[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 88 (Monday, May 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20248-20249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11222]



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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Postsecondary Education; State Student Incentive Grant 
Program

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of the closing date for receipt of state applications 
for fiscal year 1996.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Education (Secretary) gives notice of the 
closing date for receipt of State applications for fiscal year 1996 
funds under the State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) Program. This 
program, through matching formula grants to States for student awards, 
provides grants to students with substantial financial need. The SSIG 
Program supports Goals 2000, the President's strategy for moving the 
Nation toward the National Education Goals, by enhancing opportunities 
for postsecondary education. The National Education Goals call for 
increasing the rate at which students graduate from high school and 
pursue high quality postsecondary education.
    A State that desires to receive SSIG funds for this fiscal year 
must have an agreement with the Secretary as provided under section 
1203(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). The 
State must submit an application through the State agency that 
administered its SSIG Program as of July 1, 1985, unless the Governor 
has subsequently designated, and the Secretary has approved, a 
different State agency.
    The Secretary is authorized to accept applications from the 50 
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 
the Virgin Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Authority for this 
program is contained in sections 415A through 415E of the HEA. (20 
U.S.C. 1070c-1070c-4)
    Closing Date for Transmittal of Applications: An application for 
fiscal year 1996 SSIG funds must be mailed or hand-delivered by June 6, 
1996.
    Application Form: The required application form for receiving SSIG 
funds will be mailed to officials of the appropriate State agency in 
each State at least 30 days before the closing date. Applications must 
be prepared and submitted in accordance with the HEA and the program 
regulations cited in this notice. The Secretary strongly urges that 
applicants only submit information that is requested.
    Applications Delivered by Mail: An application sent by mail must be 
addressed to: Mr. Fred Sellers, Chief, Pell and State Grant Section, 
Room 3045, ROB-3, U.S. Department of Education, Student Financial 
Assistance Programs, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 
20202-5447.
    The Secretary will accept the following proof of mailing: (1) A 
legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark; (2) a legible mail receipt 
with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service; (3) a 
dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier; or 
(4) any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of 
Education.
    If an application is sent through the U.S. Postal Service, the 
Secretary does not accept either of the following as proof of mailing: 
(1) A private metered postmark; or (2) a mail receipt that is not dated 
by the U.S. Postal Service. The Department of Education encourages 
applicants to use certified or at least first-class mail.
    A late applicant cannot be assured that its application will be 
considered for fiscal year 1996 funding.

[[Page 20249]]

    Applications Delivered by Hand: An application that is hand-
delivered must be taken to Mr. Fred Sellers, U.S. Department of 
Education, Student Financial Assistance Programs, 7th and D Streets, 
S.W., Room 3045, General Service Administration Regional Office 
Building #3, Washington, D.C. Hand-delivered applications will be 
accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily (Eastern time), except 
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.
    An application that is hand-delivered will not be accepted after 
4:30 p.m. on the closing date.
    Program Information: Section 415C(a) of the HEA requires that an 
annual application be submitted for a State to receive SSIG funds. In 
preparing the application, each State agency should be guided by the 
table of allotments provided in the application package.
    State allotments are determined according to the statutorily 
mandated formula under section 415B of the HEA and are not negotiable. 
A State may also request its share of reallotment, in addition to its 
basic allotment, which is contingent upon the availability of such 
additional funds.
    In fiscal year 1995, 50 States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Trust 
Territory of the Pacific Island (Palau), and the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands received funds under the SSIG Program.
    Applicable Regulations: The following regulations are applicable to 
the SSIG Program:
    (1) The SSIG Program regulations in 34 CFR part 692.
    (2) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations 
(EDGAR) in 34 CFR part 75.60 through 75.62 (Ineligibility of Certain 
Individuals to Receive Assistance), part 76 (State-Administered 
Programs), part 77 (Definitions that Apply to Department Regulations), 
part 79 (Intergovernmental Review of Department of Education Programs 
and Activities), part 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments), part 
82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying), part 85 (Governmentwide Debarment 
and Suspension (Nonprocurement), and Governmentwide Requirements for 
Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)), and part 86 (Drug-Free Schools and 
Campuses).
    (3) The regulations in 34 CFR part 604 that implement section 1203 
of the HEA (Federal-State Relationship Agreements).
    (4) The Student Assistance General Provisions in 34 CFR part 668.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For further information contact Mr. Greg 
Gerrans, Pell and State Grant Section, U.S. Department of Education, 
Student Financial Assistance Programs, Washington, D.C. 20202-5447; 
telephone (202) 708-4607. 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. (20 U.S.C. 1070c-1070c-4)

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.069, State Student 
Incentive Grant Program)

    Dated: May 1, 1996.
David A. Longanecker,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 96-11222 Filed 5-03-96; 8:45 am]
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