Alaska Native Education; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011; Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Overview Information; Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.356A, 5358-5363 [2011-2075]

Download as PDF 5358 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2011 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Notice of Submission for OMB Review Department of Education. Comment request. AGENCY: ACTION: The Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management invites comments on the submission for OMB review as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13). DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before March 2, 2011. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Education Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10222, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, be faxed to (202) 395–5806 or e-mailed to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov with a cc: To ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35) requires that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) provide interested Federal agencies and the public an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. The OMB is particularly interested in comments which: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: Dated: January 26, 2011. Darrin A. King, Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management. Institute of Education Sciences Type of Review: New. Title of Collection: National Educational Study of Transition. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:38 Jan 28, 2011 Jkt 223001 OMB Control Number: 1850–NEW. Agency Form Number(s): N/A. Frequency of Responses: Once. Affected Public: Individuals or households; State, Local, or Tribal Government, State Educational Agencies or Local Educational Agencies. Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 600. Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 20,025. Abstract: To gauge progress in addressing the needs of youth with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Education is sponsoring a five-year longitudinal study focused on the educational and transitional experiences of youth between the ages of 13 and 21 in December 2011. The study focuses on three sets of research questions: What are the characteristics of youth with disabilities? What services and accommodations do they receive and what are their courses of study? What are their transitional experiences as they leave high school and their educational, social, and economic outcomes? To shed light on the distinctive experiences of youth with disabilities the study will contrast them with those of youth without disabilities. The study we also compare the experiences of youth with disabilities with those of two previous cohorts of youth with similar disabilities, providing information on progress in addressing the needs of these youth. Districts and youth will be randomly selected to ensure that they are nationally representative. The study sample will include approximately 300 school districts and 15,000 students. Phase I data collection will occur in spring 2012 and spring 2014, when sample members will be ages 13–21 and 15–23, respectively. The study will collect data from parents, youth, principal teachers, and student school records. Requests for copies of the information collection submission for OMB review may be accessed from the RegInfo.gov Web site at https://www.reginfo.gov/ public/do/PRAMain or from the Department’s Web site at https:// edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting the ‘‘Browse Pending Collections’’ link and by clicking on link number 4454. When you access the information collection, click on ‘‘Download Attachments’’to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202–4537. Requests may also be electronically mailed to the Internet address ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or faxed to 202– 401–0920. Please specify the complete title of the information collection and PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 OMB Control Number when making your request. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877– 8339. [FR Doc. 2011–2090 Filed 1–28–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Alaska Native Education; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011; Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Overview Information; Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.356A Dates: Applications Available: January 31, 2011. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 1, 2011. Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Alaska Native Education (ANE) program is to support innovative projects that enhance the educational services provided to Alaska Native children and adults. These projects may include the activities authorized under section 7304(a)(2) and (a)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). Note: The construction of facilities that support the operation of Alaska Native education programs will be a permissible activity only if Congress specifically authorizes the use of FY 2011 funds for that purpose. Priorities: This competition includes three competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), Competitive Preference Priority 1 (Alaska Native regional nonprofit organizations or consortia that include at least one Alaska Native regional nonprofit organization) is from section 7304(c) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7544(c)). Competitive Preference Priority 2 (Improving the Effectiveness and Distribution of Effective Teachers or Principals) and Competitive Preference Priority 3 (Turning Around Persistently Lowest-Achieving Schools) 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 78486). Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2011 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM 31JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2011 / Notices competition, these priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award an additional five points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 1. We award an additional five points to an application that meets either Competitive Preference Priority 2 or Competitive Preference Priority 3. We will award no more than 10 points to an applicant that meets Competitive Preference Priorities 1, 2, and 3. These priorities are: Priority 1—Alaska Native Regional Nonprofit Organizations. Applicants that are Alaska Native regional nonprofit organizations or consortia that include at least one Alaska Native regional nonprofit organization. In order to receive a competitive preference under this priority, the applicant must provide documentation supporting its claim that it meets this priority. Priority 2—Improving the Effectiveness and Distribution of Effective Teachers or Principals. jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES Projects that are designed to address increasing the number or percentage of teachers or principals who are effective or reducing the number or percentage of teachers or principals who are ineffective, particularly in high-poverty schools (as defined in this notice), including through such activities as improving the preparation, recruitment, development, and evaluation of teachers and principals; implementing performance-based certification and retention systems; and reforming compensation and advancement systems. Note: For the purposes of this priority, teacher and principal effectiveness should be measured using— (1) Teacher or principal evaluation data, in States or local educational agencies that have in place a high-quality teacher or principal evaluation system that takes into account student growth (as defined in this notice) in significant part and uses multiple measures, that, in the case of teachers, may include observations for determining teacher effectiveness (such as systems that meet the criteria for evaluation systems under the Race to the Top program as described in criterion (D)(2)(ii) of the Race to the Top notice inviting applications (74 FR 59803)); or (2) Data that include, in significant part, student achievement (as defined in this notice) or student growth (as defined in this notice) data and may include multiple measures in States or local educational agencies that do not have the teacher or principal evaluation systems described in paragraph (1). VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:38 Jan 28, 2011 Jkt 223001 Priority 3—Turning Around Persistently Lowest-Achieving Schools. Projects that are designed to address one or more of the following priority areas: (a) Improving student achievement (as defined in this notice) in persistently lowest-achieving schools (as defined in this notice). (b) Increasing graduation rates (as defined in this notice) and college enrollment rates for students in persistently lowest-achieving schools (as defined in this notice). (c) Providing services to students enrolled in persistently lowestachieving schools (as defined in this notice). Definitions: These definitions 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 78486). For purposes of this competition, the following definitions apply: Graduation rate means a four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate consistent with 34 CFR 200.19(b)(1) and may also include an extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate consistent with 34 CFR 200.19(b)(1)(v) if the State in which the proposed project is implemented has been approved by the Secretary to use such a rate under title I of the ESEA. High-poverty school means a school in which at least 50 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act or in which at least 50 percent of students are from low-income families as determined using one of the criteria specified under section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended. For middle and high schools, eligibility may be calculated on the basis of comparable data from feeder schools. Eligibility as a high-poverty school under this definition is determined on the basis of the most currently available data. Persistently lowest-achieving schools means, as determined by the State: (i) Any title I school in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring that (a) is among the lowest-achieving five percent of title I schools in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring or the lowest-achieving five title I schools in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring in the State, whichever number of schools is greater; or (b) is a high school that has had a graduation rate as defined in 34 CFR 200.19(b) that is less than 60 percent over a number of years; and (ii) PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 5359 any secondary school that is eligible for, but does not receive, title I funds that: (a) Is among the lowest-achieving five percent of secondary schools or the lowest-achieving five secondary schools in the State that are eligible for, but do not receive, title I funds, whichever number of schools is greater; or (b) is a high school that has had a graduation rate as defined in 34 CFR 200.19(b) that is less than 60 percent over a number of years. Student achievement means— (a) For tested grades and subjects: (1) A student’s score on the State’s assessments under the ESEA; and, as appropriate, (2) other measures of student learning, such as those described in paragraph (b) of this definition, provided they are rigorous and comparable across schools. (b) For non-tested grades and subjects: Alternative measures of student learning and performance, such as student scores on pre-tests and end-of-course tests; student performance on English language proficiency assessments; and other measures of student achievement that are rigorous and comparable across schools. Student growth means the change in student achievement (as defined in this notice) for an individual student between two or more points in time. A State may also include other measures that are rigorous and comparable across classrooms. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7541 et seq. Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 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 78486). Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education only. II. Award Information Type of Award: Discretionary grants. Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested $33,315,000 for the ANE program for FY 2011, of which we intend to use an estimated $9,500,000 for this competition. 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. Estimated Range of Awards: $300,000–$700,000. E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM 31JAN1 5360 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2011 / Notices Estimated Average Size of Awards: $500,000. Estimated Number of Awards: 19. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: Up to 36 months. III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants: (a) Alaska Native organizations; (b) Educational entities with experience in developing or operating Alaska Native programs or programs of instruction conducted in Alaska Native languages; (c) Cultural and community-based organizations with experience in developing or operating programs to benefit Alaska Natives; and (d) Consortia of organizations and entities described in this paragraph to carry out activities that meet the purposes of this program. Note: A State educational agency (SEA) or local educational agency (LEA), including a charter school that is considered an LEA under State law, may apply for an award under this program only as part of a consortium involving an Alaska Native organization. The consortium may include other eligible applicants. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost sharing or matching. jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES 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 following address: https:// www.ed.gov/programs/alaskanative/ applicant.html. To obtain a copy from the program office, contact: Chuenee Boston, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3E118, Washington, DC 20202–6200. Telephone: (202) 260–7008 or by e-mail: Chuenee.Boston@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 is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:38 Jan 28, 2011 Jkt 223001 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 application narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, captions, 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 the cover sheet; the budget section, including the recommended five-page budget narrative; the assurances and certifications; the one-page abstract; and other attachments including the resumes of key personnel, endnotes, indirect cost agreements, if applicable, and letters of support. However, the page limit does apply to all of the application narrative section. Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application that exceed the page limit. None of the material sent as appendices to the narrative, with the exception of resumes and endnotes, will be sent to the reviewers. 3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: January 31, 2011. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 1, 2011. Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to section IV. 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 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. PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 5. Funding Restrictions: Under section 7304(b) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7544(b)), not more than five percent of the funds provided to a grantee under this competition for any fiscal year may be used for administrative purposes. We reference additional 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 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 3Step Registration Guide (see https:// www.grants.gov/section910/ Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf). 7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM 31JAN1 jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2011 / Notices 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 ANE program, CFDA number 84.356A, 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 email 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 ANE program at https://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.356, not 84.356A). 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. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:38 Jan 28, 2011 Jkt 223001 • The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov. • You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this competition to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov 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—NonConstruction 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 EDspecified 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 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 5361 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 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 E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM 31JAN1 5362 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2011 / Notices 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: Chuenee Boston, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3E118, Washington, DC 20202–6200. FAX: (202) 260–8969. 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 84.356A), 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. jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES 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 VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:38 Jan 28, 2011 Jkt 223001 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 84.356A), 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. The maximum score for all criteria is 100 points. The maximum possible score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. The selection criteria for this competition are as follows: (a) Need for project (20 points). The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers 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. (b) Quality of the project design (40 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). (ii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target population or other identified needs (20 points). (c) Quality of the management plan (30 points). The Secretary considers the PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 management plan for the proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors: (i) 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 (15 points). (ii) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project (15 points). (d) 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: (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). (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 (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, attainment of project objectives, 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 E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM 31JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2011 / Notices jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES 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. 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), the Department has developed the following performance measures for measuring the overall effectiveness of the ANE program: (1) The percentage of Alaska Native students in schools served by the program who meet or exceed proficiency standards in reading, mathematics, and science on the Alaska State assessments; (2) the percentage of Alaska Native children participating in early learning and preschool programs who consistently demonstrate school readiness in language and literacy as measured by the Revised Alaska VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:38 Jan 28, 2011 Jkt 223001 Development Profile (RADP); and (3) the percentage of Alaska Native students in schools served by the program who graduate from high school with a regular high school diploma in four years. All grantees will be expected to submit an annual performance report that includes data addressing these performance measures, to the extent that they apply to the grantee’s project. 5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the Secretary may 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 Contact FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chuenee Boston, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3E118, Washington, DC 20202– 6200. Telephone: (202) 260–7008 or by e-mail: Chuenee.Boston@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. You can view this document in text of PDF at the following site, also: https://www.ed.gov/ programs/alaskanative/applicant.html. Note: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 5363 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. Dated: January 26, 2011. Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. [FR Doc. 2011–2075 Filed 1–28–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Intent To Compromise Claim Against the State of Oklahoma Department of Education Department of Education. Notice of intent to compromise claim with request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: The United States Department of Education (Department) intends to compromise a claim against the Oklahoma Department of Education (Oklahoma) now pending before the Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ), Docket No. 07–04–R. Before compromising a claim, the Department must publish its intent to do so in the Federal Register and provide the public an opportunity to comment on that action. SUMMARY: We must receive your comments on the proposed action on or before March 17, 2011. ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning the proposed action to Ronald B. Petracca, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 6E111, Washington, DC 20202–2110. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald B. Petracca, Telephone: (202) 401–6008. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339. Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audio tape, or computer diskette) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. DATES: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Invitation To Comment We invite you to submit comments regarding this proposed action. During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public comments in room 6E312, FB–6, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Eastern E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM 31JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 20 (Monday, January 31, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5358-5363]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2075]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Alaska Native Education; Notice Inviting Applications for New 
Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011; Office of Elementary and Secondary 
Education; Overview Information; Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 
(CFDA) Number: 84.356A

    Dates:
    Applications Available: January 31, 2011.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 1, 2011.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Alaska Native Education 
(ANE) program is to support innovative projects that enhance the 
educational services provided to Alaska Native children and adults. 
These projects may include the activities authorized under section 
7304(a)(2) and (a)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965, as amended (ESEA).

    Note:  The construction of facilities that support the operation 
of Alaska Native education programs will be a permissible activity 
only if Congress specifically authorizes the use of FY 2011 funds 
for that purpose.

    Priorities: This competition includes three competitive preference 
priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), Competitive 
Preference Priority 1 (Alaska Native regional nonprofit organizations 
or consortia that include at least one Alaska Native regional nonprofit 
organization) is from section 7304(c) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7544(c)). 
Competitive Preference Priority 2 (Improving the Effectiveness and 
Distribution of Effective Teachers or Principals) and Competitive 
Preference Priority 3 (Turning Around Persistently Lowest-Achieving 
Schools) 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 78486).
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2011 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from 
this

[[Page 5359]]

competition, these priorities are competitive preference priorities. 
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award an additional five points to an 
application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 1. We award an 
additional five points to an application that meets either Competitive 
Preference Priority 2 or Competitive Preference Priority 3. We will 
award no more than 10 points to an applicant that meets Competitive 
Preference Priorities 1, 2, and 3.
    These priorities are:

Priority 1--Alaska Native Regional Nonprofit Organizations.

    Applicants that are Alaska Native regional nonprofit organizations 
or consortia that include at least one Alaska Native regional nonprofit 
organization. In order to receive a competitive preference under this 
priority, the applicant must provide documentation supporting its claim 
that it meets this priority.

Priority 2--Improving the Effectiveness and Distribution of Effective 
Teachers or Principals.

    Projects that are designed to address increasing the number or 
percentage of teachers or principals who are effective or reducing the 
number or percentage of teachers or principals who are ineffective, 
particularly in high-poverty schools (as defined in this notice), 
including through such activities as improving the preparation, 
recruitment, development, and evaluation of teachers and principals; 
implementing performance-based certification and retention systems; and 
reforming compensation and advancement systems.

    Note:  For the purposes of this priority, teacher and principal 
effectiveness should be measured using--
    (1) Teacher or principal evaluation data, in States or local 
educational agencies that have in place a high-quality teacher or 
principal evaluation system that takes into account student growth 
(as defined in this notice) in significant part and uses multiple 
measures, that, in the case of teachers, may include observations 
for determining teacher effectiveness (such as systems that meet the 
criteria for evaluation systems under the Race to the Top program as 
described in criterion (D)(2)(ii) of the Race to the Top notice 
inviting applications (74 FR 59803)); or
    (2) Data that include, in significant part, student achievement 
(as defined in this notice) or student growth (as defined in this 
notice) data and may include multiple measures in States or local 
educational agencies that do not have the teacher or principal 
evaluation systems described in paragraph (1).

Priority 3--Turning Around Persistently Lowest-Achieving Schools.

    Projects that are designed to address one or more of the following 
priority areas:
    (a) Improving student achievement (as defined in this notice) in 
persistently lowest-achieving schools (as defined in this notice).
    (b) Increasing graduation rates (as defined in this notice) and 
college enrollment rates for students in persistently lowest-achieving 
schools (as defined in this notice).
    (c) Providing services to students enrolled in persistently lowest-
achieving schools (as defined in this notice).
    Definitions: These definitions 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 
78486). For purposes of this competition, the following definitions 
apply:
    Graduation rate means a four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate 
consistent with 34 CFR 200.19(b)(1) and may also include an extended-
year adjusted cohort graduation rate consistent with 34 CFR 
200.19(b)(1)(v) if the State in which the proposed project is 
implemented has been approved by the Secretary to use such a rate under 
title I of the ESEA.
    High-poverty school means a school in which at least 50 percent of 
students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches under the 
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act or in which at least 50 
percent of students are from low-income families as determined using 
one of the criteria specified under section 1113(a)(5) of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended. For middle 
and high schools, eligibility may be calculated on the basis of 
comparable data from feeder schools. Eligibility as a high-poverty 
school under this definition is determined on the basis of the most 
currently available data.
    Persistently lowest-achieving schools means, as determined by the 
State: (i) Any title I school in improvement, corrective action, or 
restructuring that (a) is among the lowest-achieving five percent of 
title I schools in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring or 
the lowest-achieving five title I schools in improvement, corrective 
action, or restructuring in the State, whichever number of schools is 
greater; or (b) is a high school that has had a graduation rate as 
defined in 34 CFR 200.19(b) that is less than 60 percent over a number 
of years; and (ii) any secondary school that is eligible for, but does 
not receive, title I funds that: (a) Is among the lowest-achieving five 
percent of secondary schools or the lowest-achieving five secondary 
schools in the State that are eligible for, but do not receive, title I 
funds, whichever number of schools is greater; or (b) is a high school 
that has had a graduation rate as defined in 34 CFR 200.19(b) that is 
less than 60 percent over a number of years.
    Student achievement means--
    (a) For tested grades and subjects: (1) A student's score on the 
State's assessments under the ESEA; and, as appropriate, (2) other 
measures of student learning, such as those described in paragraph (b) 
of this definition, provided they are rigorous and comparable across 
schools.
    (b) For non-tested grades and subjects: Alternative measures of 
student learning and performance, such as student scores on pre-tests 
and end-of-course tests; student performance on English language 
proficiency assessments; and other measures of student achievement that 
are rigorous and comparable across schools.
    Student growth means the change in student achievement (as defined 
in this notice) for an individual student between two or more points in 
time. A State may also include other measures that are rigorous and 
comparable across classrooms.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7541 et seq.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 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 78486).

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$33,315,000 for the ANE program for FY 2011, of which we intend to use 
an estimated $9,500,000 for this competition. 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.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $300,000-$700,000.

[[Page 5360]]

    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $500,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 19.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: (a) Alaska Native organizations; (b) 
Educational entities with experience in developing or operating Alaska 
Native programs or programs of instruction conducted in Alaska Native 
languages; (c) Cultural and community-based organizations with 
experience in developing or operating programs to benefit Alaska 
Natives; and (d) Consortia of organizations and entities described in 
this paragraph to carry out activities that meet the purposes of this 
program.

    Note:  A State educational agency (SEA) or local educational 
agency (LEA), including a charter school that is considered an LEA 
under State law, may apply for an award under this program only as 
part of a consortium involving an Alaska Native organization. The 
consortium may include other eligible applicants.

    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: You can obtain an 
application package via the Internet or from the program office. To 
obtain a copy via the Internet, use following address: https://www.ed.gov/programs/alaskanative/applicant.html. To obtain a copy from 
the program office, contact: Chuenee Boston, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3E118, Washington, DC 20202-
6200. Telephone: (202) 260-7008 or by e-mail: Chuenee.Boston@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 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 application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, captions, 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 the cover sheet; the budget 
section, including the recommended five-page budget narrative; the 
assurances and certifications; the one-page abstract; and other 
attachments including the resumes of key personnel, endnotes, indirect 
cost agreements, if applicable, and letters of support. However, the 
page limit does apply to all of the application narrative section.
    Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application that 
exceed the page limit. None of the material sent as appendices to the 
narrative, with the exception of resumes and endnotes, will be sent to 
the reviewers.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: January 31, 2011.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 1, 2011.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to section IV. 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 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 competition is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    5. Funding Restrictions: Under section 7304(b) of the ESEA (20 
U.S.C. 7544(b)), not more than five percent of the funds provided to a 
grantee under this competition for any fiscal year may be used for 
administrative purposes. We reference additional 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
    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.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf).
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this competition must be submitted

[[Page 5361]]

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 ANE program, CFDA number 84.356A, 
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 ANE program 
at https://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable 
application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not 
include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 
84.356, not 84.356A).
    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 competition to ensure that 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to Grants.gov 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 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

[[Page 5362]]

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: Chuenee Boston, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3E118, 
Washington, DC 20202-6200. FAX: (202) 260-8969.
    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 84.356A), 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 84.356A), 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. The maximum score for all criteria is 100 
points. The maximum possible score for each criterion is indicated in 
parentheses. The selection criteria for this competition are as 
follows:
    (a) Need for project (20 points). The Secretary considers the need 
for the proposed project. In determining the need for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers 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.
    (b) Quality of the project design (40 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).
    (ii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 
population or other identified needs (20 points).
    (c) Quality of the management plan (30 points). The Secretary 
considers 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:
    (i) 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 (15 points).
    (ii) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and 
continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project (15 
points).
    (d) 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:
    (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).
    (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 (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, attainment of project objectives, 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

[[Page 5363]]

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.
    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), the Department has developed the following 
performance measures for measuring the overall effectiveness of the ANE 
program: (1) The percentage of Alaska Native students in schools served 
by the program who meet or exceed proficiency standards in reading, 
mathematics, and science on the Alaska State assessments; (2) the 
percentage of Alaska Native children participating in early learning 
and preschool programs who consistently demonstrate school readiness in 
language and literacy as measured by the Revised Alaska Development 
Profile (RADP); and (3) the percentage of Alaska Native students in 
schools served by the program who graduate from high school with a 
regular high school diploma in four years.
    All grantees will be expected to submit an annual performance 
report that includes data addressing these performance measures, to the 
extent that they apply to the grantee's project.
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the 
Secretary may 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 Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chuenee Boston, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3E118, Washington, DC 20202-
6200. Telephone: (202) 260-7008 or by e-mail: Chuenee.Boston@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. You can view this document in text of PDF at the following 
site, also: https://www.ed.gov/programs/alaskanative/applicant.html.

    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 26, 2011.
Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2011-2075 Filed 1-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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