

Register.

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

Dated: April 18, 1996.

Sharon P. Robinson,

Assistant Secretary for Educational Research

and Improvement.

[FR Doc. 96–10011 Filed 4–23–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented

Students Education Program

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of final priorities.

SUMMARY: The Secretary announces an

absolute priority 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. The Secretary may

use these priorities in FY 1996 and

subsequent years.

EFFECTIVE DATE: These priorities take

effect May 24, 1966.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Janet Williams, U.S. Department of

Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue,

N.W., Room 504, Washington, D.C.

20208–5645. Fax: (202) 219–2053;

Telephone: (202) 219–1674. 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 promote the use of

strategies developed in gifted and

talented education programs to help

improve the education of all students.

The Secretary believes that improving

the education of gifted and talented

students is an integral part of achieving

the National Education Goals, which

require that every student attain higher

standards of academic excellence. The

Secretary is particularly concerned that

the educational needs of gifted and

talented students from populations

historically underserved by gifted and

talented education programs be

addressed. In addition, the Secretary

wants to see gifted and talented

education programs contribute to

systemic education reform by modeling

coordinated systems of challenging

standards and assessments, curricula,

and teacher preparation aligned with

those standards to improve education.

The Secretary believes that the use of

challenging content and performance

standards is the most promising way to

raise students’ achievement.

Therefore, the Secretary announces an

absolute priority that would support the

development of model demonstration

programs that focus on economically

disadvantaged children, children with

limited English proficiency, or children

with disabilities. Each project would be

required to involve a school or schools

that serve at least 50 percent lowincome children and to incorporate

professional development of staff and

training of parents into the program. In

addition, the program must be based on

challenging content and performance

standards in one or more of the core

subject areas, and include a

comprehensive improvement plan for

each school involved in the project.

The Secretary announces a

competitive priority to direct financial

assistance to projects that primarily

benefit 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.
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 1996 / Notices 18215

Background on Empowerment Zone

and Enterprise Community Program—

(EZ/EC)

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 povertystricken inner cities and rural

heartlands. It is designed to empower

people and communities by inspiring

Americans to work together to create

jobs and opportunity.

The Departments of Agriculture

(USDA) and Housing and Urban

Development (HUD) have designated

empowerment zones and enterprise

communities, which are communities

located within the cities and counties

listed in the appendix.

The Empowerment Zones and

Enterprise Communities were

designated based on locally-developed

strategic plans that comprehensively

address how the community will link

economic development with education

and training, as well as how community

development, public safety, human

services, and environmental initiatives

together will support sustainable

communities. Designated areas will

receive Federal grant funds and

substantial tax benefits and will have

access to other Federal programs. (For

additional information on the Urban EZ/

EC program contact HUD at 1–800–998–

9999 and for the rural EZ/EC program

contact USDA at 1–800–645–4712.)

The Department of Education is

supporting the Empowerment Zone and

the Enterprise Community initiative in

a variety of ways. It is encouraging

zones to use funds they already receive

from Department of Education programs

(including Title I of the Elementary and

Secondary Education Act, the Safe and

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 EZ/ECs in a number of

discretionary grant programs that are

well suited for inclusion in a

comprehensive approach to economic

and community development.

The Empowerment Zone initiative

and the Jacob K. 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

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 have been designated

as Empowerment Zones or Enterprise

Communities have demonstrated a

capacity for the type of 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 February 23, 1996, the Secretary

published a notice of proposed

priorities for this program in the Federal

Register (61 FR 6980). The Secretary has

made no changes in these priorities

since publication of the notice of

proposed priorities.

Note: This notice of final priorities does

not solicit applications. A notice inviting

applications under these priorities for fiscal

year 1996 is published elsewhere 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, four of the 10 parties

submitting comments made

recommendations. Two of the

commenters expressed support for the

priorities without making

recommendations for change. Five of

the commenters asked for more

information about the Javits Gifted and

Talented Students Education Program,

or the Program’s future, or the

application for the competition. An

analysis of the recommendations

submitted by four commenters follows.

Comments: Two commenters objected

to the requirement that the school must

serve at least 50 percent low-income

children. One commenter questioned

his school’s eligibility for funding or

whether funding would be based solely

on economic needs and standards. The

other commenter expressed concern that

every solicitation, with which he is

familiar, from the U.S. Department of

Education, the National Science

Foundation, as well as from his own

State Education Department is narrowed

in such a way that only specific kinds

of enterprises can compete.

Discussion: The legislation creating

the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented

Students Education Program requires

the Secretary to give highest 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.

Comments: One commenter expressed

concern that the Competitive Preference

Priority for Empowerment Zones and

Enterprise Communities (EZ/EC)

excluded some of the most needy

socioeconomic and geographic areas,

such as the rural communities in his

State.

Discussion: The list of EZ/ECs, which

were designated by the Departments of

Agriculture and Housing and Urban

Development, contains some rural areas.

These EZ/ECs have great need and have

already established comprehensive

community development plans. The

Secretary believes that the limited

resources available would have the

greatest impact if the funds are directed

to these communities. Awarding five (5)

additional points to applications from

EZ/ECs will not preclude consideration

of applications that address the needs of

students in other needy geographic

areas.

Changes: None.

Comments: Another commenter

objected to the use of the Competitive

Preference Priority for EZ/ECs because it

would eliminate the possibility of

projects from his State being seriously

considered for funding. This commenter

recommended the priorities focus on the

research that is needed to improve

services to gifted students.

Discussion: The legislation creating

the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented

Students Education Program contains

provisions for a National Center for

Research and Development in the

Education of Gifted and Talented

Children and Youth. The Center is

responsible for carrying out the research

on methods and techniques for

identifying and teaching gifted and

talented students. The legislation

restricts the amount of funding available

for this activity to no more than 30% of

the total amount available for the

Program. The Secretary believes the

remainder of the funds are best used to

support demonstration projects to serve

the needs of the target audience.

Changes: None.

Priorities

Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) the

Secretary gives an absolute preference to

applications that meet the following

priority. The Secretary funds under this

competition only applications that meet

this absolute priority:
18216 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 1996 / Notices

Absolute Priority—Model Programs

Projects that establish and operate

model programs to serve 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, limited English

proficient students, and students 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. There must also

be comprehensive evaluation of the

projects’ activities.

The Secretary believes that the

limited resources available under the

Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented

Students Education Program will have

the greatest impact if the funds are

directed to communities that have the

greatest need and have already

established comprehensive community

development plans. Therefore, the

Secretary establishes the following

competitive priority to focus Federal

funds on gifted and talented projects

that would address the needs of

Empowerment Zones or Enterprise

Communities.

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 evaluation

criteria for the program:

Projects that implement model

programs in one or more schools in an

Empowerment Zone or Enterprise

Community or that primarily serve

students who reside in the EZ or EC.

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.

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: (a) 34 CFR

Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 85 and 86;

and (b) the final regulations for

Standards for the Conduct and

Evaluation of Activities Carried Out by

the Office of Educational Research and

Improvement (OERI)—Evaluation of

Applications for Grants and Cooperative

Agreements and Proposals for Contracts,

published on September 14, 1995 in the

Federal Register (60 FR 47808) and to

be codified at 34 CFR Part 700.

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR Part 791

previously applicable to this program will no

longer apply to this program.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C 8032–8036.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Number 84.206A, Jacob K. Javits Gifted and

Talented Students Education Program).

Dated: April 18, 1996.

Sharon P. Robinson,

Assistant Secretary for Educational Research

and Improvement.

Appendix—Empowerment Zones and

Enterprise Communities

Empowerment Zones (EZ)

Georgia: Atlanta

Illinois: Chicago

Kentucky: Kentucky Highlands*

Maryland: Baltimore

Michigan: Detroit

Mississippi: Mid Delta*

New York: Harlem, Bronx

Pennsylvania/New Jersey: Philadelphia,

Camden

Texas: Rio Grande Valley*

Supplemental Empowerment Zones (SEZ)

California: Los Angeles

Ohio: Cleveland

Enterprise Communities (EC)

Alabama: Birmingham

Alabama: Chambers County*

Alabama: Greene, Sumter Counties*

Arizona: Phoenix

Arizona: Arizona Border*

Arkansas: East Central*

Arkansas: Mississippi County*

Arkansas: Pulaski County

California: Imperial County*

California: Los Angeles, Huntington Park

California: San Diego

California: San Francisco, Bayview, Hunter’s

Point

California: Watsonville*

Colorado: Denver

Connecticut: Bridgeport

Connecticut: New Haven

Delaware: Wilmington

District of Columbia: Washington

Florida: Jackson County*

Florida: Tampa

Florida: Miami, Dade County

Georgia: Albany

Georgia: Central Savannah*

Georgia: Crisp, Dooley Counties*

Illinois: East St. Louis

Illinois: Springfield

Indiana: Indianapolis

Iowa: Des Moines

Kentucky: Louisville

Louisiana: Northeast Delta*

Louisiana: Macon Ridge*

Louisiana: New Orleans

Louisiana: Ouachita Parish

Massachusetts: Lowell

Massachusetts: Springfield

Michigan: Five Cap*

Michigan: Flint

Michigan: Muskegon

Minnesota: Minneapolis

Minnesota: St. Paul

Mississippi: Jackson

Mississippi: North Delta*

Missouri: East Prairie*

Missouri: St. Louis

Nebraska: Omaha

Nevada: Clarke County, Las Vegas

New Hampshire: Manchester

New Jersey: Newark

New Mexico: Albuquerque

New Mexico: Moro, Rico Arriba, Taos

Counties*

New York: Albany, Schenectady, Troy

New York: Buffalo

New York: Newburgh, Kingston

New York: Rochester

North Carolina: Charlotte

North Carolina: Halifax, Edgecombe, Wilson

Counties*

North Carolina: Robeson County*

Ohio: Akron

Ohio: Columbus

Ohio: Greater Portsmouth*

Oklahoma: Choctaw, McCurtain Counties*

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City

Oregon: Josephine*

Oregon: Portland

Pennsylvania: Harrisburg

Pennsylvania: Lock Haven*

Pennsylvania: Pittsburg

Rhode Island: Providence

South Carolina: Charleston

South Carolina: Williamsburg County*

South Dakota: Beadle, Spink Counties*

Tennessee: Fayette, Haywood Counties*

Tennessee: Memphis

Tennessee: Nashville

Tennessee/Kentucky: Scott, McCreary

Counties*

Texas: Dallas

Texas: El Paso

Texas: San Antonio

Texas: Waco

Utah: Ogden

Vermont: Burlington

Virginia: Accomack*

Virginia: Norfolk

Washington: Lower Yakima*

Washington: Seattle

Washington: Tacoma

West Virginia: West Central*

West Virginia: Huntington
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 1996 / Notices 18217

West Virginia: McDowell*

Wisconsin: Milwaukee

*denotes rural designee

Enhanced Enterprise Communities (EEC)

California: Oakland

Massachusetts: Boston

Missouri/ Kansas: Kansas City, Kansas City

Texas: Houston

[FR Doc. 96–10012 Filed 4–23–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P