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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

84.302:  Regional Technical Support and Professional Development Consortia

Popular Name:  Regional Technology in Education Consortia

Objectives:  To help States, schools, districts, adult literacy centers, pre-service providers, and other educational institutions about the use of advanced technologies to improve teaching and student achievement. The program is primarily concerned with helping to identify, provide and promote quality investments in and implementations of technology integration within the context of improving America's schools for all learners.

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

84.302 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Recipients of funds under this program are regional entities or consortia. Each regional technology consortium shall be composed of State educational agencies, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, or a combination thereof. For example, for the purposes of the program, a consortium may include: (a) An already defined regional consortia, the regional educational laboratories, the comprehensive regional assistance centers, or a similar regional entity whether designated and funded by the Department of Education or by another agency; (b) a combination of two or more of these already defined regional entities; (c) a combination of one or more of these regional entities in addition to any State educational agencies, institutions of higher education, or nonprofit organizations; or (d) State educational agencies, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, or a combination thereof.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  RTEC grantees target products and services to a broad range of constituents, with a significant focus on benefiting underserved communities with little access to technology. Clients of RTEC grantees might include State and local educational agencies, schools and school districts, administrators, staff developers, curriculum coordinators and other K-12 educators and a number of teachers, as well as pre-service and adult literacy providers.

Credentials/Documentation:  None.

84.302 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 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:  Applications forms and instructions are available from the program office. Application deadlines and other information for applicants are published in the Federal Register.

Award Procedure:  After the completion of a competitive review of applications by panels of staff and nonfederal reviewers, according to the selection criteria published in the Federal Register's application notice, the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Educational Research and Improvement approves the selection of applications for negotiation.

Deadlines:  Application deadlines and other information for applicants are published as a notice in the Federal Register.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  About 120 days following the application deadline.

Appeals:  None.

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:  For detailed criteria, refer to the application notices published in the Federal Register.

Examples of Funded Projects:  All six 5-year projects that were funded in late fiscal year 1995 provide a full spectrum of services to their assigned regions, as outlined under the program's objectives. Each RTEC operates somewhat differently, in accordance with the unique needs and characteristics of their respective region, and to their unique consortium membership composition. For instance, the Northwest RTEC provides services to Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington and Wyoming. It is composed of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory based in Portland, OR, the Washington Education Service District 101, and the State education agencies of each of the States in the region. The South Central RTEC serves Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. It is composed of the University of Kansas' Center for Research on Learning, the Kansas State Board of Education, and the Colleges of Education at: Texas A and M University at College Station, the University of Oklahoma at Norman, the University of Missouri at Columbia, and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  The anticipated range of awards is between $1,200,000 to $2,100,000 for each of the six regional technology in education consortia in 1999.

84.302 RELATED PROGRAMS:

84.302 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

84.302 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND IMPROVEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants; Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).

Obligations:  (Cooperative agreement) FY 99 $10,000,000; FY 00 est $10,000,000; and FY 01 est $10,000,000.

Budget Account Number:  91-0500-2-1-503.

Authorization:  Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title III, Part A, Section 3141.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Education Department General Administrative Regulations, 34 CFR 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86.

84.302 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, Office of Reform Assistance and Dissemination, Washington, DC 20208-5572. Contact: Catherine Connor. Phone: (202) 219-8070. Use the same number for FTS.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

84.302 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Following the initial, competitively selected award for 12 months, four additional one-year non-competing continuation awards may be made, for a total maximum term of five years.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Funds provide assistance to eligible organizations to establish and operate regional consortia that promote the comprehensive integration of advanced technologies in education settings, through the conduct of technical assistance, professional development, information and resource dissemination, and collaboration activities. Each consortium serves all of the States and Territories within a predetermined region.

84.302 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  As required by the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) for direct grant programs (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 requirements 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-133 (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.