[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6952-6956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3123]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Overview 
Information; William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy Programs: 
Grants for Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Years (FY) 2003 and 2004

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.258.

DATES: Applications Available: February 12, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 2, 2004.
    Eligible Applicants: Federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal 
organizations. Applicable definitions of the terms ``Indian tribe'' and 
``tribal organization'' are in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act, 25 U.S.C. 450b.
    Estimated Available Funds: $4,370,000. This is the combined 
estimate from both FY 2003 and FY 2004 funds. We are inviting 
applications at this time for new awards for both FY 2003 and for FY 
2004 to make the most efficient use of competition resources. The 
Department may use the funding slate resulting from this competition as 
the basis for future years' awards.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $150,000-$250,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $200,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 17-29.


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


    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

[[Page 6953]]

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The William F. Goodling Even Start Family 
Literacy Programs (Even Start), including the grants for Indian tribes 
and tribal organizations, are intended to help break the cycle of 
poverty and illiteracy by improving the educational opportunities of 
low-income families by integrating early childhood education, adult 
literacy or adult basic education, and parenting education into a 
unified family literacy program for federally recognized Indian tribes 
and tribal organizations. These programs are implemented through 
cooperative activities that: Build on high-quality existing community 
resources to create a new range of educational services for most-in-
need families; promote the academic achievement of children and adults; 
assist children from low-income families to meet challenging State 
content and student achievement standards; and use instructional 
programs that are based on scientifically based reading research and on 
the prevention of reading difficulties for children and adults, to the 
extent such research is available. A description of the required 
fifteen program elements for which funds must be used is included in 
the application package.
    Priority: We are establishing this priority for the combined FY 
2003 and FY 2004 grant competition and any future awards made on the 
basis of the funding slate from this competition, in accordance with 
section 437(d)(1) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA).
    Absolute Priority: For this competition, this priority is an 
absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only 
applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:

Early Childhood Education Services in a Group Setting

    A project must offer some center-based early childhood education 
services.
    The research in early childhood education shows that educational 
services for young children that are provided in a center are more 
likely to be intensive and therefore result in significant learning 
outcomes than non-center based services. The Third National Even Start 
Evaluation showed that children who participated more intensively in 
early childhood education scored higher on standardized literacy 
skills. A center is defined, for the purpose of this competition, as a 
place where early childhood educational services can be provided to a 
group of children from multiple households.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally offers interested parties 
the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities, section 437(d)(1) of 
GEPA (20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1)), however, allows the Secretary to exempt 
from rulemaking requirements rules governing the first grant 
competition under a new or substantially revised program authority. 
This is the first competition for this program under the No Child Left 
Behind Act, Public Law 107-110, and therefore qualifies for this 
exemption. In order to ensure timely grant awards, the Secretary has 
decided to forego public comment on the rule in this notice under 
section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. These rules will apply to the FY 2003 and FY 
2004 combined grant competition only.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6381a(a)(1)(C).
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 
84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.


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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grant.
    Estimated Available Funds: $4,370,000. This is the combined 
estimate from both FY 2003 and FY 2004 funds. We are inviting 
applications at this time for new awards for both FY 2003 and for FY 
2004 to make the most efficient use of competition resources. The 
Department may use the funding slate resulting from this competition as 
the basis for future years' awards.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $150,000-$250,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $200,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 17-29.


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


    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Federally recognized Indian tribes and 
tribal organizations. Applicable definitions of the terms ``Indian 
tribe'' and ``tribal organization'' are in section 4 of the Indian 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, 25 U.S.C. 450b.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing requirements for these 
grants are detailed in section 1234(b) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 
2001 (ESEA).
    3. Other: In general, a family is eligible to participate in an 
Even Start project for Indian tribes and tribal organizations if they 
qualify under the following requirements: (a) The parent(s) is eligible 
to participate in adult education and literacy activities under the 
Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, the parent(s) is within the 
State's compulsory school attendance age range (in which case a local 
educational agency must provide or ensure the availability of the basic 
education component), or the parent(s) is attending secondary school; 
and (b) the child (or children) is younger than eight years of age. 
More specific information on family eligibility is contained in section 
1236 of the ESEA.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs), P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll 
free): 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (301) 470-1244. If you use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    You may also contact ED Pubs at its Web site: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html or you may contact ED Pubs at its e-mail address: 
[email protected].
    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.258. You also may obtain a 
copy of the application package on the Department's website at the 
following address: http://www.ed.gov/programs/evenstartindian/applicant.html.
    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 under section VII of this 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 program 
competition. Page and Appendices Limits: The application narrative 
(Part III of the application) is where you, the applicant, address the 
absolute priority and the selection criteria that reviewers use to 
evaluate your application. In addition, the budget narrative is where 
you provide an itemized budget breakdown, by project year, for each

[[Page 6954]]

budget category listed in sections A and B of Budget Form 524. You must 
limit your application narrative (Part III of the application) to the 
equivalent of no more than 25 typed pages and limit the budget 
narrative to the equivalent of no more than 3 typed pages, using the 
following standards.
     A ``page'' is 8.5[sec] x 11[sec], on one side 
only, with 1[sec] margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per 
vertical inch) all text in the application and budget narratives, 
including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and 
captions. You may single space information in tables, charts, or 
graphs, and you may single space the Appendices.
     Use a font that is either 12-point or larger or 
no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch). You may use other point 
fonts for any tables, charts, graphs, and the Appendices, but those 
tables, charts, graphs and Appendices should be in a font size that is 
easily readable by the reviewers of your application.
     Any tables, charts, or graphs are included in 
the application narrative and budget narrative page limits.
     You must limit the Appendices to the curriculum 
vitae or position descriptions of no more than 5 people (including key 
contract personnel and consultants) and endnote citations to no more 
than 2 pages for the scientifically based reading research upon which 
your instructional programs are based.
     Other application materials are limited to the 
specific materials indicated in the application package, and may not 
include any video or other non-print materials.
     Our reviewers will not read any pages of your 
application that--
     Exceed the page limits if you apply these 
standards; or
     Exceed the equivalent of the page limits if you 
apply other standards.
    In addition, our reviewers will not read or view any Appendices or 
enclosures (including non-print materials such as videotapes or CDs) 
other than those described in this notice and the application package.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: February 12, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 2, 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 competition.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program competition is not 
subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    5. Funding Restrictions: Recipients of an Even Start Indian tribe 
and tribal organization grant may not use funds awarded under this 
competition for the indirect costs of a project, or claim indirect 
costs as part of the local project share. (section 1234(b)(3) of the 
ESEA.) Grant recipients may request that the Secretary waive this 
requirement, however. To obtain a waiver, a recipient must demonstrate 
to the Secretary's satisfaction that the recipient otherwise would not 
be able to participate in the Even Start program. (section 1234(b)(2) 
of the ESEA.) Information about requesting a waiver is in the 
application package. We reference regulations outlining additional 
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 
competition. Application Procedures:


    Note: 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.


    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. Even Start grants for 
Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations--CFDA Number: 84.258 is one of 
the programs included in the pilot project. If you are an applicant 
under Even Start grants for Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations, you 
may submit your application to us in either electronic or paper format.
    The pilot project involves the use of the Electronic Grant 
Application 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.
    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 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.
     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 Even Start grants for Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations 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

[[Page 6955]]

    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 in section VII of this notice 
under For Further Information Contact or (2) the e-GRANTS help desk at 
1-888-336-8930.
    You may access the electronic grant application for Even Start 
grants for Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations at: http://e-grants.ed.gov/.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The following selection criteria for this 
competition are in section 75.210 of EDGAR, 34 CFR 75.210. Further 
information about each of these selection criteria is in the 
application package. The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 
points. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in 
parentheses.
    (a) 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 the following factors:
    (1) 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.
    (2) The extent to which the design of the proposed project reflects 
up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice.
    (3) The extent to which the proposed project will establish 
linkages with other appropriate agencies and organizations providing 
services to the target population.
    (b) Quality of project services. (25 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 the following factors:
    (1) 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.
    (2) The likelihood that the services to be provided by the proposed 
project will lead to improvements in the achievement of students as 
measured against rigorous academic standards.
    (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.
    (c) 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 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.
    (3) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of project consultants or subcontractors.
    (d) Adequacy of resources. (10 points) The Secretary considers the 
adequacy of resources for the proposed project. In determining the 
adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary considers 
the following factors:
    (1) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, 
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the 
lead applicant organization.
    (2) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the 
proposed project.
    (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 the following factor:
    (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.
    (f) Quality of project evaluation. (15 points) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (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 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: The Government Performance and Results Act 
(GPRA) directs Federal departments and agencies to improve the 
effectiveness of their programs by engaging in strategic planning, 
setting outcome-related goals for programs, and measuring program 
results against those goals. Program officials must develop performance 
measures for all of their grant programs to assess their performance 
and effectiveness. The Department has established a set of indicators 
to assess the effectiveness of

[[Page 6956]]

the Even Start program, which Tribal Even Start projects will use to 
measure increases in the: (1) Percentages and numbers of adults 
achieving significant learning gains on measures of literacy and 
mathematics, and percentages and numbers of limited English proficient 
(LEP) adults who achieve significant learning gains on measures of 
English language acquisition; (2) percentages and numbers of Even Start 
school-age parents who earn a high school diploma, and percentages and 
numbers of Even Start non-school-age parents who earn a high school 
diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED); and (3) percentages and 
numbers of Even Start children entering kindergarten who achieve 
significant learning gains on measures of language development and 
reading readiness. All grantees will be expected to submit an annual 
performance report documenting their success in addressing these 
performance measures.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Sligh, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 3W246, Washington, DC 20202-
6132. Telephone: (202) 260-0999, 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: www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: February 6, 2004.
Raymond Simon,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 04-3123 Filed 2-11-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P