Applications for New Awards; Comprehensive Literacy State Development Program, 18935-18944 [2020-07014]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 65 (Friday, April 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18935-18944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07014]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Comprehensive Literacy State 
Development Program

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice 
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2020 for the 
Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) program, Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.371C. This notice relates 
to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1894-
0006.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: April 3, 2020.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 2, 2020.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 3, 2020.

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 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at 
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Savage, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 3E243, Washington, DC 20202-
6450. Telephone: (202) 453-5998. Email: [email protected]; or 
Jennifer Brianas, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, 
Room 3E239, Washington, DC 20202-6450. Telephone: (202) 401-0299. 
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 CLSD program awards competitive grants to 
advance literacy skills, through the use of evidence-based (as defined 
in this notice) practices, activities, and interventions, including 
pre-literacy skills, reading, and writing, for children from birth 
through grade 12, with an emphasis on disadvantaged children, including 
children living in poverty, English learners (as defined in this 
notice), and children with disabilities (as defined in this notice).
    Background: The FY 2020 competition for new CLSD awards focuses on 
the requirements in the statute. In addition, we have included three 
competitive preference priorities that highlight key policies for 
States on which to focus their literacy plans or encourage eligible 
subgrant applicants to focus their local literacy plans.
    First, we give competitive preference to applications from new 
potential grantees to diversify the applicant pool and even the playing 
field for applicants with varying levels of experience. For the purpose 
of this priority, we give preference to grantees that have not had an 
active grant in the past five years under the CLSD program, or the 
Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program (SRCL), as the CLSD 
program was called prior to the passage of the Every Student Succeeds 
Act (i.e., applicants that did not have an active grant under SRCL or 
CLSD as of five years before the deadline date for submission of 
applications under the program).
    Second, we give competitive preference to applications that would

[[Page 18936]]

focus their subgrant competitions on projects located in Qualified 
Opportunity Zones (QOZs). Public law 115-97 authorized the designation 
of QOZs to promote economic development and job creation in distressed 
communities through preferential tax treatment for investors. A list of 
QOZs is available at www.cdfifund.gov/Pages/Opportunity-Zones.aspx; 
applicants may also determine whether a particular area overlaps with a 
QOZ using the National Center of Education Statistics' map located at 
https://nces.ed.gov/programs/maped/LocaleLookup/. To receive 
competitive preference points under this priority, applicants must 
provide the Department with the census tract number of the QOZs they 
plan to serve and describe the services they will provide. For the 
purposes of CLSD subgrant competitions, State educational agencies 
(SEAs) should consider the area where the eligible entity (as defined 
in this notice) is located to be the area that must overlap with a QOZ; 
an eligible entity with multiple sites (e.g., a local educational 
agency (LEA) with multiple schools) may be considered to overlap with a 
QOZ even if only one site is located in a QOZ. We believe that this 
priority aligns with the purpose of the CLSD program to advance 
literacy skills for disadvantaged children, including children living 
in poverty, English learners, and children with disabilities.
    Third, we give competitive preference to applications that propose 
projects designed to focus on improving student outcomes that provide 
increased value to students and taxpayers. Within this competitive 
preference priority, we are particularly interested in applications 
that propose to leverage resources to reduce redundancy and increase 
efficiency in developing literacy programs and activities. Leveraging 
resources is the process of identifying the benefits from an investment 
or project using available resources to recognize additional resources. 
The process may result in a total effect that is greater than the sum 
of the parts. It involves the removal of barriers that prevent or 
hinder the flow of goods, services, and funds to meet program goals. 
State and local plans focused on identifying opportunities to 
streamline or eliminate redundancies or unnecessary requirements or 
capitalize on already available Federal, State, and local resources, 
may ultimately allow subgrantees to focus more closely on approaches 
that improve outcomes for students and their families.
    In addition, section 2222(d) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), requires that an applicant 
describe how it will develop a State comprehensive literacy instruction 
plan, and applicants are encouraged to align these plans with their 
State plans under ESEA. An important component of a comprehensive 
literacy plan includes innovative strategies to improve access to high-
quality preschool through grade 12 opportunities that take place 
outside of the traditional public school setting. In developing these 
plans, applicants may provide parents and students a choice of 
opportunities that may include, for example, online literacy programs, 
industry-focused literacy programs, expanded library hours, community 
partnerships, and other literacy programs or projects that allow 
parents and students to access literacy software and information at any 
time and any place.
    Consistent with section 2222(e) of the ESEA, the Secretary gives 
priority to SEAs that will use the grant funds for evidence-based 
activities and includes a selection criterion under Quality of Project 
Design that awards points to applicants to the extent that SEAs propose 
to use CLSD funds for evidence-based activities. Applicants should use 
CLSD funds for activities supported by the highest evidence available, 
and in cases where there may not be significant evidence-based literacy 
strategies or interventions available, for example in early childhood 
education, we encourage applicants to demonstrate a rationale (i.e., 
the need for the intervention, its inputs and outputs, and the intended 
outcomes) for how the intervention will help to achieve the project 
outcomes. For this competition, SEAs are required to prioritize 
kindergarten through grade 12 subgrant applications that meet the 
higher evidence levels of strong or moderate evidence included in the 
definition of ``evidence-based'' in this notice.
    Priorities: This competition includes three competitive preference 
priorities. Priority 1 is from the Department's Administrative 
Priorities for Discretionary Grant Programs published in the Federal 
Register on March 9, 2020 (85 FR 13640) (Administrative Priorities); 
Priority 2 is from the Department's notice of final priority for 
Discretionary Grant Programs published in the Federal Register on 
November 27, 2019 (84 FR 65300) (Opportunity Zones NFP); and Priority 3 
is from the Secretary's Final Supplemental Priorities and Definitions 
for Discretionary Grant Programs published in the Federal Register on 
March 2, 2018 (83 FR 9096) (Supplemental Priorities).
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2020 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications 
from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Applicants may apply under any, all, or none of the 
competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we 
award an additional 10 points to an application that meets Priority 1; 
an additional five points to an application that meets Priority 2; and 
up to an additional three points to an application that addresses 
Priority 3, depending on how well the application addresses Priority 3. 
An application may be awarded up to a maximum of 18 additional points. 
These points are in addition to any points the application earns under 
the selection criteria in this notice.
    These priorities are:
    Priority 1--Applications from New Potential Grantees (0 or 10 
points).
    (a) Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the 
applicant has not had an active discretionary grant under the program 
from which it seeks funds, including through membership in a group 
application submitted in accordance with 34 CFR 75.127-75.129, in the 
five years before the deadline date for submission of applications 
under the program.
    (b) For the purpose of this priority, a grant or contract is active 
until the end of the grant's or contract's project or funding period, 
including any extensions of those periods that extend the grantee's or 
contractor's authority to obligate funds.
    Note: For purposes of this priority, ``the program'' includes both 
the SRCL and CLSD programs because they are substantially the same.
    Priority 2--Spurring Investment in Qualified Opportunity Zones (0 
or 5 points).
    Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the area in 
which the applicant proposes to provide services overlaps with a QOZ as 
designated by the Secretary of the Treasury under section 1400z-1 of 
the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). An applicant must--
    (a) Provide the census tract number of the QOZ(s) in which it 
proposes to provide services; and
    (b) Describe how the applicant will provide services in the QOZ(s).
    Note: In responding to this priority, an applicant is encouraged to 
explain how it will encourage prospective subgrantees to leverage 
opportunities in QOZs to address the State application

[[Page 18937]]

and program requirements in this notice.
    Priority 3--Promoting Innovation and Efficiency, Streamlining 
Education with an Increased Focus on Improving Student Outcomes and 
Providing Increased Value to Students and Taxpayers (up to 3 points).
    Projects that are designed to address one or both of the following 
priority areas:
    (a) Implementing strategies that ensure education funds are spent 
in a way that increases their efficiency and cost-effectiveness, 
including by reducing waste or achieving better outcomes.
    (b) Supporting innovative strategies or research that have the 
potential to lead to significant and wide-reaching improvements in the 
delivery of educational services or other significant and tangible 
educational benefits to students, educators, or other Department 
stakeholders.
    Within this competitive preference priority, we are particularly 
interested in applications that address the following invitational 
priority.
    Invitational Priority: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), we do not give an 
application that meets this invitational priority a competitive or 
absolute preference over other applications.
    This priority is:
    Promoting Innovation and Efficiency, and Streamlining Education by 
Leveraging Education Resources.
    Projects that are designed to implement strategies that leverage 
Federal, State, and local resources (e.g., funding, processes, 
infrastructure, people) to reduce redundancy and to increase efficiency 
to develop literacy programs and activities.
    Application Requirements: For FY 2020, and any subsequent year in 
which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, applicants must submit an application that meets the 
following application requirements from section 2222 of the ESEA (20 
U.S.C. 6642).
    (a) State Agency Early Childhood Program Collaboration.
    An SEA must collaborate with the State agency responsible for 
administering early childhood education programs and the State agency 
responsible for administering child care programs in the State, in 
writing and implementing the early childhood education portion of the 
grant application submitted for the CLSD program.
    (b) State Needs Assessment.
    An SEA must include a needs assessment that analyzes literacy needs 
across the State and in high-need schools (as defined in this notice) 
and LEAs that serve high-need schools, including identifying the most 
significant gaps in literacy proficiency and inequities in student 
access to effective teachers of literacy, considering each of the 
subgroups of students, as defined in section 1111(c)(2) of the ESEA.
    (c) State Comprehensive Literacy Plan.
    An SEA must include a description of how, in collaboration with its 
State literacy team, if applicable, it will develop a State 
comprehensive literacy instruction (as defined in this notice) plan or 
will revise and update an already existing State comprehensive literacy 
instruction plan.
    (d) State Implementation Plan.
    An SEA must include an implementation plan that includes a 
description of how it will carry out the State activities detailed in 
section 2222(f) of the ESEA.
    (e) Assurances.
    An SEA must include in its application the following assurances:
    (1) State Funding Allocations.
    (a) An SEA must assure that it will subgrant not less than 95 
percent of grant funds to eligible entities (as defined in this 
notice), based on their needs assessment and a competitive application 
process, for comprehensive literacy instruction programs according to 
the funding allocations in Program Requirement (a).
    (b) An SEA must assure it will use grant funds described in section 
2222(f)(1) for comprehensive literacy instruction programs as follows:
    (i) Not less than 15 percent of such grant funds must be used for 
State and local programs and activities pertaining to children from 
birth through kindergarten entry.
    (ii) Not less than 40 percent of such grant funds must be used for 
State and local programs and activities, allocated equitably among the 
grades of kindergarten through grade 5.
    (iii) Not less than 40 percent of such grant funds must be used for 
State and local programs and activities, allocated equitably among 
grades 6 through 12.
    (2) Serving Low-Income and High-Need Students.
    An SEA must assure that it will give priority in awarding subgrants 
to eligible entities that--
    (i) Serve children from birth through age 5 who are from families 
with income levels at or below 200 percent of the Federal poverty line 
(as defined in this notice); or
    (ii) Are LEAs serving a high number or percentage of high-need 
schools.
    (3) Geographic Diversity.
    An SEA must assure that it will provide subgrants to eligible 
entities serving a diversity of geographic areas, giving priority to 
entities serving greater numbers or percentages of children from low-
income families.
    Program Requirements: For FY 2020 and any subsequent year in which 
we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, the following program requirements apply. These program 
requirements are from sections 2222-2225 and 2301 of the ESEA.
    (a) State Funding Allocations.
    (1) Grantees must use not less than 95 percent of grant funds to 
award subgrants to eligible entities, based on their needs assessment 
and a competitive application process;
    (2) Grantees must subgrant funds as follows:
    (i) Not less than 15 percent of the funds awarded to subgrantees 
must be used for State and local programs and activities pertaining to 
children from birth through kindergarten entry;
    (ii) Not less than 40 percent of the funds awarded to subgrantees 
must be used for State and local programs and activities, allocated 
equitably among the grades of kindergarten through grade 5; and
    (iii) Not less than 40 percent of the funds awarded to subgrantees 
must be used for State and local programs and activities, allocated 
equitably among grades 6 through 12.
    (b) State-Level Activities.
    (1) A grantee may reserve not more than 5 percent of the CLSD funds 
it receives for activities identified through the needs assessment and 
comprehensive literacy plan, including, at a minimum, the following 
activities:
    (i) Providing technical assistance, or engaging qualified providers 
to provide technical assistance, to eligible entities to enable the 
eligible entities to design and implement literacy programs.
    (ii) Coordinating with institutions of higher education in the 
State to provide recommendations to strengthen and enhance pre-service 
courses for students preparing to teach children from birth through 
grade 12 in explicit, systematic, and intensive instruction in 
evidence-based literacy methods.
    (iii) Reviewing and updating, in collaboration with teachers and 
institutions of higher education, State licensure or certification 
standards in the area of literacy instruction in early education 
through grade 12.
    (iv) Making publicly available, including on the SEA's website, 
information on promising instructional practices to improve child 
literacy achievement.

[[Page 18938]]

    (v) Administering and monitoring the implementation of subgrants by 
eligible entities.
    (2) After making awards to subgrantees and carrying out the State-
level activities described in this notice, an SEA may use any remaining 
amount to carry out one or more of the following activities:
    (i) Developing literacy coach training programs and training 
literacy coaches.
    (ii) Administration and evaluation of CLSD activities.
    (3) Collaboration requirement.
    A grantee must collaborate with the State agency responsible for 
administering early childhood education programs, the State agency 
responsible for administering child care programs, and, if applicable, 
the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care 
designated or established pursuant to section 642(b(1)(A)(i) of the 
Head Start Act, in making and implementing subgrants under the early 
childhood education portion of the CLSD program, described in section 
2222(d)(2)(D)(i).
    Note: Section 2222(d)(1) of the ESEA specifically references child 
care and early childhood programs within a State. Since the CLSD 
service population encompasses children from birth and includes pre-
literacy services, applicants may collaborate with the State agencies 
administering the Part C program for infants and toddlers under the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in their program planning, 
as some children being served under Part C would likely benefit from 
CLSD services.
    (c) Requirements that apply to subgrants to eligible entities in 
support of birth through kindergarten entry literacy.
    (1) Subgrantee application requirements.
    An eligible entity desiring to receive a subgrant under CLSD must 
submit an application to the SEA, at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the SEA may require. Such application 
must include a description of--
    (i) How the CLSD funds will be used to enhance the language and 
literacy development and school readiness of children, from birth 
through kindergarten entry, in early childhood education programs, 
which must include an analysis of data that support the proposed use of 
CLSD funds;
    (ii) How the CLSD funds will be used to prepare and provide ongoing 
assistance to staff in the programs, including through high-quality 
professional development (as defined in this notice);
    (iii) How the activities assisted with the CLSD funds will be 
coordinated with comprehensive literacy instruction at the kindergarten 
through grade 12 levels; and
    (iv) How the CLSD funds will be used to evaluate the success of the 
activities assisted under the subgrant in enhancing the early language 
and literacy development of children from birth through kindergarten 
entry.
    (2) Priority.
    In awarding subgrants to eligible entities in support of birth 
through kindergarten entry, sections 2222(d)(2)(E) and 2223(c) of the 
ESEA require that an SEA must provide an assurance that it will--
    (i) Give priority to an eligible entity that will use CLSD funds to 
implement evidence-based activities;
    (ii) Give priority to an eligible entity that will use CLSD funds 
to serve children from birth through age 5 who are from families with 
income levels at or below 200 percent of the Federal poverty line or is 
an LEA serving a high number or percentage of high-need schools; and
    (iii) Give priority to an eligible entity that will use CLSD funds 
to serve children from birth through age 5 in a diversity of geographic 
areas.
    (3) Duration.
    The term of a subgrant must be determined by the grantee and must 
not exceed five years.
    (4) Sufficient size and scope.
    Each subgrant must be of sufficient size and scope to allow the 
eligible entity to carry out high-quality early literacy initiatives 
for children from birth through kindergarten entry.
    (5) Local uses of funds.
    An eligible entity that receives a subgrant from the SEA must use 
the CLSD funds, consistent with the entity's approved application, to--
    (i) Carry out high-quality professional development opportunities 
for early childhood educators, teachers, principals, other school 
leaders (as defined in this notice), paraprofessionals, specialized 
instructional support personnel, and instructional leaders;
    (ii) Train providers and personnel to develop and administer 
evidence-based early childhood education literacy initiatives; and
    (iii) Coordinate the involvement of families, early childhood 
education program staff, principals, other school leaders, specialized 
instructional support personnel (as appropriate), and teachers in 
literacy development of children served under CLSD.
    (d) Requirements that apply to subgrants to eligible entities in 
support of kindergarten through grade 12 literacy.
    (1) Subgrantee application requirements.
    An eligible entity desiring to receive a subgrant from the SEA 
under the CLSD program must submit an application to the SEA at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the SEA may 
require. Such application must include, for each school that the 
eligible entity identifies as participating in a CLSD program, the 
following information:
    (i) A description of the eligible entity's needs assessment 
conducted to identify how CLSD funds will be used to inform and improve 
comprehensive literacy instruction at the school.
    (ii) How the school, the LEA, or a provider of high-quality 
professional development will provide ongoing high-quality professional 
development to all teachers, principals, other school leaders, 
specialized instructional support personnel (as appropriate), and other 
instructional leaders served by the school.
    (iii) How the school will identify children in need of literacy 
interventions or other support services.
    (iv) An explanation of how the school will integrate comprehensive 
literacy instruction into a well-rounded education (as defined in this 
notice).
    (v) A description of how the school will coordinate comprehensive 
literacy instruction with early childhood education programs and 
activities and after-school programs and activities in the area served 
by the LEA.
    (2) Priority.
    In awarding subgrants to eligible entities the SEA must give 
priority to an eligible entity that will--
    (i) Use grant funds to implement evidence-based activities, which 
meet the requirements of strong or moderate evidence in the definition 
of ``evidence-based'' in this notice; and
    (ii) Give priority to an eligible entity that will use CLSD funds 
to serve children from kindergarten through grade 12 in a diversity of 
geographic areas.
    (3) Duration.
    The term of a subgrant must be determined by the grantee and must 
not exceed five years.
    (4) Sufficient size and scope.
    Each subgrant must be of sufficient size and scope to allow the 
eligible entity to carry out high-quality comprehensive literacy 
instruction in each grade level for which the CLSD funds are provided.
    (5) Local uses of funds for kindergarten through grade 5.
    An eligible entity that receives a subgrant from the SEA under the 
CLSD

[[Page 18939]]

program must use the CLSD funds to carry out the following activities 
pertaining to children in kindergarten through grade 5:
    (i) Developing and implementing a comprehensive literacy 
instruction plan across content areas for such children that--
    (A) Serves the needs of all children, including children with 
disabilities and English learners, especially children who are reading 
or writing below grade level;
    (B) Provides intensive, supplemental, accelerated, and explicit 
intervention and support in reading and writing for children whose 
literacy skills are below grade level; and
    (C) Supports activities that are provided primarily during the 
regular school day but that may be augmented by after-school and out-
of-school time instruction.
    (ii) Providing high-quality professional development opportunities 
for teachers, literacy coaches, literacy specialists, English as a 
second language specialists (as appropriate), principals, other school 
leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, school 
librarians, paraprofessionals, and other program staff.
    (iii) Training principals, specialized instructional support 
personnel, and other LEA personnel to support, develop, administer, and 
evaluate high-quality kindergarten through grade 5 literacy 
initiatives.
    (iv) Coordinating the involvement of early childhood education 
program staff, principals, other instructional leaders, teachers, 
teacher literacy teams, English as a second language specialists (as 
appropriate), special educators, school personnel, and specialized 
instructional support personnel (as appropriate) in the literacy 
development of children served.
    (v) Engaging families and encouraging family literacy experiences 
and practices to support literacy development.
    (6) Local uses of funds for grades 6 through 12.
    An eligible entity that receives a subgrant from the SEA under CLSD 
must use CLSD funds to carry out the following activities pertaining to 
children in grades 6 through 12:
    (i) Developing and implementing a comprehensive literacy 
instruction plan across content areas for such children that--
    (A) Serves the needs of all children, including children with 
disabilities and English learners, especially children who are reading 
or writing below grade level;
    (B) Provides intensive, supplemental, accelerated, and explicit 
intervention and support in reading and writing for children whose 
literacy skills are below grade level; and
    (C) Supports activities that are provided primarily during the 
regular school day but that may be augmented by after-school and out-
of-school time instruction.
    (ii) Training principals, specialized instructional support 
personnel, school librarians, and other LEA personnel to support, 
develop, administer, and evaluate high-quality comprehensive literacy 
instruction initiatives for grades 6 through 12.
    (iii) Assessing the quality of adolescent comprehensive literacy 
instruction as part of a well-rounded education.
    (iv) Providing time for teachers to meet to plan evidence-based 
adolescent comprehensive literacy instruction to be delivered as part 
of a well-rounded education.
    (v) Coordinating the involvement of principals, other instructional 
leaders, teachers, teacher literacy teams, English as a second language 
specialists (as appropriate), paraprofessionals, special educators, 
specialized instructional support personnel (as appropriate), and 
school personnel in the literacy development of children served.
    (7) Additional local allowable uses of funds for kindergarten 
through grade 12.
    An eligible entity that receives a subgrant from an SEA under CLSD 
may, in addition to carrying out the activities described in paragraphs 
5 and 6 of this requirement, use subgrant funds to carry out the 
following activities pertaining to children in kindergarten through 
grade 12:
    (i) Recruiting, placing, training, and compensating literacy 
coaches.
    (ii) Connecting out-of-school learning opportunities to in-school 
learning in order to improve children's literacy achievement.
    (iii) Training families and caregivers to support the improvement 
of adolescent literacy.
    (iv) Providing for a multi-tier system of supports for literacy 
services.
    (v) Forming a school literacy leadership team to help implement, 
assess, and identify necessary changes to the literacy initiatives in 1 
or more schools to ensure success.
    (vi) Providing time for teachers (and other literacy staff, as 
appropriate, such as school librarians or specialized instructional 
support personnel) to meet to plan comprehensive literacy instruction.
    (e) Supplement not supplant.
    Grantees must use CLSD funds to supplement, and not supplant, non-
Federal funds that would otherwise be used for activities authorized 
under the CLSD program.
    (f) Cooperation with national evaluation.
    Grantees must cooperate with a national evaluation of the CLSD 
program (34 CFR 75.591). The evaluation will include high-quality 
research that applies rigorous and systematic procedures to obtain 
valid knowledge relevant to the implementation and effect of the CLSD 
program. The evaluation will directly coordinate with individual State 
evaluations of the CLSD program implementation.
    Definitions: The definitions of ``Comprehensive literacy 
instruction,'' ``Eligible entity,'' and ``High-need school'' are from 
section 2221 of the ESEA. The definitions of ``Child with a 
disability,'' ``English learner,'' ``Evidence-based,'' ``Poverty 
line,'' ``Professional development,'' ``School leader,'' and ``Well-
rounded education'' are from section 8101 of the ESEA.
    Child with a disability has the meaning given to the term in 
section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
    Comprehensive literacy instruction means instruction that--
    (a) Includes developmentally appropriate, contextually explicit, 
and systematic instruction, and frequent practice, in reading and 
writing across content areas;
    (b) Includes age-appropriate, explicit, systematic and intentional 
instruction in phonological awareness, phonic decoding, vocabulary, 
language structure, reading fluency, and reading comprehension;
    (c) Includes age-appropriate, explicit instruction in writing, 
including opportunities for children to write with clear purposes, with 
critical reasoning appropriate to the topic and purpose, and with 
specific instruction and feedback from instructional staff;
    (d) Makes available and uses diverse, high-quality print materials 
that reflect the reading and development levels, and interests, of 
children;
    (e) Uses differentiated instructional approaches,
    including individual and small group instruction and discussion;
    (f) Provides opportunities for children to use language with peers 
and adults in order to develop language skills, including developing 
vocabulary;
    (g) Includes frequent practice of reading and writing strategies;
    (h) Uses age-appropriate, valid, and reliable screening 
assessments,

[[Page 18940]]

diagnostic assessments, formative assessment processes, and summative 
assessments to identify a child's learning needs, to inform 
instruction, and to monitor the child's progress and the effects of 
instruction;
    (i) Uses strategies to enhance children's motivation to read and 
write and children's engagement in self-directed learning;
    (j) Incorporates the principles of universal design for learning;
    (k) Depends on teachers' collaboration in planning, instruction, 
and assessing a child's progress and on continuous professional 
learning; and
    (l) Links literacy instruction to the challenging State academic 
standards, including the ability to navigate, understand, and write 
about, complex print and digital subject matter.
    Eligible entity means an entity that consists of--
    (a) One or more LEAs that serve a high percentage of high-need 
schools and--
    (1) Have the highest number or proportion of children who are 
counted under section 1124(c) of the ESEA, in comparison to other LEAs 
in the State;
    (2) Are among the LEAs in the State with the highest number or 
percentages of children reading or writing below grade level, based on 
the most currently available State academic assessment data under 
section 1111(b)(2) of the ESEA; or
    (3) Serve a significant number or percentage of schools that are 
implementing comprehensive support and improvement activities and 
targeted support and improvement activities under section 1111(d) of 
the ESEA;
    (b) One or more early childhood education programs serving low-
income or otherwise disadvantaged children, which may include home-
based literacy programs for pre-school-aged children, that have a 
demonstrated record of providing comprehensive literacy instruction for 
the age group such program proposes to serve; or
    (c) An LEA, described in paragraph (a), or consortium of such LEAs, 
or an early childhood education program, which may include home-based 
literacy programs for preschool-aged children, acting in partnership 
with one or more public or private nonprofit organizations or agencies 
(which may include early childhood education programs) that have a 
demonstrated record of effectiveness in--
    (1) Improving literacy achievement of children, consistent with the 
purposes of participation under the CLSD program, from birth through 
grade 12; and
    (2) Providing professional development in comprehensive literacy 
instruction.
    English learner means an individual--
    (a) Who is aged 3 through 21;
    (b) Who is enrolled or preparing to enroll in an elementary school 
or secondary school;
    (c)(i) Who was not born in the United States or whose native 
language is a language other than English;
    (ii)(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
    (iii) 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--
    (i) The ability to meet the challenging State academic standards;
    (ii) The ability to successfully achieve in classrooms where the 
language of instruction is English; or
    (iii) The opportunity to participate fully in society.
    Evidence-based, when used with respect to a State, LEA, or school 
activity, means an activity, strategy, or intervention that 
demonstrates a statistically significant effect on improving student 
outcomes or other relevant outcomes based on--
    (a) Strong evidence from at least one-well designed and well-
implemented experimental study;
    (b) Moderate evidence from at least one well-designed and well-
implemented quasi-experimental study; or
    (c) Promising evidence from at least one well-designed and well-
implemented correlational study with statistical controls for selection 
bias.
    High-need school means--
    (a)(i) An elementary school or middle school in which not less than 
50 percent of the enrolled students are children from low-income 
families; or
    (ii) A high school in which not less than 40 percent of the 
enrolled students are children from low-income families, which may be 
calculated using comparable data from the schools that feed into the 
high school.
    (b) For the purposes of paragraph (a) of this definition, the term 
``low-income family'' means a family--
    (i) In which the children are eligible for a free or reduced-price 
lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
1751 et seq.);
    (ii) Receiving assistance under the program of block grants to 
States for temporary assistance for needy families established under 
part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); 
or
    (iii) In which the children are eligible to receive medical 
assistance under the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
    Poverty line means the poverty line (as defined by the Office of 
Management and Budget and revised annually in accordance with section 
673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act) applicable to a 
family of the size involved.
    Professional development means activities that--
    (a) Are an integral part of school and LEA strategies for providing 
educators (including teachers, principals, other school leaders, 
specialized instructional support personnel, paraprofessionals, and, as 
applicable, early childhood educators) with the knowledge and skills 
necessary to enable students to succeed in a well-rounded education and 
to meet the challenging State academic standards; and
    (b) Are sustained (not stand-alone, one-day, or short-term 
workshops), intensive, collaborative, job-embedded, data-driven, and 
classroom-focused, and may include activities that--
    (1) Improve and increase teachers'--
    (i) Knowledge of the academic subjects the teachers teach;
    (ii) Understanding of how students learn; and
    (iii) Ability to analyze student work and achievement from multiple 
sources, including how to adjust instructional strategies, assessments, 
and materials based on such analysis;
    (2) Are an integral part of broad schoolwide and districtwide 
educational improvement plans;
    (3) Allow personalized plans for each educator to address the 
educator's specific needs identified in observation or other feedback;
    (4) Improve classroom management skills;
    (5) Support the recruitment, hiring, and training of effective 
teachers, including teachers who became certified through State and 
local alternative routes to certification;
    (6) Advance teacher understanding of--
    (i) Effective instructional strategies that are evidence-based; and
    (ii) Strategies for improving student academic achievement or 
substantially increasing the knowledge and teaching skills of teachers;

[[Page 18941]]

    (7) Are aligned with, and directly related to, academic goals of 
the school or LEA;
    (8) Are developed with extensive participation of teachers, 
principals, other school leaders, parents, representatives of Indian 
tribes (as applicable), and administrators of schools to be served 
under this program;
    (9) Are designed to give teachers of English learners, and other 
teachers and instructional staff, the knowledge and skills to provide 
instruction and appropriate language and academic support services to 
those children, including the appropriate use of curricula and 
assessments;
    (10) To the extent appropriate, provide training for teachers, 
principals, and other school and community-based early childhood 
program leaders in the use of technology (including education about the 
harms of copyright piracy), so that technology and technology 
applications are effectively used in the classroom to improve teaching 
and learning in the curricula and academic subjects in which the 
teachers teach;
    (11) As a whole, are regularly evaluated for their impact on 
teacher effectiveness and student academic achievement, with the 
findings of the evaluations used to improve the quality of professional 
development;
    (12) Are designed to give teachers of children with disabilities or 
children with developmental delays, and other teachers and 
instructional staff, the knowledge and skills to provide instruction 
and academic support services to those children, including positive 
behavioral interventions and supports, multi-tier system of supports, 
and use of accommodations;
    (13) Include instruction in the use of data and assessments to 
inform classroom practice;
    (14) Include instruction in ways that teachers, principals, other 
school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, and school 
administrators may work more effectively with parents and families;
    (15) Involve the forming of partnerships with institutions of 
higher education, including, as applicable, Tribal Colleges and 
Universities as defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)), to establish school-
based teacher, principal, and other school leader training programs 
that provide prospective teachers, novice teachers, principals, and 
other school leaders with an opportunity to work under the guidance of 
experienced teachers, principals, other school leaders, and faculty of 
such institutions;
    (16) Create programs to enable paraprofessionals (assisting 
teachers employed by an LEA receiving assistance under part A of title 
I of the ESEA) to obtain the education necessary for those 
paraprofessionals to become certified and licensed teachers;
    (17) Provide follow-up training to teachers who have participated 
in activities described in this paragraph that are designed to ensure 
that the knowledge and skills learned by the teachers are implemented 
in the classroom; and
    (18) Where practicable, provide jointly for school staff and other 
early childhood education program providers, to address the transition 
to elementary school, including issues related to school readiness.
    School leader means a principal, assistant principal, or other 
individual who is--
    (a) An employee or officer of an elementary school or secondary 
school, LEA, or other entity operating an elementary school or 
secondary school; and
    (b) Responsible for the daily instructional leadership and 
managerial operations in the elementary school or secondary school 
building.
    Well-rounded education means courses, activities, and programming 
in subjects such as English, reading or language arts, writing, 
science, technology, engineering, mathematics, foreign languages, 
civics and government, economics, arts, history, geography, computer 
science, music, career and technical education, health, physical 
education, and any other subject, as determined by the State or LEA, 
with the purpose of providing all students access to an enriched 
curriculum and educational experience.
    Program Authority: Sections 2221-2225 of the ESEA.
    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 Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 
2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department 
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3474. (d) The Supplemental Priorities. (e) The Administrative 
Priorities. (f) The Opportunity Zones NFP.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $84,415,248.
    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: $11,000,000 to $21,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $16,000,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 4-8.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: 60 months. The Secretary may renew a grant for an 
additional two-year period upon the termination of the initial grant 
period if the grant recipient demonstrates to the satisfaction of the 
Secretary that: (1) The State has made adequate progress; and (2) 
renewing the grant for an additional two-year period is necessary to 
carry out the objectives of the grant detailed in section 2222(d) of 
the ESEA.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs of the 50 States, the District of 
Columbia, and Puerto Rico (referred to in this notice as State).
    2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-
supplant funding requirements. In accordance with section 2301 of the 
ESEA, CLSD funds must be used to supplement, and not supplant, non-
Federal funds that would otherwise be used for activities authorized 
under the CLSD program. Further, the prohibition against supplanting 
also means that grantees will be required to use their restricted 
indirect cost rates under this program (34 CFR 75.563).
    3. Subgrantees: Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c), a grantee under 
this competition may award subgrants--to directly carry out project 
activities described in its application--to eligible entities.
    The grantee must award subgrants to entities it selects through a 
competition under procedures established by the grantee and consistent 
with sections 2222-2224 of the ESEA.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Application Submission Instructions: For information and 
requirements on how to submit an application please refer to our Common

[[Page 18942]]

Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary 
Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2019 
(84 FR 3768) and available at www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf, which contain requirements and information on 
how to submit an application.
    2. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of 
projects that may be proposed in applications for the CLSD 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 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: 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 (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial.
    The recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the 
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the 
assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, resumes, 
bibliography, or letters of support. However, the recommended page 
limit does apply to all of the application narrative section.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: Selection criterion (b)(3) under Quality of 
Project Design is from section 2222(e) of the ESEA. The remaining 
selection criteria for this competition are from 34 CFR 75.210. The 
maximum score for all selection criteria is 100. The maximum possible 
score for each selection criterion is indicated in parentheses. The 
selection criteria for this competition are as follows:
    (a) Need for project (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 specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be 
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude 
of those gaps or weaknesses.
    (b) Quality of the project design (25 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:
    (1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
    (2) The extent to which the design of the proposed project includes 
a thorough, high-quality review of the relevant literature, a high-
quality plan for project implementation, and the use of appropriate 
methodological tools to ensure successful achievement of project 
objectives.
    (3) The extent to which the proposed project will use grant funds 
for evidence-based activities.
    (c) Quality of the management plan (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:
    (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.
    (2) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous 
improvement in the operation of the proposed project.
    (d) Quality of project services (35 points).
    The Secretary considers the quality of the project services to be 
provided by the proposed project. In determining the quality of project 
services to be provided by the proposed project, the Secretary 
considers the quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal 
access and treatment for eligible project participants 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:
    (1) The likely impact of the services to be provided by the 
proposed project on the intended recipients of those services; and
    (2) The extent to which the training or professional development 
services to be provided by the proposed project are of sufficient 
quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice 
among the recipients of those services.
    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 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

[[Page 18943]]

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 
$250,000), 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(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 (APR) that provides the most current performance and 
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance 
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, 
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    5. Performance Measures: The Department has established the 
following Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 performance 
measures for the CLSD program:
    (1) The percentage of participating four-year-old children who 
achieve significant gains in oral language skills, as determined by a 
State-approved measure.
    (2) The percentage of participating fifth-grade students who meet 
or exceed proficiency on State reading/language arts assessments under 
section 1111(b)(2)(B)(v)(I) of the ESEA.
    (3) The percentage of participating eighth-grade students who meet 
or exceed proficiency on State reading/language arts assessments under 
section 1111(b)(2)(B)(v)(I) of the ESEA.
    (4) The percentage of participating high school students who meet 
or exceed proficiency on State reading/language arts assessments under 
section 1111(b)(2)(B)(v)(I) of the ESEA.
    (5) The percentage of evidence-based activities implemented by 
subgrantees that meet the requirements of strong or moderate evidence 
in the definition of ``evidence-based'' in this notice.
    All grantees will be expected to submit an APR that includes data 
addressing these performance measures to the extent that they apply to 
the grantee's project. Performance targets will be established by each 
grantee and must be made for each year of the five-year performance 
period.
    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 at www.govinfo.gov. 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.

[[Page 18944]]

    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.

Frank T. Brogan,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2020-07014 Filed 4-2-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P