[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1326-1331]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-120]


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

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools; Overview Information; 
Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.184E.

    Dates: Applications Available: January 8, 2008.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 19, 2008.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 18, 2008. Full Text of 
Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools 
(REMS) grants support efforts by local educational agencies (LEAs) to 
improve and strengthen their school emergency management plans, 
including by training school personnel and students in emergency 
management procedures; communicating with parents about emergency plans 
and procedures; and coordinating with local law enforcement, public 
safety, public health, and mental health agencies.

    Note: The REMS program was formerly known as the ``Emergency 
Response and Crisis Management'' grant program. As indicated 
elsewhere in this notice, the priorities and other application 
requirements used for this competition are from notices that were 
published in the Federal Register when the program operated under 
the name ``Emergency Response and Crisis Management.'' While the 
substance of those priorities and requirements remain the same, some 
references in the priorities and requirements have been changed in 
order to be consistent with the new name of the program and the 
terminology used in the emergency management field.

    Priorities: This competition includes one absolute priority and two 
competitive preference priorities. The absolute priority is from (1) 
the notice of final priority and other application requirements for 
this program, published in the Federal Register on June 21, 2005 (70 FR 
35652), and the competitive preference priorities and application 
requirements are from (2) the notice of final priorities published in 
the Federal Register on May 11, 2006 (71 FR 27576).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2008 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the 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:
    Improvement and Strengthening of School Emergency Management Plans.
    This priority supports LEA projects to improve and strengthen 
emergency management plans, at the district and school-building level, 
addressing the four phases of emergency management: Prevention-
Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. Plans must include: 
(1) Training for school personnel and students in emergency management 
procedures; (2) Coordination with local law enforcement, public safety, 
public health, and mental health agencies; and (3) A method for 
communicating school emergency management policies and reunification 
procedures to parents and guardians.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2008 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from 
this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award an additional 10 
points to an application that meets Priority 1 and we award an 
additional 5 points to an application that meets Priority 2. 
Applications that qualify for both Priorities 1 and 2 will receive 
points only under Priority 1.
    These priorities are:
    Priority 1--Competitive Preference Priority for LEAs That Have Not 
Previously Received a Grant Under the REMS Program (CFDA 84.184E) and 
Are Located in an Urban Areas Security Initiative Jurisdiction.
    Under this priority, we give a competitive preference to 
applications from LEAs that (1) have not yet received a grant under 
this program (CFDA 84.184E) and (2) are located in whole or in part 
within Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) jurisdictions, as 
determined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). An 
applicant must meet both of these criteria in order to receive the 
competitive preference. Under a consortium application, all members of 
the LEA consortium need to meet both criteria to be eligible for the 
preference. Applications submitted by educational service agencies 
(ESAs) are eligible under this priority if each LEA to be served by the 
grant is located within a UASI jurisdiction and has not

[[Page 1327]]

received funding under this program directly, or as the lead agency or 
other partner in a consortium; however the ESA itself may have received 
a previous grant.
    Because DHS' determination of UASI jurisdictions may change from 
year to year, applicants under this priority must refer to the most 
recent list of UASI jurisdictions published by DHS before submitting 
their applications to determine if they will receive a competitive 
preference under this priority.

    Note: The Governor of each State has designated a State 
Administrative Agency (SAA) as the entity responsible for applying 
for, and administering, funds under the DHS Grant Program (which 
includes the UASI program). The SAA is also responsible for defining 
the geographic borders for jurisdictions included in the UASI 
program. Guidance on jurisdiction definitions can be found at: 
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/grants_hsgp.htm

    Priority 2--Competitive Preference Priority for LEAs That Have Not 
Previously Received a Grant Under the REMS Program (CFDA 84.184E).
    Under this priority, we give competitive preference to applications 
from LEAs that have not previously received a grant under this program 
(CFDA 84.184E). Applicants (other than ESAs) that have received funding 
under this program directly, or as the lead agency or other partner in 
a consortium application under this program, will not receive 
competitive preference under this priority. For applications submitted 
by ESAs, each LEA to be served by the grant must not have received 
funding under this program directly, or as the lead agency, or other 
partner in a consortium application, in order for the ESA to be 
eligible under this priority; however the ESA itself may have received 
a previous grant.
    Other Application Requirements: Applicants under this competition 
must meet the requirements in this section. Requirements (1), (2), and 
(4) are from the notice of final priority and other application 
requirements for this program, published in the Federal Register on 
June 21, 2005 (70 FR 35652), and requirements (3) and (5) are from the 
notice of final priorities and application requirements published in 
the Federal Register on May 11, 2006 (71 FR 27576).
    1. Partner Agreements. To be considered for a grant award, an 
applicant must include in its application an agreement that details the 
participation of each of the following five community-based partners: 
Law enforcement, public safety, public health, mental health, and the 
head of the applicant's local government (for example, the mayor, city 
manager, or county executive). The agreement must include a description 
of each partner's roles and responsibilities in improving and 
strengthening emergency management plans at the district and school-
building level, a description of each partner's commitment to the 
continuation and continuous improvement of emergency management plans 
at the district and school-building level, and an authorized signature 
representing the LEA and each partner acknowledging the agreement. If 
one or more of the five partners listed is not present in the 
applicant's community, or cannot feasibly participate, the agreement 
must explain the absence of each missing partner. To be considered 
eligible for funding; however, an application must include a signed 
agreement between the LEA, a law enforcement partner, and at least one 
of the other required partners (public safety, public health, mental 
health, or head of local government).
    Applications that fail to include the required agreement, including 
information on partners' roles and responsibilities and on their 
commitment to continuation and continuous improvement (with signatures 
and explanations for missing signatures as specified above), will not 
be read.
    Although this program requires partnerships with other parties, 
administrative direction and fiscal control for the project must remain 
with the LEA.
    2. Coordination With State or Local Homeland Security Plan. All 
emergency management plans must be coordinated with the Homeland 
Security Plan of the State or locality in which the LEA is located. All 
States submitted such a plan to the Department of Homeland Security on 
January 30, 2004. To ensure that emergency services are coordinated, 
and to avoid duplication of effort within States and localities, 
applicants must include in their applications an assurance that the LEA 
will coordinate with, and follow, the requirements of its State or 
local Homeland Security Plan for emergency services and initiatives.
    3. Implementation of the National Incident Management System 
(NIMS). Applicants must agree to implement their grant in a manner 
consistent with the implementation of the NIMS in their communities. 
Applicants must include in their applications an assurance that they 
have met, or will complete, all current NIMS requirements by the end of 
the grant period.
    Because DHS' determination of NIMS requirements may change from 
year to year, applicants must refer to the most recent list of NIMS 
requirements published by DHS when submitting their applications. In 
any notice inviting applications, the Department will provide 
applicants with information necessary to access the most recent DHS 
list of NIMS requirements. Information about the FY 2007 NIMS 
requirements for tribal governments and local jurisdictions, including 
LEAs, may be found at: http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nims/imp_mtrx_tribal.pdf

    Note: An LEA's NIMS compliance must be achieved in close 
coordination with the local government and with recognition of the 
first-responder capabilities held by the LEA and the local 
government. As LEAs are not traditional response organizations, 
first-responder services will typically be provided to LEAs by local 
fire and rescue departments, emergency medical service providers, 
and law enforcement agencies. This traditional relationship must be 
acknowledged in achieving NIMS compliance in an integrated NIMS 
compliance plan for the local government and the LEA. LEA 
participation in the NIMS preparedness program of the local 
government is essential to ensure that first-responder services are 
delivered to schools in a timely and effective manner. Additional 
information about NIMS implementation is available at: http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/nims_compliance.shtm

    4. Individuals With Disabilities. The applicant's plan must 
demonstrate that the applicant has taken into consideration the 
communication, transportation, and medical needs of individuals with 
disabilities within the school district.
    5. Infectious Disease Plan. To be considered for a grant award, 
applicants must agree to develop a written plan designed to prepare the 
LEA for a possible infectious disease outbreak, such as pandemic 
influenza. Plans must address the four phases of emergency management 
(Mitigation-Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery) and 
include a plan for disease surveillance (systematic collection and 
analysis of data that lead to action being taken to prevent and control 
a disease), school closure decision-making, business continuity 
(processes and procedures established to ensure that essential 
functions can continue during and after a disaster), and continuation 
of educational services.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7131.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 
82, 84, 85, 97, 98, 99, and 299. (b) The notice of final priority and 
other application requirements published in the Federal Register on 
June 21, 2005 (70 FR 35652).

[[Page 1328]]

(c) The notice of final priorities and application requirements 
published in the Federal Register on May 11, 2006 (71 FR 27576). (d) 
The notice of final eligibility requirement for the Office of Safe and 
Drug-Free Schools discretionary grant programs published in the Federal 
Register on December 4, 2006 (71 FR 70369).

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $24,000,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards later in FY 2008 and in FY 
2009 and subsequent years from the list of unfunded applicants from 
this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$500,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $100,000 for small districts (1-
20 school facilities); $250,000 for medium-sized districts (21-75 
school facilities); and $500,000 for large districts (76 or more school 
facilities).
    Estimated Number of Awards: 96.

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

    Project Period: Up to 18 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: LEAs, including charter schools that are 
considered LEAs under State law, that do not currently have an active 
grant under the REMS program. For the purpose of this eligibility 
requirement, a grant is considered active until the end of the grant's 
project or funding period, including any extensions of those periods 
that extend the grantee's authority to obligate funds. This eligibility 
requirement is from the notice of final eligibility requirement 
published in the Federal Register on December 4, 2006 (71 FR 70369).
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other:
    (a) Equitable Participation by Private School Children and 
Teachers.
    Section 9501 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 
as amended (ESEA), requires that State educational agencies (SEAs), 
LEAs, or other entities receiving funds under the Safe and Drug-Free 
Schools and Communities Act provide for the equitable participation of 
private school children, their teachers, and other educational 
personnel in private schools located in areas served by the grant 
recipient. In order to ensure that grant program activities address the 
needs of private school children, LEAs must engage in timely and 
meaningful consultation with private school officials during the design 
and development of the program. This consultation must take place 
before any decision is made that affects the opportunities of eligible 
private school children, teachers, and other educational personnel to 
participate.
    In order to ensure equitable participation of private school 
children, teachers, and other educational personnel, an LEA must 
consult with private school officials on such issues as: Hazards/
vulnerabilities unique to private schools in the LEA's service area, 
training needs, and existing emergency management plans and resources 
already available at private schools.
    (b) Maintenance of Effort.
    Section 9521 of the ESEA permits LEAs to receive a grant only if 
the SEA finds that the combined fiscal effort per student or the 
aggregate expenditures of the LEA and the State with respect to the 
provision of free public education by the LEA for the preceding fiscal 
year was not less than 90 percent of the combined fiscal effort or 
aggregate expenditures for the second preceding fiscal year.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address To Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following 
address: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html. To 
obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, 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), call, toll free: 1-877-
576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html or 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 84.184E.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the person listed under 
Alternative Format in section VIII 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 competition.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: January 8, 2008.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 19, 2008.
    Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov), or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates 
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in 
paper format 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.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 
in this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 18, 2008.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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 in this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this competition may be submitted electronically or in paper format by 
mail or hand delivery.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    To comply with the President's Management Agenda, we are 
participating as a partner in the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site. 
The Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools grant competition, 
CFDA Number 84.184E, is

[[Page 1329]]

included in this project. We request your participation in Grants.gov.
    If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must 
use the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at http://www.Grants.gov. 
Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the 
application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit 
your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant 
application to us.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Readiness 
and Emergency Management for Schools grant competition at http://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application 
package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the 
CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.184, not 
84.184E).
    Please note the following:
     Your participation in Grants.gov is voluntary.
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application 
if it is date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. When we 
retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are 
rejecting your application because it was date and time stamped by the 
Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to Grants.gov at http://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
     To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must 
complete all steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp). These steps include (1) 
registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes 
registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR); (2) 
registering yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative 
(AOR); and (3) getting authorized as an AOR by your organization. 
Details on these steps are outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step 
Registration Guide (see http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf). You also must provide on your 
application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please 
note that the registration process may take five or more business days 
to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to 
allow you to submit successfully an application via Grants.gov. In 
addition you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual 
basis. This may take three or more business days to complete.
     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.
     If you submit your application electronically, you must 
submit all documents electronically, including all information you 
typically provide on the following forms: Application for Federal 
Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental 
Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs 
(ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. Please note 
that two of these forms--the SF 424 and the Department of Education 
Supplemental Information for SF 424--have replaced the ED 424 
(Application for Federal Education Assistance).
     If you 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 in 
this paragraph 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.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that 
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates 
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department). The 
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send 
a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification 
indicates that the Department has received your application and has 
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified 
identifying number unique to your application).
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues 
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting 
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov 
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a 
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
    If you are prevented from electronically submitting your 
application on the application deadline date because of technical 
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension 
until 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand 
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing 
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
    If you submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, 
on the application deadline date, please contact the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII in this notice and 
provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with 
Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. We will 
accept your application if we can confirm that a technical problem 
occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your 
ability to submit your application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, 
on the application deadline date. The Department will contact you after 
a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.

    Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply 
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the 
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed 
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before 
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem 
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.

[[Page 1330]]

    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 84.184E), 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 
84.184E), 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.
    (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.
    (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 
84.184E), 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 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including 
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are 
submitting your application; and
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a 
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not 
receive this notification 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 competition are 
from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application package.

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 notify you informally, also.
    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 in this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section in 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. You must also submit an interim report nine months 
after the award date. This report should provide the most current 
performance and financial expenditure information as specified by the 
Secretary in 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more 
frequent performance reports in accordance with 34 CFR 75.720(c). For 
specific requirements on reporting, please go to http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: We have identified the following key 
Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) performance 
measures for assessing the effectiveness of the REMS grant program: (1) 
The percentage of REMS grant sites that demonstrate they have increased 
the number of hazards addressed by the improved school emergency 
management plan as compared to the baseline plan; (2) The percentage of 
REMS grant sites that demonstrate improved knowledge of school 
emergency management policies and procedures, district emergency 
policies and procedures, or both, by school staff with responsibility 
for emergency management functions; and (3) The percentage of REMS 
grant sites that have a plan for, and commitment to, the sustainability 
and continuous improvement of the school emergency management plan by 
the district and community partners beyond the period of Federal 
financial assistance.
    These GPRA measures constitute the Department's indicators of 
success for this program. Applicants for a grant under this program are 
advised to give careful consideration to these measures in designing 
their proposed project, including considering how data for the measures 
will be collected. Grantees will be required to collect and report, in 
their interim and final performance reports, data on about their 
progress with regard to these measures.

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: Sara Strizzi, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., Room 3E320, Washington, DC 20202-
6450. Telephone: (303) 346-0924 or by e-mail: [email protected].
    If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Alternative Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package 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 in this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: You can 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.


[[Page 1331]]


    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: January 3, 2008.
Deborah A. Price,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools.
 [FR Doc. E8-120 Filed 1-7-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P