Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Overview Information; Training and Advisory Services Program-Technical Assistance for Student Assignment Plans; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, 36174-36179 [E9-17492]
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development projects that use rigorous
scientific methodologies. To address
this interest, applicants are encouraged
to articulate goals, objectives, and
expected outcomes for the proposed
research or development activities.
Proposals should describe how results
and planned outputs are expected to
contribute to advances in knowledge,
improvements in policy and practice,
and public benefits for individuals with
disabilities. Applicants should propose
projects that are designed to be
consistent with these goals. We
encourage applicants to include in their
application a description of how results
will measure progress towards
achievement of anticipated outcomes
(including a discussion of the proposed
measures of effectiveness), the
mechanisms that will be used to
evaluate outcomes associated with
specific problems or issues, and how the
proposed activities will support new
intervention approaches and strategies.
Submission of the information
identified in this section V. 2. Review
and Selection Process is voluntary,
except where required by the selection
criteria listed in the application
package.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application
is successful, we notify your U.S.
Representative and U.S. Senators and
send you a Grant Award Notification
(GAN). We may notify you informally,
also.
If your application is not evaluated or
not selected for funding, we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy
requirements in the application package
and reference these and other
requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining
the terms and conditions of an award in
the Applicable Regulations section of
this notice and include these and other
specific conditions in the GAN. The
GAN also incorporates your approved
application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. 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
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requirements on reporting, please go to
https://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/
appforms/appforms.html.
Note: NIDRR will provide information by
letter to grantees on how and when to submit
the final performance report.
4. Performance Measures: To evaluate
the overall success of its research
program, NIDRR assesses the quality of
its funded projects through a review of
grantee performance and products. Each
year, NIDRR examines a portion of its
grantees to determine:
• The percentage of NIDRR-supported
fellows, post-doctoral trainees, and
doctoral students who publish results of
NIDRR-sponsored research in refereed
journals.
• The number of accomplishments
(e.g., new or improved tools, methods,
discoveries, standards, interventions,
programs, or devices) developed or
tested with NIDRR funding that have
been judged by expert panels to be of
high quality and to advance the field.
• The average number of publications
per award based on NIDRR-funded
research and development activities in
refereed journals.
• The percentage of new NIDRR
grants that assess the effectiveness of
interventions, programs, and devices
using rigorous methods.
• The number of new or improved
NIDRR-funded assistive and universally
designed technologies, products, and
devices transferred to industry for
potential commercialization.
Each grantee must annually report its
performance through NIDRR’s Annual
Performance Report (APR) form. NIDRR
uses APR information submitted by
grantees to assess progress on these
measures.
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact:
Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Room 6029, PCP, Washington, DC
20202. Telephone: (202) 245–7462 or by
e-mail: Donna.Nangle@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the Federal
Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–
877–8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document
and a copy of the application package in
an accessible format (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, or computer diskette)
by contacting the Grants and Contracts
Services Team, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC
20202–2550. Telephone: (202) 245–
PO 00000
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7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll
free, at 1–800–877–8339.
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/
index.html.
Delegation of Authority: The Secretary
of Education has delegated authority to
Andrew J. Pepin, Executive
Administrator for the Office of Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services,
to perform the functions of the Assistant
Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
Dated: July 17, 2009.
Andrew J. Pepin,
Executive Administrator for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E9–17493 Filed 7–21–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Elementary and Secondary
Education Overview Information;
Training and Advisory Services
Program—Technical Assistance for
Student Assignment Plans; Notice
Inviting Applications for New Awards
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.004F.
Dates:
Applications Available: July 22, 2009.
Deadline for Notice of Intent To
Apply: August 6, 2009.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: August 21, 2009.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The Training and
Advisory Services program is
authorized under Title IV of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000c–
2000c–2, 2000c–5. The February 23,
2009 House and Senate Conference
Report (Conference Report) on H.R.
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2241, the Omnibus Appropriations Act,
2009, states that within the $9,489,000
provided for Training and Advisory
Services in FY 2009, the Congress made
$2,500,000 available for one-time
competitive grants to local educational
agencies (LEAs) for technical assistance
in preparing, adopting, or modifying,
and implementing student assignment
plans to avoid racial isolation and
resegregation in the Nation’s schools,
and to facilitate student diversity,
within the parameters of current law.
The Conference Report further called for
LEAs to use the grant funds to seek
assistance and expertise from student
assignment specialists, demographers,
community relations specialists, facility
and other planners, or curriculum
specialists and others in comparable
LEAs with relevant and successful
experience, as well as specialists and
consultants from academia, non-profit
organizations, civil rights organizations,
and the private sector.
Priorities: This notice contains one
absolute priority and one competitive
preference priority. We are establishing
the absolute priority and the
competitive preference priority for the
FY 2009 grant competition only, in
accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the
General Education Provisions Act
(GEPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).
Absolute Priority: This priority is an
absolute priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(3) we consider only
applications that meet this priority.
This priority is:
Absolute Priority—Technical
Assistance for Facilitating Student
Diversity.
Applications from LEAs seeking to
obtain technical assistance in preparing,
adopting, or modifying, and
implementing student assignment plans
that use strategies to avoid racial
isolation and resegregation in their
schools, and to facilitate student
diversity, that are permissible within
the parameters of current law. LEAs
must use the grant funds to seek
assistance and expertise from student
assignment specialists, demographers,
community relations specialists, facility
and other planners, or curriculum
specialists and others in comparable
LEAs with relevant and successful
experience, as well as specialists and
consultants from academia, non-profit
organizations, civil rights organizations,
and the private sector.
Competitive Preference Priority:
Within this absolute priority, we give
preference to applications that address
the following priority.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we
award an additional five points to an
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application that meets this priority. This
priority is:
Competitive Preference Priority—
School-Board-Approved Voluntary
Plans.
Applications from LEAs with existing
school-board-approved voluntary
student assignment plans, seeking to
obtain technical assistance to modify or
implement those plans.
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 priorities.
Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, however,
allows the Secretary to exempt from
rulemaking requirements, regulations
governing the first grant competition
under a new or substantially revised
program authority. Public Law 111–8
and its accompanying conference report
appropriated, for the first time, funds
specifically for competitive, technical
assistance grants to school districts
under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000c–2000c–2, 2000c–
5. Therefore, this grant competition
qualifies for this exemption. In order to
ensure timely grant awards, the
Secretary has decided to forgo public
comment on the priorities under section
437(d)(1) of GEPA. These priorities will
apply to the FY 2009 grant competition
only.
Program Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2000c–
2000c–2, 2000c–5.
Applicable Regulations: The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in
34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82,
84, 85, 97, 98, and 99.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR Part 79
apply to all applicants except federally
recognized Indian tribes.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds:
$2,250,000.
Estimated Range of Awards:
$200,000–250,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$225,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any
application that proposes a budget
exceeding $250,000 for a single budget
period of up to 24 months. The
Secretary may award grants for up to 24
months but no grantee shall receive
more than $250,000, regardless of the
budget period. The Assistant Secretary
for Elementary and Secondary
Education may change the maximum
amount through a notice published in
the Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 10.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
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Project Period: Up to 24 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Local
educational agencies (school districts).
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
program does not require cost sharing or
matching.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address To Request Application
Package:
You can obtain an application
package via the Internet or from the
program office. To obtain a copy via the
Internet, use the following address:
https://www.ed.gov/programs/tasap/
index.html. To obtain a copy from the
program office, write, fax, or call the
following: Fran Walter, U.S. Department
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue,
SW., room 3W113, Washington, DC
20202–6400. Telephone: (202) 205–9198
or by e-mail: fran.walter@ed.gov. Fax:
(202) 205–5870. If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD), call, toll free: 1–800–877–8339.
Individuals with disabilities can
obtain a copy of the application package
in an accessible format (e.g., braille,
large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) by contacting the person listed
under Accessible Format in section VIII
of this notice.
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
program.
Notice of Intent To Apply: We will be
able to develop a more efficient process
for reviewing grant applications if we
have a better understanding of the
number of applications we will receive.
Therefore, we strongly encourage each
potential applicant to send an e-mail
notice of its intent to apply for funding
to the following address:
fran.walter@ed.gov by August 6, 2009.
The notice of intent to apply is optional
and should not include information
about the potential applicant’s proposal.
LEAs that do not provide us with the
notice of intent to apply may still
submit an application.
Page Limit: 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 no
more than 25 pages, using the following
standards:
• A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side
only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom,
and both sides.
• Double space (no more than three
lines per vertical inch) all text in the
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application narrative, including titles,
headings, footnotes, quotations,
references, and captions, as well as all
text in charts, tables, figures, and
graphs.
• Use a font that is either 12 point or
larger or no smaller than 10 pitch
(characters per inch).
• Use one of the following fonts:
Times New Roman, Courier, Courier
New, or Arial. An application submitted
in any other font (including Times
Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be
accepted.
The page limit does not apply to the
cover sheet; the budget section,
including the narrative budget
justification; the assurances and
certifications; or the one-page abstract,
the resumes, the bibliography, or the
letters of support. However, the page
limit does apply to all of the application
narrative section.
We will reject your application if you
exceed the page limit; or if you apply
other standards and exceed the
equivalent of the page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: July 22, 2009.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: August 21, 2009.
Applications for grants under this
program must be submitted
electronically using the Electronic Grant
Application System (e-Application)
accessible though the Department’s eGrants site. 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 of this notice.
We do not consider an application
that does not comply with the deadline
requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who
need an accommodation or auxiliary aid
in connection with the application
process should contact the person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT in section VII of this notice. If
the Department provides an
accommodation or auxiliary aid to an
individual with a disability in
connection with the application
process, the individual’s application
remains subject to all other
requirements and limitations in this
notice.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This
program is subject to Executive Order
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR
part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs under Executive Order 12372
is in the application package for this
program.
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5. Funding Restrictions: We reference
regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements:
Applications for grants under this
program must be submitted
electronically unless you qualify for an
exception to this requirement in
accordance with the instructions in this
section.
a. Electronic Submission of
Applications.
Applications for grants under the
Technical Assistance for Student
Assignment Plans Program, CFDA
number 84.004F, must be submitted
electronically using e-Application,
accessible through the Department’s
e-Grants Web site at: https://
e-grants.ed.gov.
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.
Please note the following:
• You must complete the electronic
submission of your grant application by
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on
the application deadline date. EApplication will not accept an
application for this program after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on
the application deadline date.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that
you do not wait until the application
deadline date to begin the application
process.
• The hours of operation of the eGrants Web site are 6:00 a.m. Monday
until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday; and 6:00
a.m. Thursday until 8:00 p.m. Sunday,
Washington, DC time. Please note that,
because of maintenance, the system is
unavailable between 8:00 p.m. on
Sundays and 6:00 a.m. on Mondays, and
between 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and
6:00 a.m. on Thursdays, Washington,
DC time. Any modifications to these
hours are posted on the e-Grants Web
site.
• 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
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elsewhere in this section, and submit
your application in paper format.
• You must submit all documents
electronically, including all information
you typically provide on the following
forms: Application for Federal
Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for
SF 424, Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs (ED 524), and all
necessary assurances and certifications.
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.
• Prior to submitting your electronic
application, you may wish to print a
copy of it for your records.
• After you electronically submit
your application, you will receive an
automatic acknowledgement that will
include a PR/Award number (an
identifying number unique to your
application).
• Within three working days after
submitting your electronic application,
fax a signed copy of the SF 424 to the
Application Control Center after
following these steps:
(1) Print SF 424 from e-Application.
(2) The applicant’s Authorizing
Representative must sign this form.
(3) Place the PR/Award number in the
upper right hand corner of the hardcopy signature page of the SF 424.
(4) Fax the signed SF 424 to the
Application Control Center at (202)
245–6272.
• We may request that you provide us
original signatures on other forms at a
later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension
in Case of e-Application Unavailability:
If you are prevented from electronically
submitting your application on the
application deadline date because eApplication is unavailable, we will
grant you an extension of one business
day to enable you to transmit your
application electronically, by mail, or by
hand delivery. We will grant this
extension if—
(1) You are a registered user of eApplication and you have initiated an
electronic application for this
competition; and
(2) (a) E-Application is unavailable for
60 minutes or more between the hours
of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington,
DC time, on the application deadline
date; or
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(b) E-Application is unavailable for
any period of time between 3:30 p.m.
and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time,
on the application deadline date.
We must acknowledge and confirm
these periods of unavailability before
granting you an extension. To request
this extension or to confirm our
acknowledgment of any system
unavailability, you may contact either
(1) the person listed elsewhere in this
notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2)
the e-Grants help desk at 1–888–336–
8930. If e-Application is unavailable
due to technical problems with the
system and, therefore, the application
deadline is extended, an e-mail will be
sent to all registered users who have
initiated an e-Application. Extensions
referred to in this section apply only to
the unavailability of e-Application.
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
e-Application because—
• You do not have access to the
Internet; or
• You do not have the capacity to
upload large documents to eApplication; and
• No later than two weeks before the
application deadline date (14 calendar
days or, if the fourteenth calendar day
before the application deadline date
falls on a Federal holiday, the next
business day following the Federal
holiday), you mail or fax a written
statement to the Department, explaining
which of the two grounds for an
exception prevents you from using the
Internet to submit your application. If
you mail your written statement to the
Department, it must be postmarked no
later than two weeks before the
application deadline date. If you fax
your written statement to the
Department, we must receive the faxed
statement no later than two weeks
before the application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your
statement to: Fran Walter, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue, SW., room 3W113, LBJ
Building, Washington, DC, 20202. fax:
(202) 205–5870.
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
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application to the Department. You
must mail the original and two copies
of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the
Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.004F), LBJ Basement
Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20202–4260.
You must show proof of mailing
consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service
postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the
date of mailing stamped by the U.S.
Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or
receipt from a commercial carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing
acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Education.
If you mail your application through
the U.S. Postal Service, we do not
accept either of the following as proof
of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by
the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after
the application deadline date, we will
not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not
uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before
relying on this method, you should check
with your local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications
by Hand Delivery.
If you qualify for an exception to the
electronic submission requirement, you
(or a courier service) may deliver your
paper application to the Department by
hand. You must deliver the original and
two copies of your application, by hand,
on or before the application deadline
date, to the Department at the following
address: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.004F), 550 12th
Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260.
The Application Control Center
accepts hand deliveries daily between
8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington,
DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays,
and Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper
Applications: If you mail or hand deliver
your application to the Department—
(1) You must indicate on the envelope
and—if not provided by the Department—in
Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number,
including suffix letter, if any, of the
competition under which you are submitting
your application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will
mail to you a notification of receipt of your
grant application. If you do not receive this
grant notification within 15 business days
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from the application deadline date, you
should call the U.S. Department of Education
Application Control Center at (202) 245–
6288.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection
criteria for this program are from 34 CFR
75.210. The maximum score for all of
the selection criteria is 100 points. The
maximum score for each criterion is
indicated in parentheses. The selection
criteria for this competition are as
follows:
(a) Need for project. (25 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.
(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.
Note: Included in the need for assistance
will be consideration of the complexity of the
student assignment plan—the extent to
which the applicant’s student assignment
plan involves particular challenges because
of either the size of the student body that is
part of the plan, the diversity of the student
population that is part of the plan, or the
applicant’s current pattern for assigning
students to schools.
(b) Significance. (10 points)
The Secretary considers the
significance of the proposed project. In
determining the significance of the
proposed project, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(1) The likelihood that the proposed
project will result in system change or
improvement.
(2) The extent to which the proposed
project is likely to build local capacity
to provide, improve, or expand services
that address the needs of the target
population.
Note: In evaluating the extent to which the
proposed project is likely to build capacity to
expand services that address the needs of the
target population, the Secretary considers
how the student assignment plan will
address the needs of the students, teachers,
and others who will be affected by the plan.
(c) Quality of the project design. (15
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:
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(1) The extent to which the goals,
objectives, and outcomes to be achieved
by the proposed project are clearly
specified and measurable.
(2) The extent to which the proposed
project is designed to build capacity and
yield results that will extend beyond the
period of Federal financial assistance.
(d) Quality of project services. (15
points) The Secretary considers the
quality of 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. In addition, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(1) The extent to which entities that
are to be served by the proposed
technical assistance project demonstrate
support for the project.
(2) The extent to which the services
to be provided by the proposed project
reflect up-to-date knowledge from
research and effective practice.
(3) The likely impact of the services
to be provided by the proposed project
on the intended recipients of those
services.
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Note: ‘‘Project services’’ are the technical
assistance activities provided to the LEA that
are related to the student assignment plan.
‘‘Project participants’’ are those individuals
who would be participating in the technical
assistance activities, who may include, as
appropriate, teachers, principals,
administrators, school board members,
parents, and community leaders.
(e) Quality of project personnel. (10
points)
The Secretary considers the quality of
the personnel who will carry out the
proposed project. In determining the
quality of project personnel the
Secretary considers the 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.
In addition, the Secretary considers
the qualifications, including relevant
training and experience, of project
consultants or subcontractors.
(f) Adequacy of resources. (5 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 extent to which the costs
are reasonable in relation to the
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16:04 Jul 21, 2009
Jkt 217001
objectives, design, and potential
significance of the proposed project.
(g) Quality of the management plan.
(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.
(2) How the applicant will ensure that
a diversity of perspectives are brought to
bear in the operation of the proposed
project, including those of parents,
teachers, the business community, a
variety of disciplinary and professional
fields, recipients or beneficiaries of
services, or others as appropriate.
(h) Quality of the project 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 provide for examining the
effectiveness of project implementation
strategies.
(2) The extent to which the methods
of evaluation will provide performance
feedback and permit periodic
assessment of progress toward achieving
intended outcomes.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application
is successful, we notify your U.S.
Representative and U.S. Senators and
send you a Grant Award Notification
(GAN). We may notify you informally,
also.
If your application is not evaluated or
not selected for funding, we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy
requirements in the application package
and reference these and other
requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining
the terms and conditions of an award in
the Applicable Regulations section 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
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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: The
Department has established the
following Government Performance and
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) performance
measure for the Technical Assistance for
Student Assignment Plans program: The
percentage of grantees that have school
board-approved student assignment
plans by the end of the project period
that can be, or are being, implemented.
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact: Fran
Walter, U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room
3W113, Washington, DC 20202.
Telephone: (202) 205–9198 or by e-mail:
fran.walter@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll
free, at 1–800–877–8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document
and a copy of the application package in
an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
print, audiotape, or computer diskette)
on request to the program contact
person listed under For Further
Information Contact in section VII 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/
index.html.
Delegation of Authority: The Secretary
of Education has delegated authority to
Joseph C. Conaty, Director, Academic
E:\FR\FM\22JYN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 139 / Wednesday, July 22, 2009 / Notices
Improvement and Teacher Quality
Programs for the Office of Elementary
and Secondary Education to perform the
functions of the Assistant Secretary for
Elementary and Secondary Education.
Dated: July 16, 2009.
Joseph C. Conaty,
Director, Academic Improvement and
Teacher Quality Programs.
[FR Doc. E9–17492 Filed 7–21–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services; Overview
Information; National Institute on
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDRR)—Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Projects and Centers
Program—Rehabilitation Research and
Training Centers (RRTCs)—Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI) Interventions; Notice
Inviting Applications for New Awards
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.133B–11.
Dates:
Applications Available: July 22, 2009.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting:
August 6, 2009.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: August 21, 2009.
Full Text of Announcement
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
the RRTC program is to improve the
effectiveness of services authorized
under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended, through advanced research,
training, technical assistance, and
dissemination activities in general
problem areas, as specified by NIDRR.
Such activities are designed to benefit
rehabilitation service providers,
individuals with disabilities, and the
family members or other authorized
representatives of individuals with
disabilities.
Additional information on the RRTC
program can be found at: https://
www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/resprogram.html#RRTC.
Priorities: This notice contains two
absolute priorities and one invitational
priority. Absolute Priority 1–-General
Rehabilitation and Training Centers
(RRTC) Requirements is from the notice
of final priorities for the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and
Centers Program, published in the
Federal Register on February 1, 2008
(73 FR 6132). Absolute Priority 2—
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Interventions is from the notice of final
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16:04 Jul 21, 2009
Jkt 217001
priorities for health and function
outcomes for individuals with
disabilities, published in the Federal
Register on June 10, 2004 (69 FR 32824).
Absolute Priorities: For FY 2009, these
priorities are absolute priorities. Under
34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only
applications that meet both of the
absolute priorities.
These priorities are:
Absolute Priority 1—General
Rehabilitation Research and Training
Centers (RRTC) Requirements.
Absolute Priority 2—Traumatic Brain
Injury (TBI) Interventions.
Note: NIDRR strongly suggests proposing
no more than three research projects under
these absolute priorities.
Invitational Priority: Within these
absolute priorities, we are particularly
interested in applications that address
the following priority. For FY 2009, 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:
Projects that coordinate with the
NIDRR-funded Model Systems
Knowledge Translation Center to
provide scientific results and
information for dissemination to clinical
and consumer audiences, including
vocational rehabilitation and
independent living service providers.
(Additional information on this center
can be found at https://
uwctds.washington.edu.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and
764(b)(2).
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in
34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 84,
85, 86, and 97. (b) The regulations for
this program in 34 CFR part 350. (c) The
notice of final priorities for the
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects and Centers Program, published
in the Federal Register on February 1,
2008 (73 FR 6132). (d) The notice of
final priorities for health and function
outcomes for individuals with
disabilities, published in the Federal
Register on June 10, 2004 (69 FR 32824).
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86
apply to institutions of higher education
(IHEs) only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary Grant.
Estimated Available Funds: $800,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any
application that proposes a budget
exceeding $800,000 for a single budget
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Sfmt 4703
36179
period of 12 months. The Assistant
Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services may change the
maximum amount through a notice
published in the Federal Register.
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: States; public
or private agencies, including for-profit
agencies; public or private
organizations, including for-profit
organizations; IHEs; and Indian tribes
and tribal organizations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
competition does not require cost
sharing or matching.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address To Request Application
Package: Education Publications Center
(ED Pubs), P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD
20794–1398. Telephone, toll free: 1–
877–433–7827. FAX: (301) 470–1244. If
you use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD), call, toll free: 1–877–
576–7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web
site, also: https://www.ed.gov/pubs/
edpubs.html or at its e-mail address:
edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application package
from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this
program or competition as follows:
CFDA number 84.133B–11.
Individuals with disabilities can
obtain a copy of the application package
in an accessible format (e.g., braille,
large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) by contacting the team or
person listed under Accessible Format
in section VIII of this notice.
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission: Requirements concerning
the content of an application, together
with the forms you must submit, are in
the application package for this
competition.
Page Limit: The application narrative
(Part III of the application) is where you,
the applicant, address the selection
criteria that reviewers use to evaluate
your application. We recommend that
you limit Part III to the equivalent of no
more than 125 pages, using the
following standards:
• A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side
only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom,
and both sides.
• Double space (no more than three
lines per vertical inch) all text in the
application narrative. Single spacing
may be used for titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36174-36179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17492]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Overview
Information; Training and Advisory Services Program--Technical
Assistance for Student Assignment Plans; Notice Inviting Applications
for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.004F.
Dates:
Applications Available: July 22, 2009.
Deadline for Notice of Intent To Apply: August 6, 2009.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 21, 2009.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The Training and Advisory Services program is
authorized under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C.
2000c-2000c-2, 2000c-5. The February 23, 2009 House and Senate
Conference Report (Conference Report) on H.R.
[[Page 36175]]
2241, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009, states that within the
$9,489,000 provided for Training and Advisory Services in FY 2009, the
Congress made $2,500,000 available for one-time competitive grants to
local educational agencies (LEAs) for technical assistance in
preparing, adopting, or modifying, and implementing student assignment
plans to avoid racial isolation and resegregation in the Nation's
schools, and to facilitate student diversity, within the parameters of
current law. The Conference Report further called for LEAs to use the
grant funds to seek assistance and expertise from student assignment
specialists, demographers, community relations specialists, facility
and other planners, or curriculum specialists and others in comparable
LEAs with relevant and successful experience, as well as specialists
and consultants from academia, non-profit organizations, civil rights
organizations, and the private sector.
Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and one
competitive preference priority. We are establishing the absolute
priority and the competitive preference priority for the FY 2009 grant
competition only, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the General
Education Provisions Act (GEPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).
Absolute Priority: This priority is an absolute priority. Under 34
CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority.
This priority is:
Absolute Priority--Technical Assistance for Facilitating Student
Diversity.
Applications from LEAs seeking to obtain technical assistance in
preparing, adopting, or modifying, and implementing student assignment
plans that use strategies to avoid racial isolation and resegregation
in their schools, and to facilitate student diversity, that are
permissible within the parameters of current law. LEAs must use the
grant funds to seek assistance and expertise from student assignment
specialists, demographers, community relations specialists, facility
and other planners, or curriculum specialists and others in comparable
LEAs with relevant and successful experience, as well as specialists
and consultants from academia, non-profit organizations, civil rights
organizations, and the private sector.
Competitive Preference Priority: Within this absolute priority, we
give preference to applications that address the following priority.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award an additional five points to
an application that meets this priority. This priority is:
Competitive Preference Priority--School-Board-Approved Voluntary
Plans.
Applications from LEAs with existing school-board-approved
voluntary student assignment plans, seeking to obtain technical
assistance to modify or implement those plans.
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 priorities. Section 437(d)(1) of
GEPA, however, allows the Secretary to exempt from rulemaking
requirements, regulations governing the first grant competition under a
new or substantially revised program authority. Public Law 111-8 and
its accompanying conference report appropriated, for the first time,
funds specifically for competitive, technical assistance grants to
school districts under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42
U.S.C. 2000c-2000c-2, 2000c-5. Therefore, this grant competition
qualifies for this exemption. In order to ensure timely grant awards,
the Secretary has decided to forgo public comment on the priorities
under section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. These priorities will apply to the FY
2009 grant competition only.
Program Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2000c-2000c-2, 2000c-5.
Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 84, 85, 97, 98, and 99.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR Part 79 apply to all applicants
except federally recognized Indian tribes.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $2,250,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000-250,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $225,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $250,000 for a single budget period of up to 24
months. The Secretary may award grants for up to 24 months but no
grantee shall receive more than $250,000, regardless of the budget
period. The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education
may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal
Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 10.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 24 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Local educational agencies (school
districts).
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address To Request Application Package:
You can obtain an application package via the Internet or from the
program office. To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following
address: https://www.ed.gov/programs/tasap/. To obtain a copy
from the program office, write, fax, or call the following: Fran
Walter, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room
3W113, Washington, DC 20202-6400. Telephone: (202) 205-9198 or by e-
mail: fran.walter@ed.gov. Fax: (202) 205-5870. If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call, toll free: 1-800-
877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape,
or computer diskette) by contacting the person listed under Accessible
Format in section VIII of this notice.
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 program.
Notice of Intent To Apply: We will be able to develop a more
efficient process for reviewing grant applications if we have a better
understanding of the number of applications we will receive. Therefore,
we strongly encourage each potential applicant to send an e-mail notice
of its intent to apply for funding to the following address:
fran.walter@ed.gov by August 6, 2009. The notice of intent to apply is
optional and should not include information about the potential
applicant's proposal. LEAs that do not provide us with the notice of
intent to apply may still submit an application.
Page Limit: 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 no more than
25 pages, using the following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the
[[Page 36176]]
application narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes,
quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in charts,
tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
The page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the budget
section, including the narrative budget justification; the assurances
and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes, the
bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the page limit does
apply to all of the application narrative section.
We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit; or if
you apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: July 22, 2009.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 21, 2009.
Applications for grants under this program must be submitted
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) accessible though the Department's e-Grants site. 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 of this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the
application process, the individual's application remains subject to
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order
12372 is in the application package for this program.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this program must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an
exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in
this section.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
Applications for grants under the Technical Assistance for Student
Assignment Plans Program, CFDA number 84.004F, must be submitted
electronically using e-Application, accessible through the Department's
e-Grants Web site at: https://e-grants.ed.gov.
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.
Please note the following:
You must complete the electronic submission of your grant
application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. E-Application will not accept an application for this
program after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait
until the application deadline date to begin the application process.
The hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site are 6:00
a.m. Monday until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday; and 6:00 a.m. Thursday until
8:00 p.m. Sunday, Washington, DC time. Please note that, because of
maintenance, the system is unavailable between 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and
6:00 a.m. on Mondays, and between 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6:00 a.m.
on Thursdays, Washington, DC time. Any modifications to these hours are
posted on the e-Grants Web site.
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. 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.
Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive an automatic acknowledgement that will include a PR/Award
number (an identifying number unique to your application).
Within three working days after submitting your electronic
application, fax a signed copy of the SF 424 to the Application Control
Center after following these steps:
(1) Print SF 424 from e-Application.
(2) The applicant's Authorizing Representative must sign this form.
(3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the
hard-copy signature page of the SF 424.
(4) Fax the signed SF 424 to the Application Control Center at
(202) 245-6272.
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
other forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of e-Application
Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting
your application on the application deadline date because e-Application
is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of one business day to
enable you to transmit your application electronically, by mail, or by
hand delivery. We will grant this extension if--
(1) You are a registered user of e-Application and you have
initiated an electronic application for this competition; and
(2) (a) E-Application is unavailable for 60 minutes or more between
the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date; or
[[Page 36177]]
(b) E-Application is unavailable for any period of time between
3:30 p.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date.
We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to
confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, you may
contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-
Grants help desk at 1-888-336-8930. If e-Application is unavailable due
to technical problems with the system and, therefore, the application
deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent to all registered users
who have initiated an e-Application. Extensions referred to in this
section apply only to the unavailability of e-Application.
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 e-Application because--
You do not have access to the Internet; or
You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to
e-Application; and
No later than two weeks before the application deadline
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception
prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you
mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax
your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed
statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: Fran Walter, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3W113, LBJ
Building, Washington, DC, 20202. fax: (202) 205-5870.
Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.004F), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
U.S. Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a
dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with
your local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original
and two copies of your application, by hand, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.004F), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are
submitting your application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not
receive this grant notification within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are
from 34 CFR 75.210. The maximum score for all of the selection criteria
is 100 points. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in
parentheses. The selection criteria for this competition are as
follows:
(a) Need for project. (25 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.
(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.
Note: Included in the need for assistance will be consideration
of the complexity of the student assignment plan--the extent to
which the applicant's student assignment plan involves particular
challenges because of either the size of the student body that is
part of the plan, the diversity of the student population that is
part of the plan, or the applicant's current pattern for assigning
students to schools.
(b) Significance. (10 points)
The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed project.
In determining the significance of the proposed project, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(1) The likelihood that the proposed project will result in system
change or improvement.
(2) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build
local capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the
needs of the target population.
Note: In evaluating the extent to which the proposed project is
likely to build capacity to expand services that address the needs
of the target population, the Secretary considers how the student
assignment plan will address the needs of the students, teachers,
and others who will be affected by the plan.
(c) Quality of the project design. (15 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:
[[Page 36178]]
(1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
(2) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of
Federal financial assistance.
(d) Quality of project services. (15 points) The Secretary
considers the quality of 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. In addition, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(1) The extent to which entities that are to be served by the
proposed technical assistance project demonstrate support for the
project.
(2) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed
project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective
practice.
(3) The likely impact of the services to be provided by the
proposed project on the intended recipients of those services.
Note: ``Project services'' are the technical assistance
activities provided to the LEA that are related to the student
assignment plan. ``Project participants'' are those individuals who
would be participating in the technical assistance activities, who
may include, as appropriate, teachers, principals, administrators,
school board members, parents, and community leaders.
(e) Quality of project personnel. (10 points)
The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry
out the proposed project. In determining the quality of project
personnel the Secretary considers the 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.
In addition, the Secretary considers the qualifications, including
relevant training and experience, of project consultants or
subcontractors.
(f) Adequacy of resources. (5 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 extent to which the costs are
reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and potential
significance of the proposed project.
(g) Quality of the management plan. (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.
(2) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives
are brought to bear in the operation of the proposed project, including
those of parents, teachers, the business community, a variety of
disciplinary and professional fields, recipients or beneficiaries of
services, or others as appropriate.
(h) Quality of the project 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 provide for
examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies.
(2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward
achieving intended outcomes.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN). We may notify you informally, also.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section 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: The Department has established the
following Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA)
performance measure for the Technical Assistance for Student Assignment
Plans program: The percentage of grantees that have school board-
approved student assignment plans by the end of the project period that
can be, or are being, implemented.
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact: Fran Walter, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 3W113, Washington, DC 20202.
Telephone: (202) 205-9198 or by e-mail: fran.walter@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on
request to the program contact person listed under For Further
Information Contact in section VII 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/.
Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education has delegated
authority to Joseph C. Conaty, Director, Academic
[[Page 36179]]
Improvement and Teacher Quality Programs for the Office of Elementary
and Secondary Education to perform the functions of the Assistant
Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
Dated: July 16, 2009.
Joseph C. Conaty,
Director, Academic Improvement and Teacher Quality Programs.
[FR Doc. E9-17492 Filed 7-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
