Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Overview Information; Even Start Family Literacy Program Women's Prison Grant; Notice Inviting Applications for a New Award for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008, 72683-72689 [E7-24865]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 245 (Friday, December 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72683-72689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24865]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Overview 
Information; Even Start Family Literacy Program Women's Prison Grant; 
Notice Inviting Applications for a New Award for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.313A.

DATES: Applications Available: December 21, 2007.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 29, 2008.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 29, 2008.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Even Start Family Literacy program Women's 
Prison grant is designed to help break the cycle of poverty and 
illiteracy and improve the educational opportunities of low-income 
families with mothers in prison by integrating early childhood 
education, adult literacy or adult basic education, and parenting 
education into a unified, high-quality, family literacy program. This 
project, which must be located in a prison that houses women and their 
preschool-age children, will serve women inmates and their children, 
birth through age seven. (For the purposes of this program, the term 
``prison'' means a correctional institution that houses inmates, most 
of whom are incarcerated in the institution for at least one year.)
    The grant awarded under this competition must be implemented 
through cooperative activities that: build on high-quality existing 
community resources to create a new range of services; promote the 
academic achievement of children and adults; assist children and adults 
from low-income families in achieving to challenging State content and 
student achievement standards; and use instructional programs based on 
scientifically based reading research on the prevention of reading 
difficulties for children and adults, to the extent such research is 
available. A description of the required fifteen program elements for 
which funds must be used is included in section V. Application Review 
Information, Selection Criteria in this application notice.
    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 definitions. Section 437(d)(1) 
of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), however, allows the 
Secretary to exempt from rulemaking requirements, regulations governing 
the first grant competition under a new or substantially revised 
program authority. This is the first grant competition for the Even 
Start Family Literacy program Women's Prison Grant and therefore 
qualifies for this exemption. In order to ensure the timely award of a 
grant, the Secretary has decided to forego public comment on the 
definition of ``prison'' under section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. This 
definition will apply to the FY 2008 grant competition only.
    Priority: Under this competition we are particularly interested in

[[Page 72684]]

applications that address the following priority.
    Invitational Priority: For FY 2008, this priority is an 
invitational priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), we do not give an 
application that meets this invitational priority a competitive or 
absolute preference over other applications.
    This priority is:

Collaboration With Participating Children's Preschools or Elementary 
Schools

    The Secretary is especially interested in applications that 
structure formal collaborations with the preschools and elementary 
schools that the children of the inmates participating in the family 
literacy program attend. The intent of this invitational priority is to 
ensure that the children of inmates in the program are fully 
participating in an early childhood education program that is aligned 
with the overall Even Start Family Literacy program.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6381a(a)(2).

    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.


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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grant.
    Estimated Available Funds: $150,000 per year. Funding after the 
first year of this grant is contingent on the availability of funds.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: A prison (other than a Federal prison) that 
houses women and their preschool-age children, an institution of higher 
education, a local educational agency, including a charter school that 
is considered a local educational agency under State law, a hospital, 
or other public or private organization or entity. (A Federal prison 
may not apply for these Federal funds. However, another eligible entity 
may apply for a grant to operate this family literacy program in a 
Federal prison.)
    2. Cost sharing or Matching: Cost sharing requirements for a grant 
under this program are detailed in section 1234(b) of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the No Child 
Left Behind Act of 2001.
    3. Other: Eligible participants are female prison inmates who 
participate in the project with one or more of their eligible children 
(whether or not the child resides in the prison). To be eligible: (a) 
The inmate parent must be eligible to participate in adult education 
and literacy activities under the Adult Education and Family Literacy 
Act, be within the State's compulsory school attendance age range (in 
which case a local educational agency must provide or ensure the 
availability of the basic education component), or be attending 
secondary school; and (b) the child (or children) must be younger than 
eight years of age.

    Note: Other family members of eligible participants described in 
this paragraph also may participate in Even Start Family Literacy 
program activities when appropriate to serve Even Start purposes. In 
addition, under section 1236(b)(2) of the ESEA, when a member of a 
family participating in an Even Start Family Literacy program 
becomes ineligible, the family may continue to participate until all 
participating members become ineligible. For example, in the case of 
a participating family in which the mother becomes ineligible due to 
educational advancement, the family would remain eligible until all 
participating children reach age eight. In the case of ineligibility 
due to the child or children reaching the age of eight, the family 
would remain eligible for two years or until the mother becomes 
ineligible due to educational advancement, whichever occurs first.

    4. Participation by Private School Children and Teachers: An entity 
that receives an Even Start Family Literacy Program Women's Prison 
grant is required to provide for the equitable participation of private 
elementary and secondary school children and their teachers or other 
educational personnel.
    In order to ensure that grant program activities address the needs 
of these private school children, the applicant must engage in timely 
and meaningful consultation with appropriate private school officials 
during the design and development of the program. This consultation 
must take place before the applicant makes any decision that affects 
the opportunities of eligible private school children, teachers, and 
other educational personnel to participate.
    Administrative direction and control over grant funds must remain 
with the grantee. (See section 9501, Participation by Private School 
Children and Teachers, of the ESEA.)

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Amber Sheker, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3C142, 
Washington, DC 20202-6132. Telephone: (202) 205-0653, or by e-mail: 
Amber.Sheker@ed.gov or Rebecca Marek, U.S. Department of Education, 400 
Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3C138, Washington, DC 20202-6132. Telephone: 
(202) 260-0968 or by e-mail: Rebecca.Marek@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.
    You can also obtain an application package via the Internet. To 
obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following address: https://
www.ed.gov/programs/evenstartprison/.
    Individuals with disabilities can 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 
persons listed in this section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
    Page and Appendices Limits: The application narrative is where you, 
the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to 
evaluate your application. You must limit the application narrative to 
the equivalent of no more than 25 typed pages. You, the applicant, must 
also provide a budget narrative that reviewers use to evaluate your 
application. You must limit the budget narrative to the equivalent of 
no more than 3 typed pages. For all page limits, 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 and budget narratives, including titles, 
headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions. Text in 
tables, charts, graphs, and the Appendices may be single spaced.
     Use a font that is either 12-point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch). You may use other point fonts for 
any tables, charts, graphs, and the Appendices, but those tables, 
charts, graphs and Appendices should be in a font size that is easily 
readable by the reviewers of your application.
     Use one of the following fonts for the application and 
budget narratives:

[[Page 72685]]

Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial. An application or 
budget narrative submitted in any other font (includes Times Roman or 
Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
     Any tables, charts, or graphs are included in the overall 
application narrative and budget narrative page limits. The Appendices 
are not part of these page limits. Appendices are limited to the 
following: the curriculum vitae or position descriptions of no more 
than 5 people (including key contract personnel and consultants).
     Other application materials are limited to the specific 
materials indicated in the application package, and may not include any 
video or other non-print materials.
     The page limits do not apply to: the cover sheet; the two-
page abstract; the budget forms; and the assurances and certifications 
(included in Section E of the application package).
    Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application that 
exceed the page limit; or exceed the equivalent of the page limit if 
you apply other standards. In addition, our reviewers will not read or 
view any Appendices or enclosures (including non-print materials such 
as videotapes or CDs) other than those described in this notice and the 
application package.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: December 21, 2007.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 29, 2008.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to section IV. 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 package, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 29, 2008.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under 
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this 
competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: Under section 1234(b)(3) of the ESEA, the 
recipient of an Even Start Family Literacy program Women's Prison grant 
may not use funds awarded under this competition for the indirect costs 
of a project. Under 34 CFR 74.23(a)(4) and 80.24(a)(1), a recipient of 
a grant under this program also may not claim indirect costs as part of 
the local project share. We reference other regulations outlining 
additional funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section 
in 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 Even Start Family Literacy 
Program Women's Prison grant, CFDA Number 84.313A, must be submitted 
electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at http:/
/www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to download a copy 
of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and 
submit your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a 
grant application to us.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Even Start 
Family Literacy Program Women's Prison grant 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 84.313, not 84.313A).
    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://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

[[Page 72686]]

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, 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.

    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: Rebecca Marek, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3C138, 
Washington, DC 20202. 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 
84.313A), 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 
84.313A), 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

[[Page 72687]]

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 84.313A), 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 sections 1231, 1232(a)(2), and 1235 of the ESEA and 34 CFR 75.210 
and are listed in this section. Further information about the selection 
criteria is in the application package. The maximum score for each 
criterion is indicated after the title of the criterion. The maximum 
score for this application is 100 points.
    (a) Meeting the purposes of the authorizing statute (0-20 points). 
The Secretary evaluates each application to determine the extent to 
which the project will meet the purpose of the Even Start Family 
Literacy program Women's Prison grant. Under sections 1231 and 
1232(a)(2) of the ESEA, the purpose of this grant is to help break the 
cycle of poverty and illiteracy and improve the educational 
opportunities of low-income families with mothers in prison by 
integrating early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic 
education, and parenting education into a unified, high-quality, family 
literacy program. Even Start projects must be implemented through 
cooperative activities that build on high-quality existing community 
resources in order to create a new range of services, promote the 
academic achievement of children and adults, assist children and adults 
from low-income families in achieving to challenging State content and 
student achievement standards, and use instructional programs based on 
scientifically based reading research on the prevention of reading 
difficulties for children and adults, to the extent such research is 
available. (Sections 1231 and 1232(a) of ESEA)
    (b) Need for project (0-10 points). The Secretary considers the 
need for the proposed project. In determining the need for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or 
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project. (34 CFR 
75.210(a)(2)(ii))
    (2) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be 
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude 
of those gaps or weaknesses. (34 CFR 75.210(a)(2)(v))
    (c) Quality of the project design (0-25 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In 
determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 
population or other identified needs. (34 CFR 75.210(c)(2)(ii))
    (2) The extent to which the proposed project will establish 
linkages with other appropriate agencies and organizations providing 
services to the target population. (34 CFR 75.210(c)(2)(xvii))
    (3) The extent to which the design of the project incorporates the 
following required program elements:
     Identification and recruitment of eligible families most 
in need of services provided under the Even Start Family Literacy 
Program, as indicated by a low level of income, a low level of adult 
literacy or English language proficiency of the eligible parent or 
parents, and other need-related indicators.
     Screening and preparation of parents, including teenage 
parents, and children to enable those parents and children to 
participate fully in the Even Start activities and services provided by 
the project, including testing, referral to necessary counseling, other 
necessary developmental and support services, and related services.
     A design that accommodates the participants' work 
schedules and other responsibilities, including the provision of 
support services, when those support services are unavailable from 
other sources, necessary for participation in the Even Start activities 
provided by the project, such as--
     Scheduling and locating of services to allow joint 
participation by parents and children;
     Child care for the period that parents are involved in the 
Even Start program activities; and
     Transportation to enable parents and their children to 
participate in the Even Start program.
     High-quality, intensive instructional programs that 
promote adult literacy and empower the parents to support the 
educational growth of their children, developmentally appropriate early 
childhood educational services, and preparation of children for success 
in regular school programs.
     For staff whose salaries are paid in whole or in part with 
Federal Even Start funds: all staff hired to provide academic 
instruction have obtained an associate's, bachelor's, or graduate 
degree in a field related to early childhood education, elementary 
school or secondary school education, or adult education, and, if 
applicable, meet qualifications established by the State for early 
childhood education, elementary school or secondary school education, 
or adult education provided as part of an Even Start program or another 
family literacy program; the individual responsible for administration 
of Even Start family literacy services has received training in the 
operation of a family literacy program; and paraprofessionals who 
provide support for academic instruction have a secondary school 
diploma or its recognized equivalent.
     Special training of staff, including child care staff, to 
develop the skills necessary to work with parents and young children in 
the full range of Even Start instructional services offered through the 
Even Start Family Literacy program.
     Provision and monitoring of integrated instructional 
services to participating parents and children through home-based 
programs.
     Operation on a year-round basis, including the provision 
of some program services, including instructional and enrichment 
services, during the summer months;

[[Page 72688]]

     Coordination with other programs assisted under the ESEA, 
any relevant programs under the Adult Education and Family Literacy 
Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and Title I of 
the Workforce Investment Act of 1998; and the Head Start program, 
volunteer literacy programs, and other relevant programs.
     Use of instructional programs based on scientifically 
based reading research for children and adults, to the extent that 
research is available.
     Encouraging participating families to attend regularly and 
to remain in the program a sufficient time to meet their program goals.
     Including reading-readiness activities for preschool 
children based on scientifically based reading research, to the extent 
available, to ensure that children enter school ready to learn to read.
     If applicable, promoting the continuity of family literacy 
to ensure that individuals retain and improve their educational 
outcomes.
     Ensuring that the program will serve those eligible 
families most in need of the Even Start activities and services 
provided by the project.
     Providing for an independent evaluation of the program to 
be used for program improvement. (Section 1235 of ESEA)
    (d) Quality of project services (0-20 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of the services to be provided by 
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and 
sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for 
eligible project participants who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability. (34 CFR 75.210(d)(2)) In addition, 
the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective 
practice. (34 CFR 75.210(d)(3)(iii))
    (2) The likelihood that the services to be provided by the proposed 
project will lead to improvements in the achievement of students as 
measured against rigorous academic standards. (34 CFR 
75.210(d)(3)(vii))
    (e) Quality of project personnel (0-5 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability. (34 CFR 75.210(e)(2)) In addition, 
the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator. (34 CFR 
75.210(e)(3)(i))
    (2) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel. (34 CFR 75.210(e)(3)(ii))
    (3) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of project consultants or subcontractors. (34 CFR 75.210(e)(3)(iii))
    (f) Quality of the management plan (0-10 points).
    The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks. (34 CFR 75.210(g)(2)(i))
    (2) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous 
improvement in the operation of the proposed project. (34 CFR 
75.210(g)(2)(ii))
    (g) Quality of the project evaluation (0-10 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. (34 CFR 75.210(h)(2)(i))
    (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes. (34 CFR 75.210(h)(2)(vi))

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 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 grant.
    3. Reporting: 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.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Secretary has established the following 
six (6) measures for evaluating the overall effectiveness of the Even 
Start Family Literacy program, including the Women's Prison grant:
    (1) The percentage of Even Start adults who achieve significant 
learning gains on measures of reading/English language acquisition, as 
measured by the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) 
and the Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE);
    (2) The percentage of Even Start adults with a high school 
completion goal who earn a high school diploma;
    (3) The percentage of Even Start adults with a goal of General 
Equivalency Diploma (GED) attainment who earn a GED;
    (4) The percentage of preschool-aged children participating in Even 
Start programs who achieve significant gains in oral language skills as 
measured by the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III, Receptive (PPVT-
III, Receptive).
    (5) The average number of letters Even Start preschool-aged 
children are able to identify as measured by the PALS Pre-K Upper Case 
Alphabet Knowledge subtask; and
    (6) The percentage of preschool-aged children participating in Even 
Start Programs who demonstrate age-appropriate oral language skills as 
measured by the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III, Receptive (PPVT-
III, Receptive).

[[Page 72689]]

    All grantees must provide information on these performance measures 
in the annual performance report referred to in section VI. 3. in this 
notice.

VII. Agency Contacts

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amber Sheker, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3C142, Washington, DC 20202. 
Telephone: (202) 205-0653 or by e-mail: Amber.Sheker@ed.gov or Rebecca 
Marek, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 
3C138, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 260-0968 or by e-mail: 
Rebecca.Marek@ed.gov.
    If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Alternative Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an alternative format 
(e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on 
request to the program contact persons listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII in this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: You can view this document, as 
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the 
Internet at the following site: 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: December 18, 2007.
Kerri L. Briggs,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. E7-24865 Filed 12-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P