[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 205 (Monday, October 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62255-62258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23849]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of Postsecondary Education


Overview Information; Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants 
Program--Teacher Quality Enhancement (TQE) Grants for States; Notice 
Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.336A.

Dates: Applications Available: October 25, 2004.
    Deadline For Transmittal of Applications: December 17, 2004.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: February 15, 2005.
    Eligible Applicants: Eligible States, as defined in sections 
103(16) and 202(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended 
(HEA). A State that received a previous grant under this program is not 
eligible for a FY 2005 grant. The following States are eligible: 
Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Montana, New York, the Commonwealth of 
Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$88,887,451 for this program for FY 2005. Of that amount, $39,999,353 
would be allocated to TQE Grants for States under current law. Of this, 
approximately $30,624,151 would be available for new awards. The 
Department has requested appropriations language to override the 
statutory requirements that 45 percent of program funds be allocated 
for the State program and allow excess funds to be used where unmet 
demand for program funds exists. If this request is not approved, the 
Department will use funds allocated to Grants to States to provide 
additional years of funding for the awardees. The actual level of 
funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are 
inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant 
process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000--$5,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $2,038,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 9.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to provide 
grants to promote improvements in the quality of new teachers, with the 
ultimate goal of increasing student achievement in the nation's K-12 
classrooms. State grants are designed to improve the quality of a 
State's teaching force by supporting the implementation of 
comprehensive statewide reform activities in areas such as teacher 
licensing and certification, accountability for high-quality teacher 
preparation, and recruitment.
    Priorities: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), these 
priorities are taken from the regulations for this program (34 CFR 
611.13).
    Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2005, these priorities are 
competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we 
award up to an additional 10 points to an application, depending on how 
well the application meets these priorities.
    These priorities are:
    The Secretary provides a competitive preference on the basis of how 
well the State's proposed activities in any one or more of the 
following statutory priorities are likely to yield successful and 
sustained results: (a) Initiatives to reform State teacher licensure 
and certification requirements so that current and future teachers 
possess strong teaching skills and academic content knowledge in the 
subject areas in which they will be certified or licensed to teach; (b) 
innovative reforms to hold higher education institutions with teacher 
preparation programs

[[Page 62256]]

accountable for preparing teachers who are highly competent in the 
academic content areas and have strong teaching skills; or (c) 
innovative efforts to reduce the shortage (including the high turnover) 
of highly competent teachers in high-poverty urban and rural areas.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1021 et seq.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 
82, 84, 85, 97, 98 and 99. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 
CFR part 611.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$88,887,451 for this program for FY 2005. Of that amount, $39,999,353 
would be allocated to TQE Grants for States under the current law. Of 
this, approximately $30,624,151 would be available for new awards. The 
Department has requested appropriations language to override the 
statutory requirements that 45 percent of program funds be allocated 
for the State program and allow excess funds to be used where unmet 
demand for program funds exists. If this request is not approved, the 
Department will use funds allocated to Grants to States to provide 
additional years of funding for the awardees. The actual level of 
funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are 
inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant 
process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000-$5,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $2,038,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 9.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible States, as defined in sections 
103(16) and 202(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended 
(HEA). A State that received a previous grant under this program is not 
eligible for a FY 2005 grant. The following States are eligible: 
Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Montana, New York, the Commonwealth of 
Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: See 34 CFR 611.62.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Luretha Kelley, U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., room 7096, Washington, DC 
20006-8526. Telephone: (202) 502-7645 or by e-mail: 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the program contact 
person listed in this section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this competition. Page 
Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, address 
the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application.
    You must limit the application narrative to the equivalent of no 
more than 50 pages. In addition, you must limit the: Accompanying 
abstract to the equivalent of no more than one page; work plan to the 
equivalent of no more than 10 pages; budget narrative to the equivalent 
of no more than 10 pages; and evaluation plan to the equivalent of no 
more than 5 pages.
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, work plan, budget narrative and 
evaluation plan, including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, 
references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables, 
figures and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, 
the budget forms, the assurances and certifications; the resumes, the 
bibliography, or the letters of support.
    We will reject your application if--
     You apply these standards and exceed the page limit; or
     You apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the 
page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: October 24, 
2004. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: December 17, 2004.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    We are requiring that applications for grants under this program be 
submitted electronically using the Electronic Grant Application system 
(e-Application) available through the Department's e-GRANTS system. For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically or to request a waiver of the electronic 
submission requirement, please refer to Section IV. 6. Other Submission 
Requirements in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: February 15, 2005.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for this competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this program must be submitted electronically, unless you request a 
waiver of this requirement in accordance with the instructions in this 
section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under the Teacher Quality Enhancement 
Grants Program for States--CFDA Number 84.336A must be submitted 
electronically using e-Application available through the Department's 
e-Grants system, accessible through the e-Grants portal page at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    If you are unable to submit an application through the e-Grants 
system, you may submit a written request for a waiver of the electronic 
submission requirement. In your request, you should explain the reason 
or reasons that prevent you from using the Internet to submit your 
application. Address your request to: Luretha Kelley, U.S. Department 
of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., room 7096, Washington, DC 20006-8526. 
Please submit your request no later than two weeks before the 
application deadline date. Your paper application must be submitted in 
accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described in 
this notice.
    If, within two weeks of the application deadline date, including on 
the application deadline date itself, you are unable to submit an 
application electronically, you must submit a paper application in 
accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described

[[Page 62257]]

in this notice. The paper application must include a written request 
for a waiver documenting the reasons that prevented you from using the 
Internet to submit your application electronically.
    While completing your electronic application, you will be entering 
data online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an 
electronic copy of any part of a grant application to us.
    Please note the following:
     You must complete the electronic submission of your grant 
application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. The e-Application system will not accept an application 
for this competition after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do 
not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application 
process.
     The regular hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site 
are 6 a.m. Monday until 7 p.m. Wednesday; and 6 a.m. Thursday until 
midnight Saturday, Washington, DC time. Please note that the system is 
unavailable on Sundays, and between 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6 a.m. on 
Thursdays, Washington, DC time, for maintenance. Any modifications to 
these hours are posted on the e-Grants Web site.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit the application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you request a waiver and submit the application in paper format 
because you were prevented from submitting the application 
electronically as required.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
the Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424) and all 
necessary assurances and certifications.
     Your electronic application must comply with any page 
limit requirements described in this notice.
     Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may 
wish to download it and print a copy of it for your records.
     After you electronically submit your application to the 
Department, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement that will 
include a PR/Award number (an identifying number unique to your 
application).
     Within three working days after submitting your electronic 
application, fax a signed copy of the ED 424 to the Application Control 
Center after following these steps:
    1. Print ED 424 from e-Application.
    2. The applicant's Authorizing Representative must sign this form.
    3. Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the 
hard copy signature page of the ED 424. Fax the signed ED 424 to the 
Application Control Center at (202) 245-6272.
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
other forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System 
Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting 
your application on the application deadline date because the e-
Application system is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of 
one business day in order to transmit your application electronically, 
by mail, or by hand delivery. We will grant this extension if--
    1. You are a registered user of e-Application and have initiated an 
e-Application for this competition; and
    2. (a) The e-Application system is unavailable for 60 minutes or 
more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, 
on the application deadline date; or
    (b) The e-Application system is unavailable for any period of time 
between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date.
    We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability 
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to 
confirm our acknowledgement of any system unavailability, you may 
contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-
Grants help desk at 1-888-336-8930. If the system is down and therefore 
the application deadline is extended, a message will be posted on the 
e-Grants Web site (http://e-grants.ed.gov) and an e-mail is sent to all 
registered users who have initiated an application.
    Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the 
unavailability of the Department's e-Application system. If the e-
Application system is available, and, for any reason, you are unable to 
submit your application electronically or you do not receive an 
automatic acknowledgement of your submission, you may submit your 
application in paper format by mail or hand delivery in accordance with 
the instructions in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you have requested a waiver of the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your paper application to the Department. You must 
send the original and two copies of the application, before the 
application deadline date, to the following address: U.S. Department of 
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 
84.336A), 400 Maryland Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20202.
    You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
    1. A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service Postmark;
    2. A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service;
    3. A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier; or
    4. Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the U.S. Secretary of 
Education.
    If you mail the application through the U.S. Postal Service, please 
note that we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    1. A private metered postmark, or
    2. A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. If 
your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we 
will not consider your application.

    Note: Applicants should note that the U.S. Postal Service does 
not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this 
method, applicants should check with their local post office.

    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If you have requested a waiver of the electronic submission 
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver the paper 
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original 
and two copies of your application by hand on or before the application 
deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. 
Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA 
Number 84.336A), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts deliveries daily between 8 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays and 
Federal holidays. A person delivering an application must show photo 
identification to enter the building.
    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail 
or hand deliver your application to the Department:
    1. You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the 
Department--in Item 4 of the ED 424, the CFDA number--and suffix 
letter, if any--of the competition under which you are submitting the 
application.
    2. The Application Control Center will mail a Grant Application 
Receipt Acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the notification 
of application

[[Page 62258]]

receipt within 15 days from the mailing of your application, you should 
call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at 
(202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are 
in 34 CFR 611.11 and 611.12.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a 
final performance report, including financial information, as directed 
by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an 
annual performance report that provides the most current performance 
and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in 
34 CFR 75.118.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA), one measure has been developed for evaluating the 
overall effectiveness of the Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants Program 
for State Grants. The goal of this program is to improve the quality of 
teacher education and initial certification standards, and to improve 
the knowledge and skills of all teachers, particularly new teachers and 
teachers who work in high-need areas.
    The indicator for this performance measure is: Pass rates will 
increase for pre-service teachers taking subject matter competency 
tests as a part of the State licensure requirements, in the States that 
receive funds from the Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants Program for 
States to prepare teachers that are highly competent in the academic 
content areas in which they plan to teach (HEA, Title II, Sec. 202 
(d)(1)). All grantees will be expected to submit an annual performance 
report documenting their success in addressing this performance 
measure.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Luretha Kelley, U.S. Department of 
Education, 1990 K Street, NW., room 7096, Washington, DC 20006-8526. 
Telephone: (202) 502-7645 or by e-mail: [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: October 20, 2004.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 04-23849 Filed 10-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P