Purpose STRENGTHENING INSTRUCTION IN SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, MODERN FOREIGN To strengthen instruction in science, mathematics, and modern foreign languages, and other critical subjects through: a. Grants for projects approved by the State education agency for acquisition of laboratory and other special equipment (including audiovisual materials and equipment and printed and published materials other than textbooks) suitable for use in providing education in the specified subjects in public elementary and secondary schools, and for minor remodeling of space for such equipment and materials. b. Loans for similar acquisitions and minor remodeling by nonprofit private schools. c. Grants for State programs for the expansion or improvement of supervisory or related services in public elementary and secondary schools in the specified areas of instruction and for administration of related State plans. Basic legislation of September 2, 1958 identified science, mathematics, and modern foreign languages as covered areas of instruction. An amendment on October 16, 1964 added history, civics, geography, English, and reading. Another on November 8, 1965 added economics. Initially, "State" was defined to include the States of the Union and the other political subdivisions of the Nation with the exception of American Samoa. It also was defined to include the Canal Zone. An amendment on December 18, 1963 added American Samoa. 1/ Effective through fiscal year 1963, acquisition grant and loan allotments under annual appropriations remained available to each State for 2 years (with those for fiscal year 1963 remaining available through fiscal year 1964). Public Law 88-210 removed this 1-year carry-over. Effective with fiscal year 1964 allotments, Public Law 88-210 also specified that the amount of any State's allotments for the acquisition grant and loan programs in any fiscal year which was not required in such fiscal year was available for reallotment to other States. 2/ From annual financial reports as of June 30 each year which are submitted to the Office of Education by participating States. Fiscal year 1965 expenditures include estimated amounts from 8 States and lack amounts for the 2 participating States which had not yet submitted their reports. Method of Distribution Twelve percent of the overall allotments specified in the law for acquisition grant and loan programs is reserved for loans to private schools and suballotted in proportion to enrollment in private elementary and secondary schools. Not to exceed 2 percent then is reserved for Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands and the Canal Zone. The remainder is suballotted to the 50 States of the Union and the District of Columbia under a formula based on the product of the school-age population of the particular State or the District of Columbia and its allotment ratio. This ratio equals 100 minus .50 times the quotient of Income per school-age child for the State Income per school-age child for the 50 States of the Union and the District of Columbia except that no allotment ratio is less than 33 1/3 or more than 66 2/3 percent. A State with high income per child of school age has a relatively lower allotment ratio while one with low income per child of school age has a relatively higher allotment ratio. The income per child of school age is based on total personal income and population aged 5-17 inclusive for the 3 most recent consecutive years for which satisfactory data are available from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Not to exceed 2 percent of the overall allotment for supervisory or related services and administration is reserved for Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the Canal Zone. The remainder is suballotted among the other eligible participants in proportion to school-age population except that no one of these 51 receives a suballotment of less than $50,000. Source of Data: Enrollment in nonpublic elementary and secondary (denominational and nonsectarian schools): Office of Education estimates (reported annually since 1962 in its Digest of Educational Statistics. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office). Personal income data: Survey of Current Business (monthly issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Business Economics). Population data: State estimates as of July 1 from "Population Estimates." Current Population Reports. Series P-25. Washington: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Regulations applicable to grants: 30 F.R. 7, January 1, 1965, as amended by 31 F.R. 324, January 21, 1966--45 C.F.R. 141 (with Public Law 88665, section 301 extending authorization for the program through June 30, 1968). Regulations applicable to loans: 30 F.R. 994, January 30, 1965 as amended by 31 F.R. 825, January 21, 1966--45 C.F.R. 142 (with Public Law 88-665, section 301 extending authorization for the program through June 30, 1968). Matching Requirements Acquisition grants: Dollar for dollar in State and/or local funds. Grants for supervisory or related services and administration: lar for dollar in State funds. Who May Receive Federal Aid Grant programs: Dol State education agencies (with Federal payments for equipment acquisition and minor remodeling being paid subsequently to local education agencies on the basis of State-approved projects). Loan program: Private nonprofit elementary and secondary schools on the basis of projects approved by the Office of Education. Application Procedure Grant programs: State education agencies submit State plans or amendments thereto to the U.S. Commissioner of Education who approves them when in compliance with the law and regulations. Each year, participating States submit descriptions of projected activities and related requests for funds to the Office of Education. Loan program: Private nonprofit elementary and secondary schools apply direct to the Office of Education. Developments During the Past Year There were 54 participants in the grant program in fiscal year 1965, with American Samoa and the Canal Zone being the nonparticipants. Reports from all but one of the 54 indicate that 81,714 projects for the acquisition of equipment and materials were approved in fiscal year 1965 at a total estimated cost of $147,641,337. Percentages were: Thirty-two loans were requested and approved for a total of $400,331. These funds were lent to 22 secondary schools, 1 elementary school, and 6 combined schools with a total enrollment of 13,793 students. Of the loans requested, 63.7 percent were for science, 27.9 for modern foreign languages, and 8.4 for the other critical subjects. Need for audiovisual equipment and materials was described in more than half of the loan requests. The The interest rate used for loans was changed from one fluctuating from month to month to one that is established for a fiscal year. rate was 4 percent at the end of fiscal year 1965 (and was established at 4 percent for fiscal year 1966). Legal Basis Public Law 85-864 (National Defense Education Act of 1958), September 2, 1958, title III (72 Stat. 1588) as amended by Public Laws 87-344, October 3, 1961, section 202 (75 Stat. 760); 88-210, December 18, 1963, section 23 (77 Stat. 416); 88-665 (National Defense Education Act Amendments, 1964), October 16, 1964, sections 301-306 (78 Stat. 1102); and 89-329 (Higher Education Act of 1965), November 8, 1965, section 467 (79 Stat. 1254)--20 U.S.C. 447. Additional information may be obtained from the Division of Plans and Supplementary Centers, Bureau of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Education, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington, D.C. 20202. LANGUAGE AND AREA CENTERS Purpose To aid institutions of higher education in the establishment and operation of centers for teaching critically needed modern foreign languages and related area studies. The program operates under "Language Development" provisions of the National Defense Education Act of 1958 as amended. The U.S. Commissioner of Education has designated more than 100 languages as critical and eligible for support, after determining that (1) individuals trained in such languages are needed by the Federal Government, business, industry, or education, and (2) adequate instruction in such languages is not readily available in the Nation. A total of 98 language and area centers located at 61 colleges and universities are receiving financial support in 1965-66 under the program. The centers serve to coordinate resources of participating institutions for teaching the languages and studies related to the areas where they are spoken. In addition to regular academic year programs, Federal funds support about 20 programs of intensive language study during the summer. 1/ Amounts represent allocations from lump sum appropriations for language and area centers, modern foreign language fellowships, and language development research and studies. Method of Distribution The Commissioner of Education contracts with institutions of higher education for the establishment and operation by them of language and area centers. He selects institutions on the basis of recommendations by a panel of consultants who evaluate institution potentials for improving or extending instruction in at least one modern foreign language of critical importance to the United States and in related area studies. Matching Requirements Participating institutions must pay at least 50 percent of the cost of establishing and operating a center. |