Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Overview Information; Enhanced Assessment Instruments; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards Using Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Funds, 18462-18466 [E7-6958]

Download as PDF 18462 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 70 / Thursday, April 12, 2007 / Notices May 9–10 will focus on new scientific information. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Alaska Fishery Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Bldg 4, Room 2076, Seattle, WA. Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501–2252. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Wilson, North Pacific Fishery Management Council; telephone: (907) 271–2809. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Committee will review information requested from proposers, receive and discuss new scientific information, review Proposal Ranking Tool in light of new information, and continue proposal review. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. BILLING CODE 3510–22–S Written comments should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Education Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10222, Washington, DC 20503. Commenters are encouraged to submit responses electronically by e-mail to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov or via fax to (202) 395–6974. Commenters should include the following subject line in their response ‘‘Comment: [insert OMB number], [insert abbreviated collection name, e.g., ‘‘Upward Bound Evaluation’’]. Persons submitting comments electronically should not submit paper copies. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. OMB may amend or waive the requirement for public consultation to the extent that public participation in the approval process would defeat the purpose of the information collection, violate State or Federal law, or substantially interfere with any agency’s ability to perform its statutory obligations. The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, publishes that notice containing proposed information collection requests prior to submission of these requests to OMB. Each proposed information collection, grouped by office, contains the following: (1) Type of review requested, e.g. new, revision, extension, existing or reinstatement; (2) Title; (3) Summary of the collection; (4) Description of the need for, and proposed use of, the information; (5) Respondents and frequency of collection; and (6) Reporting and/or Recordkeeping burden. OMB invites public comment. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Dated: April 9, 2007. Angela C. Arrington, IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Gail Bendixen, (907) 271–2809, at least 5 working days prior to the meeting date. Dated: April 9, 2007. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7–6910 Filed 4–11–07; 8:45 am] Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES AGENCY: Department of Education. SUMMARY: The IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management invites comments on the submission for OMB review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 14, 2007. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:49 Apr 11, 2007 Jkt 211001 ADDRESSES: Institute of Education Sciences Type of Review: New. Title: Conversion Magnet Schools Evaluation. Frequency: On Occasion. Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions. Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: Responses: 94. Burden Hours: 1,062. Abstract: The Conversion Magnet Schools Evaluation studies the impact PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 of federally funded elementary magnet schools on the academic achievement of students who attend them, and on minority group isolation in the schools. The first phase of the study investigates the feasibility of conducting rigorous research using experimental or quasiexperimental designs to explore the relationship between magnet programs and student achievement both for students who attend magnet schools as their neighborhood schools and for students from other neighborhoods who must apply for admission. Collection and analysis of student data will proceed if the studies are found to be feasible. The evaluation will inform policymakers and researchers on the effectiveness of magnet schools as an educational approach and a type of school choice. Requests for copies of the information collection submission for OMB review may be accessed from https:// edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting the ‘‘Browse Pending Collections’’ link and by clicking on link number 3262. When you access the information collection, click on ‘‘Download Attachments’’ to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Potomac Center, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20202–4700. Requests may also be electronically mailed to ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or faxed to 202– 245–6623. Please specify the complete title of the information collection when making your request. Comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be electronically mailed to ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– 800–877–8339. [FR Doc. E7–6957 Filed 4–11–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Overview Information; Enhanced Assessment Instruments; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards Using Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Funds Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.368. Dates: Applications Available: April 12, 2007. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 31, 2007. Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs) and consortia of SEAs. E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 70 / Thursday, April 12, 2007 / Notices Estimated Available Funds: $7,500,000 in FY 2006 funds. Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000 to $2,000,000. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,500,000. Estimated Number of Awards: 5. Competitive Preference Priority 1. Accommodations and alternate assessments (up to 20 points). Competitive Preference Priority 2. Collaborative efforts (up to 10 points). Competitive Preference Priority 3. Dissemination (up to 5 points). Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Note: The full text of the competitive preference priorities is included in the notice of final requirements published in the Federal Register on May 22, 2002 (67 FR 35967) and in the application package. Project period: Up to 18 months. Full Text of Announcement rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to enhance the quality of assessment instruments and systems used by States for measuring the achievement of all students. Priorities: This competition includes four absolute priorities and three competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), the absolute priorities are from section 6112 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). The competitive preference priorities are from Appendix E to the notice of final requirements for optional State consolidated applications submitted under section 9302 of the ESEA, published in the Federal Register on May 22, 2002 (67 FR 35967). Absolute Priorities: For FY 2006, these priorities are absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet one or more of these priorities. These priorities are: Absolute Priority 1. Collaborate with institutions of higher education, other research institutions, or other organizations to improve the quality, validity, and reliability of State academic assessments beyond the requirements for these assessments described in section 1111(b)(3) of Title I, Part A of the ESEA. Absolute Priority 2. Measure student academic achievement using multiple measures of student academic achievement from multiple sources. Absolute Priority 3. Chart student progress over time. Absolute Priority 4. Evaluate student academic achievement through the development of comprehensive academic assessment instruments, such as performance and technology-based academic assessments. Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2006, these priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to an additional 35 points to an application, depending on the extent to which the application meets these priorities. These priorities are: VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:49 Apr 11, 2007 Jkt 211001 Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7842 and 7301a. Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The notice of final requirements published in the Federal Register on May 22, 2002 (67 FR 35967). II. Award Information Type of Award: Discretionary grants. Estimated Available Funds: $7,500,000 in FY 2006 funds. Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000 to $2,000,000. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,500,000. Estimated Number of Awards: 5. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project period: Up to 18 months. III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs and consortia of SEAs. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not involve cost sharing or matching. 3. Other: An application from a consortium of SEAs must designate one SEA as the fiscal agent. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. Address to Request Application Package: Valeria Ford, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3W118, Washington, DC 20202–6132. Telephone: (202) 205–2213 or by e-mail: Valeria.Ford@ed.gov. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1– 800–877–8339. Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application package in an alternative 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 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 18463 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 and the absolute and competitive preference priorities. You must limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 40 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, 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). The page limit does not apply to the cover sheet, budget section (chart and narrative), assurances and certifications, response regarding research activities involving human subjects, GEPA 427 response, one-page abstract, personnel resumes, and letters of support; however, discussion of how the application meets the absolute priorities, how well the application meets the competitive preference priorities, and how well the application addresses each of the selection criteria must be included within the application narrative and therefore is subject to the page limit. Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application that— • Exceed the page limit if you apply these standards; or • Exceed the equivalent of the page limit if you apply other standards. 3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: April 12, 2007. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 31, 2007. Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). If duplicate applications are submitted, the last application submitted will be considered and not the applications submitted earlier. For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically or by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to section IV. 6. Other Submission Requirements in this notice. E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1 rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES 18464 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 70 / Thursday, April 12, 2007 / Notices 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 person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. 6. Other Submission Requirements. Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in this section. a. Electronic Submission of Applications. Applications for grants under the Enhanced Assessment Instruments, CFDA Number 84.368 must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at https://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 Enhanced Assessment Instruments at https://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.368, not 84.368A). 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 VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:49 Apr 11, 2007 Jkt 211001 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 consider your application if it is date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. 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 this competition to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov at https://eGrants.ed.gov/help/ GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf. • To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must complete all steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see https://www.grants.gov/applicants/ get_registered.jsp). These steps include (1) registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR); (2) registering yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR); and (3) getting authorized as an AOR by your organization. Details on these steps are outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see https:// www.grants.gov/section910/ Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf). You also must provide on your application the same D–U–N–S Number used with this registration. Please note that the registration process may take five or more business days to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to allow you to submit successfully an application via Grants.gov. In addition you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take three or more business days to complete. PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • 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: Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. Please note that two of these forms—the SF 424 and the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424— have replaced the ED 424 (Application for Federal Education Assistance). • You must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the three file types specified in this paragraph 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 EDspecified 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 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 E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 70 / Thursday, April 12, 2007 / Notices 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 elsewhere in this notice 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 that problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30 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. rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES 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: Valeria Ford, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3W118, VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:49 Apr 11, 2007 Jkt 211001 Washington, DC 20202–6132. FAX: (202) 260–7764. 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 applicable following address: By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.368), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202– 4260; or By mail through a commercial carrier: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.368), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785–1506. Regardless of which address you use, 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: PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 18465 (CFDA Number 84.368), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260. The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8 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 Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are from Appendix E to the notice of final requirements published in the Federal Register on May 22, 2002 (67 FR 35967) and are listed in the application package. 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 Notice (GAN). We may also notify you informally. 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: Grantees receiving a multi-year award must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in 34 CFR 75.118. Grantees will be expected to include in this annual performance report documentation of their success in addressing the performance measures identified in section 4 below. At the end of the project period, grantees must E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1 18466 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 70 / Thursday, April 12, 2007 / Notices submit a final report to the Secretary, including financial information as directed by the Secretary. Each State educational agency receiving a grant must submit a final report using the U.S. Department of Education (ED) Grant Performance Report form describing its activities and the result of those activities, under the grant. ED will provide grant recipients with the appropriate form and related instructions for addressing these reporting requirements. 4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), the ED has developed three measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the Enhanced Assessment Instruments grantees: (1) The number of States that participated in pilot activities described in each proposal; (2) the number of States that participated in Enhanced Assessment Grant projects funded by the current or prior competitions; and (3) the number of presentations at national conferences sponsored by professional education organizations and papers submitted for publication in refereed journals. rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES VII. Agency Contact For Further Information Contact: Valeria Ford, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3W118, Washington, DC 20202–6132. Telephone: (202) 205– 2213, or by e-mail: Valeria.Ford@ed.gov. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1– 800–877–8339. Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the program contact person listed in this section. VIII. Other Information Electronic Access to This Document: You may 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:https://www.ed.gov/news/ fedregister. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1– 888–293–6498; or in the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512–1530. 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 VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:49 Apr 11, 2007 Jkt 211001 of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/ index.html. Dated: April 9, 2007. Kerri L. Briggs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. [FR Doc. E7–6958 Filed 4–11–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION National Advisory Council on Indian Education U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. ACTION: Notice of opening meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of an upcoming meeting of the National Advisory Council on Indian Education (the Council) and is intended to notify the general public of their opportunity to attend. This notice also describes the functions of the Council. Notice of the Council’s meetings is required under Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and by the Council’s charter. AGENDA: The Council will discuss their development of the Council’s Annual Report to Congress, subcommittee work activities and updates on Executive Order 13336. Dates: May 2, 2007. Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location: Holiday Inn Capitol, 550 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20024. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peirce Hammond, Acting Director, Office of Indian Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: 202–401–0953. Fax: 202– 260–7779 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council advises the Secretary of Education on the funding and administration (including the development of regulations, and administrative policies and practices) of any program over which the Secretary has jurisdiction and includes Indian children or adults as participants or programs that may benefit Indian children or adults, including any program established under Title VII, Part A of the ESEA. The Council submits to the Congress, not later than June 30 of each year, a report on the activities of the Council that includes recommendations the Council considers appropriate for the improvement of Federal education programs that include PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Indian children or adults as participants or that may benefit Indian children or adults, and recommendations concerning the funding of any such program. The general public is welcome to attend the May 2, 2007 meeting to be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Washington, DC. Individuals who need accommodations for a disability in order to participate (i.e., interpreting services, assistive listening devices, materials in alternative format) should notify Peirce Hammond at 202–401–0953 by April 23, 2006. We will attempt to meet requests after the date, but cannot guarantee availability of the requested accommodation. The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Records are kept of all Council proceedings and are available for public inspection at the Office of Indian Education, United States Department of Education, Room 5C141, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Electronic Access to This Document: You may 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: https://www.ed.gov/news/ federegister. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free at 1–888– 293–6498; or in the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512–1530. 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: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/ index.html. Kerri L. Briggs, Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. [FR Doc. 07–1819 Filed 4–11–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–M E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 70 (Thursday, April 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18462-18466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-6958]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Overview 
Information; Enhanced Assessment Instruments; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards Using Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Funds

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.368.
    Dates: Applications Available: April 12, 2007.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 31, 2007.
    Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs) and 
consortia of SEAs.

[[Page 18463]]

    Estimated Available Funds: $7,500,000 in FY 2006 funds.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000 to $2,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,500,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 5.

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

    Project period: Up to 18 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to enhance the 
quality of assessment instruments and systems used by States for 
measuring the achievement of all students.
    Priorities: This competition includes four absolute priorities and 
three competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(iv), the absolute priorities are from section 6112 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). The 
competitive preference priorities are from Appendix E to the notice of 
final requirements for optional State consolidated applications 
submitted under section 9302 of the ESEA, published in the Federal 
Register on May 22, 2002 (67 FR 35967).
    Absolute Priorities: For FY 2006, these priorities are absolute 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications 
that meet one or more of these priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Absolute Priority 1. Collaborate with institutions of higher 
education, other research institutions, or other organizations to 
improve the quality, validity, and reliability of State academic 
assessments beyond the requirements for these assessments described in 
section 1111(b)(3) of Title I, Part A of the ESEA.
    Absolute Priority 2. Measure student academic achievement using 
multiple measures of student academic achievement from multiple 
sources.
    Absolute Priority 3. Chart student progress over time.
    Absolute Priority 4. Evaluate student academic achievement through 
the development of comprehensive academic assessment instruments, such 
as performance and technology-based academic assessments.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2006, these priorities 
are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we 
award up to an additional 35 points to an application, depending on the 
extent to which the application meets these priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1. Accommodations and alternate 
assessments (up to 20 points).
    Competitive Preference Priority 2. Collaborative efforts (up to 10 
points).
    Competitive Preference Priority 3. Dissemination (up to 5 points).

    Note: The full text of the competitive preference priorities is 
included in the notice of final requirements published in the 
Federal Register on May 22, 2002 (67 FR 35967) and in the 
application package.


    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7842 and 7301a.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 
82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The notice of final requirements 
published in the Federal Register on May 22, 2002 (67 FR 35967).

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $7,500,000 in FY 2006 funds.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000 to $2,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,500,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 5.

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

    Project period: Up to 18 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs and consortia of SEAs.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not involve cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: An application from a consortium of SEAs must designate 
one SEA as the fiscal agent.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Valeria Ford, Office of 
Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 
Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3W118, Washington, DC 20202-6132. Telephone: 
(202) 205-2213 or by e-mail: Valeria.Ford@ed.gov.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternative 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 and the absolute and 
competitive preference priorities. You must limit Part III to the 
equivalent of no more than 40 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, 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).
    The page limit does not apply to the cover sheet, budget section 
(chart and narrative), assurances and certifications, response 
regarding research activities involving human subjects, GEPA 427 
response, one-page abstract, personnel resumes, and letters of support; 
however, discussion of how the application meets the absolute 
priorities, how well the application meets the competitive preference 
priorities, and how well the application addresses each of the 
selection criteria must be included within the application narrative 
and therefore is subject to the page limit.
    Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application that--
     Exceed the page limit if you apply these standards; or
     Exceed the equivalent of the page limit if you apply other 
standards.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: April 12, 
2007. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 31, 2007.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). If 
duplicate applications are submitted, the last application submitted 
will be considered and not the applications submitted earlier. For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically or by mail or hand delivery if you qualify 
for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer 
to section IV. 6. Other Submission Requirements in this notice.

[[Page 18464]]

    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 person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements. Applications for grants under 
this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify 
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the 
instructions in this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications. Applications for grants 
under the Enhanced Assessment Instruments, CFDA Number 84.368 must be 
submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site 
at https://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 Enhanced 
Assessment Instruments at https://www.Grants.gov. You must search for 
the downloadable application package for this competition by the CFDA 
number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search 
(e.g., search for 84.368, not 84.368A).
    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 consider your 
application if it is date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system 
later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline 
date. 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 this competition to ensure that 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to Grants.gov at https://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/
GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
     To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must 
complete all steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see https://
www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp). These steps include (1) 
registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes 
registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR); (2) 
registering yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative 
(AOR); and (3) getting authorized as an AOR by your organization. 
Details on these steps are outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step 
Registration Guide (see https://www.grants.gov/section910/
Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf). You also must provide on your 
application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please 
note that the registration process may take five or more business days 
to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to 
allow you to submit successfully an application via Grants.gov. In 
addition you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual 
basis. This may take three or more business days to complete.
     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: 
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. Please note that two of these forms--the SF 424 and the 
Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424--have 
replaced the ED 424 (Application for Federal Education Assistance).
     You must attach any narrative sections of your application 
as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable 
Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the three file 
types specified in this paragraph 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 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

[[Page 18465]]

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 
elsewhere in this notice 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 that problem affected your 
ability to submit your application by 4:30 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: Valeria Ford, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3W118, 
Washington, DC 20202-6132. FAX: (202) 260-7764.
    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 applicable following address:
    By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of 
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.368), 
400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260; or
    By mail through a commercial carrier: U.S. Department of Education, 
Application Control Center, Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.368), 
7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.
    Regardless of which address you use, 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 84.368), 
550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 
20202-4260. The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries 
daily between 8 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

    Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are 
from Appendix E to the notice of final requirements published in the 
Federal Register on May 22, 2002 (67 FR 35967) and are listed in the 
application package.

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 Notice 
(GAN). We may also notify you informally.
    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: Grantees receiving a multi-year award must submit an 
annual performance report that provides the most current performance 
and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in 
34 CFR 75.118. Grantees will be expected to include in this annual 
performance report documentation of their success in addressing the 
performance measures identified in section 4 below. At the end of the 
project period, grantees must

[[Page 18466]]

submit a final report to the Secretary, including financial information 
as directed by the Secretary. Each State educational agency receiving a 
grant must submit a final report using the U.S. Department of Education 
(ED) Grant Performance Report form describing its activities and the 
result of those activities, under the grant. ED will provide grant 
recipients with the appropriate form and related instructions for 
addressing these reporting requirements.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA), the ED has developed three measures for evaluating 
the effectiveness of the Enhanced Assessment Instruments grantees: (1) 
The number of States that participated in pilot activities described in 
each proposal; (2) the number of States that participated in Enhanced 
Assessment Grant projects funded by the current or prior competitions; 
and (3) the number of presentations at national conferences sponsored 
by professional education organizations and papers submitted for 
publication in refereed journals.

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: Valeria Ford, Office of Elementary 
and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland 
Avenue, SW., room 3W118, Washington, DC 20202-6132. Telephone: (202) 
205-2213, or by e-mail: Valeria.Ford@ed.gov.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the program contact person listed in this 
section.

VIII. Other Information

    Electronic Access to This Document: You may 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:https://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. 
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in 
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.

    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: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/
nara/.


    Dated: April 9, 2007.
Kerri L. Briggs,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
 [FR Doc. E7-6958 Filed 4-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.