Applications for New Awards; Expanding Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Program (CSP)-Grants to State Entities, 10455-10464 [2018-04821]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10455-10464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04821]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Expanding Opportunity Through 
Quality Charter Schools Program (CSP)--Grants to State Entities

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting 
applications for fiscal year (FY) 2018 for CSP--Grants to State 
Entities, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.282A.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: March 9, 2018.
    Date of Pre-Application Webinar: Wednesday, March 14, 2018, 2:00 
p.m., Eastern Time.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 20, 2018.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 22, 2018.

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an 
application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to 
Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the 
Federal Register on February 12, 2018 (83 FR 6003) and available at 
www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy B. Huber, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 4W222, Washington, DC 20202-
5970. Telephone: (202) 453-6634 or by email: [email protected].
    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 major purposes of the CSP are to expand 
opportunities for all students, particularly traditionally underserved 
students, to attend public charter schools and meet challenging State 
academic standards; provide financial assistance for the planning, 
program design, and initial implementation of charter schools; increase 
the number of high-quality charter schools available to students across 
the United States; evaluate the impact of charter schools on student 
achievement, families, and communities; share best practices between 
charter schools and other public schools; encourage States to provide 
facilities support to charter schools; and support efforts to 
strengthen the charter school authorizing process.
    Through the CSP Grants to State Entities (CSP State Entities) 
competition (CFDA number 84.282A, the Department awards grants to State 
entities that make subgrants to eligible applicants for the purpose of 
opening new charter schools and replicating and

[[Page 10456]]

expanding high-quality charter schools. Grant funds may also be used to 
provide technical assistance to eligible applicants and authorized 
public chartering agencies in opening new charter schools and 
replicating and expanding high-quality charter schools, and to work 
with authorized public chartering agencies to improve authorizing 
quality, including developing capacity for, and conducting, fiscal 
oversight and auditing of charter schools.
    Background: The CSP State Entities program provides financial 
assistance to State entities to support charter schools that serve 
elementary and secondary school students in a given State. Charter 
schools receiving funds under the CSP State Entities program also may 
serve students in early childhood education programs or postsecondary 
students.
    The CSP State Entities program is authorized under the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every 
Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (20 U.S.C. 7221-7221j).\1\ This notice 
contains information regarding eligibility, priorities, definitions, 
application requirements, and selection criteria under the amended law.
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    \1\ Prior to enactment of the ESSA, the ESEA, as amended by the 
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), authorized the Secretary to 
make awards to State educational agencies to enable them to conduct 
charter school subgrant programs in their States. Unless otherwise 
indicated, all references to the ESEA in this notice are to the 
ESEA, as amended by the ESSA.
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    All charter schools receiving CSP funds must meet each element of 
the definition of charter school in section 4310(2) of the ESEA, 
including the requirement to comply with Federal civil rights laws, 
including the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title VI of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 
section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990, section 444 of the General Education 
Provisions Act (GEPA), and part B of the Individuals with Disabilities 
Education Act (IDEA).
    Priorities: This notice includes six competitive preference 
priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), these 
priorities are from section 4303(g)(2) of the ESEA.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2018 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards based on the list of unfunded applications 
from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award:
     An additional two points to an application that meets 
competitive preference priority 1; and
     For competitive preference priorities 2 through 6, up to 
an additional 23 points, depending on how well an application addresses 
the competitive preference priorities.
    An application may receive a total of up to 25 additional points 
under the competitive preference priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--At Least One Authorized Public 
Chartering Agency Other than a Local Educational Agency, or an Appeals 
Process (0 or 2 points).
    To meet this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that it is 
located in a State that--
    (a) Allows at least one entity that is not a local educational 
agency (LEA) to be an authorized public chartering agency for 
developers seeking to open a charter school in the State; or
    (b) In the case of a State in which LEAs are the only authorized 
public chartering agencies, the State has an appeals process for the 
denial of an application for a charter school.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Equitable Financing (up to 6 
points).
    To be eligible to receive points under this priority, an applicant 
must demonstrate the extent to which the State in which it is located 
ensures equitable financing, as compared to traditional public schools, 
for charter schools and students in a prompt manner.
    Competitive Preference Priority 3--Charter School Facilities (up to 
6 points).
    To be eligible to receive points under this priority, an applicant 
must demonstrate the extent to which the State in which it is located 
provides charter schools one or more of the following:
    (a) Funding for facilities;
    (b) Assistance with facilities acquisition;
    (c) Access to public facilities;
    (d) The ability to share in bonds or mill levies;
    (e) The right of first refusal to purchase public school buildings; 
or
    (f) Low- or no-cost leasing privileges.
    Competitive Preference Priority 4--Best Practices to Improve 
Struggling Schools and LEAs (up to 3 points).
    To be eligible to receive points under this priority, an applicant 
must demonstrate the extent to which the State in which it is located 
uses best practices from charter schools to help improve struggling 
schools and LEAs.
    Competitive Preference Priority 5--Serving At-Risk Students (up to 
3 points).
    To be eligible to receive points under this priority, an applicant 
must demonstrate the extent to which it supports charter schools that 
serve at-risk students through activities such as dropout prevention, 
dropout recovery, or comprehensive career counseling services.
    Competitive Preference Priority 6--Best Practices for Charter 
School Authorizing (up to 5 points).
    To be eligible to receive points under this priority, an applicant 
must demonstrate the extent to which it has taken steps to ensure that 
all authorized public chartering agencies implement best practices for 
charter school authorizing.

    Note:  We are interpreting ``best practices for charter school 
authorizing'' as including, but not limited to, the practices for 
monitoring of charter schools described in Assurance E below.

    Application Requirements:
    These application requirements are from section 4303(f) of the ESEA 
(20 U.S.C. 7221b(f)). The Department will reject an application that 
does not meet each application requirement.
    Under selection criterion (b) Objectives, the Secretary considers 
the ambitiousness of the State entity's objectives for its quality 
charter school program. An applicant may choose to respond to some or 
all of the elements of application requirement (I) Description of 
Program in the context of its response to selection criterion (b) 
Objectives, and should note the locations of the responses accordingly.
    Applications for funding under the CSP State Entities program must 
contain the following:
    (I) Description of Program--A description of the State entity's 
objectives in running a quality charter school program and how the 
objectives of the program will be carried out, including--
    (A) A description of how the State entity will--
    (1) Support the opening of charter schools through the startup of 
new charter schools and, if applicable, the replication of high-quality 
charter schools, and the expansion of high-quality charter schools 
(including the proposed number of new charter schools to be opened, 
high-quality charter schools to be opened as a result of the 
replication of a high-quality charter school, or high-quality charter 
schools to be expanded under the State entity's program);
    (2) Inform eligible charter schools, developers, and authorized 
public chartering agencies of the availability of funds under the 
program;

[[Page 10457]]

    (3) Work with eligible applicants to ensure that the eligible 
applicants access all Federal funds that such applicants are eligible 
to receive, and help the charter schools supported by the applicants 
and the students attending those charter schools--
    (a) Participate in the Federal programs in which the schools and 
students are eligible to participate;
    (b) Receive the commensurate share of Federal funds the schools and 
students are eligible to receive under such programs; and
    (c) Meet the needs of students served under such programs, 
including students with disabilities \2\ and English learners;
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    \2\ For purposes of this notice, ``students with disabilities'' 
or ``student with a disability'' has the same meaning as children 
with disabilities or child with a disability.
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    (4) Ensure that authorized public chartering agencies, in 
collaboration with surrounding LEAs where applicable, establish clear 
plans and procedures to assist students enrolled in a charter school 
that closes or loses its charter to attend other high-quality schools;
    (5) In the case of a State entity that is not a State educational 
agency (SEA)--
    (a) Work with the SEA and charter schools in the State to maximize 
charter school participation in Federal and State programs for which 
charter schools are eligible; and
    (b) Work with the SEA to operate the State entity's program under 
section 4303 of the ESEA, if applicable;
    (6) Ensure that each eligible applicant that receives a subgrant 
under the State entity's program--
    (a) Is using funds provided under this program for one of the 
activities described in section 4303(b)(1) of the ESEA; and
    (b) Is prepared to continue to operate charter schools funded under 
section 4303 of the ESEA in a manner consistent with the eligible 
applicant's application for such subgrant once the subgrant funds under 
this program are no longer available;
    (7) Support--
    (a) Charter schools in LEAs with a significant number of schools 
identified by the State for comprehensive support and improvement under 
section 1111(c)(4)(D)(i) of the ESEA; and
    (b) The use of charter schools to improve struggling schools, or to 
turn around struggling schools;
    (8) Work with charter schools on--
    (a) Recruitment and enrollment practices to promote inclusion of 
all students, including by eliminating any barriers to enrollment for 
educationally disadvantaged students (who include foster youth and 
unaccompanied homeless youth); and
    (b) Supporting all students once they are enrolled to promote 
retention, including by reducing the overuse of discipline practices 
that remove students from the classroom;
    (9) Share best and promising practices between charter schools and 
other public schools;
    (10) Ensure that charter schools receiving funds under the State 
entity's program meet the educational needs of their students, 
including children with disabilities and English learners;
    (11) Support efforts to increase charter school quality 
initiatives, including meeting the quality authorizing elements 
described in section 4303(f)(2)(E) of the ESEA;
    (12)(a) In the case of a State entity that is not a charter school 
support organization, a description of how the State entity will 
provide oversight of authorizing activity, including how the State will 
help ensure better authorizing, such as by establishing authorizing 
standards that may include approving, monitoring, and re-approving or 
revoking the authority of an authorized public chartering agency based 
on the performance of the charter schools authorized by such agency in 
the areas of student achievement, student safety, financial and 
operational management, and compliance with all applicable statutes and 
regulations; and
    (b) In the case of a State entity that is a charter school support 
organization, a description of how the State entity will work with the 
State to support the State's system of technical assistance and 
oversight, as described in subsection (a), of the authorizing activity 
of authorized public chartering agencies; and
    (13) Work with eligible applicants receiving a subgrant under the 
State entity's program to support the opening of new charter schools or 
charter school models described in application requirement (I)(A)(1) 
that are high schools;
    (B) A description of the extent to which the State entity--
    (1) Is able to meet and carry out competitive preference priorities 
1 through 6; \3\
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    \3\ In accordance with 34 CFR 105(c)(2)(i), applications are not 
required to address competitive preference priorities but may 
receive additional points if they do so. However, to meet this 
application requirement, the State entity must describe the extent 
to which it is able to meet and carry out competitive preference 
priorities 1 through 6. If the State entity is unable to meet and 
carry out one or more of these competitive preference priorities, 
the description for that priority should state that the State entity 
is unable to meet or carry out the priority.
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    (2) Is working to develop or strengthen a cohesive statewide system 
to support the opening of new charter schools and, if applicable, the 
replication of high-quality charter schools, and the expansion of high-
quality charter schools; and
    (3) Is working to develop or strengthen a cohesive strategy to 
encourage collaboration between charter schools and LEAs on the sharing 
of best practices;
    (C) A description of how the State entity will award subgrants, on 
a competitive basis, including--
    (1) A description of the application each eligible applicant 
desiring to receive a subgrant will be required to submit, which 
application shall include--
    (i) A description of the roles and responsibilities of eligible 
applicants, partner organizations, and charter management 
organizations, including the administrative and contractual roles and 
responsibilities of such partners;
    (ii) A description of the quality controls agreed to between the 
eligible applicant and the authorized public chartering agency 
involved, such as a contract or performance agreement, how a school's 
performance in the State's accountability system and impact on student 
achievement (which may include student academic growth) will be one of 
the most important factors for renewal or revocation of the school's 
charter, and how the State entity and the authorized public chartering 
agency involved will reserve the right to revoke or not renew a 
school's charter based on financial, structural, or operational factors 
involving the management of the school;
    (iii) A description of how the autonomy and flexibility granted to 
a charter school is consistent with the definition of charter school in 
section 4310 of the ESEA;
    (iv) A description of how the eligible applicant will solicit and 
consider input from parents and other members of the community on the 
implementation and operation of each charter school that will receive 
funds under the State entity's program;
    (v) A description of the eligible applicant's planned activities 
and expenditures of subgrant funds to support opening and preparing for 
the operation of new charter schools, opening and preparing for the 
operation of replicated high-quality charter schools, or expanding 
high-quality charter schools, and how the eligible applicant will 
maintain financial

[[Page 10458]]

sustainability after the end of the subgrant period; and
    (vi) A description of how the eligible applicant will support the 
use of effective parent, family, and community engagement strategies to 
operate each charter school that will receive funds under the State 
entity's program; and
    (2) A description of how the State entity will review applications 
from eligible applicants;
    (D) In the case of a State entity that partners with an outside 
organization to carry out the State entity's quality charter school 
program, in whole or in part, a description of the roles and 
responsibilities of the partner;
    (E) A description of how the State entity will ensure that each 
charter school receiving funds under the State entity's program has 
considered and planned for the transportation needs of the school's 
students;
    (F) A description of how the State in which the State entity is 
located addresses charter schools in the State's open meetings and open 
records laws; and
    (G) A description of how the State entity will support diverse 
charter school models, including models that serve rural communities.
    (II) Assurances--Assurances that--
    (A) Each charter school receiving funds through the State entity's 
program will have a high degree of autonomy over budget and operations, 
including autonomy over personnel decisions;
    (B) The State entity will support charter schools in meeting the 
educational needs of their students, including children with 
disabilities and English learners;
    (C) The State entity will ensure that the authorized public 
chartering agency of any charter school that receives funds under the 
State entity's program adequately monitors each charter school under 
the authority of such agency in recruiting, enrolling, retaining, and 
meeting the needs of all students, including children with disabilities 
and English learners;
    (D) The State entity will provide adequate technical assistance to 
eligible applicants to meet the objectives described in application 
requirement (I)(A)(8) in this notice;
    (E) The State entity will promote quality authorizing, consistent 
with State law, such as through providing technical assistance to 
support each authorized public chartering agency in the State to 
improve such agency's ability to monitor the charter schools authorized 
by the agency, including by--
    (1) Assessing annual performance data of the schools, including, as 
appropriate, graduation rates, student academic growth, and rates of 
student attrition;
    (2) Reviewing the schools' independent, annual audits of financial 
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting 
principles and ensuring that any such audits are publically reported; 
and
    (3) Holding charter schools accountable to the academic, financial, 
and operational quality controls agreed to between the charter school 
and the authorized public chartering agency involved, such as renewal, 
non-renewal, or revocation of the school's charter;
    (F) The State entity will work to ensure that charter schools are 
included with the traditional public schools in decisionmaking about 
the public school system in the State; and
    (G) The State entity will ensure that each charter school receiving 
funds under the State entity's program makes publicly available, 
consistent with the dissemination requirements of the annual State 
report card under section 1111(h) of the ESEA, including on the website 
of the school, information to help parents make informed decisions 
about the education options available to their children, including--
    (1) Information on the educational program;
    (2) Student support services;
    (3) Parent contract requirements (as applicable), including any 
financial obligations or fees;
    (4) Enrollment criteria (as applicable); and
    (5) Annual performance and enrollment data for each of the 
subgroups of students, as defined in section 1111(c)(2) of the ESEA, 
except that such disaggregation of performance and enrollment data 
shall not be required in a case in which the number of students in a 
group is insufficient to yield statistically reliable information or 
the results would reveal personally identifiable information about an 
individual student.
    (III) Waivers--Requests for information about waivers, including--
    (A) A request and justification for waivers of any Federal 
statutory or regulatory provisions that the State entity believes are 
necessary for the successful operation of the charter schools that will 
receive funds under the State entity's program under section 4303 of 
the ESEA or, in the case of a State entity that is a charter school 
support organization, a description of how the State entity will work 
with the State to request such necessary waivers, where applicable; and
    (B) A description of any State or local rules, generally applicable 
to public schools, that will be waived or otherwise not apply to such 
schools.
    Definitions: The following definitions are from sections 4303(a), 
4310, and 8101 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221b(a), 7221i, and 7801); and 
34 CFR 77.1.
    Ambitious means promoting continued, meaningful improvement for 
program participants or for other individuals or entities affected by 
the grant, or representing a significant advancement in the field of 
education research, practices, or methodologies. When used to describe 
a performance target, whether a performance target is ambitious depends 
upon the context of the relevant performance measure and the baseline 
for that measure. (34 CFR 77.1)
    Authorized public chartering agency means a State educational 
agency, local educational agency, or other public entity that has the 
authority pursuant to State law and approved by the Secretary to 
authorize or approve a charter school. (ESEA section 4310(1))
    Baseline means the starting point from which performance is 
measured and targets are set. (34 CFR 77.1)
    Charter school means a public school that--
    (a) In accordance with a specific State statute authorizing the 
granting of charters to schools, is exempt from significant State or 
local rules that inhibit the flexible operation and management of 
public schools, but not from any rules relating to the other 
requirements of this definition;
    (b) Is created by a developer as a public school, or is adapted by 
a developer from an existing public school, and is operated under 
public supervision and direction;
    (c) Operates in pursuit of a specific set of educational objectives 
determined by the school's developer and agreed to by the authorized 
public chartering agency;
    (d) Provides a program of elementary or secondary education, or 
both;
    (e) Is nonsectarian in its programs, admissions policies, 
employment practices, and all other operations, and is not affiliated 
with a sectarian school or religious institution;
    (f) Does not charge tuition;
    (g) Complies with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, title VI of 
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, title IX of the Education Amendments of 
1972, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), section 444 of GEPA 
(20 U.S.C. 1232g) (commonly referred to as the ``Family Educational 
Rights and Privacy Act of 1974'') and part B of the IDEA;

[[Page 10459]]

    (h) Is a school to which parents choose to send their children, and 
that--
    (1) Admits students on the basis of a lottery, consistent with 
section 4303(c)(3)(A) of the ESEA, if more students apply for admission 
than can be accommodated; or
    (2) In the case of a school that has an affiliated charter school 
(such as a school that is part of the same network of schools), 
automatically enrolls students who are enrolled in the immediate prior 
grade level of the affiliated charter school and, for any additional 
student openings or student openings created through regular attrition 
in student enrollment in the affiliated charter school and the 
enrolling school, admits students on the basis of a lottery as 
described in paragraph (1);
    (i) Agrees to comply with the same Federal and State audit 
requirements as do other elementary schools and secondary schools in 
the State, unless such State audit requirements are waived by the 
State;
    (j) Meets all applicable Federal, State, and local health and 
safety requirements;
    (k) Operates in accordance with State law;
    (l) Has a written performance contract with the authorized public 
chartering agency in the State that includes a description of how 
student performance will be measured in charter schools pursuant to 
State assessments that are required of other schools and pursuant to 
any other assessments mutually agreeable to the authorized public 
chartering agency and the charter school; and
    (m) May serve students in early childhood educational programs or 
postsecondary students. (ESEA section 4310(2))
    Charter management organization means a nonprofit organization that 
operates or manages a network of charter schools linked by centralized 
support, operations, and oversight. (ESEA section 4310(3))
    Charter school support organization means a nonprofit, non-
governmental entity that is not an authorized public chartering agency 
and provides, on a statewide basis--
    (a) Assistance to developers during the planning, program design, 
and initial implementation of a charter school; and
    (b) Technical assistance to operating charter schools. (ESEA 
section 4310(4))
    Child with a disability means--
    (a) A child (i) with intellectual disabilities, hearing impairments 
(including deafness), speech or language impairments, visual 
impairments (including blindness), serious emotional disturbance 
(referred to as ``emotional disturbance''), orthopedic impairments, 
autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairments, or specific 
learning disabilities; and (ii) who, by reason thereof, needs special 
education and related services.
    (b) For a child aged 3 through 9 (or any subset of that age range, 
including ages 3 through 5), may, at the discretion of the State and 
the local educational agency, include a child (i) experiencing 
developmental delays, as defined by the State and as measured by 
appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures, in one or more of 
the following areas: Physical development; cognitive development; 
communication development; social or emotional development; or adaptive 
development; and (ii) who, by reason thereof, needs special education 
and related services. (ESEA section 8101(4))
    Demonstrates a rationale means a key project component included in 
the project's logic model is informed by research or evaluation 
findings that suggest the project component is likely to improve 
relevant outcomes. (34 CFR 77.1)
    Developer means an individual or group of individuals (including a 
public or private nonprofit organization), which may include teachers, 
administrators and other school staff, parents, or other members of the 
local community in which a charter school project will be carried out. 
(ESEA section 4310(5))
    Early childhood education program means (A) a Head Start program or 
an Early Head Start program carried out under the Head Start Act (42 
U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), including a migrant or seasonal Head Start 
program, an Indian Head Start program, or a Head Start program or an 
Early Head Start program that also receives State funding; (B) a State 
licensed or regulated child care program; or (C) a program that (i) 
serves children from birth through age six that addresses the 
children's cognitive (including language, early literacy, and early 
mathematics), social, emotional, and physical development; and (ii) is 
(I) a State prekindergarten program; (II) a program authorized under 
section 619 or part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
Act; or (III) a program operated by a local educational agency. (ESEA 
section 8101(16))
    Eligible applicant means a developer that has--
    (a) Applied to an authorized public chartering authority to operate 
a charter school; and
    (b) Provided adequate and timely notice to that authority. (ESEA 
section 4310(6))
    English learner, when used with respect to an individual, 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. (ESEA section 
8101(20))
    Expand, when used with respect to a high-quality charter school, 
means to significantly increase enrollment or add one or more grades to 
the high-quality charter school. (ESEA section 4310(7))
    High-quality charter school means a charter school that--
    (a) Shows evidence of strong academic results, which may include 
strong student academic growth, as determined by a State;
    (b) Has no significant issues in the areas of student safety, 
financial and operational management, or statutory or regulatory 
compliance;
    (c) Has demonstrated success in significantly increasing student 
academic achievement, including graduation rates where applicable, for 
all students served by the charter school; and
    (d) Has demonstrated success in increasing student academic 
achievement, including graduation rates where applicable, for each of 
the subgroups of students, as defined in section 1111(c)(2) of the 
ESEA, except that such demonstration is not required in a case in which 
the number of students in a group is insufficient to yield 
statistically reliable information or the results would reveal 
personally

[[Page 10460]]

identifiable information about an individual student. (ESEA section 
4310(8))
    Logic model (also referred to as theory of action) means a 
framework that identifies key project components of the proposed 
project (i.e., the active ``ingredients'' that are hypothesized to be 
critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the 
theoretical and operational relationships among the key project 
components and relevant outcomes. (34 CFR 77.1)
    Parent includes a legal guardian or other person standing in loco 
parentis (such as a grandparent or stepparent with whom the child 
lives, or a person who is legally responsible for the child's welfare). 
(ESEA section 8101(38))
    Performance measure means any quantitative indicator, statistic, or 
metric used to gauge program or project performance. (34 CFR 77.1)
    Performance target means a level of performance that an applicant 
would seek to meet during the course of a project or as a result of a 
project. (34 CFR 77.1)
    Project component means an activity, strategy, intervention, 
process, product, practice, or policy included in a project. Evidence 
may pertain to an individual project component or to a combination of 
project components (e.g., training teachers on instructional practices 
for English learners and follow-on coaching for these teachers). (34 
CFR 77.1)
    Replicate, when used with respect to a high-quality charter school, 
means to open a new charter school, or a new campus of a high-quality 
charter school, based on the educational model of an existing high-
quality charter school, under an existing charter or an additional 
charter, if permitted or required by State law. (ESEA section 4310(9))
    Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) or other outcome(s) 
the key project component is designed to improve, consistent with the 
specific goals of the program. (34 CFR 77.1)
    State means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and each of the outlying areas. (ESEA 
section 8101(48))
    State educational agency means the agency primarily responsible for 
the State supervision of public elementary schools and secondary 
schools. (ESEA section 8101(49))
    State entity means--
    (a) A State educational agency;
    (b) A State charter school board;
    (c) A Governor of a State; or
    (d) A charter school support organization. (ESEA section 4303(a))
    Program Authority: Title IV, part C of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221-
7221j).
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 76, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 
97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to 
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 
2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department 
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 
200, as adopted and amended in 2 CFR part 3474.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grant.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$500,000,000 for the CSP for FY 2018, of which we would use an 
estimated $150,000,000 for new awards under this competition. The 
actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. 
However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete 
the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2019 from the list of 
unfunded applications from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $2,000,000 to $25,000,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $10,000,000 per year.
    Maximum Award: See Reasonable and Necessary Costs in section 
III.4.(a) of this notice for information regarding the maximum amount 
of funds that State entities may award for each charter school 
receiving subgrant funds.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 3-8.

    Note:  The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice. The estimated range and average size of awards are based on 
a single 12-month budget period. We may use FY 2018 funds to support 
multiple 12-month budget periods for one or more grantees.

    Project Period: Up to five years.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: State entities (SEs) in States with a 
specific State statute authorizing the granting of charters to schools.
    Under section 4303(e)(1) of the ESEA, no SE may receive a grant 
under this competition for use in a State in which an SE has a current 
CSP State Entities grant. The Department has made one set of new 
section 4303 of the ESEA CSP State Entities grants, in FY 2017. 
Accordingly, no SE may receive a grant under this competition for use 
in a State in which an SE received a new State Entities grant in FY 
2017 and is currently using the grant; these States are Indiana, 
Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, 
Texas, and Wisconsin. SEs in States in which an SEA has a current CSP 
grant for SEAs that was awarded prior to FY 2017, under the ESEA, as 
amended by NCLB, are eligible to apply for a CSP State Entities grant 
under this competition, so long as no other SE in the State has a 
current CSP State Entities grant.
    In addition, consistent with section 4303(e)(1) of the ESEA, if 
multiple SEs in a State submit applications that receive high enough 
scores to be recommended for funding under this competition, only the 
highest-scoring application among such State entities would be funded.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Subgrantees: (a) Under section 4303(b) and (c)(2) of the ESEA, 
an SE may award subgrants to eligible applicants and technical 
assistance providers.
    (b) Under section 4303(d)(2) of the ESEA, an SE awarding subgrants 
to eligible applicants must use a peer-review process to review 
applications.

    Note:  An eligible applicant (i.e., charter school developer) in 
a State in which no SE has an approved grant application under 
section 4303 of the ESEA may apply for funding directly from the 
Department under the CSP Grants to Developers competition. 
Additional information about the CSP Grants to Developers program 
and any upcoming competitions is available at https://innovation.ed.gov/what-we-do/charter-schools/charter-schools-program-non-state-educational-agencies-non-sea-planning-program-design-and-initial-implementation-grant/.

    4. Other: (a) Reasonable and Necessary Costs: The Secretary may 
elect to impose maximum limits on the amount of subgrant funds that a 
SE may award to an eligible applicant per new charter school created or 
replicated, per charter school expanded, or per new school seat 
created.
    For this competition, the maximum amount of subgrant funds an SE 
may award to a subgrantee per new charter school, replicated high-
quality charter school, or expanding high-quality charter school over a 
five-year subgrant period is $1,250,000.

    Note:  Applicants must ensure that all costs included in the 
proposed budget are necessary and reasonable to meet the goals and 
objectives of the proposed project. Any

[[Page 10461]]

costs determined by the Secretary to be unreasonable or unnecessary 
will be removed from the final approved budget.

    (b) Audits: (i) A non-Federal entity that expends $750,000 or more 
during the non-Federal entity's fiscal year in Federal awards must have 
a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in 
accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR part 200. (2 CFR 200.501(a))
    (ii) A non-Federal entity that expends less than $750,000 during 
the non-Federal entity's fiscal year in Federal awards is exempt from 
Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 
200.503 (Relation to other audit requirements), but records must be 
available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal 
agency, pass-through entity, and Government Accountability Office 
(GAO). (2 CFR 200.501(d)).

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Application Submission Instructions: For information on how to 
submit an application please refer to our Common Instructions for 
Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, 
published in the Federal Register on February 12, 2018 (83 FR 6003) and 
available at www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf.
    2. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of 
projects that may be proposed in applications for the State Entities 
grant competition, 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. 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 competition.
    4. Funding Restrictions: In accordance with section 4303(c) of the 
ESEA, an SE receiving a grant under this program shall: (a) Use not 
less than 90 percent of the grant funds to award subgrants to eligible 
applicants, in accordance with the quality charter school program 
described in the SE's application pursuant to section 4303(f), for 
activities related to opening and preparing for the operation of new 
charter schools and replicated high-quality charter schools, or 
expanding high-quality charter schools; (b) reserve not less than seven 
percent of the grant funds to provide technical assistance to eligible 
applicants and authorized public chartering agencies in carrying out 
such activities, and work with authorized public chartering agencies in 
the State to improve authorizing quality, including developing capacity 
for, and conducting, fiscal oversight and auditing of charter schools; 
and (c) reserve not more than three percent of the grant funds for 
administrative costs, which may include technical assistance. An SE may 
use a grant received under this program to provide technical assistance 
and to work with authorized public chartering agencies to improve 
authorizing quality under section 4303(b)(2) of the ESEA directly or 
through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements.
    Limitation on Grants and Subgrants: Under section 4303(d) of the 
ESEA, a grant awarded by the Secretary to an SE under this competition 
shall be for a period of not more than five years.
    A subgrant awarded by an SE under this program shall be for a 
period of not more than five years, of which an eligible applicant may 
use not more than 18 months for planning and program design. An 
eligible applicant may not receive more than one subgrant under this 
program for each individual charter school for a five-year period, 
unless the eligible applicant demonstrates to the SE that such 
individual charter school has at least three years of improved 
educational results for students enrolled in such charter school, with 
respect to the elements described in section 4310(8)(A) and (D) of the 
ESEA.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Section 4303(e)(2) of the ESEA prescribes the circumstances 
under which an eligible applicant may be eligible to apply to an SE 
for a second subgrant for an individual charter school for a five-
year period. The eligible applicant still would have to meet all 
program requirements, including the requirements for replicating or 
expanding a high-quality charter school.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Other CSP Grants: A charter school that previously received CSP 
funds for planning or initial implementation under section 5202(c)(2) 
of the ESEA, as amended by NCLB (CFDA number 84.282B), or for the 
replication or expansion of a high-quality charter school under one of 
the Department's Appropriations Acts \5\ (CFDA number 84.282M), is not 
eligible to receive funds from an SE under this program for the same or 
substantially similar activities. However, a high-quality charter 
school (i.e., eligible applicant) that previously received CSP funds 
may be eligible to apply to an SE for additional CSP subgrant funds to 
support the replication (including opening a new campus) or expansion 
of a high-quality charter school.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Beginning with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010, 
Public Law 111-117, each of the Department's Appropriations Acts 
through the FY 2016 Appropriations Act authorized the Secretary to 
award grants for the replication and expansion of charter schools.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Likewise, a charter school that receives funds from an SE under 
this program is ineligible to receive funds for the same or 
substantially similar activities under section 4305(a)(2) or (b) of the 
ESEA.
    Uses of Subgrant Funds: State entities awarded grants under this 
competition shall award subgrants to eligible applicants to enable such 
eligible applicants to--
    (a) Open and prepare for the operation of new charter schools;
    (b) Open and prepare for the operation of replicated high-quality 
charter schools; or
    (c) Expand high-quality charter schools.
    An eligible applicant receiving a subgrant under this program shall 
use such funds to support activities related to opening and preparing 
for the operation of new charter schools or replicating or expanding 
high-quality charter schools, which shall include one or more of the 
following:
    (a) Preparing teachers, school leaders, and specialized 
instructional support personnel, including through paying costs 
associated with--
    (i) Providing professional development; and
    (ii) Hiring and compensating, during the eligible applicant's 
planning period specified in the application for subgrant funds, one or 
more of the following:
    (A) Teachers.
    (B) School leaders.
    (C) Specialized instructional support personnel.
    (b) Acquiring supplies, training, equipment (including technology), 
and educational materials (including

[[Page 10462]]

developing and acquiring instructional materials).
    (c) Carrying out necessary renovations to ensure that a new school 
building complies with applicable statutes and regulations, and minor 
facilities repairs (excluding construction).
    (d) Providing one-time, startup costs associated with providing 
transportation to students to and from the charter school.
    (e) Carrying out community engagement activities, which may include 
paying the cost of student and staff recruitment.
    (f) Providing for other appropriate, non-sustained costs related to 
opening, replicating, or expanding high-quality charter schools when 
such costs cannot be met from other sources.
    Diversity of Projects: Each State entity awarding subgrants under 
this competition shall award subgrants in a manner that, to the extent 
practicable and applicable, ensures that such subgrants--
    (a) Are distributed throughout different areas, including urban, 
suburban, and rural areas; and
    (b) Will assist charter schools representing a variety of 
educational approaches.
    Award Basis: In determining whether to approve a grant award and 
the amount of such award, the Department will consider, among other 
things, the applicant's performance and use of funds under a previous 
or existing award under any Department program (34 CFR 75.217(d)(3)(ii) 
and 233(b)). In assessing the applicant's performance and use of funds 
under a previous or existing award, the Secretary will consider, among 
other things, the outcomes the applicant has achieved and the results 
of any Departmental grant monitoring, including the applicant's 
progress in remedying any deficiencies identified in such monitoring.
    We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions 
in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    5. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of 
the application) is where you, the applicant, address the priorities, 
selection criteria, and application requirements that reviewers use to 
evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the 
application narrative to no more than 60 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 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, the bibliography, or the letters of 
support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the 
application narrative.
    6. Pre-Application Webinar Information: The Department will hold a 
pre-application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants on 
Wednesday, March 14, 2018, 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Individuals 
interested in attending this meeting are encouraged to pre-register by 
emailing their name, organization, and contact information with the 
subject heading ``STATE ENTITIES GRANTS PRE-APPLICATION MEETING'' to 
[email protected]. There is no registration fee for attending this 
meeting.
    For further information about the pre-application meeting, contact 
Amy Huber, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 
4W222, Washington, DC 20202-5970. Telephone: (202) 453-6634 or by 
email: [email protected].

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from section 4303(g)(1) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221b(g)(1)) and 34 
CFR 75.210. The maximum possible total score an application can receive 
for addressing the criteria is 100 points. The maximum possible score 
for addressing each criterion is indicated in parentheses following the 
criterion.
    (a) Quality of the Project Design (up to 15 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:
    (1) The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates a 
rationale (up to 10 points); and
    (2) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable 
(up to 5 points).
    (b) Objectives (up to 20 points): The ambitiousness of the State 
entity's objectives for the quality charter school program carried out 
under the CSP State Entities program.

    Note:  In response to this criterion, an applicant may address 
(or cross reference) some or all of the components of application 
requirements (I)(A)-(G) in this notice, which require the applicant 
to provide a description of the State entity's objectives in running 
a quality charter school program and how the objectives of the 
program will be carried out.

    (c) Quality of Eligible Subgrant Applicants (up to 15 points): The 
likelihood that the eligible applicants receiving subgrants under the 
program will meet those objectives and improve educational results for 
students.
    (d) State Plan (up to 20 points): The State entity's plan to--
    (1) Adequately monitor the eligible applicants receiving subgrants 
under the State entity's program;
    (2) Work with the authorized public chartering agencies involved to 
avoid duplication of work for the charter schools and authorized public 
chartering agencies; and
    (3) Provide technical assistance and support for--
    (i) The eligible applicants receiving subgrants under the State 
entity's program; and
    (ii) Quality authorizing efforts in the State.
    (e) Quality of the Management Plan (up to 15 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:
    (1) 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 (up to 10 points); and
    (2) The extent to which the time commitments of the project 
director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are 
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed project 
(up to 5 points).
    (f) Parent and Community Involvement (up to 10 points): The State 
entity's plan to solicit and consider input from parents and other 
members of the community on the implementation and operation of charter 
schools in the State.
    (g) Flexibility (up to 5 points): The degree of flexibility 
afforded by the State's charter school law and how the State entity 
will work to maximize the flexibility provided to charter schools under 
such law.

[[Page 10463]]

    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 
(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Risk Assessment and Specific 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 2 CFR 
3474.10, the Secretary may impose specific 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 the System for Award Management. 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. Open Licensing Requirements: Unless an exception applies, if you 
are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to 
openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or in 
part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists of 
modifications to pre-existing works, the license extends only to those 
modifications that can be separately identified and only to the extent 
that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any licenses or 
other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works. Please refer 
to the Applicable Regulations section to see if an exception under 2 
CFR part 3474 applies for this program. For additional information on 
the open licensing requirements please refer to 2 CFR 3474.20(c).
    4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, 
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and 
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply 
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
    (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final 
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the 
Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual 
performance report that provides the most current performance and 
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance 
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, 
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    (c) In accordance with section 4303(i) of the ESEA, each State 
entity receiving a grant under this section must submit to the 
Secretary, at the end of the third year of the five-year grant period 
(or at the end of the second year if the grant period is less than five 
years), and at the end of such grant period, a report that includes the 
following:
    (1) The number of students served by each subgrant awarded under 
this section and, if applicable, the number of new students served 
during each year of the period of the subgrant.
    (2) A description of how the State entity met the objectives of the 
quality charter school program described in the State entity's 
application, including--
    (A) How the State entity met the objective of sharing best and 
promising practices as outlined in section 4303(f)(1)(A)(ix) of the 
ESEA in areas such as instruction, professional development, curricula 
development, and operations between charter schools and other public 
schools; and
    (B) If known, the extent to which such practices were adopted and 
implemented by such other public schools.
    (3) The number and amount of subgrants awarded under this program 
to carry out activities described in section 4303(b)(1)(A) through (C) 
of the ESEA.
    (4) A description of--
    (A) How the State entity complied with, and ensured that eligible 
applicants complied with, the assurances included in the State entity's 
application; and
    (B) How the State entity worked with authorized public chartering 
agencies, and how the agencies worked with the management company or 
leadership of the schools that received subgrant funds under this 
program, if applicable.
    (d) 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.
    5. Performance Measures:
    (a) The primary goal of the CSP is to support the creation and 
development of a large number of high-quality charter schools that are 
free from State or local rules that inhibit flexible operation, are

[[Page 10464]]

held accountable for enabling students to reach challenging State 
performance standards, and are open to all students. The Secretary has 
established two performance indicators to measure annual progress 
towards this goal: (1) The number of new charter schools and charter 
school campuses in operation around the Nation; (2) the number of 
states that demonstrate annual increases in the percentage of fourth- 
and eighth-grade charter school students who are achieving at or above 
the proficient level on State assessments in mathematics and reading/
language arts; (3) the number of states that demonstrate annual 
decreases in the percentage of charter schools that are identified as a 
comprehensive support and improvement school. Additionally, the 
Secretary has established the following measure to examine the 
efficiency of the CSP: Federal cost per student in implementing a 
successful school (defined as a school in operation for three or more 
consecutive years).
    (b) Project-Specific Performance Measures. Applicants must propose 
project-specific performance measures and performance targets 
consistent with the objectives of the proposed project. Applications 
must provide the following information as directed under 34 CFR 
75.110(b) and (c).
    (1) Performance measures. How each proposed performance measure 
would accurately measure the performance of the project and how the 
proposed performance measure would be consistent with the performance 
measures established for the program funding the competition.
    (2) Baseline data. (i) Why each proposed baseline is valid; or (ii) 
If the applicant has determined that there are no established baseline 
data for a particular performance measure, an explanation of why there 
is no established baseline and of how and when, during the project 
period, the applicant would establish a valid baseline for the 
performance measure.
    (3) Performance targets. Why each proposed performance target is 
ambitious yet achievable compared to the baseline for the performance 
measure and when, during the project period, the applicant would meet 
the performance target(s).
    (4) Data collection and reporting. (i) The data collection and 
reporting methods the applicant would use and why those methods are 
likely to yield reliable, valid, and meaningful performance data; and 
(ii) The applicant's capacity to collect and report reliable, valid, 
and meaningful performance data, as evidenced by high-quality data 
collection, analysis, and reporting in other projects or research.
    All grantees must submit an annual performance report with 
information that is responsive to these performance measures.
    6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: Whether a grantee 
has made substantial progress in 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).
    7. Project Director's Meeting: Applicants approved for funding 
under this competition must attend a two-day meeting for project 
directors at a location to be determined in the continental United 
States during each year of the project. Applicants may include the cost 
of attending this meeting in their proposed budgets.

VII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in 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. You may 
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations via the Federal Digital System at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well as all other 
documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in text 
or Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe 
Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: March 6, 2018.
Margo Anderson,
Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2018-04821 Filed 3-8-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P