[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8984-8988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2934]



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Part IV





Department of Education





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Office of Innovation and Improvement; Overview Information; Full-
Service Community Schools Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New 
Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 32 / Friday, February 15, 2008 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Innovation and Improvement; Overview Information; Full-
Service Community Schools Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New 
Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008

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

DATES: Applications Available: February 15, 2008.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: March 17, 2008.
    Date of Pre-Application Meeting: March 12, 2008.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 15, 2008.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 16, 2008.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Fund for Improvement of Education (FIE), 
which is authorized by section 5411 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), supports nationally 
significant programs to improve the quality of elementary and secondary 
education at the State and local levels and help all children meet 
challenging academic content and achievement standards. The Full-
Service Community Schools (FSCS) program, which is authorized by FIE, 
encourages coordination of educational, developmental, family, health, 
and other services through partnerships between (1) public elementary 
and secondary schools and (2) community-based organizations and public 
or private entities. This collaboration will provide comprehensive 
educational, social, and health services for students, families, and 
communities.
    Priority: We are establishing this priority for the FY 2008 grant 
competition only in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the General 
Education Provisions Act (GEPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).
    Absolute Priority: This priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 
CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Full-Service Community Schools.
    Background: In order for children to be ready and able to learn, 
they need intellectual, social, physical, and psychological/emotional 
supports. The National Research Council has cited the presence of these 
supports as important predictors of future adult success.\1\ 
Comprehensive evaluations of full-service community schools 
commissioned by the Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation in 2005, indicated 
that students' needs are better met when the adults responsible for 
providing services to students come together to deliver those services 
in a well-coordinated and collaborative manner.
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    \1\ Eccles, J.S., and J. Gootman 2002 Programs to Promote Youth 
Development. Washington, DC: Board on Children, Youth, and Families, 
Institute of Medicine, National Research Council.
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    Full-service community schools provide comprehensive academic, 
social, mental, physical, and vocational programs and services to meet 
individual, family, and community needs. This priority will support 
projects that propose to establish, through collaborative efforts among 
State and local agencies, community service organizations, and parents, 
full-service community schools offering a range of student services.
    Priority: To meet this priority, applicants must propose a project 
based on scientifically based research--as defined in section 9101(3) 
of the ESEA--that establishes or expands an FSCS. An FSCS is a public 
elementary or secondary school that coordinates with community-based 
organizations and public or private entities to provide students, their 
families, and the community with access to comprehensive services. 
These services may include:
    1. Early childhood education;
    2. Remedial education and academic enrichment activities;
    3. Programs that promote parental involvement and family literacy 
activities;
    4. Mentoring and other youth development programs;
    5. Parenting education and parent leadership;
    6. Community service and service learning opportunities;
    7. Programs that provide assistance to students who have been 
truant, suspended, or expelled;
    8. Job training and career counseling services;
    9. Nutrition services;
    10. Primary health and dental care;
    11. Mental health counseling services; and
    12. Adult education, including instruction of adults in English as 
a second language.
    Each applicant must propose to provide at least three of the 
services listed at each participating full-service elementary or 
secondary school.
    Because interagency collaborative efforts are highly complex 
undertakings and, as such, require extensive planning and communication 
among partners and key stakeholders, applicants receiving funding under 
this priority may devote funds received during the first year of the 
project period to comprehensive program planning. If a grantee uses the 
first year's funding for planning, funding received during the 
remainder of the project period must be devoted to program 
implementation.
    Application Requirements: In order to receive funding, an 
application must include the following:
    1. A list of partner entities that will assist the eligible entity 
in coordinating or providing services.
    2. A memorandum of understanding between the applicant and all 
partner entities describing the role the partner entities will assume.
    3. A description of the capacity of the applicant to provide and 
coordinate qualified services at an FSCS.
    4. A comprehensive plan that includes descriptions of the students, 
families, and school community to be served, including information 
about the demographic characteristics and needs of the students, 
families, and community residents, the estimated number of individuals 
to be served, and the frequency of services to be provided.
    5. A list and description of the qualified services to be provided 
or coordinated by the eligible entity and its partner entities.
    Applications that do not meet these requirements will not be read 
and will not be considered for funding.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally offers interested parties 
the opportunity to comment on proposed eligibility requirements, 
priorities, application requirements, and selection criteria. Section 
437(d)(1) of GEPA, however, allows the Secretary to exempt from 
rulemaking requirements, regulations governing the first grant 
competition under a new or substantially revised program authority. 
This is the first grant competition for this program under the No Child 
Left Behind Act of 2001 and, therefore, qualifies for this exemption. 
In order to ensure timely grant awards, the Secretary has decided to 
forgo public comment on the eligibility requirements, priority, 
application requirements, and selection criteria under section 
437(d)(1) of GEPA. The eligibility requirements, priority, application 
requirements, and selection criteria will apply to the FY 2008 grant 
competition only.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7243-7243b.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.


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


    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of 
higher education only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $4,912,650.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $75,000-$500,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $415,000.
    Maximum Award: The maximum award amount is $500,000 per year. We 
may choose not to further consider or review applications with budget 
requests for any 12-month budget period that exceeds this amount, if we 
conclude, during our initial review of the application, that the 
proposed goals and objectives cannot be obtained with the specified 
maximum amount.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 8-12.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants under this competition 
are consortia consisting of a local educational agency and one or more 
community-based organizations, non-profit organizations, or other 
public or private entities. Consortia must comply with the provisions 
governing group applications in 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 of EDGAR.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Joan Scott-Ambrosio, 
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4W225, 
LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-5970. Telephone: (202) 260-2715 or by e-mail: 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the 
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
    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 program contact 
person listed in this section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
    Notice of Intent to Apply: The Department will be able to develop a 
more efficient process for reviewing grant applications if it has a 
better understanding of the number of entities that intend to apply for 
funding under this competition. Therefore, the Secretary strongly 
encourages each potential applicant to notify the Department by sending 
a short e-mail message indicating the applicant's intent to submit an 
application for funding. The e-mail need not include information 
regarding the content of the proposed application, only the applicant's 
intent to submit it. This e-mail notification should be sent to 
[email protected]. Applicants that fail to provide this e-mail notification 
may still apply for funding.
    Page Limit: 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 should limit the application narrative [Part III] to the 
equivalent of no more than 35 pages, using the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, 
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part 
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the 
resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the page 
limit does apply to all of the application narrative section [Part 
III].
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: February 15, 2008. Deadline for Notice of 
Intent to Apply: March 17, 2008. Date of Pre-Application Meeting: The 
Department will hold a pre-application meeting for prospective 
applicants on March 12, 2008, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the U.S. 
Department of Education, Barnard Auditorium, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC. Interested parties are invited to participate in this 
meeting to discuss the purpose of the FSCS program, absolute priority, 
selection criteria, application content, submission requirements, and 
reporting requirements. Interested parties may participate in this 
meeting either by conference call or in person. This site is accessible 
by Metro on the Blue, Orange, Green, and Yellow lines at the Seventh 
Street and Maryland Avenue exit of the L'Enfant Plaza station. After 
the meeting, FSCS staff also will be available from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 
p.m. on that same day to provide information and technical assistance 
through individual consultation.
    Individuals interested in attending this meeting are encouraged to 
pre-register by e-mailing their name, organization, and contact 
information with the subject heading PRE-APPLICATION MEETING to 
[email protected]. There is no registration fee for attending this meeting. 
For further information contact Jill Staton, U.S. Department of 
Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement, room 4W215, 400 
Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 401-2492 
or by e-mail: [email protected].

Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities at the Pre-Application 
Meeting

    The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If 
you will need an auxiliary aid or service to participate in the meeting 
(e.g., interpreting service, assistive listening device, or materials 
in an alternate format), notify the contact person listed in this 
notice at least two weeks before the scheduled meeting date. Although 
we will attempt to meet a request we receive after that date, we may 
not be able to make available the requested auxiliary aid or service 
because of insufficient time to arrange it.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 15, 2008.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, 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.

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    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: June 16, 2008.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for this competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements:
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement 
in accordance with the instructions in this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under the FSCS program, CFDA Number 
84.215J, must be submitted electronically using 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.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the FSCS 
program at http://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable 
application package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include 
the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.215, 
not 84.215J).
    Please note the following:
     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 program 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 qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     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).
     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

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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.

    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Grants.gov system; and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application.
    If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be 
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must 
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the 
application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: Joan Scott-Ambrosio, 
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4W225, 
Washington, DC 20202-5970. FAX: (202) 205-5630.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. 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 
84.215J), 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 
84.215J), 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 qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper 
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original 
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.215J), 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: We are establishing the following selection 
criteria for the FY 2008 grant competition only in accordance with 
section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1). The maximum score for 
all the selection criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each 
criterion is indicated in parentheses with the criterion.
    The criteria are as follows:
    1. Quality of the project design (up to 35 points).
    (a) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the 
proposed project.
    (b) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the extent to which the proposed 
project consists of a comprehensive plan that includes a description 
of--
    (i) The project objectives, which must be based on scientifically 
based research;
    (ii) The students, families, and school community to be served, 
including information about the demographic characteristics and needs 
of the students, families, and community residents and the estimated 
number of individuals to be served; and
    (iii) The qualified services (as specified in the Priority section 
of this notice) to be provided or coordinated by

[[Page 8988]]

the applicant and its partner entities, how those services will meet 
the needs of students and their families, and the frequency with which 
those services will be provided to students and their families.
    2. Adequacy of resources (up to 15 points).
    (a) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the 
proposed project.
    (b) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, 
supplies, and other resources to be provided by the applicant and 
consortium partners.
    (ii) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in 
the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project.
    (iii) The extent to which costs are reasonable in relation to the 
number of persons to be served and services to be provided.
    3. Quality of the management plan (up to 25 points).
    (a) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project.
    (b) In determining the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the proposed project consists of a 
comprehensive plan that includes a description of planning, 
coordination, management, and oversight of the qualified services (as 
specified in the Priority section of this notice) to be provided at 
each school to be served, including the role of the school principal, 
the FSCS coordinator, partner entities, parents, and members of the 
community.
    (ii) The extent to which the time commitments of the project 
director and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate 
to meet the objectives of the proposed project.
    4. Quality of the project evaluation (up to 25 points).
    (a) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be 
conducted of the proposed project.
    (b) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the proposed evaluation--
    (i) Sets out methods of evaluation that include the use of 
objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended 
outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and qualitative 
data to the extent possible;
    (ii) Will provide timely and valid information on the management, 
implementation, or efficiency of the project; and
    (iii) Will provide guidance on or strategies for replicating or 
testing the project intervention in multiple settings.

    Note: A strong evaluation plan should be included in the 
application narrative and should be used, as appropriate, to shape 
the development of the project from the beginning of the project 
period. The plan should include benchmarks to monitor progress 
toward specific project objectives and also outcome measures to 
assess the impact on teaching and learning or other important 
outcomes for project participants. More specifically, the plan 
should identify the individual or organization that has agreed to 
serve as evaluator for the project and describe the qualifications 
of that evaluator. The plan should describe the evaluation design, 
indicating: (1) What types of data will be collected; (2) when 
various types of data will be collected; (3) what methods will be 
used; (4) what instruments will be developed and when; (5) how the 
data will be analyzed; (6) when reports of results and outcomes will 
be available; and (7) how the applicant will use the information 
collected through the evaluation to monitor progress of the funded 
project and to provide accountability information both about success 
at the initial site and about effective strategies for replication 
in other settings. Applicants are encouraged to devote an 
appropriate level of resources to project evaluation.

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 Notice 
(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. 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 directed by the Secretary 
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent 
performance reports under 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: The Secretary has established one 
performance indicator for this program: the percentage of families 
targeted for services who receive services during each year of the 
project period. All grantees will be required to submit an annual 
performance report documenting their contribution in assisting the 
Department in measuring the performance of the program against this 
indicator, as well as performance on project-specific indicators.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Staton, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4W215, Washington, DC 20202-
5970. Telephone: (202) 401-2492 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.

    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 12, 2008.
Morgan S. Brown,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. E8-2934 Filed 2-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P