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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

84.340:  Class Size Reduction

Objectives:  To provide funding in order to reduce class size, particularly in the early grades, using highly qualified teachers to improve educational achievement for regular and special needs 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

84.340 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  State educational agencies (SEAs). The subgrantees are to eligible local educational agencies.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Local educational agencies.

Credentials/Documentation:  Each State will receive a formula allocation based on the greater amount of either the State's share of ESEA Title I or Eisenhower funds. Within States, money will be distributed to districts using a formula based on 80 percent child poverty and 20 percent student enrollment.

84.340 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

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

Application Procedure:  An SEA will submit standard application forms to the Secretary. For more information, contact the Program Office.

Award Procedure:  Applications are reviewed by the Education Department staff. Grants are awarded to the SEA by the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Deadlines:  Deadlines are established for grants each year by notice published in the Federal Register.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  Two months from receipt of application.

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

Renewals:  Grants may last for up to 3 years, subject to the availability of funds.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Contact the Program Office for information on the selection criteria.

Examples of Funded Projects:  This is a new program; examples have yet to be determined.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Range is from $5,623,097 to $129,177,934.

84.340 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 84.298 Innovative Education Program Strategies.

84.340 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

84.340 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

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

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $1,200,000; FY 00 est $1,300,000,000; and FY 01 est $1,750,000,000.

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

Authorization:  Department of Education Appropriations Act of 1999, Public Law 105-277.

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

84.340 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  None.

Headquarters Office:  Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, Room 5C141, FOB-6, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20202. Phone: (202) 260-8228.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

84.340 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Generally, awards to States are made from July 1 to September 30 of the following year. In addition, funds remain available to the State for an additional fiscal year for obligation and expenditure.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Each local educational agency (LEA) receiving funds shall carry out effective approaches to reducing class size with highly qualified teachers. Grantees may not use more than 15 percent of the award for testing teachers for academic knowledge and for professional development. If an award is less than a teacher's salary, a consortium with other LEAs must be formed to reduce class size.

84.340 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Each State receiving funds under this program must report on activities in the State. Each school receiving funds must report on an annual basis to parents, the general public and the SEA on student achievement that is a result of hiring additional qualified teachers and reducing class size.

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.