[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 34, Volume 3]

[Revised as of July 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 34CFR643.21]



[Page 299-300]

 

                           TITLE 34--EDUCATION

 

 CHAPTER VI--OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 

PART 643_TALENT SEARCH--Table of Contents

 

             Subpart C_How Does the Secretary Make a Grant?

 

Sec. 643.21  What selection criteria does the Secretary use?



    The Secretary uses the following criteria to evaluate an application 

for a new grant:

    (a) Need for the project (24 points). The Secretary evaluates the 

need for a Talent Search project in the proposed target area on the 

basis of the extent to which the application contains clear evidence of 

the following:

    (1) A high number or percentage, or both, of low-income families 

residing in the target area;

    (2) A high number or percentage, or both, of individuals residing in 

the target area with education completion levels below the baccalaureate 

level;

    (3) A high student dropout rate in the proposed target schools in 

the preceding three years;

    (4) A low rate of enrollment in programs of postsecondary education 

by graduates of the target schools in the preceding three years;

    (5) A high ratio of students to school counselors in the target 

schools; and

    (6) Other indicators of need for a Talent Search project, including 

the presence of unaddressed academic or socio-economic problems of 

students in the target schools or the target area.

    (b) Objectives (8 points). The Secretary evaluates the quality of 

the applicant's proposed project objectives on the basis of the extent 

to which they--

    (1) Include both process and outcome objectives relating to each of 

the purposes of the Talent Search program stated in Sec. 643.1;

    (2) Address the needs of the target area;

    (3) Are clearly described, specific, and measurable; and

    (4) Are ambitious but attainable within each budget period and the 

project period given the project budget and other resources.

    (c) Plan of operation (30 points). The Secretary evaluates the 

quality of the applicant's plan of operation on the basis of the 

following:

    (1) (4 points) The plan to inform the residents, schools, and 

community organizations in the target area of the goals, objectives, and 

services of the project and the eligibility requirements for 

participation in the project;

    (2) (4 points) The plan to identify and select eligible participants 

and ensure their participation without regard to race, color, national 

origin, gender, or disability;

    (3) (2 points) The plan to assess each participant's need for 

services provided by the project;

    (4) (12 points) The plan to provide services that meet participants' 

needs and achieve the objectives of the project; and

    (5) (8 points) The plan, including the project's organizational 

structure and the time committed to the project by the project director 

and other personnel, to ensure the proper and efficient administration 

of the project.

    (d) Applicant and community support (16 points). The Secretary 

evaluates the applicant and community support for the proposed project 

on the basis of the extent to which the applicant has made provision for 

resources to supplement the grant and enhance the project's services, 

including--



[[Page 300]]



    (1) (8 points) Facilities, equipment, supplies, personnel, and other 

resources committed by the applicant; and

    (2) (8 points) Resources secured through written commitments from 

schools, community organizations, and others.

    (e) Quality of personnel (9 points). (1) The Secretary evaluates the 

quality of the personnel the applicant plans to use in the project on 

the basis of the following:

    (i) The qualifications required of the project director.

    (ii) The qualifications required of each of the other personnel to 

be used in the project.

    (iii) The plan to employ personnel who have succeeded in overcoming 

the disadvantages of circumstances like those of the population of the 

target area.

    (2) In evaluating the qualifications of a person, the Secretary 

considers his or her experience and training in fields related to the 

objectives of the project.

    (f) Budget (5 points). The Secretary evaluates the extent to which 

the project budget is reasonable, cost-effective, and adequate to 

support the project.

    (g) Evaluation plan (8 points). The Secretary evaluates the quality 

of the evaluation plan for the project on the basis of the extent to 

which the applicant's methods of evaluation--

    (1) Are appropriate to the project's objectives;

    (2) Provide for the applicant to determine, using specific and 

quantifiable measures, the success of the project in--

    (i) Making progress toward achieving its objectives (a formative 

evaluation); and

    (ii) Achieving its objectives at the end of the project period (a 

summative evaluation); and

    (3) Provide for the disclosure of unanticipated project outcomes, 

using quantifiable measures if appropriate.



(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 

1840-0549)



(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-12)