Educational Exchange-NIS Secondary School Initiative (19.411)
Program
19.411 Educational Exchange-NIS Secondary School Initiative
Federal Agency
BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Authorization
Public Law 87-256, as amended; 22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.
Program Number
19.411
Last Known Status
Deleted 06/17/2004 (Program discontinued)
Objectives
American organizations are awarded grants to foster interaction between young people from the U.S. and the 12 countries of the former Soviet Union to promote mutual understanding; to integrate the people of Eurasia into the global citizenry by assisting young people of the Eurasian countries in building an open society and by promoting democratic values; and to build sustainable partnerships between American and Eurasian schools and institutions.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Grants are awarded to American private non-profit organizations and public institutions for two major programs: (1) the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX), which provides high school students from Eurasia a full scholarship to live for one academic year with an American host family and attend a school; and (2) partial support for thematic exchanges of students and educators between American schools and their partners in Eurasia. Grants support the costs of travel, stipends, insurance, enhancement activities, orientation, selection, administration, and follow-on activities for alumni.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Organizations must have 4 years of experience in exchanges to qualify for grants of more than $60,000. For the grants to place and monitor FLEX participants, experience conducting academic year high school exchanges is required. The organizations providing administration and recruitment/selection in Eurasia must have a structure that encompasses the 12 countries. For the School Partnerships Program, applicant organizations must have a minimum network of two US and two Eurasian schools and experience conducting exchanges with Eurasia. Schools may only receive Bureau grant support for 3 years of exchange activity.
Beneficiary Eligibility
There are certain selection criteria (e.g., age, language ability) for participating students for the FLEX program; application is through a merit-based open competition. On the School Partnerships Program, selection criteria vary depending on the demands of the project, but the age range for students is 14 to 18-1/2.
Credentials/Documentation
See applicant eligibility.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
For the FLEX Program, an open competition for the administration components is conducted every 3 years; for placement grants, either an open competition or a limited solicitation is used each year. For the School Partnerships Program, an open competition is conducted each year if sufficient funding is available to warrant a competition. For open competitions, the request for proposals is published in the Federal Register. For limited solicitations, letters inviting proposals are issued to organizations deemed qualified to administer the program.
Award Procedure
Funding decisions are at the discretion of the Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs and are based on the advice of a panel of reviewers and various State Department offices. Final technical authority resides with the Grants Division.
Deadlines
Deadlines for submission of proposals are established in the request for proposals or letters of solicitation. Most solicitations are offered in the fall with proposals due by the end of the calendar year.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Decisions are generally made within three months of the submission of proposals, subject to the availability and timing of funding.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Renewal grants for some aspects of the FLEX program are possible.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Some cost-sharing is desirable but there is no minimum percentage.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants are generally awarded for an 18-month period for the FLEX Program; School Partnerships grants may be awarded for up to a 2-year period.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
FLEX: Quarterly program and financial reports are required. School Partnerships: Interim reports after each program phase are required.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," non federal 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
As prescribed by grant terms.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2001, 13 grants were awarded for the School Partnerships program; 19 grants for the FLEX.
Financial Information
Account Identification
19-0201-0-1-154.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $15,700,000; FY 03 est $16,000,000; and FY 04 est $17,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Grants for the FLEX program placement vary depending on the number of students. School Partnerships grants for FY 01 were in the range of $45,000 to $150,000. Average: $90,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Regulations governing exchange visitor (J-1) programs for high school students. Guidelines for grants are distributed in conjunction with the request for proposals/letter of solicitation.
Related Programs
19.410, Educational Exchange_Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Youth Programs Division (ECA/PE/C/PY), Office of Citizen Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington DC 20547. Telephone: (202) 619-6299. Fax: (202) 619-5311. Contact: For FLEX, Anna Mussman; for School Partnerships, Carolyn Lantz and Randy Biggers.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
A list of grantee organizations is available from the program office.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Programmatic planning, objectives, and quality; organization capacity and track record; support for diversity; cost-effectiveness; project evaluation plan; value to US-partner country relations; multiplier effect.
