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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

84.291:  Bilingual Education: Systemwide Improvement Grants

Objectives:  To assist local educational agencies to implement district-wide bilingual education programs to improve, reform, and update, relevant programs and operations within an entire LEA that serve a significant number of limited English proficient students. Local educational agencies may collaborate with institutions of higher education, community-based organizations, other LEAs, or a State educational agency.

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

84.291 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  One or more local education agencies, or one or more LEA in collaboration with one or more community-based organizations, institutions of higher education, or State education agencies may apply. Local education agencies are eligible to compete if they enroll at least 1,000 limited English proficient students, or if those students represent 25 percent of the enrollment.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Children with limited proficiency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing English will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:  None.

84.291 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or the 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.

Application Procedure:  To participate, an organization must have on file with the Secretary of Education, by the designated deadline, an application that complies with the statutory requirements. Contact the program office for specific application information.

Award Procedure:  Applications are approved for awards by the Director, Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs based on evaluations and recommendations of outside experts, and an administrative review of the applications.

Deadlines:  Deadlines will be announced in the application notice published in the Federal Register. Contact the program office for more information.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  The range is about 120 days.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  Renewals are based on an annual review of the performance data and the availability of funds.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Criteria include: project design, extent of need for the project, and management plan. Contact the program office for more information.

Examples of Funded Projects:  No examples are available.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  In fiscal year 1999, the average award was $475,000.

84.291 RELATED PROGRAMS:

84.291 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

84.291 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR FOR BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND MINORITY LANGUAGES AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $41,730,000; FY 00 est $32,378,000; and FY 01 est $36,378,000.

Budget Account Number:  18-1300-2-1-501.

Authorization:  Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title VII, Part A.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  No specific regulations have been developed. EDGAR will be used as appropriate.

84.291 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20202. Contact: Harry Logel. Phone: (202) 205-5530.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

84.291 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Awards are made for 5 years, subject to the availability of funds.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Funds must be used for improving, reforming, and upgrading relevant programs and operations, within an entire local educational agency that serve a significant number of limited English proficient (LEP) children and youth. Funds must be used to supplement, not to supplant, State and local funds that have been expended for special programs for LEP students.

84.291 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Financial status and performance reports, as required by EDGAR, 34 CFR 75.720 apply. Specific reporting requirements are contained in the grant documents.

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:  As required by EDGAR, grantees are required to maintain appropriate records related to grant funds.