Applications for New Awards; Transformative, 37045-37048 [2023-11915]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 108 / Tuesday, June 6, 2023 / Notices
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Dated: May 31, 2023.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2023–11928 Filed 6–5–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No.: ED–2023–SCC–0035]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
Migrant Education Program
Regulations and Certificate of
Eligibility
Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education (OESE),
Department of Education (ED).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
1995, the Department is proposing an
extension without change of a currently
approved information collection request
(ICR).
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before July 6,
2023.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
Written comments and
recommendations for proposed
information collection requests should
be submitted within 30 days of
ADDRESSES:
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publication of this notice. Click on this
link www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain to access the site. Find this
information collection request (ICR) by
selecting ‘‘Department of Education’’
under ‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ then
check the ‘‘Only Show ICR for Public
Comment’’ checkbox. Reginfo.gov
provides two links to view documents
related to this information collection
request. Information collection forms
and instructions may be found by
clicking on the ‘‘View Information
Collection (IC) List’’ link. Supporting
statements and other supporting
documentation may be found by
clicking on the ‘‘View Supporting
Statement and Other Documents’’ link.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
specific questions related to collection
activities, please contact Jessenia
Guerra, (202) 453–7051.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Department is especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Department; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the Department enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology. Please note
that written comments received in
response to this notice will be
considered public records.
Title of Collection: Migrant Education
Program Regulations and Certificate of
Eligibility.
OMB Control Number: 1810–0662.
Type of Review: Extension without
change of a currently approved ICR.
Respondents/Affected Public:
Individuals or households; State, local,
and Tribal governments.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 108,458.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 301,570.
Abstract: The U.S. Department of
Education (the Department) requests an
extension with an adjustment to the
currently approved information
collection OMB No. 1810–0662. This
collection of information is necessary to
collect information under the Title I,
Part C Migrant Education Program
(MEP). Sections 1301–1309 of Part C of
Title I of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965, as amended
(ESEA), authorizes MEP. One can find
regulations for MEP at 34 CFR 200.81–
200.89. This information collection
covers regulations with information
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collection requirements. These
requirements pertain to information that
State educational agencies (SEAs) must
collect in order to properly administer
the MEP.
Dated: June 1, 2023.
Kun Mullan,
PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and
Clearance, Governance and Strategy Division,
Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of
Planning, Evaluation and Policy
Development.
[FR Doc. 2023–12073 Filed 6–5–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards;
Transformative
Research in the Education Sciences
and Using Longitudinal Data To
Support State Education Policymaking
Grant Programs
Institute of Education Sciences,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Department of Education
(Department) is issuing a notice inviting
applications for new awards for fiscal
year (FY) 2024 for the Education
Research Grant Programs, Assistance
Listing Numbers (ALNs) 84.305S and
84.305T. This notice relates to the
approved information collection under
OMB control number 4040–0001.
DATES:
Applications Available: June 8, 2023.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: August 17, 2023.
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 December 7, 2022
(87 FR 75045) and available at
www.federalregister.gov/documents/
2022/12/07/2022-26554/commoninstructions-for-applicants-todepartment-of-education-discretionarygrant-programs. Please note that these
Common Instructions supersede the
version published on December 27,
2021.
SUMMARY:
Dr.
Erin Higgins for the Transformative
Research in the Education Sciences
grant program (EMAIL: Erin.Higgins@
ed.gov) and Dr. Allen Ruby for the Using
Longitudinal Data grant program
(EMAIL: Allen.Ruby@ed.gov), Institute
of Education Sciences, U.S. Department
of Education, Potomac Center Plaza,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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37046
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 108 / Tuesday, June 6, 2023 / Notices
Room 4148, 550 12th Street SW,
Washington, DC 20202.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or
have a speech disability and wish to
access telecommunications relay
services, please dial 7–1–1.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Full Text of Announcement
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: In awarding
research grants, the Institute of
Education Sciences (IES) intends to
provide national leadership in
expanding knowledge and
understanding of (1) education
outcomes for all learners from early
childhood education through
postsecondary and adult education, and
(2) employment and wage outcomes
when relevant (such as for those
engaged in career and technical,
postsecondary, or adult education). The
IES research grant programs are
designed to provide interested
individuals and the general public with
reliable and valid information about
education practices that support
learning and improve academic
achievement and access to education
opportunities for all learners. These
interested individuals include parents,
educators, learners, researchers, and
policymakers. In carrying out its grant
programs, IES provides support for
programs of research in areas of
demonstrated national need.
Competitions in This Notice:
The IES National Center for Education
Research (NCER) is announcing two
competitions—one competition in each
of the following areas: using
longitudinal data to support State
education policymaking and
transformative research in the education
sciences.
Using Longitudinal Data to Support
State Education Policymaking (ALN
84.305S). Under this competition, NCER
will only consider applications that
address State agencies’ use of their
State’s education longitudinal data
systems to identify and reduce
opportunity and achievement gaps for
learners from prekindergarten through
adult education.
Transformative Research in the
Education Sciences (ALN 84.305T).
Through this program, IES seeks to
support innovative and unconventional
research that has the potential to make
dramatic advances towards solving
seemingly intractable problems and
challenges in the education field and/or
to accelerate the pace of conducting
education research to facilitate major
breakthroughs. For the FY 2024
competition, the Transformative
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Research in the Education Sciences
grant program will have a special focus
on accelerating learning and reducing
persistent education inequities by
leveraging evidence-based principles
from the learning sciences with
advanced technology to create highreward, scalable solutions.
Exemption from Proposed
Rulemaking: Under section 191 of the
Education Sciences Reform Act, 20
U.S.C. 9581, IES is not subject to section
437(d) of the General Education
Provisions Act, 20 U.S.C. 1232(d), and
is therefore not required to offer
interested parties the opportunity to
comment on matters relating to grants.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 9501 et
seq.
Note: Projects will be awarded and
must be operated in a manner consistent
with the nondiscrimination
requirements contained in Federal civil
rights laws.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR
parts 77, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
In addition, the regulations in 34 CFR
part 75 are applicable, except for the
provisions in 34 CFR 75.100, 75.101(b),
75.102, 75.103, 75.105, 75.109(a),
75.200, 75.201, 75.209, 75.210, 75.211,
75.217(a) through (c), 75.219, 75.220,
75.221, 75.222, 75.230, 75.250(a), and
75.708. (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.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part
86 apply to institutions of higher
education only.
Note: The open licensing requirement
in 2 CFR 3474.20 does not apply to
these competitions.
II. Award Information
Types of Awards: Discretionary grants
and cooperative agreements.
Fiscal Information: Although
Congress has not yet enacted an
appropriation for FY 2024, IES is
inviting applications for these
competitions now so that applicants can
have adequate time to prepare their
applications. The actual level of
funding, if any, depends on final
congressional action. IES may announce
additional competitions later in 2023.
Estimated Range of Awards: For the
Using Longitudinal Data to Support
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State Education Policymaking grant
program, the estimated annual range per
budget period is $100,000 to $333,333.
For the Transformative Research in the
Education Sciences grant program, the
estimated annual range per budget
period is $300,0000 to $1,250,000. The
size of the awards will depend on the
scope of the projects proposed.
Estimated Number of Awards: The
number of awards made under each
competition will depend on the quality
of the applications received for that
competition and the availability of
funds.
For all competitions, contingent on
the availability of funds and the quality
of applications, we may make additional
awards in FY 2025 from the list of
highly rated unfunded applications
submitted in response to FY 2024
competition announcements.
Note: The Department is not bound by
any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 3 years.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: For the Using
Longitudinal Data to Support State
Education Policymaking (ALN 84.305S)
grant program, eligible applications
must include the eligible State agency or
State postsecondary system responsible
for the education issue, program, or
policy to be examined. Eligible State
agencies include the State educational
agency (SEA) responsible for the State’s
K–12 sector as well as other State
agencies responsible for other specific
education sectors such as
prekindergarten, career and technical
education, postsecondary education,
and adult education. In addition, a State
postsecondary system may serve as the
eligible State agency. Eligible State
agencies may apply alone, or in
conjunction with research organizations
such as universities and research firms,
and/or with other appropriate
organizations (such as other State
agencies or local education agencies).
For the Transformative Research in
the Education Sciences (ALN 84.305T)
grant program, eligible applicants are
organizations that have the
demonstrated ability and capacity to
conduct rigorous research and
development. Eligible applicants
include, but are not limited to,
institutions of higher education and
non-profit, for-profit, public, or private
agencies.
2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: The
Using Longitudinal Data to Support
State Education Policymaking (ALN
84.305S) grant program does not require
cost sharing or matching.
The Transformative Research in the
Education Sciences (ALN 84.305T) grant
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 108 / Tuesday, June 6, 2023 / Notices
program requires cost sharing or
matching. For this program, by the
beginning of Year 2, each grant recipient
must secure matching funds in an
amount equal to 10 percent of the total
funds provided under the grant in the
form of cash or in-kind contributions.
Continuation funding in Years 2 and 3
will be contingent upon the
establishment of a cost sharing
agreement and the inclusion of a revised
budget and budget narrative that
includes cost sharing funds in the firstyear annual report. The cost sharing
partner must be an organization that has
experience developing and scaling
technology products.
b. Indirect Cost Rate Information:
These programs use an unrestricted
indirect cost rate. For more information
regarding indirect costs, or to obtain a
negotiated indirect cost rate, please see
www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/
intro.html.
3. Subgrantees: Under 34 CFR
75.708(b) and (c) a grantee under these
competitions may award subgrants—to
directly carry out project activities
described in its application—to the
following types of entities: nonprofit
and for-profit organizations and public
and private agencies and institutions of
higher education. The grantee may
award subgrants to entities it has
identified in an approved application.
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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
December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and
available at https://
www.federalregister.gov/documents/
2022/12/07/2022-26554/commoninstructions-for-applicants-todepartment-of-education-discretionarygrant-programs, which contain
requirements and information on how to
submit an application. Please note that
these Common Instructions supersede
the version published on December 27,
2021.
2. Other Information: Information
regarding program and application
requirements for the competitions will
be contained in the currently available
IES Application Submission Guide and
in the NCER Request for Applications
(RFA)s, which will be available on or
before June 8, 2023, on the IES website
at: https://ies.ed.gov/funding/. The
application packages for these
competitions will also be available on or
before June 8, 2023.
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3. Content and Form of Application
Submission: Requirements concerning
the content of an application are
contained in the RFA for the specific
competition. The forms that must be
submitted are in the application package
for the specific competition.
4. Submission Dates and Times: The
deadline date for transmittal of
applications is August 17, 2023.
We do not consider an application
that does not comply with the deadline
requirements.
5. Intergovernmental Review: These
competitions are not subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the
regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
6. Funding Restrictions: We reference
regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: For all of its
grant competitions, IES uses selection
criteria based on a peer review process
that has been approved by the National
Board for Education Sciences. The Peer
Review Procedures for Grant
Applications can be found on the IES
website at https://ies.ed.gov/director/
sro/peer_review/application_review.asp.
For the 84.305S competition, peer
reviewers will evaluate the significance
of the application, the quality of the
research plan, the applicability and
availability of the data to be analyzed,
and the quality of the plans to
disseminate and use the findings in
State decision-making. These criteria are
described in greater detail in the RFA.
For the 84.305T competition, peer
reviewers will evaluate the significance
of the transformative solution, research
approach, deliverables and metrics plan,
personnel, resources, and
dissemination.
For all IES competitions, applications
must include budgets no higher than the
relevant maximum award as set out in
the relevant RFA. IES will not make an
award exceeding the maximum award
amount as set out in the relevant RFA.
2. Review and Selection Process: We
remind potential applicants that in
reviewing applications in any
discretionary grant competition, IES
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, compliance with the IES
policy regarding public access to
research, and compliance with grant
conditions. IES may also consider
whether the applicant failed to submit
a timely performance report or
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37047
submitted a report of unacceptable
quality.
In addition, in making a competitive
grant award, IES also requires various
assurances including those applicable to
Federal civil rights laws that prohibit
discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance
from the Department (34 CFR 100.4,
104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
3. Risk Assessment and Specific
Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.206, before awarding grants under
these competitions, the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by
applicants. Under 2 CFR 200.208, IES
may impose specific conditions and,
under 2 CFR 3474.10, 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 these
competitions to receive an award that
over the course of the project period
may exceed the simplified acquisition
threshold (currently $250,000), under 2
CFR 200.206(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.
5. In General: In accordance with the
Office of Management and Budget’s
guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all
applicable Federal laws, and relevant
Executive guidance, the Department
will review and consider applications
for funding pursuant to this notice
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ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
inviting applications in accordance
with:
(a) Selecting recipients most likely to
be successful in delivering results based
on the program objectives through an
objective process of evaluating Federal
award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
(b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain
telecommunication and video
surveillance services or equipment in
alignment with section 889 of the
National Defense Authorization Act of
2019 (Pub. L. 115–232) (2 CFR 200.216);
(c) Providing a preference, to the
extent permitted by law, to maximize
use of goods, products, and materials
produced in the United States (2 CFR
200.322); and
(d) Terminating agreements in whole
or in part to the greatest extent
authorized by law if an award no longer
effectuates the program goals or agency
priorities (2 CFR 200.340).
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. Grant Administration: Applicants
should budget for an annual meeting of
up to three days for project directors to
be held in Washington, DC.
4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a
grant under one of the competitions
announced in this notice, 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 IES. If you receive a
multiyear award, you must submit an
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annual performance report that provides
the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as
directed by IES under 34 CFR 75.118.
IES 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: To evaluate
the overall success of its education
research grant programs, IES annually
assesses the percentage of projects that
result in peer-reviewed publications and
the number of IES-supported
interventions with evidence of efficacy
in improving learner education
outcomes. School readiness outcomes
include pre-reading, reading, prewriting, early mathematics, early
science, and social-emotional skills that
prepare young children for school.
Student academic outcomes include
learning and achievement in academic
content areas, such as reading, writing,
math, and science, as well as outcomes
that reflect students’ successful
progression through the education
system, such as course and grade
completion; high school graduation; and
postsecondary enrollment, progress, and
completion. Social and behavioral
competencies include social and
emotional skills, attitudes, and
behaviors that are important to
academic and post-academic success.
Employment and earnings outcomes
include hours of employment, job
stability, and wages and benefits, and
may be measured in addition to student
academic outcomes.
6. Continuation Awards: In making a
continuation award under 34 CFR
75.253, IES 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;
whether a grantee is in compliance with
the IES policy regarding public access to
research; and if IES has established
performance measurement
requirements, whether the grantee has
made substantial progress in achieving
the performance targets in the grantee’s
approved application.
In making a continuation award, IES
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).
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VII. Other Information
Accessible Format: On request to the
relevant program contact person listed
in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, as
well as in the relevant RFA and
application package, individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document
and a copy of the RFA in an accessible
format. The Department will provide the
requestor with an accessible format that
may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or
text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3
file, braille, large print, audiotape, or
compact disc, or other accessible format.
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.
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.
Mark Schneider,
Director, Institute of Education Sciences.
[FR Doc. 2023–11915 Filed 6–5–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Nuclear Security
Administration
Addition of Property for the Kansas
City Plant Facilities
National Nuclear Security
Administration (NNSA), U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice of addition of property
for the Kansas National Security
Campus (KCNSC) (Formerly Kansas City
Plant) Facilities.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
the U.S. Department of Energy, pursuant
to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as
amended, prohibits the unauthorized
entry and the unauthorized introduction
of weapons or dangerous materials into
or upon the facilities of the KCNSC
(formerly Kansas City Plant) of the
United States Department of Energy,
National Nuclear Security
SUMMARY:
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37045-37048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11915]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Transformative
Research in the Education Sciences and Using Longitudinal Data To
Support State Education Policymaking Grant Programs
AGENCY: Institute of Education Sciences, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the
Education Research Grant Programs, Assistance Listing Numbers (ALNs)
84.305S and 84.305T. This notice relates to the approved information
collection under OMB control number 4040-0001.
DATES:
Applications Available: June 8, 2023.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 17, 2023.
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 December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at
www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs. Please note that these Common Instructions supersede
the version published on December 27, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Erin Higgins for the
Transformative Research in the Education Sciences grant program (EMAIL:
[email protected]) and Dr. Allen Ruby for the Using Longitudinal Data
grant program (EMAIL: [email protected]), Institute of Education
Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, Potomac Center Plaza,
[[Page 37046]]
Room 4148, 550 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20202.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: In awarding research grants, the Institute of
Education Sciences (IES) intends to provide national leadership in
expanding knowledge and understanding of (1) education outcomes for all
learners from early childhood education through postsecondary and adult
education, and (2) employment and wage outcomes when relevant (such as
for those engaged in career and technical, postsecondary, or adult
education). The IES research grant programs are designed to provide
interested individuals and the general public with reliable and valid
information about education practices that support learning and improve
academic achievement and access to education opportunities for all
learners. These interested individuals include parents, educators,
learners, researchers, and policymakers. In carrying out its grant
programs, IES provides support for programs of research in areas of
demonstrated national need.
Competitions in This Notice:
The IES National Center for Education Research (NCER) is announcing
two competitions--one competition in each of the following areas: using
longitudinal data to support State education policymaking and
transformative research in the education sciences.
Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Policymaking
(ALN 84.305S). Under this competition, NCER will only consider
applications that address State agencies' use of their State's
education longitudinal data systems to identify and reduce opportunity
and achievement gaps for learners from prekindergarten through adult
education.
Transformative Research in the Education Sciences (ALN 84.305T).
Through this program, IES seeks to support innovative and
unconventional research that has the potential to make dramatic
advances towards solving seemingly intractable problems and challenges
in the education field and/or to accelerate the pace of conducting
education research to facilitate major breakthroughs. For the FY 2024
competition, the Transformative Research in the Education Sciences
grant program will have a special focus on accelerating learning and
reducing persistent education inequities by leveraging evidence-based
principles from the learning sciences with advanced technology to
create high-reward, scalable solutions.
Exemption from Proposed Rulemaking: Under section 191 of the
Education Sciences Reform Act, 20 U.S.C. 9581, IES is not subject to
section 437(d) of the General Education Provisions Act, 20 U.S.C.
1232(d), and is therefore not required to offer interested parties the
opportunity to comment on matters relating to grants.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq.
Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner
consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal
civil rights laws.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 77, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98,
and 99. In addition, the regulations in 34 CFR part 75 are applicable,
except for the provisions in 34 CFR 75.100, 75.101(b), 75.102, 75.103,
75.105, 75.109(a), 75.200, 75.201, 75.209, 75.210, 75.211, 75.217(a)
through (c), 75.219, 75.220, 75.221, 75.222, 75.230, 75.250(a), and
75.708. (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.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education only.
Note: The open licensing requirement in 2 CFR 3474.20 does not
apply to these competitions.
II. Award Information
Types of Awards: Discretionary grants and cooperative agreements.
Fiscal Information: Although Congress has not yet enacted an
appropriation for FY 2024, IES is inviting applications for these
competitions now so that applicants can have adequate time to prepare
their applications. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on
final congressional action. IES may announce additional competitions
later in 2023.
Estimated Range of Awards: For the Using Longitudinal Data to
Support State Education Policymaking grant program, the estimated
annual range per budget period is $100,000 to $333,333. For the
Transformative Research in the Education Sciences grant program, the
estimated annual range per budget period is $300,0000 to $1,250,000.
The size of the awards will depend on the scope of the projects
proposed.
Estimated Number of Awards: The number of awards made under each
competition will depend on the quality of the applications received for
that competition and the availability of funds.
For all competitions, contingent on the availability of funds and
the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2025
from the list of highly rated unfunded applications submitted in
response to FY 2024 competition announcements.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 3 years.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: For the Using Longitudinal Data to Support
State Education Policymaking (ALN 84.305S) grant program, eligible
applications must include the eligible State agency or State
postsecondary system responsible for the education issue, program, or
policy to be examined. Eligible State agencies include the State
educational agency (SEA) responsible for the State's K-12 sector as
well as other State agencies responsible for other specific education
sectors such as prekindergarten, career and technical education,
postsecondary education, and adult education. In addition, a State
postsecondary system may serve as the eligible State agency. Eligible
State agencies may apply alone, or in conjunction with research
organizations such as universities and research firms, and/or with
other appropriate organizations (such as other State agencies or local
education agencies).
For the Transformative Research in the Education Sciences (ALN
84.305T) grant program, eligible applicants are organizations that have
the demonstrated ability and capacity to conduct rigorous research and
development. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to,
institutions of higher education and non-profit, for-profit, public, or
private agencies.
2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: The Using Longitudinal Data to
Support State Education Policymaking (ALN 84.305S) grant program does
not require cost sharing or matching.
The Transformative Research in the Education Sciences (ALN 84.305T)
grant
[[Page 37047]]
program requires cost sharing or matching. For this program, by the
beginning of Year 2, each grant recipient must secure matching funds in
an amount equal to 10 percent of the total funds provided under the
grant in the form of cash or in-kind contributions. Continuation
funding in Years 2 and 3 will be contingent upon the establishment of a
cost sharing agreement and the inclusion of a revised budget and budget
narrative that includes cost sharing funds in the first-year annual
report. The cost sharing partner must be an organization that has
experience developing and scaling technology products.
b. Indirect Cost Rate Information: These programs use an
unrestricted indirect cost rate. For more information regarding
indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate, please
see www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html.
3. Subgrantees: Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c) a grantee under
these competitions may award subgrants--to directly carry out project
activities described in its application--to the following types of
entities: nonprofit and for-profit organizations and public and private
agencies and institutions of higher education. The grantee may award
subgrants to entities it has identified in an approved 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 December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs, which contain requirements and information on how to
submit an application. Please note that these Common Instructions
supersede the version published on December 27, 2021.
2. Other Information: Information regarding program and application
requirements for the competitions will be contained in the currently
available IES Application Submission Guide and in the NCER Request for
Applications (RFA)s, which will be available on or before June 8, 2023,
on the IES website at: https://ies.ed.gov/funding/. The application
packages for these competitions will also be available on or before
June 8, 2023.
3. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application are contained in the RFA for
the specific competition. The forms that must be submitted are in the
application package for the specific competition.
4. Submission Dates and Times: The deadline date for transmittal of
applications is August 17, 2023.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
5. Intergovernmental Review: These competitions are not subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
6. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: For all of its grant competitions, IES uses
selection criteria based on a peer review process that has been
approved by the National Board for Education Sciences. The Peer Review
Procedures for Grant Applications can be found on the IES website at
https://ies.ed.gov/director/sro/peer_review/application_review.asp.
For the 84.305S competition, peer reviewers will evaluate the
significance of the application, the quality of the research plan, the
applicability and availability of the data to be analyzed, and the
quality of the plans to disseminate and use the findings in State
decision-making. These criteria are described in greater detail in the
RFA.
For the 84.305T competition, peer reviewers will evaluate the
significance of the transformative solution, research approach,
deliverables and metrics plan, personnel, resources, and dissemination.
For all IES competitions, applications must include budgets no
higher than the relevant maximum award as set out in the relevant RFA.
IES will not make an award exceeding the maximum award amount as set
out in the relevant RFA.
2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition,
IES 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, compliance with the
IES policy regarding public access to research, and compliance with
grant conditions. IES 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, IES also requires
various assurances including those applicable to Federal civil rights
laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving
Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5,
106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.206, before awarding grants under these competitions, the
Department conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2
CFR 200.208, IES may impose specific conditions and, under 2 CFR
3474.10, 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
these competitions to receive an award that over the course of the
project period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold
(currently $250,000), under 2 CFR 200.206(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.
5. In General: In accordance with the Office of Management and
Budget's guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal
laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department will review and
consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice
[[Page 37048]]
inviting applications in accordance with:
(a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering
results based on the program objectives through an objective process of
evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
(b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video
surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the
National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) (2 CFR
200.216);
(c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to
maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United
States (2 CFR 200.322); and
(d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest
extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program
goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).
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. Grant Administration: Applicants should budget for an annual
meeting of up to three days for project directors to be held in
Washington, DC.
4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under one of the
competitions announced in this notice, 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
IES. 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 IES under 34 CFR
75.118. IES 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: To evaluate the overall success of its
education research grant programs, IES annually assesses the percentage
of projects that result in peer-reviewed publications and the number of
IES-supported interventions with evidence of efficacy in improving
learner education outcomes. School readiness outcomes include pre-
reading, reading, pre-writing, early mathematics, early science, and
social-emotional skills that prepare young children for school. Student
academic outcomes include learning and achievement in academic content
areas, such as reading, writing, math, and science, as well as outcomes
that reflect students' successful progression through the education
system, such as course and grade completion; high school graduation;
and postsecondary enrollment, progress, and completion. Social and
behavioral competencies include social and emotional skills, attitudes,
and behaviors that are important to academic and post-academic success.
Employment and earnings outcomes include hours of employment, job
stability, and wages and benefits, and may be measured in addition to
student academic outcomes.
6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR
75.253, IES 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; whether a grantee
is in compliance with the IES policy regarding public access to
research; and if IES has established performance measurement
requirements, whether the grantee has made substantial progress in
achieving the performance targets in the grantee's approved
application.
In making a continuation award, IES 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: On request to the relevant program contact
person listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, as well as in the
relevant RFA and application package, individuals with disabilities can
obtain this document and a copy of the RFA in an accessible format. The
Department will provide the requestor with an accessible format that
may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive,
an MP3 file, braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc, or other
accessible format.
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.
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.
Mark Schneider,
Director, Institute of Education Sciences.
[FR Doc. 2023-11915 Filed 6-5-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P