[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 4, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5324-5327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2285]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and 
Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students: Overview 
Information; National Professional Development Program; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.195N.

DATES: Applications Available: February 4, 2004.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: February 19, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 5, 2004.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 4, 2004.
    Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education in consortia 
with State educational agencies or local educational agencies.
    Estimated Available Funds: 3,100,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$150,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $125,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 25.

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


    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the National Professional 
Development Program is to provide for professional development 
activities that will improve classroom instruction for limited English 
proficient (LEP) children and assist educational personnel working with 
such children to meet high professional standards, including standards 
for certification and licensure as teachers who work in language 
instruction education programs or serve LEP children.
    Priorities: Under this competition we are particularly interested 
in applications that address the following priorities.
    Invitational 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:
    Invitational Priority 1. Applications that propose to prepare 
teachers to involve parents and community groups in school improvement.
    Invitational Priority 2. Applications that propose professional 
development that is designed to prepare regular classroom teachers in 
curricula, instructional strategies, and assessment of LEP students and 
that is aligned with State academic content standards, academic 
achievement standards, and English language proficiency standards.
    Invitational Priority 3. Applications that propose professional 
development that is designed to prepare non-instructional staff, such 
as counselors

[[Page 5325]]

and administrators to meet the needs of LEP students.
    Invitational Priority 4. Applications that propose to prepare 
participants with proficiency in a language other than English and high 
academic achievement to teach in dual language programs, including 
providing professional development to ensure that participants meet the 
Highly Qualified Teacher requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act 
of 2001 (NCLB) and that they are prepared to provide challenging 
content in languages of instruction.
    Invitational Priority 5. Applications that propose to develop or 
improve teacher preparation curricula and materials for all teachers to 
better reflect the needs of LEP students, and which may include 
professional development to improve the knowledge and skills of higher 
education faculty.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6861.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, and 99.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of 
higher education only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: 3,100,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$150,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $125,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 25.

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


    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education in 
consortia with State educational agencies or local educational 
agencies.
    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: Patrice Swann, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave, SW., room 5626, Washington, 
DC 20202-6510. Telephone: (202) 205-8966, 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.
    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 program.
    Notice of Intent to Apply: If you intend to apply for a grant under 
this competition, contact Robert Trifiletti: Telephone: (202) 205-5712 
or by e-mail: [email protected].
    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 35 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, 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 section, including the narrative budget justification; Part 
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one page abstract. 
However, you must include all of the application narrative in Part III.
    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: February 4, 2004.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: February 19, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 5, 2004.
    The dates and times for the transmittal of applications by mail or 
by hand (including a courier service or commercial carrier) are in the 
application package for this program. The application package also 
specifies the hours of operation of the e-Application Web site.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements. However, we will consider an application, 
submitted by the deadline date for submission of applications, even if 
the applicant did not provide us notice of its intent to apply by the 
deadline date specified above.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 4, 2004.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for this program.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We 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 this 
program.
    Application Procedures:

    Note: Some of the procedures in these instructions for 
transmitting applications differ from those in the Education 
Department General Administrative Regulations (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.


    Pilot Project for Electronic Submittal 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. The National Professional 
Development Program--CFDA Number 84.195N is one of the programs 
included in the pilot project. If you are an applicant under the 
National Professional Development Program, you may submit your 
application to us in either electronic or paper format.
    The pilot project involves the use of the Electronic Grant 
Applications System (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. If you 
participate in this voluntary pilot project by submitting an 
application electronically, the data you enter online will be saved 
into a database. We request your participation in e-Application. We 
shall continue to evaluate its success and solicit suggestions for its 
improvement.

[[Page 5326]]

    If you participate in e-Application, please note the following:
     Your participation is voluntary.
     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.
     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.
     You may 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.
     Your e-Application must comply with any page 
limit requirements described in this notice.
     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).
     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 theses 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.
     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 elect to participate in the e-Application pilot 
for the National Professional Development Program and 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 
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 the National 
Professional Development Program at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

V. Application Review Information

    Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are as 
follows:
    (a) Need for project. (10 points)
    The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In 
determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers 
one or more of the following factors:
    (1) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or 
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.
    (2) The extent to which the proposed project will prepare personnel 
for fields in which shortages have been demonstrated.
    (b) Quality of the project design. (30 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 one or more of the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
    (2) 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.
    (3) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of 
Federal financial assistance.
    (4) The extent to which the proposed project is part of a 
comprehensive effort to improve teaching and learning and support 
rigorous academic standards for students.
    (c) Quality of project services. (20 points)
    The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be provided 
by the proposed project. 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. In addition, the Secretary 
considers one or more of the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective 
practice.
    (2) 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.
    (3) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for 
maximizing the effectiveness of project services.
    (d) Quality of project personnel. (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. In addition, the 
Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:
    (1) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator.
    (2) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel.
    (e) Quality of the management plan. (10 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 one or more of the 
following factors:
    (1) 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.

[[Page 5327]]

    (2) 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.
    (3) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives 
are brought to bear in the operation of the proposed project, including 
those of parents, teachers, the business community, a variety of 
disciplinary and professional fields, recipients or beneficiaries of 
services, or others, as appropriate.
    (f) Quality of the project evaluation. (20 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 one or more of the following 
factors:
    (1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project.
    (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for 
examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies.
    (3) 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.
    (4) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes.

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: Performance measures for the National 
Professional Development Program are:
    1. Program improvement related to K-12 state standards, 
scientifically based research practices, or development of subject area 
competence.
    2. Effectiveness of graduates/completers in the instructional 
setting.
    3. The rate of placement of graduates in an instructional setting 
serving LEP students, within one year of graduation.
    4. The percentage of program completers who are highly qualified 
teachers as defined in the NCLB's Highly Qualified Teacher 
Requirements.
    Grantees will be expected to report on progress in meeting the 
performance measures for the National Professional Development Program 
in their Annual Performance Report and in their Final Performance 
Report.

VII. Agency Contact

For Further Information Contact: Samuel Lopez, 400 Maryland Avenue, 
SW., Switzer Building, room 5605, Washington, DC 20202-6510. Telephone: 
(202) 401-1427, 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: January 30, 2004.
Maria H. Ferrier,
Deputy Under Secretary and Director for English Language Acquisition, 
Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited English 
Proficient Students.
[FR Doc. 04-2285 Filed 2-3-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P