Ready-To-Learn Television (84.295)
Program
84.295 Ready-To-Learn Television
Federal Agency
ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INNOVATION AND IMPROVEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Authorization
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title II, Part D, Subpart3.
Program Number
84.295
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To develop educational programming for preschool and early elementary school children and their families. To develop educational television, programming and ancillary materials to increase school readiness for young children in limited English proficient households and to increase family literacy. To develop support materials and services that promote effective use of educational programming.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants; Project Grants (Contracts); Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).
Uses and Use Restrictions
Administrative costs are limited by the authorizing statute. Entities receiving a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement from the Secretary, may not use more than five percent of the amounts received under this Section for the normal and customary expenses of administering the grant.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
To be eligible to receive a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under Subsection (a) an entity shall be a public telecommunications entity that can demonstrate a capacity to: 1) develop and disseminate educational and instructoinal television programming nationwide; 2) contract with the producers of children's television programming; 3) negotiate such contracts in a manner that returns an appropriate share of ancillary income from sales of program- related products; and 4) localize programming and materials to meet specific State and local needs.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Programming is to be made widely available, with support materials as appropriate, to young children, their parents, child care workers, and Head Start providers.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or the 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 procedure is described in the application notice published annually in the Federal Register. Contact the headquarters office listed below for application packages containing the announcement, application, and forms.
Award Procedure
Applications are reviewed and evaluated by outside experts and program staff, in accordance with the Evaluation of Applications for Grants and Cooperative Agreements (34 CFR 700). The Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement approves the selection of applications for negotiation.
Deadlines
Application deadlines and other information for applicants are published in the Federal Register.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
None.
Renewals
As required by the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) for direct grant program (see 34 CFR 75.253). Generally, for multiple-year awards, continuation awards after the first budget period are made if: sufficient funds have been appropriated; the recipient has either made substantial progress in meeting the goals of the project or obtaining approval for changes in the project; the recipient has submitted all required reports; and continuation is in the best interest of the government.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Following an initial award of 12 months, four additional 1-year, non-competing continuation awards may be made, for a total term of 5 years. Renewals are subject to the availability of funds.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
The recipient must submit an annual report. At a minimum, the report must describe the program activities including: 1) Programming that has been developed directly or indirectly and the target population of the programs developed; 2) supporting materials that have been developed to accompany the programming and the method by which materials are distributed to consumers and users of the programming; 3) the means by which programming developed under this Section has been distributed, including the distinct learning technologies that have been utilized to make programming available and the geographic distribution achieved through such technologies; and 4) the initiatives undertaken to develop public or private partnerships to secure nonfederal support to develop and distribute the broadcasting of educational and instructional programming.
Audits
See 34 CFR 74.26. Institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations are subject to the audit requirements of OMB Circular No. A-133. State and local governments are subject to the requirements in the Single Audit Act and ED regulations implementing OMB Circular No. A-133 (see 34 CFR 80). In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal 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 required by EDGAR for direct grant programs (34 CFR 75). Generally, records related to grant funds, compliance, and performance must be maintained for a period of five years after completion.
Program Accomplishments
A single award to carry out the activities of this program has been made to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Financial Information
Account Identification
18-0204-0-1-501.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $22,000,000; FY 03 est $22,850,000; and FY 04 est $22,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
All funds are awarded under a single grant.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
The regulations applicable to this program are in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations 34 CFR, 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86.
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
U.S. Department of Education, OII Technology in Education Programs 555 New Jersey Ave., N.W., Rm. 522K Washington, DC 20208-5520 Contact: Joe Caliguro E-mail Address joseph.caliguro@ed.gov Telephone: (202) 219-1596.
Web Site Address
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OII/portfolio/rtltv.html
Examples of Funded Projects
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) received a 5-year grant in 2000. In addition to a variety of literacy- based activities and educational video spots, Ready-to-Learn funding has supported the development of two new children's shows. The first of these shows, Dragon Tales, premiered in the fall of 1999; the second, Between the Lions, premiered in the spring of 2000. PBS worked with the Children''s Television Workshop (CTW) and Columbia TriStar Television Distribution to develop Dragon Tales, a daily animated preschool series of half-hour shows that seeks to develop problem-solving, cooperation, and other life skills in children ages 2 through 5. By combining interactive musical components with animated segments, Dragon Tales engages children on multiple levels and develops important learning readiness traits. WGBH Boston and Sirius Thinking developed a daily half-hour literacy series, called Between the Lions, for 4 to 7 year- olds. This series uses a mix of puppetry, animation, and live action sequences to teach children how to read English, and is designed for both English and non-English-speaking children. Additional programs supported by Ready-to-Learn include Arthur, Cliffort the Big Red Dog, Reading Rainbow, and Sesame Street.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
The criteria for selecting applications under this program are contained in 34 CFR 700, Evaluation of Applications for Grants and Cooperative Agreements. The specific criteria to be used for a particular grant competition are selected from among those in 34 CFR 700, and announced in the application package or the application notice in the Federal Register.
