[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74558-74563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31699]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Innovation and Improvement; Overview Information; 
Charter Schools Program (CSP); Notice Inviting Applications for New 
Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.282A, 
84.282B, and 84.282C.

    Dates: Applications Available: December 24, 2003.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 19, 2004.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 19, 2004.
    Eligible Applicants: (a) State educational agencies (SEAs) in 
States with a State statute specifically authorizing the establishment 
of charter schools may apply for funding.
    (b) Non-SEA eligible applicants may apply for funding directly from 
the U.S. Department of Education (Department) if the SEA in the State 
elects not to participate in the CSP or does not have an application 
approved under the program.
    Estimated Available Funds: Although the Congress has not enacted a 
final appropriation for FY 2004, the Department is inviting 
applications for this competition now so that it may be prepared to 
make awards following final action on the Department's appropriations 
bill. Based on the congressional action to date, we estimate that 
$64,000,000 will be available for new awards under this competition. 
The actual level of funding depends on final congressional action.
    Estimated Range of Awards: SEAs: $500,000-$8,000,000 per year. 
Other eligible applicants: $10,000-$150,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: SEAs: $3,000,000 per year. Other 
eligible applicants: $130,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: SEAs: 18-22. Other eligible applicants: 
50-75.

    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 the CSP is to increase national 
understanding of the charter school model and to expand the number of 
high-quality charter schools available to students across the Nation by 
providing financial assistance for the planning, program design, and 
initial implementation of charter schools and for evaluating the 
effects of charter schools, including the effects on students, student 
academic achievement, staff, and parents.
    The Department will hold three (3) separate competitions under this 
program. All SEA applicants must apply for grant funds under CFDA No. 
84.282A. Non-SEA eligible applicants that propose to use grant funds 
for planning, program design, and implementation must apply under CFDA 
No. 84.282B. Non-SEA eligible applicants that are requesting funds for 
dissemination activities must submit their applications under CFDA No. 
84.282C.
    Priorities: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), these 
priorities are from section 5202(e) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. 7221a(e).
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2004 these priorities are 
competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we 
award up to an additional 40 points to an applicant, depending on how 
well the application meets these priorities.
    In awarding grants to SEAs under this competition, the Secretary 
gives priority to States to the extent that the State meets the 
statutory criterion described in paragraph (a) of this section, and one 
or more of the statutory criteria described in paragraphs (b) through 
(d) of this section.
    An SEA that meets priority (a) but does not meet one or more of the 
other

[[Page 74559]]

priorities will not receive any priority points.
    An SEA that does not meet priority (a) but meets one or more of the 
other priorities will not receive any priority points.
    In order to receive preference, an applicant must identify the 
priorities that it believes it meets and provide documentation 
supporting its claims.
    These priorities are:
    (a) Periodic Review and Evaluation (10 points). The State provides 
for periodic review and evaluation by the authorized public chartering 
agency of each charter school at least once every 5 years, unless 
required more frequently by State law, to determine whether the charter 
school is meeting the terms of the school's charter, and is meeting or 
exceeding the academic achievement requirements and goals for charter 
schools as provided under State law or the school's charter.
    (b) Number of High-Quality Charter Schools (10 points). The State 
has demonstrated progress in increasing the number of high-quality 
charter schools that are held accountable in the terms of the schools' 
charters for meeting clear and measurable objectives for the 
educational progress of the students attending the schools, in the 
period prior to the period for which an SEA or non-SEA eligible 
applicant applies for a grant under this competition.
    (c) One Authorized Public Chartering Agency Other than a Local 
Educational Agency (LEA), or an Appeals Process (10 points). The 
State--
    (1) Provides for one authorized public chartering agency that is 
not an LEA, such as a State chartering board, for each individual or 
entity seeking to operate a charter school pursuant to State law; or
    (2) In the case of a State in which LEAs are the only authorized 
public chartering agencies, allows for an appeals process for the 
denial of an application for a charter school.
    (d) High Degree of Autonomy (10 points). The State ensures that 
each charter school has a high degree of autonomy over the charter 
school's budgets and expenditures.
    Invitational Priorities: Under these competitions we are 
particularly interested in applications that address the following 
priorities. For FY 2004 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:
    (a) The applicant proposes to plan, design, and implement one or 
more high-quality charter schools to address parental interest in 
public school choice, particularly for parents of children attending 
schools identified for improvement under Title I, part A of the ESEA.
    (b) The applicant proposes to plan, design, and implement one or 
more high-quality charter schools in geographic areas, including urban 
and rural areas, in which a large proportion or number of public 
schools have been identified for improvement, corrective action, or 
restructuring under Title I, Part A of the ESEA; and
    (c) The applicant proposes to plan, design, and implement one or 
more high-quality charter schools in geographic areas in which a large 
proportion of students have difficulty meeting State academic content 
and student achievement standards.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7221-7221j.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 76, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: Although the Congress has not enacted a 
final appropriation for FY 2004, the Department is inviting 
applications for this competition now so that it may be prepared to 
make awards following final action on the Department's appropriations 
bill. Based on the congressional action to date, we estimate that 
$64,000,000 will be available for new awards under this competition. 
The actual level of funding depends on final congressional action.
    Estimated Range of Awards: SEAs: $500,000-$8,000,000 per year. 
Other eligible applicants: $10,000-$150,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: SEAs: $3,000,000 per year. Other 
eligible applicants: $130,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: SEAs: 18-22. Other eligible applicants: 
50-75.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

    Note: Planning and implementation grants or subgrants awarded by 
the Secretary or an SEA to non-SEA eligible applicants will be 
awarded for a period of up to 36 months, no more than 18 months of 
which may be used for planning and program design; and no more than 
two years of which may be used for the initial implementation of a 
charter school. Dissemination grants and subgrants are awarded for a 
period of up to two years.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: (a) SEAs in States with a State statute 
specifically authorizing the establishment of charter schools may apply 
for funding.

    Note: The Secretary awards grants to SEAs to enable them to 
conduct charter school programs in their States. SEAs use their CSP 
funds to award subgrants to eligible applicants, as defined in this 
notice, for planning, program design, and initial implementation of 
a charter school; and to support the dissemination of information 
about, including successful practices in, charter schools.

    (b) Non-SEA eligible applicants may apply for funding directly from 
the Department if the SEA in the State elects not to participate in the 
CSP or does not have an application approved under the program.

    Note: A non-SEA eligible applicant is defined as a developer 
that has applied to an authorized public chartering authority to 
operate a charter school and has provided to that authority adequate 
and timely notice, and a copy, of its CSP application, except that 
the Secretary or the SEA may waive these requirements in the case of 
a pre-charter planning grant. Non-SEA eligible applicants, like 
SEAs, must be in States that have statutes specifically authorizing 
charter schools. If an SEA's application is approved in this 
competition, the Department will return applications from non-SEA 
eligible applicants in that State to the applicants. In such a case, 
the non-SEA eligible applicant should contact the SEA for 
information related to the State's subgrant competition.

    The following States currently have approved applications under 
this program: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of 
Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, New Hampshire, New 
Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, 
and Wisconsin. In these States, only the SEA is eligible to receive an 
award under this competition. Non-SEA eligible applicants in States 
that are not listed must apply directly to the Department on or before 
the deadline for transmittal of applications in order to be considered 
for funding in this competition.
    (c) Dissemination Grants. A charter school may apply to an SEA for 
funds to carry out dissemination activities, whether or not the charter 
school has applied for or received funds under the CSP for planning or 
implementation, if the charter school has been in operation for at 
least three consecutive years and has demonstrated overall success, 
including--
    (1) Substantial progress in improving student academic achievement;
    (2) High levels of parent satisfaction; and

[[Page 74560]]

    (3) The management and leadership necessary to overcome initial 
start-up problems and establish a thriving, financially viable charter 
school.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: These competitions do not involve cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: All applicants must meet the definitions of charter 
school, developer, eligible applicant, and authorized public chartering 
agency, as defined in the authorizing statute. These definitions are in 
the application package.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Rik Lanzendorfer, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3C148 FB6, 
Washington, DC 20202-5961. Telephone: (202) 205-9786 or by e-mail: 
[email protected]
    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 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. However, the Department is not able to 
reproduce in an alternative format the standard forms included in the 
application package.
    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 (Part III of the application) is where 
you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use 
to evaluate your application. You must limit Part III to the equivalent 
of no more than 50 pages, using the following standards:
    [sbull] A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
    [sbull] Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
    [sbull] 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 section, including the narrative budget justification; Part 
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the 
resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, you must 
include all of the application narrative in Part III.
    We will reject your application if--
    [sbull] You apply these standards and exceed the page limit; or
    [sbull] You apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the 
page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: December 24, 2003.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 19, 2004.

    Note: We are requiring that applications for grants under these 
competitions be submitted electronically using the Electronic Grant 
Application System (e-Application) available through the 
Department's e-GRANTS system. For information about how to access 
the e-GRANTS system or to request a waiver of the electronic 
submission requirement, please refer to Section IV, Other Submission 
Requirements, in this notice.

    The application package for this competition specifies the hours of 
operation of the e-Application Web site. If you are requesting a waiver 
of the electronic submission requirement, the dates and times for the 
transmittal of applications by mail or by hand (including a courier 
service or commercial carrier) are also in the application package.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 19, 2004.
    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: Use of Funds for Dissemination Activities. 
An SEA may reserve not more than 10 percent of the grant funds to 
support dissemination activities. A charter school may use those funds 
to assist other schools in adapting the charter school's program (or 
certain aspects of the charter school's program), or to disseminate 
information about the charter school through such activities as--
    (a) Assisting other individuals with the planning and start-up of 
one or more new public schools, including charter schools, that are 
independent of the assisting charter school and the assisting charter 
school's developers, and that agree to be held to at least as high a 
level of accountability as the assisting charter school;
    (b) Developing partnerships with other public schools, including 
charter schools, designed to improve student performance in each of the 
schools participating in the partnership;
    (c) Developing curriculum materials, assessments, and other 
materials that promote increased student achievement and are based on 
successful practices within the assisting charter school; and
    (d) Conducting evaluations and developing materials that document 
the successful practices of the assisting charter school and that are 
designed to improve student achievement.
    We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the 
Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Instructions and requirements for 
the transmittal of applications by mail or by hand (including a courier 
service or commercial carrier) are in the application package for these 
competitions. Application Procedures: The Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act (GPEA) of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-277) and the Federal 
Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-
107) encourage us to undertake initiatives to improve our grant 
processes. Enhancing the ability of individuals and entities to conduct 
business with us electronically is a major part of our response to 
these Acts. Therefore, we are taking steps to adopt the Internet as our 
chief means of conducting transactions in order to improve services to 
our customers and to simplify and expedite our business processes.
    Some of the procedures in these instructions for transmitting 
applications differ from those in EDGAR (34 CFR 75.102). Under the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department generally 
offers interested parties the opportunity to comment on proposed 
regulations. However, these amendments make procedural changes only and 
do not establish new substantive policy. Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(A), the Secretary has determined that proposed rulemaking is not 
required.
    We are requiring that applications for grants under Charter Schools 
Program--CFDA Numbers 84.282A, B, and C be submitted electronically 
using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-Application) available 
through the Department's e-GRANTS system. The e-GRANTS system is 
accessible through its 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

[[Page 74561]]

the Internet to submit your application. Address your request to: Rik 
Lanzendorfer, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
room FB6-3C148, Washington, DC 20202-5961. Please submit your request 
no later than two weeks before the application deadline date.
    If, within two weeks of the application deadline date, you are 
unable to submit an application electronically, you must submit a paper 
application by the application deadline date in accordance with the 
transmittal instructions in the application package. 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.
    Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications: We are 
continuing to expand our pilot project for electronic submission of 
applications to include additional formula grant programs and 
additional discretionary grant competitions. Charter Schools Program--
CFDA Numbers 84.282A, B, and C is one of the programs included in the 
pilot project. If you are an applicant under the CSP competitions, you 
must submit your application to us in electronic format or receive a 
waiver.
    The pilot project involves the use of e-Application. If you use e-
Application, you will be entering data online while completing your 
application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant 
application to us. The data you enter online will be saved into a 
database. We shall continue to evaluate the success of e-Application 
and solicit suggestions for its improvement.
    If you participate in e-Application, please note the following:
    [sbull] When you enter the e-Application system, you will find 
information about its hours of operation. We strongly recommend that 
you do not wait until the application deadline date to initiate an e-
Application package.
    [sbull] You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit a grant application in electronic format, nor will we penalize 
you if you submit an application in paper format.
    [sbull] You must submit all documents electronically, including the 
Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424), Budget 
Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary 
assurances and certifications.
    [sbull] Your e-Application must comply with any page limit 
requirements described in this notice.
    [sbull] After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgement, which will include a PR/Award 
number (an identifying number unique to your application).
    [sbull] Within three working days after submitting your electronic 
application, fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal Education 
Assistance (ED 424) to the Application Control Center after following 
these steps:
    1. Print ED 424 from e-Application.
    2. The institution'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.
    4. Fax the signed ED 424 to the Application Control Center at (202) 
260-1349.
    [sbull] We may request that you give us original signatures on 
other forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System 
Unavailability: If you are prevented from 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 you 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 
during the last hour of operation (that is, 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.
    You may access the electronic grant application for Charter Schools 
Program--CFDA Numbers 84.282A, B, and C at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: All SEA and non-SEA applicants applying for 
CSP grant funds must address both the application requirements and 
selection criteria. All SEA and non-SEA applicants applying for CSP 
grant funds may choose to respond to the application requirements in 
the context of their response to the selection criteria.
    (a) SEAs (CFDA No. 84.282A).
    (i) Application Requirements (CFDA No. 84.282A). (A) Describe the 
objectives of the SEA's charter school grant program and describe how 
these objectives will be fulfilled, including steps taken by the SEA to 
inform teachers, parents, and communities of the SEA's charter school 
grant program;
    (B) Describe how the SEA will inform each charter school in the 
State about Federal funds that the charter school is eligible to 
receive and Federal programs in which the charter school may 
participate;
    (C) Describe how the SEA will ensure that each charter school in 
the State receives the school's commensurate share of Federal education 
funds that are allocated by formula each year, including during the 
first year of operation of the school;
    (D) Describe how the SEA will disseminate best or promising 
practices of charter schools to each local educational agency in the 
State;
    (E) If an SEA elects to reserve part of its grant funds (no more 
than 10 percent) for the establishment of a revolving loan fund, 
describe how the revolving loan fund would operate;
    (F) If an SEA desires the Secretary to consider waivers under the 
authority of the CSP, include a request and justification for any 
waiver of statutory or regulatory provisions that the SEA believes is 
necessary for the successful operation of charter schools in the State; 
and
    (G) Describe how charter schools that are considered to be LEAs 
under State law and LEAs in which charter schools are located will 
comply with sections 613(a)(5) and 613(e)(1)(B) of the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act.
    (ii) Selection Criteria (CFDA No. 84.282A). SEAs that propose to 
use a portion of their grant funds for dissemination activities must 
address each selection criterion (A) through (H) individually and title 
each accordingly. SEAs that do not propose to use a portion of their 
grant funds for dissemination activities must address selection 
criteria (A) through (G) only, and need not address selection criterion 
(H).
    The maximum possible score is 130 points for SEAs that do not 
propose to use grant funds to support dissemination activities, and 150 
points for SEAs that propose to use grant funds to support 
dissemination activities.

[[Page 74562]]

    The maximum possible score for each criterion is indicated in 
parentheses following the criterion.
    To ensure fairness, if an SEA is not proposing to use grant funds 
to support dissemination activities, the Secretary will not consider 
points awarded under criterion (H) in determining whether to approve an 
application for funding.
    In evaluating an application from an SEA, the Secretary considers 
the following criteria:
    (A) The contribution the charter schools grant program will make in 
assisting educationally disadvantaged and other students to achieve 
State academic content standards and State student academic achievement 
standards (25 points).
    (B) The degree of flexibility afforded by the SEA to charter 
schools under the State's charter school law (20 points).
    (C) The ambitiousness of the objectives for the State charter 
school grant program (15 points).
    (D) The quality of the SEA's strategy for assessing achievement of 
those objectives (15 points).
    (E) The likelihood that the charter school grant program will meet 
those objectives and improve educational results for students (15 
points).
    (F) The number of high-quality charter schools to be created in the 
State (20 points).
    (G) 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 (20 points).
    (H) In the case of SEAs that propose to use grant funds to support 
dissemination activities under section 5204(f)(6) of the ESEA, the 
quality of the dissemination activities (10 points) and the likelihood 
that those activities will improve student achievement (10 points).
    (b) Non-SEA Applicants (CFDA No. 84.282B and 84.282C). The 
application requirements for all non-SEA applicants are listed in 
paragraph (i) in this section.
    The selection criteria for non-SEA applicants for Planning, Program 
Design, and Implementation Grants (CFDA No. 82.282B) are listed in 
paragraph (ii) in this section.
    The selection criteria for non-SEA applicants for Dissemination 
Grants (CFDA No. 84.282C) are listed in paragraph (iii) in this 
section.
    (i) Application Requirements (CFDA Nos. 84.282B and 84.282C). (A) 
Describe the educational program to be implemented by the proposed 
charter school, including how the program will enable all students to 
meet challenging State student academic achievement standards, the 
grade levels or ages of students to be served, and the curriculum and 
instructional practices to be used;
    (B) Describe how the charter school will be managed;
    (C) Describe the objectives of the charter school and the methods 
by which the charter school will determine its progress toward 
achieving those objectives;
    (D) Describe the administrative relationship between the charter 
school and the authorized public chartering agency;
    (E) Describe how parents and other members of the community will be 
involved in the planning, program design, and implementation of the 
charter school;
    (F) Describe how the authorized public chartering agency will 
provide for continued operation of the charter school once the Federal 
grant has expired, if that agency determines that the charter school 
has met its objectives;
    (G) If the charter school desires the Secretary to consider waivers 
under the authority of the CSP, include a request and justification for 
waivers of any Federal statutory or regulatory provisions that the 
applicant believes are necessary for the successful operation of the 
charter school, and a description of any State or local rules, 
generally applicable to public schools, that will be waived for, or 
otherwise not apply to, the school;
    (H) Describe how the grant funds will be used, including how these 
funds will be used in conjunction with other Federal programs 
administered by the Secretary; and
    (I) Describe how students in the community will be informed about 
the charter school and be given an equal opportunity to attend the 
charter school.
    (ii) Selection Criteria (CFDA No. 84.282B). Non-SEA Planning, 
Program Design, and Initial Implementation Grant applicants must 
address each selection criterion (A) through (I) individually and title 
each accordingly.
    The maximum possible score for all of the criteria in this section 
is 145 points.
    The maximum possible score for each criterion is indicated in 
parentheses following the criterion.
    In evaluating an application from a non-SEA eligible applicant for 
Planning, Program Design, and Implementation, the Secretary considers 
the following criteria:
    (A) The quality of the proposed curriculum and instructional 
practices (25 points).
    (B) The degree of flexibility afforded by the SEA and, if 
applicable, the LEA to the charter school (10 points).
    (C) The extent of community support for the application (10 
points).
    (D) The ambitiousness of the objectives for the charter school (15 
points).
    (E) The quality of the strategy for assessing achievement of those 
objectives (10 points).
    (F) The likelihood that the charter school will meet those 
objectives and improve educational results for students during and 
after the period of Federal financial assistance (20 points).
    (G) The extent to which the proposed project encourages parental 
involvement (20 points).
    (H) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director; and the extent to which the applicant 
encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of 
groups that traditionally have been underrepresented based on race, 
color, national origin, gender, age, or disability (10 points).
    (I) The contribution the charter school will make in assisting 
educationally disadvantaged and other students to achieve to State 
academic content standards and State student academic achievement 
standards (25 points).
    (iii) Selection Criteria (CFDA No. 84.282C). Non-SEA applicants for 
Dissemination Grants must address each selection criterion (A) through 
(E) individually and title each accordingly.
    The maximum possible score for all of the criteria in this section 
is 125 points.
    The maximum possible score for each criterion is indicated in 
parentheses following the criterion.
    In evaluating an application from a non-SEA eligible applicant for 
a dissemination grant, the Secretary considers the following criteria:
    (A) The quality of the proposed dissemination activities and the 
likelihood that those activities will improve student achievement (30 
points).
    (B) The extent to which the school has demonstrated overall 
success, including--
    (1) Substantial progress in improving student achievement (15 
points);
    (2) High levels of parent satisfaction (15 points); and
    (3) The management and leadership necessary to overcome initial 
start-up problems and establish a thriving, financially viable charter 
school (15 points).
    (C) The extent to which the results of the proposed project will be 
disseminated in a manner that will enable others to use the information 
or strategies (20 points).

[[Page 74563]]

    (D) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director; and the extent to which the applicant 
encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of 
groups that traditionally have been underrepresented based on race, 
color, national origin, gender, age, or disability (10 points).
    (E) 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 (20 points).

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we will 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 will 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 CSP: To support the creation of a large 
number of high-quality charter schools. The objective of this goal is 
to encourage the development of a large number of high-quality charter 
schools that are free from state or local rules that inhibit flexible 
operation, are held accountable for enabling students to reach 
challenging state performance standards, and are open to all students. 
The Secretary has set an overall performance target that calls for an 
increase in both the number of states with charter school legislation 
and the number of charter schools in operation around the nation.
    All grantees will be expected to submit an annual performance 
report documenting their contribution in assisting the Department in 
meeting this performance measure.

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: Rik Lanzendorfer, U.S. Department 
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3C148 FB6, Washington, DC 
20202-5961. Telephone: (202) 205-9786 or by e-mail: 
[email protected].
    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: December 19, 2003.
Nina Shokraii Rees,
Deputy Under Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 03-31699 Filed 12-23-03; 8:45 am]
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