[Federal Register: December 28, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 248)]
[Notices]
[Page 73790-73796]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28de07-77]
Download: 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Overview
Information: Early Reading First Program; Notice Inviting Applications
for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.359A and
B.
DATES: Applications Available: December 28, 2007.
Deadline for Transmittal of Pre-Applications: February 1, 2008.
Deadline for Transmittal of Full Applications: April 18, 2008 (for
applicants invited to submit full applications only).
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 16, 2008.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: This program supports local efforts to enhance
the oral language, cognitive, and early reading skills of preschool-
aged children, especially those from low-income families, through
strategies, materials, and professional development that are grounded
in scientifically based reading research.
The specific activities for which recipients must use grant funds
are identified in section 1222(d) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). This and other relevant
provisions of the ESEA are included in the application package.
Priorities: This competition includes one competitive preference
priority and three invitational priorities.
Competitive Preference Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(ii), this priority is from Sec. 75.225 of the Education
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), which apply to
this program (34 CFR 75.225).
Competitive Preference Priority--Novice Applicant
For FY 2008 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from
the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, this priority is
a competitive preference priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we
award an additional five (5) points to a pre-application and an
additional five (5) points to a full application that meets this
competitive preference priority.
This priority is:
Novice Applicant
The applicant must be a ``novice applicant'' as defined in 34 CFR
75.225.
Under this competition we are particularly interested in
applications that address the following invitational priorities.
Invitational Priorities: For FY 2008 and any subsequent year in
which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this
competition, these priorities are invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application that meets these
invitational priorities a competitive or absolute preference over other
applications.
These priorities are:
Invitational Priority 1--Intensity
The Secretary is especially interested in preschool programs that
operate full-time, full-year early childhood educational programs, at a
minimum of 6.5 hours per day, 5 days per week, 46 weeks per year, and
that serve children for the two consecutive years prior to their entry
into kindergarten.
Scientifically based research on increasing the effectiveness of
early childhood education programs serving children from low-income
families tells us that children attending such programs that have a
greater intensity of service make higher and more persistent gains in
the language and cognitive domains than children who attend early
childhood programs that have lesser intensity of service. In other
words, children who spend more time in high-quality early childhood
education programs learn more than children who spend less time in
those programs. The purpose of this invitational priority is to
encourage preschool programs supported with Early Reading First funds
to provide services that are of a sufficient duration and intensity to
maximize language and early literacy gains for children enrolled in
those programs.
Invitational Priority 2--English Language Acquisition Plan
For applicants serving children with limited English proficiency,
the Secretary is especially interested in applications that include a
specific plan for the development of English language proficiency for
these children from the start of their preschool experience. The Early
Reading First program is designed
[[Page 73791]]
to prepare children to enter kindergarten with the necessary cognitive,
early language, and literacy skills for success in school. School
success often is dependent on each child entering kindergarten as
proficient as possible in English so that the child is ready to benefit
from formal reading instruction in English when he or she starts
school.
Note: The term ``limited English proficient'' is defined in
section 9101(25) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7801(25)). That definition
is included in the application package.
An English language acquisition plan should, at a minimum: (1)
Include a description of the applicant's approach to the development of
language, based on the linguistic factors or skills that serve as the
foundation for a strong language base, which foundation is a necessary
precursor for success in the development of pre-literacy and literacy
skills for children with limited English proficiency; (2) explain the
instructional strategies, based on best available valid and reliable
research, that the applicant will use to address English language
acquisition in a multi-lingual classroom; (3) describe how the project
will facilitate the children's transition to English proficiency
through such means as the use of environmental print in appropriate
multiple languages and hiring bilingual teachers, paraprofessionals, or
translators to work in the preschool classroom; (4) include intensive
professional development for instructors and paraprofessionals on the
development of English language proficiency; and (5) include a timeline
that describes benchmarks for the introduction of the development of
English language proficiency and use of measurement tools.
Ideally, at least one instructional staff member in each Early
Reading First classroom should be dual-language proficient in a child's
first language and in English to facilitate the children's
understanding of instruction and transition to English proficiency. At
a minimum, each classroom should include a teacher who is proficient in
English.
Invitational Priority 3--Faith-based Organizations
The Secretary is especially interested in applications that propose
to engage faith-based and community organizations in the delivery of
services under this program.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6371-6376.
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.
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 grant.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$117,666,000 for awards for the Early Reading First program for FY
2008, of which we intend to use an estimated $116,489,340 for this
competition. 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 before the end of the current
fiscal year if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2009 from the list of
unfunded applicants from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $1,500,000-$4,500,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $3,000,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 25-77.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Under this competition, eligible applicants
are (a) one or more local educational agencies (LEAs), including
charter schools that are considered LEAs under State law, that are
eligible to receive a subgrant under the Reading First program (Title
I, Part B, Subpart 1 of the ESEA; (b) one or more public or private
organizations or agencies (including faith-based organizations) located
in a community served by an eligible LEA; or (c) one or more eligible
LEAs, applying in collaboration with one or more eligible organizations
or agencies. To qualify under paragraph (b) of this definition, the
organization's or agency's application must be on behalf of one or more
programs that serve preschool-aged children (such as a Head Start
program, a child care program, a family literacy program such as Even
Start, or a lab school at a university), unless the organization or
agency itself operates a preschool program.
Lists, by State, of LEAs that qualify under paragraph (a) of this
definition for this FY 2008 competition are posted on the Early Reading
First Web site at http://www.ed.gov/programs/earlyreading/eligibility.html.
These lists are based on the most recent information
provided by each State and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) to the
Department's Reading First program, and are posted for the convenience
of Early Reading First applicants. However, we consider it to be each
applicant's responsibility to verify with the Reading First office in
its State, or with the BIE, as appropriate, whether a particular LEA is
eligible to receive a subgrant under the Reading First program as of
the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. A list
of State and BIE contacts for this purpose is also posted at the Early
Reading First Web site at http://www.ed.govprograms/earlyreading/eligibility.html.
Eligibility determination date: The date governing whether an LEA
is eligible to receive a subgrant under the Reading First program is
the date of publication in the Federal Register of this notice inviting
applications for new awards under the Early Reading First program for
FY 2008.
Required submission of eligibility information: Each applicant must
complete as follows and submit with its pre-application for this
competition Pre-Application Form A, Applicant Eligibility, which is
included in the application package:
LEAs included on a posted eligibility list: If the LEA on
which you, the applicant, are basing your Early Reading First
eligibility is included on the State's Reading First subgrant
eligibility list posted on the Early Reading First Web site, you must
complete Section I of Pre-Application Form A (Applicant Eligibility)
and submit that form with your pre-application.
LEAs not included on a posted eligibility list: If the LEA
on which you, the applicant, are basing your Early Reading First
eligibility is not included on the State's Reading First subgrant
eligibility list posted on the Early Reading First Web site, you must
complete both Section I and Section II of Pre-Application Form A
(Applicant Eligibility) and submit that form with your pre-application.
Section II requires you to verify with your State's Reading First
office, or the BIE, as appropriate, that the LEA is in fact eligible to
receive a Reading First subgrant as of the date of publication in the
Federal Register of this notice. You must also submit the name of, and
contact information for, the person with whom you verified that
information. If you are invited to submit
[[Page 73792]]
a full application and we are unable to verify the LEA's eligibility
from the contact information that you have provided, we may not
consider the LEA as an eligible LEA for the purposes of this
competition or we may require you to submit additional written
information demonstrating eligibility.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You can access the
electronic grant application for the Early Reading First Program at
http://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 84.359, not
84.359A or B). You also can obtain a copy from the Education
Publications Center (ED Pubs). 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 package from ED Pubs, be sure to
identify this program or competition as follows: CFDA numbers 84.359A
and B.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the program contact
person or team listed under Alternative Format in section VIII of this
notice.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of the pre-application and the full application,
together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package
for this competition.
Pre-Application: All applicants must apply in the pre-application
phase; as explained in the application package, only selected
applicants will be invited to submit a full application.
Page Limits: You must include in Part I of the pre- and full
applications an Abstract briefly describing your proposed project. You
must limit each Abstract to one (1) page.
The pre-application narrative and the full application narrative
for this program (Part II of the pre- and full applications) are where
you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use
to evaluate your pre- and full applications. You must limit Part II of
the pre-application to the equivalent of no more than twelve (12) pages
and Part II of the full application to no more than thirty-five (35)
pages.
Part III of the pre-application is where you, the applicant,
provide the Appendices. Pre-application Appendices are limited to the
following: A list and a brief description of the existing preschool
programs that the proposed Early Reading First project would support;
an English language acquisition plan, if applicable; and endnote
citations for research cited specifically in the pre-application
narrative. You must limit the list and the brief description of the
existing preschool programs to the equivalent of no more than five (5)
pages. You must limit any English language acquisition plan to the
equivalent of no more than two (2) pages. No page limit applies to the
pre-application endnote citations.
Part III of the full application is where you, the applicant,
provide a budget narrative that reviewers use to evaluate your full
application. You must limit the budget narrative in Part III of the
full application to the equivalent of no more than five (5) pages.
Part IV of the full application is where you, the applicant,
provide the Appendices. Full application Appendices are limited to the
following: A list and a brief description of the existing preschool
programs that the proposed Early Reading First project would support;
an English language acquisition plan, if applicable; position
descriptions (and resumes or curriculum vitae if available) for up to
five (5) key personnel; endnote citations for research cited
specifically in the full application narrative; and documentation
demonstrating the stakeholder support for the project. You must limit
the list and the brief description of the existing preschool programs
to the equivalent of no more than five (5) pages. You must limit each
resume or curriculum vitae to the equivalent of no more than three (3)
pages each, and limit the documentation demonstrating stakeholder
support for the project to the equivalent of no more than five (5)
pages. You must limit any English language acquisition plan to the
equivalent of no more than five (5) pages.
For all page limits, 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 and budget narratives, including titles,
headings, quotations, references, and captions included in the body of
the narrative.
Text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs may be single-
spaced.
Use the Modern Language Association (MLA) standard to
format endnotes.
Use one of the following commonly used 12-point fonts,
including for text in endnotes, charts, tables, figures, and graphs:
Times New Roman, Times, Courier, or CG Times.
The page limits do not apply to any title page or table of
contents, or the forms in Part I of the pre- and full applications; or
the following portions of the full application: the budget form (ED
Form 524) in Part III; or the assurances and certifications and the
endnotes in Part IV.
Our reviewers will not read any pages of your pre-application or
full application that exceed the page limit if you apply these
standards; or exceed the equivalent of the page limit if you apply
other standards.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: December 28, 2007.
Deadline for Transmittal of Pre-Applications: February 1, 2008.
Deadline for Transmittal of Full Applications: April 18, 2008 (for
applicants invited to submit full applications only).
Pre- and full 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 section IV. 6. Other Submission
Requirements in 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
in 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: June 16, 2008.
[[Page 73793]]
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 in this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements: Pre- and full 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.
Pre- and full applications for grants under the Early Reading First
program, CFDA Number 84.359A (pre-application) and CFDA Number 84.359B
(full application), must be submitted electronically using the
Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at http://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 pre- or
full application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant
application to us.
We will reject your pre- or full 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 pre- or full
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 pre- or full
application deadline date is provided later in this section under
Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
You may access the electronic grant application for the Early
Reading First competition at http://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 84.359, not 84.359A).
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 pre- and full applications must be fully uploaded and
submitted and must be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no
later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the pre- or full
application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in this section,
we will not consider your pre- or full application if it is date and
time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30 p.m., Washington,
DC time, on the pre- or full application deadline date. When we
retrieve your pre- or full application from Grants.gov, we will notify
you if we are rejecting your pre- or full application because it was
date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, on the pre- or full 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 pre- or full
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 pre- and any full application in a timely manner to the
Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education Submission
Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov at
http://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
To submit your pre- or full application via Grants.gov,
you must complete all steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp). These steps
include (1) registering your organization, a multi-part process that
includes registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR); (2)
registering yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative
(AOR); and (3) getting authorized as an AOR by your organization.
Details on these steps are outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step
Registration Guide (see
http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf).
You also must provide on your pre-
and full application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this
registration. Please note that the registration process may take five
or more business days to complete, and you must have completed all
registration steps to allow you to submit successfully a pre- or full
application via Grants.gov. In addition you will need to update your
CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take three or more
business days to complete.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your pre- or full 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 pre- or full application in paper format.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
all information you typically provide on the following forms:
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. Please note that two of these forms--the SF 424 and the
Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424--have
replaced the ED 424 (Application for Federal Education Assistance).
You must attach any narrative sections of your pre- and
full applications 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 pre- and full applications must comply
with any page-limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your pre- or full
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.) The Department then will retrieve your pre- or full
application from Grants.gov and send a second notification to you by e-
mail. This second notification indicates that the Department has
received your pre- or full application and has assigned your pre- or
full application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying number
unique to your pre- or full application).
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 pre- or full 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.
[[Page 73794]]
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your pre- or
full application on the pre- or full application deadline date because
of technical problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an
extension until 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business
day to enable you to transmit your pre- or full application
electronically or by hand delivery. You also may mail your pre- and
full applications by following the mailing instructions described
elsewhere in this notice.
If you submit a pre- or full application after 4:30 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, on the pre- or full application deadline date,
please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
in section VII in this notice 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 pre- or full
application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with
the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your ability to
submit your pre- or full application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time,
on the pre- or full application deadline date. The Department will
contact you after a determination is made on whether your pre- or full
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. We will not grant you an extension if you failed
to fully register to submit your pre- or full application to
Grants.gov before the pre- or full application deadline date and
time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the
Grants.gov system.
Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your
pre- or full application in paper format, if you are unable to submit a
pre- or full 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 pre- or full
application deadline date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth
calendar day before the pre- or full 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 prevent you from
using the Internet to submit your pre- or full application.
If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be
postmarked no later than two weeks before the pre- or full 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
pre- or full application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: Pilla Parker, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3C136,
Washington, DC 20202-6132. FAX: (202) 260-7764; or Rebecca Marek, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3C138,
Washington, DC 20202-6132. FAX: (202) 260-7764.
Your paper pre- or full 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 pre- or full application to the Department.
You must mail the original and two copies of your pre- or full
application, on or before the pre- or full application deadline date,
to the Department at the applicable following address:
By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Numbers 84.359A
and B), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260.
or
By mail through a commercial carrier: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Numbers 84.359A
and B), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.
Regardless of which address you use, 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 pre-or full 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 pre-or full application is postmarked after the pre-or full
application deadline date, we will not consider your pre-or full
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 pre-or
full application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the
original and two copies of your pre-or full application by hand, on or
before the pre-or full application deadline date, to the Department at
the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application
Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Numbers 84.359A and B), 550 12th
Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-
4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 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 pre-or full 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 the
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are
submitting your pre-or full application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you notification of
receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this
notification within 15 business days from the pre-or full 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: This competition has separate selection
criteria for pre-applications and full applications.
A. Pre-application: The following selection criteria for this
competition for the pre-application are from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR.
Further information about each of these selection criteria is in the
application package. There are two selection criteria, Need for Project
and Quality of the Project Design. The maximum score for the pre-
application selection criteria is 100 points.
(i) Need for project (0-20 points)
The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In
determining the
[[Page 73795]]
need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following
factors:
(a) The extent to which the proposed project will provide services
or otherwise address the needs of students at risk of educational
failure. (34 CFR 75.210(a)(2)(iii))
(b) The extent to which the proposed project will focus on serving
or otherwise addressing the needs of disadvantaged individuals. (34 CFR
75.210(a)(2)(iv))
(ii) Quality of the project design (0-80 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:
(a) The extent to which the design of the proposed project reflects
up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice. (34 CFR
75.210(c)(2)(xiii))
(b) The extent to which the proposed project represents an
exceptional approach for meeting statutory purposes and requirements.
(34 CFR 75.210(c)(2)(xiv))
(c) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated
with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community,
State, and Federal resources. (34 CFR 75.210(c)(2)(xvi))
B. Full Application: The following selection criteria for those
invited to submit full applications are from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR.
Further information about each of these selection criteria is in the
application package. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated
after the title of the criterion. The maximum score for the full
application selection criteria is 100 points.
(i) Quality of the project design (0-60 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:
(a) The extent to which the design of the proposed project reflects
up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice. (34 CFR
75.210(c)(2)(xiii))
(b) The extent to which the proposed project represents an
exceptional approach for meeting statutory purposes and requirements.
(34 CFR 75.210(c)(2)(xiv))
(c) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated
with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community,
State, and Federal resources. (34 CFR 75.210(c)(2)(xvi))
(ii) Quality of project personnel (0-10 points)
The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry
out the proposed project. In determining the quality of project
personnel, the Secretary considers the extent to which the applicant
encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of
groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race,
color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (34 CFR
75.210(e)(1), (2))
In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(a) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of the project director or principal investigator. (34 CFR
75.210(e)(3)(i))
(b) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of key project personnel. (34 CFR 75.210(e)(3)(ii))
(c) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of project consultants or subcontractors. (34 CFR 75.210(e)(3)(iii))
(iii) Adequacy of resources (0-5 points)
The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed
project. In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(a) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in
the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project.
(34 CFR 75.210(f)(2)(ii))
(b) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.
(34 CFR 75.210(f)(2)(iv))
(iv) Quality of the management plan (0-15 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:
(a) 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. (34 CFR 75.210(g)(2)(i))
(b) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous
improvement in the operation of the proposed project. (34 CFR
75.210(g)(2)(ii))
(c) 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. (34 CFR 75.210(g)(2)(iv))
(v) Quality of the project evaluation (0-10 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:
(a) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough,
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the
proposed project. (34 CFR 75.210(h)(2)(i))
(b) 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. (34 CFR 75.210(h)(2)(iv))
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your pre-application is successful, we notify
you in writing and post the list of successful applicants on the Early
Reading First Web site at
http://www.ed.gov/programs/earlyreading/awards.html.
If your full 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 pre-application is not evaluated, or following the
submission of your pre-application you are not invited to submit a full
application, we notify you. If your full 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 in this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section in 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
[[Page 73796]]
frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). Early Reading
First grantees also are required to meet the annual reporting
requirements outlined in section 1225 of the ESEA. For specific
requirements on reporting, please go to:
http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Secretary has established the following
five (5) measures for evaluating the overall effectiveness of the Early
Reading First program: (1) The cost per preschool-aged child
participating in Early Reading First programs who achieves a
significant gain in oral language skills as measured by the Peabody
Picture Vocabulary Test-III, Receptive (PPVT-III, Receptive); (2) the
percentage of preschool-aged children participating in Early Reading
First programs who demonstrate age-appropriate oral language skills as
measured by the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Receptive (PPVT-III,
Receptive); (3) the average number of letters Early Reading First
preschool-aged children are able to identify as measured by the PALS
Pre-K Upper Case Alphabet Knowledge subtask; (4) the percentage of
preschool-aged children participating in Early Reading First programs
who achieve significant gains in oral language skills as measured by
the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Receptive (PPVT-III, Receptive);
and (5) the Early Reading First teachers' average score on the Literacy
Environment Checklist on the Early Language and Literacy Classroom
Observation (ELLCO) Toolkit after each year of implementation.
All grantees must provide information on these performance measures
in the annual performance report referred to in section VI.3. of this
notice.
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pilla Parker, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3C136, Washington, DC 20202-
6132. Telephone: (202) 260-3710 or by e-mail: Pilla.Parker@ed.gov; or
Rebecca Marek, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
room 3C138, Washington, DC 20202-6132. Telephone: (202) 260-0968 or by
e-mail: Rebecca.Marek@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free,
at 1-800-877-8339.
VIII. Other Information
Alternative Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an alternative format
(e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on
request to the program contact persons listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII in 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: December 21, 2007.
Kerri L. Briggs,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. E7-25276 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P