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Grant Community.com Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Descriptions |
CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC
ASSISTANCE
84.203: Star Schools
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| PROGRAM AND AWARD | FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS |
| ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS | FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO. |
| APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS | INFORMATION CONTACTS |
| RELATED PROGRAMS | ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS | POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS |
Applicant Eligibility: Eligible telecommunications partnerships must be organized on a statewide or multistate basis. Two types of partnerships are eligible: (1) A public agency or corporation established for the purpose of developing and operating telecommunications networks to enhance educational opportunities provided by educational institutions, teacher training centers, and other entities, provided that the agency or corporation represents the interests of elementary and secondary schools eligible to participate under Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; or (2) a partnership that will provide telecommunications services and includes three or more of the following entities, at least one of which shall be State or local educational agency: (a) A local educational agency, that serves a significant number of elementary and secondary schools that are eligible for assistance under Part A, of Title 1 or elementary and secondary schools operated or funded for Indian children by the Department of the Interior; (b) A State educational agency; (c) adult and family education programs; (d) an institution of higher education or a State higher education agency; (e) a teacher training center or academy; (f) a public or private entity with experience and expertise in the planning and operation of a telecommunications network, including entities involved in telecommunications through satellite, cable, phone, or computer; or a public broadcasting entity with such experience; or (g) a public or private elementary or secondary school.
Beneficiary Eligibility: Elementary and secondary school students and teacher benefits.
Credentials/Documentation: None.
Preapplication Coordination: This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program.
Application Procedure: Described in the application notice published in the Federal Register. Contact the headquarters office listed below for application packages containing the application notice and application assurance forms.
Award Procedure: The Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement approves the selection of applications for negotiation. The selection of applications is competitive, based on staff and nonfederal review according to the selection criteria contained in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) at 34 CFR 74.210 and the application notice published in the Federal Register.
Deadlines: Announced in the application notice published in the Federal Register. Contact the headquarters office listed below for further information.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: About 120 days following the application deadline.
Appeals: Not applicable.
Renewals: As required by the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) for direct grant programs (see 34 CFR 75.253). Generally, for multiple-year awards, continuation awards after the first budget period are made if sufficient funds have been appropriated; the recipient has either made substantial progress in meeting the goals of the project or obtained approval for changes in the project; the recipient has submitted all required reports; and continuation is in the best interest of the government.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals: Contained in EDGAR (34 CFR 75.210).
Examples of Funded Projects: TEAMS (Telecommunications Education for Advances in Mathematics and Science Education) is the project operated by the Los Angeles County Office of Education. This was the first Star Schools Project to specifically address the needs of large urban districts. The partners in the project include the Los Angeles County Educational Telecommunications Network, the Los Angeles Unified School District, District of Columbia Public Schools, Boston Public Schools, Atlanta Public Schools and Salt Lake City public schools. Science and technology experiences have been developed for grades four and five, multicultural mathematics and problem solving were the focus for grades seven through ten, and student-to-student teleconferences and career exploration were emphasized for grades seven through 12. Special programs were also developed for students with limited English proficiency. A parent education component and staff development teleconference are key to enriching the educational opportunities of students in these major cities. Since its first award in 1990, TEAMS has added Charlotte-Mecklenburg, and the States of Arizona, Missouri, Georgia, Detroit Public Schools, Eastern New Mexico University, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Mississippi Educational Television, Missouri Success Link, KOCE TV and New Mexico to its partnership.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: A grant can be issued for up to $10,000,000 in any one fiscal year. The average grant is $2,000,000.
None.
During the first 2 years of awards, nearly 3,000 schools participated in the Star Schools Program. More than 1,500 of these schools received equipment in the form of satellite downlinks, television monitors, VCRs, fax machines, microcomputers and printers. More than 8,000 students, primarily located in rural areas, were enrolled in the 17 credit courses that were produced by Star Schools projects during the first 2 years. During the second cycle, awards were expanded to include the delivery of services and programming to urban schools, and schools located in the northwestern and northeastern sections of the country. During the third cycle, four types of awards were made: (1) Six general grants; (2) four dissemination grants to provide dissemination and technical assistance to State and local education agencies not presently served by distance learning technologies; (3) one special statewide network grant to provide two-way full motion interactive video and audio communications that link together public colleges and universities and secondary schools throughout the State of Iowa; and (4) an evaluation contract to conduct a broad-scale evaluation of the Star Schools Program and to address some preliminary issues related to distance learning in general. The fourth cycle of awards included seven general projects, three special statewide projects, and one dissemination project. The fifth cycle of awards in fiscal year 1998 involved only projects focusing on ensuring high school completion requirements were met for young people and enhancing adult literacy skills through the use of telecommunications. The sixth cycle of awards in fiscal year 1999 included eight general projects and a single dissemination project. In addition, a special local network project was funded and a single statewide project was awarded a continuation grant. Since its inception, about 1.6 million learners have participated in the programming or received services across the country.
Federal Agency: OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND IMPROVEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Type of Assistance: Project Grants.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 99 $45,000,000; FY 00 est $50,550,000; and FY 01 est not identifiable. Decisions on funding for FY 01 will be made pending enactment of legislation to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Budget Account Number: 91-0500-2-1-501.
Authorization: Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title III, Part B, Public Law 103-382, 20 U.S.C. 6891-6900.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature: The Department of Education General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) 34 CFR 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86.
Regional or Local Office: Not applicable.
Headquarters Office: Office of Educational Research and Improvement, Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Ave, NW., Washington, DC 20208-5644. Joseph Wilkes. Phone: (202) 219-2186. Use the same number for FTS.
(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)
Formula and Matching Requirements: The Federal share for the first and second fiscal years shall be 75 percent; for the third and fourth years 60 percent; and for the fifth year 50 percent. All resources must be used to supplement and not supplant resources otherwise available for the purposes of the grant. Other regulations in 34 CFR 74, Subpart G (cost-sharing or matching), apply. The Secretary of Education will consider requests to reduce or waive matching requirements if financial hardship is demonstrated.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Following a competitively selected award of up to 12 months, awards may be made for up to 4 subsequent years; subject to the availability of funds.
Uses and Use Restrictions: Restrictions and priorities include: Eligible telecommunications partnerships must be organized on a statewide or multi-state basis. Partnerships must assure that a significant portion of the facilities and equipment, technical assistance and programming for which assistance is sought will be made available to elementary and secondary schools of local education agencies that have a high percentage of children counted for purposes of Part A of Title I of the Elementary Secondary Education Act. Priority is given to those partnerships that provide services to meet the needs of traditionally underserved populations, individuals traditionally excluded from careers in mathematics and science because of discrimination or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, areas with scarce resources, and areas with limited access to courses in mathematics, science and foreign languages. Funds through this grant may not supplant funds otherwise available for these purposes. Not less than 25 percent of the funds appropriated during any fiscal year shall be used for the cost of instructional programming. Not less than 50 percent of the funds appropriated during any fiscal year shall be used for the cost of facilities, equipment, teacher training or retraining, technical assistance or programming for school districts which are eligible to receive assistance under Part A of Title I. No grant may exceed $10,000,000 in any single fiscal year.
Reports: As required by the Education Department General Administrative Relations (EDGAR) for direct grant programs (see 34 CFR 75). Generally, annual performance and financial reports are required.
Audits: See 34 CFR 74.26. Institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations are subject to the audit requirement of OMB Circular No. A-133. State and local governments are subject to the requirements in the Single Audit Act and the ED regulations implementing OMB Circular No. A-128 (see 34 CFR 80).
Records: As required by EDGAR for direct grant programs (34 CFR 75). Generally, records related to grant funds, compliance and performance must be maintained for a period of five years after completion.
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Last Updated, November, 2000
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