Applications for New Awards; Promoting Student Resilience, 40877-40884 [2016-14907]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 121 (Thursday, June 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40877-40884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14907]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Promoting Student Resilience

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

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information: Promoting Student Resilience.
    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2016.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.184C.


DATES: 
    Applications Available: June 23, 2016.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 25, 2016.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Promoting Student Resilience program 
provides grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) (or consortia of 
LEAs) to build and increase their capacity to address the comprehensive 
behavioral and mental health needs of students in communities that have 
experienced Significant civil unrest \1\ in the past 24 months.
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    \1\ Defined terms are used throughout the notice and are 
indicated by capitalization.
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    Background: Recent events have demonstrated that incidents 
involving civil unrest can disrupt schools and adversely impact the 
learning environment. These experiences can traumatize students, and 
this trauma can have lasting adverse effects on the mental, social, and 
emotional well-being of children and youth. The communities that are 
directly impacted by Significant civil unrest often have a long history 
of poverty, neglect, and inequality, and students in these communities 
often face barriers to accessing social and health services. It is 
widely recognized that there may also be a history of tension in the 
relationships between members of the community and agents of the public 
sector that deters efforts to seek such services.
    According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration (SAMHSA), trauma results from an event or a series of 
events, or a set of circumstances that is perceived by an individual as 
physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has 
lasting adverse effects on the individual's mental, social, or 
emotional well-being.\2\
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    \2\ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 
SAMHSA's Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed 
Approach. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4884. Rockville, MD: 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014.

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[[Page 40878]]

    Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and two 
competitive preference priorities. We are establishing these priorities 
for the FY 2016 grant competition and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the General 
Education Provisions Act (GEPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).
    Absolute Priority: This priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 
CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Grants to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) to Provide School-Based 
Supports to Address the Behavioral and Mental Health Needs of Students 
in Communities That Have Experienced Significant Civil Unrest.
    Under this priority, we provide grants to LEAs (or consortia of 
LEAs) in communities that have experienced Significant civil unrest to 
expand the capacity of those LEAs to more effectively address the 
behavioral and mental health needs of affected students in those 
communities. An increased capacity of enhanced social and emotional 
supports, combined with other school-based strategies, will offer 
schools an opportunity to create, strengthen, and maintain safe and 
supportive learning environments. These projects must:
    (a) Expand the capacity of the LEA(s) to more effectively address 
the behavioral and mental health needs of students, and
    (b) Provide increased access for students to school-based 
counseling services, or referrals to community-based counseling 
services, for assistance in coping with trauma.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: These priorities are competitive 
preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(1) we award up to an 
additional 10 points to an application that meets Competitive 
Preference Priority 1, depending on how well the application meets this 
priority. We also award 5 points on an all or nothing basis to an 
application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 2. Therefore, 
the maximum number of competitive preference priority points that an 
application can receive under this competition is 15 points.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Coordination with Community-
Based Organizations.
    Under this priority, we provide up to an additional 10 points to an 
applicant based on the application's description of a credible, high-
quality plan to coordinate activities that would be funded under the 
proposed project with related activities that would be conducted under 
other programs for which the applicant currently has, or is seeking, 
funding, including, but not limited to, the Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Service Administration's Resiliency in Communities After Stress 
and Trauma grant program (CFDA 93.243). The coordination plan must 
include: (1) A description of how the applicant will coordinate with 
Community-based organizations with experience carrying out similar or 
related activities to promote student resilience; and (2) evidence of 
collaboration and coordination through letters of support or a 
memorandum of understanding from the entities with which the 
collaboration and coordination will occur. Applicants that receive 
additional competitive preference points under this priority and who 
are ultimately awarded a Promoting Student Resilience grant must 
finalize and implement the high-quality plan described in response to 
this priority within six months of the grant award.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Emergency Declaration Status.
    Under this priority, we provide an additional 5 points to an 
applicant from a community in which Significant civil unrest resulted 
in an emergency declaration from the governor. Applicants must provide 
a copy of the Governor's declaration in the application.
    Application Requirements: We are establishing these requirements 
for the FY 2016 grant competition and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the General 
Education Provisions Act (GEPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).
    To be eligible for a grant under this competition, an application 
must include, in addition to the items in the plan listed under Program 
Requirements, the following:
    (a) A description of Significant civil unrest experienced by the 
LEA(s) and its impact on the learning environment in specific schools;
    (b) A Logic model for how the applicant will use grant funds 
effectively;
    (c) A needs assessment of students who, as a result of exposure to 
Significant civil unrest, would benefit from enhanced or increased 
behavioral and mental health services. This needs assessment must 
include input from parents;
    (d) A capacity assessment of the LEA's, or LEAs', service delivery 
system's ability to provide mental and behavioral health services; and
    (e) A plan to successfully meet the program requirements for this 
competition, based on data from the needs assessment and the capacity 
assessment.
    Program Requirements: We are establishing these requirements for 
the FY 2016 grant competition and any subsequent year in which we make 
awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, in 
accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the General Education Provisions 
Act (GEPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).
    Each grantee must implement a plan described in its approved 
application to:
    (a) Develop, enhance and increase its capacity to provide school-
based mental health and behavioral services including, but not limited 
to:
    (1) Providing professional development opportunities for LEA and 
school mental health staff on how to screen for and respond to civil 
unrest-related trauma and implement strategies appropriate for school-
based mitigation of trauma;
    (2) Improving the range, availability, and quality of school-based 
supports by hiring qualified mental health professionals with 
experience or training in the behavioral and mental health needs of 
youth who have experienced trauma related to recent events in their 
communities; and
    (3) Providing training to select school staff, community partners, 
youth, and parents on the challenges due to exposure to the trauma 
related to recent events in their communities, and on the importance of 
screening students and providing interventions to help students cope 
with traumatic events; and
    (b) Providing enhanced or increased behavioral and mental health 
services and supports while also increasing the grantee's capacity to 
provide those services and supports.
    Definitions: We are establishing the definition of ``significant 
civil unrest'' and ``community-based organization'' in this notice for 
the FY 2016 grant competition and any subsequent year in which we make 
awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, in 
accordance with section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1). The 
definition of ``local educational agency'' is from section 9101(26) of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended 
by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) (20 U.S.C. 7801). The 
definitions of ``baseline,'' ``evidence of promise,'' ``logic model,'' 
``quasi-

[[Page 40879]]

experimental design study,'' ``randomized controlled trial,'' and 
``relevant outcome'' are from 34 CFR 77.1.
    Baseline means the starting point from which performance is 
measured and targets are set.
    Community-based organization means a private or public nonprofit 
organization of demonstrated effectiveness that:
    (1) Is representative of a community or significant segments of a 
community;
    (2) provides educational or related services to individuals in the 
community; and
    (3) has experience carrying out activities promoting student 
resilience.
    Evidence of promise means there is empirical evidence to support 
the theoretical linkage(s) between at least one critical component and 
at least one Relevant outcome presented in the logic model for the 
proposed process, product, strategy, or practice. Specifically, 
evidence of promise means the conditions in both paragraphs (i) and 
(ii) of this definition are met:
    (i) There is at least one study that is a--
    (A) Correlational study with statistical controls for selection 
bias;
    (B) Quasi-experimental design study that meets the What Works 
Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations; or
    (C) Randomized controlled trial that meets the What Works 
Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with or without reservations.
    (ii) The study referenced in paragraph (i) of this definition found 
a statistically significant or substantively important (defined as a 
difference of 0.25 standard deviations or larger) favorable association 
between at least one critical component and one Relevant outcome 
presented in the logic model for the proposed process, product, 
strategy, or practice.
    Local educational agency (LEA) means:
    (1) A public board of education or other public authority legally 
constituted within a State for either administrative control or 
direction of, or to perform a service function for, public elementary 
schools or secondary schools in a city, county, township, school 
district, or other political subdivision of a State, or of or for a 
combination of school districts or counties that is recognized in a 
State as an administrative agency for its public elementary schools or 
secondary schools.
    (2) The term includes any other public institution or agency having 
administrative control and direction of a public elementary school or 
secondary school.
    (3) The term includes an elementary school or secondary school 
funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs but only to the extent that 
including the school makes the school eligible for programs for which 
specific eligibility is not provided to the school in another provision 
of law and the school does not have a student population that is 
smaller than the student population of the local educational agency 
receiving assistance under the ESEA with the smallest student 
population, except that the school shall not be subject to the 
jurisdiction of any State educational agency other than the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs.
    (4) The term includes educational service agencies and consortia of 
those agencies.
    (5) The term includes the State educational agency in a State in 
which the State educational agency is the sole educational agency for 
all public schools.
    Logic model (also referred to as theory of action) means a well-
specified conceptual framework that identifies key components of the 
proposed process, product, strategy, or practice (i.e., the active 
``ingredients'' that are hypothesized to be critical to achieving the 
Relevant outcome(s)) and describes the relationships among the key 
components and outcomes, theoretically and operationally.
    Quasi-experimental design study means a study using a design that 
attempts to approximate an experimental design by identifying a 
comparison group that is similar to the treatment group in important 
respects. These studies, depending on design and implementation, can 
meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations (but 
not What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations).
    Randomized controlled trial means a study that employs random 
assignment of, for example, students, teachers, classrooms, schools, or 
districts to receive the intervention being evaluated (the treatment 
group) or not to receive the intervention (the control group). The 
estimated effectiveness of the intervention is the difference between 
the average outcomes for the treatment group and for the control group. 
These studies, depending on design and implementation, can meet What 
Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations.
    Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) (or the ultimate 
outcome if not related to students) the proposed process, product, 
strategy, or practice is designed to improve; consistent with the 
specific goals of a program.
    Significant civil unrest means demonstrations of mass protest that 
included law enforcement involvement that occurred within 24 months 
immediately prior to June 23, 2016.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally offers interested parties 
the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities, definitions, and 
requirements. Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, however, allows the Secretary 
to exempt from rulemaking requirements, regulations governing the first 
grant competition under a new or substantially revised program 
authority. This is the first grant competition for this program under 
section 4121 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended 
by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and therefore qualifies for 
this exemption. In order to ensure timely grant awards, the Secretary 
has decided to forego public comment on the priorities, requirements, 
and definitions under section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. These priorities, 
requirements, and definitions will apply to the FY 2016 grant 
competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the 
list of unfunded applications from this competition.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7131, and Title III of Division H 
of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Pub. L. 114-113).

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 
84, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
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 as 
regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations 
in 34 CFR part 299.
    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $4,750,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2017 from the list of 
unfunded applications from this competition.

[[Page 40880]]

    Estimated Range of Awards: $1,187,500-$2,375,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,500,000.
    Maximum Award: We will not fund any portion of a budget request 
exceeding $2,375,000 for a budget period of 24 months. The Assistant 
Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education may change the maximum 
amount through a notice published in the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 2-4.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: Up to 24 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: LEAs, or consortia of LEAs, from a 
community that has experienced Significant civil unrest.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: Participation by Private School Children and Teachers. 
Section 9501 of the ESEA requires that SEAs, LEAs, or other entities 
receiving funds under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities 
Act provide for the equitable participation of private school children, 
their teachers, and other educational personnel in private schools 
located in geographic areas served by the grant recipient.
    In order to ensure that grant program activities address the needs 
of private school children, the applicant must engage in timely and 
meaningful consultation with appropriate private school officials 
during the design and development of the proposed program. This 
consultation must take place before the applicant makes any decision 
that affects the opportunities of eligible private school children, 
teachers, and other educational personnel to participate in grant 
program activities. The eligible entity should engage in a process of 
timely and meaningful consultation with private school officials and 
provide them with information related to the projected and final 
funding amounts for programs and services, including on the process the 
entity will use in preparing its competitive grant application. 
Administrative direction and control over grant funds must remain with 
the grantee.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following 
address: www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/. To obtain a 
copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call: ED Pubs, U.S. Department of 
Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll free: 
1-877-433-7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. If you use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call, toll free: 
1-877-576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at 
its email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
    If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify this program or competition as follows: CFDA number 84.184C.
    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 
Accessible Format in section VIII 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 application package for this program.
    Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, 
provide the project narrative to address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. The required budget and 
budget narrative will be provided in a separate section. You must limit 
the application narrative to the equivalent of no more than 30 pages, 
using the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial.
    The page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the budget 
section, including the narrative budget justification; the assurances 
and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes, the 
bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the page limit does 
apply to all of the application narrative section.
    Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application that 
exceed the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: June 23, 2016.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 25, 2016.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to Other Submission Requirements in section 
IV of this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. However, under 34 
CFR 79.8(a), we waive intergovernmental review in order to make awards 
by the end of FY 2016.
    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), 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 at the 
following Web site: https://fedgov.dnb.com/

[[Page 40881]]

webform. 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 you enter into the SAM database. 
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, it may be 24 to 48 
hours before you can access the information in, and submit an 
application through, Grants.gov.
    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.
    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 this competition must be submitted 
electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement 
in accordance with the instructions in this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under the Promoting Student Resilience 
Program, CFDA number 84.184C, 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 application for the Promoting 
Student Resilience Program at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the 
downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA number. 
Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., 
search for 84.184, not 84.184C).
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this program to ensure that you 
submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. 
You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to 
Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 system home 
page at www.G5.gov. In addition, for specific guidance and procedures 
for submitting an application through Grants.gov, please refer to the 
Grants.gov Web site at: www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.
     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 read-only, non-modifiable 
Portable Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or 
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, 
non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a 
password-protected file, we will not review that material. Please note 
that this could result in your application not being considered for 
funding because the material in question--for example, the project 
narrative--is critical to a meaningful review of your proposal. For 
that reason it is important to allow yourself adequate time to upload 
all material as PDF files. The Department will not convert material 
from other formats to PDF.
     Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that 
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. This notification indicates 
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department. Grants.gov 
will also notify you automatically by email if your application met all 
the Grants.gov validation requirements or if there were any errors 
(such as

[[Page 40882]]

submission of your application by someone other than a registered 
Authorized Organization Representative, or inclusion of an attachment 
with a file name that contains special characters). You will be given 
an opportunity to correct any errors and resubmit, but you must still 
meet the deadline for submission of applications.
    Once your application is successfully validated by Grants.gov, the 
Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you 
an email with a unique PR/Award number for your application.
    These emails do not mean that your application is without any 
disqualifying errors. While your application may have been successfully 
validated by Grants.gov, it must also meet the Department's application 
requirements as specified in this notice and in the application 
instructions. Disqualifying errors could include, for instance, failure 
to upload attachments in a read-only, non-modifiable PDF; failure to 
submit a required part of the application; or failure to meet applicant 
eligibility requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that your 
submitted application has met all of the Department's requirements.
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues 
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting 
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov 
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a 
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
    If you are prevented from electronically submitting your 
application on the application deadline date because of technical 
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension 
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand 
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing 
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
    If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC 
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this 
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you 
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk 
Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a 
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that the 
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We will 
contact you after we determine 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: Deirdra Hilliard, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E-249, 
Washington, DC 20202-6450. FAX: (202) 453-6742.
    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 84.184C), 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.
    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.
    We will not consider applications postmarked after the 
application deadline date.
    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 84.184C), 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 this program are 
from 34 CFR

[[Page 40883]]

75.210 of EDGAR. All of the selection criteria are listed in this 
section and in the application package. The maximum score for all of 
the selection criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each 
criterion is included in parentheses following the title of the 
specific selection criterion. Each criterion also includes one or more 
factors that reviewers will consider in determining the extent to which 
an applicant meets the criterion. Points awarded under these selection 
criteria are in addition to any points an applicant earns under the 
competitive preference priorities in this notice. The maximum score 
that an application may receive under the competitive preference 
priorities and the selection criteria is 115 points.
    1. Need for Project. (20 points)
    The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In 
determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers 
the following factors:
    (a) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or 
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project. (10 points)
    (b) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 
infrastructure or opportunities have been identified and will be 
addressed by the proposed project including the nature and magnitude of 
those gaps or weaknesses. (10 points)
    2. Quality of the Project Design. (45 points)
    The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (a) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 
population or other identified needs. (15 points)
    (b) The extent to which the proposed project will integrate with or 
build on similar or related efforts in order to improve Relevant 
outcome(s) (as defined in 34 CFR 77.1(c)), using existing funding 
streams from other programs or policies supported by community, State, 
and Federal resources. (10 points)
    (c) The extent to which the proposed project is supported by 
Evidence of promise (as defined in 34 CFR 77.1(c)). (10 points)
    (d) The extent to which the proposed project will establish 
linkages with other appropriate agencies and organizations providing 
services to the target population. (5 points)
    (e) The extent to which the proposed project encourages parental 
involvement. (5 points)
    3. Quality of Project Personnel. (10 points)
    The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry 
out the proposed project.
    (a) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability. (5 points)
    In addition, the Secretary considers the following factor:
    (b) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel. (5 points)
    4. Quality of the Management Plan. (15 points)
    The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan of 
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factor:
    (a) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks. (15 points)
    5. Quality of the Project Evaluation. (10 points)
    The Secretary considers the quality of the project evaluation to be 
conducted of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the 
evaluation of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the 
following factor:
    (a) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project. (10 points)
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, 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 
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. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under this program the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. 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 specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, 
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and 
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply 
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
    (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final 
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the 
Secretary. If you receive a multiyear 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

[[Page 40884]]

75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to 
www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    (c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee 
with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. In 
this case the Secretary establishes a data collection period.
    4. Performance Measures: (a) The Department has established the 
following performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of the 
Promoting Student Resilience grant program:
    1. The number of students served by the grant(s) receiving school-
based and community mental health services to address student needs 
resulting from exposure to trauma; and
    2. The number of Community-based organizations that are 
coordinating and sharing resources with each other as a result of the 
grant(s).
    (b) Baseline data. Applicants must provide Baseline data for each 
of the performance measures listed in (a) and explain why each proposed 
Baseline is valid; or, if the applicant has determined that there are 
no established Baseline data for a particular performance measure, 
explain why there is no established Baseline and explain how and when, 
during the project period, the applicant will establish a valid 
Baseline for the performance measure.
    Note: If the applicant does not have experience with collection and 
reporting of performance data through other projects or research, the 
applicant should provide other evidence of capacity to successfully 
carry out data collection and reporting for its proposed project. These 
measures constitute the Department's indicators of success for this 
program. Consequently, we advise an applicant for a grant under this 
program to give careful consideration to these measure in 
conceptualizing the approach and evaluation for its proposed project. 
Each grantee will be required to provide, in its annual performance and 
final reports, data about its progress in meeting these measures.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deirdra Hilliard, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E-249, Washington, DC 20202-
6450. Telephone: (202) 453-6726 or by email: deirdra.hilliard@ed.gov.
    If you use a TDD or a 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 application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to 
the 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 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: June 20, 2016.
Ann Whalen,
Senior Advisor to the Secretary, Delegated the Duties of Assistant 
Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2016-14907 Filed 6-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P