Applications for New Awards; Office of Indian Education Formula Grants to Local Educational Agencies, 92915-92920 [2024-27532]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 227 / Monday, November 25, 2024 / Notices
3:45 p.m.–4:00 p.m.: Break
4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m.: Calculator
Analyses Efforts
a. Calculator Impact Study—Dr. Kevin
Bradley (HumRRO)
b. CAT Simulation—Dr. Glen
Heinrich-Wallace (HumRRO)
c. Calculator Needs Assessment—Dr.
Monica Gribben (HumRRO)
5:30 p.m.–5:45 p.m.: Public Comments
Day 2, Thursday, January 23, 2025
(Mountain Time)
8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m.: Refinement of the
Joint Service—TAPAS Instrument—
Dr. Dan Putka (HumRRO)
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.: Adverse Impact—
Dr. Nick Howald (HumRRO)
10:30 a.m.–10:45 a.m.: Break
10:45 a.m.–11:30 a.m.: Curriculum
Alignment Study—Dr. Rod McCloy
(HumRRO)
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: ASVAB CEP
a. General—Dr. Irina Rader (OPA/
DTAC)
b. Find Your Interest—Dr. Rod
McCloy (HumRRO)
c. Work Values—Dr. Maura Burke
(HumRRO)
12:30 p.m.–12:45 p.m.: Future Topics—
Dr. Mary Pommerich (OPA/DTAC)
12:45 p.m.–1:00 p.m.: Public Comments
1:00 p.m.–1:15 p.m.: Closing
Comments—Dr. Fred Oswald, Chair
1:15 p.m.–3:00 p.m.: Working Lunch
(Administrative Items)
Abbreviations Key
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ASVAB—Armed Services Vocational
Aptitude Battery
ASVAB CEP—ASVAB Career Exploration
Program, student testing program provided
at no charge to high schools nation-wide to
help students develop career exploration
skills and used by recruiters to identify
potential applicants for enlistment.
CAT—computerized adaptive testing
HumRRO—Human Resources Research
Organization
OASD(M&RA)/AP—Office of the Assistant
Secretary of Defense (Manpower and
Reserve Affairs)/Accession Policy
OPA/DTAC—Office of People Analytics/
Defense Testing and Assessment Center
P&P—paper and pencil
TAPAS—Tailored Adaptive Personality
Assessment System
Latest version of the agenda will be
posted on https://DAC-MPT.com.
Meeting Accessibility: Pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 552b and 41 CFR 102–3.140
through 102–3.165, and the availability
of space, this meeting is open to the
public. Seating availability is on a firstcome, first-served basis. All members of
the public who wish to attend the
public meeting must contact the DFO no
later than 12:00 p.m. on Friday, January
10, 2025, as listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section.
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Written Statements: Pursuant to 41
CFR 102–3.105(j) and 102–3.140 and
section 10(a)(3) of the FACA, interested
persons may submit written statements
to the DAC–MPT at any time about its
approved agenda or at any time on the
DAC–MPT’s mission. Written
statements should be submitted to the
DAC–MPT’s DFO at the address or
facsimile number listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
If statements pertain to a specific topic
being discussed at the planned meeting,
then these statements must be submitted
no later than five (5) business days prior
to the meeting in question. Written
statements received after this date may
not be provided to, or not considered by
the DAC–MPT until its next meeting.
The DFO will review all timely
submitted written statements and
provide copies to all the DAC–MPT
members before the meeting that is the
subject of this notice. Please note that
since the DAC–MPT operates under the
provisions of the FACA, all submitted
comments and public presentations will
be treated as public documents and will
be made available for public inspection.
Opportunity for public comments will
be provided at the end of each day.
Public comments will be limited to 5
minutes per person, as time allows.
Dated: November 19, 2024.
Stephanie J. Bost,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2024–27546 Filed 11–22–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001–FR–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Office of
Indian Education Formula Grants to
Local Educational Agencies
Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Department of Education
(Department) is issuing a notice inviting
applications for new awards for fiscal
year (FY) 2025 for Office of Indian
Education (OIE) Formula Grants to
Local Educational Agencies (Formula
Grants).
SUMMARY:
DATES:
Part I of Electronic Application
System for Indian Education (EASIE)
Applications Available: February 3,
2025.
Deadline for Transmittal of EASIE
Part I: March 7, 2025.
Part II of EASIE Applications
Available: March 31, 2025.
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Deadline for Transmittal of EASIE
Part II: May 9, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
questions about the Formula Grants
program, contact Crystal C. Moore, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue SW, MS 6335, Washington, DC
20202–6335. Telephone: (202) 987–
0607. Email: crystal.moore@ed.gov.
For technical questions about the
EASIE application and uploading
documentation, contact the Partner
Support Center (PSC). Telephone: 877–
457–3336. Email: OIE.EASIE@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:
Full Text of Announcement
Note: Applicants must meet the
deadlines for both EASIE Part I and Part
II to be eligible to receive a grant.
Failure to submit the required
supplemental documentation, described
under Content and Form of Application
Submission in section IV of this notice,
by the EASIE Part I or Part II deadline,
will result in an incomplete application
that will not be considered for funding.
OIE recommends uploading the
documentation at least four days prior
to the deadlines to ensure any potential
submission issues are resolved prior to
the deadlines.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The Formula
Grants program provides grants to
support local educational agencies
(LEAs), Indian Tribes and organizations,
and other eligible entities in developing
and implementing elementary and
secondary school programs that serve
Indian students. These funds must be
used to support comprehensive
programs that are designed to meet the
unique cultural, language, and
educational needs of American Indian
and Alaska Native (AIAN) students and
ensure that all students meet
challenging State academic standards.
The information gathered from the
project’s final annual performance
report (APR) will be utilized to
complete OIE’s required annual
reporting. Specifically, the APR covers
the Secretary’s established performance
measures for assessing the effectiveness
and efficiency of the Formula Grants
program as detailed in this notice.
Assistance Listing Number (ALN):
84.060A.
OMB Control Number: 1810–0021.
Integration of Services Authorized: As
authorized under section 6116 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education
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Act of 1965 (ESEA), the Secretary will,
upon receipt of an acceptable plan for
the integration of education and related
services, and in cooperation with other
relevant Federal agencies, authorize the
entity receiving the funds under this
program to consolidate all Federal funds
that are to be used exclusively for
Indian students. Instructions for
submitting an integration of education
and related services plan are included
in EASIE, which is described under
Application and Submission
Information in section IV of this notice.
Note: Under the Formula Grants
program, all applicants must develop
proposed projects in open consultation,
including through public hearings to
provide a full opportunity to understand
the program and to offer
recommendations regarding the program
(section 6114(c)(3)(C) of the ESEA), with
parents and teachers of Indian children,
representatives of Indian Tribes on
Indian lands located within 50 miles of
any school that the LEA will serve if
such Tribes have any children in such
school, Indian organizations (IOs), and,
if appropriate, Indian students from
secondary schools. LEA applicants must
develop proposed projects with the
participation and written approval of an
Indian Parent Committee whose
membership includes parents and
family members of Indian children in
the LEA’s schools; representatives of
Indian Tribes on Indian lands located
within 50 miles of any school that the
LEA will serve if such Tribes have any
children in such school; teachers in the
schools; and, if appropriate, Indian
students attending secondary schools of
the LEA (ESEA section 6114(c)(4)). The
majority of the Indian Parent Committee
members must be parents and family
members of Indian children (ESEA
section 6114(c)(4)(B)).
Definition: The following definition is
from ESEA section 6112(d)(3):
Indian community-based organization
(ICBO) means any organization that (1)
is composed primarily of Indian
parents, family members, and
community members, Tribal
government education officials, and
Tribal members, from a specific
community; (2) assists in the social,
cultural, and educational development
of Indians in such community; (3) meets
the unique cultural, language, and
academic needs of Indian students; and
(4) demonstrates organizational and
administrative capacity to manage the
grant.
Statutory Hiring Preference: Awards
are subject to the provisions of section
7(b) of the Indian Self-Determination
and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
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5307(b)). To the greatest extent feasible,
a grantee is required to—
(1) Give to Indians preferences and
opportunities for training and
employment in connection with the
administration of the grant; and
(2) Give to Indian organizations and to
Indian-owned economic enterprises, as
defined in section 3 of the Indian
Financing Act of 1974 (25 U.S.C.
1452(e)), preference in the award of
contracts in connection with the
administration of the grant.
For purposes of this requirement, an
Indian is a member of any federally
recognized Indian Tribe (25 U.S.C.
1452(b)).
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7421, 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 75, 77, 81, 82, 84, 97, 98, and 99.
(b) The Office of Management and
Budget Guidelines to Agencies on
Governmentwide Debarment and
Suspension (Non-procurement) in 2
CFR part 180, as adopted and amended
as regulations of the Department in 2
CFR part 3485. (c) The Guidance for
Federal Financial Assistance in 2 CFR
part 200, as adopted and amended as
regulations of the Department in 2 CFR
part 3474.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Formula grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The
Administration requested $110,381,000
for the Formula Grants program for FY
2025. The actual level of funding, if any,
depends on final congressional action.
However, we are inviting applications to
allow enough time to complete the grant
process if Congress appropriates funds
for this program.
Estimated Range of Awards: $4,000 to
$2,416,936.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$84,908.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1,300.
Note: The Department is not bound by
any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: 12 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: The following
entities are eligible under this program:
certain LEAs, as prescribed by ESEA
section 6112(b), including charter
schools authorized as LEAs under State
law; certain schools funded by the
Bureau of Indian Education of the U.S.
Department of the Interior (BIE), as
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prescribed by ESEA section 6113(d);
Indian Tribes and IOs under certain
conditions, as prescribed by ESEA
section 6112(c); and ICBOs, as
prescribed by ESEA section 6112(d).
Consortia of two or more eligible
entities are also eligible under certain
circumstances, as prescribed by ESEA
section 6112(a)(4).
2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
program does not require cost sharing or
matching.
b. Supplement Not Supplant: ESEA
section 6114(c)(1) requires an LEA to
use these grant funds only to
supplement the funds that, in the
absence of these Federal funds, such
agency would make available for
services described in this application,
and not to supplant such funds.
c. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This
program uses a restricted indirect cost
rate. For more information regarding
restricted indirect costs, or to obtain a
negotiated restricted indirect cost rate,
please see: https://www.ed.gov/about/
ed-offices/ofo/ocfos-financialimprovement-post-audit-operations.
d. Administrative Cost Limitation:
Under ESEA section 6115(d), no more
than five percent of funds awarded for
a grant under this program may be used
for administrative purposes. Note that,
since fiscal year 2020, Congress has
included language in appropriations
bills to clarify that the statutory 5
percent limit does not include indirect
costs. In the event such language is not
included in the FY 2025 appropriations
bill, the Department will work with
successful applicants to make budget
adjustments to align with administrative
cost restrictions, if necessary.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. How to Request an Application
Package: You can obtain an entityspecific link for the electronic
application for grants under this
program by contacting the PSC listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
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, compact disc, or other
accessible format.
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission: Requirements concerning
the content of an application, together
with the forms you must submit and
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technical assistance resources, are
located on the EASIE Communities of
Practice website at https://
easie.communities.ed.gov/.
Note: OIE and PSC will provide
comprehensive documentation to
support applicants and grantees with
accessing, navigating, and entering data
and submitting their responses into
Connect.gov. Prior to the opening of
EASIE Part I, this documentation will be
announced and posted on the EASIE
Communities of Practice website at:
https://easie.communities.ed.gov/.
User accounts were replaced with an
entity-specific link (also known as a
token) to access the EASIE application
in the Connect.gov Survey. Only
individuals that are registered as the
current Point of Contact (POC), Project
Director (PD), or Authorized Official
Representative (AOR) will receive the
entity-specific link to access the
application for EASIE Part I and Part II.
The AOR can continue to delegate the
responsibility of completing the EASIE
application in the new Connect.gov
Survey to other entity contacts by
sharing their entity-specific link
internally. The AOR is ultimately
responsible for reviewing and certifying
the application. Please contact the PSC
with any questions related to this
change.
Supplementary Documentation: The
EASIE application requires submission
of the following supplementary
documentation in electronic Portable
Document Format (PDF):
(1) In EASIE Part I, applicants that are
Tribes, IOs, or ICBOs must submit the
appropriate ‘‘Applying in Lieu of the
LEA’’ agreement form with their
application to verify their eligibility no
later than March 7, 2025 (which is the
closing date of EASIE Part I). Each
separate eligibility document is
identified by applicant type as either
Tribe Applying in Lieu of an LEA
Agreement; IO Agreement; or ICBO
Agreement. These are available on the
EASIE Communities of Practice website
(https://easie.communities.ed.gov/) as
downloadable documents. The details of
the verification process, which are
necessary to meet the statutory
eligibility requirements for Tribes, IOs,
and ICBOs, are in the application
package.
(2) In EASIE Part I, the lead applicant
for a consortium must use the
consortium agreement form that is
available on the Getting Started page in
the EASIE Portal as a downloadable
document and upload it to EASIE no
later than March 7, 2025 (the closing
date of EASIE Part I).
(3) In EASIE Part II, for an applicant
that is an LEA or a consortium of LEAs,
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the EASIE application requires the
electronic PDF submission of the Indian
Parent Committee Approval form no
later than May 9, 2025 (which is the
deadline for transmittal of EASIE Part
II). Applicants are encouraged to begin
planning parent committee meetings
early to ensure parent committee
requirements are met before EASIE Part
II closes. The form is available on the
EASIE Communities of Practice website
at https://easie.communities.ed.gov/.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Part I of the Formula Grant EASIE
Applications Available: February 3,
2025.
Deadline for Transmittal of EASIE
Part I: March 7, 2025, 11:59 p.m.,
Eastern Time.
Part II of the Formula Grant EASIE
Applications Available: March 31, 2025.
Deadline for Transmittal of EASIE
Part II: May 9, 2025, 11:59 p.m., Eastern
Time.
Submit applications for grants under
this program electronically using EASIE
located in the OIE-provided portal. For
information (including dates and times)
about how to submit your application,
please refer to Other Submission
Requirements in section IV of this
notice.
OIE will only consider applications
that are compliant with deadline
requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who
need an accommodation or auxiliary aid
in connection with the application
process should contact the person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT. If the Department provides an
accommodation or auxiliary aid to an
individual with a disability in
connection with the application
process, the individual’s application
remains subject to all other
requirements and limitations in this
notice.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This
program is not subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34
CFR part 79.
5. Unique Entity Identification (UEI)
Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, and System for Award
Management: To do business with the
Department, you must—
a. Have a Unique Entity Identification
(UEI) number and a Taxpayer
Identification Number (TIN);
b. Register both your UEI number and
TIN with the System for Award
Management (SAM), the Government’s
primary registrant database;
c. Provide your UEI number and TIN
on your SAM application; and
d. Maintain an active SAM
registration with current information
while your application is under review
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92917
by the Department and, if you are
awarded a grant, during the project
period.
You can obtain a UEI number from
SAM.gov at the following website:
https://sam.gov/. A UEI number can be
created within one to two business days.
If you are a corporate entity, agency,
institution, or organization, you can
obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue
Service. If you are an individual, you
can obtain a TIN from the Internal
Revenue Service or the Social Security
Administration. If you need a new TIN,
please allow two to five weeks for your
TIN to become active.
The SAM registration process can take
approximately seven business days, but
may take upwards of several weeks,
depending on the completeness and
accuracy of the data you enter in the
SAM database. Thus, if you think you
might want to apply for Federal
financial assistance under a program
administered by the Department, please
allow sufficient time to obtain and
register your UEI number and TIN.
If you are currently registered with
SAM, you may not need to make any
changes. However, please make certain
that the TIN associated with your UEI
number is correct. Also note that you
will need to update your registration
annually. This may take three or more
business days.
Information about SAM is available at
https://sam.gov/. To further assist you
with obtaining and registering your UEI
number and TIN in SAM or updating
your existing SAM account, we have
prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet, which
you can find here: https://sam.gov/
content/duns-uei.
Other Submission Requirements:
Electronic Submission of
Applications.
EASIE is an electronic application
within Connect.gov Survey that users
access via an entity-specific link. It is
divided into two parts: EASIE Part I and
EASIE Part II.
EASIE Part I (student count) provides
the appropriate data entry screens to
submit verified, aggregated, Indian
student count totals based on either the
Indian School Equalization Program
(ISEP) count or the Indian Student
Eligibility Certification Form (ED 506
Form). All applicants must submit a
current Indian student count for FY
2025. Applicants must use the ED 506
Form to document eligible Indian
students; however, BIE schools may use
either the ISEP count or the ED 506
Form count to verify their Indian
student counts. Applicants must protect
the privacy of all individual data
collected and only report aggregated
data to the Secretary.
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Applicants that verify their Indian
student count with the ED 506 Form
must document their Indian student
counts by completing the following: (1)
annually, the applicant must verify
there is a valid ED 506 Form for each
Indian child included in the count; (2)
all ED 506 Forms included in the count
must be completed, signed, and dated
by the parent or legal guardian, and be
on file with the applicant; (3) the
applicant must maintain a copy of the
student enrollment roster(s) covering
the same period of time indicated in the
application as the count period; and (4)
each Indian child included in the count
must be listed on the LEA’s enrollment
roster(s) and in attendance for at least 1
day during the count period.
BIE schools that enter an ISEP count
to verify their Indian student count
must use the most current Indian
student count certified by the BIE.
Once an Indian child is determined to
be eligible to be counted for such grant
award, the applicant must maintain a
record of such determination and must
not require a new or duplicate form to
be made for such child for a subsequent
application for a grant under this
program.
Applicants must indicate the time
span for the project objectives and
corresponding activities and services for
AIAN students. Applicants can choose
to set objectives that remain the same
for up to four years to facilitate data
collection and enhance long-term
planning.
In EASIE Part II, all applicants are
required to—
(1) Select the type of program being
submitted as either regular formula
grant project, formula grant project
consolidated with a Title I schoolwide
program, or integration of services
under ESEA section 6116;
(2) Select the grade levels offered by
the LEA or BIE school;
(3) Identify, from a list of possible
Department grant programs (e.g., ESEA
Title I), the programs in the LEA that are
currently coordinated with a Formula
Grant project, or with which the school
district plans to coordinate during the
project year, in accordance with ESEA
section 6114(c)(5), and describe the
comprehensive program for AIAN
students with those grant programs;
(4) Describe the professional
development opportunities that will be
provided as part of a comprehensive
program to ensure that teachers and
other school professionals who are new
to the Indian community are prepared to
work with Indian children, and that all
teachers who will be involved in
programs assisted by this grant have
been properly trained to carry out such
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programs, as required by ESEA section
6114(b)(5);
(5) Provide information on how the
State assessment data of all Indian
students (not just those served) are used
and how such information will be
disseminated to the Indian community,
Indian Parent Committee, and Indian
Tribes whose children are served by the
LEA. Also describe how assessment data
from the previous school year (SY) were
used, as required by ESEA section
6114(b)(6);
(6) Indicate when the public hearing
was held for SY 2025–26, as required by
ESEA section 6114(c)(3)(C);
(7) For an applicant that is an LEA,
BIE school, or a consortium of LEAs or
BIE schools, describe the process the
applicant used to meaningfully
collaborate with Indian Tribes located
in the community in a timely, active,
and ongoing manner in the development
of the comprehensive program and the
actions taken as a result of such
collaboration (ESEA section 6114(b)(7));
(8) Identify specific project objectives
that will further the goal of providing
culturally responsive education for
AIAN students to meet their academic
needs and help them meet State
achievement standards (ESEA section
6115(b));
(9) For an LEA that selects a
schoolwide application, identify how
the use of such funds in a schoolwide
program will produce benefits to Indian
students that would not be achieved if
the funds were not used in a schoolwide
program (ESEA section 6115(c)(3));
(10) Submit a program budget and
justification based on the estimated
grant amount that the EASIE calculates
from the Indian student count submitted
in EASIE Part I. After the initial grant
amounts are determined, additional
funds may become available due to such
circumstances as withdrawn
applications or a reduction in another
applicant’s student count. An applicant
whose award amount increases or
decreases more than $5,000 must submit
a revised budget prior to receiving its
grant award but will not need to recertify its application. If an applicant’s
award amount increases or decreases by
less than $5,000, a budget update is not
required. For an applicant that receives
an increased award amount following
submission of its original budget, the
applicant must allocate the increased
amount only to previously approved
budget categories;
(11) As required by section 427 of the
General Education Provisions Act
(GEPA), describe the steps the applicant
proposes to take to ensure equitable
access to, and participation in, the
project or activity to be conducted with
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such assistance, by addressing the
special needs of students, teachers, and
other program beneficiaries in order to
overcome barriers to equitable
participation, including barriers based
on gender, race, color, national origin,
disability, and age; and
(12) If needed, provide additional
comments to assist OIE in the review of
the application.
Registration for Formula Grant EASIE:
Current, former, and new applicants
interested in submitting a Formula
Grants application must register for
EASIE. Prior to the opening of EASIE
Part I, PSC will send a broadcast to prior
year grantees and new prospective
applicants that have contacted PSC and
registered for EASIE. All recipients who
receive PSC’s broadcast will be asked to
complete their intent to apply for the
upcoming application period in the
EASIE Portal. All prospective applicants
will be provided the opportunity to
confirm if any updates to their
registration information are necessary,
and/or if they would like to completely
decline registration. Entities that do not
have an active registration or are new
applicants should contact the PSC listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT to register any time before the
EASIE Part I application deadline date.
Registration does not serve as the
entity’s grant application. For assistance
registering, contact the PSC listed under
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Certification for Formula Grant
EASIE: The applicant’s AOR must be a
senior-level official (e.g.,
Superintendent, Tribal Chief, or similar)
of the entity and legally authorized by
the applicant organization to approve
the application. The AOR must certify
EASIE Part I and Part II by the deadline
date. Each applicant should identify at
least three system users, one for each of
the following: Project Director,
Authorized Official Representative, and
another party (such as a Budget
Director) designated to answer questions
in the event the project director is
unavailable. The certification process
ensures that the information in the
application is true, reliable, and valid.
An applicant that provides a false
statement in the application is subject to
penalties under the False Claims Act, 18
U.S.C. 1001.
b. Submission of Paper Applications
by Mail.
We discourage paper applications, but
if electronic submission is not possible
(e.g., you do not have access to the
internet), please submit a written
statement that you intend to submit a
paper application no later than Friday,
January 31, 2025.
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 227 / Monday, November 25, 2024 / Notices
If you mail your written statement to
the Department, it must be postmarked
no later than two weeks before the
application deadline date of EASIE Part
I. If you fax your written statement to
the Department, we must receive the
faxed statement no later than two weeks
before the application deadline date of
EASIE Part I. If you email the written
statement, it must be sent no later than
two weeks before the application
deadline date to the person listed under
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Address and mail or fax your
statement to: Crystal C. Moore, U.S.
Department of Education, Office of
Indian Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue SW, MS 6335 Washington, DC
20202–6335. FAX: (202) 205–0606.
Your paper application must be
submitted in accordance with the mail
or hand delivery instructions described
in this notice.
You must mail the original and two
copies of your application, on or before
the application deadline dates for both
EASIE Part I and Part II, to the
Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Office of
Indian Education, Attention: Crystal
Moore, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, MS
6335, Washington, DC 20202–6335.
You must show proof of mailing
consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service
postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the
date of mailing stamped by the U.S.
Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or
receipt from a commercial carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing
acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Education.
If you mail your application through
the U.S. Postal Service, we do not
accept either of the following as proof
of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by
the U.S. Postal Service.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not
uniformly provide a dated postmark.
Before relying on this method, you
should check with your local post
office.
We will not consider applications
postmarked after the application
deadline date for EASIE Part I or Part II.
c. Submission of Paper Applications
by Hand Delivery.
If you are submitting a paper
application, you (or a courier service)
may deliver your paper application to
the Department by hand. You must
deliver the original and two copies of
your application by hand, on or before
the application deadline dates for both
EASIE Part I and Part II, to the
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18:29 Nov 22, 2024
Jkt 265001
Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Office of
Indian Education, Attention: Crystal
Moore, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, MS
6335, Washington, DC 20202–6335.
The program office accepts hand
deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and
4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, except
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal
holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of
Paper Applications: If you mail or hand
deliver your application to the
Department—
(1) You must indicate on the envelope
and—if not provided by the
Department—in Item 11 of the SF 424
the Assistance Listing Number,
including suffix letter, of this program—
84.060A; and
(2) The program office will mail you
a notification of receipt of your grant
application. If you do not receive this
notification within 15 business days
from the application deadline date, you
should contact the program office at
(202) 987–0607.
V. Grant Administration Information
1. Risk Assessment and Specific
Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.206, before awarding grants under
this program 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.
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 a grant in
the Applicable Regulations section of
this notice and include these and other
specific conditions in the Grant Award
Notification (GAN). The GAN also
incorporates your approved application
as part of your binding commitments
under the grant.
3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a
grant under this program, 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
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Sfmt 4703
92919
funding. This does not apply if you have
an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) You must submit a final annual
performance report (APR) using EASIE
via the Connect.gov Survey entityspecific link, including financial
information, as directed by the
Secretary, within 120 days after the
close of the grant year. Grantees will be
able to access the APR via the EASIE
portal link provided to registered
entities prior to the system being open
to users. Grantees will receive an email
from the PSC identifying the date that
the APR will be available to grantees
and the deadline for its transmission.
4. Performance Measures: For the
purposes of Department reporting under
34 CFR 75.110, the Secretary has
established the following key
performance measures for assessing the
effectiveness and efficiency of the
Formula Grants program: (1) the
percentage of AIAN students in grades
four and eight who score at or above the
basic level in reading on the National
Assessment of Educational Progress
(NAEP); (2) the percentage of AIAN
students in grades four and eight who
score at or above the basic level in
mathematics on the NAEP; (3) the
percentage of AIAN students in grades
three through eight meeting State
achievement standards by scoring at or
above the proficient level in reading and
mathematics on State assessments; (4)
the difference between the percentage of
AIAN students in grades three through
eight at or above the proficient level in
reading and mathematics on State
assessments and the percentage of all
students scoring at those levels; (5) the
percentage of AIAN students who
graduate from high school as measured
by the 4-year adjusted cohort graduation
rate; (6) the percentage of grantees
providing culturally responsive
activities; and (7) the percentage of
funds used by grantees prior to award
closeout.
Note: In any year in which NAEP or
State assessment data are systematically
unavailable, reporting of such data will
not be required and will not be used for
purposes of performance measures.
5. Integrity and Performance System:
If you receive an award under this grant
program 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
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 227 / Monday, November 25, 2024 / Notices
(currently referred to as the Federal
Awardee Performance and Integrity
Information System (FAPIIS)),
accessible through https://sam.gov/.
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 requirements in 2 CFR
part 200, Appendix XII, require you to
report certain integrity information to
FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the
requirements in 2 CFR part 200,
Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the
other Federal funds you receive exceed
$10,000,000.
VI. Other Information
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Accessible Format: On request to the
PSC 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, compact disc, or other
accessible format.
Electronic Access to This Document:
The official version of this document is
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 other Department
documents published in the Federal
Register, in text or PDF. To use PDF,
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader,
which is available free at the site.
You may also access Department
documents 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 for
Policy and Programs Delegated the Authority
to Perform the Functions and Duties of the
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and
Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2024–27532 Filed 11–22–24; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reinstatement of a Previously
Approved Information Collection for
the Weatherization Assistance
Program
Office of State and Community
Energy Programs, U.S. Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE), pursuant to the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
intends to extend a previously approved
collection, without change, for three
years with the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB). The information
collection request, Weatherization
Assistance Program Sub-Programs, was
previously approved on May 26, 2022,
under OMB Control No. 1910–5157 and
expires on May 31, 2025.
DATES: Comments regarding this
collection must be received on or before
January 24, 2025. If you anticipate
difficulty in submitting comments
within that period, contact the person
listed below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be
sent to Rose Croog by email to the
following address: rose.croog@
hq.doe.gov with the subject line
‘‘Weatherization Assistance Program
Sub-Programs (OMB No. 1910–5157)’’
included in the message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instrument and instructions should be
directed to Rose Croog, by email or
phone at rose.croog@hq.doe.gov, (240)
702–5375.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments
are invited on: (a) Whether the extended
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
This information collection request
contains:
(1) OMB No.: 1910–5157;
(2) Information Collection Request
Title: ‘‘Weatherization Enhancement
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4703
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and Innovation (E&I), Sustainable
Energy Resources for Consumers
(SERC), and Community Scale
Weatherization Pilot Grants’’;
(3) Type of Request: Extension,
without change, of a previously
approved collection for which approval
has expired;
(4) Purpose: To collect information on
the status of grantee activities, including
but not limited to weatherized units,
total people assisted with grant funds,
expenditures, and results, to ensure that
program funds are being used
appropriately, effectively and
expeditiously. All information
collection proposed under these
programs is necessary for their
implementation, and thus necessary for
the function of the Agency as a whole.
The information collected will be used
by program staff to track the recipients
of E&I, SERC, and Community Scale
activities, their progress in achieving
scheduled milestones, and funds
expended (including expenditure rates).
The information also enables program
staff to provide required or requested
information on program activities to
OMB, Congress and the public.
(5) Annual Estimated Number of
Respondents: 205;
(6) Annual Estimated Number of
Total Responses: 379;
(7) Annual Estimated Number of
Burden Hours: 2,013 hours;
(8) Annual Estimated Reporting and
Recordkeeping Cost Burden:
$136,954.47.
Statutory Authority: Section 414D of
the Energy Act of 2020, Pub. L. 116–260,
div. Z, title I, codified at 42 U.S.C.
6864d and section 411(b) of the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007,
Pub. L. 110–140, title IV, codified at 42
U.S.C. 6872.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of
Energy was signed on November 19,
2024, by David Crane, Under Secretary
for Infrastructure for U.S. Department of
Energy. That document with the original
signature and date is maintained by
DOE. For administrative purposes only,
and in compliance with requirements of
the Office of the Federal Register, the
undersigned DOE Federal Register
Liaison Officer has been authorized to
sign and submit the document in
electronic format for publication, as an
official document of the Department of
Energy. This administrative process in
no way alters the legal effect of this
document upon publication in the
Federal Register.
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 92915-92920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27532]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Office of Indian Education Formula
Grants to Local Educational Agencies
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 new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for
Office of Indian Education (OIE) Formula Grants to Local Educational
Agencies (Formula Grants).
DATES:
Part I of Electronic Application System for Indian Education
(EASIE) Applications Available: February 3, 2025.
Deadline for Transmittal of EASIE Part I: March 7, 2025.
Part II of EASIE Applications Available: March 31, 2025.
Deadline for Transmittal of EASIE Part II: May 9, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about the Formula Grants
program, contact Crystal C. Moore, U.S. Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue SW, MS 6335, Washington, DC 20202-6335. Telephone:
(202) 987-0607. Email: [email protected].
For technical questions about the EASIE application and uploading
documentation, contact the Partner Support Center (PSC). Telephone:
877-457-3336. 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
Note: Applicants must meet the deadlines for both EASIE Part I and
Part II to be eligible to receive a grant. Failure to submit the
required supplemental documentation, described under Content and Form
of Application Submission in section IV of this notice, by the EASIE
Part I or Part II deadline, will result in an incomplete application
that will not be considered for funding. OIE recommends uploading the
documentation at least four days prior to the deadlines to ensure any
potential submission issues are resolved prior to the deadlines.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The Formula Grants program provides grants to
support local educational agencies (LEAs), Indian Tribes and
organizations, and other eligible entities in developing and
implementing elementary and secondary school programs that serve Indian
students. These funds must be used to support comprehensive programs
that are designed to meet the unique cultural, language, and
educational needs of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students
and ensure that all students meet challenging State academic standards.
The information gathered from the project's final annual performance
report (APR) will be utilized to complete OIE's required annual
reporting. Specifically, the APR covers the Secretary's established
performance measures for assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of
the Formula Grants program as detailed in this notice.
Assistance Listing Number (ALN): 84.060A.
OMB Control Number: 1810-0021.
Integration of Services Authorized: As authorized under section
6116 of the Elementary and Secondary Education
[[Page 92916]]
Act of 1965 (ESEA), the Secretary will, upon receipt of an acceptable
plan for the integration of education and related services, and in
cooperation with other relevant Federal agencies, authorize the entity
receiving the funds under this program to consolidate all Federal funds
that are to be used exclusively for Indian students. Instructions for
submitting an integration of education and related services plan are
included in EASIE, which is described under Application and Submission
Information in section IV of this notice.
Note: Under the Formula Grants program, all applicants must develop
proposed projects in open consultation, including through public
hearings to provide a full opportunity to understand the program and to
offer recommendations regarding the program (section 6114(c)(3)(C) of
the ESEA), with parents and teachers of Indian children,
representatives of Indian Tribes on Indian lands located within 50
miles of any school that the LEA will serve if such Tribes have any
children in such school, Indian organizations (IOs), and, if
appropriate, Indian students from secondary schools. LEA applicants
must develop proposed projects with the participation and written
approval of an Indian Parent Committee whose membership includes
parents and family members of Indian children in the LEA's schools;
representatives of Indian Tribes on Indian lands located within 50
miles of any school that the LEA will serve if such Tribes have any
children in such school; teachers in the schools; and, if appropriate,
Indian students attending secondary schools of the LEA (ESEA section
6114(c)(4)). The majority of the Indian Parent Committee members must
be parents and family members of Indian children (ESEA section
6114(c)(4)(B)).
Definition: The following definition is from ESEA section
6112(d)(3):
Indian community-based organization (ICBO) means any organization
that (1) is composed primarily of Indian parents, family members, and
community members, Tribal government education officials, and Tribal
members, from a specific community; (2) assists in the social,
cultural, and educational development of Indians in such community; (3)
meets the unique cultural, language, and academic needs of Indian
students; and (4) demonstrates organizational and administrative
capacity to manage the grant.
Statutory Hiring Preference: Awards are subject to the provisions
of section 7(b) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5307(b)). To the greatest extent feasible, a
grantee is required to--
(1) Give to Indians preferences and opportunities for training and
employment in connection with the administration of the grant; and
(2) Give to Indian organizations and to Indian-owned economic
enterprises, as defined in section 3 of the Indian Financing Act of
1974 (25 U.S.C. 1452(e)), preference in the award of contracts in
connection with the administration of the grant.
For purposes of this requirement, an Indian is a member of any
federally recognized Indian Tribe (25 U.S.C. 1452(b)).
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7421, 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 75, 77, 81, 82, 84, 97, 98,
and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies
on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement) in 2 CFR
part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2
CFR part 3485. (c) The Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance in 2
CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department
in 2 CFR part 3474.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Formula grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration requested
$110,381,000 for the Formula Grants program for FY 2025. The actual
level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action.
However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete
the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
Estimated Range of Awards: $4,000 to $2,416,936.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $84,908.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1,300.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: 12 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: The following entities are eligible under
this program: certain LEAs, as prescribed by ESEA section 6112(b),
including charter schools authorized as LEAs under State law; certain
schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Education of the U.S. Department
of the Interior (BIE), as prescribed by ESEA section 6113(d); Indian
Tribes and IOs under certain conditions, as prescribed by ESEA section
6112(c); and ICBOs, as prescribed by ESEA section 6112(d). Consortia of
two or more eligible entities are also eligible under certain
circumstances, as prescribed by ESEA section 6112(a)(4).
2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
b. Supplement Not Supplant: ESEA section 6114(c)(1) requires an LEA
to use these grant funds only to supplement the funds that, in the
absence of these Federal funds, such agency would make available for
services described in this application, and not to supplant such funds.
c. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This program uses a restricted
indirect cost rate. For more information regarding restricted indirect
costs, or to obtain a negotiated restricted indirect cost rate, please
see: https://www.ed.gov/about/ed-offices/ofo/ocfos-financial-improvement-post-audit-operations.
d. Administrative Cost Limitation: Under ESEA section 6115(d), no
more than five percent of funds awarded for a grant under this program
may be used for administrative purposes. Note that, since fiscal year
2020, Congress has included language in appropriations bills to clarify
that the statutory 5 percent limit does not include indirect costs. In
the event such language is not included in the FY 2025 appropriations
bill, the Department will work with successful applicants to make
budget adjustments to align with administrative cost restrictions, if
necessary.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. How to Request an Application Package: You can obtain an entity-
specific link for the electronic application for grants under this
program by contacting the PSC listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
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, compact disc, or
other accessible format.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit and
[[Page 92917]]
technical assistance resources, are located on the EASIE Communities of
Practice website at https://easie.communities.ed.gov/.
Note: OIE and PSC will provide comprehensive documentation to
support applicants and grantees with accessing, navigating, and
entering data and submitting their responses into Connect.gov. Prior to
the opening of EASIE Part I, this documentation will be announced and
posted on the EASIE Communities of Practice website at: https://easie.communities.ed.gov/.
User accounts were replaced with an entity-specific link (also
known as a token) to access the EASIE application in the Connect.gov
Survey. Only individuals that are registered as the current Point of
Contact (POC), Project Director (PD), or Authorized Official
Representative (AOR) will receive the entity-specific link to access
the application for EASIE Part I and Part II. The AOR can continue to
delegate the responsibility of completing the EASIE application in the
new Connect.gov Survey to other entity contacts by sharing their
entity-specific link internally. The AOR is ultimately responsible for
reviewing and certifying the application. Please contact the PSC with
any questions related to this change.
Supplementary Documentation: The EASIE application requires
submission of the following supplementary documentation in electronic
Portable Document Format (PDF):
(1) In EASIE Part I, applicants that are Tribes, IOs, or ICBOs must
submit the appropriate ``Applying in Lieu of the LEA'' agreement form
with their application to verify their eligibility no later than March
7, 2025 (which is the closing date of EASIE Part I). Each separate
eligibility document is identified by applicant type as either Tribe
Applying in Lieu of an LEA Agreement; IO Agreement; or ICBO Agreement.
These are available on the EASIE Communities of Practice website
(https://easie.communities.ed.gov/) as downloadable documents. The
details of the verification process, which are necessary to meet the
statutory eligibility requirements for Tribes, IOs, and ICBOs, are in
the application package.
(2) In EASIE Part I, the lead applicant for a consortium must use
the consortium agreement form that is available on the Getting Started
page in the EASIE Portal as a downloadable document and upload it to
EASIE no later than March 7, 2025 (the closing date of EASIE Part I).
(3) In EASIE Part II, for an applicant that is an LEA or a
consortium of LEAs, the EASIE application requires the electronic PDF
submission of the Indian Parent Committee Approval form no later than
May 9, 2025 (which is the deadline for transmittal of EASIE Part II).
Applicants are encouraged to begin planning parent committee meetings
early to ensure parent committee requirements are met before EASIE Part
II closes. The form is available on the EASIE Communities of Practice
website at https://easie.communities.ed.gov/.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Part I of the Formula Grant EASIE Applications Available: February
3, 2025.
Deadline for Transmittal of EASIE Part I: March 7, 2025, 11:59
p.m., Eastern Time.
Part II of the Formula Grant EASIE Applications Available: March
31, 2025.
Deadline for Transmittal of EASIE Part II: May 9, 2025, 11:59 p.m.,
Eastern Time.
Submit applications for grants under this program electronically
using EASIE located in the OIE-provided portal. For information
(including dates and times) about how to submit your application,
please refer to Other Submission Requirements in section IV of this
notice.
OIE will only consider applications that are compliant with
deadline requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. If the
Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual
with a disability in connection with the application process, the
individual's application remains subject to all other requirements and
limitations in this notice.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
5. Unique Entity Identification (UEI) Number, Taxpayer
Identification Number, and System for Award Management: To do business
with the Department, you must--
a. Have a Unique Entity Identification (UEI) number and a Taxpayer
Identification Number (TIN);
b. Register both your UEI number and TIN with the System for Award
Management (SAM), the Government's primary registrant database;
c. Provide your UEI number and TIN on your SAM application; and
d. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
You can obtain a UEI number from SAM.gov at the following website:
https://sam.gov/. A UEI number can be created within one to two
business days.
If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service.
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a
new TIN, please allow two to five weeks for your TIN to become active.
The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the
completeness and accuracy of the data you enter in the SAM database.
Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal financial
assistance under a program administered by the Department, please allow
sufficient time to obtain and register your UEI number and TIN.
If you are currently registered with SAM, you may not need to make
any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with
your UEI number is correct. Also note that you will need to update your
registration annually. This may take three or more business days.
Information about SAM is available at https://sam.gov/. To further
assist you with obtaining and registering your UEI number and TIN in
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov
Tip Sheet, which you can find here: https://sam.gov/content/duns-uei.
Other Submission Requirements:
Electronic Submission of Applications.
EASIE is an electronic application within Connect.gov Survey that
users access via an entity-specific link. It is divided into two parts:
EASIE Part I and EASIE Part II.
EASIE Part I (student count) provides the appropriate data entry
screens to submit verified, aggregated, Indian student count totals
based on either the Indian School Equalization Program (ISEP) count or
the Indian Student Eligibility Certification Form (ED 506 Form). All
applicants must submit a current Indian student count for FY 2025.
Applicants must use the ED 506 Form to document eligible Indian
students; however, BIE schools may use either the ISEP count or the ED
506 Form count to verify their Indian student counts. Applicants must
protect the privacy of all individual data collected and only report
aggregated data to the Secretary.
[[Page 92918]]
Applicants that verify their Indian student count with the ED 506
Form must document their Indian student counts by completing the
following: (1) annually, the applicant must verify there is a valid ED
506 Form for each Indian child included in the count; (2) all ED 506
Forms included in the count must be completed, signed, and dated by the
parent or legal guardian, and be on file with the applicant; (3) the
applicant must maintain a copy of the student enrollment roster(s)
covering the same period of time indicated in the application as the
count period; and (4) each Indian child included in the count must be
listed on the LEA's enrollment roster(s) and in attendance for at least
1 day during the count period.
BIE schools that enter an ISEP count to verify their Indian student
count must use the most current Indian student count certified by the
BIE.
Once an Indian child is determined to be eligible to be counted for
such grant award, the applicant must maintain a record of such
determination and must not require a new or duplicate form to be made
for such child for a subsequent application for a grant under this
program.
Applicants must indicate the time span for the project objectives
and corresponding activities and services for AIAN students. Applicants
can choose to set objectives that remain the same for up to four years
to facilitate data collection and enhance long-term planning.
In EASIE Part II, all applicants are required to--
(1) Select the type of program being submitted as either regular
formula grant project, formula grant project consolidated with a Title
I schoolwide program, or integration of services under ESEA section
6116;
(2) Select the grade levels offered by the LEA or BIE school;
(3) Identify, from a list of possible Department grant programs
(e.g., ESEA Title I), the programs in the LEA that are currently
coordinated with a Formula Grant project, or with which the school
district plans to coordinate during the project year, in accordance
with ESEA section 6114(c)(5), and describe the comprehensive program
for AIAN students with those grant programs;
(4) Describe the professional development opportunities that will
be provided as part of a comprehensive program to ensure that teachers
and other school professionals who are new to the Indian community are
prepared to work with Indian children, and that all teachers who will
be involved in programs assisted by this grant have been properly
trained to carry out such programs, as required by ESEA section
6114(b)(5);
(5) Provide information on how the State assessment data of all
Indian students (not just those served) are used and how such
information will be disseminated to the Indian community, Indian Parent
Committee, and Indian Tribes whose children are served by the LEA. Also
describe how assessment data from the previous school year (SY) were
used, as required by ESEA section 6114(b)(6);
(6) Indicate when the public hearing was held for SY 2025-26, as
required by ESEA section 6114(c)(3)(C);
(7) For an applicant that is an LEA, BIE school, or a consortium of
LEAs or BIE schools, describe the process the applicant used to
meaningfully collaborate with Indian Tribes located in the community in
a timely, active, and ongoing manner in the development of the
comprehensive program and the actions taken as a result of such
collaboration (ESEA section 6114(b)(7));
(8) Identify specific project objectives that will further the goal
of providing culturally responsive education for AIAN students to meet
their academic needs and help them meet State achievement standards
(ESEA section 6115(b));
(9) For an LEA that selects a schoolwide application, identify how
the use of such funds in a schoolwide program will produce benefits to
Indian students that would not be achieved if the funds were not used
in a schoolwide program (ESEA section 6115(c)(3));
(10) Submit a program budget and justification based on the
estimated grant amount that the EASIE calculates from the Indian
student count submitted in EASIE Part I. After the initial grant
amounts are determined, additional funds may become available due to
such circumstances as withdrawn applications or a reduction in another
applicant's student count. An applicant whose award amount increases or
decreases more than $5,000 must submit a revised budget prior to
receiving its grant award but will not need to re-certify its
application. If an applicant's award amount increases or decreases by
less than $5,000, a budget update is not required. For an applicant
that receives an increased award amount following submission of its
original budget, the applicant must allocate the increased amount only
to previously approved budget categories;
(11) As required by section 427 of the General Education Provisions
Act (GEPA), describe the steps the applicant proposes to take to ensure
equitable access to, and participation in, the project or activity to
be conducted with such assistance, by addressing the special needs of
students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries in order to
overcome barriers to equitable participation, including barriers based
on gender, race, color, national origin, disability, and age; and
(12) If needed, provide additional comments to assist OIE in the
review of the application.
Registration for Formula Grant EASIE: Current, former, and new
applicants interested in submitting a Formula Grants application must
register for EASIE. Prior to the opening of EASIE Part I, PSC will send
a broadcast to prior year grantees and new prospective applicants that
have contacted PSC and registered for EASIE. All recipients who receive
PSC's broadcast will be asked to complete their intent to apply for the
upcoming application period in the EASIE Portal. All prospective
applicants will be provided the opportunity to confirm if any updates
to their registration information are necessary, and/or if they would
like to completely decline registration. Entities that do not have an
active registration or are new applicants should contact the PSC listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT to register any time before the
EASIE Part I application deadline date. Registration does not serve as
the entity's grant application. For assistance registering, contact the
PSC listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Certification for Formula Grant EASIE: The applicant's AOR must be
a senior-level official (e.g., Superintendent, Tribal Chief, or
similar) of the entity and legally authorized by the applicant
organization to approve the application. The AOR must certify EASIE
Part I and Part II by the deadline date. Each applicant should identify
at least three system users, one for each of the following: Project
Director, Authorized Official Representative, and another party (such
as a Budget Director) designated to answer questions in the event the
project director is unavailable. The certification process ensures that
the information in the application is true, reliable, and valid. An
applicant that provides a false statement in the application is subject
to penalties under the False Claims Act, 18 U.S.C. 1001.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
We discourage paper applications, but if electronic submission is
not possible (e.g., you do not have access to the internet), please
submit a written statement that you intend to submit a paper
application no later than Friday, January 31, 2025.
[[Page 92919]]
If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline date
of EASIE Part I. If you fax your written statement to the Department,
we must receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the
application deadline date of EASIE Part I. If you email the written
statement, it must be sent no later than two weeks before the
application deadline date to the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: Crystal C. Moore, U.S.
Department of Education, Office of Indian Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue SW, MS 6335 Washington, DC 20202-6335. FAX: (202) 205-0606.
Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
You must mail the original and two copies of your application, on
or before the application deadline dates for both EASIE Part I and Part
II, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of
Education, Office of Indian Education, Attention: Crystal Moore, 400
Maryland Avenue SW, MS 6335, Washington, DC 20202-6335.
You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
U.S. Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your
local post office.
We will not consider applications postmarked after the application
deadline date for EASIE Part I or Part II.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you are submitting a paper application, you (or a courier
service) may deliver your paper application to the Department by hand.
You must deliver the original and two copies of your application by
hand, on or before the application deadline dates for both EASIE Part I
and Part II, to the Department at the following address: U.S.
Department of Education, Office of Indian Education, Attention: Crystal
Moore, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, MS 6335, Washington, DC 20202-6335.
The program office accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal
holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail
or hand deliver your application to the Department--
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the
Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the Assistance Listing Number,
including suffix letter, of this program--84.060A; and
(2) The program office will mail you a notification of receipt of
your grant application. If you do not receive this notification within
15 business days from the application deadline date, you should contact
the program office at (202) 987-0607.
V. Grant Administration Information
1. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.206, before awarding grants under this program 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.
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
a grant in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the Grant Award
Notification (GAN). The GAN also incorporates your approved application
as part of your binding commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this program, 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. This does not apply if you have an exception under 2
CFR 170.110(b).
(b) You must submit a final annual performance report (APR) using
EASIE via the Connect.gov Survey entity-specific link, including
financial information, as directed by the Secretary, within 120 days
after the close of the grant year. Grantees will be able to access the
APR via the EASIE portal link provided to registered entities prior to
the system being open to users. Grantees will receive an email from the
PSC identifying the date that the APR will be available to grantees and
the deadline for its transmission.
4. Performance Measures: For the purposes of Department reporting
under 34 CFR 75.110, the Secretary has established the following key
performance measures for assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of
the Formula Grants program: (1) the percentage of AIAN students in
grades four and eight who score at or above the basic level in reading
on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP); (2) the
percentage of AIAN students in grades four and eight who score at or
above the basic level in mathematics on the NAEP; (3) the percentage of
AIAN students in grades three through eight meeting State achievement
standards by scoring at or above the proficient level in reading and
mathematics on State assessments; (4) the difference between the
percentage of AIAN students in grades three through eight at or above
the proficient level in reading and mathematics on State assessments
and the percentage of all students scoring at those levels; (5) the
percentage of AIAN students who graduate from high school as measured
by the 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate; (6) the percentage of
grantees providing culturally responsive activities; and (7) the
percentage of funds used by grantees prior to award closeout.
Note: In any year in which NAEP or State assessment data are
systematically unavailable, reporting of such data will not be required
and will not be used for purposes of performance measures.
5. Integrity and Performance System: If you receive an award under
this grant program 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
[[Page 92920]]
(currently referred to as the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity
Information System (FAPIIS)), accessible through https://sam.gov/. 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 requirements in 2 CFR part
200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity information
to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 CFR part
200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal funds you
receive exceed $10,000,000.
VI. Other Information
Accessible Format: On request to the PSC 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, compact disc, or
other accessible format.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is 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 other Department documents published in the
Federal Register, in text or PDF. To use PDF, you must have Adobe
Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site.
You may also access Department documents 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 for Policy and Programs Delegated
the Authority to Perform the Functions and Duties of the Assistant
Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2024-27532 Filed 11-22-24; 8:45 am]
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