Civil Rights Training and Advisory Services (84.004)

Program

84.004 Civil Rights Training and Advisory Services

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Education
Office: Office Of Elementary And Secondary Education

Authorization

Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended., Title IV.

Program Number

84.004

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

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

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds support Equity Assistance Centers to provide technical assistance and training, upon request, in the areas of race, sex, and national origin to public school districts and other responsible governmental agencies to promote equitable education opportunities. The centers work in the areas of civil rights, equity, and school reform. This assistance helps schools and communities ensure that equitable education opportunities are available and accessible for all children.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Any private, nonprofit organization or any public agency may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Educational personnel and elementary and secondary students in local school districts 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. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. 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.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program.

Award Procedure

Final recommendations are made following advice from a panel of peer reviewers.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

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

This program has no statutory formula.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds are appropriated on an annual basis. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.

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. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of 500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than 500,000 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, grantees must maintain records for 3 years.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Awards were made to ten equity assistance centers in FY 08. Each center is responsible for providing technical assistance on the basis of race, gender, and national origin. Fiscal Year 2009: Continuation awards are expected to be made in FY 2009. Fiscal Year 2010: FY 2009 and FY 2010: Appropriations language included $2.5 million for one-time grants for local educational agencies facing challenges in creating student assignment plans that comply with the 2007 Supreme Court decision regarding student assignment plans and race.

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-1000-0-1-501.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $6,989,000; FY 09 est $9,489,000; FY 10 est $6,989,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$556,321-$757,353, year 1; $690,707 - average.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

34 CFR 270, 271, and 272 apply.

Related Programs

84.165 Magnet Schools Assistance

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Sandra Brown School Support and Technology Programs, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., , Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Email: Sandra.brown@ed.gov Phone: (202) 260-2638

Web Site Address

http://www.ed.gov/programs/equitycenters/index.html or http://www.ed.gov/about/contacts/gen/othersites/equity.html

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: 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. Fiscal Year 2009: Year 2 continuation/renewal awards. Fiscal Year 2010: Year 3 continuation/renewal awards.

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.