FR Doc E9-28874[Federal Register: December 3, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 231)]
[Notices]
[Page 63398-63401]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03de09-24]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Overview
Information; Indian Education--Demonstration Grants for Indian
Children; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year
(FY) 2010
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.299A.
Dates:
Applications Available: December 3, 2009. Deadline for Transmittal
of Applications: February 18, 2010.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 19, 2010.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Demonstration Grants for
Indian Children program is to provide financial assistance to projects
that develop, test, and demonstrate the effectiveness of services and
programs to improve the educational opportunities and achievement of
preschool, elementary, and secondary Indian students.
Priorities: This competition contains two absolute priorities and
two competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priorities are from the regulations for
this program (34 CFR 263.21(c)(1) and (3)). In accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(iv), the competitive preference priorities are from
sections 7121(d)(1)(B) and 7143 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA) (20 U.S.C. 7441(d)(1)(B) and
7473).
Absolute Priorities: For FY 2010 these priorities are absolute
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications
that meet one or both of the following priorities.
These priorities are:
Absolute Priority One
School readiness projects that provide age-appropriate educational
programs and language skills to three- and four-year-old Indian
students to prepare them for successful entry into school at the
kindergarten school level.
Absolute Priority Two
College preparatory programs for secondary school students designed
to increase competency and skills in challenging subject matters,
including mathematics and science, to enable Indian students to
successfully transition to postsecondary education.
Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2010, these priorities
are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we
award up to an additional 10 points to an application, depending on how
well the application meets one or both of these priorities.
These priorities are:
Competitive Preference Priority One
We award five competitive preference priority points to an
applicant that presents a plan for combining two or more of the
activities described in section 7121(c) of the ESEA over a period of
more than one year.
Note: For Competitive Preference Priority One, the combination
of activities is limited to the activities described in the Absolute
Priorities section of this notice.
Competitive Preference Priority Two
We award five competitive preference priority points to an
application submitted by an eligible Indian tribe, Indian organization,
or Indian institution of higher education, including a consortium of
any of these entities with other eligible entities. An application from
a consortium of eligible entities that meets the requirements of 34 CFR
75.127 through 75.129 and includes an Indian tribe, Indian
organization, or Indian institution of higher education will be
considered eligible to receive the five competitive preference points.
These competitive preference points are in addition to the five
competitive preference points that may be given under Competitive
Preference Priority One.
Note: A consortium agreement, signed by all parties, must be
submitted with the application in order for the application to be
considered a consortium application. Letters of support do not meet
the requirement for a consortium agreement. We will reject any
application from a consortium that does not meet this requirement.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7441.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The regulations for this
program in 34 CFR part 263.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants
except federally recognized Indian tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions
of higher education only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$2,000,000 for new awards for this program for FY 2010. 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: $100,000-$300,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $250,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $300,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education may change
the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 8.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 48 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants for this program are
State educational agencies (SEAs); local educational agencies (LEAs),
including charter schools that are considered LEAs under State law;
Indian tribes; Indian organizations; federally supported elementary or
secondary schools for Indian students; Indian institutions (including
Indian institutions of higher education); or a consortium of any of
these entities.
An application from a consortium of eligible entities must meet the
requirements of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129. An application from a
consortium of eligible entities must include a signed consortium
agreement with the application. Letters of support do not meet the
requirement for a consortium agreement.
Applicants applying in consortium with or as an ``Indian
organization'' must demonstrate eligibility by showing how the ``Indian
organization'' meets all of the criteria outlined in 34 CFR 263.20.
The term ``Indian institution of higher education'' means an
accredited college or university within the United States cited in
section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994
(7 U.S.C. 301 note), any other institution that qualifies for funding
under the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of
1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and Dine College (formerly Navajo
Community College),
[[Page 63399]]
authorized in the Navajo Community College Assistance Act of 1978 (25
U.S.C. 640a et seq.).
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost
sharing or matching.
3. Other: Projects funded under this competition are encouraged to
budget for a two-day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, DC
during each year of the project period.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an
application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following
address: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html.
To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call the following:
Education Publications Center, P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398.
Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (301) 470-1244. If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call, toll free: 1-877-
576-7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also:
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html or at its e-mail address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify
this program or competition as follows: CFDA number 299A.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape,
or computer diskette) by contacting the person or team listed under
Accessible Format in section VIII of this notice.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for this program.
Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant,
address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your
application. You must limit the application narrative to no more than
35 pages, using 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. An application submitted in any other font
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
The page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the budget
section, including the budget narrative justification; the assurances
and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes, the
bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the page limit does
apply to all of the application narrative section which may include a
table of contents.
We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit; or if
you apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: December 3, 2009.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 18, 2010.
Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) accessible through the Department's e-Grants site. For
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, please refer to section IV.6. Other Submission
Requirements of this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
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 in section VII
of this notice. 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.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 2, 2010.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the
instructions in this section.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
Applications for grants under the Demonstration Grants for Indian
Children competition, CFDA number 84.299A must be submitted
electronically using e-Application, accessible through the Department's
e-Grants Web site at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
While completing your electronic application, you will be entering
data online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an
electronic copy of a grant application to us.
Please note the following:
You must complete the electronic submission of your grant
application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. E-Application will not accept an application for this
competition after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait
until the application deadline date to begin the application process.
The hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site are 6:00
a.m. Monday until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday; and 6:00 a.m. Thursday until
8:00 p.m. Sunday, Washington, DC time. Please note that, because of
maintenance, the system is unavailable between 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and
6:00 a.m. on Mondays, and between 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6:00 a.m.
on Thursdays, Washington, DC time. Any modifications to these hours are
posted on the e-Grants Web site.
[[Page 63400]]
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your
application in paper format.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
all information you typically provide on the following forms: The
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and
certifications. You must attach any narrative sections of your
application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF
(Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the
three file types specified in this paragraph or submit a password
protected file, we will not review that material.
Your electronic application must comply with any page
limit requirements described in this notice.
Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive an automatic acknowledgment that will include a PR/Award number
(an identifying number unique to your application).
Within three working days after submitting your electronic
application, fax a signed copy of the SF 424 to the Application Control
Center after following these steps:
(1) Print SF 424 from e-Application.
(2) The applicant's Authorizing Representative must sign this form.
(3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the
hard-copy signature page of the SF 424.
(4) Fax the signed SF 424 to the Application Control Center at
(202) 245-6272.
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
other forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of e-Application
Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting
your application on the application deadline date because e-Application
is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of one business day to
enable you to transmit your application electronically, by mail, or by
hand delivery. We will grant this extension if--
(1) You are a registered user of e-Application and you have
initiated an electronic application for this competition; and
(2) (a) E-Application is unavailable for 60 minutes or more between
the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date; or
(b) E-Application is unavailable for any period of time between
3:30 p.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date.
We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to
confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, you may
contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-
Grants help desk at 1-888-336-8930. If e-Application is unavailable due
to technical problems with the system and, therefore, the application
deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent to all registered users
who have initiated an e-Application. Extensions referred to in this
section apply only to the unavailability of e-Application.
Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application
through e-Application because--
You do not have access to the Internet; or
You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to
e-Application; and
No later than two weeks before the application deadline
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception
prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you
mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date. 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.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: Lana Shaughnessy, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room E231,
Washington, DC 20202. FAX: (202) 260-7779.
Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
CFDA Number 84.299A, LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
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.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
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.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, 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 date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
CFDA 84.299A, 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC 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 CFDA number,
[[Page 63401]]
including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you
are submitting your application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not
receive this grant notification within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are
from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application package.
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). 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. Reporting: 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 multi-year 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
http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the
following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of
the Demonstration Grants for Indian Children program: (1) The
percentage of 3- and 4-year-old American Indian and Alaska Native
children achieving gains of a predetermined magnitude, at a minimum, on
an approved assessment of language and communication development as
evidenced by a pre- and post-test each project year; (2) the percentage
of 3- and 4-year-old American Indian and Alaska Native children
achieving gains of a predetermined magnitude, at a minimum, on an
approved assessment of cognitive skills and conceptual knowledge as
evidenced by a pre- and post-test each project year; (3) the percentage
of 3- and 4-year-old American Indian and Alaska Native children
achieving gains of a predetermined magnitude, at a minimum, on an
approved assessment of social development as evidenced by a pre- and
post-test each project year; (4) the percentage of American Indian and
Alaska Native high school students successfully completing (as defined
by a passing grade of C or better) at least 3 years of challenging core
courses (English, mathematics, science, and social studies) by the end
of their fourth year in high school; and (5) the percentage of American
Indian and Alaska Native students who graduate with their incoming 9th
grade cohort (not counting those who transfer to another school).
We encourage applicants to demonstrate a strong capacity to provide
reliable data on these measures in their responses to the selection
criteria ``Quality of project services'' and ``Quality of the project
evaluation.'' All grantees will be expected to submit, as part of their
performance report, information with respect to these performance
measures.
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact: Lana Shaughnessy, U.S. Department
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3E231, Washington, DC
20202-6335. Telephone: (202) 205-2528 or by e-mail:
Lana.Shaughnessy@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free,
at 1-800-877-8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on
request to the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice.
Electronic Access to This Document: You can view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.
Dated: November 30, 2009.
Thelma Mel[eacute]ndez de Santa Ana,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. E9-28874 Filed 12-2-09; 8:45 am]
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