Application for New Awards; Indian Education Formula Grants to Local Educational Agencies, 3358-3361 [2014-01072]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3358-3361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01072]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Application for New Awards; Indian Education Formula Grants to 
Local Educational Agencies

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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Overview Information

    Indian Education Formula Grants to Local Educational Agencies 
Notice inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2014.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.060A.

    Dates:
    Part I of the Formula Grant Electronic Application System for 
Indian Education (EASIE) Applications Available: January 27, 2014.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Part I Applications: February 28, 2014.
    Part II of the Formula Grant EASIE Applications Available: March 
31, 2014
    Deadline for Transmittal of Part II Applications: May 30, 2014.

    Note: Applicants must meet the deadlines for both EASIE Part I 
and Part II to receive a grant. Any application not meeting the Part 
I and Part II deadlines will not be considered for funding. Failure 
to submit the required supplemental documentation, described in 
section IV. 2 Content and Form of Application Submission, by the 
EASIE Parts I and II deadlines will result in an incomplete 
application that will not be considered for funding. The Office of 
Indian Education recommends uploading the documentation 20 days 
prior to each closing date to ensure that any potential submission 
issues are resolved prior to the deadlines.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Indian Education Formula Grants to Local 
Educational Agencies program provides grants to support local 
educational agencies (LEAs) and other eligible entities described in 
this notice in reforming and improving elementary and secondary school 
programs that serve Indian students. The Department funds comprehensive 
programs that are designed to help Indian students meet the same State 
academic content and student academic achievement standards used for 
all students while addressing the language and cultural needs of Indian 
students. Such programs include supporting the professional development 
of teachers of Indian students.
    In addition, under section 7116 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), the Secretary will, upon 
receipt of an acceptable plan for the integration of education and 
related services, and in cooperation with other relevant Federal 
agencies, authorize the entity receiving the funds under this program 
to consolidate all Federal formula funds that are to be used 
exclusively for Indian students. Instructions for submitting an 
integration of education and related services plan are included in the 
EASIE, which is described elsewhere in this notice under Application 
Process and Submission Information.

    Note: Under the Indian Education Formula Grants to Local 
Educational Agencies program, applicants are required to develop the 
project for which an application is made: (a) In open consultation 
with parents and teachers of Indian students and, if appropriate, 
Indian students from secondary schools, including through public 
hearings held to provide a full opportunity to understand the 
program and to offer recommendations regarding the program (section 
7114(c)(3)(C) of the ESEA); (b) with the participation of a parent 
committee selected in accordance with section 7114(c)(4) of the 
ESEA; and, (c) with the written approval of that parent committee 
(section 7114(c)(4) of the ESEA).


    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7421 et seq.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 
82, 84, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education Department suspension and 
debarment regulations in 2 CFR part 3485.

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Indian Education Formula Grants to Local Educational 
Agencies.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$105,921,000 for this program for FY 2014. 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: $4,000 to $2,823,022.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $78,057.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1,300.

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

    Project Period: 12 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Certain LEAs, including charter schools 
authorized as LEAs under State law, as prescribed by section 7112(b) of 
the ESEA, certain schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Education of 
the U.S. Department of the Interior, as prescribed by section 7113(d) 
of the ESEA, and Indian tribes under certain conditions, as prescribed 
by section 7112(c) of the ESEA.
    2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-
supplant funding requirements. Section 7114(c)(1) of ESEA states that 
the LEA will use these grant funds only to supplement the funds that, 
in the absence of these Federal funds, such agency would make available 
for the education of Indian children, and not to supplant such funds.

IV. Application Process and Submission Information

    1. How to Request an Application: Applications for grants under 
this program must be submitted electronically using the Formula Grant 
EASIE, at https://eden.ed.gov/Survey/. 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 requirements, please refer to section IV. 
7. Other Submission Requirements of this notice.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) by contacting the person or team listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VI of this notice.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the online application package for this program.
    a. Changes for FY 2014: For all applicants, we have changed the 
previous practice of requiring applicants to choose project objectives 
each year. Applicants can now establish project objectives and 
corresponding activities/services for up to four years. This will 
enhance grantees' ability to collect data

[[Page 3359]]

on project success, provide project continuity in case of staff 
turnover, and enhance long-term planning for grantees that remain 
eligible for the formula grants each year. Starting in FY 2015, 
grantees who established multi-year project objectives will not have to 
re-enter information in EASIE Part II if they have no changes to their 
project objectives, activities, or coordination of services for 
American Indian/Alaska Native students.
    To implement this option, applicants will first indicate in EASIE 
Part I the time-span for its project objectives, either one-year or 
multi-year. Then in EASIE Part II, applicants will select the 
objectives, corresponding activities, and data sources for measuring 
progress towards the objectives. Following each project year, this data 
will be reported to the Department on the grantee's annual performance 
report.
    A second change affecting all applicants in EASIE Part II improves 
the description of the project's coordination of services for Indian 
students. First, applicants will identify, from a list of possible 
programs (e.g. ESEA Title I), those programs in the school district 
that are currently coordinated with the Title VII project, or that the 
school district plans to coordinate during the project year. Next, 
applicants will describe how the coordination of services will meet the 
needs of American Indian/Alaska Native students, including their 
language and cultural needs, with an explanation of specific programs 
and activities.
    An additional change affects only elementary and secondary schools 
funded or operated by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). These 
schools continue to have the option of documenting their Indian student 
count either by maintaining student ``ED 506'' forms or by using the 
Indian School Equalization Program (ISEP) average daily membership 
(ADM) count. However, while in the past BIE schools that selected ISEP 
count were able to omit the Indian student count in EASIE Part I, these 
schools will now be required to enter either their ISEP or ED 506 form 
count in the student count section of Part I.
    b. Supplementary Documentation: The EASIE application includes the 
electronic submission of required supplementary documentation.
    (1) In EASIE Part I, applicants that are tribes must upload their 
verification of eligibility no later than the Part I close date. The 
details of the verification process, which is necessary to meet the 
statutory eligibility requirements for tribes, are in the application 
package. Tribes may use the sample agreement, available in the EASIE 
system as a downloadable document.
    (2) In EASIE Part II, an applicant that is the lead LEA for a 
consortium of LEAs must upload a consortium agreement that meets the 
requirements of 34 CFR 75.128 no later than the Part II close date. The 
consortium may use the sample agreement, available in the EASIE system 
as a downloadable document, as a guide.
    (3) In Part II, the Indian Parent Committee Approval form, which is 
required of all applicants that are LEAs or consortia of LEAs, must be 
uploaded into the EASIE system no later than the close of Part II. This 
form is also available in the EASIE system.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Part I of the Formula Grant EASIE 
Applications Available: January 27, 2014.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Part I Applications: February 28, 2014, 
11:59:59 p.m., Washington DC time. Part II of the Formula Grant EASIE 
Applications Available: March 31, 2014.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Part II Applications: May 30, 2014, 
11:59:59 p.m., Washington DC time.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using the Formula Grant EASIE. 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 requirements, 
please refer to section IV. 7. Other Submission Requirements of this 
notice. All applications must be submitted by the Part I and Part II 
deadlines in order to receive funding; late applications will not be 
considered.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation process 
should contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
in section VI 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.
    Below is a table summarizing the FY 2014 EASIE deadlines for Part I 
and Part II.

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             Entity type                     Requirement               Open date              Close/due date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All applicants.......................  EASIE Part I...........  Jan 27, 2014...........  Feb 28, 2014, 11:59:59
                                                                                          p.m., Washington DC
                                                                                          time.
Tribe in Lieu of LEA(s)..............  Upload Evidence of       Jan 27, 2014...........  Feb 28, 2014, 11:59:59
                                        Eligibility.                                      p.m., Washington DC
                                                                                          time.
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    Applicants must meet the deadlines for Part I to be eligible to 
complete Part II of the application process.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Entity type                     Requirement               Open date              Close/due date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All applicants.......................  EASIE Part II..........  Mar 31, 2014...........  May 30, 2014, 11:59:59
                                                                                          p.m., Washington DC
                                                                                          time.
LEA Consortium.......................  Upload Evidence of       Mar 31, 2014...........  May 30, 2014, 11:59:59
                                        Eligibility (e.g. LEA                             p.m., Washington DC
                                        consortium agreement).                            time.
All LEA (and Consortia) applicants...  Upload Parent Committee  Mar 31, 2014...........  May 30, 2014, 11:59:59
                                        Approval Form.                                    p.m., Washington DC
                                                                                          time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference additional regulations 
outlining funding

[[Page 3360]]

restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and System for Award Management: 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 System for Award 
Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry (CCR)), the 
Government's primary registrant database with information on 
registration provided below;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active SAM 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-to-two business days.
    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 SAM registration process can take approximately seven business 
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the 
completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by 
an entity. Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal 
financial assistance under a program administered by the Department, 
please allow sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number 
and TIN. We strongly recommend that you register early.
    If you are currently registered with SAM, 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 registration annually. This may take three or more business days.
    Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further 
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in 
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov 
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: https://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
    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 Indian Education Formula Grants 
to Local Educational Agencies program, CFDA number 84.060A must be 
submitted electronically using the Formula Grant EASIE.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless you qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic 
submission requirement described later in this section under Exception 
to Electronic Submission Requirement, and follow the submission rules 
outlined therein.
    Formula Grant EASIE Electronic Application System: Formula Grant 
EASIE is an easy-to-use, electronic application system. This system 
allows the Department to review applications and interact online with 
applicants during the application review and approval process.
    The Formula Grant EASIE application is divided into two parts--Part 
I and Part II.
    Part I, Student Count, provides the appropriate data-entry screens 
to submit your Indian student count totals. You will also indicate 
whether your project objectives and corresponding activities/services 
will be set yearly or up to a four-year period.
    In EASIE Part II, you will describe the Coordination of Services 
for American Indian/Alaska Native students and identify specific 
project objectives towards the goal of providing culturally-responsive 
education for American Indian/Alaska Native students to meet their 
academic needs and help them meet State achievement standards. 
Applicants will also choose the data sources that will be used to 
measure progress towards meeting project objectives.
    Finally, in Part II, you will submit a realistic program budget 
based on the estimated grant amount that the EASIE system calculates 
from the Indian student count you submitted in Part I. After the 
initial grant amounts are determined, additional funds may become 
available due to such circumstances as withdrawn applications or 
reduction in an applicant's student count. An applicant whose award 
amount increases or decreases more than $1,000 must submit a revised 
budget prior to receiving its grant award but will not need to re-
certify its application. For an applicant that receives an increase or 
decrease in its award less than $1,000, there will be no need for 
further action. For any applicant that receives notification of an 
increased award amount following submission of its original budget, the 
applicant must allocate the increased amount only to previously 
approved budget categories, whether or not the amount exceeds $1,000.
    Registration for Formula Grant EASIE: Entities are encouraged to 
register as soon as possible at the registration Web site 
www.easie.org, to ensure that any potential registration issues are 
resolved prior to the deadline for the submission of an application. 
The purpose of the initial registration is to activate or re-activate 
entities' access to EASIE and to ensure that the correct entity 
information (e.g., NCES or DUNS numbers) is pre-populated into the 
first part of Formula Grant EASIE. The registration Web site does not 
serve as the entity's grant application. Current, former, and new 
applicants interested in submitting an Indian Formula Grant EASIE 
application must complete the registration process. For information on 
how to register, contact the EDFacts Partner Support Center listed 
elsewhere in this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Certification for Formula Grant EASIE: The applicant's authorized 
representative, who must be an employee of the applicant, must certify 
both Part I and Part II of EASIE. Only users with the role type 
``managing user'' or ``certifying official user'' in the EASIE system 
can certify an application.
    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the EASIE system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload documents to the 
EASIE system;
    and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date for Part I (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

[[Page 3361]]

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: Bernard Garcia, U.S. 
Department of Education, Office of Indian Education, 400 Maryland 
Avenue SW., room 3E307, Washington, DC 20202-6335. FAX: (202) 205-0606.
    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 U.S Department of 
Education, Office of Indian Education. You must mail the original and 
two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline 
dates for both Part I and Part II, to the Office of Indian Education at 
the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Indian 
Education, Attention: CFDA Number 84.060A, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Room 3E307, Washington, DC 20202-6335.
    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.
    For all grant awards, if your application is postmarked after the 
application deadline date for Part I or Part II, 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 dates for both Part I and Part II, to the 
Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, 
Office of Indian Education, Attention: CFDA Number 84.060A, 400 
Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E307, Washington, DC 20202-6335.
    The Program Office accepts hand deliveries daily between 8 a.m. and 
4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal 
holidays.

    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications:  If you 
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--
    (1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by 
the Department--on your application, the CFDA number, including 
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are 
submitting your application; and
    (2) The Program Office 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 Office of 
Indian Education at (202) 260-3774.

V. Grant Administration Information

    1. 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 a grant in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    2. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the 
following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness and 
efficiency of the Indian Education Formula Grants to Local Educational 
Agencies program: (1) The percentage of American Indian and Alaska 
Native students in grades four and eight who score at or above the 
basic level in reading on the National Assessment of Educational 
Progress (NAEP); (2) the percentage of American Indian and Alaska 
Native students in grades four and eight who score at or above the 
basic level in mathematics on the NAEP; (3) the percentage of American 
Indian and Alaska Native students in grades three through eight meeting 
State performance standards by scoring at the proficient or the 
advanced levels in reading and mathematics on State assessments; (4) 
the difference between the percentage of American Indian and Alaska 
Native students in grades three through eight at the proficient or 
advanced levels in reading and mathematics on State assessments and the 
percentage of all students scoring at those levels; (5) the percentage 
of American Indian and Alaska Native students who graduate from high 
school; and (6) the percentage of funds used by grantees prior to award 
close-out.

VI. Agency Contacts

    For Further Information Contact: For questions about the Formula 
Grant Program to Local Educational Agencies, contact Bernard Garcia, 
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E307, 
Washington, DC 20202-6335. Telephone: (202) 260-1454 or by email: 
Bernard.Garcia@ed.gov. For questions about the EASIE application and 
uploading documentation, contact the EDFacts Partner Support Center, 
telephone: 877-457-3336 (877-HLP-EDEN) or by email at: eden_OIE@ed.gov.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the EDFacts Partner Support Center, toll free, at 
1-888-403-3336 (888-403-EDEN).
    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 compact disc) by contacting the EDFacts 
Partner Support Center.
    Electronic Access to This Document: 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 via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well 
as other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register 
in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must 
have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: January 15, 2014.
Deborah Delisle,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary, and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2014-01072 Filed 1-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P