The Secretary of Education (Secretary) gives notice of the closing date for receipt of State applications for fiscal year 1997 funds under the State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) Program. This program, through matching formula grants to States for stude

[Federal Register: January 13, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 8)]

[Notices]               

[Page 1825-1826]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr13ja97-126]



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Part III






Department of Eduction






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Postsecondary Education; State Student Incentive Grant Program; Notice



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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION



Office of Postsecondary Education; State Student Incentive Grant 

Program


AGENCY: Department of Education.


ACTION: Notice of the closing date for receipt of State applications 

for fiscal year 1997.


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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Education (Secretary) gives notice of the 

closing date for receipt of State applications for fiscal year 1997 

funds under the State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) Program. This 

program, through matching formula grants to States for student awards, 

provides grants to students with substantial financial need. The SSIG 

Program supports Goals 2000, the President's strategy for moving the 

Nation toward the National Education Goals, by enhancing opportunities 

for postsecondary education. The National Education Goals call for 

increasing the rate at which students graduate from high school and 

pursue high quality postsecondary education.

    A State that desires to receive SSIG funds for this fiscal year 

must have an agreement with the Secretary as provided under section 

1203(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). The 

State must submit an application through the State agency that 

administered its SSIG Program as of July 1, 1985, unless the Governor 

has subsequently designated, and the Secretary has approved, a 

different State agency.

    The Secretary is authorized to accept applications from the 50 

States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 

American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 

the Virgin Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Authority for this 

program is contained in sections 415A through 415E of the HEA. (20 

U.S.C. 1070c-1070c-4.)


CLOSING DATE FOR TRANSMITTAL OF APPLICATIONS: An application for fiscal 

year 1997 SSIG funds must be mailed or hand-delivered by March 31, 

1997.


APPLICATION FORM: The required application form for receiving SSIG 

funds will be mailed to officials of the appropriate State agency in 

each State at least 30 days before the closing date. Applications must 

be prepared and submitted in accordance with the HEA and the program 

regulations cited in this notice. The Secretary strongly urges that 

applicants only submit information that is requested.


APPLICATIONS DELIVERED BY MAIL: An application sent by mail must be 

addressed to: Mr. Fred Sellers, Chief, Grants Branch, Room 3045, ROB-3, 

U.S. Department of Education, Student Financial Assistance Programs, 

600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-5447.

    The Secretary will accept the following proof of mailing: (1) a 

legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark; (2) a legible mail receipt 

with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service; (3) a 

dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier; or 

(4) any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of 

Education.

    If an application is sent through the U.S. Postal Service, the 

Secretary does not accept either of the following as proof of mailing: 

(1) a private metered postmark; or (2) a mail receipt that is not dated 

by the U.S. Postal Service. The Department of Education encourages 

applicants to use certified or at least first-class mail.

    A late applicant cannot be assured that its application will be 

considered for fiscal year 1997 funding.


APPLICATIONS DELIVERED BY HAND: An application that is hand-delivered 

must be taken to Mr. Fred Sellers, U.S. Department of Education, 

Student Financial Assistance Programs, 7th and D Streets, S.W., Room 

3045, General Service Administration Regional Office Building #3, 

Washington, D.C. Hand-delivered applications will be accepted between 

8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily (Eastern time), except Saturdays, 

Sundays, and Federal holidays.

    An application that is hand-delivered will not be accepted after 

4:30 p.m. on the closing date.


PROGRAM INFORMATION: Section 415C(a) of the HEA requires that an annual 

application be submitted for a State to receive SSIG funds. In 

preparing the application, each State agency should be guided by the 

table of allotments provided in the application package.

    State allotments are determined according to the statutorily 

mandated formula under section 415B of the HEA and are not negotiable. 

A State may also request its share of reallotment, in addition to its 

basic allotment, which is contingent upon the availability of such 

additional funds.

    In fiscal year 1996, 49 States, the District of Columbia, the 

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Trust 

Territory of the Pacific Island (Palau), and the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands received funds under the SSIG Program.


APPLICABLE REGULATIONS: The following regulations are applicable to the 

SSIG Program:

    (1) The SSIG Program regulations in 34 CFR Part 692.

    (2) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations 

(EDGAR) in 34 CFR Part 75.60 through 75.62 (Ineligibility of Certain 

Individuals to Receive Assistance), Part 76 (State-Administered 

Programs), Part 77 (Definitions that Apply to Department Regulations), 

Part 79 (Intergovernmental Review of Department of Education Programs 

and Activities), Part 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for 

Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments), Part 

82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying), Part 85 (Governmentwide Debarment 

and Suspension (Nonprocurement), and Governmentwide Requirements for 

Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)), and Part 86 (Drug-Free Schools and 

Campuses).

    (3) The regulations in 34 CFR Part 604 that implement section 1203 

of the HEA (Federal-State Relationship Agreements).

    (4) The Student Assistance General Provisions in 34 CFR Part 668.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Mrs. 

Jackie Butler, Pell and State Grant Section, U.S. Department of 

Education, Student Financial Assistance Programs, Washington, D.C. 

20202-5447; telephone (202) 708-4607. Individuals who use a 

telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service at 1-800-730-8913 between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 

time, Monday through Friday.

    (20 U.S.C. 1070c-1070c-4.)


(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.069, State Student 

Incentive Grant Program.)


    Dated: January 7, 1997.

David A. Longanecker,

Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

[FR Doc. 97-736 Filed 1-10-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000-01-P