Applications for New Awards; Special Programs for Indian Children-Demonstration Grants, 29769-29774 [2018-13728]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 26, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29769-29774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13728]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Special Programs for Indian 
Children--Demonstration Grants

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) 2018 for the Indian 
Education Discretionary Grants Programs--Demonstration Grants for 
Indian Children program, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) 
number 84.299A.

DATES: Applications Available: June 26, 2018.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: July 11, 2018.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 10, 2018.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 10, 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: Tara Ramsey, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 3W203, Washington, DC 20202. 
Telephone: (202) 260-3774. 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 purpose of the Demonstration Grants for 
Indian Children program is to provide financial assistance to projects 
that develop, test, and demonstrate the effectiveness of services and 
programs to improve the educational opportunities and achievement of 
Indian students in preschool, elementary, and secondary schools.
    Background: For FY 2018, the Department will continue to use the 
priority for Native Youth Community Projects (NYCP) first used in FY 
2015 to support community-led, comprehensive projects to help American 
Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children become college- and career-ready. 
NYCP funding is one of many efforts across the Federal government to 
coordinate, measure progress, and make investments in Native youth 
programs. These efforts aim to address educational and other outcomes 
for Native youth not currently being met. These grants are designed to 
help communities improve educational outcomes, specifically college- 
and career-readiness, through strategies tailored to address the 
specific challenges and build upon the specific opportunities and 
culture within a community. Such strategies can include supplemental 
academic programs or courses, social-emotional services, cultural 
education, and other support services for AI/AN students and families.
    Recognizing the importance of Tribes to the education of Native 
youth, NYCP

[[Page 29770]]

projects are based on a partnership that includes at least one Tribe 
and one school district or Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian 
Education (BIE)-funded school. We expect that this partnership will 
facilitate capacity building within the community, generating positive 
results and practices for student college-and-career readiness beyond 
the period of Federal financial assistance. The requirement of a 
written partnership agreement helps to ensure that all relevant 
partners needed to achieve the project goals are included from the 
outset. Grantees' project evaluations should help inform future 
practices that effectively improve outcomes for AI/AN youth.
    Because educational choice is a promising option to expand access 
to high-quality education and improve college- and career-readiness for 
Native youth, this competition also includes the Secretary's Final 
Supplemental Priority 1 to empower families and individuals to choose a 
high-quality education. For this competition, the Department is 
particularly interested in community-led approaches to educational 
choice, such as the expansion of existing charter schools, the use of 
supplemental Education Scholarship Accounts, and course choice.
    Priorities: This competition contains one absolute priority and 
four competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priority is from 34 CFR 263.21(c)(1) and 
263.20. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), competitive 
preference priority one is from 34 CFR 263.21(c)(5), competitive 
preference priority two is from 34 CFR 263.21(b), and paragraph (b) of 
competitive preference priority three is from 34 CFR 263.21(c)(2). 
Paragraph (a) of competitive preference priority three (relating to 
Promise Zones) is from the notice of final priority published in the 
Federal Register on March 27, 2014 (79 FR 17035). Competitive 
preference priority four is from the Secretary's Final Supplemental 
Priorities and Definitions for Discretionary Grant Programs 
(Supplemental Priorities), published in the Federal Register on March 
2, 2018 (83 FR 9096).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2018 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Native Youth Community Projects.
    A native youth community project is--
    (1) Focused on a defined local geographic area;
    (2) Centered on the goal of ensuring that Indian students are 
prepared for college and careers;
    (3) Informed by evidence, which could be either a needs assessment 
conducted within the last three years or other data analysis, on--
    (i) The greatest barriers, both in and out of school, to the 
readiness of local Indian students for college and careers;
    (ii) Opportunities in the local community to support Indian 
students; and
    (iii) Existing local policies, programs, practices, service 
providers, and funding sources;
    (4) Focused on one or more barriers or opportunities with a 
community-based strategy or strategies and measurable objectives;
    (5) Designed and implemented through a partnership of various 
entities, which--
    (i) Must include--
    (A) One or more Tribes or their Tribal education agencies; and
    (B) One or more BIE-funded schools, one or more local educational 
agencies (LEAs), or both; and
    (ii) May include other optional entities, including community-based 
organizations, national nonprofit organizations, and Alaska regional 
corporations; and
    (6) Led by an entity that--
    (i) Is eligible for a grant under the Demonstration Grants for 
Indian Children program; and
    (ii) Demonstrates, or partners with an entity that demonstrates, 
the capacity to improve outcomes that are relevant to the project focus 
through experience with programs funded through other sources.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2018 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications 
from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to an additional 
13 points to an application, depending on how well the application 
meets one or more of these priorities; the total possible points for 
each priority are noted in parentheses.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority One (zero or two points).
    Projects that include an LEA that is eligible under the Small Rural 
School Achievement (SRSA) or Rural and Low-Income School (RLIS) 
program, or a BIE-funded school that is located in an area designated 
by the U.S. Census Bureau with a locale code of 42 or 43.
    Competitive Preference Priority Two (zero or three points).
    Although all NYCP grantees are required to have an eligible Indian 
Tribe or its Tribal education agency (TEA) as a partner, we award three 
points to an application in which the lead partner is an eligible 
Indian Tribe or its TEA, an Indian organization (as defined in this 
notice), or a Tribal college or university (as defined in section 
316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)).
    Competitive Preference Priority Three (zero or three points).
    Applications that meet one of the following criteria--
    (a) Designed to serve a local community within a federally 
designated Promise Zone; or
    (b) Submitted by a partnership or consortium in which the lead 
applicant or one of its partners has received a grant in the last four 
years under one or more of the following grant programs:
    (1) State Tribal Education Partnership (section 6132 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA)).
    (2) Alaska Native Education Program (ESEA sections 6301-6306).
    (3) Promise Neighborhoods (ESEA sections 4623-4624).

    Note:  As a participant in the Promise Zone Initiative, the 
Department is cooperating with the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development (HUD), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and nine 
other Federal agencies to support comprehensive revitalization 
efforts in 22 high-poverty urban, rural, and Tribal communities 
across the country. Each application for NYCP funds that is 
accompanied by a Certification of Consistency with Promise Zone 
Goals and Implementation (HUD Form 50153) signed by an authorized 
representative of the lead organization of a Promise Zone designated 
by HUD or USDA will receive two points, under competitive preference 
priority 3(a). An application for NYCP grant funds that is not 
accompanied by a signed certification (HUD Form 50153) will not 
receive points under competitive preference priority 3(a), but may 
still be eligible to receive points under competitive preference 
priority 3(b) if it received one of the grants listed. To view the 
list of designated Promise Zones and lead organizations please go to 
https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/promise-zones/promise-zones-overview/. The certification form is available at: 
www.hudexchange.info/resource/4396/promise-zones-certification-form-and-guidance/.


    Note:  An application will not receive points for both (a) and 
(b) under competitive preference priority 3.

    Competitive Preference Priority Four--Empowering Families and 
Individuals to Choose a High-Quality Education that Meets their Unique 
Needs (zero to 5 points).

[[Page 29771]]

    Projects that are designed to address increasing access to 
educational choice (as defined in this notice) for students who are 
Indians, as defined in section 6151 of the ESEA.
    Definitions: The following definitions apply to this competition. 
The definition of ``educational choice'' is from the Supplemental 
Priorities, the definition of ``evidence-based'' is from section 
8101(21) of the ESEA, and the definition of ``Indian organization'' is 
from 34 CFR 263.20.
    Educational choice means the opportunity for a child or student (or 
a family member on their behalf) to create a high-quality personalized 
path for learning that is consistent with applicable Federal, State, 
and local laws; is in an educational setting that best meets the 
child's or student's needs; and, where possible, incorporates evidence-
based activities, strategies, or interventions. Opportunities made 
available to a student through a grant program are those that 
supplement what is provided by a child's or student's geographically 
assigned school or the institution in which he or she is currently 
enrolled and may include:
    (1) Public educational programs or courses including those offered 
by traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet 
schools, public online education providers, or other public education 
providers; or
    (2) Private or home-based educational programs or courses including 
those offered by private schools, private online providers, private 
tutoring providers, community or faith-based organizations, or other 
private education providers.
    Evidence-based, when used with respect to a State, LEA, or school 
activity, means an activity, strategy, or intervention that--
    (1) Demonstrates a statistically significant effect on improving 
student outcomes or other relevant outcomes based on--
    (a) Strong evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-
implemented experimental study;
    (b) Moderate evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-
implemented quasi-experimental study; or
    (c) Promising evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-
implemented correlational study with statistical controls for selection 
bias; or
    (2)(a) Demonstrates a rationale based on high-quality research 
findings or positive evaluation that such activity, strategy, or 
intervention is likely to improve student outcomes or other relevant 
outcomes; and
    (b) Includes ongoing efforts to examine the effects of such 
activity, strategy, or intervention.
    Indian organization means an organization that--
    (1) Is legally established--
    (a) By Tribal or inter-Tribal charter or in accordance with State 
or Tribal law; and
    (b) With appropriate constitution, by-laws, or articles of 
incorporation;
    (2) Includes in its purposes the promotion of the education of 
Indians;
    (3) Is controlled by a governing board, the majority of which is 
Indian;
    (4) If located on an Indian reservation, operates with the sanction 
or by charter of the governing body of that reservation;
    (5) Is neither an organization or subdivision of, nor under the 
direct control of, any institution of higher education; and
    (6) Is not an agency of State or local government.
    Application Requirements: The following requirements apply to all 
applications submitted under this competition and are from section 6121 
of the ESEA and 34 CFR 263.20, 263.21, and 263.22. An applicant must 
include in its application:
    (a) A description of the defined geographic area to be served by 
the project.
    (b) Evidence, based on either a needs assessment conducted within 
the last three years or other data analysis, of--
    (1) The greatest barriers, both in and out of school, to the 
readiness of local Indian students for college and careers;
    (2) Opportunities in the local community to support Indian 
students; and
    (3) Existing local policies, programs, practices, service 
providers, and funding sources.
    (c) A project design and management plan that--
    (1) Addresses one or more barriers or opportunities towards the 
goal of ensuring that Indian students are prepared for college and 
careers, as identified in the local needs assessment or other data 
analysis; and
    (2) Uses a community-based strategy (or strategies), and 
measureable objectives for that strategy (or strategies) that can be 
used to measure progress toward the goal.
    (d) A copy of an agreement signed by the required partners in the 
proposed project, identifying the responsibilities of each partner in 
the proposed project. Signatories to the agreement must include at 
least one Tribe or its TEA and at least one LEA or BIE-funded school, 
as described in the absolute priority above. Letters of support do not 
meet the requirement for a signed partnership agreement.
    (e) Evidence that the applicant or one of its partners has 
demonstrated the capacity to improve outcomes that are relevant to the 
project focus through experience with programs funded through other 
sources.
    (f) A description of how Indian Tribes and parents and family of 
Indian children have been, and will be, involved in developing and 
implementing the proposed activities.
    (g) Information demonstrating that the proposed project is an 
evidence-based program, where applicable, which may include an existing 
evidence-based program that has been modified to be culturally 
appropriate for Indian students. Applicants that believe the evidence-
based requirement is not applicable to their project must give an 
explanation in the application of why it is not applicable.
    (h) A description of how the applicant will continue the proposed 
activities once the grant period is over.
    (i) For projects that plan to use the grant funding for early 
childhood or kindergarten programs, evidence that the program is 
effective in preparing young children to make sufficient academic 
growth by the end of grade 3.

    Note:  Applications that do not include the required documents 
to demonstrate eligibility or other program requirements will likely 
be rejected or deemed ineligible for review.

    Statutory Hiring Preference:
    (a) Awards that are primarily for the benefit of Indians are 
subject to the provisions of section 7(b) of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (Pub. L. 93-638). That 
section requires that, to the greatest extent feasible, a grantee--
    (1) Give to Indians preferences and opportunities for training and 
employment in connection with the administration of the grant; and
    (2) Give to Indian organizations and to Indian-owned economic 
enterprises, as defined in section 3 of the Indian Financing Act of 
1974 (25 U.S.C. 1452(e)), preference in the award of contracts in 
connection with the administration of the grant.
    (b) For purposes of this section, an Indian is a member of any 
federally recognized Indian Tribe.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7441.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 
97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to 
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and

[[Page 29772]]

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 for this program in 34 CFR part 263. (e) 
The notice of final priority published in the Federal Register on March 
27, 2014 (79 FR 17035). (f) The Supplemental Priorities.

    Note:  The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian Tribes.


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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $25,600,000.
    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: $500,000-1,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $750,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 26-40.

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

    Project Period: Up to 48 months. Grants are for an initial period 
of three years, with the possibility of renewal for an additional year 
if the Secretary determines that the grantee has made substantial 
progress.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants for this program are 
State educational agencies; LEAs, including charter schools that are 
considered LEAs under State law; Indian Tribes; Indian organizations; 
BIE-funded schools; Tribal colleges and universities (as defined in 
section 316(b) of the HEA, 20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)); or a consortium of any 
of these entities.
    The absolute priority for NYCP requires that an applicant be a 
member of a partnership that includes at least one Tribe or its TEA and 
at least one LEA or BIE-funded school. We will reject applications that 
do not include at least these two types of partners.

    Note:  Including as a partner an Indian organization or Tribal 
college or university does not satisfy the requirement, under the 
absolute priority, of including the Tribe itself as one of the 
partners. A Tribe may designate another entity to apply on its 
behalf only if the entity submits as part of its application a 
Tribal resolution authorizing the designation for the purpose of 
applying for and administering this Demonstration grant.

    Applicants applying as an Indian organization must demonstrate that 
the entity meets the definition of ``Indian organization.''
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award 
subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities 
described in its application.

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 Demonstration 
Grants for Indian Children program, an application may include business 
information that the applicant considers 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 believe is exempt from disclosure 
under Exemption 4. In the appropriate Appendix section of your 
application, under ``Other Attachment 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 competition is subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under 
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this 
competition. Please note that, under 34 CFR 79.8(a), we have shortened 
the standard 60-day intergovernmental review period in order to make 
awards by the end of FY 2018.
    4. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    5. Recommended 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 30 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 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 12 point or larger but 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 budget narrative justification; the 
consortium agreement or partnership agreement; the assurances and 
certifications; or the abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or 
other required attachments.
    6. Notice of Intent to Apply: The Department will be able to review 
grant applications more efficiently if we know the approximate number 
of applicants that intend to apply. Therefore, we strongly encourage 
each potential applicant to notify us of their intent to submit an 
application for funding. To do so, please email [email protected] with 
the subject line ``Intent to Apply,'' and include the following 
information:
    (a) Applicant's name, mailing address, and phone number;
    (b) Contact person's name and email address;
    (c) The defined local geographic area to be served by the project;
    (d) Name(s) of partnering LEA(s) or BIE-funded school(s);
    (e) Name(s) of partnering Tribe(s) or TEA(s); and
    (f) If appropriate, names of other partnering organizations.
    Applicants that do not submit a notice of intent to apply may still 
apply for funding; applicants that do submit a notice of intent to 
apply are not bound to apply or bound by the information provided.

[[Page 29773]]

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210 and 34 CFR part 263. We will award up to 100 
points to an application under the selection criteria; the total 
possible points for each selection criterion are noted in parentheses.
    a. Need for project (Maximum 15 points). The Secretary considers 
the need for the proposed project. In determining the need for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the extent to which the 
project is informed by evidence, which could be either a needs 
assessment conducted within the last three years or other data analysis 
documenting the following:
    (i) The greatest barriers both in and out of school to the 
readiness of local Indian students for college and careers;
    (ii) Opportunities in the local community to support Indian 
students; and
    (iii) Existing local policies, programs, practices, service 
providers, and funding sources.
    b. Quality of the project design (Maximum 30 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In 
determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) (Up to 4 points) The extent to which the project is focused on 
a defined local geographic area.
    (ii) (Up to 6 points) The extent to which the proposed project is 
evidence-based, where applicable, which may include an existing 
evidence-based program that has been modified to be culturally 
appropriate for Indian students.
    (iii) (Up to 7 points) The extent to which the goals, objectives, 
and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly 
specified and measurable.
    (iv) (Up to 8 points) The extent to which the design of the 
proposed project is appropriate to, and will successfully address, the 
needs of the target population or other identified needs.
    (v) (Up to 5 points) The extent to which the services to be 
provided by the proposed project involve the collaboration of 
appropriate partners for maximizing the effectiveness of project 
services.
    c. Quality of project personnel (Maximum 10 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:
    (i) (Up to 6 points) The extent to which the applicant, or one of 
its partners, demonstrates capacity to improve outcomes that are 
relevant to the project focus through experience with programs funded 
through other sources.
    (ii) (Up to 2 points) The qualifications, including relevant 
training and experience, of key project personnel.
    (iii) (Up to 2 points) The qualifications, including relevant 
training and experience, of the project director or principal 
investigator.

    Note:  Please note that section 7(b) of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act requires that to the 
greatest extent feasible, a grantee must give to Indians preference 
and opportunities in connection with the administration of the 
grant, and give Indian organizations and Indian-owned economic 
enterprises, as defined in section 3 of the Indian Financing Act of 
1974 (25 U.S.C. 1452(e)), preference in the award of contracts in 
connection with the administration of the grant.

    d. Adequacy of resources (Maximum 10 points). The Secretary 
considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed project. In 
determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) (Up to 5 points) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of 
each partner in the proposed project to the implementation and success 
of the project.
    (ii) (Up to 5 points) The extent to which the costs are reasonable 
in relation to the number of persons to be served and to the 
anticipated results and benefits.
    e. Quality of the management plan (Maximum 25 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 following factors:
    (i) (Up to 15 points) 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.
    (ii) (Up to 5 points) The extent to which Indian Tribes and parents 
and families of Indian children have been, and will be, involved in 
developing and implementing the proposed activities.
    (iii) (Up to 5 points) The extent to which the proposed project is 
designed to build capacity and yield results that will extend beyond 
the period of Federal financial assistance.
    f. Quality of the project evaluation (Maximum 10 points). The 
Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of 
the proposed project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) (Up to 7 points) The extent to which the methods of evaluation 
will provide performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of 
progress toward achieving intended outcomes.
    (ii) (Up to 3 points) The extent to which 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 
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Risk Assessment and Specific 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 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

[[Page 29774]]

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. 
Additionally, a grantee or subgrantee that is awarded competitive grant 
funds must have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables. 
This dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your 
application has been reviewed and selected for funding. For additional 
information on the open licensing requirements please refer to 2 CFR 
3474.20.
    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) 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: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993, the Department has developed the following 
performance measures for measuring the overall effectiveness of the 
Demonstration Grants for Indian Children program:
    (1) The percentage of the annual measurable objectives, as 
described in the application, that are met by grantees; and
    (2) The percentage of grantees that report a significant increase 
in community collaborative efforts that promote college and career 
readiness of Indian children.
    These measures constitute the Department's indicators of success 
for this program. Consequently, we advise an applicant for a grant 
under this program to give careful consideration to these measures in 
developing the proposed project and identifying the method of 
evaluation. Each grantee will be required to provide, in its annual 
performance and final reports, data about its progress in meeting these 
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).

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. 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: June 21, 2018.
Jason Botel,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Delegated the Authority to Perform 
the Functions and Duties of Assistant Secretary for Elementary and 
Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2018-13728 Filed 6-25-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P