[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: 34CFR644.21]



[Page 305-306]

 

                           TITLE 34--EDUCATION

 

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

 

PART 644_EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTERS--Table of Contents

 

             Subpart C_How Does the Secretary Make a Grant?

 

Sec. 644.21  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 an Educational Opportunity Centers project in the proposed 

target area on the basis of the extent to which the application contains 

clear evidence of--

    (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 need on the part of residents of the target area for 

further education and training from programs of postsecondary education 

in order to meet changing employment trends; and

    (4) Other indicators of need for an Educational Opportunity Centers 

project, including the presence of unaddressed educational or 

socioeconomic problems of adult residents in 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 Educational Opportunity Centers program stated in 

Sec. 644.1;

    (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 management plan to ensure the proper and 

efficient administration of the project including, but not limited to, 

the project's organizational structure, the time committed to the 

project by the project director and other personnel, and, where 

appropriate, its coordination with other projects for disadvantaged 

students.



[[Page 306]]



    (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--

    (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 or 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 

1840-0065)



(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-16)