Fiscal Year 2011 Award Applications:

Federal Register: January 19, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 12)

Notices

Page 3120-3126

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr19ja11-57

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program;

Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and

Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students; Overview

Information; Native American and Alaska Native Children in School

Program Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year

(FY) 2011

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.365C.

DATES: Applications Available: January 19, 2011.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 21, 2011.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 20, 2011.

Pre-application technical assistance for potential applicants: A webinar for novice applicants will be conducted two weeks after the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. For further information on this webinar, contact Stephanie Guillen at (202) 401- 0049, or by e-mail at Stephanie.Guillen@ed.gov.

Full Text of Announcement

  1. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to provide grants for eligible entities to develop high levels of academic attainment in English among English learners (ELs) \1\, and to promote parental and community participation in language instruction educational programs. Projects funded under the

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    Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program, authorized under title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education

    Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), may support the teaching and studying of Native American languages, but must have, as a project objective, an increase in English language proficiency for participating students.

    \1\ The term English learner, as used in this notice, is synonymous with the term limited English proficient (LEP), as defined in section 9101(25) of the ESEA.

    Priorities: This notice includes three competitive preference priorities and two invitational priorities. Competitive Preference

    Priority 1 is from 34 CFR 75.255 of the Education Department General

    Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). Competitive Preference Priorities 2 and 3 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 78485).

    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2011 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award an additional 5 points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 1, and, with respect to each of Competitive Preference Priority 2 and

    Competitive Preference Priority 3, an additional 3 points, depending on how well the application meets the priority (i.e., an applicant could attain up to 6 additional points if it meets both Competitive

    Preference Priority 2 and Competitive Preference Priority 3).

    Note: We will add competitive preference priority points for

    Priorities 2 and 3 only to applications with a score of 75 or higher.

    These priorities are:

    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Novice Applicants. (5 points)

    To meet this priority, you must be a novice applicant, as defined in 34 CFR 75.225. A novice applicant means any applicant for a grant under this competition that--

    (i) Has never received a grant or subgrant under the Native

    American and Alaska Native Children in School Program;

    (ii) Has never been a member of a group application, submitted in accordance with 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129, that received a grant under the Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program; and

    (iii) Has not had an active discretionary grant from the Federal

    Government in the five years before the deadline date for applications under the Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program.

    For the purposes of this requirement, a grant is active until the end of the grant's project or funding period, including any extensions of those periods that extend the grantee's authority to obligate funds.

    In the case of a group application submitted in accordance with 34

    CFR 75.127 through 75.129, a group includes only parties that meet the requirements listed in this priority.

    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Increasing Postsecondary

    Success. (up to 3 points)

    Projects that are designed to address the following priority area:

    Increasing the number and proportion of high-need students (as defined in this notice) who are academically prepared for and enroll in college or other postsecondary education and training.

    Note: High-need children and high-need students means children and students at risk of educational failure, such as children and students who are living in poverty, who are English learners, who are far below grade level or who are not on track to becoming college- or career-ready by graduation, who have left school or college before receiving, respectively, a regular high school diploma or a college degree or certificate, who are at risk of not graduating with a diploma on time, who are homeless, who are in foster care, who are pregnant or parenting teenagers, who have been incarcerated, who are new immigrants, who are migrant, or who have disabilities.

    Competitive Preference Priority 3---Enabling More Data-Based

    Decision-Making. (up to 3 points)

    Projects that are designed to collect (or obtain), analyze, and use high-quality and timely data, including data on program participant outcomes, in accordance with privacy requirements (as defined in this notice), in one or more of the following priority areas:

    (a) Improving postsecondary student outcomes relating to enrollment, persistence, and completion and leading to career success.

    (b) Improving instructional practices, policies, and student outcomes in elementary or secondary schools.

    Note: Privacy requirements means the requirements of the Family

    Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232g, and its implementing regulations in 34 CFR part 99, the Privacy Act, 5

    U.S.C. 552a, as well as all applicable Federal, State and local requirements regarding privacy.

    Invitational Priorities: For FY 2011 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, these priorities are invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application that meets these invitational priorities a competitive or absolute preference over other applications.

    Invitational Priority 1--Parental Involvement to Improve School

    Readiness and Success.

    Projects that are designed to provide parental involvement activities to improve school readiness and success for high-need children and high-need students (as defined in this notice) from birth through third grade (or any age group of high-need children and high- need students within that range) through a focus on language and literacy development.

    Invitational Priority 2--Supporting Native American Language

    Instruction.

    Projects that are designed to support the teaching and studying of

    Native American languages, while maintaining the objective of increasing English language proficiency for participating students.

    Note: The term Native American language means the historical, traditional languages spoken by Native Americans, consistent with section 103 of the Native American Languages Act (25 U.S.C. 2902).

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6821(c)(1)(A) and 6822.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) EDGAR in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The notice of final supplemental priorities and definitions for discretionary grant programs, published in the Federal Register on December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78485).

    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 (IHEs) only.

  2. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.

    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested

    $5,000,000 for new awards for this program for FY 2011. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action.

    However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.

    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2012 from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition.

    Estimated Range of Awards: $175,000-$200,000.

    Estimated Range of Awards for IHEs applying in consortia with a

    Secondary School: $200,000-$300,000.

    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $237,000.

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    Estimated Number of Awards: 21.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

  3. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants: The following entities, when they operate elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools primarily for Native

    American children (including Alaska Native children), are eligible applicants under this program: Indian tribes; tribally sanctioned educational authorities; Native Hawaiian or Native American Pacific

    Islander native language educational organizations; elementary schools or secondary schools that are operated or funded by the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), or a consortium of these schools; elementary schools or secondary schools operated under a contract with or grant from the BIE in consortium with another such school or a tribal or community organization; and elementary schools or secondary schools operated by the BIE and an IHE, in consortium with an elementary school or secondary school operated under a contract with or a grant from the BIE or a tribal or community organization.

    Note: Any eligible entity that receives Federal financial assistance under this program is not eligible to receive a subgrant under section 3114 of title III of the ESEA.

    Note: Eligible applicants applying as a consortium should read and follow the regulations in 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129.

    Note: Charter schools meeting the eligibility requirement described in this section are eligible to apply for a grant under the Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost sharing or matching. 3. Other: Participation by Private School Children and Teachers.

    An entity that receives a grant under the Native American and

    Alaska Native Children in School Program must provide for the equitable participation of private school children and their teachers or other educational personnel.

    In order to ensure that grant program activities address the needs of private school children, the applicant must engage in timely and meaningful consultation with appropriate private school officials during the design and development of the program. This consultation must take place before the applicant makes any decision that affects the opportunities of eligible private school children, teachers, and other educational personnel to participate. Administrative direction and control over grant funds must remain with the grantee. (See section 9501, Participation by Private School Children and Teachers, of the

    ESEA.)

  4. Application and Submission Information 1. Address to Request Application Package: Yvonne Mathieu, U.S.

    Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5C138,

    Washington, DC 20202-6510.

    Telephone: (202) 401-1461 or by e-mail: Yvonne.Mathieu@ed.gov.

    Note: Please include ``84.365C Application Request'' in the subject heading of your e-mail.

    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the

    Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the program contact person 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. 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. You must limit the application narrative to the equivalent of no more than 35 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 not be accepted.

    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 three-page abstract.

    However, the page limit does apply to all of the application narrative section in Part III.

    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit; or if you apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit. 3. Submission Dates and Times:

    Applications Available: January 19, 2011.

    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 21, 2011.

    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, 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 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.

    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 20, 2011. 4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive

    Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about

    Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this program. 5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. 6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification

    Number, and Central Contractor Registry: To do business with the

    Department of Education, you must-- a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a

    Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN); b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the Central

    Contractor Registry (CCR), the Government's primary registrant database; c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and

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    d. Maintain an active CCR registration with current information while your application is under review by the Department and, if you are awarded a grant, during the project period.

    You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number can be created within one business day.

    If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service.

    If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal

    Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a new TIN, please allow 2-5 weeks for your TIN to become active.

    The CCR registration process may take five or more business days to complete. If you are currently registered with the CCR, you may not need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take three or more business days to complete.

    In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized

    Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with

    Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined in the

    Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see http://www.grants.gov/ section910/Grants.gov RegistrationBrochure.pdf). 7. Other Submission Requirements.

    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in this section. a. Electronic Submission of Applications.

    Applications for grants under the Native American and Alaska Native

    Children in School Program, CFDA number 84.365C, must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at http:/

    /www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.

    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.

    You may access the electronic grant application for the Native

    American and Alaska Native Children in School Program at http:// 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 84.365, not 84.365C).

    Please note the following:

    When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, as well as the hours of operation.

    Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from

    Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.

    The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.

    You should review and follow the Education Submission

    Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this program to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system.

    You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to

    Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 system home page at http://www.G5.gov.

    You will not receive additional point value because you submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your application in paper format.

    You must submit all documents electronically, including all information you typically provide on the following forms: The

    Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of

    Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-

    Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications.

    You must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .PDF (Portable Document) format only. If you upload a file type other than a .PDF or submit a password-protected file, we will not review that material.

    Your electronic application must comply with any page- limit requirements described in this notice.

    After you electronically submit your application, you will receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The

    Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification indicates that the Department has received your application and has assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying number unique to your application).

    We may request that you provide us original signatures on forms at a later date.

    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov

    Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a

    Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.

    If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline date because of technical problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing instructions described elsewhere in this notice.

    If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice and provide an

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    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 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: Trini Torres, U.S.

    Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5C145,

    Washington, DC 20202. FAX: (202) 260-1292.

    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 84.365C) 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 84.365C) 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.

  5. Application Review Information 1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR. The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses.

    The Notes we have included after each criterion are guidance to assist applicants in understanding the criterion as they prepare their applications and are not required by statute or regulation.

    (a) Quality of the project design. (30 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.

    (20 points)

    Note: For example, applicants may, in addressing this factor, consider including in their application ambitious measurable objectives that reflect the performance measures discussed in section VI of this notice regarding improved student English language proficiency and reading proficiency, and that include annual targets of expected student achievement in English language proficiency and in reading proficiency. Applicants also may want to include measurable objectives that reflect Competitive Preference

    Priorities 2 and 3, if they choose to address those priorities.

    (ii) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of

    Federal financial assistance. (5 points)

    (iii) The extent to which the proposed project encourages parental involvement. (5 points)

    (b) Quality of project personnel. (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 following factors:

    (i) The extent to which the applicant encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (2 points)

    (ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of the

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    project director or principal investigator. (4 points)

    (iii) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of key project personnel. (4 points)

    (c) Quality of the management plan. (30 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 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. (30 points)

    Note: For example, applicants, in addressing this criterion, may consider whether to include in their application information on how management activities support the accomplishment of each objective, costs associated with the accomplishment of each objective, persons responsible for each management activity, and timeframes for the completion of each management activity.

    (d) Quality of the project evaluation. (30 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 following factors:

    (i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project. (5 points)

    Note: For example, applicants, in addressing this factor, may consider including in their application information on how each proposed objective including those objectives addressing Competitive

    Preference Priorities 2 and 3, if the applicants choose to address those priorities, will be evaluated.

    (ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and qualitative data to the extent possible. (15 points)

    Note: For example, applicants, in addressing this factor, may consider including in their application information on how the proposed project will collect, analyze, and report quantitative data on the performance measures discussed in section VI of this notice.

    (iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies. (5 points)

    (iv) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward achieving intended outcomes. (5 points) 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, 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). 3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or other management system that does not meet the standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.

  6. 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.

    Note: After awards are made under this competition, all of the successful applications, together with reviewers' scores and comments, will be posted on the Department's Web site at: http:// www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oela/index.html?src=oc. 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify administrative and national policy requirements in the application package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable

    Regulations section of this notice.

    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant. 3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).

    (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the

    Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34

    CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html. 4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and

    Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Federal departments and agencies must clearly describe the goals and objectives of programs, identify resources and actions needed to accomplish goals and objectives, develop a means of measuring progress made, and regularly report on achievement. One important source of program information on successes and lessons learned is the project evaluation conducted under individual grants. The Department has developed the following GPRA performance measures for evaluating the overall effectiveness of the

    Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program:

    (i) The percentage of English learners (ELs) served by the program who score proficient or above on the State reading assessment.

    (ii) The percentage of ELs served by the program who are making progress in learning English as measured by the State approved English language proficiency assessment.

    (iii) The percentage of ELs served by the program who are attaining proficiency in English as measured by the State approved English language proficiency assessment.

    Grantees funded under this competition will be expected to collect and report to the Department data related to these measures in their

    Annual Performance Report and in their Final Performance Report.

    Applicants should discuss in the application narrative how they propose to collect these data. 5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the

    Secretary may

    Page 3126

    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).

  7. Agency Contacts

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Trini Torres, U.S. Department of

    Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5C145, Washington, DC 20202- 6510. Telephone: (202) 401-1445, or by e-mail: trinidad.torres- carrion@ed.gov or Itzetht Testa-Sanchez, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5C151, Washington, DC 20202-6510.

    Telephone: (202) 401-1459, or by e-mail: Itzetht.testa-sanchez@ed.gov.

    If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

  8. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format

    (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER

    INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice.

    Electronic Access to This Document: You can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal

    Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the

    Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site.

    Note: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal

    Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ nara/index.html.

    Dated: January 13, 2011.

    Rosalinda B. Barrera,

    Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director, Office of English Language

    Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited

    English Proficient Students.

    FR Doc. 2011-1041 Filed 1-19-11; 8:45 am

    BILLING CODE 4000-01-P

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