Vocational Education_Basic Grants to States
Published on AidPage by
IDILOGIC on Jun 24, 2005
Purpose of this program:
To develop more fully the academic, vocational, and technical skills of secondary and postsecondary students who elect to enroll in vocational and technical programs.
Possible uses and use restrictions...
Each State must allocate its basic grant in the following manner: Up to 5 percent of the allotment or $250,000, whichever is greater, for State Administration, including at least $60,000 for sex equity leadership; and the remaining balance as follows: (1) An amount equal to at least 75 percent of the allotment to be distributed to eligible recipients; (2) an amount equal to 10.5 percent for the program for single parents, displaced homemakers, and single pregnant women, and for individuals participating in programs to eliminate sex bias and stereotyping; (3) an amount not more than 8.5 percent for State programs and State leadership; and (4) an amount equal to one percent for programs for criminal offenders in correctional institutions. This program is subject to non-supplanting requirements and must use a restricted indirect cost rate which is referenced under 34 CFR 76-564-76.569. For assistance call the Office of the Chief Financial Officer/Indirect Cost Group on 202-708-7770.
Who is eligible to apply...
The Department of Education makes formula grants to States. Eligible recipients for subgrants are local educational agencies and postsecondary institutions.
Credentials/Documentation
The establishment of a State Board for Vocational Education, a State Council on Vocational Education, a committee of practitioners, and a State Occupational Information Coordinating Committee is required. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.
Note:This is a brief description of the credentials or documentation required prior to, or along with, an application for assistance.
About this section:
This section indicates who can apply to the Federal government for assistance and the criteria the potential applicant must satisfy.
For example, individuals may be eligible for research grants, and the criteria to be satisfied may be that they have a professional or scientific degree,
3 years of research experience, and be a citizen of the United States. Universities, medical schools, hospitals, or State and local governments may also be eligible.
Where State governments are eligible, the type of State agency will be indicated (State welfare agency or State agency on aging) and the criteria that they
must satisfy.
Certain federal programs (e.g., the Pell Grant program which provides grants to students) involve intermediate levels of application processing, i.e., applications
are transmitted through colleges or universities that are neither the direct applicant nor the ultimate beneficiary. For these programs,
the criteria that the intermediaries must satisfy are also indicated, along with intermediaries who are not eligible.
How to apply...
Application Procedure:
States submit 5-year State plans for vocational education to the Secretary of Education. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.
Note: Each program will indicate whether applications are to be submitted to the Federal headquarters, regional or local office, or to a State or local government office.
Award Procedure:
The Secretary of Education approves the 5-year State plan and makes allocations to the States.
Note: Grant payments may be made by a letter of credit, advance by Treasury check, or reimbursement by Treasury check.
Awards may be made by the headquarters office directly to the applicant, an agency field office, a regional office,
or by an authorized county office. The assistance may pass through the initial applicant for further distribution by
intermediate level applicants to groups or individuals in the private sector.
Deadlines and process...
Deadlines
States should contact the Program Office for deadlines.
Note:
When available, this section indicates the deadlines for applications to the funding agency which will
be stated in terms of the date(s) or between what dates the application should be received.
When not available, applicants should contact the funding agency for deadline information.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
The range is approximately 30 to 120 days.
Preapplication Coordination
A 5-year State plan for Vocational Education must be prepared with the active participation of the State Council. State plans are subject to public hearings. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Note:
This section indicates whether any prior coordination or approval is required with governmental or nongovernmental units
prior to the submission of a formal application to the federal funding agency.
Appeals
A State board which is dissatisfied with the final action of the Assistant Secretary in disapproving a State Plan is afforded reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing.
Note:
In some cases, there are no provisions for appeal. Where applicable, this section discusses appeal procedures or allowable rework time for resubmission
of applications to be processed by the funding agency. Appeal procedures vary with individual programs and are either listed in this section or
applicants are referred to appeal procedures documented in the relevant Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Renewals
None.
Note:
In some instances, renewal procedures may be the same as for the application procedure, e.g., for projects of a non-continuing nature renewals will be treated as new, competing applications; for projects of an ongoing nature, renewals may be given annually.
Who can benefit...
A wide range of individuals pursuing vocational education and training will benefit.
Beneficiaries
About this section:
This section lists the ultimate beneficiaries of a program, the criteria they must satisfy and who specifically is not eligible. The applicant and beneficiary will generally be the same for programs that provide assistance directly from a Federal agency. However, financial assistance that passes through State or local governments will have different applicants and beneficiaries since the assistance is transmitted to private sector beneficiaries who are not obligated to request or apply for the assistance.
What types of assistance...
Formula Grants
Allocations of money to States or their subdivisions in accordance with distribution formulas prescribed by law or administrative regulation, for activities of a continuing nature not confined to a specific project.
How much financial aid...
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Fiscal year 2003 awards ranged from $4,215,000 to 127,491,000.
Note:
This section lists the representative range (smallest to largest) of the amount of financial assistance available. These figures are based upon funds awarded in the past fiscal year and the current fiscal year to date. Also indicated is an approximate average amount of awards which were made in the past and current fiscal years.
Obligations
(Grants and Contracts) FY 03 $1,165,495,000; FY 04 est $1,168,239,000; and FY 05 est $0.
Note:
The dollar amounts listed in this section represent obligations for the past fiscal year (PY), estimates for the current fiscal year (CY), and estimates for the budget fiscal year (BY) as reported by the Federal agencies. Obligations for non-financial assistance programs indicate the administrative expenses involved in the operation of a program.
Account Identification
91-0400-0-1-501.
Note:
Note: This 11-digit budget account identification code represents the account which funds a particular program.
This code should be consistent with the code given for the program area as specified in Appendix III of the Budget of the United States Government.
Examples of funded projects...
Not applicable.
About this section
This section indicates the different types of projects which have been funded in the past. Only projects funded under Project Grants or Direct Payments for Specified Use should be listed here. The examples give potential applicants an idea of the types of projects that may be accepted for funding. The agency should list at least five examples of the most recently funded projects.
Program accomplishments...
Grants are made to the States and Outlying Areas to support vocational education programs at the secondary, postsecondary, and adult levels.
Criteria for selecting proposals...
Not applicable.
Assistance considerations...
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Funds must be expended within 27 months after their first date of availability. States draw funds as needed under the Electronic Funds Transfer System.
Formula and Matching Requirements
Formula. Section 101 (a) (2) of the Perkins Act sets forth allotment procedures. Funds for basic grants are allotted to States according to a formula based on States' populations in three age groups, and their per capita income (averaged for the three most recent consecutive fiscal years). The age groups are 15-19, 20-24, and 25-65. They are weighted 50 percent, 20 percent and 15 percent respectively. A fourth distribution, weighted 15 percent, is based on the sums of the amounts resulting from the three age group distributions. Generally, each State receives an allotment consisting of four parts: 1) An amount which bears the same ratio to 50 percent of the sums being allotted as the product of the State's population aged 15-19 bears to the sum of the corresponding products for all the States; 2) an amount which bears the same ratio to 20 percent of the sums being allotted as the product of the State's population aged 20-24 bears the sum of the corresponding products for all the States; 3) an amount which bears the same ratio to 15 percent of the sums being allotted as the product of the State's population aged 25-65 bears to the sums of the corresponding products for all the States; and 4) an amount which bears the same ratio to 15 percent of the sums being allotted as the amounts allotted to the State in the previous three age group distributions bears to the sum of the amounts allotted to all the States under the previous three age group distributions. The Bureau of the Census supplies the population data; the Department of Labor supplies the per capita income data. Matching. Section 102 of the Perkins Act requires 50/50 matching for State administration. No match is required for American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau. Section 502 of the Perkins Act describes maintenance of effort requirements.
Note:
A formula may be based on population, per capita income, and other statistical factors. Applicants are informed whether there are any matching requirements to be met when participating in the cost of a project. In general, the matching share represents that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal government. Attachment F of OMB Circular No. A-102 (Office of Management and Budget) sets forth the criteria and procedures for the evaluation of matching share requirements which may be cash or in-kind contributions made by State and local governments or other agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals to satisfy matching requirements of Federal grants or loans.
Cash contributions represent the grantees' cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the grantee by other public agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals. When authorized by Federal regulation, Federal funds received from other grants may be considered as the grantees' cash contribution.
In-kind contributions represent the value of noncash contributions provided by the grantee, other public agencies and institutions, private organizations or individuals. In-kind contributions may consist of charges for real property and equipment, and value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the grant program. When authorized by Federal legislation, property purchased with Federal funds may be considered as grantees' in-kind contribution.
Maintenance of effort (MOE) is a requirement contained in certain legislation, regulations, or administrative policies stating that a grantee must maintain a specified level of financial effort in a specific area in order to receive Federal grant funds, and that the Federal grant funds may be used only to supplement, not supplant, the level of grantee funds.
Post assistance requirements...
Reports
Annual financial report, performance report, and Office for Civil Rights Annual Compliance Report must be submitted.
Note:
This section indicates whether program reports, expenditure reports, cash reports or performance monitoring are required by the Federal funding agency, and specifies at what time intervals (monthly, annually, etc.) this must be accomplished.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Note:
This section discusses audits required by the Federal agency.
The procedures and requirements for State and local governments and nonprofit entities are set forth in OMB Circular No. A-133.
These requirements pertain to awards made within the respective State's fiscal year - not the Federal fiscal year,
as some State and local governments may use the calendar year or other variation of time span designated as the fiscal year period,
rather than that commonly known as the Federal fiscal year (from October 1st through September 30th).
Records
In accordance with section 443 of the General Education Provisions Act, as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act, grantees must maintain records for 3 years.
Note:
This section indicates the record retention requirements and the type of records the Federal agency may require.
Not included are the normally imposed requirements of the General Accounting Office.
For programs falling under the purview of OMB Circular No. A-102, record retention is set forth in Attachment C.
For other programs, record retention is governed by the funding agency's requirements.
Regulations...
Authorization
Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, Title I; Workforce Investment Act, Section 503.
Note:
This section lists the legal authority upon which a program is based (acts, amendments to acts, Public Law numbers, titles, sections, Statute Codes, citations to the U.S. Code, Executive Orders, Presidential Reorganization Plans, and Memoranda from an agency head).
Regulations, Guidelines, And Literature
Rules and Regulations, Title 34 CFR 400 and 403; EDGAR 74, 76 (except 76.103), 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, and 85; OCR Guidelines for Vocational Education.