Community
Technology Centers
Enabling Legislation: Elementary and
Secondary Education Act, Title III, Part A. Purpose: Promote development
of model programs that demonstrate the educational effectiveness of technology
in economically distressed urban and rural communities, and provide access to
technology for children and adults.
Funding: $32,500,000 –– average award is $250,000.
(The $32,500,000 funding level is a 50 % reduction from the
preceding year.) Grants are awarded competitively by the U.S. Department of
Education. Local Program Access: IHE’s, LEA’s, nonprofit and for-profit
organizations, and consortia of eligible entities may apply. Federal
Contact: Charles Talbert, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, (202)
205-9873,
Charles.Talbert@ed.gov. (Notes: More
information about the RFP process is available on the OVAE website, which can be
accessed by searching “OVAE”.)
Even Start
Enabling Legislation: Elementary and Secondary
Education Act, Title I, Part B. Purpose: Support family literacy
projects that integrate early childhood education, adult literacy or basic
education, and parenting education for families with parents who are eligible
for services under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, or who are
within the compulsory school attendance age range, and their children from birth
to age 7. Funding: $250 million. Formula funding to state education
agencies, which may award subgrants to partnerships between one or more LEA’s
and one or more public or private nonprofit organizations. Local Program
Access: Agencies or partnerships should contact the state education
agency for information about funding opportunities. Federal Contact:
Patricia McKee, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, (202) 260-0991,
Patricia.McKee@ed.gov. (Notes: This Act incorporated all the
amendments to Even Start contained in the preceding LIFT (Literacy
Involving Families Together) Act that substantially raised the authorization
level for Even Start, required State plans that encouraged LEA’s to use part of
their ESEA, Title I, Part A funds for family literacy, reserved an increased
portion for migrant programs, Outlying Areas, and Indian tribes, provided the
National Institute for Literacy with funds for family literacy research,
required that funds be set aside for professional development, allowed certain
children who are 8 years of age or older to participate, and eliminated the 8
year limitation for any subgrantee to receive funds. The Act also added
a maintenance of effort provision.)
Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and
Youth (Neglected and Delinquent)
Enabling Legislation: Elementary and Secondary
Education Act, Title I, Part D, as amended. Purpose: Provide
supplementary education services to help provide education continuity for
children and youth in State-run institutions for juveniles, in adult
correctional institutions, and in community day programs for neglected and
delinquent children so that these youth can receive a secondary diploma via
successful return to secondary school or to earn a recognized equivalent to a
diploma and transition to employment once released from State institutions.
Funding: $48 million via formula grants to State education agencies who then
make subgrants to designated State agencies and local educational agencies.
Local Program Access: Local provider agencies providing services in
institutional settings should work with local educational agencies in which the
institutions are located to secure this funding. Federal Contact: Gary
Rutkin, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, (202) 260-4412,
Gary.Rutkin@ed.gov. (Notes: Most children in correctional institutions are
within the eligible age range for adult education. Most will not return to
secondary school, opting instead to prepare for a high school equivalency
diploma.)
Reading First
Enabling Legislation: Elementary and Secondary
Education Act (as amended by the “No Child Left Behind” amendments of 2002)
Title I, Part B, Subpart 1. Purpose: Provide assistance to state
education agencies and local education agencies in starting reading programs for
grades K to 3 that are based on scientifically-based reading research. Provide
assistance to SEA’s and LEA’s in preparing teachers. Provide assistance to
SEA’s and LEA’s to select and administer diagnostic and instructional reading
assessments. Provide assistance in selecting and developing effective
instructional materials. Strengthen coordination among schools, early literacy
programs, and family literacy programs to improve reading achievement for all
children. Funding: $705 million with an additional 195 million assured
for 2003. Local Program Access:
Entities eligible to apply to the SEA for funding are (1)
LEA’s of demonstrated need; (2) one or more private organizations or agencies
that serve preschool age children (such as a program at a Head Start center, a
child care program, or a family literacy program) which organizations or
agencies shall be located in a community served by an eligible LEA; or (3) a
collaborative effort mounted jointly by an eligible LEA and such organizations
or agencies. Applicants must spell out “how the proposed project will integrate
such instructional materials and literacy activities with existing preschool
programs and family literacy services.” The Act provides two echelons of
authorized activities. Family literacy programs are listed in the second
echelon entitled “Additional Uses.” Federal Contact: Chris Doherty,
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, (202) 401-2176, Chris.Doherty@ed.gov.
(Notes: (1) Does not provide for family literacy specifically; funding more
likely from states that already have strong commitment to family literacy. (2)
Information dissemination for Reading First and Early Reading First is made the
responsibility of the National Institute for Literacy and is supported by a $5
million reservation.)
Early Reading First
Enabling Legislation: Elementary and Secondary
Education Act, as amended, Title I, Part B, Subpart 2. Purpose: To
support local efforts to enhance the early language, literacy, and prereading
development of preschool age children. To provide these children with cognitive
learning opportunities in high quality language and literature environments. To
demonstrate language and literacy activities based on sound scientifically-based
reading research that supports a phonics-based approach (emphasis added).
To use screening assessments effectively to identify at-risk children. To
integrate such scientific reading research-based materials and activities into
existing programs of preschools, child care agencies, and family literacy
services. Funding: $75 million. Local Program Access: Eligible
applicant entities are identical to those in Reading First. Authorized
activities are to implement the purposes cited above. Federal Contact:
Patricia McKee, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, (202) 260-0991,
Patricia.McKee@ed.gov. (Notes: (1) Does not provide for family literacy
specifically; funding more likely from states that already have strong
commitment to family literacy. (2) Information dissemination for Reading First
and Early Reading First is made the responsibility of the National Institute for
Literacy and is supported by a $5 million reservation.)
21st Century Community
Learning Centers
Enabling Legislation: Elementary Education and
Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title IV, Part B. Purpose:
Grants may support after school and summer academic enrichment and other
complementary services for school-aged children (particularly those in
low-performing schools), and offer “families of students served by community
learning centers opportunities for literacy and related educational
development.” Funding: $1 billion administered at the federal
level to SEAs in proportion to their relative share of Title I, Part A, Subpart
2 funds. Local Program Access: Local educational agencies, community
based organizations, other public or private agencies or consortia thereof may
apply to the State Education Agency. Contacts: For state program
specifics,
www.ed.gov/21stcclc. For general info: Carole Mitchell, Office of
Elementary and Secondary Education, (202) 260-0982. (Notes: In an evaluation
of these Centers the typical overall number of students served by a school
district's grant was 696, and an average of 248 adults was served by each
grantee as well. Formerly these centers could serve any adult residing in their
service area. A change in the law now limits adult participation to members of
families of enrolled children. The Federal Budget summary says “parents” of
enrolled children, but the law says family members.)
INDIAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND ALASKAN
NATIVE EDUCATION
Enabling Legislation: Elementary and Secondary
Education Act, Title VII is called “Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaskan Native
Education.
ESEA Part A, Sec.7101, et seq., is Indian
Education. Sec. 7136 deals with “Improvement of Educational Opportunities
for Adult Indians.” Purpose: to improve employment opportunities,
provide basic literacy services and opportunities to earn a secondary diploma,
or its recognized equivalent, support research and the conduct of surveys and
encourage dissemination of information about effective practices. It authorizes
the Secretary to make grants to SEAs, LEAs, and Indian tribes, institutions
and
organizations to support planning, pilot, and demonstration projects.
Funding:
This activity shares an
authorization of $24 million with a number of similar projects for Indian
children’s education. Local Program Access: Federal Contact and Funding
Information: Cathie Martin, Office of Indian Education, Office of Elementary
and Secondary Education, (202) 260-3774, Cathie.Martin@ed.gov or Mary Brayboy,
(202) 260-1648, Mary.Brayboy@ed.gov.
ESEA Part B, Sec.7201, et.seq., is Native
Hawaiian Education. Purpose: Provide direction and guidance to
appropriate federal, State and local agencies to focus resources on Native
Hawaiian education. Supplement and expand existing programs in the area of
education for Native Hawaiians. Encourage the maximum participation of Native
Hawaiians in planning and management of Native Hawaiian education programs.
Funding: Native Hawaiian education has an appropriation of $30,500,000 for
FY 2002. Local Program Access: The Secretary is authorized to make
grants to Native Hawaiian education organizations, Native Hawaiian community
based organizations, experienced public and private nonprofit organizations, and
consortia of the above. Sec.7205 (a)(3)(H)(iii) permits operators of community
based learning centers to conduct vocational and adult education programs. Sec.
7205(a)(3) cites as priorities the development of academic and vocational
curricula to meet the needs of Native Hawaiian children and adults as
well as family literacy services and “other activities, consistent with the
purposes of this part, to meet the needs of educational needs of Native Hawaiian
children and adults.” Federal Contact: Lynn W. Thomas, Alaska Native &
Native Hawaiian Programs, (202) 260-1541,
Lynn.Thomas@gov.ed.
ESEA Part C, Sec.7301, et seq., is Alaskan
Native Education. Purpose: Recognize the unique educational needs of
Alaska Natives. Develop supplemental educational programs to benefit Alaska
Natives. Provide direction and guidance to appropriate federal, state, and
local agencies to focus resources on meeting the educational needs of Alaska
Natives. Sec.7304 (a)(2)(E) makes family literacy services a permissible
activity. Sec.7304 (a)(2)(G) does the same for research and data collection
activities to determine the educational status and needs of Alaskan Native
children and adults. Funding: Part C is appropriated at $24 million for
FY 2002. Federal Contact: Lynn W. Thomas, Alaska Native & Native
Hawaiian Programs, (202) 260-1541,
Lynn.Thomas@ed.gov
