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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

84.283:  Comprehensive Regional Assistance Centers

Objectives:  To help coordinate and integrate the implementation of Elementary and Secondary Education Act and other Federal education programs with State and local activities in ways that support Federal, State, and local efforts to improve teaching and learning and increase the academic achievement of all children.

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

84.283 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Public or private nonprofit entities, or consortia of such entities.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Agencies supporting or providing elementary and secondary education will benefit, including state and local educational agencies, schools, Indian tribes, community-based organizations, and other recipients of funds under ESEA.

Credentials/Documentation:  None.

84.283 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  Applications or proposals must be prepared and submitted in accordance with applicable program announcements.

Award Procedure:  After completion of competitive review of applications, the Department makes the final decision on the approval and funding of applications.

Deadlines:  Contact the headquarters for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  About 60 to 120 days.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  None.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Criteria include: (1) Meeting the purpose of the authorizing statue; (2) extent of need for the center; (3) plan of operation; (4) quality of key personnel; (5) budget and cost-effectiveness; (6) evaluation plan; and (7) adequacy of resources.

Examples of Funded Projects:  One comprehensive regional assistance center has set as its goal the implementation of a system of sustained and comprehensive support that improves teaching and learning in schools in the region, resulting in high academic achievement for all students, particularly those at risk of educational failure. The center provides high-quality support and professional development and assistant to schools; establishing a proactive and coordinated system of technical assistance with partners at the local, State and national levels; and provides technical assistance and research-based information supported by technology. In working with client educational agencies, the center uses awareness of the need for change, greater responsibility for student achievement, requirements of recent legislation and the promise of technology as openings to help move clients from token or tentative reform measures to more comprehensive ones. Consistent with statutory priorities, the center concentrates on assisting school-wide programs and those who serve children from high-poverty schools.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  For fiscal year 1999, the average award was $1,857,000.

84.283 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 84.004 Civil Rights Training and Advisory Services;
• 84.168 Eisenhower Professional Development: Federal Activities.

84.283 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

84.283 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Type of Assistance:  Dissemination of Technical Information.

Obligations:  (Dissemination of Technical Information) FY 99 $287,000,000; FY 00 est $28,000,000; and FY 01 est not identifiable. Note: Will be determined upon enactment of legislation to reauthorize the Elementary and Secretary Education Act.

Budget Account Number:  91-1000-2-1-501.

Authorization:  Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title XIII, Part A, Sections 13101-13105, as amended.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Regulations applicable to this program are in The Department of Education's General Administrative Regulations (34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86).

84.283 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  None.

Headquarters Office:  Goals 2000, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., Washington DC 20202. Contact: Patricia Gore. Phone: (202) 401-0039.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

84.283 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Grants may be awarded for up to 5 years subject to the availability of funds and performance by the grantee.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Provide training, technical assistance, and direct services in: Improving the quality of instruction, curricula, assessments, and other aspects of school reform; meeting the needs of children served under the ESEA, including children in high poverty areas, migratory children, immigrant children, children with limited English proficiency, neglected or delinquent children, homeless children and youth, Indian children, children with disabilities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian children, and children living in urban and rural areas; implementing high-quality professional development activities for school personnel; improving the quality of bilingual education; creating safe and drug-free learning environments; implementing educational applications of technology; expanding the involvement and participation of parents in the education of their children; reforming schools, schools systems, and the governance and management of schools; disseminating information; and evaluating programs. Does not provide direct funding to public or private schools, but the activities undertaken by the centers benefit those schools.

84.283 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Specified reporting requirements are included in the grant or cooperative agreement document.

Audits:  As required by EDGAR, 34 CFR 74.

Records:  Records must be kept for 3 years after the completion of the activity that grant funds were used.