This program provides funding for the establishment and/or operation of training and assistance centers for upgrading the leadership skills of elementary and secondary school administrators. Projects focus on leadership, management, problem-solving, goal-setting, instructional analysis, communication, evaluation, student discipline, time-management and budgetary skills.
All awards are made through once-renewable three-year grants; grantees must
demonstrate a commitment to continue their programs after Federal funding
expires. Grantees must match the Federal contribution. If a grant is
renewed after the first three-year period, the grantee must agree to main-
tain the same level of services during the second three-year term that it
provided under the original grant, but with one-half the amount of Federal
assistance provided in the first grant period. Higher education institu-
tions, State educational agencies, intermediate school districts, local
educational agencies, and private management and nonprofit organizations
(or consortia of such) are eligible participants.
The 50 States, the District of Columbia, and all Territories are eligible to participate in the program. When the appropriation is insufficient to satisfy the $150,000 minimum per State as mandated, a prorata reduction is computed. This is a forward-funded program. Funds are available for obligation from July 1 of the fiscal year for which they are appropriated through September 30 of the following fiscal year.
The Higher Education Technical Amendments, P.L. 100-50, added all the Out-
lying Areas as eligible participants in LEAD (in addition to the 50 States
and the District of Columbia). Therefore, a competition is being held with
1987 funds for a grantee in each of the Outlying Areas, reducing the prorata
amount for all grantees in 1987 to about $126,000, compared to the 1986
level of about $141,000 received by each of the States and the District of
Columbia. The actual amount of the 1987 grants depends upon the number of
successful applicants from the Outlying Areas. In fiscal year 1988, the
enacted appropriation increase of about $1,000,000 will provide continuation
grants of approximately $144,000, assuming that each of the Outlying Areas
receives an award.
School Improvement Programs
5. Leadership in educational administration (LEAD)
The Department proposes to continue the Leadership in Educational Adminis-
tration (LEAD) program, first established with fiscal year 1986 funds, for
a second three-year period. The leadership of the school principal and
superintendent is key to achieving needed improvement in student instruction
and school climate in many of the Nation's elementary and secondary schools.
In fiscal year 1989, the Department proposes to award a one-time, three-
year extension to each of the present grantees in the 50 States and the
District of Columbia. These grants would be made at one-half the amount of
the original award, as required by the authorizing legislation. Thus, each
grantee would receive about $68,000. Also, each of the grantees from the
Outlying Areas would receive a continuation grant for the third year of its
original award at a level of about $144,000, the same as in 1988.
As now
envisioned, the program would be terminated upon completion of six years
of operation by each grantee.
School Improvement Programs
6. Christa McAuliffe fellowships
(Higher Education Act of 1965, Title V, Part D, Subpart 2)
The Christa McAuliffe Fellowship program provides fellowships to outstanding teachers for projects to improve education, through sabbaticals for study, research, or academic improvement; consultation with or assistance to other school districts or private schools; development of special innovative programs; the development of model teacher programs; and staff development.
The Christa McAuliffe Fellowship program statute states that if the
appropriation is not sufficient to provide one fellowship award, not to
exceed the national average salary of public school teachers, in each
Congressional district, the Secretary shall determine and publish an
alternative distribution of fellowships that is geographically equitable.
For 1987, the first year in which funds were appropriated for this program,
State allocations were distributed so that each State or Territory received
at least $25,313 (the national average salary for public school teachers in
1986), the maximum amount authorized for each fellowship. The remainder
of the funds were distributed in proportion to the number of public school
teachers in each State. This is a current-funded program.
Christa McAuliffe Fellows are selected by seven-member statewide panels
appointed by the Chief State elected official in each State or Territory,
acting in consultation with the State educational agency and approved by
the U.S. Secretary of Education. Statewide panels establish operating
procedures for the fellowship process, disseminate information and applica-
tion materials, and consult with local educational agencies in the evalua-
tion of proposals from applicants.
Full-time public or private elementary or secondary school teachers may
receive fellowships for up to 12 months. A fellow may not receive an
award for two consecutive years, and must return to a teaching position in
his or her current school district for at least two years following the
completion of a fellowship.
For 1988, funds will be distributed so that a minimum of $26,704, (the national average teacher salary in 1987) will be available for teachers in each State, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For each of the
School Improvement Programs
6. Christa McAuliffe fellowship
Purpose and Method of Operation Continued
Outlying Areas Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau $16,000 will be available. The balance of the funds will be distributed among the 50 States, D.C., and Puerto Rico according to their relative numbers of public school teachers. Awards to individual teachers may not exceed $26,704 for the 50 States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico or $16,000 for the Outlying Areas. The Department is urging that fellowships be awarded in the maximum amount whenever possible.
Fiscal year 1987 was the first year in which this program was funded. The
Department awarded 115 fellowships to teachers in 47 States, the District
of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands,
Guam, and the Republic of Palau.
The 1987 Christa McAuliffe Fellows are engaged in a variety of projects
including developing interactive satellite teleconferences for students,
conducting cancer research and implementing new laboratory techniques
in high school biochemistry classes, implementing a writing program for
deaf children, publishing a geology field trip guide, developing an indi-
vidualized mathematics tutoring program introducing recombinant DNA tech-
nology into high school laboratories, and writing a book on a teaching
method that has been used successfully with Alaska Natives.
For 1989, the Department is requesting $1,915,000, the same as the 1988 appropriation, so that the program can continue to honor outstanding teachers and further educational improvement. These funds would be used for fellowships to outstanding teachers to enable and encourage them to continue their education or to develop educational projects and programs.
School Improvement Programs
7. Fund for the Improvement and Reform of Schools and Teaching
(Pending Legislation)
1/ Proposed for later transmittal pending enactment of new authorizing
legislation.
Purpose and Method of Operation
This program, included in the Senate-passed version of H.R. 5, would make
discretionary grants and award contracts to a variety of institutions,
including individual schools, to improve educational opportunities for and
performance of elementary and secondary school teachers and students.
Among the activities specifically authorized are projects to help education-
ally disadvantaged or at-risk children meet higher educational standards;
to provide incentives for improved school performance; to strengthen school
leadership and teaching; to increase the number and quality of minority
teachers; and to improve the teacher certification process. Priority is
to be given to projects that benefit schools or students with below average
academic performance, and to projects which develop or implement systems
for providing incentives to schools, principals, teachers, and students.
Some 25 percent of the funds appropriated each year would have to be used
for grants for projects that provide incentives for improved performance.
The activities of the Fund are to be carried out with the advice of a
15 member Board. The Board, which is to meet three times a year, annually
advises the Secretary of its priorities and their implications for the Fund.
The Secretary is to appoint a Director of the Fund, for a four-year term, who
who is to work closely with the Board.
This is a new program for which no funds have been appropriated.
In 1989, $10,000,000 is requested to begin this new program. Funds would be used for grants in several priority areas such as providing incentives for improved performance, helping educationally disadvantaged children meet higher standards, and increasing teachers' knowledge of their subject areas. These projects, together with the activities of the Board, would serve to focus attention on the specific mechanisms of school reform.
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