FR Doc E6-4498
[Federal Register: March 28, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 59)]
[Notices]
[Page 15392-15397]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28mr06-36]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Territories and
Freely Associated States Education Grant (T&FASEG) Program; Notice
Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.256A.
Dates:
Applications Available: March 28, 2006.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 12, 2006.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 12, 2006.
Eligible Applicants: Only local educational agencies (LEAs) in
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam,
the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
Estimated Available Funds: $4,750,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $650,000-1,500,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $792,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 4-6.
[[Page 15393]]
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: Territories and Freely Associated States
Education grants support projects to raise student achievement through
direct educational services. Grants are awarded to LEAs in the U.S.
Territories (American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and the Republic of Palau.
The LEA may use grant funds to carry out activities authorized by the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by
the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), including teacher
training, curriculum development, development or acquisition of
instructional materials, and general school improvement and reform.
Under the T&FASEG program, the Secretary awards grants for projects
to--
(a) Conduct activities consistent with the purposes of the ESEA, as
amended by NCLB, including the types of activities authorized by these
ESEA titles--
(1) Title I--Improving the Academic Achievement of the
Disadvantaged.
(2) Title II--Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High-quality
Teachers and Principals.
(3) Title III--Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient
and Immigrant Students.
(4) Title IV--21st Century Schools.
(5) Title V--Promoting Informed Parental Choice and Innovative
Programs.
(b) Provide direct educational services that assist all students
with meeting challenging State academic achievement standards.
Note: The Secretary interprets the term direct educational
services to--
(1) Mean activities that are designed to improve student
achievement or the quality of education; and
(2) Include instructional services for students and teacher
training.
Note: The full text of the ESEA, as amended by NCLB, may be
found on the Internet at: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/ESEA02/.
Priorities: Under this competition we are particularly interested
in applications that address the following priorities.
Invitational Priorities: For FY 2006 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--Reading Literacy: The Secretary is
particularly interested in receiving applications that focus on
building early reading literacy skills that will help to improve
student achievement in reading and language performance as measured by
State academic standards. Research shows that children who read well in
the early grades are far more successful in later years, and those who
fall behind often stay behind when it comes to academic achievement
(Snow, Burns, and Griffin 1998). Reading opens the door to learning
about math, history, science, literature, geography, and much more.
Thus, young, capable readers can succeed in these subjects, take
advantage of other opportunities, and develop confidence in their own
abilities. On the other hand, those students who cannot read well are
much more likely to drop out of school and be limited to low-paying
jobs throughout their lives. Reading is undeniably critical to success
in today's society. The Secretary encourages applicants to align their
projects with the performance measures described in section VI. 4.
Performance Measures of this notice.
Invitational Priority 2--Teacher Quality: The Secretary is
particularly interested in LEA projects that focus on professional
development and teacher training that improve teacher qualifications
and the quality of teaching and instruction. A major objective of NCLB
is to ensure that all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, or
income, have the best teachers possible. A well-prepared teacher is
vitally important to a child's education. In fact, research
demonstrates the clear correlation between student academic achievement
and teacher quality (Whitehurst, G. 2002). The Secretary encourages
applicants to align their projects with the performance measures
described in section VI. 4. of this notice.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6331.
Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 84, 85, 97, 98, and 99.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $4,750,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $650,000-$1,500,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $792,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 4-6.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Only LEAs in American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost
sharing or matching.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You may obtain the
application package electronically by downloading it from the
Territories and Freely Associated States Education Program Web site:
http://www.ed.gov/programs/tfasegp/applicant.html.
You may also request an application package by contacting Valerie
Rogers, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room
3E245, Washington, DC 20202-6400. Telephone 202-260-2543 or by e-mail:
Valerie.Rogers@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) 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 above in this section of the notice.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
Page Limit: The project narrative (Section D of the application
package) is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria
that the reviewers will use to evaluate your application. Applicants
are strongly encouraged to limit the project narrative (text plus all
figures, charts, tables, and diagrams) to the equivalent of no more
than 35 single-sided pages, using the following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5 x 11, on one side only, with 1'' margins at the
top, bottom, and both sides.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text
in the application narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes,
quotations,
[[Page 15394]]
references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables,
figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is 12 point or larger. The page limit does not
apply to the cover sheet; required standard forms, budget section,
including the budget justification narrative; assurances and
certifications; one-page abstract; endnotes; or resumes. However, you
must include all of the application narrative in the narrative section.
Appendices to the narrative are not permitted.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: March 28, 2006.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 12, 2006.
Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov) or in paper
format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates and
times) about how to submit your application electronically, or by mail
or hand delivery, please refer to section IV. 6. Other Submission
Requirements in this notice.
The Department does not consider an application that does not
comply with the deadline requirements.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 12, 2006.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this
competition.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this competition may be submitted electronically or in paper format by
mail or hand delivery.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
We have been accepting applications electronically through the
Department's e-Application system since FY 2000. In order to expand on
those efforts and comply with the President's Management Agenda, we are
continuing to participate as a partner in the new governmentwide
Grants.gov Apply site in FY 2006. The T&FASEG program-CFDA Number
84.256A is one of the programs included in this project. We request
your participation in Grants.gov.
If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must
use the 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 application. You
may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
You may access the electronic grant application for the T&FASEG
program at: http://www.grants.gov.
You must search for the downloadable
application package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include
the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search.
Please note the following:
Your participation in Grants.gov is voluntary.
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 time and date
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted, and
must be date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as
otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application
if it is date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. When we
retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are
rejecting your application because it was date/time stamped by the
Grants.gov system after 4:30 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 application 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 at
http://e-grants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must
complete all of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see
http://www.Grants.gov/GetStarted).
These steps include (1) registering
your organization, (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/assets/GrantsgovCoBrandBrochure8X11.pdf).
You also must provide on your 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 successfully submit an application via
Grants.gov.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you submit your application in paper format.
You may submit all documents electronically, including all
information typically included on the Application for Federal Education
Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED
524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. If you choose to
submit your application electronically, you must attach any narrative
sections of your application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich
text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type
other than the three file types specified above or submit a password
protected file, we will not review that material.
Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive an automatic acknowledgment from Grants.gov that contains a
Grants.gov tracking number. The Department will retrieve your
application from Grants.gov and send you a second confirmation by e-
mail that will include a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying
number unique to your application).
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
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 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 application electronically, or by hand
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing
instructions as described elsewhere in this notice. If
[[Page 15395]]
you submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
deadline date, please contact the person listed elsewhere in this
notice 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 (if available). We
will accept your 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 application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time,
on the application deadline date. The Department will contact you after
a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.
Note: Extensions referred to 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 application to Grants.gov before the deadline date
and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to
the Grants.gov system.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the
U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), you must mail the
original and two copies of your application, on or before the
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 Number 84.256A,
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 Number 84.256A,
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, or
(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, 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: 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 submit your application in paper format by hand delivery,
you (or a courier service) 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: 84.256A, 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 application to the Department:
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the
Department--in Item 4 of the Application for Federal Education
Assistance (ED 424) the CFDA number--and suffix letter, if any--of the
competition under which you are submitting your application.
(2) The Application Control Center will mail a grant application
receipt acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the grant
application receipt acknowledgment within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
Selection Criteria: The selection criteria are from 34 CFR 75.209-
75.210. The maximum possible score for this competition is 100 points.
As provided for in the ESEA, as amended by NCLB, the Secretary, in
making awards under this program, will take into consideration the
recommendations of Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL).
PREL will use the following criteria in developing its recommendations,
and the Secretary will use them in making final funding decisions. The
Notes following the selection criteria are meant to serve as guidance
to assist the applicant in creating a stronger application, and are not
required by statute or regulation.
(a) Need for Project. (5 points)
(1) The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project.
(2) In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(i) The magnitude or severity of the problem to be addressed by the
proposed project.
(ii) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.
(iii) The extent to which the proposed project will provide
services or otherwise address the needs of students who are at risk of
educational failure.
Note: In meeting this criterion, the Secretary encourages the
applicant to clearly demonstrate unique needs and circumstances that
justify funding support for this project. The Secretary also
encourages the applicant to demonstrate the extent to which local
resources are used to meet the needs addressed by the project
proposal.
(b) Significance. (10 points)
(1) The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed
project.
(2) In determining the significance of the proposed project, the
Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The national significance of the proposed project.
(ii) The significance of the problem or issue to be addressed by
the proposed project.
(iii) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely
to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in
teaching and student achievement.
(c) Quality of the Project Design. (25 points)
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the
proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
(ii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target
population or other identified needs.
(iii) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated
with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community,
State, and Federal resources.
(iv) The extent to which the proposed project is part of a
comprehensive effort
[[Page 15396]]
to improve teaching and learning and support rigorous academic
standards for students.
(v) The extent to which the proposed project encourages parental
involvement.
(vi) The extent to which performance feedback and continuous
improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project.
(d) Adequacy of Resources. (5 points)
(1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the
proposed project.
(2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the
proposed project.
(ii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to
the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed
project.
(iii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to
the number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and
benefits.
(e) Quality of project personnel. (15 points)
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will
carry out the proposed project. (2) In determining the quality of the
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.
(3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of the project director or principal investigator.
(ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and
experience, of key project personnel.
(iii) The qualifications, including relevant training and
experience, of project consultants or subcontractors.
Note: In meeting this criterion, the Secretary encourages the
applicant to attach curricula vitae, r[eacute]sum[eacute]s, etc., of
key project personnel.
(f) Quality of the project evaluation. (25 points)
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be
conducted of the proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for
examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies.
(ii) 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.
Note: In meeting this criterion, the Secretary encourages the
applicant to align its evaluation with the performance measures
described in section VI.4 of this notice.
(g) Quality of project services. (15 points)
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be
provided by the proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and
sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for
eligible project participants who are members of groups that have
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national
origin, gender, age, or disability.
(3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed
project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or
beneficiaries of those services.
(ii) The likely impact of the services to be provided by the
proposed project on the intended recipients of those services.
(iii) The extent to which the training or professional development
services to be provided by the proposed project are of sufficient
quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice
among the recipients of those services.
(iv) The extent to which the services to be provided by the
proposed project are focused on those with greatest needs.
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: The Department has developed two
performances measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the T&FASEG
program--(1) The percentage of students who participate in reading
programs under the T&FASEG program reading at or above grade level on
State assessments; and (2) The percentage of teachers who participate
in professional development activities under the T&FASEG program
meeting State teacher certification standards.
All grantees must submit an annual performance report addressing
these performance measures, to the extent that they apply to the
grantee's project.
VII. Agency Contacts
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valerie Rogers, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3E245, Washington, DC 20202-
6140. Telephone: (202) 260-2543 or by e-mail:
Valerie.Rogers@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-888-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request from the contact person listed in this section.
VIII. Other Information
Electronic Access to this Document. You may view this document, as
well as all other Department of Education documents 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.
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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: March 23, 2006.
Henry L. Johnson,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. E6-4498 Filed 3-27-06; 8:45 am]
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