Applications for New Awards; Education Research and Special Education Research Grant Programs, 24695-24701 [2017-11107]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24695-24701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11107]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Education Research and Special 
Education Research Grant Programs

AGENCY: Institute of Education Sciences, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting 
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2018 for the Education 
Research and Special Education Research Grant Programs, Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers 84.305A, 84.305C, 84.305H, 
84.305L, 84.324A, 84.324B, 84.324L, and 84.324N.

DATES: The dates when applications are available and the deadlines for 
transmittal of applications invited under this notice are indicated in 
the chart at the end of this notice and in the Requests for 
Applications (RFAs) that are posted at the following Web sites: https://ies.ed.gov/funding and www.ed.gov/aout/offices/list/ies/programs.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The contact person associated with a 
particular research competition is listed in the chart at the end of 
this notice, as well as in the relevant RFA and application package.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1-800-
877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Institute's purpose in awarding these 
grants is to provide national leadership in expanding fundamental 
knowledge and understanding of (1) developmental and school readiness 
outcomes for infants and toddlers with or at risk for a disability, and 
(2) education outcomes for all students from early childhood education 
through postsecondary and adult education. The Institute's research 
grant programs are designed to provide interested individuals and the 
general public with reliable and valid information about education 
practices that support learning and improve academic achievement and 
access to education opportunities for all students. These interested 
individuals include parents, educators, students, researchers, and 
policymakers. In carrying out its grant programs, the Institute 
provides support for programs of research in areas of demonstrated 
national need.
    Competitions in This Notice: The Institute will conduct 10 research 
competitions in FY 2018 through two of its centers:
    The Institute's National Center for Education Research (NCER) will 
hold five competitions: One competition for education research; one 
competition for education research and development centers; one 
competition for partnerships and collaborations focused on problems of 
practice or policy; and two competitions for low-cost, short-duration 
evaluation of education interventions.
    The Institute's National Center for Special Education Research 
(NCSER) will hold five competitions: One competition for special 
education research; one competition for research training programs in 
special education; two competitions for low-cost, short-duration 
evaluation of special education interventions; and one competition for 
research networks focused on critical problems of policy and practice 
in special education.

NCER Competitions

    The Education Research Competition. Under this competition, NCER 
will consider only applications that address one of the following 12 
topics:
     Cognition and Student Learning.
     Early Learning Programs and Policies.
     Education Leadership.

[[Page 24696]]

     Education Technology.
     Effective Teachers and Effective Teaching.
     English Learners.
     Improving Education Systems.
     Postsecondary and Adult Education.
     Reading and Writing.
     Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
Education.
     Social and Behavioral Context for Academic Learning.
     Special Topics, which include:
     Arts in Education.
     Career and Technical Education.
     Systemic Approaches to Educating Highly Mobile Students.
    The Education Research and Development Centers Competition. Under 
this competition, NCER will consider only applications that address one 
of the following four topics:
     Improving Education Outcomes for Disadvantaged
    Students in Choice Schools.
     Improving Rural Education.
     Writing in Secondary Schools.
     Exploring Science Teaching in Elementary School 
Classrooms.
    The Partnerships and Collaborations Focused on Problems of Practice 
or Policy Competition. Under this competition, NCER will consider only 
applications that address one of the following two topics:
     Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships in Education 
Research.
     Evaluation of State and Local Education Programs and 
Policies.
    The Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Education Interventions 
Competition. Under these two competitions, NCER will consider only 
applications that address low-cost, short-duration evaluation of 
education interventions.

NCSER Competitions

    The Special Education Research Competition. Under this competition, 
NCSER will consider only applications that address one of the following 
11 topics:
     Autism Spectrum Disorders.
     Cognition and Student Learning in Special Education.
     Early Intervention and Early Learning in Special 
Education.
     Families of Children with Disabilities.
     Mathematics and Science Education.
     Professional Development for Teachers and School-Based 
Service Providers.
     Reading, Writing, and Language Development.
     Social and Behavioral Outcomes to Support Learning.
     Special Education Policy, Finance, and Systems.
     Technology for Special Education.
     Transition Outcomes for Secondary Students with 
Disabilities.
    The Research Training Programs in Special Education Competition. 
Under this competition, NCSER will consider only applications that 
address one of the following three topics:
     Postdoctoral Research Training Program in Special 
Education and Early Intervention.
     Early Career Development and Mentoring.
     Methods Training Using Sequential, Multiple Assignment, 
Randomized Trial (SMART) Designs for Adaptive Interventions in 
Education.
    The Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Special Education 
Interventions Competition. Under these two competitions, NCSER will 
consider only applications that address low-cost, short-duration 
evaluation of special education interventions.
    The Research Networks Focused on Critical Problems of Policy and 
Practice in Special Education Competition. Under this competition, 
NCSER will consider only applications that address research on Multi-
Tiered Systems of Support under one of the following two topics:
     Network Lead.
     Research Team.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 77, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, 
and 99. In addition, the regulations in 34 CFR part 75 are applicable, 
except for the provisions in 34 CFR 75.100, 75.101(b), 75.102, 75.103, 
75.105, 75.109(a), 75.200, 75.201, 75.209, 75.210, 75.211, 75.217(a)-
(c), 75.219, 75.220, 75.221, 75.222, and 75.230. (b) The Office of 
Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide 
Debarment and 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 in 2 CFR part 3474.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of 
higher education only.

II. Award Information

    Types of Awards: Discretionary grants and cooperative agreements.
    Fiscal Information: Although Congress has not yet enacted an 
appropriation for FY 2018, the Institute is inviting applications for 
these competitions now so that applicants can have adequate time to 
prepare their applications. The Department may announce additional 
topics later in 2017. The actual award of grants will depend on the 
availability of funds.
    Estimated Range of Awards: See chart at the end of this notice.
    Estimated Size and Number of Awards: The size of the awards will 
depend on the scope of the projects proposed. The number of awards made 
under each competition will depend on the quality of the applications 
received for that competition, the availability of funds, and the 
following limits on awards for specific competitions and topics set by 
the Institute. See the chart at the end of this notice for additional 
information.
    The Institute may waive any of the following limits on awards for a 
specific competition or topic in the special case that the peer review 
process results in a tie between two or more grant applications, making 
it impossible to adhere to the limits without funding only some of the 
equally ranked applications. In that case, the Institute may make a 
larger number of awards to include all applications of the same rank.
    For NCER's Education Research and Development Center competition, 
we intend to fund one grant under the Choice Schools topic, one grant 
under the Rural Education topic, one grant under the Writing topic, and 
one grant under the Science Teaching topic.
    For NCSER's Research Training Programs in Special Education 
competition, we intend to fund no more than one grant under the Methods 
Training Using SMART Designs for Adaptive Interventions in Education 
topic.
    For NCSER's Research Networks Focused on Critical Problems of 
Policy and Practice in Special Education competition, we intend to fund 
one Network Lead grant and up to four Research Team grants. At least 
two Research Team grants are needed to form the Network. If only one 
Research Team grant is awarded, the grantee will conduct the project 
independently. No Network Lead grant will be awarded unless at least 
two Research Team grants are awarded.
    Contingent on the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2019 from the list of 
highly-rated unfunded applications from the FY 2018 competitions.

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


[[Page 24697]]


    Project Period: See chart at the end of this notice.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Applicants that have the ability and 
capacity to conduct scientifically valid research are eligible to 
apply. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, nonprofit 
and for-profit organizations and public and private agencies and 
institutions of higher education, such as colleges and universities.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: These programs do not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Request for Applications and Other Information: Information 
regarding program and application requirements for the competitions 
will be contained in the NCER and NCSER RFAs, which will be available 
on or before June 8, 2017 on the Institute's Web site at: https://ies.ed.gov/funding/. Each competition will have its own application 
package. The dates on which the application packages for these 
competitions will be available are indicated in the chart at the end of 
this notice.
    The selection criteria and review procedures for the competitions 
are contained in the RFAs. The RFAs also include information on the 
maximum award available under each grant competition. Applications that 
include proposed budgets higher than the relevant maximum award will 
not be considered for an award.
    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 the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT in the chart at the end of this notice.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application are contained in the RFA for 
the specific competition. The forms that must be submitted are in the 
application package for the specific competition.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: The deadline date for transmittal of 
applications for each competition is indicated in the chart at the end 
of this notice and in the RFAs for the competitions.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Application packages for grants under these competitions must be 
obtained from and submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply 
site (www.Grants.gov). For information (including dates and times) 
about how to submit your application package electronically, or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an exception 
to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to the Other 
Submission Requirements section below.
    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 the chart at 
the end 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.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: These competitions are not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in CFR part 79.
    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), 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: https://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 
these competitions 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 to the grant competitions contained in this notice 
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.

[[Page 24698]]

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 applications for the grant 
competitions contained in this notice at www.Grants.gov. You must 
search for the downloadable application package for each competition by 
the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your 
search (e.g., search for 84.305, not 84.305A).
    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 
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 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 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 the 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.
     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 Portable 
Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or fillable PDF 
file. Any fillable PDF documents must be saved as flattened non-
fillable files. If you upload a file type other than a read-only 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.
     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, 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 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 p.m., Washington, DC time, 
on the application deadline date, please contact the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 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 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.


[[Page 24699]]


    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: Ellie Pelaez, U.S. 
Department of Education, 550 12th Street SW., Potomac Center Plaza, 
Room 4107, Washington, DC 20202.
    Fax: 202-245-6752.
    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: [Identify the CFDA number, including suffix letter, for 
the competition under which you are applying.]), 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.

    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: [Identify the CFDA number, including suffix letter, for 
the competition under which you are applying.]), 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 these 
competitions are provided in the RFAs.
    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 
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. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under these competitions the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by 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.
    4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this 
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project 
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently 
$150,000), under 2 CFR 200.205(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your 
integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal 
awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make 
an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that 
is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as 
the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System 
(FAPIIS)), accessible through SAM. You may review and comment on any 
information about yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and 
that is currently in FAPIIS.
    Please note that, if the total value of your currently active 
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the 
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity 
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant

[[Page 24700]]

plus all the other Federal funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.

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. Grant Administration: Applicants should budget for an annual 
two-day meeting for project directors to be held in Washington, DC.
    4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under one of the 
competitions announced in this notice, 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.
    5. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of its 
education research and special education research grant programs, the 
Institute annually assesses the percentage of projects that result in 
peer-reviewed publications, the number of newly developed or modified 
interventions with evidence of promise for improving student education 
outcomes, and the number of Institute-supported interventions with 
evidence of efficacy in improving student outcomes including school 
readiness outcomes for young children and student academic outcomes and 
social and behavioral competencies for school-age students. School 
readiness outcomes include pre-reading, reading, pre-writing, early 
mathematics, early science, and social-emotional skills that prepare 
young children for school. Student academic outcomes include learning 
and achievement in core academic content areas (reading, writing, math, 
and science) and outcomes that reflect students' successful progression 
through the education system (e.g., course and grade completion; high 
school graduation; postsecondary enrollment, progress, and completion). 
Social and behavioral competencies include social and emotional skills, 
attitudes, and behaviors that are important to student's academic and 
post-academic success. Additional education outcomes for students with 
or at risk of a disability include developmental outcomes for infants 
and toddlers (birth to age three) pertaining to cognitive, 
communicative, linguistic, social, emotional, adaptive, functional, or 
physical development; and developmental and functional outcomes that 
improve education outcomes, transition to employment, independent 
living, and postsecondary education for students with disabilities.
    6. 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 meeting 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, whether 
the grantee has met 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. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the RFA in an accessible format (e.g., Braille, 
large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the appropriate 
program contact person listed in the chart at the end 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 PDF. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat 
Reader, which is available free at this 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: May 24, 2017.
Thomas Brock,
Commissioner of the National Center for Education Research, Delegated 
the Duties of the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Deadline for
         CFDA No. and name            Application  package       transmittal of       Estimated range  of       Project period          For further
                                            available             applications              awards *                                information  contact
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      National Center for Education Research (NCER)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.305A Education Research:          June 22, 2017.........  August 17, 2017.......  $100,000 to $760,000.  Up to 5 years........  Erin Higgins,
[ssquf] Cognition and Student                                                                                                       Erin.Higgins@ed.gov.
 Learning.
    [ssquf] Early Learning Programs
     and Policies.
    [ssquf] Education Leadership...
    [ssquf] Education Technology...
    [ssquf] Effective Teachers and
     Effective Teaching.
    [ssquf] English Learners.......
    [ssquf] Improving Education
     Systems.

[[Page 24701]]

 
    [ssquf] Postsecondary and Adult
     Education.
    [ssquf] Reading and Writing....
    [ssquf] Science, Technology,
     Engineering, and Mathematics
     Education.
    [ssquf] Social and Behavioral
     Context for Academic Learning.
    [ssquf] Special Topics.........
        [cir] Arts in Education....
        [cir] Career and Technical
         Education.
        [cir] Systemic Approaches
         to Educating Highly Mobile
         Students.
84.305C Education Research and       July 13, 2017.........  September 21, 2017....  $1,000,000 to          Up to 5 years........  Corinne Alfed,
 Development Centers:                                                                 $2,000,000.                                   Corinne.Alfed@ed.gov
                                                                                                                                    .
    [ssquf] Improving Education
     Outcomes for Disadvantaged
     Students in Choice Schools.
    [ssquf] Improving Rural
     Education.
    [ssquf] Writing in Secondary
     Schools.
    [ssquf] Exploring Science
     Teaching in Elementary School
     Classrooms.
84.305H Partnerships and             June 22, 2017.........  August 17, 2017.......  $50,000 to $1,000,000  Up to 5 years........  Allen Ruby,
 Collaborations Focused on Problems                                                                                                 Allen.Ruby@ed.gov.
 of Practice or Policy:
    [ssquf] Researcher-Practitioner
     Partnerships in Education
     Research.
    [ssquf] Evaluation of State and
     Local Education Programs and
     Policies.
84.305L-1 Low-Cost, Short-Duration   June 22, 2017.........  August 3, 2017........  $50,000 to $125,000..  Up to 2 years........  Phill Gagne,
 Evaluation of Education                                                                                                            Phill.Gagne@ed.gov.
 Interventions
84.305L-2 Low-Cost, Short-Duration   January 11, 2018......  March 1, 2018.........  $50,000 to $125,000..  Up to 2 years........  Phill Gagne,
 Evaluation of Education                                                                                                            Phill.Gagne@ed.gov.
 Interventions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.324A Special Education Research:  June 22, 2017.........  August 17, 2017.......  $100,000 to $760,000.  Up to 5 years........  Sarah Brasiel,
[ssquf] Autism Spectrum Disorders.                                                                                                  Sarah.Brasiel@ed.gov
                                                                                                                                    .
    [ssquf] Cognition and Student
     Learning in Special Education.
    [ssquf] Early Intervention and
     Early Learning in Special
     Education.
    [ssquf] Families of Children
     with Disabilities.
    [ssquf] Mathematics and Science
     Education.
    [ssquf] Professional
     Development for Teachers and
     School-Based Service Providers.
    [ssquf] Reading, Writing, and
     Language Development.
    [ssquf] Social and Behavioral
     Outcomes to Support Learning.
    [ssquf] Special Education
     Policy, Finance, and Systems.
    [ssquf] Technology for Special
     Education.
    [ssquf] Transition Outcomes for
     Secondary Students with
     Disabilities.
84.324B Research Training Programs   June 22, 2017.........  August 17, 2017.......  $100,000 to $225,000.  Up to 5 years........  Katherine Taylor,
 in Special Education:                                                                                                              Katherine.Taylor@ed.gov.
    [ssquf] Postdoctoral Research
     Training Program in Special
     Education and Early
     Intervention.
    [ssquf] Early Career
     Development and Mentoring.
    [ssquf] Methods Training Using
     Sequential, Multiple
     Assignment, Randomized Trial
     (SMART) Designs for Adaptive
     Interventions in Education.
84.324L-1 Low-Cost, Short-Duration   June 22, 2017.........  August 3, 2017........  $50,000 to $125,000..  Up to 2 years........  Kimberley Sprague,
 Evaluation of Special Education                                                                                                    Kimberley.Sprague@ed
 Interventions                                                                                                                      .gov.
84.324L-2 Low-Cost, Short-Duration   January 11, 2018......  March 1, 2018.........  $50,000 to $125,000..  Up to 2 years........  Kimberley Sprague,
 Evaluation of Special Education                                                                                                    Kimberley.Sprague@ed
 Interventions                                                                                                                      .gov.
84.324N Research Networks Focused    July 13, 2017.........  September 21, 2017....  $300,000 to            Up to 5 years........  Amy Sussman,
 on Critical Problems of Policy and                                                   $1,000,000.                                   Amy.Sussman@ed.gov.
 Practice in Special Education
    [ssquf] Network Lead...........
    [ssquf] Research Team..........
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* These estimates are annual amounts.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Note: If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

[FR Doc. 2017-11107 Filed 5-26-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P