Applications for New Awards; Supporting Effective Educator Development Grant Program, 93671-93680 [2016-30751]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 93671-93680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30751]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Supporting Effective Educator 
Development Grant Program

AGENCY: Office of Innovation and Improvement, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information:

Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) Grant Program

    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2016.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.367D

    Dates:
    Applications Available: December 21, 2016.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: January 20, 2017.
    Date of Informational Webinar: The SEED program intends to hold a 
Webinar designed to provide technical assistance to interested 
applicants. Detailed information regarding this Webinar will be 
provided on the SEED Web site at https://innovation.ed.gov/what-we-do/teacher-quality/supporting-effective-educator-development-grant-program/.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 7, 2017.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 20, 2017.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The SEED program provides funding for grants to 
National Not-for-Profit Organizations for projects that support teacher 
or principal training or professional enhancement activities and that 
are supported by at least Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness. The 
purpose of the program is to increase the number of Highly Effective 
Teachers and Principals by developing or expanding the implementation 
of practices that are demonstrated to have an impact on improving 
Student Achievement or Student Growth. These grants will allow eligible 
entities to develop, expand, and evaluate practices that can serve as 
models that can be sustained and disseminated.
    Please note that on December 10, 2015, President Obama signed into 
law the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which reauthorized the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). ESSA provided 
specific statutory authority for the SEED program, under section 2242, 
for grant competitions beginning with funds appropriated for FY 2017. 
Accordingly,

[[Page 93672]]

this FY 2016 SEED competition will be the final SEED competition under 
the statutory and regulatory provisions in effect prior to enactment of 
the ESSA. Consequently, except as noted, all references to the ESEA in 
this notice are to the ESEA as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act.
    Priorities: This competition includes four absolute priorities, one 
of which is required for all applicants, and four competitive 
preference priorities. Absolute Priority 1 and Competitive Preference 
Priority 1 are from 34 CFR 75.226. Absolute Priorities 2 through 4 and 
Competitive Preference Priorities 2 and 3 are from the notice of final 
priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for this 
program, published in the Federal Register on February 12, 2013 (78 FR 
9815) (``SEED NFP''). Competitive Preference Priority 4 is from the 
Department's notice of final supplemental priorities and definitions, 
published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2014 (79 FR 73425) 
(``Supplemental Priorities'').
    Absolute Priorities: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only 
applications that meet Absolute Priority 1 and meet one or more of 
Absolute Priorities 2 through 4.
    These priorities are:
    Absolute Priority 1: Supporting Practices and Strategies for Which 
There Is Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness.
    Projects that are supported by Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness.
    Absolute Priority 2: Teacher or Principal Recruitment, Selection, 
and Preparation.
    This priority funds projects that will create or expand practices 
and strategies that increase the number of Highly Effective Teachers or 
Highly Effective Principals by recruiting, selecting, and preparing 
talented individuals to work in schools with high concentrations of 
High-Need Students. Projects must include activities that focus on 
creating or expanding high-performing teacher preparation programs, 
principal preparation programs, or both. Activities may include but are 
not limited to expanding clinical experiences, redesigning and 
implementing program coursework to align with State standards and 
district requirements for P-12 teachers, providing induction and other 
support for program participants in their classrooms and schools, and 
developing strategies for tracking the effect program graduates have on 
the achievement of their students or the performance of their schools.
    In addition, an applicant must propose a plan demonstrating a 
rigorous, competitive selection process to determine which aspiring 
teachers or principals participate in the applicant's proposed 
activities.
    Absolute Priority 3: Professional Development for Teachers of 
Academic Subjects.
    This priority funds projects that will create or expand practices 
and strategies that increase the number of Highly Effective Teachers by 
providing professional development opportunities to teachers, including 
special education teachers, in schools with high concentrations of 
High-Need Students. Projects must focus on increasing Student 
Achievement in academic subjects by providing high-quality professional 
development to teachers. The academic subjects that may be addressed 
through professional development under this priority include foreign 
languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, physical 
education, geography, environmental education, and financial literacy.
    Applicants are required to describe the need of the proposed 
districts to be served for teacher professional development in the 
selected high-need academic subjects and to demonstrate alignment of 
the proposed projects with State standards.
    In addition, applicants must describe how they plan to measure the 
impact the professional development has on teacher effectiveness. 
Applicants must determine teacher effectiveness through a rigorous, 
transparent, and fair evaluation in which performance is differentiated 
using multiple measures of effectiveness and based in significant part 
on Student Growth.

    Note: The list of subjects provided in this priority is 
illustrative. Applicants may propose to address other academic 
subjects or areas, such as writing, reading, or mathematics, which 
partner schools and districts have demonstrated to be high-need.

    Absolute Priority 4: Advanced Certification and Advanced 
Credentialing.
    This priority funds projects that will create or expand practices 
and strategies based on advanced certification or advanced 
credentialing that increase the number of Highly Effective Teachers, 
Highly Effective Principals, or both, who work in schools with high 
concentrations of High-Need Students.
    Applicants are required to focus their proposed projects on 
encouraging and supporting teachers, principals, or both, who seek a 
nationally recognized, standards-based advanced certificate or advanced 
credential through high-quality professional enhancement projects 
designed to improve teaching and learning for teachers who may take on 
Career Ladder Positions, principals, or both who would serve as models, 
mentors, and coaches for other teachers, principals, or both working in 
schools with high concentrations of High-Need Students.
    In addition, the effectiveness of teachers or principals who 
receive advanced certification or credentialing must be determined 
through a rigorous, transparent, and fair evaluation in which 
performance is differentiated using multiple measures of effectiveness 
and based in significant part on Student Growth.
    Finally, an applicant must propose a plan demonstrating a rigorous, 
competitive selection process to determine which teachers or principals 
participate in the applicant's proposed activities.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we 
award an additional four points to an application that meets 
Competitive Preference Priority 1. We award an additional one point to 
an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 2. We award 
an additional two points to an application that meets Competitive 
Preference Priority 3. We award up to an additional three points to an 
application, depending on how well the application meets Competitive 
Preference Priority 4. The total number of points an application may 
receive for addressing the competitive preference priorities is 10. 
These points are in addition to any points the application earns under 
the selection criteria. Addressing these competitive preference 
priorities is optional, and applicants may choose to respond to none, 
one, two, three, or all four of the competitive preference priorities 
for this competition.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1: Supporting Practices and 
Strategies for Which There Is Strong Evidence of Effectiveness (0 or 4 
points).
    Projects that are supported by Strong Evidence of Effectiveness.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2: Improving Efficiency (Cost-
Effectiveness) (0 or 1 point).
    Projects that will identify strategies for providing cost-
effective, high-quality services at the State, regional, or local level 
by making better use of available resources. Such projects may include 
innovative and sustainable uses of technology, modification of school 
schedules and teacher compensation systems, use of Open Educational 
Resources, or other strategies.

[[Page 93673]]

    Competitive Preference Priority 3: Promoting Science, Technology, 
Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education \1\ (0 or 2 points).
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    \1\ For the purposes of this notice, STEM may include computer 
science.
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    This priority funds projects that address one or both of the 
following priority areas:
    (a) Increasing the opportunities for high-quality preparation of, 
or professional development for, teachers of STEM subjects.
    (b) Increasing the number of individuals from groups traditionally 
underrepresented in STEM, including minorities, individuals with 
disabilities, and women, who are teachers of STEM subjects and have 
increased opportunities for high-quality preparation or professional 
development.
    In addition, applicants must describe how they plan to measure the 
impact the proposed project activities have on teacher effectiveness. 
Applicants must determine teacher effectiveness through a rigorous, 
transparent, and fair evaluation in which performance is differentiated 
using multiple measures of effectiveness and based in significant part 
on Student Growth.

    Note: Applicants may choose to respond to one or both of the 
priority areas and are not required to respond to each priority area 
in order to receive the maximum available points under this 
competitive preference priority.

    Competitive Preference Priority 4: Supporting High-Need Students (0 
to 3 points).
    This priority funds projects that are designed to improve academic 
outcomes for one or more of the following groups of students:
    (i) Students served by Rural Local Educational Agencies.
    (ii) Students with disabilities.
    (iii) English learners.
    (iv) Students who are members of federally recognized Indian 
tribes.

    Note: Applicants may choose to respond to one or more of the 
priority areas and are not required to respond to each priority area 
in order to receive the maximum available points under this 
competitive preference priority.

Definitions

    The following definitions are from the SEED NFP, the Supplemental 
Priorities, and 34 CFR 77.1. The source of each definition is noted in 
parentheses following the text of the definition.
    Career Ladder Positions means school-based instructional leadership 
positions designed to improve instructional practice, which teachers 
may voluntarily accept, such as positions described as master teacher, 
mentor teacher, demonstration or model teacher, or instructional coach, 
and for which teachers are selected based on criteria that are 
predictive of the ability to lead other teachers. (SEED NFP)
    High-Minority School means a school as that term is defined by a 
local educational agency (LEA), which must define the term in a manner 
consistent with its State's Teacher Equity Plan, as required by section 
1111(g)(1)(B) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (ESEA). The applicant must provide the definition(s) of ``High-
Minority Schools'' used in its application. (Supplemental Priorities)

    Note: The requirement concerning State Teacher Equity Plans is 
set out in section 1111(g)(1)(B) of the ESEA, as amended by the 
ESSA. Applicants that did not establish Teacher Equity Plans after 
ESSA took effect can rely on their prior Teacher Equity Plan.

    High-Need Students means students who are at risk of educational 
failure or otherwise in need of special assistance and support, such as 
students who are living in poverty, who attend High-Minority Schools, 
who are far below grade level, who have left school before receiving a 
Regular High School Diploma, who are at risk of not graduating with a 
diploma on time, who are homeless, who are in foster care, who have 
been incarcerated, who have disabilities, or who are English learners. 
(Supplemental Priorities)
    Highly Effective Principal means a principal whose students, 
overall and for each subgroup as described in section 
1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of the ESEA (i.e., economically disadvantaged 
students, students from major racial and ethnic groups, students with 
disabilities, and students with limited English proficiency), achieve 
high rates (e.g., one and one-half grade levels in an academic year) of 
Student Growth. Eligible applicants may include multiple measures, 
provided that principal effectiveness is evaluated, in significant 
part, based on Student Growth. Supplemental measures may include, for 
example, high school graduation rates; college enrollment rates; 
evidence of providing supportive teaching and learning conditions, 
support for ensuring effective instruction across subject areas for a 
well-rounded education, strong instructional leadership, and positive 
family and community engagement; or evidence of attracting, developing, 
and retaining high numbers of effective teachers. (SEED NFP)
    Highly Effective Teacher means a teacher whose students achieve 
high rates (e.g., one and one-half grade levels in an academic year) of 
Student Growth. Eligible applicants may include multiple measures, 
provided that teacher effectiveness is evaluated, in significant part, 
based on Student Growth. Supplemental measures may include, for 
example, multiple observation-based assessments of teacher performance 
or evidence of leadership roles (which may include mentoring or leading 
professional development learning communities) that increase 
effectiveness of other teachers in the school or LEA. (SEED NFP)
    Large Sample means an analytic sample of 350 or more students (or 
other single analysis units), or 50 or more groups (such as classrooms 
or schools) that contain 10 or more students (or other single analysis 
units). (34 CFR 77.1)
    Lowest-Performing Schools means--
    For a State with an approved request for flexibility under the 
ESEA, Priority Schools or Tier I and Tier II Schools identified under 
the School Improvement Grants program.
    For any other State, Tier I and Tier II Schools identified under 
the School Improvement Grants program. (Supplemental Priorities)

    Note: ESEA flexibility ended on August 1, 2016. Consequently, 
the approved requests for flexibility referenced in the definition 
of ``Lowest-Performing Schools'' would have been granted prior to 
that date.

    Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness means one of the following 
conditions is met:
    (a) There is at least one study of the effectiveness of the 
process, product, strategy, or practice being proposed that meets the 
What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations, found 
a statistically significant favorable impact on a Relevant Outcome 
(with no statistically significant and overriding unfavorable impacts 
on that outcome for relevant populations in the study or in other 
studies of the intervention reviewed by and reported on by the What 
Works Clearinghouse), and includes a sample that overlaps with the 
populations or settings proposed to receive the process, product, 
strategy, or practice.
    (b) There is at least one study of the effectiveness of the 
process, product, strategy, or practice being proposed that meets the 
What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations, found a 
statistically significant favorable impact on a Relevant Outcome (with 
no statistically significant and overriding unfavorable impacts on that 
outcome for relevant populations in the study or in

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other studies of the intervention reviewed by and reported on by the 
What Works Clearinghouse), includes a sample that overlaps with the 
populations or settings proposed to receive the process, product, 
strategy, or practice, and includes a Large Sample and a Multi-site 
Sample. (Note: Multiple studies can cumulatively meet the large and 
Multi-site Sample requirements as long as each study meets the other 
requirements in this paragraph.) (34 CFR 77.1)
    Multi-site Sample means more than one site, where site can be 
defined as an LEA, locality, or State. (34 CFR 77.1)
    National Level describes the level of scope or effectiveness of a 
process, product, strategy, or practice that is able to be effective in 
a wide variety of communities, including rural and urban areas, as well 
as with different groups (e.g., economically disadvantaged, racial and 
ethnic groups, migrant populations, individuals with disabilities, 
English learners, and individuals of each gender). (SEED NFP)
    National Not-for-Profit Organization means an entity that meets the 
definition of ``nonprofit'' under 34 CFR 77.1(c) and is of national 
scope, meaning that the entity provides services in multiple States to 
a significant number or percentage of recipients and is supported by 
staff or affiliates in multiple States. (SEED NFP)
    Open Educational Resources means teaching, learning, and research 
resources that reside in the public domain or have been released under 
an intellectual property license that permits their free use or 
repurposing by others. (SEED NFP)
    Persistently Lowest Achieving School means, as determined by the 
State--
    (a)(1) Any Title I school that has been identified for improvement, 
corrective action, or restructuring under section 1116 of the ESEA, and 
that--
    (i) Is among the lowest-achieving five percent of Title I schools 
in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring or the lowest-
achieving five Title I schools in improvement, corrective action, or 
restructuring in the State, whichever number of schools is greater; or
    (ii) Is a high school that has had a graduation rate, as defined in 
34 CFR 200.19(b), that is less than 60 percent over a number of years; 
and
    (2) Any secondary school that is eligible for, but does not 
receive, Title I funds that--
    (i) Is among the lowest-achieving five percent of secondary schools 
or the lowest-achieving five secondary schools in the State that are 
eligible for, but do not receive, Title I funds, whichever number of 
schools is greater; or
    (ii) Is a high school that has had a graduation rate, as defined in 
34 CFR 200.19(b), that is less than 60 percent over a number of years.
    (b) To identify the lowest-achieving schools, a State must take 
into account both--
    (i) The academic achievement of the ``all students'' group in a 
school in terms of proficiency on the State's assessments under section 
1111(b)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended by the No Child Left Behind Act, in reading/language arts and 
mathematics combined; and
    (ii) The school's lack of progress on those assessments over a 
number of years in the ``all students'' group. (Supplemental 
Priorities)

    Note: The Department will also consider any school a 
persistently lowest-achieving school that, at the time of submission 
of application under this competition, meets the definition of 
``Lowest-Performing Schools'' set out in this Notice.

    We are providing this flexibility because a State that received 
ESEA flexibility was not required to identify schools in corrective 
action or restructuring under the ESEA; but rather, the State 
identified priority and focus schools. Moreover, consistent with final 
regulations issued under the School Improvement Grants program (80 FR 
7223), the definition of Tier I and Tier II Schools includes 
persistently lowest-achieving schools.
    Priority Schools means schools that, based on the most recent data 
available, have been identified as among the Lowest-Performing Schools 
in the State. The total number of Priority Schools in a State must be 
at least five percent of the Title I schools in the State. A Priority 
School is--
    (a) A school among the lowest five percent of Title I schools in 
the State based on the achievement of the ``all students'' group in 
terms of proficiency on the statewide assessments that are part of the 
SEA's differentiated recognition, accountability, and support system, 
combined, and has demonstrated a lack of progress on those assessments 
over a number of years in the ``all students'' group;
    (b) A Title I-participating or Title I-eligible high school with a 
graduation rate that is less than 60 percent over a number of years; or
    (c) A Tier I or Tier II school under the School Improvement Grant 
(SIG) program that is using SIG funds to implement a school 
intervention model. (Supplemental Priorities)
    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). 
(34 CFR 77.1)
    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. (34 CFR 77.1)
    Regular High School Diploma means the standard high school diploma 
that is awarded to students in the State and that is fully aligned with 
the State's academic content standards or a higher diploma and does not 
include a General Education Development (GED) credential, certificate 
of attendance, or any alternative award. (Supplemental Priorities)
    Rural Local Educational Agency means an LEA that is eligible under 
the Small Rural School Achievement (SRSA) program or the Rural and Low-
Income School (RLIS) program authorized under Title VI, Part B of the 
ESEA. Eligible applicants may determine whether a particular LEA is 
eligible for these programs by referring to information on the 
Department's Web site at www2.ed.gov/nclb/freedom/local/reap.html. 
(Supplemental Priorities)
    Strong Evidence of Effectiveness means one of the following 
conditions is met:
    (a) There is at least one study of the effectiveness of the 
process, product, strategy, or practice being proposed that meets the 
What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations, found 
a statistically significant favorable impact on a Relevant Outcome 
(with no statistically significant and overriding unfavorable impacts 
on that outcome for relevant populations in the study or in other 
studies of the intervention reviewed by and reported on by the What 
Works Clearinghouse), includes a sample that overlaps with the 
populations and settings proposed to receive the process, product, 
strategy, or practice, and includes a Large Sample and a Multi-site 
Sample. (Note: Multiple studies can cumulatively meet the Large and 
Multi-site Sample requirements as long as each study meets the other 
requirements in this paragraph.)
    (b) There are at least two studies of the effectiveness of the 
process, product,

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strategy, or practice being proposed, each of which: Meets the What 
Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations, found a 
statistically significant favorable impact on a Relevant Outcome (with 
no statistically significant and overriding unfavorable impacts on that 
outcome for relevant populations in the studies or in other studies of 
the intervention reviewed by and reported on by the What Works 
Clearinghouse), includes a sample that overlaps with the populations 
and settings proposed to receive the process, product, strategy, or 
practice, and includes a Large Sample and a Multi-site Sample. (34 CFR 
77.1)
    Student Achievement means--
    (a) For tested grades and subjects: (1) A student's score on the 
State's assessments under the ESEA; and, as appropriate, (2) other 
measures of student learning, such as those described in paragraph (b) 
of this definition, provided they are rigorous and comparable across 
schools.
    (b) For non-tested grades and subjects: alternative measures of 
student learning and performance, such as student scores on pre-tests 
and end-of-course tests; student performance on English language 
proficiency assessments; and other measures of Student Achievement that 
are rigorous and comparable across schools. (SEED NFP)
    Student Growth means the change in Student Achievement (as defined 
in this notice) for an individual student between two or more points in 
time. An applicant may also include other measures that are rigorous 
and comparable across classrooms. (SEED NFP)
    Tier I School means--
    (a) A Title I school that has been identified as in improvement, 
corrective action, or restructuring under section 1116 of the ESEA and 
that is identified by the SEA under paragraph (a)(1) of the definition 
of ``Persistently Lowest Achieving School.''
    (b) An elementary school that is eligible for Title I, Part A funds 
that--
    (1)(i) Has not made adequate yearly progress for at least two 
consecutive years; or
    (ii) Is in the State's lowest quintile of performance based on 
proficiency rates on the State's assessments under section 1111(b)(3) 
of the ESEA in reading/language arts and mathematics combined; and (2) 
Is no higher achieving than the highest-achieving school identified by 
the SEA under paragraph (a)(1)(i) of the definition of ``Persistently 
Lowest Achieving School.'' (Supplemental Priorities)
    Tier II School means--
    (a) A secondary school that is eligible for, but does not receive, 
Title I, Part A funds and is identified by the State educational agency 
(SEA) under paragraph (a)(2) of the definition of ``Persistently Lowest 
Achieving Schools.''
    (b) A secondary school that is eligible for Title I, Part A funds 
that--
    (1)(i) Has not made adequate yearly progress for at least two 
consecutive years; or
    (ii) Is in the State's lowest quintile of performance based on 
proficiency rates on the State's assessments under section 1111(b)(3) 
of the ESEA, in reading/language arts and mathematics combined; and
    (2)(i) Is no higher achieving than the highest-achieving school 
identified by the SEA under paragraph (a)(2)(i) of the definition of 
``Persistently Lowest Achieving school;'' or
    (ii) Is a high school that has had a graduation rate, as defined in 
34 CFR 200.19(b), that is less than 60 percent over a number of years. 
(Supplemental Priorities)
    What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards means the standards set 
forth in the What Works Clearinghouse Procedures and Standards Handbook 
(Version 3.0, March 2014), which can be found at the following link: 
https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/DocumentSum.aspx?sid=19. (34 CFR 77.1)
    Program Authority: Public Law 114-113, Division H, Title III.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 
97, 98, and 99. (b) The 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 in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The SEED NFP (78 FR 9815). (e) The 
Supplemental Priorities (79 FR 73425).

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $40,000,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $8,000,000-$15,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $12,000,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 3-4 awards.

    Note:  The Department will provide each selected project with a 
single award for a multi-year grant period. The Department is not 
bound by any estimates in this notice.

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

    Note:  In subsequent fiscal years, under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the 
Department may offer SEED grantees the option of extending their 
SEED-related data collection and evaluation activities beyond the 
36-month project period, and could choose to provide additional 
funding, for the purposes of data collection, analysis, and 
reporting, pending Congressional appropriations. This flexibility is 
not guaranteed and is contingent on available funding in subsequent 
fiscal years. The Department has discretion in deciding which, if 
any, SEED projects will receive additional time and funding for the 
purposes of data collection, analysis, and reporting.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: As established in the SEED NFP (78 FR 
9815), to be eligible for a SEED program grant, an entity must be a 
National Not-for-Profit Organization. Each applicant must provide in 
its application documentation that it is a National Not-for-Profit 
Organization.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Evidence Standards: To meet Absolute Priority 1: Supporting 
Practices and Strategies for Which There Is Moderate Evidence of 
Effectiveness, each applicant must provide in its application 
documentation that its proposed project is supported by at least 
Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness. All applicants must respond to 
Absolute Priority 1, and one or more of Absolute Priorities 2 through 
4, in order to be eligible to receive funding. An applicant that also 
responds to Competitive Preference Priority 1: Supporting Practices and 
Strategies for Which There Is Strong Evidence of Effectiveness must 
provide documentation that its proposed project is supported by Strong 
Evidence of Effectiveness. An applicant must ensure that all evidence 
is available to the Department from publically available sources and 
provide links or references to, or copies of, the evidence in the 
application. If the Department determines that an applicant has 
provided insufficient evidence that its proposed project meets the 
definition of ``Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness'' or ``Strong 
Evidence of Effectiveness,'' the applicant will not have an opportunity 
to provide additional evidence to support its application.

[[Page 93676]]

    4. Evaluations: As established in the SEED NFP, an applicant 
receiving funds under this program must comply with the requirements of 
any evaluation of the program conducted by the Department. In addition, 
an applicant receiving funds under this program must make broadly 
available through formal (e.g., peer-reviewed journals) or informal 
(e.g., newsletters) mechanisms, in print or electronically, the results 
of any evaluations it conducts of its funded activities.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address To Request Application Package: Margarita 
Mel[eacute]ndez, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Room 4W115, Washington, DC 20202-5960 or by email: SEED@ed.gov.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) by contacting the program contact person listed in 
this section.
    2.a. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content and form of an application, together with the 
forms you must submit, are in the application package for this 
competition.
    Notice of Intent To Apply: January 20, 2017. The Department will be 
able to develop a more efficient process for reviewing grant 
applications if it has a better understanding of the number of entities 
that intend to apply for funding under this competition. Therefore, the 
Department strongly encourages each potential applicant to notify the 
Department by sending a short email message indicating the applicant's 
intent to submit an application for funding. The email need not include 
information regarding the content of the proposed application, only the 
applicant's intent to submit it. The Department requests that this 
email notification be sent to the SEED program inbox at: SEED@ed.gov.
    Eligible entities that fail to provide this email notification may 
still apply for funding.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. We recommend that you limit 
the application narrative to the equivalent of no more than 50 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, except for titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, captions, charts, tables, figures, 
and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial.
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, 
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part 
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the 
resumes, or letters of support. However, the page limit does apply to 
all of the application narrative section [Part III].
    b. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of 
projects that may be proposed in applications for the SEED program, 
your application may include business information that you consider 
proprietary. In 34 CFR 5.11 we define ``business information'' and 
describe the process we use in determining whether any of that 
information is proprietary and, thus, protected from disclosure under 
Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552, as 
amended).
    Because we plan to make successful applications available to the 
public, you may wish to request confidentiality of business 
information.
    Consistent with Executive Order 12600, please designate in your 
application any information that you feel is exempt from disclosure 
under Exemption 4. In the appropriate Appendix section of your 
application, under ``Other Attachments Form,'' please list the page 
number or numbers on which we can find this information. For additional 
information please see 34 CFR 5.11(c).
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: December 21, 2016.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent To Apply: January 20, 2017.
    Date of Informational Webinar: The SEED program intends to hold a 
Webinar designed to provide technical assistance to interested 
applicants. Detailed information regarding this Webinar will be 
provided on the SEED Web site at https://innovation.ed.gov/what-we-do/teacher-quality/supporting-effective-educator-development-grant-program/.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 7, 2017.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to 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.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 20, 2017.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under 
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this 
competition.
    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), 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/webform. A

[[Page 93677]]

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 SEED program, CFDA number 
84.367D, 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 SEED 
program at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable 
application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not 
include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 
84.367, not 84.367D).
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 
system home page at 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 Portable 
Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or fillable PDF 
file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only 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 application 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 submission of your application by someone other than a 
registered

[[Page 93678]]

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 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: Margarita 
Mel[eacute]ndez, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Room 4W115, Washington, DC 20202-5960. FAX: (202) 401-4123.
    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 84.367D), 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 84.367D), 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

[[Page 93679]]

deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education 
Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from the SEED NFP and from 34 CFR 75.210, and are as follows:
    The maximum score for all the selection criteria is 100 points. The 
maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. Each 
criterion also includes the factors that reviewers will consider in 
determining the extent to which an applicant meets the criterion.
    In addressing each criterion, applicants are encouraged to make 
explicit connections to relevant aspects of responses to other 
selection criteria.
    A. Significance (10 points). The Secretary considers the 
significance of the proposed project. In determining the significance 
of the proposed project, the Secretary considers:
    (1) The significance of the proposed project on a National Level. 
(SEED NFP)
    (2) The potential contribution of the proposed project to the 
development and advancement of teacher and school leadership theory, 
knowledge, and practices. (SEED NFP)
    (3) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in 
teaching and Student Achievement. (SEED NFP)
    B. Quality of the Project Design and Services (35 points). The 
Secretary considers the quality of the design and services of the 
proposed project. In determining the quality of the design and services 
of the proposed project, the Secretary considers:
    (1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified, aligned, and 
measurable. (SEED NFP)
    (2) The extent to which the proposed project is part of a 
comprehensive effort to improve teaching and learning and support 
rigorous academic standards for students. (SEED NFP)
    (3) The extent to which the training or professional development 
services to be provided by the proposed project will be of sufficient 
quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice 
among the recipients of those services. (SEED NFP)
    (4) The extent to which the proposed project will prepare personnel 
for fields in which shortages have been demonstrated. (34 CFR 75.210)
    (5) The extent to which the proposed project will focus on serving 
or otherwise addressing the needs of disadvantaged individuals. (34 CFR 
75.210)
    C. Quality of the Management Plan and Personnel (20 points). The 
Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed 
project and of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project. 
In determining the quality of the management plan and the project 
personnel, the Secretary considers:
    (1) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director, key project personnel, and project consultants 
or subcontractors. (SEED NFP)
    (2) 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. (SEED NFP)
    (3) The extent to which the proposed management plan includes 
sufficient and reasonable resources to effectively carry out the 
proposed project, including the project evaluation. (SEED NFP)
    D. Sustainability (15 points). The Secretary considers the adequacy 
of resources to continue the proposed project after the grant period 
ends. In determining the adequacy of resources and the potential for 
utility of the proposed project's activities and products by other 
organizations, the Secretary considers:
    (1) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of 
Federal financial assistance. (SEED NFP)
    (2) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to yield 
findings and products (such as information, materials, processes, or 
techniques) that may be used by other agencies and organizations. (SEED 
NFP)
    (3) The extent to which the applicant will disseminate information 
about results and outcomes of the proposed project in ways that will 
enable others, including the public, to use the information or 
strategies. (SEED NFP)
    E. Quality of the Project Evaluation (20 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers:
    (1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project. (SEED NFP)
    (2) The extent to which the evaluation includes the use of 
objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended 
outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and qualitative 
data. (SEED NFP)
    (3) The extent to which the evaluation will provide performance 
feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward achieving 
intended outcomes. (SEED NFP)
    (4) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will, if well-
implemented, produce evidence about the project's effectiveness that 
would meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without 
reservations. (34 CFR 75.210)

    Note: We encourage applicants to review the following technical 
assistance resources on evaluation: (1) WWC Procedures and Standards 
Handbook: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/references/idocviewer/doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1; and (2) IES/NCEE Technical Methods 
papers: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/tech_methods/. In addition, 
applicants may view two optional Webinar recordings that were hosted 
by the Institute of Education Sciences. The first Webinar discussed 
strategies for designing and executing well-designed Quasi-
experimental design studies and is available at: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Multimedia.aspx?sid=23. The second Webinar focused on more 
rigorous evaluation designs and discussed strategies for designing 
and executing studies that meet WWC evidence standards without 
reservations. This Webinar is available at: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Multimedia.aspx?sid=18.

    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. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under this competition the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under current 2 CFR 
3474.10, the Secretary may impose special conditions and, in 
appropriate circumstances, high-risk conditions on a

[[Page 93680]]

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.
    4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this 
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project 
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently 
$150,000), under 2 CFR 200.205(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your 
integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal 
awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make 
an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that 
is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as 
the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System 
(FAPIIS)), accessible through SAM. You may review and comment on any 
information about yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and 
that is currently in FAPIIS.
    Please note that, if the total value of your currently active 
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the 
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity 
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal 
funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.

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 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.
    (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: The overall purpose of the SEED program is 
to support projects by National Not-for-Profit organizations that are 
supported by at least Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness to recruit, 
select, and prepare or provide professional enhancement activities for 
teachers, principals, or both. We have established the following 
performance measures for the SEED program: (a) The percentage of 
teacher and principal participants who serve concentrations of High-
Need Students; (b) the percentage of participants who serve 
concentrations of High-Need Students and are highly effective; (c) the 
percentage of participants who serve concentrations of High-Need 
Students, are highly effective, and serve for at least two years; and 
(d) the cost per such participant. Grantees will report annually on 
each measure.

VII. Agency Contact

For Further Information Contact: Margarita Mel[eacute]ndez, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W115, 
Washington, DC 20202-5960. Telephone: (202) 260-3548, or by email: 
SEED@ed.gov.
    If you use a TDD or TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-
8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or 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 Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF 
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the 
site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: December 16, 2016.
Nadya Chinoy Dabby,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2016-30751 Filed 12-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P