34 C.F.R. Subpart C—How Does the Director Award a Fellowship?
Title 34 - Education
(a) The Director selects applications for fellowships on the basis of the selection criteria in §1100.21 and any priorities that have been published in the (b)(1) The Director may use experts from the literacy field to rank applications according to the selection criteria in §1100.21, and then provide the top-ranked applications to the Institute's Advisory Board. (2) The Institute's Advisory Board evaluates these applications based on the selection criteria in §1100.21 and makes funding recommendations to the Director. (3) The Director then determines the number of awards to be made in each fellowship category and the order in which applications will be selected for fellowships, based on the initial rank order, recommendations by the board, and any other information relevant to any of the selection criteria, applicable priorities, or the purposes of the Literacy Leader Fellowship Program, including whether the selection of an application would increase the diversity of fellowship projects under this program. The Director uses the following criteria in evaluating each applicant for a fellowship: (a) Quality of plan. (45 points) The Director uses the following criteria to evaluate the quality of the proposed project: (1) The proposed project deals with an issue of major concern to the literacy field. (2) The design of the project is strong and feasible. (3) The project addresses critical issues in an innovative way. (4) The plan demonstrates a knowledge of similar programs and an intention, where appropriate, to coordinate with them. (5) The applicant describes adequate support and resources for the project. (6) The plan includes evaluation methods to determine the effectiveness of the project. (7) The project results are likely to contribute to the knowledge base in literacy or adult education, and to federal policy initiatives in these or related areas. (8) The project will enhance literacy or adult education practice. (9) The project builds research capacity or improves practice within the field. (b) Qualifications of applicant. (25 points) The Director uses the following criteria to evaluate the qualifications of the applicant: (1) The applicant has a strong background in the adult or family literacy field. (Include all relevant experience, which many include experience as a volunteer or an adult learner.) (2) The applicant has expertise in the proposed area of the project. (3) The applicant has demonstrated the ability to complete a quality project or has shown leadership in this area. (4) The applicant provides letters of recommendation that show strong knowledge by others in the literacy field of the applicant's background and past work. (c) Relevance to the Institute. (10 points) The Director uses the following criteria to evaluate the relevance of the applicant's proposal to the Institute: (1) The project significantly relates to the purposes and work of the Institute. (2) The applicant proposes a minimum of four visits to the Institute for quarterly meetings (this may be adjusted according to the number of months to be served in the fellowship) and, if necessary, depending on the nature and scope of the proposed project, to spend an additional portion of the project time at the Institute. (d) Dissemination plan. (10 points) the Director uses the following criteria to evaluate the quality of the dissemination plan; (1) The applicant clearly specifies what information will be made available to the field and how this information will further the efforts of the field. (2) The applicant describes how this information will be shared with the field (e.g., print, on-line, presentations, video, etc.). (e) Budget. (10 points) The Director uses the following criteria to evaluate the budget: (1) The budget will adequately support the project. (2) The costs are clearly related to the objectives of the project. (3) The budget is cost effective. (4) The budget narrative clearly describes the budget and how costs are calculated. The amount of the fellowship will not exceed $70,000, and shall consist of— (a) A stipend, calculated on the basis of either— (1) The fellow's current annual salary, prorated for the length of the fellowship salary reimbursement; or (2) If a fellow has no current salary, the fellow's education and experience; and (b) A subsistence allowance, materials allowance (covering costs of materials and supplies directly related to the completion of the project), and travel expenses (including expenses to attend quarterly meetings in Washington, DC) related to the fellowship and necessary to complete the scope of work outlined in the proposal, consistent with Title 5 U.S.C. chapter 57. (a) Director will pay a fellowship award directly to the fellow or through the fellow's employer. The application should specify if the fellow wishes to be paid directly or through the fellow's employer. (b) The Director considers the preferences of the fellow in determining whether to pay a fellowship award directly to the fellow or through the fellow's employer; however, the Director pays a fellowship award through the fellow's employer only if the employer enters into an agreement with the Director to comply the provisions of §1100.25. (a) If the Director pays fellowship award directly to the fellow after the Director determines the amount of a fellowship award, the fellowship recipient shall submit a payment schedule to the Director for approval. The Director advises the recipient of the approved schedule. (b) If a fellow does not complete the fellowship, or if the Institute terminates the fellowship, the fellow shall return to the Director a prorated portion of the stipend and any unused subsistence and materials allowance and travel funds at the time and in the manner required by the Director. (a) If the Director pays a fellowship award through the fellow's employer, the employer shall submit a payment schedule to the Director for approval. (b) The employer shall pay the fellow the stipend, subsistence and materials allowance, and travel funds according to the payment schedule approved by the Director. If the fellow does not complete the fellowship, the fellow shall return to the employer a prorated portion of the stipend and any unused subsistence and materials allowance and travel funds. The employer shall return the funds to the Director at the time and in the manner required by the Director. The employer shall also return to the Director any portion of the stipend, subsistence and materials allowance and travel funds not yet paid by the employer to the fellow.
Title 34: Education
PART 1100—NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LITERACY: LITERACY LEADER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Subpart C—How Does the Director Award a Fellowship?
§ 1100.20 How is a fellow selected?
§ 1100.21 What selection criteria does the Director use to rate an applicant?
§ 1100.22 How does the Director determine the amount of a fellowship?
§ 1100.23 What payment methods may the Director use?
§ 1100.24 What are the procedures for payment of a fellowship award directly to the fellow?
§ 1100.25 What are the procedures for payment of a fellowship award through the fellow's employer?
