To provide technical assistance and training services to
school districts to cope with educational problems occasioned by race, gender,
and national origin desegregation.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Funds may be used for dissemination of information regarding effective methods
of coping with educational equity problems resulting from desegregation;
assistance and advice in coping with these problems; and training designed to
improve the ability of teachers, supervisors, counselors, parents, community
members, and other elementary or secondary school personnel to deal
effectively with equity problems. A recipient of a grant for race or national
origin desegregation assistance under these programs may not use funds to
assist in the development or implementation of activities or the development
of curriculum materials for the direct instruction of students to improve
their academic and vocational achievement levels. However, funds may be used
to assist in the development and implementation of activities or the
development of curriculum materials for the direct instruction of students of
limited English proficiency (LEP), to afford these students a full opportunity
to participate in all educational programs.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: For equity assistance centers
grants, any private, nonprofit organization or any public agency may apply.
Beneficiary Eligibility: Educational personnel
and elementary and secondary students in local school districts will benefit.
Credentials/Documentation: Submission of a
proposal for one or more of the sections of Title IV, Civil Rights Act of
1964. More detailed information may be found in the regulations. Costs will be
determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local
governments. OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations also applies.
Pre-application Coordination: Applicants may contact
the Department of Education. 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. The standard application forms as furnished by the
Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this
program.
Application Procedure: This program is subject to
the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedure: The Assistant Secretary for
Elementary and Secondary Education makes final award decisions based upon the
recommendation of the Director, School Improvement Programs and with the
advice of a panel of reviewers.
Deadlines: Published in the Federal Register.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Approximately
30 to 90 Days.
Appeals: Not applicable.
Renewals: Equity assistance centers receive
3-year awards if they meet the criteria for annual continuation in the
regulations. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements: None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Funds are
appropriated on an annual basis; payments are normally made on a quarterly
basis.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: In accordance with OMB Circular No. A-102
(Attachments H and I) and ED General Administrative Regulations for Direct
Project Grant and Contract Programs, 34 CFR 74, 75.
Audits: In accordance with the provisions of OMB
Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local
Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that
expend 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 Section 443 of the
General Education Provisions Act, as amended by the Improving America's
Schools Act, grantees must maintain records for 3 years.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification: 91-1000-0-1-501.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 01 $7,334,000; FY 02 est
$7,334,000; and FY 03 est $7,334,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: The
average fiscal year 2001 award was $733,000.
In fiscal year 2001, awards were made to 10 equity assistance centers. Each
center is responsible for providing technical assistance on the basis of race,
gender, and national origin.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
34 CFR 270, 271, and 272 apply.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office: Not applicable.
Headquarters Office: Equity and Educational
Excellence Division, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, 400
Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-6140. Contact: Sandra Brown.
Telephone: (202) 260-2638. Internet: Sandra_brown@ed.gov.
Web Site Address: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE.
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Equity assistance centers provide training and technical assistance to public
school districts in the States in their geographical service area. Typical
activities include the dissemination of general information on such topics as
successful educational practices and legal requirements related to non-
discrimination on the basis of race, gender, and national origin in
educational programs; training designed to develop educators' skills in
specific areas, such as the identification of race and sex bias in
instructional materials; and technical assistance in the identification and
selection of appropriate educational programs to meet the needs of limited
English speaking students. In all instances, the assistance provided is at the
request of the local educational agency. State educational agencies provide
similar assistance, however, State educational agencies may choose to provide
assistance in race, gender, or national origin desegregation, or any
combination of these three areas. State educational agency activities may be
tailored to address equity areas and problems that are of the greatest
priority to the State.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
New equity assistance center applications are evaluated on the basis of
selection criteria, in Section 272.30(a)-(g), addressing mission and strategy,
organizational capability, plan of operation, quality of key personnel, budget
and cost-effectiveness, evaluation plan, and adequacy of resources. The
highest ranking application for each geographical service area is selected for
an award.
