Star Schools
Published on AidPage by
IDILOGIC on Jun 24, 2005
Purpose of this program:
To encourage improved instruction in mathematics, science, and foreign languages as well as other subjects, such as literacy skills and vocational education. To serve underserved populations, including the disadvantaged, illiterate, limited-English proficient, and individuals with disabilities. Grants are made to telecommunication partnerships for telecommunications facilities and equipment, educational and instructional programming, and technical assistance in the use of such facilities and instructional programming.
Possible uses and use restrictions...
Restrictions and priorities include: Eligible telecommunications partnerships must be organized on a statewide or multi-state basis. Partnerships must assure that a significant portion of the facilities and equipment, technical assistance and programming for which assistance is sought will be made available to elementary and secondary schools of local education agencies that have a high percentage of children counted for purposes of Part A of Title I of the Elementary Secondary Education Act. Priority is given to those partnerships that provide services to meet the needs of traditionally underserved populations, individuals traditionally excluded from careers in mathematics and science because of discrimination or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, areas with scarce resources, and areas with limited access to courses in mathematics, science and foreign languages. Funds through this grant may not supplant funds otherwise available for these purposes. Not less than 25 percent of the funds appropriated during any fiscal year shall be used for the cost of instructional programming. Not less than 50 percent of the funds appropriated during any fiscal year shall be used for the cost of facilities, equipment, teacher training or retraining, technical assistance or programming for school districts which are eligible to receive assistance under Part A of Title I. No grant may exceed $10,000,000 in any single fiscal year. This program is subject to non-supplanting requirements and must use a restricted indirect cost rate which is referenced under 34 CFR 75.563. For assistance call the Office of Chief Financial Officer/Indirect Cost Group on 202-708-7770.
Who is eligible to apply...
Eligible telecommunications partnerships must be organized on a statewide or multistate basis. Two types of partnerships are eligible: (1) A public agency or corporation established for the purpose of developing and operating telecommunications networks to enhance educational opportunities provided by educational institutions, teacher training centers, and other entities, provided that the agency or corporation represents the interests of elementary and secondary schools eligible to participate under Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; or (2) a partnership that will provide telecommunications services and includes three or more of the following entities, at least one of which shall be State or local educational agency: (a) A local educational agency, that serves a significant number of elementary and secondary schools that are eligible for assistance under Part A, of Title 1 or elementary and secondary schools operated or funded for Indian children by the Department of the Interior; (b) A State educational agency; (c) adult and family education programs; (d) an institution of higher education or a State higher education agency; (e) a teacher training center or academy; (f) a public or private entity with experience and expertise in the planning and operation of a telecommunications network, including entities involved in telecommunications through satellite, cable, telephone, or computer; or a public broadcasting entity with such experience; or (g) a public or private elementary or secondary school.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Note:This is a brief description of the credentials or documentation required prior to, or along with, an application for assistance.
About this section:
This section indicates who can apply to the Federal government for assistance and the criteria the potential applicant must satisfy.
For example, individuals may be eligible for research grants, and the criteria to be satisfied may be that they have a professional or scientific degree,
3 years of research experience, and be a citizen of the United States. Universities, medical schools, hospitals, or State and local governments may also be eligible.
Where State governments are eligible, the type of State agency will be indicated (State welfare agency or State agency on aging) and the criteria that they
must satisfy.
Certain federal programs (e.g., the Pell Grant program which provides grants to students) involve intermediate levels of application processing, i.e., applications
are transmitted through colleges or universities that are neither the direct applicant nor the ultimate beneficiary. For these programs,
the criteria that the intermediaries must satisfy are also indicated, along with intermediaries who are not eligible.
How to apply...
Application Procedure:
Described in the application notice published in the Federal Register. Contact the headquarters office listed below for application packages containing the application notice and application assurance forms.
Note: Each program will indicate whether applications are to be submitted to the Federal headquarters, regional or local office, or to a State or local government office.
Award Procedure:
The selection of applications is competitive, based on staff and nonfederal review according to the selection criteria contained in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) at 34 CFR 74.210 and the application notice published in the Federal Register.
Note: Grant payments may be made by a letter of credit, advance by Treasury check, or reimbursement by Treasury check.
Awards may be made by the headquarters office directly to the applicant, an agency field office, a regional office,
or by an authorized county office. The assistance may pass through the initial applicant for further distribution by
intermediate level applicants to groups or individuals in the private sector.
Deadlines and process...
Deadlines
Announced in the application notice published in the Federal Register. Contact the headquarters office listed below for further information.
Note:
When available, this section indicates the deadlines for applications to the funding agency which will
be stated in terms of the date(s) or between what dates the application should be received.
When not available, applicants should contact the funding agency for deadline information.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Approximately 120 days following the application deadline.
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. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program.
Note:
This section indicates whether any prior coordination or approval is required with governmental or nongovernmental units
prior to the submission of a formal application to the federal funding agency.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Note:
In some cases, there are no provisions for appeal. Where applicable, this section discusses appeal procedures or allowable rework time for resubmission
of applications to be processed by the funding agency. Appeal procedures vary with individual programs and are either listed in this section or
applicants are referred to appeal procedures documented in the relevant Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
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.
Note:
In some instances, renewal procedures may be the same as for the application procedure, e.g., for projects of a non-continuing nature renewals will be treated as new, competing applications; for projects of an ongoing nature, renewals may be given annually.
Who can benefit...
Elementary and secondary school students and teacher benefits.
Beneficiaries
About this section:
This section lists the ultimate beneficiaries of a program, the criteria they must satisfy and who specifically is not eligible. The applicant and beneficiary will generally be the same for programs that provide assistance directly from a Federal agency. However, financial assistance that passes through State or local governments will have different applicants and beneficiaries since the assistance is transmitted to private sector beneficiaries who are not obligated to request or apply for the assistance.
What types of assistance...
Project Grants
The funding, for fixed or known periods, of specific projects. Project grants can include fellowships, scholarships, research grants, training grants, traineeships, experimental and demonstration grants, evaluation grants, planning grants, technical assistance grants, survey grants, and construction grants.
How much financial aid...
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not applicable.
Note:
This section lists the representative range (smallest to largest) of the amount of financial assistance available. These figures are based upon funds awarded in the past fiscal year and the current fiscal year to date. Also indicated is an approximate average amount of awards which were made in the past and current fiscal years.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 03 $27,341,000; FY 04 est $20,362,000; and FY 05 est $0.
Note:
The dollar amounts listed in this section represent obligations for the past fiscal year (PY), estimates for the current fiscal year (CY), and estimates for the budget fiscal year (BY) as reported by the Federal agencies. Obligations for non-financial assistance programs indicate the administrative expenses involved in the operation of a program.
Account Identification
91-0204-0-1-501.
Note:
Note: This 11-digit budget account identification code represents the account which funds a particular program.
This code should be consistent with the code given for the program area as specified in Appendix III of the Budget of the United States Government.
Examples of funded projects...
TEAMS (Telecommunications Education for Advances in Mathematics and Science Education) is the project operated by the Los Angeles County Office of Education. This was the first Star Schools Project to specifically address the needs of large urban districts. The partners in the project include the Los Angeles County Educational Telecommunications Network, the Los Angeles Unified School District, District of Columbia Public Schools, Boston Public Schools, Atlanta Public Schools and Salt Lake City public schools. Science and technology experiences have been developed for grades four and five, multicultural mathematics and problem solving were the focus for grades seven through ten, and student-to-student teleconferences and career exploration were emphasized for grades seven through twelve. Special programs were also developed for students with limited English proficiency. A parent education component and staff development teleconference are key to enriching the educational opportunities of students in these major cities. Since its first award in 1990, TEAMS has added Charlotte-Mecklenburg, and the States of Arizona, Missouri, Georgia, Detroit Public Schools, Eastern New Mexico University, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Mississippi Educational Television, Missouri Success Link, KOCE TV and New Mexico to its partnership.
About this section
This section indicates the different types of projects which have been funded in the past. Only projects funded under Project Grants or Direct Payments for Specified Use should be listed here. The examples give potential applicants an idea of the types of projects that may be accepted for funding. The agency should list at least five examples of the most recently funded projects.
Program accomplishments...
In fiscal year 2003, 15 awards were granted.
Criteria for selecting proposals...
Contained in EDGAR (34 CFR 75.210).
Assistance considerations...
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Following a competitively selected award of up to twelve months, awards may be made for up to 4 subsequent years; subject to the availability of funds.
Formula and Matching Requirements
The Federal share for the first and second fiscal years shall be 75 percent; for the third and fourth years 60 percent; and for the fifth year 50 percent. All resources must be used to supplement and not supplant resources otherwise available for the purposes of the grant. Other regulations in 34 CFR 74, Subpart G (cost-sharing or matching), apply. The Secretary of Education will consider requests to reduce or waive matching requirements if financial hardship is demonstrated.
Note:
A formula may be based on population, per capita income, and other statistical factors. Applicants are informed whether there are any matching requirements to be met when participating in the cost of a project. In general, the matching share represents that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal government. Attachment F of OMB Circular No. A-102 (Office of Management and Budget) sets forth the criteria and procedures for the evaluation of matching share requirements which may be cash or in-kind contributions made by State and local governments or other agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals to satisfy matching requirements of Federal grants or loans.
Cash contributions represent the grantees' cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the grantee by other public agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals. When authorized by Federal regulation, Federal funds received from other grants may be considered as the grantees' cash contribution.
In-kind contributions represent the value of noncash contributions provided by the grantee, other public agencies and institutions, private organizations or individuals. In-kind contributions may consist of charges for real property and equipment, and value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the grant program. When authorized by Federal legislation, property purchased with Federal funds may be considered as grantees' in-kind contribution.
Maintenance of effort (MOE) is a requirement contained in certain legislation, regulations, or administrative policies stating that a grantee must maintain a specified level of financial effort in a specific area in order to receive Federal grant funds, and that the Federal grant funds may be used only to supplement, not supplant, the level of grantee funds.
Post assistance requirements...
Reports
As required by the Education Department General Administrative Relations (EDGAR) for direct grant programs (see 34 CFR 75). Generally, annual performance and financial reports are required.
Note:
This section indicates whether program reports, expenditure reports, cash reports or performance monitoring are required by the Federal funding agency, and specifies at what time intervals (monthly, annually, etc.) this must be accomplished.
Audits
See 34 CFR 74.26. Institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations are subject to the audit requirement of OMB Circular No. A-133. 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.
Note:
This section discusses audits required by the Federal agency.
The procedures and requirements for State and local governments and nonprofit entities are set forth in OMB Circular No. A-133.
These requirements pertain to awards made within the respective State's fiscal year - not the Federal fiscal year,
as some State and local governments may use the calendar year or other variation of time span designated as the fiscal year period,
rather than that commonly known as the Federal fiscal year (from October 1st through September 30th).
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 5 years after completion.
Note:
This section indicates the record retention requirements and the type of records the Federal agency may require.
Not included are the normally imposed requirements of the General Accounting Office.
For programs falling under the purview of OMB Circular No. A-102, record retention is set forth in Attachment C.
For other programs, record retention is governed by the funding agency's requirements.
Regulations...
Authorization
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title V, Part D, Subpart 7. Public Law 103-382, 20 U.S.C. 6891-6900.
Note:
This section lists the legal authority upon which a program is based (acts, amendments to acts, Public Law numbers, titles, sections, Statute Codes, citations to the U.S. Code, Executive Orders, Presidential Reorganization Plans, and Memoranda from an agency head).
Regulations, Guidelines, And Literature
The Department of Education General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) 34 CFR 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86.