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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

84.332:  Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration

Popular Name:  CSRD

Objectives:  To provide financial incentives for schools that need to substantially improve student achievement, particularly Title I schools, to implement comprehensive school reform programs that are based on reliable research and effective practices, and include an emphasis on basic academics and parental involvement. These programs are intended to stimulate school-wide change covering virtually all aspects of school operations, rather than a piecemeal, fragmented approach to reform. Thus, to be considered comprehensive, a program must integrate, in a coherent manner, nine specific components listed in the legislation. Through supporting comprehensive school reform, the program aims to enable all children in the schools served, particularly low-achieving children, to meet challenging State content and student performance standards.

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

84.332 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  State educational agencies (SEAs). The subgrantees are local education agencies (LEAs) applying to their SEAs in collaboration with eligible schools within the LEAs.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  State education agencies, local education agencies, and public schools.

Credentials/Documentation:  Applications should demonstrate the existence of a State-wide plan for supporting research-based comprehensive school reform that describes the process and selection criteria by which competitive subgrants will be made; how the SEA will ensure that only high quality comprehensive school reform programs are funded; how the SEA will provide information and assistance to school districts and schools; and how the SEA will evaluate results achieved in schools districts receiving assistance.

84.332 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs."

Application Procedure:  A SEA will submit standard application forms and narrative to the Secretary. An applicant may contact the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education for consultation and assistance in preparation of the application.

Award Procedure:  Applications are reviewed by independent panels of field readers. Panel recommendations are made on the basis of the application requirements described in Public Law 105-78; H.R. Rep. No. 390,105th Cong., 1st Sess. 32, 38, 96-99, and 106-109. Grants are awarded to the SEA by the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Deadlines:  SEA applications must be received by the Department of Education not later than June 30.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  From 30 to 90 days.

Appeals:  Appeals are processed under the rules established in the Education Department General Administration Regulations, 34 CFR Part 76.202.

Renewals:  Grants are awarded to SEAs annually. Subgrants are for up to 3 years with annual renewals subject to the approval of the SEA and availability of funds.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  The Secretary will use the selection criteria defined in the Conference Report (on the Appropriations Act for the Department's fiscal year 1998 budget, Public Law 105-78; H.R. Rep. No. 390, 105th Cong., 1st Sess. 32, 38, 96-99, and 106-109) to evaluate applications under this grant program. Each SEA application to the Secretary shall articulate research-based comprehensive school reform efforts that describe the process and selection criteria by which the SEA, using expert review, will make competitive grants to eligible LEAs; how the SEA will ensure that only high quality, well-defined, and well-documented comprehensive school reform programs meeting the criteria listed above are funded; how the SEA will disseminate materials developed by the Department identifying research-based comprehensive school reform models and provide technical assistance to assist LEAs and schools in evaluating selecting, developing and implementing comprehensive school reforms; how the SEA will evaluate the implementation of comprehensive school reforms and measure results achieved in improving student academic performance; and such other criteria as the Secretary may reasonably require.

Examples of Funded Projects:  All funded projects under this program will include the following activities: (1) Effective research-based methods and strategies; (2) comprehensive schools designs with aligned components; (3) professional development; (4) measurable goals and benchmarks; (5) support within the school; (6) parental and community involvement; (7) external technical support and assistance; (8) evaluation strategies; and (9) coordination of resources.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Fiscal year 1999: Average State award is $2,262,000.

84.332 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies;
• 84.215 Fund for the Improvement of Education;
• 84.276 Goals 2000: State and Local Education Systemic Improvement Grants.

84.332 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

84.332 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

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

Type of Assistance:  Formula Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $145,000,000; FY 00 est $160,000,000; and FY 01 est $240,000,000.

Budget Account Number:  91-0900-2-1-501.

Authorization:  Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, Title I, Part E, Section 1502, as amended.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  34 CFR Part 76, regarding the program application package for SEAs. Contact the Program Office for more information.

84.332 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  None.

Headquarters Office:  Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration Program, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20202. Contact: William R. Kincaid on (202) 205-4292.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

84.332 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Funds are available under Title I - Demonstrations of Innovative Practices Program and the Fund for Improvement of Education (FIE). Title I funds are allocated to SEAs based on Title I basic grant formula and FIE funds are allocated to SEAs based on each State's relative share of the school-age population. There are no matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Funds awarded to SEAs must be obligated not later than September 30, 2000.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration (CSRD) funds should be used to support schools that are initiating the implementation of comprehensive school reform programs based on reliable research and effective practices. In determining where to focus its CSRD resources, a State educational agency (SEA) must determine which schools are in the greatest need for reform. Thus, it is unlikely that a SEA would provide CSRD support to a school that is already well along in its efforts to implement a program designed to improve its entire operation.

84.332 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  No annual reports are required as part of this program.

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 Educational Provisions Act and the Education Department General Administrative Regulations, certain project records must be maintained for 5 years.