[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9104-9107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2506]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools; Overview Information; 
Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program; Notice Inviting 
Applications For New Awards For Fiscal Year (FY) 2006

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

    Dates: Applications Available: February 22, 2006. Deadline for 
Transmittal of Applications: April 10, 2006. Deadline for 
Intergovernmental Review: June 7, 2006.
    Eligible applicants: Local educational agencies (LEAs).
    Estimated available funds: $17,000,000. Contingent upon the 
availability of funds, the Secretary may make additional awards in FY 
2007 from the rank-ordered list of unfunded applicants from this 
competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $250,000-$400,000.
    Maximum Award: Section 5421(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 
2001, 20 U.S.C. 7245 (ESEA), limits the amount of a grant under this 
program in any one year to a maximum of $400,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 45.


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


    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

Full Text of Announcement

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Elementary and Secondary 
School Counseling program is to support efforts by LEAs to establish or 
expand elementary and secondary school counseling programs.
    Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority 
is from Section 5421 of the ESEA, 20 U.S.C. 7245.
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2006 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards based on the rank-ordered list of unfunded applicants 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: The establishment or expansion of elementary 
school counseling programs. Under 34 CFR part 77, an elementary school 
is a day

[[Page 9105]]

or residential school that provides elementary education, as determined 
under State law. Applicants must also address the requirements in 
Section 5421(c)(2) of the ESEA. A copy of the statute authorizing this 
competition is included in the application package.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7245.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 
82, 84, 85, 97, 98, 99, and 299.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $17,000,000. Contingent upon the 
availability of funds, the Secretary may make additional awards in FY 
2007 from the rank-ordered list of unfunded applicants from this 
competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $250,000--$400,000.
    Maximum Award: Section 5421(a)(5) of the ESEA limits the amount of 
a grant under this program in any one year to a maximum of $400,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 45.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: LEAs.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost 
sharing or matching but does involve supplement-not-supplant funding 
provisions. Section 5421(b)(2)(G) of the ESEA requires applicants under 
the program to assure that program funds will be used to supplement, 
and not supplant, any other Federal, State, or local funds used for 
providing school-based counseling and mental health services to 
students.
    3. Other: Section 5421(g)(2) of the ESEA requires that for any 
fiscal year in which the amount available for this program is less than 
$40,000,000 the Secretary makes grants to LEAs only to establish or 
expand counseling programs in elementary schools. The FY 2006 
appropriation for this program is $34,650,000. Therefore, under this 
notice applicants must propose projects that establish or expand 
counseling programs only in elementary schools.

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 or 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 84.215E. The application 
package for this program is also available at: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osdfs/programs.html.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package for this program in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large 
print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the program 
contact person listed under For Further Information Contact in 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.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Application Available: February 22, 
2006. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 10, 2006. 
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. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 7, 
2006.
    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: Section 5421(d) of the ESEA requires that 
no more than four percent of a grant award may be used for 
administrative costs to carry out the project.
    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 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., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. The e-Application system will not accept an application 
for this program 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. If you choose to submit your application 
electronically, you must attach any narrative sections of your 
application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF 
(Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the 
three file types specified above or submit a password protected file, 
we will not review that material.
     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

[[Page 9106]]

automatic acknowledgment 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 Office of Safe and 
Drug-Free Schools 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 Office of Safe and Drug-Free 
Schools at (202) 205-5722.
     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 to enable you 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., 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 acknowledgment 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 acknowledgment 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 
84.215E), 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 84.215E), 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 
84.215E), 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 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

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are 
from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR and are listed in the application package.
    2. Review and Selection Process: Additional factors we consider in 
selecting an application for an award are the requirements in Section 
5421(c)(2) of the ESEA. Applicants must address each of these 
requirements.

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 Application 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. 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

[[Page 9107]]

performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of the Elementary 
and Secondary School Counseling Program: (1) The percentage of grantees 
closing the gap between their student/mental health professional ratios 
and the student/mental health professional ratios recommended by the 
statute; and (2) the median percentage decrease among grantees in the 
number of student disciplinary referrals in the schools participating 
in the program. These two measures constitute the Department's 
indicators of success for this program. Consequently, applicants for a 
grant under this program are advised to give careful consideration to 
these two outcomes in conceptualizing the design, implementation, and 
evaluation of their proposed project. If funded, applicants will be 
asked to collect and report data in their annual performance reports 
about progress toward these goals. The Secretary will also use this 
information to respond to reporting requirements concerning this 
program established in Section 5421(f) of the ESEA.

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: Loretta McDaniel, U.S. Department 
of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., room 3E214, Washington, DC 20202-
6450. Telephone: (202) 260-2661 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 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 16, 2006.
Deborah A. Price,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools.
 [FR Doc. E6-2506 Filed 2-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P