[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60657-60663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25245]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Announcement of Requirements and Registration for the Reach
Higher Career App Challenge
AGENCY: Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice; public challenge.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) is
announcing the Reach Higher Career App Challenge (RHCAC or Challenge),
a prize competition funded by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV or Act). RHCAC calls upon potential
entrants, who may include eligible educators, mobile application (app)
developers, and other interested individuals to submit information
concerning concepts for mobile apps, which may include a prototype, to
improve access to information about career and technical education
(CTE), help students, including students with disabilities and English
Learners, navigate education and career paths, and increase the
capacity of career counselors to serve students. The Challenge seeks
solutions that: (1) Are focused on middle and high school students, (2)
include integrated tools to assess user skills and interests, and (3)
offer users accessible information on occupations, education options,
credentials, and career-seeking skills through an individualized user
experience.
DATES: We must receive your Challenge submission on or before December
7, 2015.
The timeframes for judging the submissions and selecting the
finalists will be determined by the Department.
The Department will conduct at least one online information session
during the open submission phase of the challenge. The date of the
session will be determined and announced by the Department, posted on
the Luminary LightboxTM platform at
www.reachhigherchallenge.com (Challenge Web page), and sent to entrants
by email. The dates for finalist activities including the Virtual
Accelerator phase, finalist mentorship, Innovator's Boot Camp, and
Demonstration Day (all of these activities are described elsewhere in
this notice) will be determined and announced by the Department.
The date for the final judging will be determined and announced by
the Department following Demonstration Day.
The winner(s) will be announced on a date determined and announced
by the Department.
ADDRESSES: Submit entries for the prize at
www.reachhigherchallenge.com/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Albert Palacios, U.S. Department of
Education, 550 12th Street SW., Room 11086, Washington, DC 20202 or by
email: [email protected]. If you use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call the FRS, toll free,
at 1-800-877-8339.
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Administration of the Challenge Competition
The RHCAC is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Education.
Luminary Labs, L.L.C. (Luminary Labs), has been contracted by the
Department to assist and support the Department in organizing and
managing this competition. Activities conducted by Luminary Labs may
also include providing technical assistance to potential entrants,
entrants, and finalists.
II. Subject of Challenge Competition
With a constantly evolving career landscape, it is increasingly
challenging for students to identify, assess, and act upon their
options as they plan for careers and postsecondary education. While the
current career guidance and counseling infrastructure plays a critical
role in assisting students with postsecondary education and career
selection decisions, nationwide, one in five high schools lacks a
school counselor.\1\ Furthermore, in 2013, the national average
student-to-school-counselor ratio for K-12 counselors was 482:1 with
peaks of 880:1 in Arizona and 826:1 in California.\2\ As a result,
students receive limited time with their counselor annually, as they
prepare to make important postsecondary education and career decisions.
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\1\ ``Data Snapshot: Teacher Equity.'' U.S. Department of
Education Office for Civil Rights. www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/crdc-teacher-equity-snapshot.pdf, Accessed September 11,
2015.
\2\ ``Student-to-School-Counselor Ratio 2012-2013,'' American
Counseling Association. 2014. www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/home/Ratios12-13.pdf, Accessed September 11, 2015.
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The Challenge invites potential entrants, who may include eligible
educators, mobile app developers, and other interested individuals to
submit concepts for mobile apps which may include a prototype to
improve access to CTE information that would help students, including
students with disabilities and English Learners, navigate education and
career pathways, and increase the capacity of career counselors to
assist students in making decisions about their education and career
options. The Challenge intends that mobile app concepts will be
developed into prototypes during the Virtual Accelerator phase. The
Challenge seeks mobile app solutions that include integrated tools to
assess user skills and interests, while also offering users accessible
information on occupations, education options, credentials, and career-
seeking skills through an individualized user experience.
The Challenge will be conducted in four phases:
(1) Challenge launch and the open submission phase;
(2) Judging of the submissions and selection of finalists;
(3) Virtual Accelerator phase (inclusive of finalist mentorship,
Innovator's Boot Camp, and Demonstration Day); and
(4) Final judging and selection of winner(s). Up to five finalists
will be selected from the pool of submissions received during the open
submission phase. From the total prize pool of $225,000, each of the
finalists will be awarded $25,000 for their submission based on a
review by the judging panel using the criteria in paragraph (a) in the
Selection Criteria section of this notice. Finalists will be encouraged
to use their winnings to improve upon their submissions, and are
required to participate in the Virtual Accelerator phase, and to attend
the Innovator's Boot Camp and Demonstration Day. After the Virtual
Accelerator phase, Demonstration Day, and final judging using the
criteria in paragraph (b) in the Selection Criteria section of this
notice, the winner(s) will be selected by the Department and receive
the remainder of the prize money.
Virtual Accelerator Phase Description
The Virtual Accelerator phase begins on the date finalists are
announced and concludes on Demonstration Day,\3\ which is the day when
finalists present their submissions to the judging panel. During this
phase, the finalists will revise and improve upon their submissions in
preparation for Demonstration Day. On Demonstration Day, the finalists
will be required to present their concept and demonstrate a final
prototype.
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\3\ The date of the announcement of the finalists will be
determined by the Department.
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General Elements of the Virtual Accelerator phase include the
following--
(1) Mentorship: Finalists will have access to subject matter
experts (SMEs) who will act throughout the Virtual Accelerator phase as
mentors, helping the finalists to revise and improve their submissions.
(2) Innovator's Boot Camp: \4\ Finalists will be required to
participate in the Innovator's Boot Camp, which will either be a live
event in the greater New York City metropolitan area or a virtual
event. Finalists will receive guidance through teaching modules, which
may include hands-on activities, with SMEs and Luminary Labs staff.
While the agenda has yet to be finalized, major themes will likely
include user testing and interface development along with instructions
on how to best revise and improve finalists' submissions, potentially
including various design and innovation methodologies that would
improve CTE programs and improve virtual accessibility for everyone,
including individuals with disabilities.
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\4\ The date of the Innovator's Boot Camp will be determined by
the Department.
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(3) Demonstration Day Presentation Support: After the Innovator's
Boot Camp and prior to Demonstration Day, all finalists will have the
opportunity to practice their presentations and receive feedback from
Luminary Labs on how to improve their Demonstration Day presentations.
Following Demonstration Day, a judging panel will provide
recommendations to the Department on the selection of one or more
winners from the pool of finalists to receive the remainder of the
prize money.
Program Authority: The goals, purposes, and activities related to
the Challenge are authorized by section 114(c)(1) of Perkins IV, 20
U.S.C. 2324(c)(1). Under this section, the Secretary of the U. S.
Department of Education is authorized to carry out research,
development, dissemination, evaluation and assessment, capacity
building, and technical assistance with regard to CTE programs under
Perkins IV. Following the RHCAC, submissions selected as finalists will
be made available to the public to improve access to information on CTE
programs and career guidance strategies that can be adapted and
implemented in local areas thereby building local capacity to counsel
students regarding CTE programs.
III. Eligibility
(a) Eligible entrants must be:
(1) Individuals at least 18 years of age and a citizen or permanent
resident of the United States; \5\
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\5\ The 50 States of the United States, the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the outlying areas of
the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of
Palau.
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(2) Teams of individuals that:
(i) Are all at least 18 years of age;
(ii) Include at least one citizen or permanent resident of the
United States; and
(iii) May also include foreign citizens who affirm at the time of
submission of an entry for the Challenge that they are foreign
citizens, who are not permanent residents; or
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(3) An entity registered or incorporated in accordance with
applicable State and local laws, and maintaining a primary place of
business in the United States. The entity may include foreign citizens
participating as employees of the entity.
(b) Ineligible entrants include--
(1) A foreign citizen unless participating as part of an eligible
team or entity;
(2) A Federal entity;
(3) A Federal employee acting within the scope of his or her
employment; and
(4) All employees of the Department, Luminary Labs, Challenge
sponsors, and/or any other individual or entity associated with the
development or administration of the Challenge, as well as members of
such persons' immediate families (spouses, children, siblings,
parents), and persons living in the same household as such persons,
whether or not related.
(c) Entrants must:
(1) Register on the Challenge Web page (see Additional Terms that
are Part of the Official Rules, under the General Terms and Conditions
in this notice);
(2) Enter a submission on the Challenge Web page according to the
rules, terms, and conditions in this notice;
(3) Comply with all requirements; and
(4) Provide affirmation upon submission of an entry for the
Challenge that an entrant is eligible under subsection (a) of this
section. If selected as a finalist, entrants must provide documentation
to demonstrate their eligibility at that time.
(5) Agree to--
(i) Assume any and all risks and waive claims against the Federal
government and its related entities, except in the case of willful
misconduct, for any injury, death, damage, or loss of property,
revenue, or profits, whether direct, indirect, or consequential,
arising from their participation in the Challenge, whether the injury,
death, damage, or loss of property, revenue, or profits, whether
direct, indirect, or consequential, arises through negligence or
otherwise;
(ii) Indemnify the Federal government against third party claims
for damages arising from, or related to, competition activities,
patents, copyrights, and trademark infringements; and
(iii) Comply with and abide by the Official Rules, Terms and
Conditions in this notice, and the decisions of the Department which
shall be final and binding in all respects.
(d) Entrants are not required to obtain liability insurance or
demonstrate financial responsibility in order to participate in the
Challenge.
IV. Prizes
The total prize pool for the Challenge is $225,000. From the
$225,000 Challenge prize pool funds, up to five finalist teams will be
awarded $25,000 each following the judging of the open submissions.
Finalists will improve and revise upon their submissions during the
Virtual Accelerator phase in preparation for Demonstration Day. After
Demonstration Day, a judging panel will provide recommendations to the
Department on the selection of one or more winners from the pool of
finalists to receive the remainder of the prize money.
Prizes awarded under this competition will be paid by electronic
funds transfer. Winners are responsible for any applicable local,
State, and Federal taxes and reporting that may be required under
applicable tax laws.
V. Selection Criteria
(a) To participate in the Challenge, an entrant must submit an
eligible entry according to the Eligibility section of this notice.
Each of the following five selection criteria may be assigned up to 20
points during the judging of open submissions in order to select
finalists (for a total of up to 100 points). The following criteria
will be used to select the finalists:
(1) Actionable Outcomes. The extent that the submission
demonstrates seamless career choice decision-making through the
integration of--
(i) An interactive tool that assesses user skills and interests;
(ii) Up-to-date occupational data;
(iii) Educational options, including CTE programs,\6\ technical
skill credentials, and postsecondary certificate and degree programs;
and
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\6\ ``Career and technical education'' or ``CTE'' as defined in
section 3(5) of Perkins IV.
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(iv) Career-seeking skills which may include, e.g., resume writing
skills, interviewing skills, etc.
(2) Target Audience. The extent that the submission provides--
(i) Support for educational and career path decision-making across
a broad cross-section of students including students with disabilities,
English Learners, and students in CTE programs; and
(ii) Support for counselor and/or teacher interactions with
students, or plans for accessible features that will provide this
support as the app is further developed.
(3) Scalability. The extent that the submission offers a viable
plan for:
(i) The full development of features, including the integration of
comprehensive employment data, effective communication for English
Learners and individuals with disabilities, and virtual accessibility
in a form that meets a government or industry-recognized standard for
accessibility; and
(ii) A prototype to be customized to offer local educational and
employment information including how local data and application
programming interfaces (APIs) will be used.
(4) Market Differentiation. The extent that the submission
demonstrates clear differentiation from the current market offerings.
(5) Commitment. The extent that the submission illustrates
commitment and ability of the finalist to develop a prototype into a
fully functional app.
(b) When judging the finalist submissions, judges will recommend to
the Department the winner or winners from the pool of the finalists.
From the pool of finalists, the winner(s) will be selected based on the
five criteria in paragraph (a) of this section and the two additional
criteria below. Each of the seven criteria may be assigned up to 20
points during the judging of the finalist submissions (for a total of
up to 140 points). These two additional criteria are:
(1) Demonstration of the finalist's ability to effectively revise
and improve their concept over the course of the Virtual Accelerator
phase; and
(2) Perceived ability of the finalist and their prototype to
materially transform career and education decision-making for students.
VI. Submission Information
1. To participate in the Challenge, an entrant--
(a) Must register on the Challenge Web page.
(b) Must enter the required information on the Challenge Web page
submission form--
(1) Contact Information.
(2) Submission Name and Information.
(3) Actionable Outcomes. [500 word limit] \7\ The entrant must
provide a description of how its submission meets each component in
paragraph (a)(1), Actionable Outcomes, under the Selection Criteria in
this notice.
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\7\ The Challenge Web page will be programmed to limit the
number of words to the word limit indicated.
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(4) Target Audience. [500 word limit] The entrant must provide a
description of how its submission meets each component in section
(a)(2), Target Audience, under the Selection Criteria in this notice.
(5) Scalability. [500 word limit] The entrant must provide a
description of
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how their submission meets each component in paragraph (a)(3),
Scalability, under the Selection Criteria in this notice.
(6) Market Differentiation. [500 word limit] The entrant must
provide a description of how its submission meets the component in
paragraph (a)(4), Market Differentiation, under the Selection Criteria
in this notice.
(7) Commitment. [500 words limit] The entrant must provide a
description of how their submission meets each component in paragraph
(a)(5), Commitment, under the Selection Criteria section in this
notice.
(8) Design Documents. On the submission form of the Challenge Web
page, entrants must upload an asset (e.g., video, image, visualization)
that illustrates the major design features of the proposed prototype
app. (Accepted upload file formats include: .ppt, .pdf, .mp4, .mov,
.jpg, .png; files must not exceed 20 megabytes.)
(9) Third Party Works. The entrant must indicate whether the
submission includes any third party works. If so, the entrant must
describe these works and affirm that appropriate documentation for all
licenses and releases can be supplied upon request of the Department
and/or Luminary Labs.
(10) Submission Checklist. The entrant must complete each of the
following on the Challenge Web page when submitting their entry:
(i) The entrant attests that if selected as a finalist, their
submitted concept could be developed into at least a fully functioning
prototype by the conclusion of the Virtual Accelerator phase.
(ii) The entrant agrees to participate in the required Innovator's
Boot Camp and present their submission on Demonstration Day if selected
as a finalist.
(iii) The entrant acknowledges having read, understood and agreed
to the Rules, Terms and Conditions.
(iv) The entrant confirms that the eligibility requirements are
met.
(v) The entrant confirms that the submission complies with all
applicable privacy laws.
(vi) The entrant confirms that the entrant did not receive
assistance from subject matter experts or judges associated with the
Challenge when preparing their submission.
(c) May provide the following information on the Challenge Web page
submission form--
(1) Demonstration (Upload). On the submission form of the Challenge
Web page, entrants may upload an asset (e.g., video, image,
visualization) that illustrates a demonstration of the prototype.
Entrants should not upload files that repeat the information they
provided in paragraphs (b)(3) through (b)(9) of this section above.
(Accepted file formats include: .ppt, .pdf, .mp4, .mov, .jpg, .png;
files must not exceed 20 megabytes.)
(2) Demonstration (Link). On the submission form of the Challenge
Web page, entrants may provide a link to an asset (e.g., video, image,
visualization, working prototype) that illustrates a demonstration of
the prototype. Entrants should not provide links to files that repeat
the information they provided in paragraphs (b)(3) through (b)(9) of
this section. (Videos may be posted to video-sharing sites like YouTube
or Vimeo.)
(3) GitHub Link. On the submission form of the Challenge Web page,
entrants may provide a link to the GitHub repository for the entrant's
prototype.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: To submit an entry
to the Challenge, an entrant must complete the submission form on the
Challenge Web page.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
To submit an entry to the Challenge, an entrant must go to the
Challenge Web page and complete all required fields of the Challenge
submission form before the close of the open submission phase, which is
currently scheduled for December 7, 2015 at 11:59:59 p.m., Washington
DC time. Each entrant must complete all of the required fields in the
Challenge submission form in accordance with the Official Rules, Terms
and Conditions in this notice.
All entrants are required to provide consent to the Official Rules,
Terms and Conditions in this notice upon submitting an entry.
Submissions must be received during the open submissions phase of the
Challenge to be eligible. The open submissions phase officially begins
October 7, 2015 with this announcement of the Challenge and continues
to December 7, 2015 at 11:59:59 p.m., Washington DC time. Luminary Labs
is the official timekeeper for the Challenge. Once submitted, a
submission may not be altered during the open submissions phase. The
Department reserves the right to disqualify any submission that the
Department deems inappropriate.
During the Virtual Accelerator phase, the finalists will be
required to give their Demonstration Day presentation and demonstrate a
final prototype.
Entrants may enter individually or as part of a team, and teams are
strongly encouraged. Each team member must be clearly identified on the
team's submission form for the team to be eligible. Teams must
designate a primary contact to serve as the team lead (Team Lead) and
manage the distribution of any awarded prizes. In the event a dispute
regarding the identity of the entrant who actually submitted the entry
cannot be resolved by the Department, the affected entry will be deemed
ineligible.
The open submissions phase closes at 11:59:59 p.m., Washington DC
time December 7, 2015. The Department encourages entrants to submit at
least one hour before the deadline to ensure the completed submission
is received. If an entrant submits an entry after the deadline date
because a technical problem with the Challenge Web page system, the
entrant must immediately contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT in this notice, and provide an explanation of the
technical problem experienced on the Challenge Web page system. The
Department will accept the entrant's application if the Department can
confirm that a technical problem occurred with the Challenge Web page
system and that the technical problem affected the entrant's ability to
submit an application by 11:59:59 p.m., Washington DC time, on the
entry deadline date. The Department will contact the entrant after a
determination is made on whether the entry will be accepted.
Note: These extensions apply only to the unavailability of, or
technical problems with, the Challenge Web page system. The
Department will not grant an entrant an extension if the entrant
failed to submit an entry in the system by the application deadline
date and time, or if the technical problem experienced is unrelated
to the Challenge Web page system.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the submission process should contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in this notice.
If the Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an
individual with a disability in connection with the entry submission
process, the entry remains subject to all other requirements and
limitations in this notice.
VII. Submission Review Information
Review and Selection Process
Based on their individual expertise, judges will recommend up to
five finalists to be selected by the Department from the pool of
eligible entries. Once the Department has selected a group of finalists
based on the recommendations of the judges consistent with the
selection criteria, the finalists will then refine their submissions
during the Virtual
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Accelerator phase and present their submissions on Demonstration Day.
Entries will be scored by the judges based on the quality of each
entry according to the criteria described in paragraph (a) of the
Selection Criteria section in this notice. When selecting finalists
from the open submission phase, each criterion may be worth up to 20
points for a total of up to 100 points. When selecting the winner(s)
from the finalists, judges will consider two additional criteria. Each
of the seven criteria will be assigned up to 20 points for a total of
up to 140 points available.
By participating in the Challenge, each entrant acknowledges and
agrees that such recommendations of the judges based on the criteria
may differ and agrees to be bound by, and not to challenge, the final
decisions of the Department.
VIII. Official Rules, Terms and Conditions
General Terms and Conditions
The Department reserves the right to suspend, postpone, cease,
terminate, or otherwise modify this Challenge or any entrant's
participation in the Challenge, at any time at the Department's sole
discretion.
All entry information submitted on the Challenge Web page and all
materials, including any copy of the submission, becomes property of
the Department and will not be acknowledged or returned by Luminary
Labs or the Department. However, entrants retain ownership of their
concepts, including any software, research, or other intellectual
property (IP) that they develop in connection therewith, subject to the
license granted to the Department to use submissions as set forth in
the Intellectual Property of Solutions section of this notice. Proof of
submission is not considered proof of delivery or receipt of such
entry. Furthermore, the Department and Luminary Labs shall have no
liability for any submission that is lost, intercepted, or not received
by the Department and/or Luminary Labs. The Department and Luminary
Labs assume no liability or responsibility for any error, omission,
interruption, deletion, theft, destruction, unauthorized access to, or
alteration of, submissions.
Representations and Warranties/Indemnification
By participating in the Challenge, each entrant represents,
warrants, and covenants as follows:
(a) The entrants are the sole authors, creators, and owners of the
submission;
(b) The entrant's submission--
(i) Is not the subject of any actual or threatened litigation or
claim;
(ii) Does not, and will not, violate or infringe upon the
intellectual property rights, privacy rights, publicity rights, or
other legal rights of any third party;
(iii) Does not, contain any harmful computer code (sometimes
referred to as ``malware,'' ``viruses,'' or ``worms''); and
(c) The submission, and entrants' use of the submission, does not,
and will not, violate any applicable laws or regulations of the United
States.
If the submission includes the work of any third party (such as
third party content or open source code), the entrant must be able to
provide, upon the request of the Department and/or Luminary Labs,
documentation of all appropriate licenses and releases for such third
party works. If the entrant cannot provide documentation of all
required licenses and releases, the Department reserves the right, in
its sole discretion, to disqualify the applicable submission, or direct
the entrant to secure the licenses and releases for the Department's
benefit within three days of notification of the missing documentation
and allow the applicable submission to remain in the Challenge. In
addition, the Department reserves all rights to pursue an entrant for
claims based on damages incurred by entrant's failure to obtain such
licenses and releases.
Entrants will indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Department
and Luminary Labs from and against all third party claims, actions, or
proceedings of any kind and from any and all damages, liabilities,
costs, and expenses relating to, or arising from, entrant's submission
or any breach or alleged breach of any of the representations,
warranties, and covenants of entrant hereunder. The Department reserves
the right to disqualify any submission that the Department, in its
discretion, deems to violate these Official Rules, Terms and Conditions
in this notice.
Submission License
Each entrant retains title to, and full ownership of, its
submission. The entrant expressly reserves all intellectual property
rights not expressly granted under this agreement. By participating in
the Challenge, each entrant hereby irrevocably grants a license to the
Department and Luminary Labs to store and access submissions in
perpetuity that may be reproduced or distributed in the future. Please
refer to the Intellectual Property of Submissions section of this
notice for further information regarding rights to submissions.
Publicity Release
By participating in the Challenge, each entrant hereby irrevocably
grants to the Department and Luminary Labs the right to use such
entrant's name, likeness, image, and biographical information in any
and all media for advertising and promotional purposes relating to the
Challenge in perpetuity and otherwise as stated in the Submission
License section of this notice.
Disqualification
The Department reserves the right in its sole discretion to
disqualify any entrant who is found to be tampering with the entry
process or the operation of the Challenge, Challenge Web page, or other
Challenge-related Web pages; to be acting in violation of these
Official Rules, Terms and Conditions; to be acting in an
unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with the intent to disrupt or
undermine the legitimate operation of the Challenge; or to annoy,
abuse, threaten, or harass any other person; and, the Department
reserves the right to seek damages and other remedies from any such
person to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Links to Third-Party Web Pages
The Challenge Web page may contain links to third-party Web pages
that are not owned or controlled by Luminary Labs or the Department.
Luminary Labs and the Department do not endorse or assume any
responsibility for any such third party sites. If an entrant accesses a
third-party Web page from the Challenge Web page, the entrant does so
at the entrant's own risk and expressly relieves Luminary Labs and/or
the Department from any and all liability arising from use of any
third-party Web page content.
Disclaimer
The Challenge Web page contains information and resources from
public and private organizations that may be useful to the reader.
Inclusion of this information does not constitute an endorsement by the
Department or Luminary Labs of any products or services offered or
views expressed. Blog articles provide insights on the activities of
schools, programs, grantees, and other education stakeholders to
promote continuing discussion of educational innovation and reform.
Blog articles do not endorse any educational product, service,
curriculum, or pedagogy.
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The Challenge Web page also contains hyperlinks and URLs created
and maintained by outside organizations, which are provided for the
reader's convenience. The Department and Luminary Labs are not
responsible for the accuracy of the information contained therein.
Notice to Finalists/Winner(s)
Attempts to notify finalists and winner(s) will be made using the
email address associated with the finalist's Luminary Lightbox\TM\
account. The Department and Luminary Labs are not responsible for email
or other communication problems of any kind.
If, despite reasonable efforts, an entrant does not respond within
three days of the first notification attempt regarding selection as a
finalist (or a shorter time as exigencies may require) or if the
notification is returned as undeliverable to such entrant, that entrant
may forfeit the entrant's finalist status and associated prizes, and an
alternate finalist may be selected.
If any potential prize winner is found to be ineligible, has not
complied with these Official Rules, Terms and Conditions, or declines
the applicable prize for any reason prior to award, such potential
prize winner will be disqualified. An alternate winner may be selected,
or the applicable prize may go unawarded.
Attendance
To maintain eligibility, finalists are required to participate in
Challenge activities organized by the Department and Luminary Labs,
which include the Virtual Accelerator phase, Webinars, Innovator's Boot
Camp, and Demonstration Day. If a finalist is unable to participate in
any mandatory activities, the finalist will not be eligible to win the
Challenge. Finalists and winner(s) are required to attend these events
at their own expense.
Intellectual Property (IP) of Submissions
Entrants retain ownership of their submission, including any
software, research or other IP that they develop in connection
therewith, subject to the license granted to the Department to use
submissions as set forth herein.
Entrants retain all rights to the submission and any invention or
work, including any software, submitted as part of the submission,
subject to the following--
If the submission wins, the Department retains a nonexclusive,
nontransferable, irrevocable, paid-up world-wide license to any such
invention or work of the submission throughout the world, in
perpetuity, to reproduce, publish or otherwise use the work for Federal
purposes and authorize others to do so. Please refer to Submission
License section of this notice for further information regarding rights
to submissions.
Dates/Deadlines
The Department reserves the right to modify any dates or deadlines
set forth in these Official Rules, Terms and Conditions or otherwise
governing the Challenge.
Challenge Termination
The Department reserves the right to suspend, postpone, cease,
terminate or otherwise modify this Challenge, or any entrant's
participation in the Challenge, at any time at the Department's
discretion.
General Liability Release
By participating in the Challenge, each entrant hereby agrees
that--
(a) The Department and Luminary Labs shall not be responsible or
liable for any losses, damages, or injuries of any kind (including
death) resulting from participation in the Challenge or any Challenge-
related activity, or from entrants' acceptance, receipt, possession,
use, or misuse of any prize; and
(b) The entrant will indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the
Department and Luminary Labs from and against all third party claims,
actions, or proceedings of any kind and from any and all damages,
liabilities, costs, and expenses relating to, or arising from, the
entrant's participation in the Challenge.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Department
and Luminary Labs are not responsible for incomplete, illegible,
misdirected, misprinted, late, lost, postage-due, damaged, or stolen
entries or prize notifications; or for lost, interrupted, inaccessible,
or unavailable networks, servers, satellites, Internet Service
Providers, Web pages, or other connections; or for miscommunications,
failed, jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected computer,
telephone, cable transmissions or other communications; or for any
technical malfunctions, failures, difficulties, or other errors of any
kind or nature; or for the incorrect or inaccurate capture of
information, or the failure to capture any information.
These Official Rules, Terms and Conditions cannot be modified
except by the Department in its sole and absolute discretion. The
invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official
Rules, Terms and Conditions shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision
is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal,
these Official Rules, Terms and Conditions shall otherwise remain in
effect and shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the
invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein.
Exercise
The failure of the Department to exercise or enforce any right or
provision of these Official Rules, Terms and Conditions shall not
constitute a waiver of such right or provision.
Governing Law
All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity,
interpretation, and enforceability of these Official Rules, Terms and
Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with U.S.
Federal law as applied in the Federal courts of the District of
Columbia if a complaint is filed by any party against the Department,
and the laws of the State of New York as applied in the New York state
courts in New York City if a complaint is filed by any party against
Luminary Labs.
Privacy Policy
By participating in the Challenge, each entrant hereby agrees that
occasionally, the Department and Luminary Labs may also use the
entrant's information to contact the entrant about Federal Challenge
and innovation related activities, and acknowledges that the entrant
has read and accepted the privacy policy at:
www.reachhigherchallenge.com/privacy.
Additional Terms That Are Part Of The Official Rules, Terms and
Conditions
Please review the Luminary Lightbox\TM\ Terms of Service at:
www.LuminaryLightbox.com/terms for additional rules that apply to
participation in the Challenge and more generally to use of the
Challenge Web page. Such Terms of Service are incorporated by reference
into these Official Rules, Terms and Conditions. If there is a conflict
between the Terms of Service and these Official Rules, Terms and
Conditions, the latter terms shall control with respect to this
Challenge only.
Participation in the Challenge constitutes an entrant's full and
unconditional agreement to these Official Rules, Terms and Conditions.
By entering, an entrant agrees that all decisions related to the
Challenge that are made pursuant to these Official
[[Page 60663]]
Rules, Terms and Conditions are final and binding, and that all such
decisions are at the sole discretion of the Department and/or Luminary
Labs.
Luminary Labs collects personal information from entrants to the
Challenge. The information collected is subject to the privacy policy
located here: www.LuminaryLightbox.com/privacy.
Winners List/Official Rules/Contact
To obtain a list of finalists and winner(s) (after the conclusion
of the Challenge) or a copy of these Official Rules, Terms and
Conditions, send a self-addressed envelope with the proper postage
affixed to: Luminary Labs, 30 West 22nd St., Floor 6, New York, NY,
10010. Please specify ``Winners List'' or ``Official Rules'' and the
name of the specific Challenge in this request.
Please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT in section IX of this notice, should you have any comments or
questions about these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions.
IX. Agency Contact
For Further Information contact: Albert Palacios, U.S. Department of
Education, 550 12th Street SW., Room 11-086, Washington, DC 20202 or by
email: [email protected].
If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-
8339.
X. 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 compact disk) on request to
the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
in this notice.
Electronic Access to This Document: 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 via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site 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). To use PDF
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the
site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at:
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Dated: September 29, 2015.
Johan E. Uvin,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Delegated the Authority of Assistant
Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education.
[FR Doc. 2015-25245 Filed 10-6-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P