Parental Assistance Centers (84.310)

Program

84.310 Parental Assistance Centers

Federal Agency

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

Authorization

Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended., Executive Order Title V, Part D, Subpart 16.

Program Number

84.310

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To provide grants to nonprofit organizations and nonprofit organizations in consortia with local educational agencies (LEAs) to assist them in establishing parental information and resource centers. These centers strive to: (1) assist parents in helping their children to meet State and local standards; (2) obtain information about the range of programs, services, and resources available nationally and locally for parents and school personnel who work with parents; (3) help parents use the technology applied in their children's education; (4) plan, implement, and fund activities for parents that coordinate the education of their children with other programs that serve their children and families; and (5) coordinate and integrate early childhood programs with school-age programs.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Each grantee receiving funds under this program must use at least 50 percent of the funds provided to serve areas with high concentrations of low-income families in order to serve parents that are severely educationally or economically disadvantaged. At least 30 percent of the funds must also be used to establish, expand, or operate a Parents As Teachers Program or a Home Instruction Program for Preschool youngsters. Other requirements include the establishment of a special advisory committee and design requirements. Grantees must serve both urban and rural areas. For funding in subsequent years, grantees must demonstrate that a portion of the services provided under this project is supported through nonfederal contributions.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Nonprofit organizations and nonprofit organizations in consortia with LEAs may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Preschool and school-aged children and their parents will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

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. 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

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Applications must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the notice published in the Federal Register. Contact the program office for more information.

Award Procedure

Applications are reviewed by panels of field readers. Points are awarded according to the selection criteria for discretionary grants contained in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). Applications are ranked based on the number of points awarded and are selected for funding based on their rank order and geographic location in order to satisfy statutory provisions. Grants are distributed, to the greatest extent possible, to all geographic regions of the country.

Deadlines

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

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 90 days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Renewals are based on the review of annual performance reports and the recommendation of the project officer. All renewals are subject to the availability of funds.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: Grantees are required to contribute, from nonfederal sources, a portion of the services provided under the project after the first year.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Projects generally may be supported for 1 to 4 years. Funds are granted on a 12-month basis. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual progress reports must be submitted as required by grant award terms and conditions. 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 Education Department General Administration Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR 74, nonprofit organizations are subject to the audit requirements in OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations." 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

As required by the Education Department General Administrative Regulations.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: The Department made 62 continuation awards in FY 2008. Fiscal Year 2009: The Department expects to make 62 continuation awards. Fiscal Year 2010: The Department expects to make 62 continuation awards.

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0204-0-1-501.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $38,908,188; FY 09 est $39,254,000; FY 10 est $39,254,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

No Data Available.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). For more information contact the program office.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Anna Hinton U.S. Department of Education, OII Parental Options and Information, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Room 4W229, Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Email: anna.hinton@ed.gov Phone: (202) 260-1816

Web Site Address

http://www.ed.gov/programs/pirc/index.html.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Centers typically use funds to: (1) coordinate with existing programs that support parents in understanding state and local standards and measures of student and school academic achievement; (2) develop resource materials and provide information about high-quality family involvement programs to families, schools, school districts, and others through conferences, workshops, and dissemination of materials; and (3) support a variety of promising models of family involvement programs such as the Parents as Teachers (PAT), the Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), and other early childhood parenting programs. Projects generally include a focus on serving parents of low-income, minority, and limited English proficient children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The selection criteria contained in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations are used to evaluate this program. For more information contact the Program Office.