Applications for New Awards; Expanding Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Program (CSP)-State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grant (SFIG) Program, 31151-31157 [2024-08731]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 2024 / Notices
the Member or staff requests the
information on behalf of, and at the
request of, the individual who is the
subject of the record.
G. To appropriate agencies, entities,
and persons when (1) the DoD suspects
or confirms a breach of the system of
records; (2) the DoD determines as a
result of the suspected or confirmed
breach there is a risk of harm to
individuals, the DoD (including its
information systems, programs, and
operations), the Federal Government, or
national security; and (3) the disclosure
made to such agencies, entities, and
persons is reasonably necessary to assist
in connection with the DoD’s efforts to
respond to the suspected or confirmed
breach or to prevent, minimize, or
remedy such harm.
H. To another Federal agency or
Federal entity, when the DoD
determines that information from this
system of records is reasonably
necessary to assist the recipient agency
or entity in (1) responding to a
suspected or confirmed breach or (2)
preventing, minimizing, or remedying
the risk of harm to individuals, the
recipient agency or entity (including its
information systems, programs and
operations), the Federal Government, or
national security, resulting from a
suspected or confirmed breach.
I. To another Federal, State or local
agency for the purpose of comparing to
the agency’s system of records or to nonFederal records, in coordination with an
Office of Inspector General in
conducting an audit, investigation,
inspection, evaluation, or some other
review as authorized by the Inspector
General Act.
J. To such recipients and under such
circumstances and procedures as are
mandated by Federal statute or treaty.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF
RECORDS:
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF
RECORDS:
Records may be retrieved by name
and SSN.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND
DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
Records may be temporary in nature
and destroyed when actions are
completed, they are superseded,
obsolete, or no longer needed. Other
16:48 Apr 23, 2024
Jkt 262001
ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL
SAFEGUARDS:
The DoD safeguards records in this
system of records according to
applicable rules, policies, and
procedures, including all applicable
DoD automated systems security and
access policies. DoD policies require the
use of controls to minimize the risk of
compromise of personally identifiable
information (PII) in paper and electronic
form and to enforce access by those with
a need to know and with appropriate
clearances. Additionally, the DoD
established security audit and
accountability policies and procedures
which support the safeguarding of PII
and detection of potential PII incidents.
The DoD routinely employs safeguards
such as the following to information
systems and paper recordkeeping
systems: Multifactor log-in
authentication including Common
Access Card (CAC) authentication and
password; physical token as required;
physical and technological access
controls governing access to data;
network encryption to protect data
transmitted over the network; disk
encryption securing disks storing data;
key management services to safeguard
encryption keys; masking of sensitive
data as practicable; mandatory
information assurance and privacy
training for individuals who will have
access; identification, marking, and
safeguarding of PII; physical access
safeguards including multifactor
identification physical access controls,
detection and electronic alert systems
for access to servers and other network
infrastructure; and electronic intrusion
detection systems in DoD facilities.
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
Records may be stored electronically
in secure facilities in a locked drawer
behind a locked door. The records may
be stored on magnetic disc, tape, or
digital media; in agency-owned cloud
environments; or in vendor Cloud
Service Offerings certified under the
Federal Risk and Authorization
Management Program (FedRAMP).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
records may be cut off at the end of the
payroll year, destroyed up to 6 years
and 3 months after cutoff.
Individuals seeking access to their
records should address written inquiries
to the Defense Finance and Accounting,
Freedom of Information/Privacy Act
Program Manager, Corporate
Communications, DFAS–ZCF/IN, 8899
E 56th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46249–
0150. Signed written requests should
contain the name and number of this
system of records notice along with full
name, SSN for verification, current
address, and email address of the
individual. In addition, the requester
must provide either a notarized
statement or an unsworn declaration
made in accordance with 28 U.S.C.
1746, in the appropriate format:
If executed outside the United States:
‘‘I declare (or certify, verify, or state)
under penalty of perjury under the laws
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
31151
of the United States of America that the
foregoing is true and correct. Executed
on (date). (Signature).’’
If executed within the United States,
its territories, possessions, or
commonwealths: ‘‘I declare (or certify,
verify, or state) under penalty of perjury
that the foregoing is true and correct.
Executed on (date). (Signature).’’
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
The DoD rules for accessing records,
contesting contents, and appealing
initial Component determinations are
contained in 32 CFR part 310, or may
be obtained from the system manager.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
Individuals seeking to determine
whether information about themselves
is contained in this system of records
should follow the instructions for
Record Access Procedures above.
EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
None.
HISTORY:
June 16, 2006, 71 FR 34898.
[FR Doc. 2024–08762 Filed 4–23–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001–FR–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards;
Expanding Opportunity Through
Quality Charter Schools Program
(CSP)—State Charter School Facilities
Incentive Grant (SFIG) Program
Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Department of Education
(Department) is issuing a notice inviting
applications for fiscal year (FY) 2024 for
the SFIG Program, Assistance Listing
Number (ALN) number 84.282D. This
notice relates to the approved
information collection under OMB
control number 1855–0012.
DATES:
Applications Available: April 24,
2024.
Notice of Intent to Apply: Applicants
are strongly encouraged but not required
to submit a notice of intent to apply by
June 24, 2024. Applicants who do not
meet this deadline may still apply.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: July 23, 2024.
Deadline for Intergovernmental
Review: September 23, 2024.
Pre-Application Webinar Information:
The SFIG Program intends to hold a
webinar designed to provide technical
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM
24APN1
31152
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 2024 / Notices
assistance to interested applicants.
Detailed information regarding this
webinar will be provided on the SFIG
Program web page at https://
oese.ed.gov/offices/office-ofdiscretionary-grants-support-services/
charter-school-programs/state-charterschool-facilities-incentive-grants/.
Note: For new potential grantees
unfamiliar with grantmaking at the
Department, please consult our ‘‘Getting
Started with Discretionary Grant
Applications web page at https://
www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/about/
discretionary/.
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 https://
www.federalregister.gov/documents/
2022/12/07/2022-26554/commoninstructions-for-applicants-todepartment-of-education-discretionarygrant-programs.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Clifton Jones, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20202–5970.
Telephone: (202) 205–2204. Email:
charter.facilities@ed.gov.
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:
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The SFIG
Program is authorized under Title IV,
Part C of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965, as amended by
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA) (20
U.S.C. 7221k). Through the SFIG
Program, the Department provides
grants to eligible States to help them
establish or enhance, and administer, a
per-pupil facilities aid program for
charter schools in the State, that is
specified in State law, and provides
annual financing, on a per-pupil basis,
for charter school facilities.
Background:
Lack of access to adequate facilities is
one of the biggest obstacles to creating
and expanding charter schools as cited
by charter school leaders.1 In 2021, the
Government Accountability Office
(GAO) issued a report identifying the
challenges charter schools encounter
with locating and securing charter
1 https://facilitycenter.publiccharters.org/schoolleaders.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:48 Apr 23, 2024
Jkt 262001
school facilities and government
assistance that can address these
challenges, such as per-pupil
allowances, which provide extra funds
to help cover facility expenses. In this
report, the GAO identified the following
four challenges unique to charter
schools when trying to secure charter
school facilities and funding: (1)
affordability and limited access to State
and local funding, and affordable
private loans as well as rising real estate
costs and renovation expenses; (2)
availability of safe and secure building
space and lack of amenities (e.g., a
cafeteria or playground) and limited
access to buildings; (3) inconsistent
assistance for charter school facilities’
needs and, (4) limited staff expertise in
facilities management.2
The Secretary has encouraged all
stakeholders to ‘‘Raise the Bar: Lead the
World’’ in education to provide
opportunities for students to reach new
heights in the classroom, in their
careers, and in their lives and
communities, making a positive
difference in the world for generations
to come. Ensuring students have access
to safe, healthy, sustainable, and
equitable physical learning
environments is a critical component of
the ‘‘Raise the Bar: Lead the World’’
initiative. The SFIG Program can
support charter schools that serve
students from low-income backgrounds
and students of color located in lowresourced, underfunded areas in
providing access to high-quality
facilities.3 4 The Secretary also seeks to
address challenges novice applicants
may face, including supporting States in
their efforts to establish and enhance or
administer a per-pupil facilities aid
program for charter schools.
Priority: This notice includes a
competitive preference priority. In
accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii),
this priority is from 34 CFR 226.14(b).
Competitive Preference Priority: For
FY 2024 and any subsequent year in
which we make awards from the list of
unfunded applications from this
competition, this priority is a
competitive preference priority.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we
award an additional 10 points to those
applicants that meet this priority.
2 K–12 Education: Challenges Locating and
Securing Charter School Facilities and Government
Assistance—Briefing to the Republican Leader,
House Committee on Education and Labor—August
2, 2021.
3 National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
(2018). Strengthening Federal Investment in Charter
School Facilities.
4 National Charter School Resource Center (2020).
A Synthesis of Research on Charter School
Facilities. Bethesda, MD: Manhattan Strategy
Group.
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
This priority is:
Applicants that have not previously
received a grant under the program.
Definitions:
The following definitions are from
sections 4310(1), 4310(2), 4304(k)(1),
and 8101(48) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C.
7221i(1), 7221i(2), 7221c(k)(1), 7801)),
and 34 CFR 77.1(c).
Ambitious means promoting
continued, meaningful improvement for
program participants or for other
individuals or entities affected by the
grant or representing a significant
advancement in the field of education
research, practices, or methodologies.
When used to describe a performance
target, whether a performance target is
ambitious depends upon the context of
the relevant performance measure and
the baseline for that measure. (34 CFR
77.1)
Authorized public chartering agency
means a State educational agency, local
educational agency, or other public
entity that has the authority pursuant to
State law and approved by the Secretary
to authorize or approve a charter school.
(Section 4310(1) of the ESEA)
Charter school means a public school
that—
(a) In accordance with a specific State
statute authorizing the granting of
charters to schools, is exempt from
significant State or local rules that
inhibit the flexible operation and
management of public schools, but not
from any rules relating to the other
requirements in section 4310 of the
ESEA;
(b) Is created by a developer as a
public school, or is adapted by a
developer from an existing public
school, and is operated under public
supervision and direction;
(c) Operates in pursuit of a specific set
of educational objectives determined by
the school’s developer and agreed to by
the authorized public chartering agency;
(d) Provides a program of elementary
or secondary education, or both;
(e) Is nonsectarian in its programs,
admissions policies, employment
practices, and all other operations, and
is not affiliated with a sectarian school
or religious institution;
(f) Does not charge tuition;
(g) Complies with the Age
Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C.
6101 et seq.), title VI of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.),
title IX of the Education Amendments of
1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
U.S.C. 794), the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101
et seq.), section 444 of the General
Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C.
1232g) (commonly referred to as the
E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM
24APN1
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 2024 / Notices
‘‘Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act of 1974’’), and part B of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (20 U.S.C. 1411 et seq.);
(h) Is a school to which parents
choose to send their children, and
that—
(i) Admits students on the basis of a
lottery, consistent with section
4303(c)(3)(A) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C.
7221b(c)(3)(A)), if more students apply
for admission than can be
accommodated; or
(ii) In the case of a school that has an
affiliated charter school (such as a
school that is part of the same network
of schools), automatically enrolls
students who are enrolled in the
immediate prior grade level of the
affiliated charter school and, for any
additional student openings or student
openings created through regular
attrition in student enrollment in the
affiliated charter school and the
enrolling school, admits students on the
basis of a lottery as described in
paragraph (h)(i);
(i) Agrees to comply with the same
Federal and State audit requirements as
do other elementary schools and
secondary schools in the State, unless
such State audit requirements are
waived by the State;
(j) Meets all applicable Federal, State,
and local health and safety
requirements;
(k) Operates in accordance with State
law;
(l) Has a written performance contract
with the authorized public chartering
agency in the State that includes a
description of how student performance
will be measured in charter schools
pursuant to State assessments that are
required of other schools and pursuant
to any other assessments mutually
agreeable to the authorized public
chartering agency and the charter
school; and
(m) May serve students in early
childhood education programs or
postsecondary students. (Section
4310(2) of the ESEA)
Note: Pursuant to the definition of
authorized public chartering agency in
section 4310(1) of the ESEA, for a school
to qualify as a charter school under
section 4310(2) and receive Federal CSP
funds, the grantee must assure that each
charter school served was authorized by
an ‘‘authorized public charter agency’’
as defined in section 4310(1) of the
ESEA. Section 4310(1) of the ESEA
defines an ‘‘authorized public charter
agency’’ as’’a State educational agency,
local educational agency, or other
public entity that has the authority
pursuant to State law and approved by
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:48 Apr 23, 2024
Jkt 262001
the Secretary to authorize or approve a
charter school.’’
Performance measure means any
quantitative indicator, statistic, or
metric used to gauge program or project
performance. (34 CFR 77.1)
Performance target means a level of
performance that an applicant would
seek to meet during the course of a
project or as a result of a project. (34
CFR 77.1)
Per-pupil facilities aid program means
a program in which a State makes
payments, on a per-pupil basis, to
charter schools to provide the schools
with financing—
(a) That is dedicated solely to funding
charter school facilities; or
(b) A portion of which is dedicated for
funding charter school facilities. (20
U.S.C. 7221c(k)(1))
Public means as applied to an agency,
organization, or institution that the
agency, organization, or institution is
under the administrative supervision or
control of a government other than the
Federal Government. (34 CFR 77.1)
State means each of the 50 States, the
District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and
each of the outlying areas. (section
8101(48) of the ESEA)
Program Authority: Title IV, Part C
Section 4304 of the ESEA, as amended
(20 U.S.C. 7221(c)).
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 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 and
2 CFR part 184. (d) The regulations for
this program in 34 CFR part 226.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: For FY
2024, the Administration received
$440,000,000 for the CSP, of which we
would use an estimated $30,000,000 for
awards under this competition.
Contingent upon the availability of
funds and the quality of applications,
we may make additional awards in
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
31153
subsequent years from the list of
unfunded applications from this
competition.
Estimated Range of Awards:
$1,000,000 to $10,000,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$10,000,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1–3.
Note: The Department is not bound by
any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: States. In order
to be eligible to receive a grant, a State
shall establish or enhance, and
administer, a per-pupil facilities aid
program for charter schools in the State,
that—
(a) Is specified in State law; and
(b) Provides annual financing, on a
per-pupil basis, for charter school
facilities.
Note: A State that is required under
State law to provide charter schools
with access to adequate facility space,
but that does not have a per-pupil
facilities aid program for charter schools
specified in State law, is eligible to
receive a grant if the State agrees to use
the funds to develop a per-pupil
facilities aid program consistent with
the requirements in this notice inviting
applications.
2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: Under
section 4304(k)(2)(C) of the ESEA, a
State must provide a State share of the
total cost of the project. The minimum
State share of the total cost of the
project increases each year of the grant,
from:
• 10 percent in the first year
• 20 percent in the second year
• 40 percent in the third year
• 60 percent in the fourth year
• 80 percent in the fifth year.
Note: A State may partner with one or
more organizations, and such
organizations may provide up to 50
percent of the State share of the cost of
establishing or enhancing, and
administering, the per-pupil facilities
aid program.
Applicants that are provisionally
selected to receive grants will not
receive grant funds unless they
demonstrate, by September 1, 2024, that
they are, or will be able to, provide the
State share required under this program.
b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This
program involves supplement-notsupplant funding requirements. Under
section 4110 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C.
7120), program funds must be used to
supplement, and not supplant, State
and local public funds expended to
provide per-pupil facilities aid
programs, operations financing
programs, or other programs, for charter
E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM
24APN1
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
31154
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 2024 / Notices
schools. Therefore, the Federal funds
provided under this program, as well as
the matching funds provided by the
grantee, must be in addition to the State
and local funds that would otherwise be
used for this purpose in the absence of
this Federal program. The Department
generally considers that State and local
funds would be available for this
purpose at least in the amount of the
funds that was available in the
preceding year and that the Federal
funds and matching funds under this
program would supplement that
amount.
c. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This
program uses a restricted 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.
d. Administrative Cost Limitation:
State grantees may use up to five
percent of their grant award for
administrative expenses that include:
indirect costs, evaluation, technical
assistance, dissemination, personnel
costs, and any other costs involved in
administering the State’s per-pupil
facilities aid program. (34 CFR 226.22)
Charter school subgrantees may use
grant funds for administrative costs that
are necessary and reasonable for the
proper and efficient performance and
administration of this Federal grant.
This use of funds, as well as indirect
costs and rates, must comply with
EDGAR and the Office of Management
and Budget Circular A–87 (Cost
Principles for State, Local, and Indian
Tribal Governments).
Consistent with the requirements in
34 CFR 75.564(c)(2), any charter school
subgrantees that use grant funds for
construction activities may not be
reimbursed for indirect costs for those
activities. (34 CFR 226.23)
3. Build America, Buy America Act:
This program is subject to the Build
America, Buy America Act (Pub. L. 117–
58) domestic sourcing requirements.
Accordingly, under this program,
grantees and contractors may not use
their grant funds for infrastructure
projects or activities (e.g., construction,
remodeling, and broadband
infrastructure) unless—
(a) All iron and steel used in the
infrastructure project or activity are
produced in the United States;
(b) All manufactured products used in
the infrastructure project or activity are
produced in the United States; and
(c) All construction materials are
manufactured in the United States.
Grantees may request waivers to these
requirements by submitting a Build
America, Buy America Act Waiver
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:48 Apr 23, 2024
Jkt 262001
Request Form. For more information,
including a link to the Waiver Request
Form, see the Department’s Build
America Buy America Waiver website
at: https://www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/
guid/buy-america/.
4. Other: The charter schools that a
grantee selects to benefit from this
program must meet the definition of
charter school in in section 4310(2) of
the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221i(2)). The
definitions of charter school, per-pupil
facilities aid programs, and authorized
public chartering agency are in sections
4310(2), 4304(k)(1), and 4310(1) of the
ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221) and included in
this notice. Additionally, with respect to
component (B) of the definition of
‘‘charter school,’’ which requires that a
school be a public school operated
under public supervision and direction,
each charter school selected to benefit
from this program must assure the
grantee that is has not relinquished full
or substantial control of the charter
school to a for-profit management
organization (also referred to as an
education management organization) or
other for-profit entity; and each charter
school must assure the grantee that it is
fiscally responsible and transparent,
particularly with respect to contractual
relationships with for-profit
management organizations. To fulfill
this requirement, in selecting each
charter school that it will serve under
the State Incentive program, the grantee
must obtain an assurance from the
school that it meets each of the
components of the definition of ‘‘charter
school’’in section 4310(2) of the ESEA).
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.federal
register.gov/documents/2022/12/07/
2022-26554/common-instructions-forapplicants-to-department-of-educationdiscretionary-grant-programs, 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 State Charter School Facilities
Incentive Grants Program, your
application may include business
information that you consider
proprietary. In 34 CFR 5.11, we define
‘‘business information’’ and describe the
process we use in determining whether
any of that information is proprietary
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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: Under section
4304(k)(3)(B) of the ESEA, from the
amount made available to a State
through a grant under this program for
a fiscal year, the State may reserve not
more than five percent to carry out
evaluations, to provide technical
assistance, and to disseminate
information. We reference additional
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 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.
Furthermore, applicants are strongly
encouraged to include a table of
contents that specifies where each
required part of the application is
located.
E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM
24APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 2024 / Notices
6. Notice of Intent to Apply: The
Department will be able to review grant
applications more efficiently if we know
the approximate number of applicants
that intend to apply. Therefore, we
strongly encourage each potential
applicant to notify us of their intent to
submit an application. To do so, please
email the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT with the subject line ‘‘Intent to
Apply,’’ and include the applicant’s
name, a contact person’s name and
email address, and the Assistance
Listing Number. Applicants that do not
submit a notice of intent to apply may
still apply for funding.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection
criteria for this program are from 34 CFR
226.12. The maximum score for
addressing all of the selection criteria is
100 points. The maximum score for
addressing each criterion is indicated in
parentheses and are as follows:
(a) Need for facility funding (30
points).
(1) The need for per-pupil charter
school facility funding in the State.
(2) The extent to which the proposal
meets the need to fund charter school
facilities on a per-pupil basis.
(b) Quality of plan (40 points).
(1) The likelihood that the proposed
grant project will result in the State
either retaining a new per-pupil
facilities aid program or continuing to
enhance such a program without the
total amount of assistance (State and
Federal) declining over a five-year
period.
(2) The flexibility charter schools
have in their use of facility funds for the
various authorized purposes.
(3) The quality of the plan for
identifying charter schools and
determining their eligibility to receive
funds.
(4) The per-pupil facilities aid
formula’s ability to target resources to
charter schools with the greatest need
and the highest proportions of students
in poverty.
(5) For projects that plan to reserve
funds for evaluation, the quality of the
applicant’s plan to use grant funds for
this purpose.
(6) For projects that plan to reserve
funds for technical assistance,
dissemination, or personnel, the quality
of the applicant’s plan to use grant
funds for these purposes.
(c) The grant project team (10 points).
(1) The qualifications, including
relevant training and experience, of the
project manager and other members of
the grant project team, including
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:48 Apr 23, 2024
Jkt 262001
employees not paid with grant funds,
consultants, and subcontractors.
(2) The adequacy and appropriateness
of the applicant’s staffing plan for the
grant project.
(d) The budget (10 points).
(1) The extent to which the requested
grant amount and the project costs are
reasonable in relation to the objectives,
design, and potential significance of the
proposed grant project.
(2) The extent to which the costs are
reasonable in relation to the number of
students served and to the anticipated
results and benefits.
(3) The extent to which the nonFederal share exceeds the minimum
percentages (which are based on the
percentages under section 4304(k)(2)(C)
of the ESEA), particularly in the initial
years of the program.
(e) State Experience (10 points).
(1) The experience of the State in
addressing the facility needs of charter
schools through various means,
including providing per-pupil aid and
access to State loan or bonding pools.
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).
Note: As described in 34 CFR
226.14(c), the Secretary may elect to
consider the points awarded under the
competitive preference priority only for
proposals that exhibit sufficient quality
to warrant funding under the selection
criteria.
3. Risk Assessment and Specific
Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.206, before awarding grants under
this competition the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by
applicants. Under 2 CFR 200.208, the
Secretary 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;
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
31155
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 200.206(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
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
E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM
24APN1
31156
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 2024 / Notices
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
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. 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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:48 Apr 23, 2024
Jkt 262001
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: The
performance measures for this program
are established for purposes of
Department reporting under 34 CFR
75.110.
(a) Program Performance Measures.
The performance measure for this
program is the ratio of funds leveraged
by States for charter school facilities to
funds awarded by the Department under
the program. Grantees must provide
information that is responsive to this
measure as part of their annual
performance reports.
(b) Project-Specific Performance
Measures. Applicants must propose
project-specific performance measures
and performance targets consistent with
the objectives of the project and
program. Applicants must provide the
following information as directed under
34 CFR 75.110(b):
(1) Project Performance Measures.
How each proposed project-specific
performance measure would accurately
measure the performance of the project
and how the proposed project-specific
performance measure would be
consistent with the performance
measures established for the program
funding the competition.
(2) Project 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).
Note: The Secretary encourages
applicants to consider measures and
targets tied to their grant activities
during the grant period. For instance, if
an applicant is using eligibility for free
and reduced-price lunch to measure the
number of low-income families served
by the project, the applicant could
provide a percentage for students
qualifying for free and reduced-price
lunch. The measures should be
sufficient to gauge the progress
throughout the grant period and show
results by the end of the grant period.
(3) 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
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
applicant’s capacity to collect and
report reliable, valid, and meaningful
performance data, as evidenced by highquality data collection, analysis, and
reporting in other projects or research.
Note: If applicants do not have
experience with collection and
reporting of performance data through
other projects or research, they should
provide other evidence of their capacity
to successfully carry out data collection
and reporting for their proposed project.
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, whether the grantee has
made substantial progress in achieving
the performance targets in the grantee’s
approved application.
In making a continuation award, the
Secretary also considers whether the
grantee is operating in compliance with
the assurances in its approved
application, including those applicable
to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit
discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance
from the Department (34 CFR 100.4,
104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
7. Project Directors’ Meeting:
Applicants approved for funding under
this competition must attend a meeting
for project directors at a location to be
determined in the continental United
States during each year of the project.
Applicants may include the cost of
attending this meeting as an
administrative cost in their proposed
budgets.
8. Technical Assistance: Grantees
under this competition must participate
in all program technical assistance
offerings provided by the Department
and its contractual technical assistance
providers and partners throughout the
life of the project.
VII. Other Information
Accessible Format: On request to the
program contact person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT,
individuals with disabilities can obtain
this document and a copy of the
application package 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.
E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM
24APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 2024 / Notices
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.
Adam Schott,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary,
Delegated the Authority To Perform the
Functions and Duties of the Assistant
Secretary for the Office Elementary and
Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2024–08731 Filed 4–23–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No.: ED–2024–SCC–0028]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
Safer Schools and Campuses Best
Practices Clearinghouse
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 May 24,
2024.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for proposed
information collection requests should
be submitted within 30 days of
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
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:48 Apr 23, 2024
Jkt 262001
31157
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.
Dated: April 18, 2024.
Kate Mullan,
PRA Coordinator,Strategic Collections and
Clearance Governance and Strategy Division,
Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of
Planning, Evaluation and Policy
Development.
For
specific questions related to collection
activities, please contact Victoria
Hammer, (202) 260–1438.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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: Safer Schools and
Campuses Best Practices Clearinghouse.
OMB Control Number: 1810–0753.
Type of Review: Extension without
change of a currently approved ICR.
Respondents/Affected Public: State,
Local, and Tribal Governments.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 300.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 450.
Abstract: This is a request for
approval of an extension without
change of the OMB approved collection,
1810–0753 Safer Schools and Campuses
Best Practices Clearinghouse. The U.S.
Department of Education (Department)
collects lessons learned and best
practices from the field to populate the
Safer Schools and Campuses Best
Practices Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse)
in response to the directive to do so in
Executive Order 14000 issued on
January 21, 2021, by the President. This
extension will allow the Department to
continue collecting lessons learned and
best practices for the Clearinghouse.
The purpose for this collection is to
ensure that the Department has
sufficient information to review and, if
appropriate, approve submissions to
include in the Clearinghouse.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
[FR Doc. 2024–08714 Filed 4–23–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
[Docket No.: ED–2024–SCC–0027]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
Personal Authentication Service (PAS)
for FSA ID
Federal Student Aid (FSA),
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 May 24,
2024.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for proposed
information collection requests should
be submitted within 30 days of
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 Beth
Grebeldinger, (202) 377–4018.
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;
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM
24APN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 24, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31151-31157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08731]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Expanding Opportunity Through
Quality Charter Schools Program (CSP)--State Charter School Facilities
Incentive Grant (SFIG) Program
AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice
inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the SFIG Program,
Assistance Listing Number (ALN) number 84.282D. This notice relates to
the approved information collection under OMB control number 1855-0012.
DATES:
Applications Available: April 24, 2024.
Notice of Intent to Apply: Applicants are strongly encouraged but
not required to submit a notice of intent to apply by June 24, 2024.
Applicants who do not meet this deadline may still apply.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 23, 2024.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 23, 2024.
Pre-Application Webinar Information: The SFIG Program intends to
hold a webinar designed to provide technical
[[Page 31152]]
assistance to interested applicants. Detailed information regarding
this webinar will be provided on the SFIG Program web page at https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-discretionary-grants-support-services/charter-school-programs/state-charter-school-facilities-incentive-grants/.
Note: For new potential grantees unfamiliar with grantmaking at the
Department, please consult our ``Getting Started with Discretionary
Grant Applications web page at https://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/about/discretionary/.
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
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clifton Jones, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-5970.
Telephone: (202) 205-2204. Email: [email protected].
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: The SFIG Program is authorized under Title IV,
Part C of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as
amended by Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA) (20 U.S.C. 7221k). Through
the SFIG Program, the Department provides grants to eligible States to
help them establish or enhance, and administer, a per-pupil facilities
aid program for charter schools in the State, that is specified in
State law, and provides annual financing, on a per-pupil basis, for
charter school facilities.
Background:
Lack of access to adequate facilities is one of the biggest
obstacles to creating and expanding charter schools as cited by charter
school leaders.\1\ In 2021, the Government Accountability Office (GAO)
issued a report identifying the challenges charter schools encounter
with locating and securing charter school facilities and government
assistance that can address these challenges, such as per-pupil
allowances, which provide extra funds to help cover facility expenses.
In this report, the GAO identified the following four challenges unique
to charter schools when trying to secure charter school facilities and
funding: (1) affordability and limited access to State and local
funding, and affordable private loans as well as rising real estate
costs and renovation expenses; (2) availability of safe and secure
building space and lack of amenities (e.g., a cafeteria or playground)
and limited access to buildings; (3) inconsistent assistance for
charter school facilities' needs and, (4) limited staff expertise in
facilities management.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ https://facilitycenter.publiccharters.org/school-leaders.
\2\ K-12 Education: Challenges Locating and Securing Charter
School Facilities and Government Assistance--Briefing to the
Republican Leader, House Committee on Education and Labor--August 2,
2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Secretary has encouraged all stakeholders to ``Raise the Bar:
Lead the World'' in education to provide opportunities for students to
reach new heights in the classroom, in their careers, and in their
lives and communities, making a positive difference in the world for
generations to come. Ensuring students have access to safe, healthy,
sustainable, and equitable physical learning environments is a critical
component of the ``Raise the Bar: Lead the World'' initiative. The SFIG
Program can support charter schools that serve students from low-income
backgrounds and students of color located in low-resourced, underfunded
areas in providing access to high-quality facilities.3 4 The
Secretary also seeks to address challenges novice applicants may face,
including supporting States in their efforts to establish and enhance
or administer a per-pupil facilities aid program for charter schools.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (2018).
Strengthening Federal Investment in Charter School Facilities.
\4\ National Charter School Resource Center (2020). A Synthesis
of Research on Charter School Facilities. Bethesda, MD: Manhattan
Strategy Group.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priority: This notice includes a competitive preference priority.
In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), this priority is from 34
CFR 226.14(b).
Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2024 and any subsequent
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications
from this competition, this priority is a competitive preference
priority.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award an additional 10 points to
those applicants that meet this priority.
This priority is:
Applicants that have not previously received a grant under the
program.
Definitions:
The following definitions are from sections 4310(1), 4310(2),
4304(k)(1), and 8101(48) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221i(1), 7221i(2),
7221c(k)(1), 7801)), and 34 CFR 77.1(c).
Ambitious means promoting continued, meaningful improvement for
program participants or for other individuals or entities affected by
the grant or representing a significant advancement in the field of
education research, practices, or methodologies. When used to describe
a performance target, whether a performance target is ambitious depends
upon the context of the relevant performance measure and the baseline
for that measure. (34 CFR 77.1)
Authorized public chartering agency means a State educational
agency, local educational agency, or other public entity that has the
authority pursuant to State law and approved by the Secretary to
authorize or approve a charter school. (Section 4310(1) of the ESEA)
Charter school means a public school that--
(a) In accordance with a specific State statute authorizing the
granting of charters to schools, is exempt from significant State or
local rules that inhibit the flexible operation and management of
public schools, but not from any rules relating to the other
requirements in section 4310 of the ESEA;
(b) Is created by a developer as a public school, or is adapted by
a developer from an existing public school, and is operated under
public supervision and direction;
(c) Operates in pursuit of a specific set of educational objectives
determined by the school's developer and agreed to by the authorized
public chartering agency;
(d) Provides a program of elementary or secondary education, or
both;
(e) Is nonsectarian in its programs, admissions policies,
employment practices, and all other operations, and is not affiliated
with a sectarian school or religious institution;
(f) Does not charge tuition;
(g) Complies with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C.
6101 et seq.), title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C.
2000d et seq.), title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C.
1681 et seq.), section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
794), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et
seq.), section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C.
1232g) (commonly referred to as the
[[Page 31153]]
``Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974''), and part B of
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1411 et
seq.);
(h) Is a school to which parents choose to send their children, and
that--
(i) Admits students on the basis of a lottery, consistent with
section 4303(c)(3)(A) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221b(c)(3)(A)), if more
students apply for admission than can be accommodated; or
(ii) In the case of a school that has an affiliated charter school
(such as a school that is part of the same network of schools),
automatically enrolls students who are enrolled in the immediate prior
grade level of the affiliated charter school and, for any additional
student openings or student openings created through regular attrition
in student enrollment in the affiliated charter school and the
enrolling school, admits students on the basis of a lottery as
described in paragraph (h)(i);
(i) Agrees to comply with the same Federal and State audit
requirements as do other elementary schools and secondary schools in
the State, unless such State audit requirements are waived by the
State;
(j) Meets all applicable Federal, State, and local health and
safety requirements;
(k) Operates in accordance with State law;
(l) Has a written performance contract with the authorized public
chartering agency in the State that includes a description of how
student performance will be measured in charter schools pursuant to
State assessments that are required of other schools and pursuant to
any other assessments mutually agreeable to the authorized public
chartering agency and the charter school; and
(m) May serve students in early childhood education programs or
postsecondary students. (Section 4310(2) of the ESEA)
Note: Pursuant to the definition of authorized public chartering
agency in section 4310(1) of the ESEA, for a school to qualify as a
charter school under section 4310(2) and receive Federal CSP funds, the
grantee must assure that each charter school served was authorized by
an ``authorized public charter agency'' as defined in section 4310(1)
of the ESEA. Section 4310(1) of the ESEA defines an ``authorized public
charter agency'' as''a State educational agency, local educational
agency, or other public entity that has the authority pursuant to State
law and approved by the Secretary to authorize or approve a charter
school.''
Performance measure means any quantitative indicator, statistic, or
metric used to gauge program or project performance. (34 CFR 77.1)
Performance target means a level of performance that an applicant
would seek to meet during the course of a project or as a result of a
project. (34 CFR 77.1)
Per-pupil facilities aid program means a program in which a State
makes payments, on a per-pupil basis, to charter schools to provide the
schools with financing--
(a) That is dedicated solely to funding charter school facilities;
or
(b) A portion of which is dedicated for funding charter school
facilities. (20 U.S.C. 7221c(k)(1))
Public means as applied to an agency, organization, or institution
that the agency, organization, or institution is under the
administrative supervision or control of a government other than the
Federal Government. (34 CFR 77.1)
State means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and each of the outlying areas. (section
8101(48) of the ESEA)
Program Authority: Title IV, Part C Section 4304 of the ESEA, as
amended (20 U.S.C. 7221(c)).
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 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 and 2 CFR part 184. (d) The regulations for this program in
34 CFR part 226.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: For FY 2024, the Administration received
$440,000,000 for the CSP, of which we would use an estimated
$30,000,000 for awards under this competition.
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: $1,000,000 to $10,000,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $10,000,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1-3.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: States. In order to be eligible to receive
a grant, a State shall establish or enhance, and administer, a per-
pupil facilities aid program for charter schools in the State, that--
(a) Is specified in State law; and
(b) Provides annual financing, on a per-pupil basis, for charter
school facilities.
Note: A State that is required under State law to provide charter
schools with access to adequate facility space, but that does not have
a per-pupil facilities aid program for charter schools specified in
State law, is eligible to receive a grant if the State agrees to use
the funds to develop a per-pupil facilities aid program consistent with
the requirements in this notice inviting applications.
2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: Under section 4304(k)(2)(C) of the
ESEA, a State must provide a State share of the total cost of the
project. The minimum State share of the total cost of the project
increases each year of the grant, from:
10 percent in the first year
20 percent in the second year
40 percent in the third year
60 percent in the fourth year
80 percent in the fifth year.
Note: A State may partner with one or more organizations, and such
organizations may provide up to 50 percent of the State share of the
cost of establishing or enhancing, and administering, the per-pupil
facilities aid program.
Applicants that are provisionally selected to receive grants will
not receive grant funds unless they demonstrate, by September 1, 2024,
that they are, or will be able to, provide the State share required
under this program.
b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-
supplant funding requirements. Under section 4110 of the ESEA (20
U.S.C. 7120), program funds must be used to supplement, and not
supplant, State and local public funds expended to provide per-pupil
facilities aid programs, operations financing programs, or other
programs, for charter
[[Page 31154]]
schools. Therefore, the Federal funds provided under this program, as
well as the matching funds provided by the grantee, must be in addition
to the State and local funds that would otherwise be used for this
purpose in the absence of this Federal program. The Department
generally considers that State and local funds would be available for
this purpose at least in the amount of the funds that was available in
the preceding year and that the Federal funds and matching funds under
this program would supplement that amount.
c. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This program uses a restricted
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.
d. Administrative Cost Limitation: State grantees may use up to
five percent of their grant award for administrative expenses that
include: indirect costs, evaluation, technical assistance,
dissemination, personnel costs, and any other costs involved in
administering the State's per-pupil facilities aid program. (34 CFR
226.22)
Charter school subgrantees may use grant funds for administrative
costs that are necessary and reasonable for the proper and efficient
performance and administration of this Federal grant. This use of
funds, as well as indirect costs and rates, must comply with EDGAR and
the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-87 (Cost Principles for
State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments).
Consistent with the requirements in 34 CFR 75.564(c)(2), any
charter school subgrantees that use grant funds for construction
activities may not be reimbursed for indirect costs for those
activities. (34 CFR 226.23)
3. Build America, Buy America Act: This program is subject to the
Build America, Buy America Act (Pub. L. 117-58) domestic sourcing
requirements. Accordingly, under this program, grantees and contractors
may not use their grant funds for infrastructure projects or activities
(e.g., construction, remodeling, and broadband infrastructure) unless--
(a) All iron and steel used in the infrastructure project or
activity are produced in the United States;
(b) All manufactured products used in the infrastructure project or
activity are produced in the United States; and
(c) All construction materials are manufactured in the United
States.
Grantees may request waivers to these requirements by submitting a
Build America, Buy America Act Waiver Request Form. For more
information, including a link to the Waiver Request Form, see the
Department's Build America Buy America Waiver website at: https://www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/guid/buy-america/.
4. Other: The charter schools that a grantee selects to benefit
from this program must meet the definition of charter school in in
section 4310(2) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221i(2)). The definitions of
charter school, per-pupil facilities aid programs, and authorized
public chartering agency are in sections 4310(2), 4304(k)(1), and
4310(1) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221) and included in this notice.
Additionally, with respect to component (B) of the definition of
``charter school,'' which requires that a school be a public school
operated under public supervision and direction, each charter school
selected to benefit from this program must assure the grantee that is
has not relinquished full or substantial control of the charter school
to a for-profit management organization (also referred to as an
education management organization) or other for-profit entity; and each
charter school must assure the grantee that it is fiscally responsible
and transparent, particularly with respect to contractual relationships
with for-profit management organizations. To fulfill this requirement,
in selecting each charter school that it will serve under the State
Incentive program, the grantee must obtain an assurance from the school
that it meets each of the components of the definition of ``charter
school''in section 4310(2) of the ESEA).
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.
2. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of
projects that may be proposed in applications for the State Charter
School Facilities Incentive Grants Program, your application may
include business information that you consider proprietary. In 34 CFR
5.11, we define ``business information'' and describe the process we
use in determining whether any of that information is proprietary and,
thus, protected from disclosure under Exemption 4 of the Freedom of
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552, as amended).
Because we plan to make successful applications available to the
public, you may wish to request confidentiality of business
information.
Consistent with Executive Order 12600, please designate in your
application any information that you 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: Under section 4304(k)(3)(B) of the ESEA,
from the amount made available to a State through a grant under this
program for a fiscal year, the State may reserve not more than five
percent to carry out evaluations, to provide technical assistance, and
to disseminate information. We reference additional 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 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.
Furthermore, applicants are strongly encouraged to include a table
of contents that specifies where each required part of the application
is located.
[[Page 31155]]
6. Notice of Intent to Apply: The Department will be able to review
grant applications more efficiently if we know the approximate number
of applicants that intend to apply. Therefore, we strongly encourage
each potential applicant to notify us of their intent to submit an
application. To do so, please email the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT with the subject line ``Intent to
Apply,'' and include the applicant's name, a contact person's name and
email address, and the Assistance Listing Number. Applicants that do
not submit a notice of intent to apply may still apply for funding.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are
from 34 CFR 226.12. The maximum score for addressing all of the
selection criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for addressing each
criterion is indicated in parentheses and are as follows:
(a) Need for facility funding (30 points).
(1) The need for per-pupil charter school facility funding in the
State.
(2) The extent to which the proposal meets the need to fund charter
school facilities on a per-pupil basis.
(b) Quality of plan (40 points).
(1) The likelihood that the proposed grant project will result in
the State either retaining a new per-pupil facilities aid program or
continuing to enhance such a program without the total amount of
assistance (State and Federal) declining over a five-year period.
(2) The flexibility charter schools have in their use of facility
funds for the various authorized purposes.
(3) The quality of the plan for identifying charter schools and
determining their eligibility to receive funds.
(4) The per-pupil facilities aid formula's ability to target
resources to charter schools with the greatest need and the highest
proportions of students in poverty.
(5) For projects that plan to reserve funds for evaluation, the
quality of the applicant's plan to use grant funds for this purpose.
(6) For projects that plan to reserve funds for technical
assistance, dissemination, or personnel, the quality of the applicant's
plan to use grant funds for these purposes.
(c) The grant project team (10 points).
(1) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of the project manager and other members of the grant project team,
including employees not paid with grant funds, consultants, and
subcontractors.
(2) The adequacy and appropriateness of the applicant's staffing
plan for the grant project.
(d) The budget (10 points).
(1) The extent to which the requested grant amount and the project
costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and
potential significance of the proposed grant project.
(2) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the
number of students served and to the anticipated results and benefits.
(3) The extent to which the non-Federal share exceeds the minimum
percentages (which are based on the percentages under section
4304(k)(2)(C) of the ESEA), particularly in the initial years of the
program.
(e) State Experience (10 points).
(1) The experience of the State in addressing the facility needs of
charter schools through various means, including providing per-pupil
aid and access to State loan or bonding pools.
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).
Note: As described in 34 CFR 226.14(c), the Secretary may elect to
consider the points awarded under the competitive preference priority
only for proposals that exhibit sufficient quality to warrant funding
under the selection criteria.
3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.206, before awarding grants under this competition the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR
200.208, the Secretary 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 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 200.206(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 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
[[Page 31156]]
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. 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 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 performance measures for this program
are established for purposes of Department reporting under 34 CFR
75.110.
(a) Program Performance Measures. The performance measure for this
program is the ratio of funds leveraged by States for charter school
facilities to funds awarded by the Department under the program.
Grantees must provide information that is responsive to this measure as
part of their annual performance reports.
(b) Project-Specific Performance Measures. Applicants must propose
project-specific performance measures and performance targets
consistent with the objectives of the project and program. Applicants
must provide the following information as directed under 34 CFR
75.110(b):
(1) Project Performance Measures. How each proposed project-
specific performance measure would accurately measure the performance
of the project and how the proposed project-specific performance
measure would be consistent with the performance measures established
for the program funding the competition.
(2) Project 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).
Note: The Secretary encourages applicants to consider measures and
targets tied to their grant activities during the grant period. For
instance, if an applicant is using eligibility for free and reduced-
price lunch to measure the number of low-income families served by the
project, the applicant could provide a percentage for students
qualifying for free and reduced-price lunch. The measures should be
sufficient to gauge the progress throughout the grant period and show
results by the end of the grant period.
(3) 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.
Note: If applicants do not have experience with collection and
reporting of performance data through other projects or research, they
should provide other evidence of their capacity to successfully carry
out data collection and reporting for their proposed project.
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, whether
the grantee has made substantial progress in achieving the performance
targets in the grantee's approved application.
In making a continuation award, the Secretary also considers
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
7. Project Directors' Meeting: Applicants approved for funding
under this competition must attend a meeting for project directors at a
location to be determined in the continental United States during each
year of the project. Applicants may include the cost of attending this
meeting as an administrative cost in their proposed budgets.
8. Technical Assistance: Grantees under this competition must
participate in all program technical assistance offerings provided by
the Department and its contractual technical assistance providers and
partners throughout the life of the project.
VII. Other Information
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities
can obtain this document and a copy of the application package 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.
[[Page 31157]]
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.
Adam Schott,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Delegated the Authority To
Perform the Functions and Duties of the Assistant Secretary for the
Office Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2024-08731 Filed 4-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P