School librarians, especially those in districts that may be eligible for
Improving Literacy Through School Libraries grants, may be interested in
sending feedback to Julie Walker, Executive Director of AASL. The Feds are
proposing clarification on this grant so THIS is the time to let them know
what you think!
Sylvia
-----Original Message-----
From: Julie Walker [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004 9:29 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [AASLFORUM:1307] Literacy Through School Libraries
The ALA Washington Office would like to prepare a response to the following
and is asking for our evaluation of this proposal. PLEASE RESPOND BACK TO
ME ([log in to unmask]) or to the list by the end of the day on Monday (2/9),
SO THAT THE WO WILL HAVE TIME TO PREPARE A RESPONSE.
Please comment on a) priority points b) allowable local professional
development activities
Thanks!
***********
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
RIN 1810-ZA09
Notice of Proposed Priority and Clarification of Eligible Local
Activities
AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes to add a competitive preference
priority to the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program to
reflect the importance of mastering reading skills in grades K-3. In
this regard, the Secretary also proposes to clarify the allowable local
professional development activities under this program, so that school
library media specialists can address not only the reading needs of
preschool children but also those of children in grades K-3. The
Secretary may use this proposed priority and clarification of
professional development activities for competitions in FY 2004 and in later
years.
DATES: We must receive your comments on or before February 12, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments about this notice to Margaret McNeely,
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5C130,
Washington, DC 20202-6200, Fax (202) 260-8969. If you prefer to send
your comments through the Internet, use the following address:
[log in to unmask]
You must include the term COMMENTS in the subject line of your
electronic message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret McNeely. Telephone: (202)
260-1335 or via the Internet at [log in to unmask]
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
Invitation to Comment
We invite you to submit written comments regarding this proposed
priority and clarification of eligible activities.
We invite you to assist us in complying with the specific
requirements of Executive Order 12866 and its overall requirement of
reducing regulatory burden that might result from this proposed
priority and clarification of eligible activities. Please let us know
[[Page 1976]]
of any further opportunities we should take to reduce potential costs
or increase potential benefits while preserving the effective and
efficient administration of the program.
During and after the public comment period, you may inspect all
public comments about these proposed actions in Room 5C130, 400
Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, between the hours of 8:30 a.m.
and 4 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday of each week except
Federal holidays.
Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities in Reviewing the Rulemaking
Record
On request, we will supply an appropriate aid, such as a reader or
print magnifier, to an individual with a disability who needs
assistance to review the comments or other documents in the public
rulemaking record for this proposed priority and expansion of eligible
activities. If you want to schedule an appointment for this type of
aid, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Background
The Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program (LSL),
authorized by Title I, Part B, Subpart 4, section 1251 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, (ESEA), as amended by
the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, is a discretionary grant program.
Through LSL, the Department provides grants to eligible local
educational agencies to improve student literacy skills and academic
achievement by providing students with increased access to up-to-date
school library materials; a well-equipped, technologically advanced
school library media center; and well-trained, professionally certified
school library media specialists.
Priority
Proposed Competitive Preference Priority for K-3 Projects
This proposed competitive preference priority would support
projects that propose primarily to serve grades K-3. The Department
would add five points to an applicant's score if its application meets
the priority. This proposed priority is based on the design of a
proposed project rather than the enrollment of the school(s) to be
served. Therefore, applicants with either K-6, K-8, or K-12 enrollments
would be eligible to receive the competitive preference priority if
their proposed project primarily serves grades K-3. For purposes of
this priority, the term ``primarily'' means that more than 50 percent
of the applicant's proposed budget will be used for grades K-3. The
Secretary believes that targeting students in grades K-3 will maximize
the impact of LSL on improving student reading achievement.
Proposed Clarification of Eligible Local Activities
The Secretary proposes to allow grantees to conduct professional
development activities for school library media specialists that
further the purposes of the program, not only as related to preschool
education, but also related to education benefiting children in grades
K-3. This is consistent with our interpretation of the statute and
legislative history. The Secretary believes that allowing professional
development for school library media specialists benefiting children
from preschool through grade 3 can help link projects under this
program with efforts such as those funded under the Early Reading First
program authorized by section 1221 et seq. of ESEA that benefit
teachers of pre-school children, and under the Reading First program
authorized by section 1201 et seq. of ESEA that benefit teachers of K-3
children. Professional development for school library media specialists
that serve children from preschool through grade 3 will assist these
specialists and help them better meet the needs of students and fellow
educators.
We will announce the final priority and clarification of eligible
local activities in the Federal Register. We will determine the final
priority and eligible activities after considering written responses to
this notice and other information available to the Department. This
notice does not preclude us from proposing or funding additional
priorities, subject to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.
Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in
which we choose to use this proposed priority and expanded
activities, we invite applications through a notice in the Federal
Register.
Executive Order 12866
This notice of proposed priority and clarification of eligible
local activities for professional development has been reviewed in
accordance with Executive Order 12866. Under the terms of the order, we
have assessed the potential costs and benefits of this regulatory
action.
The potential costs associated with the notice of proposed priority
and the clarification of eligible local activities are those resulting
from statutory requirements and those we have determined as necessary
for administering this program effectively and efficiently.
In assessing the potential costs and benefits--both quantitative
and qualitative--of this notice of proposed priority and clarification
of eligible local activities, we have determined that the benefits of
the proposed priority and clarification of eligible local activities
justify the costs.
Intergovernmental Review
This program is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the
regulations in 34 CFR part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive
order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened
federalism. The Executive order relies on processes developed by State
and local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal
financial assistance.
This document provides early notification of our specific plans and
actions for this program.
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81,
82, 85, 97, 98 and 99.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site:
http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.
You may also view this document in text at the Applicant
Information link of the following site: http://www.ed.gov/programs/lsl.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html
.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.364A Improving
Literacy Through School Libraries Program)
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6383.
Dated: January 7, 2004.
Ronald J. Tomalis,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. [FR Doc.
04-706 Filed 1-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
Julie A. Walker
Executive Director
American Assocation of School Librarians (AASL)
Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
800-545-2433 x4388
312-642-3769 (FAX)
www.ala.org/aasl
www.ala.org/yalsa
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