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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

84.276:  Goals 2000: State and Local Education Systemic Improvement Grants

Popular Name:  Goals 2000 State Grants

Objectives:  To provide grants to State Education Agencies (SEAs) on a formula basis to support the development and implementation of comprehensive reform plans at the State, local, and school levels to improve the teaching and learning of all children. To support top down and bottom up reform through competitive subgrants by SEAs. In years two through five, of 90 percent of these funds are subgranted to local education agencies (LEAs) and through LEAs to individual schools. To support the establishment by States and localities of high standards in their core content areas. All aspects of the educational process are aligned including, but not limited to assessments, curriculum, professional development, and preservice training. To provide discretionary grants to LEAs in States that were not participating in Goals 2000 as of October 20, 1995, if the SEA approves the LEAs' participation in the program. These grants support the development and implementation of comprehensive local improvement plans directed at enabling all children to reach challenging academic standards; and professional development and pre-service training.

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

84.276 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  All States, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Northern Marianas, Guam, Virgin Islands, Palau, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, the Alaska Federation of Natives, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs may apply. Only SEAs that have received approval from the Secretary of Education of their State improvement plan or that submit the required assurances, benchmarks and timelines are eligible for third, fourth, and fifth year funding.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Elementary and secondary schools, students, and teachers will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:  None.

84.276 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Applications are distributed to the chief State school officer for all eligible SEAs. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  After receiving its initial allocation, SEAs became eligible for funding for years two through five if its State plan has been approved by the Secretary or if it submits the required assurances, timeliness, and benchmarks under the alternative submission procedures. SEAs that have submitted this information for second-year funding are not required to submit separate applications for the remaining three years of funding.

Award Procedure:  SEAs whose State plans have been approved by the Secretary or that submitted the required benchmarks, timelines, and assurances under the alternative submission process will receive subsequent years funding.

Deadlines:  SEAs whose State plans have already been approved by the Secretary, or who have previously submitted the required assurances, timelines, and benchmarks are not required to submit further information to receive subsequent years funding.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  State plans that are submitted for approval generally will be reviewed within two months of receipt.

Appeals:  The Secretary shall not disapprove a State improvement plan, or State application, before offering the State an opportunity to revise the plan and a hearing.

Renewals:  SEAs that have submitted their State plans for approval shall annually report to the Secretary regarding progress in meeting State goals and plans. Items such as: (1) A proposal of State activities for the succeeding year; (2) a summary of the progress of LEAs in meeting local goals; and (3) a plan to increase student learning are required. Renewals are subject to the availability of resources. SEAs that chose the alternative submission process must report annually to the public summary information on the use of Goals 2000 funds as well as progress toward meeting the stated benchmarks and timeliness.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Guidelines have been developed for review of State plans and is available from the Goals 2000 office.

Examples of Funded Projects:  States are using the funding for a variety of purposes including: establishing challenging Statewide standards in core academic subjects and strengthening math and science instruction for students.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  For fiscal year 1999, $1,645,000 to $54,330,000.

84.276 RELATED PROGRAMS:

84.276 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

84.276 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Type of Assistance:  Formula Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $461,000,000; FY 00 est $458,000,000; and FY 01 est $0. Note: The authorization for this program was repealed effective September 30, 2000.

Budget Account Number:  91-0500-0-1-501.

Authorization:  Goals 2000: Educate America Act, Title III, Public Law 103-227.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  34 CFR 76, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86.

84.276 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  None.

Headquarters Office:  Goals 2000, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., Room 3E241, Washington, DC 20202. Contact: Pat Gore. Phone: (202) 401-0039.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

84.276 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  One percent of State formula grant funds shall be reserved for outlying areas, the Secretary of the Interior to benefit Indian students and the Alaska Federation of Natives. From the amounts not reserved, 50 percent of funds will be allocated to SEAs in accordance with the amount each State receives under Part A, Title I, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and 50 percent will be allocated in accordance with the amount each State receives under Part A, Title VI, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Approval of the State plan, or the information submitted under the alternative submission process provides funding for years two through five of the program. Grants are awarded on a 12-month basis.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  In years two through five, at least 90 percent of awards to SEAs must be used to make subgrants to LEAs for the implementation of State and local improvement plans and to improve educator preservice programs and for professional development activities. Remaining funds are to be used for State activities designed to implement State improvement plans such as supporting the development or adoption of State content and performance standards for all children and assessments linked to such standards; the implementation of high-performance management strategies; building partnerships in the community to foster school improvement; and various other options that States select to improve teaching and learning of all students.

84.276 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  SEAs shall annually report to the Secretary regarding progress in meeting State goals and plans, proposed State activities for the succeeding year, and a summary of the progress of LEAs in meeting local goals for increasing student learning. SEAs that choose the alternative submission process must report annually to the public summary information on the use of Goals 2000 funds as well as progress in meeting their benchmarks and timeliness.

Audits:  In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:  In accordance with the General Education Provisions Act and the Education Department General Administrative Regulations, certain project records must be maintained for five years.