[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 146 (Monday, July 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44595-44602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18577]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Application for New Awards; Charter Schools Program (CSP)--
Charter School Exemplary Collaboration Awards
AGENCY: Office of Innovation and Improvement, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
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[[Page 44596]]
Overview Information
Charter Schools Program (CSP)--Charter School Exemplary Collaboration
Awards
Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY)
2012.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.282P.
DATES: Applications Available: July 30, 2012.
Date of Pre-Application Webinar: August 6, 2012 from 2:30 p.m. to
4:30 p.m.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 29, 2012.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Charter Schools Program
(CSP) is to increase national understanding of the charter schools
model by--
(1) Providing financial assistance for the planning, program
design, and initial implementation of charter schools;
(2) Evaluating the effects of charter schools, including the
effects on students, student academic achievement, staff, and parents;
(3) Expanding the number of high-quality charter schools available
to students across the Nation; and
(4) Encouraging the States to provide support to charter schools
for facilities financing in an amount that is more commensurate with
the amount States have typically provided for traditional public
schools.
The purpose of the Collaboration Awards competition (CFDA 84.282P)
is to encourage high-quality public charter schools (as defined in this
notice) to partner with non-chartered public schools and non-chartered
LEAs to share and transfer best educational and operational practices,
and to disseminate information about such practices. By promoting
strong partnerships and supporting the dissemination of information
about the activities carried out through these partnerships, these
Collaboration Awards should facilitate the exchange of best practices
between public charter schools, non-chartered public schools, and non-
chartered LEAs; and help the United States Department of Education
(Department) identify and publicize successful collaborations. The
Collaboration Awards competition is designed to encourage public
charter schools, non-chartered public schools, and non-chartered LEAs
to share resources and responsibilities; build trust and teamwork;
boost academic excellence; and provide students and their parents with
a range of effective educational options. The Department, through the
Collaboration Awards competition, aims to increase national
understanding of the charter school model.
Priority: This notice includes one competitive preference priority
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), and corrected on May 12, 2011 (76 FR
27637).
Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2012 and any subsequent
year in which we make awards based on the list of unfunded applicants
from this competition, this priority is a competitive preference
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to 5 points to an
applicant, depending on how well the applicant meets this competitive
preference priority.
Note: In order to receive preference under this competitive
preference priority, the applicant must specify that it is
responding to this competitive preference priority.
Competitive Preference Priority 1---Turning Around Persistently
Lowest-Achieving Schools (up to 5 points).
To meet this priority, projects must be designed to address one or
more of the following priority areas:
(a) Improving student achievement (as defined in this notice) in
persistently lowest-achieving schools (as defined in this notice).
(b) Increasing graduation rates (as defined in this notice) and
college enrollment rates for students in persistently lowest-achieving
schools (as defined in this notice).
(c) Providing services to students enrolled in persistently lowest-
achieving schools.
Note: For purposes of this priority, the Department considers
schools that are identified as Tier I or Tier II schools under the
School Improvement Grants Program (see 75 FR 66363) as part of a
State's approved FY 2009 or FY 2010 applications to be persistently
lowest-achieving schools. A list of these Tier I and Tier II schools
can be found on the Department's Web site at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/sif/index.html.
Definitions: In addition to the definitions in section 5210 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA),
which include the definition of ``charter school,'' the following
definitions apply to this Collaboration Awards competition. 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), and corrected on May 12,
2011 (76 FR 27637); and from the final definitions, requirements, and
selection criteria for this program, published elsewhere in this issue
of the Federal Register.
Collaboration means the activities of a partnership in which two or
more organizations or entities work together to accomplish a common
goal, which may involve sharing or transferring best practices or
strategies.
Graduation rate is the four-year or extended-year adjusted cohort
graduation rate as defined by 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-quality charter school means a charter school (as defined in
section 5210(1) of the ESEA) that has no significant compliance issue
(as defined in this notice) and shows evidence of strong academic
results for the past three years (or over the life of the school if the
school has been open for fewer than three years), based on the
following factors:
(1) Increased student achievement (as defined in this notice) and
attainment for all students, including, as applicable, educationally
disadvantaged students served by the charter school.
(2) Either--
(i) Demonstrated success in closing historic achievement gaps for
the subgroups of students described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of
the ESEA at the charter school; or
(ii) No significant achievement gaps between any of the subgroups
of students described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of the ESEA at
the charter school and significant gains in student achievement (as
defined in this notice) with all populations of students served by the
charter school.
(3) Results (including, where applicable and available, performance
on statewide tests, attendance and retention rates, high school
graduation rates, college attendance rates, and college persistence
rates) for low-income and other educationally disadvantaged students
served by the charter school that are above the average achievement
results for such students in the State.
Persistently lowest-achieving school means, as determined by the
State: (i) Any Title I school in improvement, corrective action, or
restructuring that (a) is among the lowest-achieving five percent of
Title I schools in improvement, corrective action, or
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restructuring or the lowest-achieving five Title I schools in
improvement, corrective action, or restructuring in the State,
whichever number of schools is greater; or (b) is a high school that
has had a graduation rate as defined in 34 CFR 200.19(b) that is less
than 60 percent over a number of years; and (ii) any secondary school
that is eligible for, but does not receive, Title I funds that (a) is
among the lowest-achieving five percent of secondary schools or the
lowest-achieving five secondary schools in the State that are eligible
for, but do not receive, Title I funds, whichever number of schools is
greater; or (b) is a high school that has had a graduation rate as
identified in 34 CFR 200.19(b) that is less than 60 percent over a
number of years.
To identify the persistently lowest-achieving schools, a State must
take into account both: (i) The academic achievement of the ``all
students'' group in a school in terms of proficiency on the State's
assessments under section 1111(b)(3) of the ESEA in reading/language
arts and mathematics combined; and (ii) the school's lack of progress
on those assessments over a number of years in the ``all students''
group.
Non-chartered local educational agency (LEA) means an LEA that does
not qualify as a charter school as defined in section 5210(1) of the
ESEA or under State law.
Non-chartered public school means a public school that does not
qualify as a charter school under section 5210(1) of the ESEA or under
State law.
Significant compliance issue means a violation that did, will, or
could lead to the revocation of a school's charter.
Student achievement means--
(a) For tested grades and subjects: (1) A student's score on the
State's assessments under the ESEA; and (2) as appropriate, 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.
Program Authority: The CSP is authorized under 20 U.S.C. 7221-
7221i; CSP national activities are authorized under 20 U.S.C. 7221d.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 76, 77, 79,
80, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education Department
suspension and debarment regulations in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The notice
of final definitions, requirements, and selection criteria for this
program published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. (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), and corrected on May 12, 2011 (76 FR
27637).
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: $500,000.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2013 from the list of
unfunded applicants from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $50,000 to $200,000 per award.
Estimated Number of Awards: 3 to 5.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: 12 to 24 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants:
(a) Eligible applicants must be high-quality charter schools (as
defined in this notice) that apply in partnership with at least one
non-chartered public school (as defined in this notice) or non-
chartered LEA (as defined in this notice) and have the support of the
partner(s) to participate in the Collaboration Awards competition in
accordance with the requirements in the Application Requirements
section of this notice. Other public charter schools that do not
qualify as high-quality charter schools may be included in the
collaboration so long as: (1) The lead applicant is a high-quality
charter school; (2) the lead applicant is separate and distinct from
any other charter schools included as partners in the collaboration;
and (3) at least one non-chartered public school (as defined in this
notice) or non-chartered LEA (as defined in this notice) also is a part
of the collaboration.
(b) The partnership must comply with the requirements for group
applications set forth in 34 CFR 75.127-75.129.
Note: Only an eligible entity (a high-quality charter school)
may apply for a grant or be the fiscal agent for a grant. Thus,
neither a non-chartered public school (as defined in this notice)
nor a non-chartered LEA (as defined in this notice) is eligible to
serve as the lead applicant or fiscal agent for a Collaboration
Award. Nor is a public charter school that is not a high-quality
charter school eligible to serve as the lead applicant or fiscal
agent.
(c) Eligible applicants may not have any significant compliance
issues (as defined in this notice), including in the areas of student
safety, financial management, and statutory or regulatory compliance.
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:
Nancy Paulu or Erin Pfeltz, U.S. Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue SW., room 4W246, Washington, DC 20202-5970. Emails and
telephone numbers: ed.gov">nancy.paulu@ed.gov or (202) 205-5392;
ed.gov">erin.pfeltz@ed.gov or (202) 205-3525.
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.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape,
or compact disc) by contacting either of the program contact persons
listed in this section.
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 competition.
Additional requirements can be found under the heading, Application
Requirements in this document.
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. The Secretary strongly
encourages applicants to limit Part III to the equivalent of no more
than 30 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.
[[Page 44598]]
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, the
resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, you must
include all of all of the application narrative in Part III.
3. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of
projects that may be proposed in an application for the Collaboration
Awards competition, your application may include business information
that you consider to be proprietary. The Department's regulations
define ``business information'' in 34 CFR 5.11.
Note: Because the Department plans to make successful
applications and information about their activities 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 feel is exempt from disclosure
under Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act. 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).
4. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: July 30, 2012.
Date of Pre-Application Webinar: The Department will hold a pre-
application webinar for prospective applicants on the following date:
August 6, 2012 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Individuals interested in
attending the webinar are encouraged to pre-register by emailing their
name, organization, and contact information with the subject heading
COLLABORATION AWARDS PRE-APPLICATION WEBINAR to Charterschools.ed.gov.
There is no registration fee for participating in the webinar.
For further information about the pre-application webinar, contact
Nancy Paulu or Erin Pfeltz, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue SW., room 4W246, Washington, DC 20202-5970. Emails and telephone
numbers: ed.gov">nancy.paulu@ed.gov or (202) 205-5392; ed.gov">erin.pfeltz@ed.gov or
(202) 205-3525.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 29, 2012.
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, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, please refer to section IV. 7. 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
either of the persons 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.
5. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. However,
for this competition, intergovernmental review has been waived so that
awards can be made by September 30, 2012, the end of the fiscal year.
6. Funding Restrictions: A Collaboration Award recipient must use
the grant funds for one or more of the following:
(a) Continuing the collaboration for which it received the award,
as described in its grant application;
(b) Modifying the collaboration for which it received the award, as
described in the grant application;
(c) Expanding the collaboration for which it received the award by
adding additional areas of collaboration, as described in the grant
application;
(d) Expanding the collaboration for which it received the award by
adding additional partners (i.e., non-chartered public schools (as
defined in this notice), non-chartered LEAs (as defined in this notice)
or public charter schools that are not high-quality charter schools (as
defined in this notice)), as described in the grant application.
Collaboration Award recipients also must use a portion of the grant
funds to disseminate information about the collaboration activities to
other public schools, including public charter schools, non-chartered
public schools (as defined in this notice), and non-chartered LEAs (as
defined in this notice). All activities carried out under the
Collaboration Awards must fall within the scope of authorized
activities set forth in section 5205(a) of the ESEA.
We reference other regulations outlining funding restrictions in
the Applicable Regulations section in this notice.
7. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, Central Contractor Registry, 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 Central
Contractor Registry (CCR)--and, after July 24, 2012, with the System
for Award Management (SAM), the Government's primary registrant
database;
c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
d. Maintain an active CCR or 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. 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 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 or SAM 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 registration annually. This may take three or more
business days to complete. Information about SAM is available at
SAM.gov.
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/applicants/get_registered.jsp.
8. 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.
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a. Electronic Submission of Applications
Applications for grants under the Exemplary Charter School
Collaboration Awards competition, CFDA number 84.282P, 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 CSP 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 84.282, not
84.282P).
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 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 upload any narrative sections and all other
attachments to your application as files in a PDF (Portable Document)
read-only, non-modifiable format. Do not upload an interactive or
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only,
non-modifiable 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 email. 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 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 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 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
[[Page 44600]]
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: Nancy Paulu or Erin
Pfeltz, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room
4W246, Washington, DC 20202-5970. FAX: (202) 205-5630.
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 84.282P, 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 84.282P, 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. Application Requirements: An applicant for a Collaboration Award
must--
(a) Provide a detailed narrative describing (i) the applicant's
past or existing collaboration (which may involve more than one
partner); (ii) the applicant's proposal to continue, modify, or expand
(by adding new areas of collaboration or new partners) the
collaboration; and (iii) the applicant's plan to disseminate
information about the collaboration (which may include information
about best practices) to other public schools, including public charter
schools, non-chartered public schools, and non-chartered LEAs. The
proposed collaboration may focus on a wide range of areas within the
scope of activities authorized under section 5205(a) of the ESEA. The
list of potential areas includes, but is not limited to, curriculum and
instruction, data management and sharing, organization and management,
personnel, facilities, finances, Federal programs, standards,
assessments, special education services and access to charter schools
by students with disabilities, English learners, student
transportation, professional development and training, and school
climate.
(b) Provide written assurances from authorized officials of the
entities involved in the partnership that all participants--
Agree to submit an application for an award under the
competition and have read, understand, and agree with the application
for the competition; and
Authorize the executive summary or narrative of the
application, with proprietary information redacted, to be published on
the U.S. Department of Education's Web site (ed.gov), data.ed.gov, the
National Charter School Resource Center Web site
(charterschoolcenter.org), or any other Web site or publication deemed
appropriate by the Secretary;
(c) Submit a partnership agreement that meets the requirements of
34 CFR 75.128(b);
(d) Provide a clear description of the goals and desired outcomes
of the proposed collaboration and current or proposed measures that
would be used to gauge success in meeting those goals and desired
outcomes;
(e) Describe any past, existing, or anticipated obstacles to
implementing the collaboration or to disseminating information about
the collaboration, and the strategies that were or will be used to
overcome those obstacles;
(f) Specify how the award money will be used to implement the
collaboration and to disseminate information about the collaboration in
accordance with section 5205(a) of the ESEA; and
(g) Specify how the award money will be allocated between the lead
applicant and the partner(s) named in the application, including the
specific activities that will be carried out by the lead applicant and
its partner(s).
2. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition
(84.282P) are from the notice of final definitions, requirements, and
selection criteria for this program; published elsewhere in this issue
of the Federal Register; as well as from section 34 CFR 75.210 of
EDGAR. The maximum possible score for addressing all of the criteria in
this section is 95 points (up to 5 additional points can be awarded
under the competitive preference priority). The maximum possible score
for each criterion is indicated in parentheses following the criterion.
The Secretary may make awards to the top-rated applications
proposing to carry out activities in specific areas of focus (e.g.,
curriculum and instruction, data management and sharing, organization
and management) within the scope of authorized activities under
[[Page 44601]]
section 5205(a) of the ESEA. In a particular year, the Secretary may
restrict applications to one or more areas of focus. Additionally, in
making awards, the Secretary may fund applications out of rank order in
order to ensure that the Collaboration Awards are distributed
throughout each area of the Nation or a State.
In evaluating an application for a Collaboration Award, the
Secretary considers the following criteria:
(a) Record of and potential for success of collaboration (up to 15
points).
(1) The extent to which the applicant's past or existing
collaboration has improved educational outcomes and operational
practices; and
(2) The extent to which the applicant's proposed collaboration and
dissemination plan will achieve one or more of the following
demonstrable results:
(i) Improved operational practices and productivity among all
partners in such areas as financial performance and sustainability,
governing board performance and stewardship, and parent and community
engagement;
(ii) Improved student achievement (as defined in this notice);
(iii) Improved student attendance and retention, and improved high
school graduation rates;
(iv) Improved rates of college matriculation and college
graduation;
(v) Improved rates of attendance and graduation from other
postsecondary (i.e., non-college) institutions or programs.
(b) Quality of the lead applicant (up to 15 points).
(1) The degree, including the consistency over the past three
years, to which the applicant has demonstrated success in significantly
increasing student achievement (as defined in this notice) and
attainment for all students, including, as applicable, educationally
disadvantaged students served by the charter school.
(2) Either--
(i) The degree, including the consistency over the past three
years, to which the applicant has demonstrated success in closing
historic achievement gaps for the subgroups of students described in
section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of the ESEA at the charter school; or
(ii) The degree, including the consistency over the past three
years, to which there have not been significant achievement gaps
between any of the subgroups of students described in section
1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of the ESEA at the charter school and to which
significant gains in student achievement (as defined in this notice)
have been made with all populations of students served by the charter
school.
(3) The degree, including the consistency over the past three
years, to which the applicant has achieved results (including, where
applicable and available, performance on statewide tests, student
attendance and retention rates, high school graduation rates, college
attendance rates, and college persistence rates) for students from low-
income families and other educationally disadvantaged students served
by the charter school that are above the average academic achievement
results for such students attending other public schools in the State.
(c) Quality of the project design (up to 15 points). The extent to
which the applicant proposes a high-quality plan to use its
Collaboration Award funds to improve educational outcomes and
operational practices in public schools, including public charter
schools.
(d) Potential for scalability (up to 15 points). The extent to
which the applicant's proposed collaboration can be replicated or
adapted beyond the participating partners by other public schools or
LEAs, including public charter schools and charter school LEAs, and
sustained over the long-term.
(e) Innovation (up to 15 points). The extent to which the applicant
demonstrates that its proposed collaboration, as well as its
dissemination plan, are either (i) substantially different from other
efforts in its area of focus; or (ii) substantially more effective than
similar efforts in its area of focus.
(f) Quality of project personnel (up to 10 points). The Secretary
considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed
project. In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary
considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications
from persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been
underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or
disability. In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of the project director or principal investigator; and
(ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and
experience, of key project personnel.
(g) Quality of the management plan (up to 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, the
Secretary considers 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.
3. 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
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).
4. 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
[[Page 44602]]
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 www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: One goal of the CSP is to support the
creation and development of a large number of high-quality charter
schools (as defined in this notice) that are free from State or local
rules that inhibit flexible operation, are held accountable for
enabling students to reach challenging State performance standards, and
are open to all students. The Secretary has two performance indicators
to measure progress toward this goal: (1) The number of high-quality
charter schools in operation around the Nation, and (2) the percentage
of fourth- and eighth-grade charter school students who are achieving
at or above the proficient level on State examinations in mathematics
and in reading/language arts. Additionally, the Secretary has
established the following measure to examine the efficiency of the CSP:
Federal cost per student in implementing a successful school (defined
as a school in operation for three or more consecutive years).
5. Continuation Awards: The Secretary may make continuation awards
under this competition. In making a continuation award, the Secretary
may consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a grantee has
made ``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives in its
approved application.'' This consideration includes the review of a
grantee's progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes in its
approved application, and whether the grantee has expended funds in a
manner that is consistent with its approved application and budget. In
making a continuation grant, 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: Nancy Paulu or Erin Pfeltz, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W246,
Washington, DC 20202-5970. Emails and telephone numbers:
ed.gov">nancy.paulu@ed.gov or (202) 205-5392; ed.gov">erin.pfeltz@ed.gov or (202) 205-
3525.
If you use a TDD or 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 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: July 25, 2012.
James H. Shelton, III,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2012-18577 Filed 7-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P