APPLICATIONS.

SEC. 6143. APPLICATIONS. (a) Submission of Applications.— An eligible entity which desires to develop and operate a program described in section 6142(a) shall submit an application to the Secretary. (b) Review of Applications.— Each application submitted under subsection (a) shall be reviewed by peers, including educators and researchers, to determine the quality of the proposed program and its relationship to the demonstrated needs of the region to be served. (c) Solicitation of Alternative Proposals.— If, based upon a review under subsection (b), the Secretary determines that a proposed program would not best serve the needs of the students of the region to be served, the Secretary may solicit proposals from other eligible entities located in the region. (d) Content of Applications.— Each application for assistance under this section shall— (1) contain assurances that— (A) the eligible entity shall provide technical assistance to appropriate educational agencies; and (B) information developed as a result of the applicant’s research and development activities, including new educational methods, practices, techniques, and products, will be appropriately disseminated; (C) all rural students in all States within the region will have access to and information about the access program; (2) contain a description of— (A) the rural secondary school population within the region served by the eligible entity, including estimates of the number of high school graduates who— (i) attend institutions of higher education, including an estimate of the number who attend out-of-state institutions; (ii) attend trade schools; 102 STAT. 1514 (iii) enter military service; (B) services available within each of the States in the region that exist to provide secondary school students with information and training relating to higher education and self-employment; and (C) activities provided— (i) to train designated school personnel to advise and establish community partnership programs; and (ii) to provide technical assistance; and (3) demonstrate that— (A) the eligible entity has engaged in sufficient study and analysis to ensure that the services to be offered by the proposed program will increase the number of secondary school students entering institutions of higher education and increase their awareness of and opportunities for financial assistance; (B) In the case of an eligible entity other than a State educational agency or local educational agency, State and local educational agencies were involved in planning the proposed programs and that services available from such agencies are incorporated into the proposed program; and (C) the program will probably be funded by State or other sources after the expiration of funding under this chapter. (e) Report.— (1) Program effect.— The Office of Educational Research and Improvement shall submit a report to the Congress on the effect of programs funded under this chapter, including recommendations of the eligible entities. (2) The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted not later than November 30, 1989.