Applications for New Awards; Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program, 22817-22823 [2017-10086]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 95 (Thursday, May 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22817-22823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10086]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented 
Students Education Program

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting 
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017 for the Jacob K. 
Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education (Javits) program, Catalog 
of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.206A.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: May 18, 2017.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 22, 2017.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 21, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Theda Zawaiza, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room number 3E310, Washington, DC 
20202-6200. Telephone: (202) 205-3783.
    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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Javits program supports evidence-based 
research, demonstration projects, innovative strategies, and similar 
activities designed to build and enhance the ability of elementary and 
secondary schools nationwide to identify gifted and talented (as 
defined in this notice) students and meet their special educational 
needs.
    Application Requirements: The following application requirements 
apply. Application requirements (1) through (4) and (5)(b) through 
(5)(d) are from section 4644 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA). We 
are establishing application requirements (5)(a) and (6) in accordance 
with section 437(d)(1) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), 
20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1). These requirements apply to the FY 2017 
competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the 
list of unfunded applications from this competition.
    Each application must describe how--
    (1) The proposed project will--
    (a) Implement evidence-based activities that are supported by 
promising evidence (as defined in this notice); or
    (b) Develop new information that--
    (i) Improves the capability of schools to plan, conduct, and 
improve programs to identify and serve gifted and talented students; or
    (ii) Assists schools in the identification of, and provision of 
services to, gifted and talented students (including economically 
disadvantaged individuals, individuals who are English learners (as 
defined in this notice), and children with disabilities) who may not be 
identified and served through traditional assessment methods;
    (2) The proposed identification methods, as well as gifted and 
talented services, materials, and methods, can be adapted, if 
appropriate, for use by all students;
    (3) The proposed programs can be evaluated;
    (4) The proposed project will, where appropriate, provide for the 
equitable participation of students and teachers in private nonprofit 
elementary and secondary schools, including the participation of 
teachers and other personnel in professional development programs 
serving such students;
    (5) The funds awarded under this program will be used to carry out 
one or more of the following activities:
    (a) Conducting evidence-based research (as described in paragraph 
(6)(e)), supported by promising evidence, on methods and techniques for 
identifying and teaching gifted and talented students and for using 
gifted and talented programs and methods to serve all students, 
particularly low-income and at-risk students;
    (b) Establishing and operating model projects and exemplary 
programs for serving gifted and talented students, including innovative 
methods and strategies (such as summer programs, mentoring programs, 
peer tutoring programs, service learning programs, and cooperative 
learning programs involving business, industry, and education) for 
identifying and educating students who may not be served by traditional 
gifted and talented programs;
    (c) Providing technical assistance and disseminating information, 
including assistance and information regarding how gifted and talented 
programs and methods, where appropriate, may be adapted for use by all 
students, particularly low-income and at-risk students; or
    (d) Training of personnel in the identification and education of 
gifted and talented students and in the use, where appropriate, of 
gifted and talented services, materials, and methods for all students; 
and
    (6) The proposed project will scale up (as defined in this notice) 
and evaluate the effectiveness of a model designed to increase the 
number of students from underrepresented groups who, through gifted and 
talented education programs, perform at high levels of academic 
achievement. To meet this requirement, applicants must include all of 
the following in their applications:
    (a) Promising evidence from one or more evidence-based research and 
evaluation studies (as described in paragraph (6)(e)) indicating that 
the proposed intervention, or project component (as defined in this 
notice), has raised the achievement of students from one or more 
underrepresented

[[Page 22818]]

groups in one or more core subject areas;
    (b) Promising evidence from one or more evidence-based research and 
evaluation studies (as described in paragraph (6)(e)) that the proposed 
intervention has resulted in the identification of, and provision of 
services to, increased numbers of students from underrepresented groups 
who participate in gifted and talented education programs;
    (c) A detailed description of the professional qualifications of 
each member of the applicant's leadership team, including an 
explanation of how the leadership team has significant expertise in 
each of the following areas: Gifted and talented education, research 
and program evaluation, content knowledge in one or more core academic 
subject areas, and experience working with underrepresented groups;
    (d) A sound plan for implementing the model in multiple settings or 
with multiple populations; and
    (e) A research and evaluation plan that employs an experimental 
study (as defined in this notice) or quasi-experimental design (QED) 
study (as defined in this notice) to measure the impact of the 
intervention on the achievement of students from underrepresented 
groups, including students who are economically disadvantaged, English 
learners, and students who have disabilities, and on the number of 
these students who are identified as gifted and talented and served 
through gifted and talented programs.
    Evaluation methods using an experimental design are best for 
determining program effectiveness. Thus, when feasible, the project 
must use an experimental design under which participants (e.g., 
students, teachers, classrooms, or schools) are randomly assigned to 
participate in the project activities being evaluated or to a control 
group that does not participate in the project activities being 
evaluated.
    If random assignment is not feasible, the project may use a QED 
study with carefully matched comparison conditions. This alternative 
design attempts to approximate a randomly assigned control group by 
matching participants with non-participants having similar pre-
intervention characteristics.
    In addition, successful applicants who accept this award must 
participate in a national evaluation study during the grant period.
    Definitions: We are establishing definitions for correlational 
study with statistical controls for selection bias, experimental study, 
What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Evidence Standards with reservations, 
WWC Evidence Standards without reservations, project component, 
promising evidence, and relevant outcome, in accordance with section 
437(d)(1) of GEPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1). The other definitions listed 
below are from section 8101 of the ESEA; 34 CFR 77.1; and the notice of 
final priority for this program that was published in the Federal 
Register on April 21, 2008 (73 FR 21329). These definitions apply to 
the FY 2017 grant competition and any subsequent year in which we make 
awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
    Correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias 
means a study that (1) estimates how a relevant outcome varies with the 
receipt of a project component, and (2) uses sampling or analysis 
methods (e.g., multiple regression) to account for at least some of the 
differences between the groups being compared.
    English learner means an individual--
    (a) Who is aged 3 through 21;
    (b) Who is enrolled or preparing to enroll in an elementary school 
or secondary school;
    (c)(1) Who was not born in the United States or whose native 
language is a language other than English;
    (2)(i) Who is a Native American or Alaska Native, or a native 
resident of the outlying areas; and
    (ii) Who comes from an environment where a language other than 
English has had a significant impact on the individual's level of 
English language proficiency; or
    (3) Who is migratory, whose native language is a language other 
than English, and who comes from an environment where a language other 
than English is dominant; and
    (d) Whose difficulties in speaking, reading, writing, or 
understanding the English language may be sufficient to deny the 
individual--
    (1) The ability to meet the challenging State academic standards;
    (2) The ability to successfully achieve in classrooms where the 
language of instruction is English; or
    (3) The opportunity to participate fully in society.
    Experimental study means a study, such as a randomized controlled 
trial (RCT) that is designed to compare outcomes between two groups of 
individuals that are otherwise equivalent except for their assignment 
to either a treatment group receiving a project component or a control 
group that does not. In some circumstances, a finding from a regression 
discontinuity design study (RDD) or findings from a collection of 
single-case design studies (SCDs) may be considered equivalent to a 
finding from an RCT. RCTs, RDDs, and collections of SCDs, depending on 
design and implementation, can meet WWC Evidence Standards without 
reservations. Definitions of randomized controlled trials, RDDs, and 
SCDs can be found at the following link: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Glossary.
    Gifted and talented, when used with respect to students, children, 
or youth, means students, children, or youth who give evidence of high 
achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, 
artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and 
who need services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school 
in order to fully develop those capabilities.
    Project component means an activity, strategy, intervention, 
process, product, practice, or policy included in a project.
    Promising evidence means the following conditions are met:
    (a) There is at least one well-designed and well-implemented 
correlational study with a relevant finding, meaning the study is a 
correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias (QED 
studies or experimental studies may also qualify); and
    (b) The relevant finding in the study described in paragraph (a) is 
of a statistically significant and positive (i.e., favorable) effect of 
the project component on a student outcome or other relevant outcome 
with no statistically significant and overriding negative (i.e., 
unfavorable) evidence on that project component from other findings on 
the intervention reviewed by and reported in the WWC that meet WWC 
Evidence Standards with reservations or WWC Evidence Standards without 
reservations.
    Quasi-experimental design (QED) 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. This type of study, depending on design and implementation, 
can meet WWC Evidence Standards with reservations (but not WWC Evidence 
Standards without reservations).
    Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) (or the ultimate 
outcome if not related to students) the proposed project component is 
designed to improve, consistent with the specific goals of a program.
    Scale up means to expand a program with demonstrated effectiveness 
on a small scale for use with gifted and talented students in broader 
settings (such as in multiple schools, grade levels, or districts, or 
in other

[[Page 22819]]

educational settings) or with different populations of gifted and 
talented students (based on differences such as the socioeconomic, 
racial, ethnic, geographic, and linguistic backgrounds of the students 
and their families).
    What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Evidence Standards with reservations 
means the second-highest rating for a group design study reviewed by 
the WWC. Studies receiving this rating provide a reasonable degree of 
confidence that an estimated effect was caused by the project component 
studied. Both experimental studies (such as RCTs with high rates of 
sample attrition) and QED studies may receive this rating if they 
establish the equivalence of the treatment and comparison groups in key 
baseline characteristics. These standards are described in the WWC 
Procedures and Standards Handbooks, Version 3.0, which can be accessed 
at https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Handbooks.
    What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Evidence Standards without 
reservations means it is the highest possible rating for a study 
finding reviewed by the WWC. Studies receiving this rating provide the 
highest degree of confidence that an estimated effect was caused by the 
project component studied. Experimental studies may receive this 
highest rating. These standards are described in the WWC Procedures and 
Standards Handbooks, Version 3.0, which can be accessed at https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Handbooks.
    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 requirements and definitions. 
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 4644 
of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7294) and, therefore, it qualifies for this 
exemption. In order to ensure timely grant awards, the Secretary has 
decided to forgo public comment on the requirements and definitions 
under section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. The requirements and definitions in 
this notice will apply to the FY 2017 grant competition and any 
subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded 
applications from this competition.

    Program Authority: Section 4644 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7294).

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) 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 regulations in 
34 CFR part 299.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian Tribes. In addition, the 
regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher 
education (IHEs) only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $5,000,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from 
the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $300,000 to $500,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $425,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 9-12.

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

    Project Period: 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies; local 
educational agencies; the Bureau of Indian Education; IHEs; other 
public agencies; and other private agencies and organizations.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package via the internet, from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs), or from the program office.
    To obtain a copy via the internet, use the following address: 
www2.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 
TDD or a 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 as follows: CFDA number 84.206A.
    To obtain a copy from the program office, contact: Theda Zawaiza, 
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E310, 
Washington, DC 20202-6200. Telephone: (202) 205-3783 or by email: 
Javitsapplication@ed.gov. If you use a TDD or 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. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content and form of an application, together with the 
form you must submit, are in the application package for this 
competition.
    Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, 
address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your 
application. We recommend that you (1) limit the application narrative 
to no more than 35 pages, and (2) use 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 recommended 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, resumes, 
bibliography, or letters of support. However, the recommended page 
limit does apply to all of the application narrative section.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: May 18, 2017.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 22, 2017.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information

[[Page 22820]]

(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. 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: August 21, 2017.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program 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 program.
    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 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 Javits program, CFDA number 
84.206A, 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 Javits 
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 
84.206, not 84.206A).
    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

[[Page 22821]]

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, flattened 
Portable Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or 
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, 
flattened 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.
     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 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, flattened 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 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: Theda Zawaiza, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E310, 
Washington, DC 20202-6200. FAX: (202) 260-8969.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand-delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail 
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
CFDA Number 84.206A, 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.

[[Page 22822]]

    (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 84.206A, 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 competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210. The maximum possible score for addressing all 
criteria is 100 points. The maximum possible score for addressing each 
criterion is indicated in parentheses. The selection criteria for this 
competition are as follows:
    (a) Quality of the Project Design (40 points)
    The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the extent to which--
    (1) The goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the 
proposed project are clearly specified and measurable;
    (2) The design of the proposed project is appropriate to, and will 
successfully address, the needs of the target population or other 
identified needs; and
    (3) The proposed project represents an exceptional approach for 
meeting statutory purposes and requirements.
    (b) Quality of Project Personnel (20 points)
    The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry 
out the proposed project. 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. In addition, the 
Secretary considers the following factors--
    (1) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator; and
    (2) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel.
    (c) Quality of the Management Plan (20 points)
    The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project, the Secretary considers 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.
    (d) 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 
project evaluation, the Secretary considers the extent to which--
    (1) The methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and 
appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed 
project;
    (2) The methods of evaluation include the use of objective 
performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcomes 
of the project and will produce quantitative and qualitative data to 
the extent possible; and
    (3) The evaluation will provide guidance about effective strategies 
suitable for replication or testing in other settings.
    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.
    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

[[Page 22823]]

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 multiyear award, you must submit an annual 
performance report (APR) 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: Pursuant to the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993, the Department has developed the following two 
measures for evaluating the overall effectiveness of projects funded 
under this competition: (1) The quality of project designs, based on an 
expert panel review; and (2) significant gains in academic achievement 
among target student populations.
    For the first measure, the Department collects data twice over the 
life of the grant (mid-term and final) by convening an expert panel of 
scientists and practitioners to review information from a sample of 
APRs and self-evaluations prepared by grantees.
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: Whether a grantee 
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of 
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is 
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the 
Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the 
performance targets in the grantee's approved application.
    In making a continuation award, the Secretary also considers 
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in 
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil 
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities 
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. 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.
    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 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: May 15, 2017.
Jason Botel,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2017-10086 Filed 5-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P