[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 87 (Friday, May 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24009-24012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9132]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools; Overview Information; 
Foundations for Learning; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards 
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.215H.

    Dates: Applications Available: May 6, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 20, 2005.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 19, 2005.
    Eligible Applicants: (1) Local educational agencies (LEAs); (2) 
Local councils; (3) Community-based organizations (CBOs), including 
faith-based organizations; (4) Other public or nonprofit private 
entities; or (5) A combination of such entities.
    Estimated Available Funds: $992,000. Contingent upon the 
availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make 
additional awards in FY 2006 from the list of unfunded applications 
from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000-$300,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $245,500.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 4.


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


    Project Period: Up to 18 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: This program supports projects to help eligible 
children become ready for school.
    Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105 (b)(2)(iv), this 
priority is from section 5542 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, 20 
U.S.C. 7269a (ESEA).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2005 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards on the basis of the list of un-funded applications from 
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: Grants to local educational agencies, local 
councils, community-based organizations, including faith-based 
organizations, and other public and nonprofit private entities, or a 
combination of such entities, to assist eligible children to become 
ready for school.
    To be eligible for funding, a project must propose one or more of 
the following--
    (1) To deliver services to eligible children and their families 
that foster eligible children's emotional, behavioral, and social 
development;
    (2) To coordinate and facilitate access by eligible children and 
their families to the services available through community resources, 
including mental health, physical health, substance abuse, educational, 
domestic violence prevention, child welfare, and social services;
    (3) To provide ancillary services such as transportation or child 
care in order to facilitate the delivery of any other authorized 
services or activities;
    (4) To develop or enhance early childhood community partnerships 
and build toward a community system of care that brings together child-
serving agencies or organizations to provide individualized supports 
for eligible children and their families;
    (5) To evaluate the success of strategies and services provided 
pursuant to the grant in promoting young children's successful entry to 
school and to maintain data systems required for effective evaluations; 
and
    (6) To pay for the expenses of administering the grant activities, 
including assessment of children's eligibility for services.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7269a.

    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, 97, 98, and 99.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $992,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000-$300,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $245,500.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 4.


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


    Project Period: Up to 18 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: (1) Local educational agencies (LEAs); (2) 
Local councils; (3) Community-based organizations (CBOs), including 
faith-based organizations; (4) Other public or nonprofit private 
entities; or (5) A combination of such entities.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost 
sharing or matching but does involve supplement-not supplant funding 
provisions. Sec. 20 U.S.C. 7269a(b)(3)(D).

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 (toll free): 
1-877-576-7734.
    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 from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.215H.
    Copies of the application package for this competition can also be 
found at: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osdfs/programs.html.

[[Page 24010]]

    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the contact person 
listed in Section VII of this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission:
    a. Statutory Application Requirements:
    Applications submitted under this program must include the 
following--
    (1) A description of the population that the applicant intends to 
serve and the types of services to be provided under the grant;
    (2) A description of the manner in which services under the grant 
will be coordinated with existing similar services provided by public 
and nonprofit private entities within the State; and
    (3) An assurance that--
     Services under the grant will be provided by or under the 
supervision of qualified professionals with expertise in early 
childhood development;
     These services will be culturally competent;
     These services will be provided in accordance with the 
permissible uses of funds as described elsewhere in this notice;
     Funds will be used to supplement, and not supplant, non-
Federal funds; and
     Parents of students participating in services will be 
involved in the design and implementation of the services.
    b. Other:
    Other requirements concerning the content of an application, 
together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package 
for this program.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: May 6, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 20, 2005.
    Applications for grants under the Foundations for Learning Grants 
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. Deadline for Intergovernmental review: August 
19, 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 program.
    5. Funding Restrictions:

Limitations on Use of Funds

    (1) Grant funds may be used only to pay for services that cannot be 
paid for using other Federal, State, or local public resources or 
through private insurance.
    (2) A grantee may not use more than 3 percent of the amount of the 
grant to pay the expenses of administering the authorized activities, 
including assessment of children's eligibility for services.
    We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions 
in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under the 
Foundations for Learning Grants Program may be submitted electronically 
or in paper format by mail or hand delivery.

a. Electronic Submission of Applications

    If you choose to 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., e.s.t., on the application deadline date. The 
e-Application system will not accept an application for the Foundations 
for Learning Grants Program after 4:30 p.m., e.s.t., 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 the application should be 
attached as files in .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.
    (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 electronic 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., e.s.t., on the 
application deadline date; or
    (b) The e-Application system is unavailable for any period of time

[[Page 24011]]

between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., e.s.t., 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, 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 
84.215H), 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 
84.215H), 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 
84.215H), 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., e.s.t., 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 acknowledgment 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

    Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are in 
the application package for this competition.

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 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 grants.
    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 Secretary has established the 
following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of 
the Foundations for Learning grants program: (1) The percentage of 
eligible children served by the grant attaining measurable gains in 
emotional, behavioral, and social development will increase; and (2) 
The percentage of eligible children and their families served by the 
grant receiving individualized support from child-serving agencies or 
organizations will increase.
    Note that in applying the selection criteria to be used in this 
competition for ``Quality of project services'' and ``Quality of the 
project evaluation,'' the Secretary will take into consideration the 
extent to which the applicant demonstrates a strong capacity to provide 
reliable data on these indicators.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Earl Myers, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., room 3E254, Washington, DC 20202-
6450. Telephone: (202) 708-8846 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 1-888-877-8339.
    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

[[Page 24012]]

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: May 3, 2005.
Deborah A. Price,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools.
[FR Doc. 05-9132 Filed 5-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P