Language Resource Centers (84.229)
Program
84.229 Language Resource Centers
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Authorization
Higher Education Act, Title VI, Part A, Section 603, as amended, 102-325.
Program Number
84.229
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To improve the Nation's capacity to teach and learn foreign languages effectively by supporting the establishment, strengthening, and operation of language resource centers at institutions of higher education.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants; Project Grants (Contracts).
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds may be used to carry out activities to improve the teaching and learning of foreign languages. These activities may include: (a) The conduct of research on new and improved methods for teaching foreign languages, including the use of advanced educational technology; (b) the development of new materials for teaching foreign languages to reflect the results of research on effective teaching strategies; (c) the development and application of performance testing that is appropriate for use in an educational setting to be used as a standard measurement of skill levels in foreign language; (d) the training of teachers in the administration and interpretation of foreign language performance tests, the use of effective teaching strategies and the use of new technologies; (e) the publication of instructional materials in the less commonly taught foreign languages; and (f) the widespread dissemination of research results, teaching materials, and improved pedagogical strategies to the postsecondary education community. Equipment costs may not exceed 15 percent of the grant total.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Accredited American institutions of higher education or combinations of such institutions may apply.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Institutions of higher education or combinations of such institutions and individuals will benefit.
Credentials/Documentation
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102.
Application Procedure
Eligible institutions may submit applications for funding when the announcement of a new competition is issued in the Federal Register. Application forms and guidelines for the submission of applications are available from the Advanced Training and Research Team. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedure
Final recommendations are made to the Secretary following advice from a panel of consultants.
Deadlines
Official deadline will be announced in the Federal Register.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
There are no appeals.
Renewals
Higher education institutions selected to receive funds for the three year phased program may submit annual performance reports for the continuation of support. Renewals are subject to the availability of funds.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants are awarded for up to a 36 month period. Continuation awards are subject to the submission of satisfactory progress reports and are subject to the availability of funds.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Funded centers must provide final reports upon completion of the 36 month program.
Audits
All fiscal records will be subject to audit by the Department of Education at any time within 3 years after expiration of the grants.
Records
All records supporting claims under grants or relating to the accountability for awarded funds must be available upon request: 1) For 3 years after close of the fiscal year in which the grant expired or 2) until the grantee is notified of the completion of the Federal financial audit, whichever is later.
Program Accomplishments
Fourteen new awards were made in fiscal year 2002.
Financial Information
Account Identification
91-0201-0-1-502.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $4,961,000; FY 03 est $5,100,000; and FY 04 est $4,944,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
The average 2002 award was $354,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
34 CFR 655 and 669.
Related Programs
84.015, National Resource Centers and Fellowships Program for Language and Area or Language and International Studies; 84.016, Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Programs; 84.017, International Research and Studies; 84.018, Overseas Seminars Abroad_Bilateral Projects; 84.019, Overseas_Faculty Research Abroad; 84.021, Overseas_Group Projects Abroad; 84.022, Overseas_Doctoral Dissertation; 84.153, Business and International Education Projects; 84.220, Centers for International Business Education.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
Advanced Training and Research Team, International Education and Graduate Programs Service, Office of Higher Education Programs, Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-5331. Contact: G. Edward McDermott. ed.mcdermott@ed.gov. Telephone: (202) 502-7636.
Web Site Address
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/HEP/iegps/lrc.html
Examples of Funded Projects
(1) The Georgetown University/Center for Applied Linguistics, George Washington University National Capital Foreign Language Resource Center, is continuing its research and training activities, building upon achievements made during the last funding cycle. The School of Languages and Linguistics at Georgetown serves as a field site for some research activities, as do local school systems in Maryland and Virginia. The Center is training teachers in the administration and interpretation of foreign language performance tests; training teachers in foreign language teaching and learning strategies; training teachers in the use of technology in foreign language teaching; conducting foreign language learning strategy research; and developing foreign language tests. (2) San Diego State University's Language Acquisition Resource Center (LARC) is building upon the foundation laid in the first cycle of Federal funding by continuing research and development in the areas of language testing, strategies for teaching and learning languages, and advanced uses of technology. LARC has shifted its focus during the second funding cycle to the development and implementation of a national training model that incorporates previous research and development. The training is designed to impact language instruction in K-12 and postsecondary institutions. During this cycle, LARC is: Developing a national model of language teacher training; conducting research, development and training in alternative language testing; developing and training educators in effective strategies for teaching and learning languages; and training educators in strategies for integrating technology into language curricula. (3) The University of Hawaii is also building on the existing structure and accomplishments of the currently funded Center. Although the Center focuses particularly on languages of Asia and the Pacific in its training, curriculum, and research activities, it also includes German, Russian, and other European languages in its efforts. The Center is organized around six component areas: pedagogy and psycholinguistics; sociolinguistics and cross-cultural pragmatics; materials and methods development; language testing; technology and telecommunications; and resource provision for foreign language researchers. Projects at the Center are carried out by a project team and generally cut across areas of emphasis, including several of the components listed above. The following types of programs are currently underway: A program of National Foreign Language Fellows; A program of National Foreign Language Interns; Dissemination of materials and research results, including print, video/audio, and electronic media; A series of summer institutes in teacher training and materials preparation; and Research and materials development projects.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
34 CFR 655.31(a)-(e), 669.21 and 669.22 apply to the Language Resource Centers Program.
