Applications for New Awards; Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Education Interventions and Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Special Education Interventions, 58235-58239 [2015-24511]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 187 / Monday, September 28, 2015 / Notices required to support an additional year of funding will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The small entities that will be affected by this waiver and extension are the four currently-funded LINCS RPDC grantees and any potential applicants for LINCS RPDC grants in FY 2015. The Secretary further certifies that the waiver and extension will not have a significant economic impact on these LINCS RPDC entities because the waiver and extension impose minimal compliance costs to extend projects already in existence, and the activities required to support the additional year of funding will not impose additional regulatory burdens or require unnecessary Federal supervision. Furthermore, the costs of carrying out these activities could be paid for with program funds. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 This final waiver and extension does not contain any information collection requirements. Intergovernmental Review The LINCS RPDC is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism. The Executive order relies on processes developed by State and local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance. This document provides early notification of our specific plans and actions for this program. Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 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 all 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 this site. You may also access documents of the Department published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature at www.federalregister.gov. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:19 Sep 25, 2015 Jkt 235001 58235 Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department. results more rapidly than is typically achieved in education research. Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 3332(c)(2)(G). I. Funding Opportunity Description Dated: September 22, 2015. Johan E. Uvin, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Delegated the Authority of Assistant Secretary for the Office for Career, Technical, and Adult Education. [FR Doc. 2015–24590 Filed 9–25–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Applications for New Awards; LowCost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Education Interventions and Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Special Education Interventions Institute of Education Sciences, Department of Education. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Overview Information Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Education Interventions and LowCost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Special Education Interventions Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2016. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.305L and 84.324L. DATES: Request for Applications Available: September 30, 2015. Applications Available: November 12, 2015. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: January 12, 2016. SUMMARY: The Deputy Director for Policy and Research, delegated the duties of the Director, of the Institute of Education Sciences (Institute) announces the Institute’s FY 2016 grant competition for Low-Cost, ShortDuration Evaluation of Education Interventions and Low-Cost, ShortDuration Evaluation of Special Education Interventions. The Deputy Director for Policy and Research takes this action under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002. The Institute’s purpose in awarding these grants is to support rigorous evaluations of education interventions that State educational agencies (SEAs) or local educational agencies (LEAs) believe will produce meaningful improvements in student outcomes within a short period (for example, within a single semester or academic year), that can be conducted at low cost, and that will provide policymakers with valid and useful PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Full Text of Announcement Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Education Interventions and Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Special Education Interventions grant programs is to support rigorous evaluations of education interventions implemented by SEAs and LEAs that have important implications for improving student education outcomes. The evaluations are low cost because they rely on administrative records or other available data and are completed within a twoyear period. The evaluations are rigorous because they use randomized controlled trials or regression discontinuity designs that, if well implemented, would meet What Works Clearinghouse evidence standards without reservations for determining the effectiveness of interventions. The evaluations are to be carried out by partnerships between research institutions and SEAs or LEAs. Implementation of the intervention to be evaluated is to be supported by the SEA and/or LEA and not by the grant. The education intervention to be evaluated should be implemented and the key outcomes collected within the first year of the project, and the analysis and dissemination should be completed by the end of the second year of the project. In order to meet this schedule, projects should focus on interventions that are expected to produce meaningful results quickly (for example, within one semester or school year) and that rely on outcome measures that are readily available to researchers. Competitions in This Notice: The Institute’s National Center for Education Research (NCER) will hold one competition for the Low-Cost, ShortDuration Evaluation of Education Interventions Grant Program (84.305L). The Institute’s National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) will hold one competition for the LowCost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Special Education Interventions Grant Program (84.324L). Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq. Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 77, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. In addition, the regulations in 34 CFR part 75 are applicable, except for the provisions in 34 CFR 75.100, 75.101(b), 75.102, 75.103, 75.105, 75.109(a), E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 58236 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 187 / Monday, September 28, 2015 / Notices 75.200, 75.201, 75.209, 75.210, 75.211, 75.217(a)–(c), 75.219, 75.220, 75.221, 75.222, and 75.230. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended in 2 CFR part 3474. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education only. II. Award Information Types of Awards: Discretionary grants. Estimated Available Funds: $1 million for each of the two competitions. Estimated Number of Awards: The maximum number of awards made for the Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Education Interventions Grant Program will be four. The maximum number of awards made for the Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Special Education Interventions Grant Program will be four. These maximums will depend on the quality of the applications received and the availability of funds. The Institute’s Director or Deputy Director for Policy and Research (Delegated Duties of the Director) may change the maximum number of grants per competition awarded through a notice in the Federal Register. Contingent on the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2017 from the list of unfunded applications from the FY 2016 competitions. Maximum Award: The maximum total award is $250,000 for the entire project period of up to 24 months. We will reject any application that proposes a budget of more than $250,000. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Project Period: Up to 24 months based on performance. III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants: Research partnerships involving at least one research institution and at least one SEA or LEA. The partnership must choose one principal investigator from either the research institution or the SEA or LEA to have overall responsibility for the administration of the award. Applicants that have the ability and VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:19 Sep 25, 2015 Jkt 235001 capacity to conduct scientifically valid research are eligible to apply as the research institution partner. These include, but are not limited to, nonprofit and for-profit organizations and public and private agencies and institutions, such as colleges and universities. SEAs and LEAs (public agencies whose primary responsibility is the education of students in prekindergarten, K–12, postsecondary, and/or adult education) are eligible to apply as the education agency partner. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: These programs do not require cost sharing or matching. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. Requests for Applications and Other Information: Information regarding program and application requirements for the two competitions will be contained in the NCER and NCSER Requests for Applications (RFAs), which will be available on the Institute’s Web site at: https://ies.ed.gov/ funding/. Separate application packages for the two competitions will be available on November 12, 2015. The selection criteria, requirements concerning the content of an application, and review procedures for the competitions are contained in the RFAs. 2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements concerning the content of an application are contained in the RFA for the specific competition. The forms that must be submitted are in the application package for the specific competition. 3. Submission Dates and Times: Request for Applications Available: September 30, 2015. Applications Available: November 12, 2015. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: January 12, 2016. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. Applications for grants under these competitions must be obtained from and submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (www.Grants.gov). For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application package 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. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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: These competitions are not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. 6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification Number, and 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; 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 two to five 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. Note: Once your SAM registration is active, you will need to allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in Grants.gov and before you can submit an application through Grants.gov. E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 187 / Monday, September 28, 2015 / Notices tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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: www2.ed.gov/ fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html. 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 at the following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/ web/grants/register.html. 7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under these competitions 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 LowCost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Education Interventions, CFDA number 84.305L, and Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Special Education Interventions, CFDA number 84.324L, must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at 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 applications for the Low-Cost, ShortDuration Evaluation of Education Interventions competition and the Low- VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:19 Sep 25, 2015 Jkt 235001 Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Special Education Interventions competition at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application packages for these competitions by the CFDA number, 84.305L or 84.324L. 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 the 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 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 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 58237 Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. • You must upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to your application as files in a PDF (Portable Document) read-only, nonmodifiable format. Do not upload an interactive or fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a readonly, non-modifiable 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 the relevant RFA for your application. • 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 email. 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 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 E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 58238 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 187 / Monday, September 28, 2015 / Notices 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. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application through the Grants.gov system because— • You do not have access to the Internet; or • You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to the Grants.gov system; and • No later than two weeks before the application deadline date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. Address and mail or fax your statement to: Ellie Pelaez, U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue NW., Room 600e, Washington, DC 20208. FAX: (202) 219– 1466. 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:19 Sep 25, 2015 Jkt 235001 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: 84.305L or 84.324L), 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: 84.305L or 84.324L), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, 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 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 each competition are provided in the applicable RFA. 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, achievement 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 2 CFR 3474.10, the Secretary may impose special conditions and, in appropriate circumstances, high-risk 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 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible. VI. Award Administration Information 1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to access an electronic version of your 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 E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 187 / Monday, September 28, 2015 / Notices specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant. 3. Grant Administration: Applicants should budget for an annual two-day meeting for project directors to be held in Washington, DC. 4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under these competitions, 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 www.ed.gov/ fund/grant/apply/appforms/ appforms.html. 5. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of its education research and special education research grant programs, the Institute annually assesses the percentage of projects that result in peer-reviewed publications, the number of newly developed or modified interventions with evidence of promise for improving student education outcomes, and the number of Institutesupported interventions with evidence of efficacy in improving student outcomes, including school readiness outcomes for young children and student academic outcomes and social and behavioral competencies for schoolage students. School readiness outcomes include pre-reading, reading, prewriting, early mathematics, early science, and social-emotional skills that prepare young children for school. Student academic outcomes include learning and achievement in core academic content areas (reading, writing, math, and science) and outcomes that reflect students’ successful progression through the education system (e.g., course and grade completion; high school graduation; postsecondary enrollment, progress, and completion). Social and behavioral competencies include social skills, attitudes, and behaviors that may be important to student’s academic and post-academic success. Additional education outcomes for students with or VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:19 Sep 25, 2015 Jkt 235001 at risk of disability include developmental outcomes for infants and toddlers (birth to age three) with or at risk for a disability pertaining to cognitive, communicative, linguistic, social, emotional, adaptive, functional, or physical development; and developmental and functional outcomes that improve education outcomes, transition to employment, independent living, and postsecondary education for students with disabilities. 6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: Whether a grantee has made substantial progress in meeting the goals and objectives of the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, whether the grantee has met the performance targets in the grantee’s approved application. 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: Regarding CFDA number 84.305L—Dr. Phill Gagne at Phill.Gagne@ed.gov, or Dr. Allen Ruby at Allen.Ruby@ed.gov. Regarding CFDA number 84.324L—Dr. Robert Ochsendorf at Robert.Ochsendorf@ed.gov. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1–800–877–8339. VIII. Other Information Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the RFA in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the appropriate program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice. 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 all PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 58239 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 this 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: September 22, 2015. Ruth Neild, Deputy Director for Policy and Research, Delegated Duties of the Director, Institute of Education Sciences. [FR Doc. 2015–24511 Filed 9–25–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP15–552–000] Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Application Take notice that on September 9, 2015, Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) pursuant to section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), the Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) regulations under and 18 CFR part 157 filed in Docket No. CP15–552– 000, an application for certification and all authorizations necessary to construct and operate new natural gas transportation facilities in Gaines County, Texas, as more fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and open for public inspection. The filing may also be viewed on the web at https:// www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll-free, (866) 208–3676 or TTY, (202) 502–8659. Any questions concerning this application may be directed to: Michael T. Loeffler, Senior Director Certificates and External Affairs, Northern Natural Gas Company, P.O. Box 3330, Omaha, Nebraska 68103–0330, Phone: (402) 398–7103, FAX: (402) 398–7592, Email: mike.loeffler@nngco.com (402) 398– 7103, or Bret Fritch, Senior Regulatory Analyst, at (402) 398–7140. Specifically, Northern proposes to construct and operate a greenfield E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1

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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 187 (Monday, September 28, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58235-58239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24511]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation 
of Education Interventions and Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of 
Special Education Interventions

AGENCY: Institute of Education Sciences, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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Overview Information

Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Education Interventions and Low-
Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Special Education Interventions
Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2016.

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.305L and 
84.324L.

DATES: Request for Applications Available: September 30, 2015.
    Applications Available: November 12, 2015.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: January 12, 2016.
SUMMARY: The Deputy Director for Policy and Research, delegated the 
duties of the Director, of the Institute of Education Sciences 
(Institute) announces the Institute's FY 2016 grant competition for 
Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Education Interventions and Low-
Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Special Education Interventions. The 
Deputy Director for Policy and Research takes this action under the 
Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002. The Institute's purpose in 
awarding these grants is to support rigorous evaluations of education 
interventions that State educational agencies (SEAs) or local 
educational agencies (LEAs) believe will produce meaningful 
improvements in student outcomes within a short period (for example, 
within a single semester or academic year), that can be conducted at 
low cost, and that will provide policymakers with valid and useful 
results more rapidly than is typically achieved in education research.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Low-Cost, Short-Duration 
Evaluation of Education Interventions and Low-Cost, Short-Duration 
Evaluation of Special Education Interventions grant programs is to 
support rigorous evaluations of education interventions implemented by 
SEAs and LEAs that have important implications for improving student 
education outcomes. The evaluations are low cost because they rely on 
administrative records or other available data and are completed within 
a two-year period. The evaluations are rigorous because they use 
randomized controlled trials or regression discontinuity designs that, 
if well implemented, would meet What Works Clearinghouse evidence 
standards without reservations for determining the effectiveness of 
interventions.
    The evaluations are to be carried out by partnerships between 
research institutions and SEAs or LEAs. Implementation of the 
intervention to be evaluated is to be supported by the SEA and/or LEA 
and not by the grant. The education intervention to be evaluated should 
be implemented and the key outcomes collected within the first year of 
the project, and the analysis and dissemination should be completed by 
the end of the second year of the project. In order to meet this 
schedule, projects should focus on interventions that are expected to 
produce meaningful results quickly (for example, within one semester or 
school year) and that rely on outcome measures that are readily 
available to researchers.
    Competitions in This Notice: The Institute's National Center for 
Education Research (NCER) will hold one competition for the Low-Cost, 
Short-Duration Evaluation of Education Interventions Grant Program 
(84.305L).
    The Institute's National Center for Special Education Research 
(NCSER) will hold one competition for the Low-Cost, Short-Duration 
Evaluation of Special Education Interventions Grant Program (84.324L).


    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 77, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, 
and 99. In addition, the regulations in 34 CFR part 75 are applicable, 
except for the provisions in 34 CFR 75.100, 75.101(b), 75.102, 75.103, 
75.105, 75.109(a),

[[Page 58236]]

75.200, 75.201, 75.209, 75.210, 75.211, 75.217(a)-(c), 75.219, 75.220, 
75.221, 75.222, and 75.230. (b) The Office of Management and Budget 
Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension 
(Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as 
regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended in 2 CFR 
part 3474.

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

II. Award Information

    Types of Awards: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $1 million for each of the two 
competitions.
    Estimated Number of Awards: The maximum number of awards made for 
the Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Education Interventions 
Grant Program will be four. The maximum number of awards made for the 
Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Special Education Interventions 
Grant Program will be four. These maximums will depend on the quality 
of the applications received and the availability of funds. The 
Institute's Director or Deputy Director for Policy and Research 
(Delegated Duties of the Director) may change the maximum number of 
grants per competition awarded through a notice in the Federal 
Register.
    Contingent on the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2017 from the list of 
unfunded applications from the FY 2016 competitions.
    Maximum Award: The maximum total award is $250,000 for the entire 
project period of up to 24 months. We will reject any application that 
proposes a budget of more than $250,000.

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

    Project Period: Up to 24 months based on performance.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Research partnerships involving at least 
one research institution and at least one SEA or LEA. The partnership 
must choose one principal investigator from either the research 
institution or the SEA or LEA to have overall responsibility for the 
administration of the award. Applicants that have the ability and 
capacity to conduct scientifically valid research are eligible to apply 
as the research institution partner. These include, but are not limited 
to, nonprofit and for-profit organizations and public and private 
agencies and institutions, such as colleges and universities. SEAs and 
LEAs (public agencies whose primary responsibility is the education of 
students in prekindergarten, K-12, postsecondary, and/or adult 
education) are eligible to apply as the education agency partner.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: These programs do not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Requests for Applications and Other Information: Information 
regarding program and application requirements for the two competitions 
will be contained in the NCER and NCSER Requests for Applications 
(RFAs), which will be available on the Institute's Web site at: https://ies.ed.gov/funding/. Separate application packages for the two 
competitions will be available on November 12, 2015.
    The selection criteria, requirements concerning the content of an 
application, and review procedures for the competitions are contained 
in the RFAs.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application are contained in the RFA for 
the specific competition. The forms that must be submitted are in the 
application package for the specific competition.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Request for Applications Available: September 30, 2015.
    Applications Available: November 12, 2015.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: January 12, 2016.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Applications for grants under these competitions must be obtained 
from and submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site 
(www.Grants.gov). For information (including dates and times) about how 
to submit your application package 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.
    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: These competitions are not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and 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;
    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 two to five 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.

    Note:  Once your SAM registration is active, you will need to 
allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in 
Grants.gov and before you can submit an application through 
Grants.gov.


[[Page 58237]]


    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: www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
    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 at the 
following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
these competitions 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 Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation 
of Education Interventions, CFDA number 84.305L, and Low-Cost, Short-
Duration Evaluation of Special Education Interventions, CFDA number 
84.324L, must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide 
Grants.gov Apply site at 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 applications for the Low-Cost, 
Short-Duration Evaluation of Education Interventions competition and 
the Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Special Education 
Interventions competition at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the 
downloadable application packages for these competitions by the CFDA 
number, 84.305L or 84.324L.
    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 the 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 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 upload any narrative sections and all other 
attachments to your application as files in a PDF (Portable Document) 
read-only, non-modifiable format. Do not upload an interactive or 
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, 
non-modifiable 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 the relevant RFA for your application.
     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 email. 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

[[Page 58238]]

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

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

    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Grants.gov system; and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application.
    If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be 
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must 
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the 
application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: Ellie Pelaez, U.S. 
Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue NW., Room 600e, 
Washington, DC 20208. FAX: (202) 219-1466.
    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: 84.305L or 84.324L), 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: 84.305L or 84.324L), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, 
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 each competition 
are provided in the applicable RFA.
    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, achievement 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 2 CFR 3474.10, the Secretary may 
impose special conditions and, in appropriate circumstances, high-risk 
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 2 CFR part 
200, subpart D; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or 
is otherwise not responsible.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to 
access an electronic version of your 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

[[Page 58239]]

specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved 
application as part of your binding commitments under the grant.
    3. Grant Administration: Applicants should budget for an annual 
two-day meeting for project directors to be held in Washington, DC.
    4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under these 
competitions, 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 www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    5. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of its 
education research and special education research grant programs, the 
Institute annually assesses the percentage of projects that result in 
peer-reviewed publications, the number of newly developed or modified 
interventions with evidence of promise for improving student education 
outcomes, and the number of Institute-supported interventions with 
evidence of efficacy in improving student outcomes, including school 
readiness outcomes for young children and student academic outcomes and 
social and behavioral competencies for school-age students. School 
readiness outcomes include pre-reading, reading, pre-writing, early 
mathematics, early science, and social-emotional skills that prepare 
young children for school. Student academic outcomes include learning 
and achievement in core academic content areas (reading, writing, math, 
and science) and outcomes that reflect students' successful progression 
through the education system (e.g., course and grade completion; high 
school graduation; postsecondary enrollment, progress, and completion). 
Social and behavioral competencies include social skills, attitudes, 
and behaviors that may be important to student's academic and post-
academic success. Additional education outcomes for students with or at 
risk of disability include developmental outcomes for infants and 
toddlers (birth to age three) with or at risk for a disability 
pertaining to cognitive, communicative, linguistic, social, emotional, 
adaptive, functional, or physical development; and developmental and 
functional outcomes that improve education outcomes, transition to 
employment, independent living, and postsecondary education for 
students with disabilities.
    6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: Whether a grantee 
has made substantial progress in meeting the goals and objectives of 
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is 
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the 
Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, whether 
the grantee has met the performance targets in the grantee's approved 
application. 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:  Regarding CFDA number 84.305L--Dr. 
Phill Gagne at Phill.Gagne@ed.gov, or Dr. Allen Ruby at 
Allen.Ruby@ed.gov. Regarding CFDA number 84.324L--Dr. Robert Ochsendorf 
at Robert.Ochsendorf@ed.gov.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1-800-
877-8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the RFA in an accessible format (e.g., braille, 
large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the appropriate 
program contact person listed under For Further Information Contact in 
section VII of this notice.
    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 all 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 this 
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: September 22, 2015.
Ruth Neild,
Deputy Director for Policy and Research, Delegated Duties of the 
Director, Institute of Education Sciences.
[FR Doc. 2015-24511 Filed 9-25-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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