Migrant Education-High School Equivalency Program (84.141)

 

Program

84.141 Migrant Education-High School Equivalency Program

 

Federal Agency

OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 

Authorization

Higher Education Act of 1965, Title IV, Part A, Subpart 5, Section 418A, 20 U.S.C. 1070d-2.

 

Program Number

84.141

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

Objectives

To assist students who are engaged, or whose parents are engaged, in migrant and other seasonal farm work to obtain the equivalent of a secondary school diploma and subsequently to gain employment or be placed in an institution of higher education or other postsecondary education or training.

 

Types of Assistance

Project Grants (Discretionary).

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

Project funds may be used to recruit and provide academic and support services (including counseling, health services, stipends, and placement) to migrant students to obtain the equivalent of a secondary school diploma and to subsequently gain employment or be placed in an institution of higher education or other postsecondary education or training.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Institutions of higher education or private nonprofit agencies in cooperation with institutions of higher education may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Persons who are engaged or whose parents are engaged in migrant and other seasonal farmwork or who have participated or have been eligible to participate in the Title I, MEP or the JTPA 402 program. Eligible beneficiaries are 16 and older or beyond the age of compulsory school attendance, and lacking a high school diploma.

Credentials/Documentation

To be eligible to participate in HEP: the applicant or their parents must: (1) Have worked a minimum of 75 days during the past 24 months in migrant on seasonal farmwork, or have been eligible to participate or have participated within the past 2 years in Title I, Migrant Education Program or JTPA 402 projects; (2) not have earned a secondary school diploma or its equivalent; (3) not be currently enrolled in an elementary or secondary school; (4) be 16 years of age or older, or above the age of compulsory school attendance in the State where the project is located; and (5) be determined by the grantee to need the academic and supporting services and financial assistance provided by the project.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used 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

Application forms are available from the Department of Education. An applicant submits its application to the Department of Education no later than the date announced by the Department in the Federal Register. An application must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the regulations, instructions, and forms included in the grant application package. Applications are reviewed and evaluated by a panel for selection of possible funding.

Award Procedure

The Department of Education notifies a successful applicant of its award. Actual negotiation and awarding of grants is done by the Department of Education's Office of Migrant Education staff.

Deadlines

Contact the Department of Education for application deadlines.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

None.

Renewals

Grants are awarded for up to 5 years. Renewals are subject to the availability of funds.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The project period is up to 60 months. Funds are awarded for 12 month budget periods. Renewals are subject to the availability of funds.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual continuation applications showing satisfactory performance are required each year and a final performance report is required 90 days after completion of a project.

Audits

In accordance with the Education Department General Administration Regulations in the Appendix to 34 CFR 80, State and local governments that receive financial assistance of $100,000 or more within the State's fiscal year shall have an audit made for that year. State and local governments that receive between $25,000 and $100,000 within the State's fiscal year shall have an audit made in accordance with the Appendix to Part 80, or in accordance with Federal laws and regulations governing the programs in which they participate.

Records

In accordance with the General Education Provisions Act and the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (34 CFR 74, 75, and 80), grantees must maintain certain project records for three years.

 

Program Accomplishments

Approximately 8,600 students in 59 projects were being served in 2002.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0900-0-1-501.

Obligations

(Grants) FY 02 $23,000,000; FY 03 est $23,347,000; and FY 04 est $13,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

The average Federal contribution per student in fiscal year 2002 was $2,600.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

34 CFR 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 85, 86, and 206.

 

Related Programs

84.002, Adult Education_State Grant Program; 84.047, TRIO_Upward Bound; 84.144, Migrant Education_Coordination Program; 84.149, Migrant Education_College Assistance Migrant Program; 84.213, Even Start_State Educational Agencies; 84.214, Even Start_Migrant Education; 93.246, Health Centers Grants for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Not applicable.

Headquarters Office

Office of Migrant Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3E227, Washington, DC 20202. Contact: Mary Suazo. E-mail Address mary.suazo@ed.gov. Telephone: (202) 260-1396.

Web Site Address

http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/OME/hep.html

 

Examples of Funded Projects

Project funds are used for recruitment, instruction designed to help participants pass an examination and obtain a high school equivalency certificate, counseling, health services, housing for on-campus residential programs, exposure to academic programs, cultural events, and other activities not usually available to migrant youth, and appropriate in-service training activities for project staff members.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Migrant Education High School Equivalency Program and College Assistance Migrant Program Regulations (34 CFR 206) include the criteria for selecting proposals, as follows: need for project (15 points); quality of project design (20 points); quality of management plan (20 points); quality of project services (15 points); quality of project personnel (10 points); adequacy of resources (10 points); project evaluation (10 points); and prior experience (15 points).