Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program; Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students; Overview Information; Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, 3120-3126 [2011-1041]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3120-3126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1041]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program; 
Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and 
Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students; Overview 
Information; Native American and Alaska Native Children in School 
Program Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year 
(FY) 2011

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.365C.

DATES: Applications Available: January 19, 2011.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 21, 2011.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 20, 2011.
    Pre-application technical assistance for potential applicants: A 
webinar for novice applicants will be conducted two weeks after the 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. For further 
information on this webinar, contact Stephanie Guillen at (202) 401-
0049, or by e-mail at Stephanie.Guillen@ed.gov.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to provide 
grants for eligible entities to develop high levels of academic 
attainment in English among English learners (ELs) \1\, and to promote 
parental and community participation in language instruction 
educational programs. Projects funded under the

[[Page 3121]]

Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program, 
authorized under title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), may support the teaching and studying 
of Native American languages, but must have, as a project objective, an 
increase in English language proficiency for participating students.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The term English learner, as used in this notice, is 
synonymous with the term limited English proficient (LEP), as 
defined in section 9101(25) of the ESEA.
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    Priorities: This notice includes three competitive preference 
priorities and two invitational priorities. Competitive Preference 
Priority 1 is from 34 CFR 75.255 of the Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). Competitive Preference Priorities 2 
and 3 are from the notice of final supplemental priorities and 
definitions for discretionary grant programs, published in the Federal 
Register on December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78485).
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2011 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from 
this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award an additional 5 
points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 1, 
and, with respect to each of Competitive Preference Priority 2 and 
Competitive Preference Priority 3, an additional 3 points, depending on 
how well the application meets the priority (i.e., an applicant could 
attain up to 6 additional points if it meets both Competitive 
Preference Priority 2 and Competitive Preference Priority 3).

    Note:  We will add competitive preference priority points for 
Priorities 2 and 3 only to applications with a score of 75 or 
higher.

    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Novice Applicants. (5 points)
    To meet this priority, you must be a novice applicant, as defined 
in 34 CFR 75.225. A novice applicant means any applicant for a grant 
under this competition that--
    (i) Has never received a grant or subgrant under the Native 
American and Alaska Native Children in School Program;
    (ii) Has never been a member of a group application, submitted in 
accordance with 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129, that received a grant 
under the Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program; 
and
    (iii) Has not had an active discretionary grant from the Federal 
Government in the five years before the deadline date for applications 
under the Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program. 
For the purposes of this requirement, a grant is active until the end 
of the grant's project or funding period, including any extensions of 
those periods that extend the grantee's authority to obligate funds.
    In the case of a group application submitted in accordance with 34 
CFR 75.127 through 75.129, a group includes only parties that meet the 
requirements listed in this priority.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Increasing Postsecondary 
Success. (up to 3 points)
    Projects that are designed to address the following priority area:
    Increasing the number and proportion of high-need students (as 
defined in this notice) who are academically prepared for and enroll in 
college or other postsecondary education and training.

    Note: High-need children and high-need students means children 
and students at risk of educational failure, such as children and 
students who are living in poverty, who are English learners, who 
are far below grade level or who are not on track to becoming 
college- or career-ready by graduation, who have left school or 
college before receiving, respectively, a regular high school 
diploma or a college degree or certificate, who are at risk of not 
graduating with a diploma on time, who are homeless, who are in 
foster care, who are pregnant or parenting teenagers, who have been 
incarcerated, who are new immigrants, who are migrant, or who have 
disabilities.

    Competitive Preference Priority 3---Enabling More Data-Based 
Decision-Making. (up to 3 points)
    Projects that are designed to collect (or obtain), analyze, and use 
high-quality and timely data, including data on program participant 
outcomes, in accordance with privacy requirements (as defined in this 
notice), in one or more of the following priority areas:
    (a) Improving postsecondary student outcomes relating to 
enrollment, persistence, and completion and leading to career success.
    (b) Improving instructional practices, policies, and student 
outcomes in elementary or secondary schools.

    Note: Privacy requirements means the requirements of the Family 
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232g, and its 
implementing regulations in 34 CFR part 99, the Privacy Act, 5 
U.S.C. 552a, as well as all applicable Federal, State and local 
requirements regarding privacy.

    Invitational Priorities: For FY 2011 and any subsequent year in 
which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this 
competition, these priorities are invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application that meets these 
invitational priorities a competitive or absolute preference over other 
applications.
    Invitational Priority 1--Parental Involvement to Improve School 
Readiness and Success.
    Projects that are designed to provide parental involvement 
activities to improve school readiness and success for high-need 
children and high-need students (as defined in this notice) from birth 
through third grade (or any age group of high-need children and high-
need students within that range) through a focus on language and 
literacy development.
    Invitational Priority 2--Supporting Native American Language 
Instruction.
    Projects that are designed to support the teaching and studying of 
Native American languages, while maintaining the objective of 
increasing English language proficiency for participating students.

    Note: The term Native American language means the historical, 
traditional languages spoken by Native Americans, consistent with 
section 103 of the Native American Languages Act (25 U.S.C. 2902).

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6821(c)(1)(A) and 6822.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) EDGAR in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 
80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The notice of final 
supplemental priorities and definitions for discretionary grant 
programs, published in the Federal Register on December 15, 2010 (75 FR 
78485).

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


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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$5,000,000 for new awards for this program for FY 2011. The actual 
level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. 
However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete 
the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2012 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $175,000-$200,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards for IHEs applying in consortia with a 
Secondary School: $200,000-$300,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $237,000.

[[Page 3122]]

    Estimated Number of Awards: 21.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: The following entities, when they operate 
elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools primarily for Native 
American children (including Alaska Native children), are eligible 
applicants under this program: Indian tribes; tribally sanctioned 
educational authorities; Native Hawaiian or Native American Pacific 
Islander native language educational organizations; elementary schools 
or secondary schools that are operated or funded by the Department of 
the Interior's Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), or a consortium of 
these schools; elementary schools or secondary schools operated under a 
contract with or grant from the BIE in consortium with another such 
school or a tribal or community organization; and elementary schools or 
secondary schools operated by the BIE and an IHE, in consortium with an 
elementary school or secondary school operated under a contract with or 
a grant from the BIE or a tribal or community organization.

    Note: Any eligible entity that receives Federal financial 
assistance under this program is not eligible to receive a subgrant 
under section 3114 of title III of the ESEA.


    Note: Eligible applicants applying as a consortium should read 
and follow the regulations in 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129.


    Note: Charter schools meeting the eligibility requirement 
described in this section are eligible to apply for a grant under 
the Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program.

    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: Participation by Private School Children and Teachers.
    An entity that receives a grant under the Native American and 
Alaska Native Children in School Program must provide for the equitable 
participation of private school children and their teachers or other 
educational personnel.
    In order to ensure that grant program activities address the needs 
of private school children, the applicant must engage in timely and 
meaningful consultation with appropriate private school officials 
during the design and development of the program. This consultation 
must take place before the applicant makes any decision that affects 
the opportunities of eligible private school children, teachers, and 
other educational personnel to participate. Administrative direction 
and control over grant funds must remain with the grantee. (See section 
9501, Participation by Private School Children and Teachers, of the 
ESEA.)

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Yvonne Mathieu, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5C138, 
Washington, DC 20202-6510.
    Telephone: (202) 401-1461 or by e-mail: Yvonne.Mathieu@ed.gov.

    Note: Please include ``84.365C Application Request'' in the 
subject heading of your e-mail.

    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. You must limit the application narrative 
to the equivalent of no more than 35 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. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    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 three-page abstract. 
However, the page limit does apply to all of the application narrative 
section in Part III.
    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: January 19, 2011.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 21, 2011.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to section IV. 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 in connection with the application process should contact 
the persons 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: May 20, 2011.
    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. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and Central Contractor Registry: To do business with the 
Department of Education, you must--
    a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a 
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
    b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the Central 
Contractor Registry (CCR), the Government's primary registrant 
database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and

[[Page 3123]]

    d. Maintain an active CCR registration with current information 
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you 
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
    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.
    In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, 
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with 
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined in the 
Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see https://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.gov RegistrationBrochure.pdf).
    7. 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 Native American and Alaska Native 
Children in School Program, CFDA number 84.365C, must be submitted 
electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at https://www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to download a copy 
of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and 
submit your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a 
grant application to us.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Native 
American and Alaska Native Children in School Program at https://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application 
package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA 
number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.365, not 
84.365C).
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this program to ensure that you 
submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. 
You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to 
Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 system home 
page at https://www.G5.gov.
     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 .PDF (Portable Document) format only. If you upload a 
file type other than a .PDF or submit a password-protected file, we 
will not review that material.
     Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that 
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates 
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The 
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send 
a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification 
indicates that the Department has received your application and has 
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified 
identifying number unique to your application).
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues 
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting 
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov 
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a 
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
    If you are prevented from electronically submitting your 
application on the application deadline date because of technical 
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension 
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand 
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing 
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
    If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC 
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this 
notice and provide an

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explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, 
along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. We will accept your 
application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with 
the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your ability to 
submit your application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date. The Department will contact you after a 
determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.

    Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply 
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the 
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed 
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before 
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem 
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Grants.gov system; and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application.
    If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be 
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must 
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the 
application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: Trini Torres, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5C145, 
Washington, DC 20202. FAX: (202) 260-1292.
    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 84.365C) 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 84.365C) 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 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 competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR. The maximum score for all of these 
criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each criterion is 
indicated in parentheses.
    The Notes we have included after each criterion are guidance to 
assist applicants in understanding the criterion as they prepare their 
applications and are not required by statute or regulation.
    (a) Quality of the project design. (30 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:
    (i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable. 
(20 points)

    Note: For example, applicants may, in addressing this factor, 
consider including in their application ambitious measurable 
objectives that reflect the performance measures discussed in 
section VI of this notice regarding improved student English 
language proficiency and reading proficiency, and that include 
annual targets of expected student achievement in English language 
proficiency and in reading proficiency. Applicants also may want to 
include measurable objectives that reflect Competitive Preference 
Priorities 2 and 3, if they choose to address those priorities.

    (ii) 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. (5 points)
    (iii) The extent to which the proposed project encourages parental 
involvement. (5 points)
    (b) 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 following factors:
    (i) 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. (2 points)
    (ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of the

[[Page 3125]]

project director or principal investigator. (4 points)
    (iii) The qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of key project personnel. (4 points)
    (c) Quality of the management plan. (30 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 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. (30 points)

    Note:  For example, applicants, in addressing this criterion, 
may consider whether to include in their application information on 
how management activities support the accomplishment of each 
objective, costs associated with the accomplishment of each 
objective, persons responsible for each management activity, and 
timeframes for the completion of each management activity.

    (d) Quality of the project evaluation. (30 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:
    (i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project. (5 points)

    Note:  For example, applicants, in addressing this factor, may 
consider including in their application information on how each 
proposed objective including those objectives addressing Competitive 
Preference Priorities 2 and 3, if the applicants choose to address 
those priorities, will be evaluated.

    (ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data to the extent possible. (15 points)

    Note:  For example, applicants, in addressing this factor, may 
consider including in their application information on how the 
proposed project will collect, analyze, and report quantitative data 
on the performance measures discussed in section VI of this notice.

    (iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for 
examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies. (5 
points)
    (iv) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes. (5 points)
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, and compliance with grant conditions. The 
Secretary may also consider whether the applicant failed to submit a 
timely performance report or submitted a report of unacceptable 
quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary 
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is 
not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance; 
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the 
standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled 
the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.

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.

    Note:  After awards are made under this competition, all of the 
successful applications, together with reviewers' scores and 
comments, will be posted on the Department's Web site at: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oela/?src=oc.

    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: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, 
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and 
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply 
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
    (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final 
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the 
Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual 
performance report that provides the most current performance and 
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance 
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, 
please go to https://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Federal departments and agencies must 
clearly describe the goals and objectives of programs, identify 
resources and actions needed to accomplish goals and objectives, 
develop a means of measuring progress made, and regularly report on 
achievement. One important source of program information on successes 
and lessons learned is the project evaluation conducted under 
individual grants. The Department has developed the following GPRA 
performance measures for evaluating the overall effectiveness of the 
Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program:
    (i) The percentage of English learners (ELs) served by the program 
who score proficient or above on the State reading assessment.
    (ii) The percentage of ELs served by the program who are making 
progress in learning English as measured by the State approved English 
language proficiency assessment.
    (iii) The percentage of ELs served by the program who are attaining 
proficiency in English as measured by the State approved English 
language proficiency assessment.
    Grantees funded under this competition will be expected to collect 
and report to the Department data related to these measures in their 
Annual Performance Report and in their Final Performance Report. 
Applicants should discuss in the application narrative how they propose 
to collect these data.
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the 
Secretary may

[[Page 3126]]

consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a grantee has made 
``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives in its approved 
application.'' This consideration includes the review of a grantee's 
progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes in its approved 
application, and whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner 
that is consistent with its approved application and budget. In making 
a continuation grant, the Secretary also considers whether the grantee 
is operating in compliance with the assurances in its approved 
application, including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws 
that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving 
Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 
106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. Agency Contacts

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Trini Torres, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5C145, Washington, DC 20202-
6510. Telephone: (202) 401-1445, or by e-mail: trinidad.torres-carrion@ed.gov or Itzetht Testa-Sanchez, U.S. Department of Education, 
400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5C151, Washington, DC 20202-6510. 
Telephone: (202) 401-1459, or by e-mail: Itzetht.testa-sanchez@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.

    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: January 13, 2011.
Rosalinda B. Barrera,
Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director, Office of English Language 
Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited 
English Proficient Students.
[FR Doc. 2011-1041 Filed 1-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P