Office of Innovation and Improvement; Overview Information; Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grants to Non-State Educational Agencies for Planning, Program Design, and Implementation and for Dissemination; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010, 43510-43515 [2010-18254]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 142 (Monday, July 26, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43510-43515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-18254]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Innovation and Improvement; Overview Information; 
Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grants to Non-State Educational Agencies 
for Planning, Program Design, and Implementation and for Dissemination; 
Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.282B 
and 84.282C.

    Dates:
    Applications Available: July 26, 2010.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 25, 2010.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 15, 2010.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the CSP is to increase national 
understanding of the charter school model and to expand the number of 
high-quality charter schools available to students across the Nation by 
providing financial assistance for the planning, program design, and 
initial implementation of charter schools, and to evaluate the effects 
of charter schools, including their effects on students, student 
academic achievement, staff, and parents. The non-State educational 
agency (non-SEA) grants for planning, program design, and 
implementation, and non-SEA grants for dissemination provide funds for 
these purposes to eligible applicants in States in which the SEA does 
not have an approved application under the CSP.
    Non-SEA eligible applicants that propose to use grant funds for 
planning, program design, and implementation must apply under CFDA 
number 84.282B. Non-SEA eligible applicants that request funds for 
dissemination activities must apply under CFDA number 84.282C.
    Invitational Priorities: For FY 2010, these priorities are 
invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an 
application that meets one or both of these invitational priorities a 
competitive or absolute preference over other applications.
    These priorities are:
    Invitational Priority 1: High-Quality Charter Schools in High-Need 
Communities.
    The Secretary is particularly interested in supporting high-quality 
charter schools in one or more high-need communities, particularly 
urban and rural areas, in which a large proportion or number of public 
schools have been identified for improvement, corrective action, or 
restructuring under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). Applicants should describe 
the high-need community to be served. Additionally, if the charter 
school to be opened replicates a high-quality charter school, the 
applicant should provide evidence of the quality of the model to be 
replicated, including academic, graduation, and other relevant results.
    Invitational Priority 2: Turning Around Persistently Low-Performing 
Schools.
    The Secretary is particularly interested in encouraging applicants 
to support turning around persistently low-performing schools. To meet 
this invitational priority, the proposed project should engage in one 
or both of the following types of activities: (1) The creation of a new 
charter school in the vicinity of one or more public schools closed as 
a consequence of an LEA implementing a restructuring plan under section 
1116(b)(8) of the ESEA, provided that this is done in coordination with 
the LEA; or (2) the creation of a new charter school under the restart 
model of intervention supported under the Department's School 
Improvement Grants program (see Final Requirements for School 
Improvement Grants as Amended in January 2010 (January 28, 2010) at 
https://www2.ed.gov/programs/sif/faq.html). Under this model, an LEA 
converts a school or closes and reopens a school under a charter school 
operator, a charter management organization (CMO), or an education 
management organization (EMO) that has been selected through a rigorous 
review process.
    Definitions for Invitational Priorities:
    For purposes of these invitational priorities, the following 
definitions apply:
    1. A CMO, or charter management organization, is a non-profit 
organization that operates or manages charter schools by centralizing 
or sharing certain functions and resources among schools.

[[Page 43511]]

    2. An EMO, or education management organization, is a for-profit or 
non-profit organization that provides whole-school operation services 
to an LEA.
    3. High-need community is (a) a political subdivision of a State, 
or a portion of a political subdivision of a State, in which at least 
50 percent of the children are from low-income families; or (b) a 
political subdivision of a State that is among the 10 percent of 
political subdivisions of the State having the greatest numbers of such 
children.
    4. Low-income family means a family with an income below the 
poverty line for the most recent fiscal year for which satisfactory 
data are available.
    Requirements: Applicants approved for funding under this 
competition must attend an in-person, two-day meeting for project 
directors during each year of the project. Applicants are encouraged to 
include the cost of attending this meeting in their proposed budgets.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7221-7221j.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 76, 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 only to 
institutions of higher education.


    Note:  The regulations in 34 CFR part 99 apply only to 
educational agencies or institutions.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $3,000,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $140,000-$200,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $175,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 15-21.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months for planning and implementation 
grants under CFDA number 84.282B. Up to 24 months for dissemination 
grants under CFDA number 84.282C.

    Note:  Planning and implementation grants awarded by the 
Secretary to non-SEA eligible applicants under CFDA number 84.282B 
will be awarded for a period of up to 36 months, no more than 18 
months of which may be used for planning and program design and no 
more than two years of which may be used for the initial 
implementation of a charter school. Dissemination grants awarded 
under CFDA number 84.282C are for a period of up to two years.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants:
    (a) Planning and Initial Implementation grants (CFDA number 
84.282B): Non-SEA eligible applicants in States with a State statute 
specifically authorizing the establishment of charter schools and in 
which the SEA elects not to participate in the CSP or does not have an 
application approved under the CSP.
    (b) Dissemination grants (CFDA number 84.282C): Charter schools, as 
defined in section 5210(1) of the ESEA, in States in which the SEA 
elects not to participate in the CSP or does not have an application 
approved under the CSP.

    Note:  A charter school may apply for funds to carry out 
dissemination activities, whether or not the charter school 
previously applied for or received funds under the CSP for planning 
or implementation, if the charter school has been in operation for 
at least three consecutive years and has demonstrated overall 
success, including--
    (1) Substantial progress in improving student academic 
achievement;
    (2) High levels of parent satisfaction; and
    (3) The management and leadership necessary to overcome initial 
start-up problems and establish a thriving, financially viable 
charter school.


    Note:  The term eligible applicant is defined in section 5210(3) 
of the ESEA. The following States currently have approved 
applications under the CSP: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, 
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, 
Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, 
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, 
Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, 
Wisconsin. The non-SEA CSP competitions (CFDA numbers 84.282B and 
84.282C) are limited to eligible applicants in States in which the 
SEA does not have an approved application under the CSP (or will not 
have an approved application as of October 1, 2010). Non-SEA 
eligible applicants and charter schools in States with currently 
approved CSP applications that are interested in participating in 
the CSP should contact the SEA for information related to the 
State's CSP subgrant competition.

    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: Soumya Sathya, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4W236, 
Washington, DC 20202-5970. Telephone: (202) 260-0819 or by e-mail: 
soumya.sathya@ed.gov.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the 
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339. Individuals 
with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application package in an 
accessible format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) by contacting the program contact person listed in this 
section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. The Secretary strongly 
encourages applicants to limit Part III to the equivalent of no more 
than 50 pages, using the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, 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.
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, 
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part 
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the 
resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, you must 
include all of the application narrative in Part III.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: July 26, 2010.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 25, 2010.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) accessible through 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.7.
    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

[[Page 43512]]

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.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 15, 2010.
    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 program.
    5. Funding Restrictions:
    Use of Funds for Post-Award Planning and Design of the Educational 
Program and Initial Implementation of the Charter School. A non-SEA 
eligible applicant receiving a grant under this program may use the 
grant funds only for--
    (a) Post-award planning and design of the educational program, 
which may include (i) refinement of the desired educational results and 
of the methods for measuring progress toward achieving those results; 
and (ii) professional development of teachers and other staff who will 
work in the charter school; and
    (b) Initial implementation of the charter school, which may include 
(i) informing the community about the school; (ii) acquiring necessary 
equipment and educational materials and supplies; (iii) acquiring or 
developing curriculum materials; and (iv) other initial operational 
costs that cannot be met from State or local sources. (20 U.S.C. 
7221c(f)(3))
    Use of Funds for Dissemination Activities. A charter school may use 
these funds to assist other schools in adapting the charter school's 
program (or certain aspects of the charter school's program), or to 
disseminate information about the charter school through such 
activities as--
    (a) Assisting other individuals with the planning and start-up of 
one or more new public schools, including charter schools, that are 
independent of the assisting charter school and the assisting charter 
school's developers and that agree to be held to at least as high a 
level of accountability as the assisting charter school;
    (b) Developing partnerships with other public schools, including 
charter schools, designed to improve student academic achievement in 
each of the schools participating in the partnership;
    (c) Developing curriculum materials, assessments, and other 
materials that promote increased student achievement and are based on 
successful practices within the assisting charter school; and
    (d) Conducting evaluations and developing materials that document 
the successful practices of the assisting charter school and that are 
designed to improve student performance in other schools. (20 U.S.C. 
7221c(f)(6))
    We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions 
in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and Central Contractor Registry: To do business with the 
Department of Education, (1) you must have a Data Universal Numbering 
System (DUNS) number and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN); (2) 
you must register both of those numbers with the Central Contractor 
Registry (CCR), the Government's primary registrant database; and (3) 
you must provide those same numbers on your application.
    You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number 
can be created within one business day.
    If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or 
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service. 
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal 
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a 
new TIN, please allow 2-5 weeks for your TIN to become active.
    The CCR registration process may take five or more business days to 
complete. If you are currently registered with the CCR, you may not 
need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN 
associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will 
need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take 
three or more business days to complete.
    7. 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 CSP, CFDA Numbers 84.282B and 
84.282C, 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.
    While completing your electronic application, you will be entering 
data online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an 
electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    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 
competition 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: The 
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of 
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and 
certifications. You must attach any narrative sections of your 
application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF

[[Page 43513]]

(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 acknowledgment 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
    (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: Soumya Sathya, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4W236, 
Washington, DC 20202-5970. FAX: (202) 205-5630.
    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 84.282B or 84.282C, 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 84.282B or 84.282C, 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

    Selection Criteria: Non-SEA eligible applicants applying for CSP 
grant funds must address both the statutory application requirements 
and the selection criteria described in the

[[Page 43514]]

following paragraphs. Each applicant applying for CSP grant funds may 
choose to respond to the application requirements in the context of its 
responses to the selection criteria.
    The statutory application requirements for all applicants 
submitting under CFDA numbers 84.282B and 84.282C are listed in 
paragraph (a) in this section.
    The selection criteria for non-SEA applicants for Planning, Program 
Design, and Implementation Grants (CFDA number 84.282B) are listed in 
paragraph (b) in this section.
    The selection criteria for non-SEA applicants for Dissemination 
Grants (CFDA number 84.282C) are listed in paragraph (c) in this 
section.
    (a) Application Requirements (CFDA numbers 84.282B and 84.282C)
    (i) Describe the educational program to be implemented by the 
proposed charter school, including how the program will enable all 
students to meet challenging State student academic achievement 
standards, the grade levels or ages of students to be served, and the 
curriculum and instructional practices to be used;
    (ii) Describe how the charter school will be managed;
    (iii) Describe the objectives of the charter school and the methods 
by which the charter school will determine its progress toward 
achieving those objectives;
    (iv) Describe the administrative relationship between the charter 
school and the authorized public chartering agency;
    (v) Describe how parents and other members of the community will be 
involved in the planning, program design, and implementation of the 
charter school;
    (vi) Describe how the authorized public chartering agency will 
provide for continued operation of the charter school once the Federal 
grant has expired, if that agency determines that the charter school 
has met its objectives as described in paragraph (iii);
    (vii) If the charter school desires the Secretary to consider 
waivers under the authority of the CSP, include a request and 
justification for waivers of any Federal statutory or regulatory 
provisions that the applicant believes are necessary for the successful 
operation of the charter school and a description of any State or local 
rules, generally applicable to public schools, that will be waived for, 
or otherwise not apply to, the school;
    (viii) Describe how the grant funds will be used, including a 
description of how these funds will be used in conjunction with other 
Federal programs administered by the Secretary;
    (ix) Describe how students in the community will be informed about 
the charter school and be given an equal opportunity to attend the 
charter school;
    (x) Describe how a charter school that is considered an LEA under 
State law, or an LEA in which a charter school is located, will comply 
with sections 613(a)(5) and 613(e)(1)(B) of the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act; and
    (xi) If the eligible applicant desires to use grant funds for 
dissemination activities under section 5202(c)(2)(C) of the ESEA, 
describe those activities and how those activities will involve charter 
schools and other public schools, LEAs, developers, and potential 
developers.
    (b) Selection Criteria (CFDA number 84.282B). The following 
selection criteria are from section 5204 of the ESEA and 34 CFR 75.210 
of EDGAR.
    The maximum possible score for all the criteria in this section is 
100 points.
    The maximum possible score for each criterion is indicated in 
parentheses following the criterion.
    In evaluating an application from a non-SEA eligible applicant for 
Planning, Program Design, and Implementation, the Secretary considers 
the following criteria:
    (i) The quality of the proposed curriculum and instructional 
practices (25 points).

    Note: The Secretary encourages the applicant to describe the 
educational program to be implemented by the proposed charter 
school, including how the program will enable all students to meet 
challenging State student academic achievement standards, the grade 
levels or ages of students to be served, and the curriculum and 
instructional practices to be used.

    (ii) The degree of flexibility afforded by the SEA and, if 
applicable, the LEA to the charter school (5 points).

    Note:  The Secretary encourages the applicant to include a 
description of how the State's law establishes an administrative 
relationship between the charter school and the authorized public 
chartering agency and exempts the charter school from significant 
State or local rules that inhibit the flexible operation and 
management of public schools.
    The Secretary also encourages the applicant to include a 
description of the degree of autonomy the charter school will have 
over such matters as the charter school's budget, expenditures, 
daily operation, and personnel in accordance with its State's 
charter school law.

    (iii) The extent of community support for the application (10 
points).

    Note:  The Secretary encourages the applicant to describe how 
parents and other members of the community will be informed about 
the charter school, and how students will be given an equal 
opportunity to attend the charter school.

    (iv) The quality of the strategy for assessing achievement of the 
charter school's objectives (10 points).
    (v) The existence of a charter or performance contract between the 
charter school and its authorized public chartering agency and the 
extent to which the charter or performance contract describes how 
student performance will be measured in the charter school pursuant to 
State assessments that are required of other schools and pursuant to 
any other assessments mutually agreeable to the authorized public 
chartering agency and the charter school (5 points).
    (vi) The extent to which the proposed project encourages parental 
involvement (5 points).

    Note:  The Secretary encourages the applicant to describe how 
parents and other members of the community will be involved in the 
planning, program design, and implementation of the charter school.

    (vii) The quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers the qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of the project director; and 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 (25 
points).
    (viii) The extent to which the proposed project will focus on 
serving or otherwise addressing the needs of disadvantaged individuals 
(15 points).
    (c) Selection Criteria (CFDA number 84.282C). The following 
selection criteria are from section 5204 of the ESEA and 34 CFR 75.210 
of EDGAR.
    The maximum possible score for all the criteria in this section is 
100 points.
    The maximum possible score for each criterion is indicated in 
parentheses following the criterion.
    In evaluating an application from a non-SEA eligible applicant for 
a dissemination grant, the Secretary considers the following criteria:
    (i) The quality of the proposed dissemination activities and the 
likelihood that those activities will improve student achievement (20 
points).

    Note:  The Secretary encourages the applicant to describe the 
objectives for the proposed dissemination activities and the methods 
by which the charter school will determine its progress toward 
achieving those objectives.


[[Page 43515]]


    (ii) The existence of a charter or performance contract between the 
charter school and its authorized public chartering agency and the 
extent to which the charter or performance contract describes how 
student performance will be measured in the charter school pursuant to 
State assessments that are required of other schools and pursuant to 
any other assessments mutually agreeable to the authorized public 
chartering agency and the charter school (5 points).
    (iii) The extent to which the school has demonstrated overall 
success, including--
    (1) Substantial progress in improving student achievement (15 
points);
    (2) High levels of parent satisfaction (5 points); and
    (3) The management and leadership necessary to overcome initial 
start-up problems and establish a thriving, financially viable charter 
school (10 points).
    (iv) The extent to which the results of the proposed project will 
be disseminated in a manner that will enable others to use the 
information or strategies (15 points).
    (v) The quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers the qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of the project director and 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 (20 
points).
    (vi) 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 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 (10 points).

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 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: The goal of the CSP is to support the 
creation and development of a large number of high-quality charter 
schools that are free from State or local rules that inhibit flexible 
operation, are held accountable for enabling students to reach 
challenging State performance standards, and are open to all students. 
The Secretary has two performance indicators to measure progress toward 
this goal: (1) The number of charter schools in operation around the 
Nation, and (2) the percentage of charter school students who are 
achieving at or above the proficient level on State examinations in 
mathematics and reading. Additionally, the Secretary has established 
the following measure to examine the efficiency of the CSP: Federal 
cost per student in implementing a successful school (defined as a 
school in operation for three or more consecutive years).
    All grantees will be expected to submit an annual performance 
report documenting their contribution in assisting the Department in 
meeting these performance measures.

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: Soumya Sathya, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4W236, Washington, DC 20202-
5970. Telephone: (202) 260-0819 or by e-mail: soumya.sathya@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 of 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: July 21, 2010.
James H. Shelton, III,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2010-18254 Filed 7-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P