[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31956-31963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14511]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; American History and Civics
Education--National Activities Grants
AGENCY: Office of Innovation and Improvement, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017 for the American
History and Civics Education--National Activities Grants Program,
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.422B.
DATES:
Applications Available: July 11, 2017.
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: August 10, 2017.
Date of Pre-Application Webinars: The Department of Education
(Department) will host a pre-application webinar to provide technical
assistance to interested applicants on July 18, 2017 at 2:30 p.m.
eastern time. To join the webinar please go to the event address at
https://educateevents.webex.com/educateevents/onstage/g.php?MTID=e0ff2dd5c36144d0f8e4ba71d69d03484.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 21, 2017.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: October 24, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Miller, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W205, Washington, DC 20202-
5960. Or by email: [email protected].
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The American History and Civics Education--
National Activities Grants Program promotes innovative instruction,
learning strategies, and professional development in American history,
civics and government, and geography, with an emphasis on activities
and programs that benefit low-income students and underserved
populations.
Background: This competition provides funding to support the
development, implementation, expansion, evaluation, and dissemination
of evidence-based instructional approaches and professional development
activities and programs in American history, civics and government, and
geography in elementary and secondary schools. This competition
includes an absolute priority for projects serving high-need students
to help these students improve learning outcomes for these students.
This competition includes an absolute priority for projects that show
potential to improve student achievement in, and teaching of, these
subjects, and that demonstrate innovation, scalability, accountability,
and a focus on underserved populations. Additionally, we include a
competitive preference priority for projects that leverage technology
to support professional development and instructional practice, which
may lead to increased student engagement and help accelerate learning.
This competition also includes a requirement for applicants to
propose project-specific performance measures and performance targets
consistent with the objectives of the proposed project. Applications
must provide information on these measures and targets under 34 CFR
75.110(b) and (c).
Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and one
competitive preference priority. In accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(iv), the absolute priority is from section 2233(b) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every
Student Succeeds Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. 6663. The competitive preference
priority is from the notice of final supplemental priorities and
definitions for discretionary grant programs published in the Federal
Register on December 10, 2014 (79 FR 73425) (Supplemental Priorities).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2017 and any subsequent year in which we
make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.
This priority is:
Absolute Priority 1--Innovative Instruction or Professional
Development in American History, Civics and Government, and Geography.
Under this priority, we provide funding to projects that are
designed to develop, implement, expand, evaluate, and disseminate for
voluntary use, innovative, evidence-based approaches or professional
development programs in American history, civics and government, and
geography. To meet this priority, a project must:
(i) Show potential to improve the quality of student achievement
in, and teaching of, American history, civics and government, or
geography, in elementary schools and secondary schools; and
(ii) Demonstrate innovation, scalability, accountability, and a
focus on underserved populations.
In addressing this priority, a project may include:
(i) Hands-on civic engagement activities for teachers and students;
and
(ii) Programs that educate students about the history and
principles of the
[[Page 31957]]
Constitution of the United States, including the Bill of Rights.
Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2017 and any subsequent
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications
from this competition, this priority is a competitive preference
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to an additional 10
points to an application that addresses this Competitive Preference
Priority, depending on how well the application addresses this
competitive preference priority.
This priority is:
Competitive Preference Priority 1-- Leveraging Technology To
Support Instructional Practice and Professional Development. (up to 10
points)
Under this priority, we provide funding to projects that are
designed to leverage technology through one or more of the following:
(a) Using high-speed internet access and devices to increase
students' and educators' access to high-quality accessible digital
tools, assessments, and materials, particularly Open Educational
Resources;
(b) Implementing high-quality accessible digital tools,
assessments, and materials that are aligned with rigorous college- and
career-ready standards;
(c) Implementing high-quality, accessible online courses, online
learning communities, or online simulations, such as those for which
educators could earn professional development credit or continuing
education units through Digital Credentials based on demonstrated
mastery of competencies and performance-based outcomes, instead of
traditional time-based metrics; and
(d) Using data platforms that enable the development,
visualization, and rapid analysis of data to inform and improve
learning outcomes, while also protecting privacy in accordance with
applicable laws.
Definitions: The following definitions apply to this competition.
We are establishing the definitions for ``demonstrates a rationale,''
``evidence-based,'' ``experimental study,'' ``logic model,'' ``moderate
evidence,'' ``project component,'' ``promising evidence,'' ``quasi-
experimental design study,'' ``relevant outcome,'' ``strong evidence,''
and ``What Works Clearinghouse Handbook'' for the FY 2017 grant
competition only, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, 20
U.S.C. 1232(d)(1). The definitions for ``digital credentials'' and
``open education resources'' are from the Supplemental Priorities. The
definitions of ``ambitious'' and ``baseline'' are from 34 CFR part 77.
Ambitious means promoting continued, meaningful improvement for
program participants or for other individuals or entities affected by
the grant, or representing a significant advancement in the field of
education research, practices, or methodologies. When used to describe
a performance target, whether a performance target is ambitious depends
upon the context of the relevant performance measure and the baseline
for that measure.
Baseline means the starting point from which performance is
measured and targets are set.
Demonstrates a rationale means a key project component included in
the project's logic model is informed by research or evaluation
findings that suggest the project component is likely to improve
relevant outcomes.
Evidence-based means the proposed project component is supported by
one or more of strong evidence, moderate evidence, promising evidence,
or evidence that demonstrates a rationale.
Digital credentials means evidence of mastery of specific
competencies or performance-based abilities, provided in digital rather
than physical medium (such as through digital badges). These digital
credentials may then be used to supplement or satisfy continuing
education or professional development requirements.
Experimental study means a study that is designed to compare
outcomes between two groups of individuals (such as students) that are
otherwise equivalent except for their assignment to either a treatment
group receiving a project component or a control group that does not.
Randomized controlled trials, regression discontinuity design studies,
and single-case design studies are the specific types of experimental
studies that, depending on their design and implementation (e.g.,
sample attrition in randomized controlled trials and regression
discontinuity design studies), can meet What Works Clearinghouse (WWC)
standards without reservations as described in the WWC Handbook
(incorporated by reference, see 34 CFR 77.2):
A. A randomized controlled trial employs random assignment of, for
example, students, teachers, classrooms, or schools to receive the
project component being evaluated (the treatment group) or not to
receive the project component (the control group).
B. A regression discontinuity design study assigns the project
component being evaluated using a measured variable (e.g., assigning
students reading below a cutoff score to tutoring or developmental
education classes) and controls for that variable in the analysis of
outcomes.
C. A single-case design study uses observations of a single case
(e.g., a student eligible for a behavioral intervention) over time in
the absence and presence of a controlled treatment manipulation to
determine whether the outcome is systematically related to the
treatment.
Logic model (also referred to as a theory of action) means a
framework that identifies key project components of the proposed
project (i.e., the active ``ingredients'' that are hypothesized to be
critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the
theoretical and operational relationships among the key project
components and relevant outcomes.
Moderate evidence means that there is evidence of effectiveness of
a key project component in improving a relevant outcome for a sample
that overlaps with the populations or settings proposed to receive that
component, based on a relevant finding from one of the following:
(a) A practice guide prepared by the WWC using version 2.1 or 3.0
of the WWC Handbook reporting a ``strong evidence base'' or ``moderate
evidence base'' for the corresponding practice guide recommendation;
(b) An intervention report prepared by the WWC using version 2.1 or
3.0 of the WWC Handbook reporting a ``positive effect'' or
``potentially positive effect'' on a relevant outcome based on a
``medium to large'' extent of evidence, with no reporting of a
``negative effect'' or ``potentially negative effect'' on a relevant
outcome; or
(c) A single experimental study or quasi-experimental design study
reviewed and reported by the WWC using version 2.1 or 3.0 of the WWC
Handbook, or otherwise assessed by the Department using version 3.0 of
the WWC Handbook, as appropriate, and that--
(i) Meets WWC standards with or without reservations;
(ii) Includes at least one statistically significant and positive
(i.e., favorable) effect on a relevant outcome;
(iii) Includes no overriding statistically significant and negative
effects on relevant outcomes reported in the study or in a
corresponding WWC intervention report prepared under version 2.1 or 3.0
of the WWC Handbook; and
(iv) Is based on a sample from more than one site (e.g., State,
county, city, school district, or postsecondary campus) and includes at
least 350 students or other individuals across
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sites. Multiple studies of the same project component that each meet
requirements (i), (ii), and (iii) may together satisfy this
requirement.
Open educational resources means teaching, learning, and research
resources that reside in the public domain or have been released under
an intellectual property license that permits their free use and
repurposing by others.
Project component means an activity, strategy, intervention,
process, product, practice, or policy included in a project. Evidence
may pertain to an individual project component or to a combination of
project components (e.g., training teachers on instructional practices
for English learners and follow-on coaching for these teachers).
Promising evidence means that there is evidence of the
effectiveness of a key project component in improving a relevant
outcome, based on a relevant finding from one of the following:
(a) A practice guide prepared by WWC reporting a ``strong evidence
base'' or ``moderate evidence base'' for the corresponding practice
guide recommendation;
(b) An intervention report prepared by the WWC reporting a
``positive effect'' or ``potentially positive effect'' on a relevant
outcome with no reporting of a ``negative effect'' or ``potentially
negative effect'' on a relevant outcome; or
(c) A single study assessed by the Department, as appropriate,
that--
(i) Is an experimental study, a quasi-experimental design study, or
a well-designed and well-implemented correlational study with
statistical controls for selection bias (e.g., a study using regression
methods to account for differences between a treatment group and a
comparison group); and
(ii) Includes at least one statistically significant and positive
(i.e., favorable) effect on a relevant outcome.
Quasi-experimental design study means a study using a design that
attempts to approximate an experimental study by identifying a
comparison group that is similar to the treatment group in important
respects. This type of study, depending on design and implementation
(e.g., establishment of baseline equivalence of the groups being
compared), can meet WWC standards with reservations, but cannot meet
WWC standards without reservations, as described in the WWC Handbook.
Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) or other outcome(s)
the key project component is designed to improve, consistent with the
specific goals of the program.
Strong evidence means that there is evidence of the effectiveness
of a key project component in improving a relevant outcome for a sample
that overlaps with the populations and settings proposed to receive
that component, based on a relevant finding from one of the following:
(a) A practice guide prepared by the WWC using version 2.1 or 3.0
of the WWC Handbook reporting a ``strong evidence base'' for the
corresponding practice guide recommendation;
(b) An intervention report prepared by the WWC using version 2.1 or
3.0 of the WWC Handbook reporting a ``positive effect'' on a relevant
outcome based on a ``medium to large'' extent of evidence, with no
reporting of a ``negative effect'' or ``potentially negative effect''
on a relevant outcome; or
(c) A single experimental study reviewed and reported by the WWC
using version 2.1 or 3.0 of the WWC Handbook, or otherwise assessed by
the Department using version 3.0 of the WWC Handbook, as appropriate,
and that--
(i) Meets WWC standards without reservations;
(ii) Includes at least one statistically significant and positive
(i.e., favorable) effect on a relevant outcome;
(iii) Includes no overriding statistically significant and negative
effects on relevant outcomes reported in the study or in a
corresponding WWC intervention report prepared under version 2.1 or 3.0
of the WWC Handbook; and
(iv) Is based on a sample from more than one site (e.g., State,
county, city, school district, or postsecondary campus) and includes at
least 350 students or other individuals across sites. Multiple studies
of the same project component that each meet requirements (i), (ii),
and (iii) may together satisfy this requirement.
What Works Clearinghouse Handbook means the standards and
procedures set forth in the WWC Procedures and Standards Handbook,
Version 3.0, March 2014, or Version 2.1, September 2011, which can be
found at the following link: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Handbooks
(incorporated by reference, see 34 CFR 77.2). Study findings eligible
for review under WWC standards can meet WWC standards without
reservations, meet WWC standards with reservations, or not meet WWC
standards. WWC practice guides and intervention reports include
findings from systematic reviews of evidence as described in the
Handbook documentation.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure
Act (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department generally offers interested parties
the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities, definitions, and
other requirements. Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, however, allows the
Secretary to exempt from rulemaking requirements, regulations governing
the first grant competition under a new or substantially revised
program authority. This grant competition is the first for the American
History and Civics National Activities program under 20 U.S.C. 6663 and
therefore qualifies for this exemption. In order to ensure timely grant
awards, the Secretary has decided to forgo public comment on the
definitions under section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. These definitions will
apply to the FY 2017 grant competition only.
Program Authority: Section 2233 of the ESEA.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86,
97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in
2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR
part 3474. (d) The Secretary's Supplemental Priorities published in the
Federal Register on December 10, 2014 (79 FR 73425).
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: $1,700,000.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from
the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000-$700,000 per year.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $500,000 per year.
Estimated Number of Awards: 2-7.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to three years, with renewal of up two
additional years if the grantee demonstrates to the Secretary that the
grantee is effectively using funds.
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III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: An institution of higher education or other
nonprofit or for-profit organization with demonstrated expertise in the
development of evidence-based approaches with the potential to improve
the quality of American history, civics and government, or geography
learning and teaching.
Note: If multiple eligible entities wish to form a consortium
and jointly submit a single application, they must follow the
procedures for group applications described in 34 CFR 75.127 through
34 CFR 75.129.
2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require any
cost sharing or matching.
b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-
supplant funding requirements. In accordance with section 2301 of the
ESEA, funds made available under this program must be used to
supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local funds
that would otherwise be expended to carry out activities under this
program.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: Christine Miller, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W205,
Washington, DC 20202-5970. Telephone: (202) 260-7350 or by email:
[email protected].
If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-
8339.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an accessible format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape,
or compact disc) by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content and form of an application, together with the
forms you must submit, are in the application package for this
competition.
The Department will be able to develop a more efficient process for
reviewing grant applications if it has a better understanding of the
number of entities that intend to apply for funding under this
competition. Therefore, the Secretary strongly encourages each
potential applicant to notify the Department by sending a short email
message indicating the applicant's intent to submit an application for
funding. The email need not include information regarding the content
of the proposed application, only the applicant's intent to submit it.
You should send this email notification to: [email protected].
Applicants that do not provide this email notification may still apply
for funding.
Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application)
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that
reviewers use to evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1)
limit the application narrative to no more than 50 pages, and (2) use
the following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial.
The recommended page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover
sheet; Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget
justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-
page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of
support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the
application narrative.
b. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of
projects that may be proposed in applications for the American History
and Civics Education--National Activities Grants Program, your
application may include business information that you consider
proprietary. In 34 CFR 5.11 we define ``business information'' and
describe the process we use in determining whether any of that
information is proprietary and, thus, protected from disclosure under
Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552, as
amended).
Because we plan to post the project narrative section of funded
American History and Civics Education--National Activities Grants
Program applications on our Web site, you may wish to request
confidentiality of business information.
Consistent with Executive Order 12600, please designate in your
application any information that you feel is exempt from disclosure
under Exemption 4. In the appropriate Appendix section of your
application, under ``Other Attachments Form,'' please list the page
number or numbers on which we can find this information. For additional
information please see 34 CFR 5.11(c).
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: July 11, 2017.
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: August 10, 2017.
Date of Pre-Application Webinars: July 18, 2017.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 21, 2017.
Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). 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 Other Submission Requirements in section
IV 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. 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:
October 24, 2017.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order
12372 is in the application package for this program.
5. Funding Restrictions: We specify unallowable costs in 2 CFR 200,
subpart E. We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in
the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, and System for Award Management: To do business with the
Department of Education, you must--
a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the System for Award
Management (SAM), the Government's primary registrant database;
c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
d. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information
while your application is under review
[[Page 31960]]
by the Department and, if you are awarded a grant, during the project
period.
You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet at the
following Web site: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. A DUNS 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 into 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 DUNS number and TIN. We
strongly recommend that you register early.
Note: Once your SAM registration is active, it may be 24 to 48
hours before you can access the information in, and submit an
application through, Grants.gov.
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 DUNS 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 www.SAM.gov. To further
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov,
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the
following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.
7. 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 American History and Civics Education--National Activities
Grants Program, CFDA number 84.422B, must be submitted electronically
using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov.
Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the
application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit
your application. You may not email an electronic copy of a grant
application to us.
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.
You may access the electronic grant application for the American
History and Civics Education_National Activities Grants Program at
www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application
package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the
CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.422, not
84.422B).
Please note the following:
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation.
Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date.
The amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the
application and the speed of your internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
You should review and follow the Education Submission
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures
pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5
system home page at www.G5.gov. In addition, for specific guidance and
procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov, please
refer to the Grants.gov Web site at: www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.
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 upload any narrative sections and all other
attachments to your application as files in a read-only, flattened
Portable Document Format (PDF), meaning any fillable PDF documents must
be saved as flattened non-fillable files. Therefore, do not upload an
interactive or fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than
a read-only, flattened PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or
submit a password-protected file, we will not review that material.
Please note that this could result in your application not being
considered for funding because the material in question--for example,
the application narrative--is critical to a meaningful review of your
proposal. For that reason it is important to allow yourself adequate
time to upload all material as PDF files. The Department will not
convert material from other formats to PDF. There is no need to
password protect a file in order to meet the requirement to submit a
read-only flattened PDF. And, as noted above, the Department will not
review password-protected files.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. This notification indicates
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department. Grants.gov
will also notify you automatically by email if your application met all
the Grants.gov validation requirements or if there were any errors
(such as submission of your application by someone other than a
registered Authorized Organization Representative, or inclusion of an
attachment with a file name that contains special characters). You will
be given an opportunity to correct any
[[Page 31961]]
errors and resubmit, but you must still meet the deadline for
submission of applications.
Once your application is successfully validated by Grants.gov, the
Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you
an email with a unique PR/Award number for your application.
These emails do not mean that your application is without any
disqualifying errors. While your application may have been successfully
validated by Grants.gov, it must also meet the Department's application
requirements as specified in this notice and in the application
instructions. Disqualifying errors could include, for instance, failure
to submit a required part of the application; or failure to meet
applicant eligibility requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure
that your submitted application has met all of the Department's
requirements.
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline date because of technical
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT and provide an explanation
of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with
the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. We will accept your
application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with
the Grants.gov system and that the problem affected your ability to
submit your application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date. We will contact you after we determine
whether your application will be accepted.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the
Grants.gov system.
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 the Grants.gov system because--
You do not have access to the internet; or
You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to
the Grants.gov system; 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: Christine Miller, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W205,
Washington, DC 20202-5960. FAX: (202) 205-5630.
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 84.422B), 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.
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 Number 84.422B), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, 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, 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 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
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are
from 34 CFR 75.210. An applicant may earn up to a total of 100 points
based on the selection criteria. The maximum score for addressing each
criterion is indicated in parentheses.
A. Quality of the Project Design. (35 points) The Secretary
considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In
determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the
Secretary considers the following factors--
(i) The extent to which the proposed project represents an
exceptional
[[Page 31962]]
approach to the priority or priorities established for the competition.
(ii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the
proposed project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for
maximizing the effectiveness of project services.
(iii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project
reflects up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice.
B. Significance. (20 points) The Secretary considers the
significance of the proposed project. In determining the significance
of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build
local capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the
needs of the target population.
(ii) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely
to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in
teaching and student achievement.
(iii) The extent to which the results of the proposed project are
to be disseminated in ways that will enable others to use the
information or strategies.
C. Quality of the Management Plan. (20 points) The Secretary
considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project.
In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing
project tasks.
(ii) The extent to which the time commitments of the project
director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed
project.
D. Quality of the Project Evaluation. (25 points) The Secretary
considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed
project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and
qualitative data to the extent possible.
(ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward
achieving intended outcomes.
2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition,
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary
requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal civil
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department of Education
(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
3. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.205, before awarding grants under this competition the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR
3474.10, the Secretary may impose special conditions and, in
appropriate circumstances, high-risk conditions on a grant if the
applicant or grantee is not financially stable; has a history of
unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or other management system
that does not meet the standards in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not
fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not
responsible.
4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently
$150,000) under 2 CFR 200.205(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your
integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal
awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make
an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that
is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as
the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System
(FAPIIS)), accessible through SAM. You may review and comment on any
information about yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and
that is currently in FAPIIS.
Please note that, if the total value of your currently active
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal
funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to
access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally,
also.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition,
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the
Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting,
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
(c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee
with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. In
this case the Secretary establishes a data collection period.
4. Performance Measures: (a) The Department has established the
following Government Performance and
[[Page 31963]]
Results Act of 1993 performance objective for the American History and
Civics Education--National Activities Grants Program:
Participants will demonstrate through pre- and post-assessments an
increased understanding of American history, civics and government, and
geography.
We will track performance on this objective through the following
measure:
The average percentage gains on an assessment after participation
in the grant activities.
We advise an applicant for a grant under this program to give
careful consideration to this measure in conceptualizing the approach
and evaluation of its proposed project. Each grantee will be required
to provide, in its annual and final performance reports, data about its
performance with respect to this measure.
(b) Project-Specific Performance Measures. Applicants must propose
project-specific performance measures and performance targets
consistent with the objectives of the proposed project. Applications
must provide the following information as directed under 34 CFR
75.110(b) and (c):
(1) Performance measures. How each proposed performance measure
would accurately measure the performance of the project and how the
proposed performance measure would be consistent with the performance
measures established for the program funding the competition.
(2) Baseline data. (i) Why each proposed baseline is valid; or (ii)
if the applicant has determined that there are no established baseline
data for a particular performance measure, an explanation of why there
is no established baseline and of how and when, during the project
period, the applicant would establish a valid baseline for the
performance measure.
(3) Performance targets. Why each proposed performance target is
ambitious yet achievable compared to the baseline for the performance
measure and when, during the project period, the applicant would meet
the performance target(s).
(4) Data collection and reporting. (i) The data collection and
reporting methods the applicant would use and why those methods are
likely to yield reliable, valid, and meaningful performance data; and
(ii) the applicant's capacity to collect and report reliable, valid,
and meaningful performance data, as evidenced by high-quality data
collection, analysis, and reporting in other projects or research.
All grantees must submit an annual performance report with
information that is responsive to these performance measures.
5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: whether a grantee
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the
Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the
performance targets in the grantee's approved application.
In making a continuation award, the Secretary also considers
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format
(e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to
the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or PDF. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat
Reader, which is available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at:
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Dated: July 6, 2017.
Margo Anderson,
Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2017-14511 Filed 7-10-17; 8:45 am]
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