FR Doc 04-23849
[Federal Register: October 25, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 205)]
[Notices]
[Page 62255-62258]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25oc04-38]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Postsecondary Education
Overview Information; Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants
Program--Teacher Quality Enhancement (TQE) Grants for States; Notice
Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.336A.
Dates: Applications Available: October 25, 2004.
Deadline For Transmittal of Applications: December 17, 2004.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: February 15, 2005.
Eligible Applicants: Eligible States, as defined in sections
103(16) and 202(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
(HEA). A State that received a previous grant under this program is not
eligible for a FY 2005 grant. The following States are eligible:
Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Montana, New York, the Commonwealth of
Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$88,887,451 for this program for FY 2005. Of that amount, $39,999,353
would be allocated to TQE Grants for States under current law. Of this,
approximately $30,624,151 would be available for new awards. The
Department has requested appropriations language to override the
statutory requirements that 45 percent of program funds be allocated
for the State program and allow excess funds to be used where unmet
demand for program funds exists. If this request is not approved, the
Department will use funds allocated to Grants to States to provide
additional years of funding for the awardees. The actual level of
funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are
inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant
process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000--$5,000,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $2,038,000 per year.
Estimated Number of Awards: 9.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to provide
grants to promote improvements in the quality of new teachers, with the
ultimate goal of increasing student achievement in the nation's K-12
classrooms. State grants are designed to improve the quality of a
State's teaching force by supporting the implementation of
comprehensive statewide reform activities in areas such as teacher
licensing and certification, accountability for high-quality teacher
preparation, and recruitment.
Priorities: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), these
priorities are taken from the regulations for this program (34 CFR
611.13).
Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2005, these priorities are
competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we
award up to an additional 10 points to an application, depending on how
well the application meets these priorities.
These priorities are:
The Secretary provides a competitive preference on the basis of how
well the State's proposed activities in any one or more of the
following statutory priorities are likely to yield successful and
sustained results: (a) Initiatives to reform State teacher licensure
and certification requirements so that current and future teachers
possess strong teaching skills and academic content knowledge in the
subject areas in which they will be certified or licensed to teach; (b)
innovative reforms to hold higher education institutions with teacher
preparation programs
[[Page 62256]]
accountable for preparing teachers who are highly competent in the
academic content areas and have strong teaching skills; or (c)
innovative efforts to reduce the shortage (including the high turnover)
of highly competent teachers in high-poverty urban and rural areas.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1021 et seq.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81,
82, 84, 85, 97, 98 and 99. (b) The regulations for this program in 34
CFR part 611.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$88,887,451 for this program for FY 2005. Of that amount, $39,999,353
would be allocated to TQE Grants for States under the current law. Of
this, approximately $30,624,151 would be available for new awards. The
Department has requested appropriations language to override the
statutory requirements that 45 percent of program funds be allocated
for the State program and allow excess funds to be used where unmet
demand for program funds exists. If this request is not approved, the
Department will use funds allocated to Grants to States to provide
additional years of funding for the awardees. The actual level of
funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are
inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant
process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000-$5,000,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $2,038,000 per year.
Estimated Number of Awards: 9.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible States, as defined in sections
103(16) and 202(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
(HEA). A State that received a previous grant under this program is not
eligible for a FY 2005 grant. The following States are eligible:
Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Montana, New York, the Commonwealth of
Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: See 34 CFR 611.62.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: Luretha Kelley, U.S.
Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., room 7096, Washington, DC
20006-8526. Telephone: (202) 502-7645 or by e-mail:
luretha.kelley@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may 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 listed in this section.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for this competition. Page
Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, address
the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application.
You must limit the application narrative to the equivalent of no
more than 50 pages. In addition, you must limit the: Accompanying
abstract to the equivalent of no more than one page; work plan to the
equivalent of no more than 10 pages; budget narrative to the equivalent
of no more than 10 pages; and evaluation plan to the equivalent of no
more than 5 pages.
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, work plan, budget narrative and
evaluation plan, 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).
The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II,
the budget forms, the assurances and certifications; the resumes, the
bibliography, or the letters of support.
We will reject your application if--
You apply these standards and exceed the page limit; or
You apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the
page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: October 24,
2004. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: December 17, 2004.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
We are requiring that applications for grants under this program be
submitted electronically using the Electronic Grant Application system
(e-Application) available through the Department's e-GRANTS system. For
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your
application electronically or to request a waiver of the electronic
submission requirement, please refer to Section IV. 6. Other Submission
Requirements in this notice.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: February 15, 2005.
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 competition.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this program must be submitted electronically, unless you request a
waiver of this requirement in accordance with the instructions in this
section.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
Applications for grants under the Teacher Quality Enhancement
Grants Program for States--CFDA Number 84.336A must be submitted
electronically using e-Application available through the Department's
e-Grants system, accessible through the e-Grants portal page at: http://e-grants.ed.gov
.
If you are unable to submit an application through the e-Grants
system, you may submit a written request for a waiver of the electronic
submission requirement. In your request, you should explain the reason
or reasons that prevent you from using the Internet to submit your
application. Address your request to: Luretha Kelley, U.S. Department
of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., room 7096, Washington, DC 20006-8526.
Please submit your request no later than two weeks before the
application deadline date. Your paper application must be submitted in
accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described in
this notice.
If, within two weeks of the application deadline date, including on
the application deadline date itself, you are unable to submit an
application electronically, you must submit a paper application in
accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described
[[Page 62257]]
in this notice. The paper application must include a written request
for a waiver documenting the reasons that prevented you from using the
Internet to submit your application electronically.
While completing your electronic application, you will be entering
data online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an
electronic copy of any part of a grant application to us.
Please note the following:
You must complete the electronic submission of your grant
application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. The e-Application system will not accept an application
for this competition after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do
not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application
process.
The regular hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site
are 6 a.m. Monday until 7 p.m. Wednesday; and 6 a.m. Thursday until
midnight Saturday, Washington, DC time. Please note that the system is
unavailable on Sundays, and between 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6 a.m. on
Thursdays, Washington, DC time, for maintenance. Any modifications to
these hours are posted on the e-Grants Web site.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit the application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you request a waiver and submit the application in paper format
because you were prevented from submitting the application
electronically as required.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
the Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424) and all
necessary assurances and certifications.
Your electronic application must comply with any page
limit requirements described in this notice.
Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may
wish to download it and print a copy of it for your records.
After you electronically submit your application to the
Department, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement that will
include a PR/Award number (an identifying number unique to your
application).
Within three working days after submitting your electronic
application, fax a signed copy of the ED 424 to the Application Control
Center after following these steps:
1. Print ED 424 from e-Application.
2. The applicant's Authorizing Representative must sign this form.
3. Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the
hard copy signature page of the ED 424. Fax the signed ED 424 to the
Application Control Center at (202) 245-6272.
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
other forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System
Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting
your application on the application deadline date because the e-
Application system is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of
one business day in order to transmit your application electronically,
by mail, or by hand delivery. We will grant this extension if--
1. You are a registered user of e-Application and have initiated an
e-Application for this competition; and
2. (a) The e-Application system is unavailable for 60 minutes or
more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time,
on the application deadline date; or
(b) The e-Application system is unavailable for any period of time
between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date.
We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to
confirm our acknowledgement of any system unavailability, you may
contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-
Grants help desk at 1-888-336-8930. If the system is down and therefore
the application deadline is extended, a message will be posted on the
e-Grants Web site (http://e-grants.ed.gov)
and an e-mail is sent to all
registered users who have initiated an application.
Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the
unavailability of the Department's e-Application system. If the e-
Application system is available, and, for any reason, you are unable to
submit your application electronically or you do not receive an
automatic acknowledgement of your submission, you may submit your
application in paper format by mail or hand delivery in accordance with
the instructions in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you have requested a waiver of the electronic submission
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a
commercial carrier) your paper application to the Department. You must
send the original and two copies of the application, before the
application deadline date, to the following address: U.S. Department of
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number
84.336A), 400 Maryland Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20202.
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; or
4. Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the U.S. Secretary of
Education.
If you mail the application through the U.S. Postal Service, please
note that we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
1. A private metered postmark, or
2. A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. If
your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we
will not consider your application.
Note: Applicants should note that the U.S. Postal Service does
not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this
method, applicants should check with their local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you have requested a waiver of the electronic submission
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver the 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 84.336A), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts deliveries daily between 8
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays and
Federal holidays. A person delivering an application must show photo
identification to enter the building.
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 4 of the ED 424, the CFDA number--and suffix
letter, if any--of the competition under which you are submitting the
application.
2. The Application Control Center will mail a Grant Application
Receipt Acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the notification
of application
[[Page 62258]]
receipt within 15 days from the mailing of your application, you should
call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at
(202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are
in 34 CFR 611.11 and 611.12.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a
final performance report, including financial information, as directed
by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an
annual performance report that provides the most current performance
and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in
34 CFR 75.118.
4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and
Results Act (GPRA), one measure has been developed for evaluating the
overall effectiveness of the Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants Program
for State Grants. The goal of this program is to improve the quality of
teacher education and initial certification standards, and to improve
the knowledge and skills of all teachers, particularly new teachers and
teachers who work in high-need areas.
The indicator for this performance measure is: Pass rates will
increase for pre-service teachers taking subject matter competency
tests as a part of the State licensure requirements, in the States that
receive funds from the Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants Program for
States to prepare teachers that are highly competent in the academic
content areas in which they plan to teach (HEA, Title II, Sec. 202
(d)(1)). All grantees will be expected to submit an annual performance
report documenting their success in addressing this performance
measure.
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Luretha Kelley, U.S. Department of
Education, 1990 K Street, NW., room 7096, Washington, DC 20006-8526.
Telephone: (202) 502-7645 or by e-mail:
Luretha.Kelley@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the program contact person listed in this
section.
VIII. Other Information
Electronic Access to This Document: You may 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: October 20, 2004.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 04-23849 Filed 10-22-04; 8:45 am]
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