[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 67 (Thursday, April 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20376-20382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08051]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Innovative Approaches to Literacy
Program
AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
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Overview Information: Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL)
Program. Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year
(FY) 2016.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.215G.
DATES: Applications Available: April 7, 2016.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 9, 2016.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 6, 2016.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The IAL program supports high-quality programs
designed to develop and improve literacy skills for children and
students from birth through 12th grade in high-need local educational
agencies (LEAs) and schools. The U.S. Department of Education
(Department) intends to support innovative programs that promote early
literacy for young children, motivate older children to read, and
increase student achievement by using school libraries as partners to
improve literacy, distributing free books to children and their
families, and offering high-quality literacy activities.
The IAL program supports the implementation of high-quality plans
for childhood literacy activities and book distribution efforts that
are supported by evidence of strong theory.
Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and three
competitive preference priorities. The absolute priority is from the
notice of final priorities, requirement, and definitions for this
program (IAL NFP) published in the Federal Register on June 17, 2014
(79 FR 34428). Competitive Preference Priorities 1 and 2 are from the
Department's notice of final supplemental priorities and definitions
for discretionary grant programs (Supplemental Priorities), published
in the Federal Register on December 10, 2014 (79 FR 73425). Competitive
Preference Priority 3 is from the IAL NFP.
Absolute Priority: For FY 2016 and any subsequent year in which we
make awards from the list of unfunded applications 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:
High-Quality Plan for Innovative Approaches to Literacy That
Include Book Distribution, Childhood Literacy Activities, or Both, and
That Is Supported, at a Minimum, by Evidence of Strong Theory.
To meet this priority, applicants must submit a plan that is
supported by evidence of strong theory, including a rationale for the
proposed process, product, strategy, or practice and a corresponding
logic model.
The applicant must submit a plan with the following information:
(a) A description of the proposed book distribution, childhood
literacy activities, or both, that are designed to improve the literacy
skills of children and students by one or more of the following--
(1) Promoting early literacy and preparing young children to read;
(2) Developing and improving students' reading ability;
(3) Motivating older children to read; and
(4) Teaching children and students to read.
(b) The age or grade spans of children and students from birth
through 12th grade to be served.
(c) A detailed description of the key goals, the activities to be
undertaken, the rationale for those activities, the timeline, the
parties responsible for implementing the activities, and the
credibility of the plan (as judged, in part, by the information
submitted as evidence of strong theory); and
(d)(i) A description of how the proposed project is supported by
strong theory; and
(ii) The corresponding logic model.
Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2016 and any subsequent
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications
from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an additional five
points per priority to an application that meets Competitive Preference
Priorities 1-3, for a total of 15 possible points.
These priorities are:
Competitive Preference Priority 1--Leveraging Technology To Support
Instructional Practice and Professional Development. (5 points)
Projects that are designed to leverage technology through using
high-speed Internet access and devices to increase students' and
educators' access to high-quality accessible digital tools,
assessments, and materials, particularly open educational resources.
Competitive Preference Priority 2--Improving Early Learning and
Development Outcomes. (5 points)
Projects that are designed to improve early learning and
development outcomes across one or more of the essential domains of
school readiness for children from birth through third grade (or for
any age group within this range) through a focus on one or more of the
following:
(a) Increasing access to high-quality early learning and
development
[[Page 20377]]
programs and comprehensive services, particularly for children with
high needs.
(b) Improving the quality and effectiveness of the early learning
workforce so that early childhood educators, including administrators,
have the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to improve young
children's health, social-emotional, and cognitive outcomes.
(c) Sustaining improved early learning and development outcomes
throughout the early elementary school years.
Competitive Preference Priority 3--Serving Rural Local Educational
Agencies (LEAs). (5 points)
To meet this priority, an applicant must propose a project designed
to provide high-quality literacy programming, or distribute books, or
both, to students served by a rural LEA.
Definitions: The following definitions are from the Supplemental
Priorities, the IAL NFP, and 34 CFR 77.1(c).
Children with high needs means children from birth through
kindergarten entry who are from low-income families or otherwise in
need of special assistance and support, including children who have
disabilities or developmental delays; who are English learners; who
reside on ``Indian lands'' as that term is defined by section 8013(7)
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as
amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB); who are
migrant, homeless, or in foster care; and who are other children as
identified by the State.
Essential domains of school readiness means the domains of language
and literacy development, cognition and general knowledge (including
early mathematics and early scientific development), approaches toward
learning (including the utilization of the arts), physical well-being
and motor development (including adaptive skills), and social and
emotional development.
Evidence of promise means there is empirical evidence to support
the theoretical linkage(s) between at least one critical component and
at least one relevant outcome presented in the logic model for the
proposed processes, products, strategies, or practices. Specifically,
evidence of promise means the conditions in both paragraphs (i) and
(ii) of this section are met:
(i) There is at least one study that is a--
(A) Correlational study with statistical controls for selection
bias;
(B) Quasi-experimental design study that meets the What Works
Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations; or
(C) Randomized controlled trial that meets the What Works
Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with or without reservations.
(ii) The study referenced in paragraph (i) of this definition found
a statistically significant or substantively important (defined as a
difference of 0.25 standard deviations or larger), favorable
association between at least one critical component and one relevant
outcome presented in the logic model for the proposed process, product,
strategy, or practice.
High-need local educational agency (High-need LEA) means--
(i) Except for LEAs referenced in paragraph (ii), an LEA in which
at least 25 percent of the students aged 5-17 in the school attendance
area of the LEA are from families with incomes below the poverty line,
based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Small Area Income and
Poverty Estimates for school districts for the most recent income year
(Census list).
(ii) For an LEA that is not included on the Census list, such as a
charter school LEA, an LEA for which the State educational agency (SEA)
determines, consistent with the manner described under section 1124(c)
of the ESEA, as amended by NCLB, in which the SEA determines an LEA's
eligibility for Title I allocations, that 25 percent of the students
aged 5-17 in the LEA are from families with incomes below the poverty
line.
Logic model (also referred to as theory of action) means a well-
specified conceptual framework that identifies key components of the
proposed process, product, strategy, or practice (i.e., the active
``ingredients'' that are hypothesized to be critical to achieving the
relevant outcomes) and describes the relationships among the key
components and outcomes, theoretically and operationally.
National not-for-profit organization (NNP) means an agency,
organization, or institution owned and operated by one or more
corporations or associations whose net earnings do not benefit, and
cannot lawfully benefit, any private shareholder or entity. In
addition, it means, for the purposes of this program, an organization
of national scope that is supported by staff or affiliates at the State
and local levels, who may include volunteers, and that has a
demonstrated history of effectively developing and implementing
literacy activities.
Note: A local affiliate of an NNP does not meet the definition
of NNP. Only a national agency, organization, or institution is
eligible to apply as an NNP.
Open educational resources means teaching, learning, and research
resources that reside in the public domain or have been released under
an intellectual property license that permits their free use and
repurposing by others.
Quasi-experimental design study means a study using a design that
attempts to approximate an experimental design by identifying a
comparison group that is similar to the treatment group in important
respects. These studies, depending on design and implementation, can
meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations (but
not What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations).
Randomized controlled trial means a study that employs random
assignment of, for example, students, teachers, classrooms, schools, or
districts to receive the intervention being evaluated (the treatment
group) or not to receive the intervention (the control group). The
estimated effectiveness of the intervention is the difference between
the average outcomes for the treatment group and for the control group.
These studies, depending on design and implementation, can meet What
Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations.
Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) (or the ultimate
outcome if not related to students) the proposed process, product,
strategy, or practice is designed to improve; consistent with the
specific goals of a program.
Rural local educational agency (Rural LEA) means an LEA that is
eligible under the Small Rural School Achievement program or the Rural
and Low-Income School program authorized under Title VI, Part B of the
ESEA, as amended by NCLB, at the time of application. (IAL NFP)
Strong theory means a rationale for the proposed process, product,
strategy, or practice that includes a logic model.
What Works Clearinghouse evidence standards means the standards set
forth in the What Works Clearinghouse Procedures and Standards Handbook
(Version 3.0, March 2014), which can be found at the following link:
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/DocumentSum.aspx?sid=19.
Program Authority: Sections 5411-5413 of the ESEA, as amended by
NCLB; Title III of Division H of Pub. L. 114-113, the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2016.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86,
97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and
[[Page 20378]]
Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended
as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements
for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as
regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations
in 34 CFR part 299. (e) The Supplemental Priorities. (f) The IAL NFP.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $26,475,715.00.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2017 from the list of
unfunded applications from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards to LEAs and Consortia of LEAs: $175,000
to $750,000 (annually).
Estimated Average Size of Awards to LEAs and Consortia of LEAs:
$500,000 (annually).
Estimated Number of Awards to LEAs and Consortia of LEAs: 30.
Estimated Range of Awards to NNPs, Consortia of NNPs, and Consortia
of NNPs and LEAs: $1,500,000 to $5,000,000 (annually).
Estimated Average Size of Awards to NNPs, Consortia of NNPs, and
Consortia of NNPs and LEAs: $3,000,000 (annually).
Estimated Number of Awards to NNPs, Consortia of NNPs, and
Consortia of NNPs and LEAs: 2-6.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 24 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: To be considered for an award under this
competition, an applicant must:
(a) Be one of the following:
(1) A high-need LEA (as defined in this notice);
(2) An NNP (as defined in this notice) that serves children and
students within the attendance boundaries of one or more high-need
LEAs;
(3) A consortium of NNPs that serves children and students within
the attendance boundaries of one or more high-need LEAs;
(4) A consortium of high-need LEAs; or
(5) A consortium of one or more high-need LEAs and one or more NNPs
that serves children and students within the attendance boundaries of
one or more high-need LEAs.
(b) Coordinate with school libraries in developing project
proposals.
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: www2.ed.gov/programs/innovapproaches-literacy/applicant.html.
To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call: 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) or text telephone (TTY),
call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at
its email address: [email protected].
If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to
identify this program as follows: CFDA number 84.215G.
To obtain a copy from the program office, write, call, or send an
email to the following person: Beth Yeh, U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E332, Washington, DC 20202-6200.
Telephone: (202) 205-5798 or by email: [email protected].
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
2. a. 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 competition.
Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant,
address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your
application. You must limit the application narrative to no more than
25 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, as well as 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. An application submitted in any other font
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will be not accepted.
The page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; eligibility
information; the budget section, including the narrative budget
justification; the assurances and certifications; or the one-page
abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, the logic model, or the
letters of support. However, the page limit does apply to all of the
application narrative section.
Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application that
exceed the page limit.
Note: The applicant should include, as an attachment, the logic
model used to address paragraph (d)(ii) of the absolute priority.
b. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of
projects that may be proposed in applications for the IAL program, an
application may include business information that the applicant
considers proprietary. In 34 CFR 5.11 we define ``business
information'' and describe the process we use in determining whether
any of that information is proprietary and, thus, protected from
disclosure under Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (5
U.S.C. 552, as amended).
Because we plan to make successful applications available to the
public, you may wish to request confidentiality of business
information.
Consistent with Executive Order 12600, please designate in your
application any information that you believe is exempt from disclosure
under Exemption 4. In the appropriate Appendix section of your
application, under ``Other Attachments Form,'' please list the page
number or numbers on which we can find this information. For additional
information please see 34 CFR 5.11(c).
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: April 7, 2016
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 9, 2016.
Applications for grants under this competition 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, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, please refer to Other Submission Requirements in section
IV of this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
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Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
the person 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: July 6, 2016.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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
competition.
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 System for Award Management: 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 System for Award
Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry), the
Government's primary registrant database;
c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
d. Maintain an active SAM 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 at the
following Web site: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. A DUNS number can be
created within one to two business days.
If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue 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 two to five weeks for your TIN to become active.
The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the
completeness and accuracy of the data you enter into the SAM database.
Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal financial
assistance under a program administered by the Department, please allow
sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number and TIN. We
strongly recommend that you register early.
Note: Once your SAM registration is active, it may be 24 to 48
hours before you can access the information in, and submit an
application through, Grants.gov.
If you are currently registered with SAM, 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 registration annually. This may take three or more business days.
Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
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 at the
following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.
7. Other Submission Requirements:
Applications for grants under this competition 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 Innovative Approaches to Literacy
Program, CFDA number 84.215G, must be submitted electronically using
the Governmentwide 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 email 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 IAL 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
84.215G).
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 competition 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 www.G5.gov. In addition, for specific guidance and
procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov, please
refer to the Grants.gov Web site at: www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.
[[Page 20380]]
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 upload any narrative sections and all other
attachments to your application as files in a read-only, non-modifiable
Portable Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only,
non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a
password-protected file, we will not review that material. Please note
that this could result in your application not being considered for
funding because the material in question--for example, the project
narrative--is critical to a meaningful review of your proposal. For
that reason, it is important to allow yourself adequate time to upload
all material as PDF files. The Department will not convert material
from other formats to PDF.
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. Grants.gov
will also notify you automatically by email if your application met all
the Grants.gov validation requirements or if there were any errors
(such as submission of your application by someone other than a
registered Authorized Organization Representative, or inclusion of an
attachment with a file name that contains special characters). You will
be given an opportunity to correct any errors and resubmit, but you
must still meet the deadline for submission of applications.
Once your application is successfully validated by Grants.gov, the
Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you
an email with a unique PR/Award number for your application. These
emails do not mean that your application is without any disqualifying
errors. While your application may have been successfully validated by
Grants.gov, it must also meet the Department's application requirements
as specified in this notice and in the application instructions.
Disqualifying errors could include, for instance, failure to upload
attachments in a read-only, non-modifiable PDF; failure to submit a
required part of the application; or failure to meet applicant
eligibility requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that your
submitted application has met all of the Department's requirements.
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 the person
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 the
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We will
contact you after we determine 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
prevents 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: Beth Yeh, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E335,
Washington, DC 20202-6200. Telephone: (202) 205-5798 or by email:
[email protected].
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 84.215G), 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.
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(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.
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.
We will not consider applications postmarked after the application
deadline date.
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 84.215G), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 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 competition
are from 34 CFR 75.210. The maximum score for all selection criteria is
100. The maximum possible score for each selection criterion is
indicated in parentheses. The selection criteria for this competition
are as follows:
(a) Significance (10 points). The Secretary considers the
significance of the proposed project. In determining the significance
of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the extent to which
the proposed project is likely to build local capacity to provide,
improve, or expand services that address the needs of the target
population.
(b) Quality of the project design (20 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 the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
(4 points)
(ii) The extent to which the proposed project will establish
linkages with other appropriate agencies and organizations providing
services to the target population. (4 points)
(iii) 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. (4 points)
(iv) The extent to which performance feedback and continuous
improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project. (4
points)
(v) The extent to which the proposed project is supported by
evidence of promise. (4 points)
(c) Quality of project services (25 points). The Secretary
considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed
project. In determining the quality of the services to be provided by
the proposed project, the Secretary considers:
(i) The quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal
access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members
of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race,
color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (10 points)
(ii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the
proposed project are appropriate to the needs of the intended
recipients or beneficiaries of those services. (10 points)
(iii) The extent to which the training or professional development
services to be provided by the proposed project are of sufficient
quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice
among the recipients of those services. (5 points)
(d) Adequacy of resources (10 points). The Secretary considers the
adequacy of resources for the proposed project. In determining the
adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary
considers:
(i) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.
(5 points)
(ii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to
the number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and
benefits. (5 points)
(e) Quality of the management plan (20 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:
(i) 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. (10 points)
(ii) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products
and services from the proposed project. (5 points)
(iii) The extent to which the time commitments of the project
director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed
project. (5 points)
(f) Quality of the project evaluation (15 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 the extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward
achieving intended outcomes.
2. Review and Selection Process: 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 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
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. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.205, before awarding grants under this competition the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by
[[Page 20382]]
applicants. Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the Secretary may impose special
conditions and, in appropriate circumstances, high-risk 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 2 CFR part 200,
subpart D; 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); or we may send you an email containing a link to
access an electronic version of your 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 multiyear 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 www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
(c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee
with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. In
this case the Secretary establishes a data collection period.
4. Performance Measures: The Department has established the
following Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA)
performance measures for the IAL program: (1) The percentage of four-
year-old children participating in the project who achieve significant
gains in oral language skills; (2) the percentage of fourth graders
participating in the project who demonstrated individual student growth
(i.e., an improvement in their achievement) over the past year on State
reading or language arts assessments under section 1111(b)(3) of the
ESEA, as amended by NCLB; (3) the percentage of eighth graders
participating in the project who demonstrated individual student growth
(i.e., an improvement in their achievement) over the past year on State
reading or language arts assessments under section 1111(b)(3) of the
ESEA, as amended by NCLB; (4) the percentage of schools participating
in the project whose book-to-student ratios increase from the previous
year; and (5) the percentage of participating children who receive at
least one free, grade- and language-appropriate book of their own.
Note: For purposes of measures (2) and (3) above, beginning with
the 2017-2018 school year, the applicable statutory provision is
section 1111(b)(2) of the ESEA, as amended by the Every Student
Succeeds Act.
These measures constitute the Department's indicators of success
for this program. Consequently, we advise an applicant for a grant
under this program to give careful consideration to these measures in
conceptualizing the approach and evaluation for its proposed project.
Each grantee will be required to provide, in its annual performance and
final reports, data about its progress in meeting these measures, to
the extent that they apply to the grantee's project.
5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: whether a grantee
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the
Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the
performance targets in the grantee's approved application.
In making a continuation award, the Secretary also considers
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Yeh, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E332, Washington, DC 20202-
6200. Telephone: (202) 205-5798 or by email: [email protected].
If you use a TDD or a TTY, 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 compact disc) on request to
the program contact person listed under For Further Information Contact
in section VII of 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 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: April 4, 2016.
Ann Whalen,
Senior Advisor to the Secretary Delegated the Duties of Assistant
Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2016-08051 Filed 4-6-16; 8:45 am]
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