STUDENT LOAN ACCESS

On May 21, as part of its ongoing commitment to make sure students have access to federal student loans in the coming academic year, the Administration announced a four-part plan aimed to improve the functioning of the student loan marketplace and provide liquidity and stability in the near term.  This plan includes: (1) a loan purchase commitment by which the Department agrees to purchase new federal loans originated for the 2008-09 school year (with the price of the loan equal to the sum of par value, accrued interest, the 1% origination fee paid to the agency, and a fixed amount of $75 per loan) and a facility for providing short-term liquidity to lenders lacking access to affordable capital due to disruptions in markets; (2) a commitment to continue working with the lending community, to explore ways to reengage markets; (3) a strengthened "lender of last resort" program to help protect students from shifting market forces; and (4) increased Direct Loan capacity, should it be needed to act as an extra cushion for students.  "We want students to be able to concentrate on their studies, rather than worry about disruptions in the market and whether they will be able to obtain federal loans to help pay for school," Secretary Spellings said in a statement.  "At the same time…we can also consider this a teachable moment that speaks to broader, long-term flaws in our complex and outdated financial system."  http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/05/05212008.html.
 (Note: The Administration is continuing to refine the pricing and conditions of these options to ensure they meet the requirement that they result in no net cost to the federal government.  Final terms will be published in the Federal Register.)


NIES 2007

"The National Indian Education Study" (NIES) is a two-part study designed to describe the condition of education for American Indian/Alaska Native students in the U.S.  (NIES was first conducted in 2005.)  Part I, released last week, presents detailed information on the academic performance of American Indian/Alaska Native students on the 2007 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) reading and math tests.  In both fourth- and eighth-grade, the students had lower average scores and proficiency rates compared to all other students in the country and, aside from fourth-grade math, showed no significant change since 2005.  Yet, their performance was not significantly different than the scores for all racial/ethnic groups (even exceeding the scores of African-American students on math).  In both grades and subjects, American Indian/Alaska Native students also performed better if they attended schools with smaller concentrations of similar students (less than 25) and attended a public school -- versus a Bureau of Indian Education school.  Part II, to be released this summer, is a survey of the educational experiences of American Indian/Alaska Native students, focused on the integration of native language and culture into school and classroom activities.
O http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/NIES/



"RGK Foundation Grants for Education"
RGK Foundation awards grants to programs that focus on formal K-12 education (particularly mathematics, science, and reading), teacher development, literacy, and higher education. Maximum Award: $25,000. Eligibility: 501(c)3 organizations. Deadline for Letter of Inquiry: N/A.
http://www.rgkfoundation.org/guidelines.php#programs

"Mitsubishi Grants for Youth with Disabilities"
Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation Grants Program is dedicated to helping young Americans with disabilities maximize their potential and fully participate in society. The Foundation supports organizations and projects within its mission that have broad scope and impact and demonstrate potential for replication at other sites. A major program emphasis is inclusion: enabling young people with disabilities to have full access to educational, vocational and recreational opportunities and to participate alongside their non-disabled peers. Maximum Award: $100,000. Eligibility: 501(c)3 organizations. Deadline: June 01, 2008.
http://www.meaf.org/grants.php

"Motorola Grants to Commemorate the 200th Anniversary of Lincoln's Birth"
The Motorola Foundation and the Chicago History Museum are commemorating the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth by identifying projects developed by civic, educational and cultural organizations that actively engage the public in lessons from Lincoln's life. The grant program will focus on the themes of Bringing History into the Future, Engaging in Current Events, and Leadership Skills. Maximum Award: $25,000. Eligibility: schools and school systems; community organizations; arts and culture organizations; museums; universities; and, other non-profit organizations with programming on diversity, freedom, history and leadership. Deadline: July 30, 2008.
http://www.motorola.com/content.jsp?globalObjectId=8772

"NWA Grants to Improve Education in Meteorology"
National Weather Association Sol Hirsch Teacher Grants are given to improve students' education in meteorology. Teachers selected will be able to use the funds to take an accredited course in atmospheric sciences, attend a relevant workshop or conference, or purchase scientific materials or equipment for the classroom. Maximum Award: $500. Eligibility: K-12 teachers. Deadline: August 1, 2008.
www.nwas.org/solhirsch.html

"Verizon Grants for Literacy"
The Verizon Foundation is now accepting proposals from eligible institutions for Literacy Grants. Maximum Award: $10,000. Eligibility: 501(c)3 organizations, including elementary and secondary schools (public and private) that are registered with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Deadline: November 1, 2008.
http://foundation.verizon.com/grant/guidelines.shtml

Recent grant opportunities from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) include...

       *  Training and Advisory Services Program -- Equity
          Assistance Centers (EACs) -- CFDA# 84.004D

       *  Promoting Rigorous Career and Technical Education
          Programs of Study Through Statewide or Multi-State
          Articulation Agreements -- CFDA# 84.051C

     Below are excerpts from the "notice inviting applications" for
     each grant opportunity.  For more complete information, please
     see the full notice inviting applications in the Federal
     Register.  We try to ensure that the web version and the
     Federal Register notice are the same; however, the Federal
     Register notice should be consulted for complete and
     authoritative information.

     For application packages and other information related to ED
     funding opportunities, please see:

               http://www.ed.gov/fund/landing.jhtml.

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  Training and Advisory Services Program -- Equity Assistance
  Centers (EACs) (Federal Register: May 14, 2008 [CFDA# 84.004D])
*******************************************************************
Purpose of Program: The Training and Advisory Services Program is
authorized under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42
U.S.C. 2000c-2000c-2, 2000c-5, and the implementing regulations at
34 CFR parts 270 and 272.  This program awards grants through
cooperative agreements to operate 10 regional EACs that provide
technical assistance (including training) at the request of school
boards and other responsible governmental agencies in the
preparation, adoption, and implementation of plans for the
desegregation of public schools -- which in this context means
plans for equity (including desegregation based on race, sex, and
national origin) -- and in the development of effective methods of
coping with special educational problems occasioned by
desegregation.
    Applications Available: May 14, 2008.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 30, 2008.
    Eligible Applicants: (a) A public agency (other than a State
educational agency or a school board) or a private, non-profit
organization.
    Estimated Available Funds: $6,970,736.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000-$800,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $697,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 10.

Additional information is available online at:
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2008-2/051408c.html

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  Promoting Rigorous Career and Technical Education Programs of
  Study Through Statewide or Multi-State Articulation Agreements
  (Federal Register: May 20, 2008 [CFDA# 84.051C])
*******************************************************************
Purpose of the Program: Section 114(c)(1) of the Carl D. Perkins
Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Act), 20 U.S.C.
2324(c)(1), authorizes the Secretary to carry out research,
development, dissemination, evaluation and assessment, capacity
building, and technical assistance with regard to the career and
technical education (CTE) programs under the Act.  Under that
authority, the Secretary plans to support State efforts to offer
rigorous CTE programs of study and to institutionalize those
rigorous CTE programs of study using articulation agreements.
    Applications Available: May 20, 2008.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: May 30, 2008.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 7, 2008.
    Eligible Applicants: The following entities are eligible to
apply under this competition:  (a) A State board designated or
created consistent with State law as the sole State agency
responsible for the administration of CTE in the State or for the
supervision of the administration of CTE in the State.  (b) A
consortium of State boards identified in paragraph (a) of this
section.  Eligible applicants proposing to develop a multi-State
articulation agreement must apply for funds as a consortium and
must comply with the regulations in 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129,
which address group applications.
    Estimated Available Funds: $750,000 is available from the FY
2007 appropriation for the first 12 months of the project period.
$500,000 is available from the FY 2008 appropriation for the second
12 months and is subject to a grantee meeting the requirements of
34 CFR 75.253.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $120,000 to $130,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $125,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 6.