[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 32 (Thursday, February 17, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8085-8089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-657]


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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 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2005

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

DATES: Applications Available: February 18, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 11, 2005.
    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: $4,975,000. Contingent upon the 
availability of funds and quality of applications we may make 
additional awards in subsequent years from the list

[[Page 8086]]

of unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $150,000-$250,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $200,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 20-33.

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

    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

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. 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.
    Priorities: Under this competition we are particularly interested 
in applications that address the following invitational priorities.
    Invitational Priorities: For FY 2005 and any subsequent year in 
which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this 
competition, 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--Early Childhood Education Service in a Group 
Setting

    The Secretary is especially interested in programs that offer 
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, more likely to result in 
significant learning outcomes than non-center-based services. For 
example, 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.

Invitational Priority 2--Early Childhood Education Services Provided 
for Minimum of a 3-year Age Range

    The Secretary is especially interested in Even Start tribal 
projects that provide early childhood education services for children 
for at least a 3-year age range, which may begin at birth, in order to 
enhance the early language, literacy, and early reading development of 
preschool-age children.
    Under the statutory requirements that apply to the State-
administered Even Start Family Literacy program, local programs must 
serve a 3-year age range of children, which may begin at birth. This 
priority would encourage tribal Even Start programs to serve a similar 
age range in order to enhance early language, literacy, and early 
reading development of preschool-age children.

    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: $4,975,000. Contingent upon the 
availability of funds and quality of applications we may make 
additional awards in subsequent years from the list of unfunded 
applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $150,000-$250,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $200,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 20-33.

    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: You may obtain an 
application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain an application via the Internet, use the 
following address: http://www.ed.gov/programs/evenstartindian/applicant.html. To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write or call the 
following: Education Publications Center, 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 
(toll-free): 1-800-576-7734.
    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 package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.258A.
    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 section VII of this notice.

[[Page 8087]]

    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of the application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
    Page and Appendices Limits: 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 the narrative in Part III of the application to the equivalent of 
no more than 25 typed pages. Part IV of the application is where you, 
the applicant, provide a budget narrative that reviewers use to 
evaluate your application. You must limit the budget narrative in Part 
IV of the application to the equivalent of no more than 3 typed pages. 
For all page limits, use the following standards:
     The page limits do not apply to: the cover sheet; the one-
page abstract; the budget forms; assurances and certifications 
(included in Section E of the application package); and the endnotes 
included as an Appendix for Part III of your application (see section C 
of the application package).
     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 and budget narratives, including titles, 
headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions. Text in 
tables, charts, graphs, and the limited Appendices may be single 
spaced.
     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 limited Appendices, but those 
tables, charts, graphs and limited 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 overall 
application narrative and budget narrative page limits. The limited 
Appendices are not part of these page limits.
     Appendices are limited to the following: the curriculum 
vitae or position descriptions of no more than 5 people (including key 
contract personnel and consultants); and endnote citations of 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 18, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 11, 2005.
    Applications for grants under this program may be submitted 
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) accessible through the Department's e-Grants system, or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates 
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or by 
mail or hand delivery, please refer to section IV. 6. Other Submission 
Requirements in this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program 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 under appropriate circumstances. 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: Applications for grants under 
this program may be submitted electronically or in paper format by mail 
or hand delivery.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications. If you submit your 
application to us electronically, you must use e-Application available 
through the Department's e-Grants system, accessible through the e-
Grants portal page at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    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 a grant application to us.
    Please note the following:
     Your participation in e-Application is voluntary.
     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 your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you submit your application in paper format.
     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.
     Any narrative sections of your application should be 
attached as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF 
(Portable Document) format.
     Your electronic application must comply with any page 
limit requirements described in this notice.
     Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may 
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
     After you electronically submit your application, 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.

[[Page 8088]]

    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) 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 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 
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 section 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, an e-mail will be sent 
to all registered users who have initiated an e-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 submit your 
application in paper format by mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or 
a commercial carrier), you must mail the original and two copies of 
your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the 
Department at the applicable following address:
    By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of 
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 
84.258A), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260; or
    By mail through a commercial carrier: U.S. Department of Education, 
Application Control Center--Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number 
84.258A), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.
    Regardless of which address you use, you must show proof of mailing 
consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark,
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service,
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier, or
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark, or
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If your application is postmarked after the application deadline 
date, we will not consider your application.

    Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated 
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your 
local post office.

    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If you submit your application in paper format by hand delivery, 
you (or a courier service) must deliver the original and two copies of 
your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, 
to the Department at the following address:
    U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, 
Attention: (CFDA Number 84.258A), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, 
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, 
Sundays and Federal holidays.
    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail 
or hand deliver your application to the Department:
    1. You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the 
Department--in Item 4 of the ED 424 the CFDA number--and suffix letter, 
if any--of the competition under which you are submitting your 
application.
    2. The Application Control Center will mail a grant application 
receipt acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the grant 
application receipt acknowledgement within 15 business days from the 
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of 
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The following selection criteria for this 
competition are from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR. Further information about 
each of these selection criteria is in the application package. The 
maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses after each 
criterion.
    (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. (34 CFR 75.210(c)(2)(ii))
    (2) The extent to which the design of the proposed project reflects 
up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice. (34 CFR 
75.210(c)(2)(xiii))
    (3) The extent to which the proposed project will establish 
linkages with other appropriate agencies and organizations providing 
services to the target population. (34 CFR 75.210(c)(2)(xvii))
    (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. (34 CFR 75.210(d)(2)) 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. (34 CFR 75.210(d)(3)(v))
    (2) The likelihood that the services to be provided by the proposed 
project will lead to improvements in the achievement of students as 
measured

[[Page 8089]]

against rigorous academic standards. (34 CFR 75.210(d)(3)(vii))
    (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. (34 CFR 
75.210(d)(3)(ix))
    (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. (34 CFR 75.210(e)(2)) In addition, 
the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator. (34 CFR 
75.210(e)(3)(i))
    (2) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel. (34 CFR 75.210(e)(3)(ii))
    (3) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of project consultants or subcontractors. (34 CFR 75.210(e)(2)(iii))
    (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. (34 CFR 75.210(f)(2)(i))
    (2) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the 
proposed project. (34 CFR 75.210(f)(2)(iii))
    (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 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. (34 CFR 75.210(g)(2)(i))
    (f) Quality of the 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. (34 CFR 75.210(h)(2)(i))
    (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes. (34 CFR 75.210(h)(2)(vi))

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. For specific requirements on grantee reporting, please 
go to: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA), the Secretary has established the following 
measures for evaluating the overall effectiveness of the Even Start 
program, which Tribal Even Start projects are expected to use: (1) 
Percentage of adults who achieve significant learning gains on measures 
of literacy, and percentage of limited English proficient (LEP) adults 
who achieve significant learning gains on measures of English language 
acquisition, as measured by the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment 
System (CASAS) or the Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE); (2) 
percentage of Even Start adults with a high school completion goal or a 
percentage of those with a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) attainment 
goal who earn a high school diploma or equivalent; (3) percentage of 
Even Start children entering kindergarten who demonstrate age-
appropriate development of receptive language as measured by the 
Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III (PPVT-III); and (4) the average 
number of letters that Even Start children are able to identify as 
measured by the Uppercase Letter Naming subtask on the PALS Pre-K 
assessment. 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) 260-0968, or by e-mail: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain 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: February 11, 2005.
Raymond Simon,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. E5-657 Filed 2-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P