Applications for New Awards; Well-Rounded Education Through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants, 27721-27726 [2020-09999]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 91 (Monday, May 11, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27721-27726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-09999]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Well-Rounded Education Through 
Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants

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 fiscal year (FY) 2020 for Well-Rounded 
Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants, 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.424E. This 
notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control 
number 1894-0006.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: May 11, 2020.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 10, 2020.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 8, 2020.
    Pre-Application Webinar Information: The Department will hold a 
pre-application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants. Please 
refer to the Department's website for specific details about the pre-
application webinar, which we expect to hold approximately two weeks 
after applications are available: https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/school-support-and-accountability/student-centered-funding-pilot/.

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: Denise Joseph, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 3W105, Washington, DC 20202-
5970. Telephone: (202) 453-6702. 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 Well-Rounded Education through Student-

[[Page 27722]]

Centered Funding Demonstration Grants program provides competitive 
grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to demonstrate model 
programs for providing well-rounded education opportunities through the 
development and implementation of student-centered funding (SCF) 
systems based on weighted per-pupil allocations under section 1501 of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA).
    Background: Most LEAs allocate school-level resources in the form 
of staff, equipment, and instructional materials, rather than 
allocating specific dollar amounts to individual schools. Typically, 
such traditional resource-allocation systems determine the number of 
teachers, school administrators, and other types of staff for each 
school based on its total student enrollment, with additional support 
for particular groups of students (e.g., students from low-income 
families, English learners (ELs), and students with disabilities) often 
provided through Federal- and State-funded categorical funding 
programs. School leaders and other stakeholders such as teachers, 
parents, and community members often have little influence over how 
dollars are spent at their school and are thus unable to tailor the 
school's education program to meet the needs of its specific students. 
The lack of transparency, predictability, and autonomy in the typical 
school resource allocation system means students in a given school may 
not have access to an enriched curriculum and educational experience 
tailored to their needs--that is, the very essence of a well-rounded 
education.
    Section 1501 of the ESEA offers an alternative to such traditional 
resource-allocation systems. An LEA approved under section 1501 has 
flexibility to consolidate eligible Federal funds with its State and 
local funds to create a single student-centered school funding system 
based on weighted per-pupil allocations for students from low-income 
families, ELs, and otherwise disadvantaged students. The Secretary is 
prepared to waive most Federal fiscal requirements that apply to the 
Federal funds the LEA allocates through such a system that meets the 
requirements of section 1501, thereby affording each school in the LEA 
considerable flexibility to use its Federal funds alongside its State 
and local funds to create a well-rounded education program that best 
meets the specific needs of students in the school.
    Opportunities to provide a more well-rounded education program, 
tailored to the specific needs of students in each school and 
consistent with section 4107 of the ESEA, increase when school leaders 
and stakeholders have flexibility to combine Federal with State and 
local funds. The Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered 
Funding Demonstration Grants program is intended to help build the 
capacity of LEAs to provide well-rounded education by utilizing the SCF 
flexibility agreements under ESEA section 1501 in order to demonstrate 
models for expanding and enhancing delivery of such opportunities for 
educationally disadvantaged students. This program is being established 
with funds from the two percent reservation for technical assistance 
and capacity building under section 4103(a)(3) of the ESEA, which is 
designed to support States and LEAs in carrying out activities 
authorized under the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants 
program in title IV, part A of the ESEA, including activities that 
support access to a well-rounded education. Grants are available to 
LEAs that commit to applying for an SCF flexibility agreement under 
ESEA section 1501 to assist them in developing, preparing, and 
implementing an SCF system that enhances and expands the provision of 
well-rounded education opportunities to educationally disadvantaged 
students.
    Priority: We are establishing this priority for the FY 2020 grant 
competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the 
list of unfunded applications from this competition, in accordance with 
section 437(d)(1) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), 20 
U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2020 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:
    Absolute Priority: Developing and Implementing a Student-Centered 
Funding System to Provide Well-Rounded Education Opportunities to 
Educationally Disadvantaged Students.
    Under this priority, we will consider an application from an LEA 
that assures it will--
    (a) Within 12 months of receiving a grant, submit an application to 
the Department to implement an SCF flexibility agreement consistent 
with ESEA section 1501;
    (b) Use its SCF system to enhance and expand the provision of well-
rounded education opportunities to educationally disadvantaged 
students; and
    (c) Participate in the program evaluation required for LEAs that 
receive an SCF flexibility agreement consistent with ESEA section 
1501(j).
    Requirements: We are establishing these application requirements 
for the FY 2020 grant competition and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, 20 U.S.C. 
1232(d)(1).
    Application Requirements: An LEA must include the following in its 
application:
    (a) A plan, including a timeline, for--
    (1) Developing, within 12 months of receiving an award under this 
program, and preparing to implement, an SCF system that is designed to 
meet requirements for receiving an SCF flexibility agreement under ESEA 
section 1501, which may include building the capacity of the LEA and 
school staff to implement the system;
    (2) Applying, within 12 months of receiving an award under this 
program, to the Department for an SCF flexibility agreement under ESEA 
section 1501 (information about ESEA section 1501 is found at https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/school-support-and-accountability/student-centered-funding-pilot/); and
    (3) Disseminating widely to other LEAs no later than the end of the 
grant period, information on--
    (i) The development and implementation of the LEA's SCF system;
    (ii) How the SCF system enhances schools' abilities to provide 
well-rounded education opportunities to educationally disadvantaged 
students; and
    (iii) Related academic and other outcomes for those students, 
which, at the LEA's discretion, could be based on one or more 
indicators from the statewide accountability system (e.g., the other 
academic indicator for public elementary and secondary schools that are 
not high schools, a school quality or student success indicator, or 
another indicator), or any other valid and reliable measure.
    (b) A description of how the LEA will--
    (1) Implement and continuously improve its SCF system during each 
year of the award, including through an approved SCF flexibility 
agreement. This may include addressing the estimated impact of system 
implementation on schools that receive less funding than under the 
previous funding model; and

[[Page 27723]]

    (2) Use its SCF system to expand and enhance the provision of well-
rounded education opportunities to educationally disadvantaged 
students.
    (c) A detailed project budget, which includes a budget narrative 
that addresses the following and a proposed budget with funding 
sufficient to--
    (1) For the first year of the project, support LEA work to develop 
and submit an application to the Department for an SCF flexibility 
agreement under ESEA section 1501 within the first 12 months of the 
project, and prepare to implement its SCF system;
    (2) For the second year of the project, if the LEA's SCF 
flexibility agreement is not yet approved under ESEA section 1501, 
support LEA work to plan for implementation of its SCF system and train 
staff according to their roles and responsibilities on well-rounded 
education activities aligned with SCF implementation, such as training 
school leaders on budgeting under an SCF system and training central 
office staff on supporting school leaders in implementing an SCF 
system;
    (3) Support LEA work, once approved to implement an SCF flexibility 
agreement under ESEA section 1501, to implement its SCF system for the 
duration of the grant period and develop a plan for sustainability to 
continue to implement its SCF system in the years following the grant 
period; and
    (4) Annually travel to project directors' meetings in Washington, 
DC.
    Third through Fifth Years of the Project: A grantee must receive 
approval, or an extension if a grantee's initial three-year approval 
expired, from the Department to implement an SCF flexibility agreement 
under ESEA section 1501 to continue to receive funding for the third 
through fifth years. In determining whether to continue funding, the 
Secretary will also consider the requirements of 34 CFR 75.253(a), as 
well as--
    (a) The timeliness with which the requirements of the grant have 
been or are being met by the project and how well they are being met; 
and
    (b) Readiness to implement an approved SCF flexibility agreement 
under ESEA section 1501, as demonstrated through local commitment and 
staff capacity, and the likelihood that approval of an agreement will 
enhance a well-rounded education in the LEA.
    Definitions: Based on the requirements in section 1501, we are 
establishing the definitions of ``educationally disadvantaged 
students'' and ``students from low-income families'' for the FY 2020 
grant competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from 
the list of unfunded applications from this competition, in accordance 
with section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1). The definition of 
``English learner'' is from ESEA section 8101(20), ``high-poverty 
school'' is from ESEA section 1501(l)(2), and the definition of ``well-
rounded education'' is from ESEA section 8101(52).
    Educationally disadvantaged students means, consistent with ESEA 
section 1501(d)(2)(A)(ii), ELs, students from low-income families, and 
students with any other characteristics associated with educational 
disadvantage chosen by the LEA.
    English learner means an individual who is an English learner as 
defined in ESEA section 8101(20).
    High-poverty school means a school that is in the highest two 
quartiles of schools served by an LEA, based on the percentage of 
enrolled students from low-income families.
    Students from low-income families means low-income students as 
determined by the LEA for the purpose of implementing an SCF 
flexibility agreement under section 1501 of the ESEA.
    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.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department generally offers interested parties 
the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities, definitions, and 
requirements. Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, however, allows the Secretary 
to exempt from rulemaking requirements regulations governing the first 
grant competition under a new or substantially revised program 
authority. This is the first grant competition for this program under 
section 4103(a)(3) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7113) and therefore qualifies 
for this exemption. In order to ensure timely grant awards, the 
Secretary has decided to forgo public comment on the priority, 
requirements, and definitions under section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. The 
priority, requirements, and definitions will apply to the FY 2020 grant 
competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the 
list of unfunded applications from this competition.
    Program Authority: Section 4103(a)(3) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7113).
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 97, 
98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to 
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 
2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department 
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3474.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $3,000,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from 
the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000 per year prior to 
implementation of the SCF system; $1,000,000-$3,000,000 per year for 
implementation.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,500,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1-4.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: LEAs.
    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.
    3. Equitable Services for Children and Educators in Private 
Schools: A grantee under this program is required to provide for the 
equitable participation of private school children, in accordance with 
section 8501 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7881). For purposes of this 
program, this means that a grantee that receives approval from the 
Department to implement an SCF flexibility agreement under section 1501 
of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 6491) must provide for the equitable 
participation of private school children as required by sections 
1501(d)(1)(I), 1117, and 8501 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 6491(d)(1)(I), 
6320, and 7881).
    4. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award 
subgrants to

[[Page 27724]]

entities to directly carry out project activities described in its 
application.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Application Submission Instructions: Applicants are required to 
follow the 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, which 
contain requirements and information on how to submit an application. 
Grants.gov has relaxed the requirement for applicants to have an active 
registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) in order to apply 
for funding during the COVID-19 pandemic. An applicant that does not 
have an active SAM registration can still register with grants.gov, but 
must contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll-free, at 1-800-518-4726, 
in order to take advantage of this flexibility.
    2. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for this program.
    3. Funding Restrictions: A grantee may use grant funds only for 
activities related to--
    (a) For a period of up to 24 months, developing and preparing to 
implement an SCF system through an SCF flexibility agreement under ESEA 
section 1501, which may include staff capacity building; and
    (b) Once implementing an SCF flexibility agreement--
    (1) Implementing and continuously improving an SCF system, which 
may include assisting schools in transitioning to a new system, 
including temporary payments to schools that receive less funding than 
under the previous funding model so the LEA as a whole can implement 
the SCF system and increase opportunities for a well-rounded education 
across schools in the LEA;
    (2) Using an SCF system to provide enhanced and expanded well-
rounded education opportunities to educationally disadvantaged 
students; and
    (3) Disseminating information on its project.
    We reference regulations outlining other funding restrictions in 
the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    4. 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 40 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, the resumes, 
the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the recommended 
page limit does apply to all of the application narrative.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: In general, the selection criteria for this 
program are from 34 CFR 75.210. The selection criterion in paragraph 
(a)(1) is based on applicable program statute in accordance with 34 CFR 
75.209. The selection criteria are as follows:
    (a) Quality of the project design (up to 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:
    (1) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of 
educationally disadvantaged students through a well-rounded education 
(up to 10 points).
    (2) The extent to which the applicant demonstrates that it has the 
resources to operate the project beyond the length of the grant, 
including a multi-year financial and operating model and accompanying 
plan; the demonstrated commitment of any partners; evidence of broad 
support from stakeholders (e.g., State educational agencies, teachers' 
unions) critical to the project's long-term success; or more than one 
of these types of evidence (up to 10 points).
    (3) The potential replicability of the proposed project or 
strategies, including, as appropriate, the potential for implementation 
in a variety of settings (up to 5 points).
    (4) The extent to which the results of the proposed project are to 
be disseminated in ways that will enable others to use the information 
or strategies (up to 5 points).
    (b) Quality of project services (up to 20 points).
    The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be provided 
by the proposed project. In determining the quality of the services to 
be provided by the proposed project, the Secretary considers the 
following factors:
    (1) 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 (up to 10 points).
    (2) 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 (up to 10 points).
    (c) Adequacy of resources (up to 20 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:
    (1) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the 
proposed project (up to 10 points).
    (2) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel (up to 10 points).
    (d) Quality of the management plan (up to 30 points).
    The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for, and 
the evaluation to be conducted of, the proposed project. In determining 
the quality of the management plan and the project evaluation, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks (up to 10 points).
    (2) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous 
improvement in the operation of the proposed project (up to 10 points).
    (3) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives 
are brought to bear in the operation of the proposed project, including 
those of parents, teachers, the business community, a variety of 
disciplinary and professional

[[Page 27725]]

fields, recipients or beneficiaries of services, or others, as 
appropriate (up to 10 points).
    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 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.
    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.
    5. Performance Measures:
    (a) Program Performance Measures. The performance measures for this 
program are--
    (1) The total student enrollment in each participating LEA;
    (2) The total funds that the participating LEA received for schools 
from any source (i.e., Federal, State, and local funds);
    (3) The total funds that the participating LEA received for schools 
from any source (i.e., Federal, State, and local funds) and expended 
using an SCF system; and
    (4) The ratio of the total amount of per-pupil funding from any 
source expended in high-poverty schools (as defined in this notice) as 
compared with the total amount of per-pupil funding expended in schools 
that are not high-poverty schools in each participating LEA.
    (b) Project-Specific Performance Measures. Applicants must propose 
project-specific performance measures and performance targets 
consistent with the objectives of the proposed project, including 
measures to address how the SCF system will enhance and expand the 
provision of well-rounded education opportunities to educationally 
disadvantaged students. Applicants must provide the following 
information as directed under 34 CFR 75.110(b) and (c):
    (1) Performance measures. How each proposed performance measure 
would accurately measure the performance of the project and how the 
proposed performance measure would be consistent with the performance 
measures established for the program funding the competition.
    (2) Baseline data. (i) Why each proposed baseline is valid; or (ii) 
if the applicant has determined that there are no established baseline 
data for a particular performance measure, an explanation of why there 
is no established baseline and of how and when, during the project 
period, the

[[Page 27726]]

applicant would establish a valid baseline for the performance measure.
    (3) Performance targets. Why each proposed performance target is 
ambitious yet achievable compared to the baseline for the performance 
measure and when, during the project period, the applicant would meet 
the performance target(s).
    (4) Data collection and reporting. (i) The data collection and 
reporting methods the applicant would use and why those methods are 
likely to yield reliable, valid, and meaningful performance data; and 
(ii) the applicant's capacity to collect and report reliable, valid, 
and meaningful performance data, as evidenced by high-quality data 
collection, analysis, and reporting in other projects or research.
    All grantees must submit annual performance reports with 
information that is responsive to these performance measures.
    6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: Whether a grantee 
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of 
the program; 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 
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Frank T. Brogan,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2020-09999 Filed 5-8-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P