[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 2, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5789-5796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2290]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Teaching American History Grant Program; Office of Innovation and
Improvement; Overview Information; Teaching American History Grant
Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year
(FY) 2011
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.215X.
Dates:
Applications Available: February 2, 2011.
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: March 4, 2011.
Dates of Pre-Application Meetings: Pre-application meetings for
prospective applicants will be held on March 11, 2011.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 4, 2011.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 2, 2011.
[[Page 5790]]
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The Teaching American History (TAH) grant
program supports projects that aim to raise student achievement by
improving teachers' knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of
traditional American history as a separate subject within the core
elementary and secondary school curriculum. Grant awards assist local
educational agencies (LEAs), in partnership with entities that have
extensive content expertise, in developing, implementing, documenting,
evaluating, and disseminating innovative, cohesive models of
professional development.
Priorities: This competition includes one absolute priority and
four competitive preference priorities that are described in the
following paragraphs.
Absolute Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this
priority is from section 2351 of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA) (20 U.S.C. 6721(b)). For FY 2011 and any
subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded
applicants from this competition, this priority is an absolute
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that
meet this priority.
This priority is:
Partnerships With Other Agencies or Institutions
Each applicant LEA must propose to work in partnership with one or
more of the following:
An institution of higher education.
A non-profit history or humanities organization.
A library or museum.
Competitive Preference Priorities: These priorities are from the
notice of final supplemental priorities and definitions for
discretionary grant programs published in the Federal Register on
December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486). For FY 2011 and any subsequent year in
which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this
competition, these priorities are competitive preference priorities.
Applicants may choose to address one or more of these competitive
preference priorities. Consistent with 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we may
award up to an additional twelve points to an application, depending on
how well the application meets these priorities. These points are in
addition to any points the application earns under the selection
criteria.
These priorities are:
Priority 1--Improving the Effectiveness and Distribution of
Effective Teachers or Principals (up to three additional points).
Projects that are designed to address the following priority area:
Increasing the number or percentage of teachers or principals who
are effective or reducing the number or percentage of teachers or
principals who are ineffective, particularly in high-poverty schools
(as defined in this notice) including through such activities as
improving the preparation, recruitment, development, and evaluation of
teachers and principals; implementing performance-based certification
and retention systems; and reforming compensation and advancement
systems.
For the purposes of this priority, teacher and principal
effectiveness should be measured using:
(1) Teacher or principal evaluation data, in States or local
educational agencies that have in place a high-quality teacher
evaluation system that takes into account student growth (as defined in
this notice) in significant part and uses multiple measures that, in
the case of teachers, may include observations for determining teacher
effectiveness (such as systems that meet the criteria for evaluation
systems under the Race to the Top program as described in criterion
(D)(2)(ii) of the Race to the Top notice inviting applications (74 FR
59803)); or
(2) Data that include, in significant part, student achievement (as
defined in this notice) or student growth (as defined in this notice)
data and may include multiple measures in States or local educational
agencies that do not have the teacher or principal evaluation systems
described in paragraph (1).
Note: The Teaching American History program is a professional
development program for elementary and secondary school teachers.
Consequently, in responding to this priority, applicants must focus
their efforts on improving the effectiveness and distribution of
effective elementary and secondary school teachers.
Priority 2--Improving Achievement and High School Graduation Rates
(up to three additional points)
Projects that are designed to address one or both of the following
priority areas:
(a) Accelerating learning and helping to improve high school
graduation rates (as defined in this notice) and college enrollment
rates for high-need students (as defined in this notice).
(b) Accelerating learning and helping to improve high school
graduation rates (as defined in this notice) and college enrollment
rates in high-poverty schools (as defined in this notice).
Note: For Priority 2, applicants may earn a maximum of up to
three points by responding to priority areas (a) and (b). If the
applicant chooses to respond to only priority area (a) or priority
area (b), the maximum points earned will still be up to three
points.
Priority 3--Enabling More Data-Based Decision-Making (up to three
additional points).
Projects that are designed to collect (or obtain), analyze, and use
high-quality and timely data, including data on program participant
outcomes, in accordance with privacy requirements (as defined in this
notice), in one or both of the following priority areas:
(a) Improving instructional practices, policies, and student
outcomes in elementary and secondary schools.
(b) Providing reliable and comprehensive information on the
implementation of Department of Education programs, and participant
outcomes in these programs by using data from State longitudinal data
systems or by obtaining data from reliable third-party sources.
Note: For Priority 3, applicants may earn a maximum of up to
three points by responding to priority areas (a) and (b). If the
applicant chooses to respond to only priority area (a) or priority
area (b), the maximum points earned will still be up to three
points.
Priority 4--Technology (up to three additional points).
Projects that are designed to improve student achievement or
teacher effectiveness through the use of high-quality digital tools or
materials, which may include preparing teachers to use the technology
to improve instruction, as well as developing, implementing, or
evaluating digital tools or materials.
DEFINITIONS: For the purposes of Competitive Preference Priorities
1 through 4, the following definitions apply. These definitions are
from the notice of final supplemental priorities and definitions for
discretionary grant programs published in the Federal Register on
December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486).
Graduation rate means a four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate
consistent with 34 CFR 200.19(b)(1) and may also include an extended-
year adjusted cohort graduation rate consistent with 34 CFR
200.19(b)(1)(v) if the State in which the proposed project is
implemented has been approved by the Secretary to use such a rate under
Title I of the ESEA.
High-need children and high-need students means children and
students at risk of educational failure, such as children and students
who are living in
[[Page 5791]]
poverty, who are English learners, who are far below grade level or who
are not on track to becoming college- or career-ready by graduation,
who have left school or college before receiving, respectively, a
regular high school diploma or a college degree or certificate, who are
at risk of not graduating with a diploma on time, who are homeless, who
are in foster care, who are pregnant or parenting teenagers, who have
been incarcerated, who are new immigrants, who are migrant, or who have
disabilities.
High-poverty school means a school in which at least 50 percent of
students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches under the
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act or in which at least 50
percent of students are from low-income families as determined using
one of the criteria specified under section 1113(a)(5) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended. For middle
and high schools, eligibility may be calculated on the basis of
comparable data from feeder schools. Eligibility as a high-poverty
school under this definition is determined on the basis of the most
currently available data.
Privacy requirements means the requirements of the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232g, and its
implementing regulations in 34 CFR part 99, the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C.
552a, as well as all applicable Federal, State and local requirements
regarding privacy.
Student achievement means (a) For tested grades and subjects: (1) A
student's score on the State's assessments under the ESEA; and, as
appropriate, (2) other measures of student learning, such as those
described in paragraph (b) of this definition, provided they are
rigorous and comparable across schools. (b) For non-tested grades and
subjects: Alternative measures of student learning and performance,
such as student scores on pre-tests and end-of-course tests; student
performance on English language proficiency assessments; and other
measures of student achievement that are rigorous and comparable across
schools.
Student growth means the change in student achievement (as defined
in this notice) for an individual student between two or more points in
time. A State may also include other measures that are rigorous and
comparable across classrooms.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6721.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The notice of final selection
criteria and other application requirements published in the Federal
Register on April 15, 2005 (70 FR 19939). (c) The notice of final
revisions to selection criteria, published in the Federal Register on
December 23, 2008 (73 FR 78761). (d) The notice of final supplemental
priorities and definitions for discretionary grant programs published
in the Federal Register on December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486).
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants
except federally recognized Indian tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions
of higher education only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds:
The Administration's budget request for FY 2011 does not include
funds for this program. In place of this and several other, sometimes
narrowly targeted, programs focused on student achievement in specific
subject areas, the Administration has proposed to create, through the
reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,
a broader program, Effective Teaching and Learning for a Well-Rounded
Education, that would support activities to improve student achievement
and teacher effectiveness in American history among other subject
areas. However, we are inviting applications for the TAH program to
allow enough time to complete the grant process before the end of the
current fiscal year, if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2012 from the list of
unfunded applicants from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $250,000-$2,000,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $910,000.
Maximum Award: The following maximum award amounts are from the
notice of final selection criteria and other application requirements
for this program, published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2005
(70 FR 19939).
(1) Total funding for a three-year project period is a maximum of
$500,000 for LEAs with enrollments of less than 20,000 students;
$1,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments of 20,000-300,000 students; and
$2,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments above 300,000 students. LEAs may
form consortia and combine their enrollments in order to receive a
grant reflective of their combined enrollment. For districts applying
jointly as a consortium, the maximum award is based on the combined
enrollment of the individual districts in the consortium. If more than
one LEA wishes to form a consortium, they must follow the procedures
for group applications described in 34 CFR 75.127 through 34 CFR 75.129
of the Education Department Administrative Regulations.
(2) A maximum of one grant will be awarded per applicant per
competition.
Estimated Number of Awards: 75-80.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months. The Department anticipates funding
the entire project period of each grant with fiscal year 2011 funds.
There will be no continuation grant awards for projects funded under
this competition.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: LEAs, including charter schools that are
considered LEAs under State law and regulations, which must work in
partnership with one or more of the following entities:
An institution of higher education.
A non-profit history or humanities organization.
A library or museum.
An LEA may form a consortium with one or more other LEAs and submit a
joint application for funds. The consortium must follow the procedures
for joint applications described in 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an
application package via the Internet, from the Education Publications
Center (ED Pubs), or from the program office.
To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following address:
http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html.
To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call the following:
ED Pubs, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA
22304. Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. If
you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call, toll
free: 1-877-576-7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: http://www.EDPubs.gov or at its e-mail address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
[[Page 5792]]
If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to
identify this program as follows: CFDA number 84.215X.
To obtain a copy from the program office, contact: Mia Howerton,
Margarita Melendez, or Adam Bookman, U.S. Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4C123, Washington, DC 20202-5960. Telephone:
(202) 205-0147 or by e-mail: teachingamericanhistory@ed.gov. If you use
a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-
8339.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape,
or computer diskette) by contacting one of the three individuals listed
under For Further Information Contact in section VII of this notice.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for this program.
Additional information about this competition and the application
requirements also can be found at http://www.ed.gov/programs/teachinghistory/index.html.
Notice of Intent to Apply: The Department will be able to develop a
more efficient process for reviewing grant applications if it has a
better understanding of the number of entities that intend to apply for
funding under this competition. Therefore, the Secretary strongly
encourages each potential applicant to notify the Department by sending
a short e-mail message indicating the applicant's intent to submit an
application for funding. The e-mail need not include information
regarding the content of the proposed application, only the applicant's
intent to submit it. The Secretary requests that this e-mail
notification be sent to Mia Howerton at:
teachingamericanhistory@ed.gov.
Applicants that do not provide this e-mail notification may still
apply for funding.
Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application)
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that
reviewers use to evaluate your application. Applicants are strongly
encouraged to limit the application narrative and the appendix to a
total of no more than 50 pages, using the following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions. However, you may
single space all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial.
The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II,
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract.
However, the page limit does apply to all of the application narrative
section (Part III). It also applies to the resumes, the bibliography,
and letters of support which should be included in the appendix.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: February 2, 2011.
Deadline for Intent to Apply: March 4, 2011.
Dates of Pre-Application Meetings: There will be two pre-
application meetings for prospective applicants: (1) March 11, 2011
from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the LBJ Auditorium at the U.S. Department of
Education Headquarters, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202;
(2) March 11, 2011 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the LBJ Auditorium at the
U.S. Department of Education Headquarters, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20202. The Department is accessible by Metro on the
Blue, Orange, Green, and Yellow lines at the 7th Street and Maryland
Avenue Exit of the L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station. Please continue to
check the Teaching American History Web site at http://www.ed.gov/programs/teachinghistory/ for further details on how to register for
these pre-application meetings. Please contact the U.S. Department of
Education contact persons listed under For Further Information Contact
if you have any questions about the details of the pre-application
meetings.
Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities at the Pre-Application
Meetings.
The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If
you will need an auxiliary aid or service to participate in the meeting
(e.g., interpreting service, assistive listening device, or materials
in an alternate format), notify the contact person listed in this
notice at least two weeks before the scheduled meeting date. Although
we will attempt to meet a request we receive after that date, we may
not be able to make available the requested auxiliary aid or service
because of insufficient time to arrange it.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 4, 2011.
Applications for grants under this program must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your
application electronically, please refer to section IV. 6. Other
Submission Requirements of this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
one of the three individuals listed under For Further Information
Contact in section VII of this notice. If the Department provides an
accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in
connection with the application process, the individual's application
remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this
notice.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 2, 2011.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order
12372 is in the application package for this program.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, and Central Contractor Registry: To do business with the
Department of Education, you must--
a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the Central
Contractor Registry (CCR), the Government's primary registrant
database;
c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
d. Maintain an active CCR registration with current information
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number
can be created within one business day.
If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue
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Service. If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the
Internal Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you
need a new TIN, please allow 2-5 weeks for your TIN to become active.
The CCR registration process may take five or more business days to
complete. If you are currently registered with the CCR, you may not
need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN
associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will
need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take
three or more business days to complete.
In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov,
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined in the
Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf).
7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this program must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an
exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in
this section.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
Applications for grants under the Teaching American History
program, CFDA number 84.215X, must be submitted electronically using
the Government-wide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through
this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application
package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your
application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant
application to us.
We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
You may access the electronic grant application for the Teaching
American History program at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the
downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA number.
Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g.,
search for 84.215, not 84.215X).
Please note the following:
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation.
Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
The amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
You should review and follow the Education Submission
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are
included in the application package for this program to ensure that you
submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system.
You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to
Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 system home
page at http://www.G5.gov.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your
application in paper format.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
all information you typically provide on the following forms: The
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and
certifications.
You must attach any narrative sections of your application
as files in a .PDF (Portable Document) format only. If you upload a
file type other than a .PDF or submit a password-protected file, we
will not review that material.
Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send
a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification
indicates that the Department has received your application and has
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified
identifying number unique to your application).
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues
With the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline date because of technical
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the application deadline date, please contact one of the
individuals listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII
of this notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk
Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The
Department will contact you after a
[[Page 5794]]
determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application
through the Grants.gov system because--
You do not have access to the Internet; or
You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to
the Grants.gov system; and
No later than two weeks before the application deadline
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception
prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application.
If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the
application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: Mia Howerton, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4C123,
Washington, DC, 20202-5960. FAX: (202)401-8466.
Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.215X), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
(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.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a
dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with
your local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.215X), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260. The Application Control Center
accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are
submitting your application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not
receive this notification within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are
from the notice of final selection criteria and other application
requirements published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2005 (70 FR
19939) and from 34 CFR 75.210, as permitted under the notice of final
revisions to selection criteria, published in the Federal Register on
December 23, 2008 (73 FR 78761). The Notes following the selection
criteria are guidance to help applicants in preparing their
applications and are not required by statute or regulations. We
encourage applicants to consider those Notes.
The selection criteria are as follows:
(1) Project quality (35 points). The Secretary considers the
quality of the proposed project by considering:
(a) The likelihood that the proposed project will develop,
implement, and strengthen programs to teach traditional American
history as a separate academic subject (not as a component of social
studies) within elementary school and secondary school curricula.
(b) How specific traditional American history content (including
the significant issues, episodes, and turning points in the history of
the United States; how the words and deeds of individual Americans have
determined the course of our Nation; and how the principles of freedom
and democracy articulated in the founding documents of this Nation have
shaped America's struggles and achievements and its social, political,
and legal institutions and relations) will be covered by the grant; the
format in which the project will deliver the history content; and the
quality of the staff and consultants responsible for delivering these
content-based professional development activities, emphasizing, where
relevant, their postsecondary teaching experience and scholarship in
subject areas relevant to the teaching of traditional American history.
The applicant may also attach curriculum vitae for individuals who will
provide the content training to the teachers.
(c) How well the applicant describes a plan that meets the
statutory requirement to carry out activities under the grant in
partnership with one or more of the following:
(i) An institution of higher education.
(ii) A non-profit history or humanities organization.
(iii) A library or museum.
(d) The applicant's rationale for selecting the partner(s) and its
description of specific activities that the partner(s) will contribute
to the grant during each year of the project. The applicant should
include a memorandum of understanding or detailed letters of commitment
from the partner(s) in an appendix to the application narrative.
Note: The Secretary encourages applicants to describe, in
particular, how the proposed
[[Page 5795]]
history content addresses traditional American history as discussed
in paragraph (b) of the Project quality criterion. Applicants are
also encouraged to submit a detailed course of study for project
participants, including a rationale for selecting the course of
study, and a schedule of activities to be carried out. Finally,
applicants are encouraged to discuss the role and commitment of each
partner and document that each partner has been apprised of the
partner's responsibilities for the project.
(2) Quality of the project design (35 points). The Secretary
considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In
determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the
Secretary considers:
(a) The extent to which there is a conceptual framework underlying
the proposed research or demonstration activities and the quality of
that framework.
(b) The extent to which the proposed activities constitute a
coherent, sustained program of training in the field.
(c) The extent to which the proposed project is part of a
comprehensive effort to improve teaching and learning and support
rigorous academic standards for students.
(d) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of
Federal financial assistance.
(3) Need for project (20 points). The Secretary considers the need
for the proposed project. In determining the need for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers:
(a) The magnitude or severity of the problem to be addressed by the
proposed project.
(b) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.
(c) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services,
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude
of those gaps or weaknesses.
Note: The Secretary encourages applicants to provide
information on the district's American history program, including on
the number of teachers, the teachers' qualifications and
certifications, the American history professional development
currently being offered in the district, and student performance in
American history class. The applicant is also encouraged to address
how its proposed professional development strategy will
significantly improve both teachers' ability to teach traditional
American history content and student performance with regard to
traditional American history. Applicants' responses to the Need for
project criterion should address the American history content needs
of the teachers, not the socioeconomic needs of the teachers or the
students they serve.
(4) Quality of the management plan (10 points). The Secretary
considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project.
In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers:
(a) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing
project tasks.
(b) The extent to which the time commitments of the project
director and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate
to meet the objectives of the proposed project.
(c) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous
improvement in the operation of the proposed project.
Note: Section 75.112 of EDGAR requires that an applicant (a)
propose a project period for the project and (b) include a narrative
that describes how and when, in each budget period of the project,
the applicant plans to meet each project objective. The Secretary
encourages each applicant to address this criterion by including in
this narrative a clear implementation plan that includes annual
timelines, key project milestones, and a schedule of activities, as
well as a description of the personnel who would be responsible for
each activity and the level of effort each activity entails.
(5) Quality of the project evaluation (25 points). The Secretary
considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed
project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary
considers:
(a) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and
qualitative data to the extent possible.
(b) How well the evaluation plans are aligned with the project
design explained under the Project quality criterion.
(c) Whether the evaluation includes benchmarks to monitor progress
toward specific project objectives, and outcome measures to assess the
impact on teaching and learning or other important outcomes for project
participants.
(d) Whether the applicant identifies the individual and/or
organization that has agreed to serve as evaluator for the project and
includes a description of the qualifications of that evaluator.
(e) The extent to which the applicant indicates the following:
(i) What types of data will be collected.
(ii) When various types of data will be collected.
(iii) What methods will be used to collect data.
(iv) What data collection instruments will be developed.
(v) How the data will be analyzed.
(vi) When reports of results and outcomes will be available.
(vii) How the applicant will use the information collected through
the evaluation to monitor the progress of the funded project and to
provide accountability information about both success at the initial
site and effective strategies for replication in other settings.
(viii) How the applicant will devote an appropriate level of
resources to project evaluation.
Note: The Secretary encourages each applicant to specify how
the project's evaluation plan will address the TAH performance
measures established by the Department under the Government
Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA). (The specific
performance measures established for the TAH Program are discussed
under Performance Measures in section VI of this notice.) Further,
each applicant is encouraged to describe how the applicant's
evaluation plan will be designed to collect both output data (e.g.,
number of teachers participating in a project, number of workshops
held) and outcome data (e.g., improvements in teacher classroom
practice, increases in student history achievement). Finally, each
applicant is encouraged to select an independent, objective
evaluator who has experience in evaluating educational programs and
who will play an active role in the design and development of the
project. For resources on what to consider in designing and
conducting project evaluations, go to http://www.whatworkshelpdesk.ed.gov/.
2. Review and Selection Process: The Department intends to conduct
a two-tier review process for this competition. All eligible
applications will be reviewed and scored on the first four criteria.
Only applications that score highly on the first four criteria will
then be reviewed and scored on the fifth criterion, Quality of the
Project Evaluation.
We remind potential applicants that in reviewing applications in
any discretionary grant competition, the Secretary may consider, under
34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the applicant in carrying
out a previous award, such as the applicant's use of funds, achievement
of project objectives, and compliance with grant conditions. The
Secretary may also
[[Page 5796]]
consider whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance
report or submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is
not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance;
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the
standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled
the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN). We may notify you informally, also.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition,
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the
Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting,
please go to http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: We have established two performance
measures for the TAH Program. The measures are: (1) The average
percentage change in the scores (on a pre-post assessment of American
history) of participants who complete at least 75 percent of the
professional development hours offered by the project. The assessment
must be aligned with the content provided by the TAH project, and at
least 50 percent of its questions must come from a validated test of
American history, and (2) the percentage of TAH participants who
complete 75 percent or more of the total hours of professional
development offered. Grantees will be expected to provide data on the
two measures.
VII. Agency Contacts
For Further Information Contact: Mia Howerton, Margarita Melendez,
or Adam Bookman, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue,
SW., room 4C123, Washington, DC 20202-5960. Telephone: (202) 205-0147
or by e-mail: teachingamericanhistory@ed.gov. If you use a TDD, call
the FRS, toll-free, at 1-800-877-8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on
request to one of the program contact persons listed under For Further
Information Contact in section VII of this notice.
Electronic Access to This Document: You can view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister. To
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at
this site. You can view this document in text or PDF at the following
site, also: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/teachinghistory/applicant.html.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.
Dated: January 26, 2011.
James H. Shelton III,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2011-2290 Filed 2-1-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P