Office of Vocational and Adult Education; Overview Information; National Research Center for Career and Technical Education; Notice Inviting Applications for a New Award for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006, 32084-32093 [E7-11135]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 111 (Monday, June 11, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32084-32093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-11135]


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

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Vocational and Adult Education; Overview Information; 
National Research Center for Career and Technical Education; Notice 
Inviting Applications for a New Award for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.051A

    Dates:
    Applications Available: June 11, 2007.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 10, 2007.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: Section 114(d)(4) of the Carl D. Perkins Career 
and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Act) authorizes the Secretary, 
after consulting with the States, to establish a national research 
center (Center) to carry out scientifically based research and 
evaluation, and to conduct dissemination and training activities 
consistent with the purposes of the Act. Further, section 114(d)(5) of 
the Act authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance, upon 
request of a State, for the purpose of developing, improving, and 
identifying the most successful methods and techniques for providing 
career and technical education programs assisted under the Act. Under 
the authority of section 114(d)(5), the Secretary will provide 
technical assistance to States through the Center.

Background Information

    The Act, a reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and 
Technical Education Act of 1998 (Perkins III), continues the commitment 
to high-quality career and technical education embodied in Perkins III. 
The Act continues the previous legislation's focus on developing 
challenging academic and technical standards and assisting students in 
meeting such standards, including through preparation for high-skill, 
high-wage, or high-demand occupations in current or emerging 
professions and in nontraditional fields. The Act is aligned with the 
principles of the Elementary Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) (ESEA) in that it promotes the 
development of services and activities that integrate rigorous and 
challenging academic course work with career and technical education so 
that all students can be prepared for postsecondary education and 
careers.

[[Page 32085]]

Consultation Process

    Pursuant to section 114(d)(4) of the Act, which requires the 
Secretary to consult with States before establishing a Center, we used 
several strategies to conduct consultations and provided a number of 
opportunities for States and other interested parties to give 
suggestions regarding the Center. For example, the Department--
    (a) Used e-mail to solicit suggestions from State Directors of 
career and technical education and representatives of professional 
organizations and associations;
    (b) Posted on the Department's Web site an invitation for the 
public to provide suggestions on what the Department needs to consider 
when establishing a Center;
    (c) Invited State Directors, during the September 2006 Conference 
of the National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical 
Education Consortium, to send the Department suggestions on how the 
Center could best serve their needs; and
    (d) Held a meeting with State Directors of career and technical 
education, representatives of career and technical education 
professional organizations and associations, and members of the higher 
education community to discuss their research, evaluation, and 
technical assistance needs and to request suggestions on how the Center 
could best serve their respective needs.
    We appreciate the time that various interested parties took to 
provide us with suggestions. We carefully considered the suggestions we 
received as we determined the focus and activities of the Center as 
described in this notice.

Required Project Activities

    Through this competition, the Secretary will award a cooperative 
agreement to establish a national research center for career and 
technical education that implements sections 114(d)(4) and (5) of the 
Act to--
    (a) Carry out scientifically based research and evaluation for the 
purpose of developing, improving, and identifying the most successful 
methods for addressing the education, employment, and training needs of 
participants, including special populations, in career and technical 
education programs, including research and evaluation in activities 
such as--
    (1) The integration of--
    (i) Career and technical instruction; and
    (ii) Academic, secondary, and postsecondary instruction;
    (2) Education technology and distance learning approaches and 
strategies that are effective with respect to career and technical 
education;
    (3) State-adjusted levels of performance and State levels of 
performance that serve to improve career and technical education 
programs and student achievement;
    (4) Academic knowledge and career and technical skills required for 
employment or participation in postsecondary education; and
    (5) Preparation for occupations in high-skill, high-wage, or high-
demand business and industry, including examination of--
    (i) Collaboration between career and technical education programs 
and business and industry; and
    (ii) Academic and technical skills required for a regional or 
sectoral workforce, including small businesses (20 U.S.C. 
2324(d)(4)(A)(i));
    (b) Carry out scientifically based research and evaluation to 
increase the effectiveness and improve the implementation of career and 
technical education programs that are integrated with coherent and 
rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards, including 
by conducting research and development, and studies, that provide 
longitudinal information or formative evaluation with respect to career 
and technical education programs and student achievement (20 U.S.C. 
2324(d)(4)(A)(ii));
    (c) Carry out scientifically based research and evaluation that can 
be used to improve the preparation and professional development of 
teachers, faculty, and administrators, and to improve student learning 
in the career and technical education classroom including--
    (1) Effective in-service and preservice teacher and faculty 
education that assists career and technical education programs in--
    (i) Integrating those programs with academic content standards and 
student academic achievement standards, as adopted by States under 
section 1111(b)(1) of the ESEA; and
    (ii) Coordinating career and technical education with industry-
recognized certification requirements;
    (2) Dissemination and training activities related to the applied 
research and demonstration activities described in this section of the 
notice, which may also include serving as a repository for information 
on career and technical skills, State academic standards, and related 
materials; and
    (3) The recruitment and retention of career and technical education 
teachers, faculty, counselors, and administrators, including 
individuals in groups underrepresented in the teaching profession (20 
U.S.C. 2324(d)(4)(A)(iii));
    (d) Carry out such other research and evaluation, consistent with 
the purposes of the Act, as the Secretary determines appropriate to 
assist State and local recipients of funds under the Act (20 U.S.C. 
2324(d)(4)(A)(iv));
    (e) Conduct dissemination and training activities based upon the 
research performed by the Center and described in this notice (20 
U.S.C. 2324(d)(4)(C)), including--
    (1) Developing, for dissemination, information on promising or best 
practices for enhancing student achievement and performance that are 
based on scientifically based research, conducted by the Center and 
others, and that are geared to administrators, teachers, counselors, 
and policymakers; and
    (2) Disseminating information on best practices for the purposes of 
developing, improving, and identifying the most successful methods and 
techniques for providing career and technical education programs 
assisted under the Act (20 U.S.C. 2324(d)(5)); and
    (f) Provide technical assistance upon request of a State for the 
purpose of developing, improving, and identifying the most successful 
methods and techniques for providing career and technical education 
programs assisted under the Act (20 U.S.C. 2324(d)(5)).
    Cooperative Agreement, Program Requirements, Application 
Requirements, Priorities and Definitions Cooperative Agreement:
    The Secretary plans to make an award to the Center under the terms 
of a cooperative agreement. The Secretary expects to have substantial 
involvement with the grantee during the performance of the funded 
project. Substantial involvement on the part of the Department 
includes:
    (a) Direct operational involvement in the review and approval of 
project activities.
    (b) Continuing and regular participation in the project.
    (c) Halting an activity immediately if detailed performance 
specifications or requirements are not met.
    (d) Reviewing and approving one stage of work before the Center can 
begin a subsequent stage during the project period.
    (e) Collaborating or participating jointly with the Center in the 
assisted activities.
    Program Requirements:
    To ensure the high quality of the Center and the accomplishment of 
the goals and purposes of sections 114(d)(4) and (5) of the Act, the 
Secretary

[[Page 32086]]

establishes the following requirements for this competition:
    (a) Center Director. The grantee institution must appoint a full-
time Director for the Center.
    (b) Advisory Committee. (1) The grantee institution must establish 
an advisory committee to provide the Center with advice and a diversity 
of perspectives on the--
    (i) Research, evaluation, and technical assistance needs of the 
career and technical education community;
    (ii) Center's scientifically based research;
    (iii) Center's dissemination activities;
    (iv) Center's technical assistance activities; and
    (v) Other activities undertaken and materials published by the 
Center, in carrying out the purposes of the Act.
    (2) Each applicant must budget for, and include in its application, 
preliminary plans for an advisory committee. The preliminary plans must 
describe the composition of the advisory committee, including the 
affiliations, professional qualifications, and proposed length of 
service of potential advisory committee members.
    (3) After the cooperative agreement is awarded, the Center must 
provide, for the Department's approval, a detailed plan for the 
advisory committee, including reasonable assurances that persons 
identified as members will serve in the capacity stated in the detailed 
plan.
    (c) Project meetings. The applicant must plan and budget for--
    (1) The Center Director to attend a two-day meeting in Washington, 
DC at least once a year, for each year of the project to review 
performance and discuss the Center's plans for scientifically based 
research, evaluation, dissemination, professional development and 
technical assistance;
    (2) The Center Director and other key staff to attend the 
following:
    (i) A two-day post-award conference with program officials in 
Washington, DC that will be held within 30 days after the date of the 
grant award notice. The purpose of this conference will be to--
    (A) Review and discuss the terms of the cooperative agreement 
between the Center and the Department;
    (B) Review and discuss the applicant's plans for the scientifically 
based research, evaluation, dissemination, professional development, 
and technical assistance to be carried out by the Center over the five 
years of the project period;
    (C) Discuss and establish how the grantee institution, the Center 
and the Department will work together as partners, under the terms of 
the cooperative agreement, to accomplish the purposes of the grant 
award; and
    (D) Establish specific lines of communication and feedback between 
the Center and the Department.
    (ii) A one-day annual performance review with program officials in 
Washington, DC at the end of each project year.
    (d) Alignment and Consultation. (1) To the extent possible, the 
Center must align its professional development activities with those 
professional development activities carried out--
    (i) By ``eligible agencies'' and ``eligible recipients,'' as those 
terms are defined in sections 3(12) and 3(14) of the Act (20 U.S.C. 
2302(12) and (14)); and
    (ii) Under the ESEA and the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001 et seq.).
    (2) In order to exchange information, avoid duplication of effort, 
pool resources, and improve the overall effectiveness of the Center's 
activities, the Center must, to the extent possible, consult with the 
sponsors of activities that are similar or related to its activities, 
especially activities of the Department's Policy and Program Studies 
Service (the lead office for the National Assessment of Career and 
Technical Education), Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, 
Office of Postsecondary Education, Office of Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services, Comprehensive Centers (particularly the 
National High School Center), National Research and Development 
Centers, and Regional Educational Labs. In addition, the Center must 
consult with the National Science Foundation; national career and 
technical education professional associations or organizations; and 
other similar or related agencies, organizations, associations, and 
activities.
    (e) Publications. The Center must establish an effective quality 
control process for all publications resulting from or used in the 
Center's research, dissemination, technical assistance, and 
professional development activities.
    (f) Evaluation and GPRA Measures. (1) The applicant must budget for 
and include preliminary plans in the application for an independent 
evaluator to--
    (i) Conduct an ongoing evaluation of the Center's effectiveness; 
and
    (ii) Annually measure and report on the GPRA measures identified in 
the Performance Measures section of this notice.
    (2) The preliminary plans must describe--
    (i) The methods of evaluation to be used to measure the 
effectiveness of the Center; and
    (ii) With regard to the GPRA measures, (A) the composition of the 
expert panels that the Center's evaluator will use to assess the 
Center's performance under paragraphs (a) and (b) of the Performance 
Measures section of this notice, including the affiliations and 
professional qualifications of panel members; (B) how the Center plans 
to ensure the objectivity of the expert panels; and (C) the procedures 
the Center will use, as required by paragraphs (c) and (d) of the 
Performance Measures section of this notice, to assess the usefulness 
and quality of the technical assistance services and professional 
development activities the Center provides.
    (3) After the cooperative agreement is awarded, the Center must 
provide, for the Department's approval, a detailed plan for conducting 
the evaluation and measuring and reporting on the GPRA measures.
    (4) The results of the evaluation must be submitted to the 
Secretary in an interim evaluation report during the third year of the 
project and in a final evaluation report during the fifth year of the 
project.
    (5) The results of the evaluation must be used to provide feedback 
for continuous improvement in the operation of the Center.
    (6) In determining the overall effectiveness of the Center, the 
evaluation must take into account the Center's performance on the 
Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) measures of 
effectiveness identified in the Performance Measures section of this 
notice.
    (g) Contingency Plan. During the final year of the five-year 
project period, the Center must develop and be prepared to implement a 
contingency plan for completing all substantive work by the end of the 
eleventh month of the final project year and transferring all the 
products, data, services, materials, and research studies to a 
successor Center during the twelfth month of the final project year.
    Application Requirements:
    Applicants must plan for a 10-month project period for the first 
year of the project to enable the Center to establish a July-to-June 
project period for the second through the fifth year of the project and 
to align the Center's activities with the academic year.
    Applicants must include, in addition to the items identified in 
paragraphs (b)(2), (c), and (f) of the Program

[[Page 32087]]

Requirements, the following in their applications--
    (a) Research Plan. A plan that describes the strategies and 
approaches the applicant intends to use to carry out the scientifically 
based research and evaluation activities described in section 114(d)(4) 
of the Act and in the Required Project Activities section of this 
notice. The plan must be a focused program of scientifically based 
research that consists of a set of tightly linked studies that build on 
each other;
    (1) In the research plan, applicants must include--
    (i) Research studies that are fully consistent with the standards 
in the definition of the term ``scientifically based research,'' 
contained in section 3(25) of the Act and in the Definitions section of 
this notice.
    (ii) Significant research studies that focus on the improvement of 
teaching and student outcomes.
    (iii) Research strands, that is, thematic research areas, including 
the specific research studies for each strand or area for the first two 
years of the project period, on which the applicant plans to focus 
during the five years of the project. The proposed studies--
    (A) Must represent a balance of secondary and postsecondary 
studies; and
    (B) Can be a mix of short-term and longitudinal research studies.
    (iv) Individual research proposals for studies the applicant 
intends to initiate during the first two years of the project period. 
These research proposals must provide a critical review (i.e., a 
discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of studies that are 
reviewed) of the relevant literature, the theoretical rationale, clear 
and specific research questions, and a description of the methods and 
procedures, along with any instrumentation, that will be used. If a 
proposed research study builds on one or more existing studies, the 
applicant must include enough information for the Secretary to assess 
whether--
    (A) The study was well-designed and implemented, and addressed 
research questions of practical and policy importance; and
    (B) Scientifically based research standards were followed.
    (v) Areas where further research is most likely to identify highly 
effective approaches, methods, programs, models, or strategies.
    (2) The application must also include information that demonstrates 
the applicant's performance history in scientifically based research. 
As evidence of the applicant's performance history, an applicant must 
provide in the application the full study reports on two scientifically 
based research studies led by key project research personnel. The study 
reports must include enough information for the Secretary to be able to 
assess whether the studies were well-designed and implemented, and 
addressed research questions of practical and policy importance.
    (b) Dissemination Activities Plan. A plan that describes the 
strategies and approaches the applicant intends to use to carry out 
efficiently and effectively the dissemination activities described in 
the Required Project Activities section of this notice, including:
    (1) A description of the procedures and methodologies (e.g., expert 
panels) the applicant intends to use to identify instructional 
approaches, methods, programs, models, or strategies in career and 
technical education and related areas that are supported by the 
strongest evidence of a meaningful, sustained effect on career and 
technical education participants' education and employment outcomes.


    Note: Applicants are encouraged to refer to: (1) How to evaluate 
whether an intervention is backed by ``strong'' evidence of 
effectiveness on the Internet at https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/evidence_based/evaluation.asp and (2) Identifying and Implementing 
Educational Practices Supported By Rigorous Evidence: A User 
Friendly Guide on the Internet at https://www.ed.gov/print/rschstat/pubs/rigorousevid/guide.html.


    (2) Strategies and approaches for disseminating to the career and 
technical education community (e.g., administrators, teachers, 
counselors, and policy-makers) the findings, results, and reports from 
the Center's research activities in order to increase the knowledge 
base of programs and models proven effective in scientifically based 
research.
    (3) Strategies and approaches for identifying and disseminating to 
the career and technical education community information from other 
sources of relevant research in order to increase the knowledge base of 
career and technical education programs and models that have been 
proven effective in scientifically based research.
    (c) Technical Assistance Plan. A plan that describes the strategies 
and approaches the applicant will use to carry out the technical 
assistance activities described in the Required Project Activities 
section of this notice in the most cost-effective and efficient manner, 
including a description of how the Center will--
    (1) Respond to a need identified by a State, including how the 
Center will coordinate with a State on providing the State with 
appropriate technical assistance;
    (2) Provide activities intended to reach a large number or 
proportion of career and technical education programs, teachers, and 
administrators in a State;
    (3) Assist a State in implementing, identifying, or improving State 
levels of performance that improve career and technical education 
programs and student achievement;
    (4) Assist a State to improve the data quality of its State 
accountability systems, including the:
    (i) Processes that strengthen the reliability, validity, and 
integrity of data collection and analysis.
    (ii) Accessibility of appropriate and timely data.
    (iii) Accuracy of descriptions of performance.
    (iv) Collection processes that yield unbiased, unprejudiced, and 
impartial data results.
    (v) Presentation of the data so that the data clearly provide an 
accurate assessment of performance; and
    (5) Provide State and local educational agencies, educators, and 
other program providers with technical assistance in replicating 
instructional approaches, methods, programs, models, or strategies 
shown to be effective using scientifically based research.
    (d) Professional Development Plan. A plan that describes the 
strategies and approaches the applicant will use to carry out the 
professional development activities described in the Required Project 
Activities section of this notice in the most cost-effective and 
efficient manner, including strategies and approaches that--
    (1) Provide high-quality professional development that will improve 
and increase instructional personnel's knowledge, skills, and ability 
to help students meet challenging and rigorous academic and career and 
technical skill proficiencies;
    (2) Will advance instructional personnel's understanding of 
effective instructional strategies that are supported by scientifically 
based research; and
    (3) Are sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused.
    Priorities:
    We are establishing these priorities for the FY 2006 grant 
competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the 
list of unfunded applicants from this competition, in accordance with 
section 437(d)(1) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), 20 
U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).
    Competitive Preference Priorities: These priorities are competitive

[[Page 32088]]

preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award each 
application up to an additional 70 points (from 5 to 15 points for each 
priority, as indicated) depending on how well the application meets one 
or more of these priorities. The points awarded are in addition to any 
points the application earns under the selection criteria for this 
competition, provided elsewhere in this notice.
    These priorities are:
    (a) Technical Assistance Priorities
    1. Use of Technical Skills Assessments Priority: We award up to 5 
points to an application that proposes to--
    (i) Inform States of the availability of valid and reliable 
technical skills assessments; and
    (ii) Assist States in selecting appropriate, valid, and reliable 
technical skills assessments.
    2. Enhancing Student Academic and Technical Skills Achievement and 
Performance Priority: We award up to 15 points to an application that 
proposes to provide educational agencies, educators, and other program 
providers with technical assistance on replicating current promising or 
best practices in instructional approaches, methods, programs, models, 
or strategies, including approaches, methods, programs, models, or 
strategies that are accepted by the field as effective for the purpose 
of enhancing student academic and technical skills achievement and 
performance, including the academic and technical skills achievement 
and performance of students preparing for employment in nontraditional 
fields, and those that have been shown to be effective using 
scientifically based research.
    (b) Scientifically Based Research Priorities
    1. Use of Technical Skills Assessments Priority: We award up to 10 
points to an application that proposes--
    (i) Activities that investigate the--
    (A) Availability, at the national, State, and local levels, of 
valid and reliable technical skills assessments that are aligned with 
industry-recognized standards; and
    (B) Extent to which States and local eligible recipients use valid 
and reliable technical skills assessments that are aligned with 
industry-recognized standards, to measure the attainment of technical 
skills proficiencies by career and technical education students; and
    (ii) Activities that encourage the development of valid and 
reliable technical skills assessments that are aligned with industry-
recognized standards in technical skills areas where none previously 
existed.
    2. Student Outcomes Priority: We award up to 15 points to an 
application that proposes studies that will examine programs and 
practices designed to improve student outcomes in career and technical 
education.
    3. Academic Achievement Priority: We award up to 15 points to an 
application that proposes studies that investigate and validate whether 
curricula that integrate coherent and rigorous content that is aligned 
with challenging academic standards (e.g., at the secondary level, 
reading and language arts, mathematics, and science) and challenging 
career and technical skill proficiencies results in improvements in the 
academic achievement of students, including special populations, 
enrolled in career and technical education programs.
    4. Programs of Study Priority: We award up to 10 points to an 
application that proposes activities that--
    (i) Promote improvements in career and technical education programs 
of study (i.e., implementing career and technical education programs 
that (A) incorporate secondary education and postsecondary elements, 
(B) include coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging 
academic standards and relevant career and technical content in a 
coordinated, non-duplicative progression of courses that align 
secondary education with postsecondary education to adequately prepare 
students to succeed in postsecondary education, (C) may include the 
opportunity for secondary education students to participate in dual or 
concurrent enrollment programs or other ways to acquire postsecondary 
education credits, and (D) lead to an industry-recognized credential or 
certificate at the postsecondary level, or an associate or 
baccalaureate degree); and
    (ii) Encourage States to adopt these improvements in career and 
technical education programs of study statewide in programs operated by 
eligible recipients and postsecondary institutions.
    Definitions:
    Career and technical education means organized educational 
activities that--
    (a) Offer a sequence of courses that--
    (1) Provides individuals with coherent and rigorous content aligned 
with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge 
and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in 
current or emerging professions;
    (2) Provides technical skills proficiency, an industry-recognized 
credential, a certificate, or an associate degree; and
    (3) May include prerequisite courses (other than remedial courses) 
that meet the requirements of this definition; and
    (b) Include competency-based applied learning that contributes to 
the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving 
skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, 
and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of an 
industry, including entrepreneurship, of an individual. (20 U.S.C. 
2302(5))
    Coherent sequence of courses means a series of courses in which 
career and academic education is integrated, and that directly relates 
to, and leads to, both academic and occupational competencies. The term 
includes competency-based education and academic education, and adult 
training or retraining, including sequential units encompassed within a 
single adult retraining course that otherwise meet the requirements of 
this definition.
    Institution of higher education means--
    (a) An educational institution in any State that--
    (1) Admits, as regular students, only persons having a certificate 
of graduation from a school providing secondary education or the 
recognized equivalent of such a certificate;
    (2) Is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of 
education beyond secondary education;
    (3) Provides an educational program for which the institution 
awards a bachelor's degree or provides not less than a two-year program 
that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree;
    (4) Is a public or other nonprofit institution; and
    (5) Is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or 
association or, if not so accredited, is an institution that has been 
granted preaccreditation status by such an agency or association that 
has been recognized by the Secretary of Education for the granting of 
preaccreditation status, and the Secretary of Education has determined 
that there is satisfactory assurance that the institution will meet the 
accreditation standards of such an agency or association within a 
reasonable time.
    (b) The term also includes--
    (1) Any school that provides not less than a one-year program of 
training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized 
occupation and that meets the provisions of

[[Page 32089]]

paragraphs (a)(1), (2), (4) and (5) of this definition.
    (2) A public or nonprofit private educational institution in any 
State that, in lieu of the requirement in paragraph (a)(1) of this 
definition, admits as regular students, persons who are beyond the age 
of compulsory school attendance in the State in which the institution 
is located. (20 U.S.C. 1001 and 2302(18))
    Scientifically based research means research that is carried out 
using scientifically based research standards, as defined in section 
102 of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9501). (20 
U.S.C. 2302(25))
    Scientifically based research standards means research standards 
that--
    (a) Apply rigorous, systematic, and objective methodology to obtain 
reliable and valid knowledge relevant to education activities and 
programs; and
    (b) Present findings and make claims that are appropriate to, and 
supported by, the methods that have been employed.
    The term includes, appropriate to the research being conducted--
    (a) Employing systematic, empirical methods that draw on 
observation or experiment;
    (b) Involving data analyses that are adequate to support the 
general findings;
    (c) Relying on measurements or observational methods that provide 
reliable data;
    (d) Making claims of causal relationships only in random assignment 
experiments or other designs (to the extent such designs substantially 
eliminate plausible competing explanations for the obtained results);
    (e) Ensuring that studies and methods are presented in sufficient 
detail and clarity to allow for replication or, at a minimum, to offer 
the opportunity to build systematically on the findings of the 
research;
    (f) Obtaining acceptance by a peer-reviewed journal or approval by 
a panel of independent experts through a comparably rigorous, 
objective, and scientific review; and
    (g) Using research designs and methods appropriate to the research 
question posed. (20 U.S.C. 2302(25) and 9501(18))
    Special populations means--
    (a) Individuals with disabilities;
    (b) Individuals from economically disadvantaged families, including 
foster children;
    (c) Individuals preparing for nontraditional training fields;
    (d) Single parents, including single pregnant women;
    (e) Displaced homemakers; and
    (f) Individuals with limited English proficiency.

(20 U.S.C. 2302(29))

    Note: Definitions of the terms ``nonprofit,'' ``private,'' and 
``public'' are in 34 CFR 77.1.

    Applicants are encouraged to review all applicable definitions in 
section 3 of the Act.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department generally offers interested parties 
the opportunity to comment on proposed non-statutory requirements, 
definitions, and selection criteria. Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, 
however, allows the Secretary to exempt from rulemaking requirements, 
non-statutory requirements, definitions, and selection criteria 
governing the first grant competition under a new or substantially 
revised program authority. This is the first grant competition for this 
program under section 114(d)(4) and (5) of the Act and, therefore, 
qualifies for this exemption. In order to ensure timely grant awards, 
the Secretary has decided to forgo public comment on the non-statutory 
requirements, definitions, and selection criteria under the authority 
of section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. These non-statutory requirements, 
definitions, and selection criteria will apply to the FY 2006 
competition only.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2324(d)(4) and (5).
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 
82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative agreement.
    Estimated Available Funds: $2,200,000 for the first 10 months of 
the project, and $4,500,000 for funding 12-month project periods for 
each successive 12-month budget period for years two through five. 
Continuation of funding for the Center is subject to the availability 
of funds and to the grantee meeting the requirements of 34 CFR 75.253. 
FY 2006 funds will be used for new awards under this competition.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: The following entities are eligible to 
apply under this competition:
    (a) Institutions of higher education.
    (b) Public or private nonprofit organizations or agencies. (See 34 
CFR 75.51, ``How to prove nonprofit status.'')
    (c) A consortium of institutions of higher education, or of public 
or private nonprofit organizations or agencies. Eligible applicants 
seeking to apply for funds as a consortium must comply with the 
regulations in 34 CFR 75.127-75.129, which address group applications.
    2. Cost Sharing and Matching. This competition does not require 
cost sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Dr. Ricardo Hernandez, 
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 11137, 
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-7241. Telephone: (202) 245-
7818. Or Fax: (202) 245-7837 or e-mail: Ricardo.Hernandez@ed.gov.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the 
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, 
or computer diskette) by contacting the person listed under Alternative 
Format in section VIII of this notice in this section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission:
    Requirements concerning the content of the application, together 
with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this 
competition.
    Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, 
address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your 
application. There is no page limit for the application narrative; 
however, you must use the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'';, on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or not 
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
    3. Submission Dates and Times:

[[Page 32090]]

    Applications Available: June 11, 2007.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 10, 2007.
    Applications for grants under this program may be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov), or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates 
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery, please refer to section IV. 6. 
Other Submission Requirements in this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 
in 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: This program is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restriction in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements:
    Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted 
electronically or in paper format by mail or hand delivery.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    To comply with the President's Management Agenda, we are 
participating as a partner in the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site. 
The National Research Center for Career and Technical Education, CFDA 
Number 84.051A, is included in this project. We request your 
participation in Grants.gov.
    If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must 
use 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.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the National 
Research Center for Career and Technical Education 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 84.051, not 
84.051A).
    Please note the following:
     Your participation in Grants.gov is voluntary.
     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 submit your application in paper format.
     If you submit your application electronically, 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).
     If you submit your application electronically, 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.

[[Page 32091]]

    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 in section VII in this notice and 
provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with 
Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. We will 
accept your application if we can confirm that a technical problem 
occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your 
ability to submit your application by 4:30 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.

    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the 
U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), 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 
84.051A), 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 
84.051A), 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 submit your application in paper format by hand delivery, 
you (or a courier service) 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 
84.051A), 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 program are as 
follows. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in 
parentheses. The maximum score for all the criteria is 105 points.
    (a) Quality of project design (30 points). The Secretary considers 
the quality of the project design.
    In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, 
the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the proposed project activities represent 
a--
    (i) Coherent, sustained approach that is exceptional for each of 
the required research, evaluation, development, dissemination, 
professional development, and technical assistance activities described 
in the Required Project Activities section of this notice; and
    (ii) Balance between secondary and postsecondary education.
    (2) The significance or magnitude of the scientifically based 
research proposed by the project, especially as it relates to 
improvement in teaching and student outcomes.
    (3) The extent to which the proposed research design includes--
    (i) A model in which multiple investigators conduct studies that 
are coordinated around the research strands or thematic areas on which 
the applicant proposes to focus; and
    (ii) The use of appropriate theoretical models and scientifically 
based research standards that represent the most rigorous designs 
appropriate to the research being proposed.
    (4) The extent to which the proposed dissemination plan includes: 
(i) A thorough, high-quality review of the relevant literature to 
identify current promising or best practices that are accepted by the 
field as effective and are based on scientifically based research; (ii) 
a comparably rigorous, objective, and scientific review of 
instructional approaches, methods, programs, models, or strategies to 
be disseminated; (iii) a high-quality plan for dissemination 
activities; and (iv) the use of a variety of effective approaches.
    (5) The extent to which the project proposes models for 
dissemination that incorporate approaches that meet the needs of 
different communities of users.
    (6) The extent to which the professional development activities 
proposed by the project are of sufficient quality, intensity, and 
duration to lead to improvements in practice among the recipients of 
those services.
    (7) The extent to which the proposed technical assistance plan 
reflects in-

[[Page 32092]]

depth knowledge and understanding of available scientifically valid, 
research-based practice, evidence-based practice, or both, to improve 
student achievement in academic and career and technical education, and 
demonstrates knowledge of, and access to, reliable sources for 
obtaining such knowledge on an ongoing basis.
    (8) The extent to which the proposed project will consult with 
sponsors of similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate 
community, State, and Federal resources, such as those of the 
Department's Policy and Program Studies Service, Comprehensive Centers 
(particularly the National High School Center), National Research and 
Development Centers, and Regional Educational Labs.
    (b) Institutional capability (15 points). The Secretary considers 
the institutional capability of the applicant or of consortium members, 
if the applicant is a consortium. In assessing institutional 
capability, the Secretary reviews the application to determine the 
extent to which the applicant understands the state of knowledge and 
practice related to career and technical education, as evidenced by the 
depth and breadth of its documented experience in and capacity for--
    (1) Conducting scientifically based research, development, 
evaluation, dissemination, professional development, and technical 
assistance activities of the type described in the Required Program 
Activities section of this notice; and
    (2) Delivering technical assistance across a range of urban and 
rural educational settings.
    (c) Quality of the management plan (20 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project. 
In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
    (2) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timeliness and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks, and a clearly articulated plan for continuous 
improvement.
    (3) The adequacy of procedures for coordination and communication 
among staff, subcontractors, members of the consortium, if any, and the 
Department, in particular, for the frequent and detailed communication 
that will be required under the cooperative agreement between the 
Center and the Department's Office of Vocational and Adult Education.
    (4) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality research 
and evaluation, dissemination, technical assistance, and professional 
development from the proposed project.
    (5) The adequacy of the plans for an objective independent 
assessment, in accordance with the Program Requirements section of this 
notice, of the Center's performance on the GPRA measures.
    (d) Quality of personnel (20 points). The Secretary considers the 
quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project. In 
determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary considers 
the following:
    (1) The extent to which the application presents evidence of the 
Center Director and key personnel having a history of conducting high-
quality scientifically based research, including whether the studies 
described as evidence of the applicant's performance history were well-
designed and implemented, and addressed research questions of practical 
and policy importance.
    (2) The extent to which the application presents evidence of 
professional preparation and successful prior experience of the 
Center's director and other key personnel, including contractors, key 
consultants, and partners, if any, that indicate that each has the 
knowledge, skills, and ability to carry out successfully the 
responsibilities they are assigned under the project, including the--
    (i) Center Director's and key personnel's expertise and 
demonstrated successful experience with scientifically based research, 
effective technical assistance, and other activities similar to those 
that are to be carried out under the project; and
    (ii) Demonstrated effectiveness of the Center Director and key 
personnel in providing technical assistance that utilizes 
scientifically based research and improves the academic and technical 
skill proficiencies of career and technical education students.
    (3) The extent to which the time commitments of the Center Director 
and key personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet proposed project 
objectives.
    (4) The extent to which the Center Director has prior relevant 
experience operating a project of the size and scope required for the 
purposes of the Center.
    (5) The extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability.
    (e) Adequacy of resources (10 points). The Secretary considers the 
adequacy of resources for the proposed project. In determining the 
adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary considers 
the following factors:
    (1) The adequacy of resources for the proposed project, including 
facilities, equipment, supplies, and other resources needed to carry 
out successfully the purpose and activities of the proposed project.
    (2) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the 
proposed project.
    (3) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
objectives, design, and significance of the proposed project.
    (f) Evaluation (10 points). The Secretary considers the quality of 
the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project. In determining 
the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers the following 
factors:
    (1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project.
    (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for 
examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies.
    (3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
timely guidance for quality assurance.
    (4) The extent to which the methods of evaluation--
    (i) Include the use of objective performance measures that are 
clearly related to the intended outcomes of the project;
    (ii) In determining the overall effectiveness of the Center, take 
into account the Center's performance on the GPRA measures in the 
Performance Measures section of this notice; and
    (iii) Will produce quantitative and qualitative data, to the extent 
possible.
    (5) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will ensure 
feedback on performance and continuous improvement in the operation of 
the proposed project.

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 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

[[Page 32093]]

requirements in the application package and reference these and other 
requirements in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section in 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 Center grant.
    3. Reporting. (a) At the end of your project period, you must 
submit a final performance report, including financial information, as 
directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must 
submit an annual performance report that provides the most current 
performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the 
Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more 
frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific 
requirements on reporting, please go to https://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    (b) In addition, the Center must submit to the Secretary the 
following reports:
    (1) Monthly exception reports that describe--
    (i) Any problems, delays, or adverse conditions that materially 
impair the ability of the Center to accomplish its purposes, along with 
an explanation of any action taken or contemplated to resolve the 
difficulties; and
    (ii) Any favorable developments that will permit the Center to 
accomplish its purposes sooner, at less cost, or more effectively than 
projected.
    (2) Semi-annual performance reports.
    (3) During the first 10 months of the project, financial status 
reports within 30 days of the 90th day, 180th day, and 270th day of the 
project period.
    (4) Three printed copies and one electronic copy (pdf) of all 
substantive reports and products.
    (5) An interim evaluation report in the third year of the project 
period and a final evaluation report in the fifth year of the project 
period.
    (6) An annual report on the GPRA measures identified in the 
Performance Measures section of this notice.
    (c) The Center must annually prepare a report of the key research 
findings of the Center and submit copies of the report to the 
Secretary, the relevant committees of Congress, the Library of 
Congress, and each ``eligible agency,'' as defined in section 3(12) of 
the Act.
    4. Performance Measures: Under GPRA, Federal departments and 
agencies must clearly describe the goals and objectives of programs, 
identify resources and actions needed to accomplish goals and 
objectives, develop a means of measuring progress made, and regularly 
report on achievement. One important source of program information on 
successes and lessons learned is the project evaluation conducted under 
individual grants. In evaluating the overall effectiveness of the 
Center, the Center must also be prepared to measure and report annually 
on the following measures of effectiveness:
    a. The percentage of scientifically based research studies 
conducted by the Center that are of high relevance to career and 
technical education practices as determined by expert panels.
    b. The percentage of products (e.g., instructional approaches, 
methods, programs, models, and strategies) disseminated to 
practitioners by the Center that are judged by expert panels to be of 
high quality.
    c. The perc