[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 174 (Thursday, September 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55658-55664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23011]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Supporting Effective Educator 
Development Grant Program

AGENCY: Office of Innovation and Improvement, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information: Supporting Effective Educator Development 
Grant Program Notice inviting applications for new awards for FY 2012.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.367D.
    Dates:
    Applications Available: September 8, 2011.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: October 11, 2011.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: November 7, 2011.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: January 6, 2012.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Supporting Effective Educator Development 
Grant Program provides funding for grants to national non-profit 
organizations to support projects that are supported by at least 
moderate evidence, as defined in this notice, to recruit, select, and 
prepare or provide professional enhancement activities for teachers or 
for teachers and principals.
    Priorities: This notice contains three absolute priorities, two 
competitive preference priorities, requirements, and definitions that 
are explained in the following paragraphs. We are establishing these 
three absolute priorities, two competitive preference priorities, 
requirements, and definitions for the FY 2012 grant competition and any 
subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded 
applicants from this competition, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) 
of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1). 
Applicants are required to designate the priority or priorities under 
which they are submitting their proposal. These priorities are:
    Absolute Priorities: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only 
applications that meet one or more of these priorities.
    Absolute Priority 1: Teacher and principal recruitment, selection, 
and preparation.
    Under this priority, the Secretary provides funding to support the 
creation or reform of practices, strategies, or programs that are 
designed to increase the number or percentage of teachers (or teachers 
and principals) who are highly effective (as defined in this notice), 
especially for teachers (or teachers and principals) who serve 
concentrations of high-need students (as defined in this notice), by 
identifying, recruiting, and preparing highly effective teachers (or 
teachers and principals). To meet this priority, applicants must 
propose a plan demonstrating that teacher or principal participation in 
the applicant's proposed activities will be determined through a 
rigorous, competitive selection process.
    Absolute Priority 2: Professional development/enhancement of 
teachers of English language arts with a specific focus on writing.
    Under this priority, the Secretary provides funding to support 
projects that will increase the quality of student literacy and writing 
by creating or reforming practices, strategies, or programs that 
improve teachers' knowledge, understanding, and teaching of English 
language arts with a specific focus on writing through high-quality 
professional development or professional enhancement programs.
    Absolute Priority 3: Advanced certification and advanced 
credentialing.
    Under this priority, the Secretary provides funding to support 
projects that encourage and support teachers (or teachers and 
principals) seeking advanced certification or advanced credentialing 
through high-quality professional enhancement programs designed to 
improve teaching and learning for teachers or for teachers and 
principals. To meet this priority, applicants must demonstrate or 
propose a plan to demonstrate that the award of the advanced 
certification or advanced credential will be determined on the basis of 
a rigorous evaluation with multiple measures that include measures of 
student academic growth.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: Competitive Preference 
Priorities 1 and 2 and most of the accompanying definitions come from 
the notice of final supplemental priorities and definitions for 
discretionary grant programs, published in the Federal Register on 
December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486). For this FY 2012 grant competition 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 up to 
five additional points to an application that meets Competitive 
Preference Priority 1. Furthermore, we award up to three additional 
points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 2. 
These points are

[[Page 55659]]

in addition to any points the application earns under the selection 
criteria. Addressing these competitive preference priorities is 
optional, and applicants may choose to respond to none, one, or both of 
the competitive preference priorities for this competition.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1: Supporting programs, practices, 
or strategies for which there is strong evidence of effectiveness (0-5 
points).
    Projects that are supported by strong evidence (as defined in this 
notice).
    Competitive Preference Priority 2: Improving Productivity (0-3 
points).
    Projects that are designed to significantly increase efficiency in 
the use of time, staff, money, or other resources while improving 
student learning or other educational outcomes (i.e., outcome per unit 
of resource). Such projects may include innovative and sustainable uses 
of technology, modification of school schedules and teacher 
compensation systems, use of open educational resources (as defined in 
this notice), or other strategies.
    Definitions:
    Carefully matched comparison group design means a type of quasi-
experimental study (as defined in this notice) that attempts to 
approximate an experimental study (as defined in this notice). More 
specifically, it is a design in which project participants are matched 
with non-participants based on key characteristics that are thought to 
be related to the outcome. These characteristics include, but are not 
limited to: (1) Prior test scores and other measures of academic 
achievement (preferably, the same measures that the study will use to 
evaluate outcomes for the two groups); (2) demographic characteristics, 
such as age, disability, gender, English proficiency, ethnicity, 
poverty level, parents' educational attainment, and single- or two-
parent family background; (3) the time period in which the two groups 
are studied (e.g., the two groups are children entering kindergarten in 
the same year as opposed to sequential years); and (4) methods used to 
collect outcome data (e.g., the same test of reading skills 
administered in the same way to both groups).
    Experimental study means a study that employs random assignment of, 
for example, students, teachers, classrooms, schools, or districts to 
participate in a project being evaluated (treatment group) or not to 
participate in the project (control group). The effect of the project 
is the average difference in outcomes between the treatment and control 
groups.
    High-need students means students at risk of educational failure, 
such as students who are living in poverty, who are English learners, 
who are far below grade level or who are not on track to becoming 
college- or career-ready by graduation, who have left school or college 
before receiving, respectively, a regular high school diploma or a 
college degree or certificate, who are at risk of not graduating with a 
diploma on time, who are homeless, who are in foster care, who are 
pregnant or parenting teenagers, who have been incarcerated, who are 
new immigrants, who are migrant, or who have disabilities.
    Highly effective principal means a principal whose students, 
overall and for each subgroup as described in section 
1111(b)(3)(C)(xiii) of the ESEA (i.e., economically disadvantaged 
students, students from major racial and ethnic groups, migrant 
students, students with disabilities, students with limited English 
proficiency, and students of each gender), achieve high rates (e.g., 
one and one-half grade levels in an academic year) of student growth. 
Eligible applicants may include multiple measures, provided that 
principal effectiveness is evaluated, in significant part, based on 
student growth. Supplemental measures may include, for example, high 
school graduation rates; college enrollment rates; evidence of 
providing supportive teaching and learning conditions, support for 
ensuring effective instruction across subject areas for a well-rounded 
education, strong instructional leadership, and positive family and 
community engagement; or evidence of attracting, developing, and 
retaining high numbers of effective teachers.
    Highly effective teacher means a teacher whose students achieve 
high rates (e.g., one and one-half grade levels in an academic year) of 
student growth. Eligible applicants may include multiple measures, 
provided that teacher effectiveness is evaluated, in significant part, 
based on student growth. Supplemental measures may include, for 
example, multiple observation-based assessments of teacher performance 
or evidence of leadership roles (which may include mentoring or leading 
professional learning communities) that increase the effectiveness of 
other teachers in the school or LEA.
    Interrupted time series design means a type of quasi-experimental 
study (as defined in this notice) in which the outcome of interest is 
measured multiple times before and after the treatment for program 
participants only. If the program had an impact, the outcomes after 
treatment will have a different slope or level from those before 
treatment. That is, the series should show an ``interruption'' of the 
prior situation at the time when the program was implemented. Adding a 
comparison group time series, such as schools not participating in the 
program or schools participating in the program in a different 
geographic area, substantially increases the reliability of the 
findings.
    Moderate evidence means evidence from previous studies whose 
designs can support causal conclusions (i.e., studies with high 
internal validity) but have limited generalizability (i.e., moderate 
external validity), or studies with high external validity but moderate 
internal validity. The following would constitute moderate evidence: 
(1) At least one well-designed and well-implemented (as defined in this 
notice) experimental or quasi-experimental study (as defined in this 
notice) supporting the effectiveness of the practice, strategy, or 
program, with small sample sizes or other conditions of implementation 
or analysis that limit generalizability; (2) at least one well-designed 
and well-implemented (as defined in this notice) experimental or quasi-
experimental study (as defined in this notice) that does not 
demonstrate equivalence between the intervention and comparison groups 
at program entry but that has no other major flaws related to internal 
validity; or (3) correlational research with strong statistical 
controls for selection bias and for discerning the influence of 
internal factors.
    National non-Profit Organization means a non-profit organization of 
national scope that carries out its activities in multiple States.
    Open educational resources (OER) means teaching, learning, and 
research resources that reside in the public domain or have been 
released under an intellectual property license that permits their free 
use or repurposing by others.
    Quasi-experimental study means an evaluation design that attempts 
to approximate an experimental design (as defined in this notice) and 
can support causal conclusions (i.e., minimizes threats to internal 
validity, such as selection bias, or allows them to be modeled). Well-
designed and well-implemented (as defined in this notice) quasi-
experimental studies (as defined in this notice) include carefully 
matched comparison group designs (as defined in this notice), 
interrupted time series designs (as defined in this notice), or 
regression discontinuity designs (as defined in this notice).
    Regression discontinuity design study means, in part, a quasi-
experimental

[[Page 55660]]

study (as defined in this notice) design that closely approximates an 
experimental study (as defined in this notice). In a regression 
discontinuity design, participants are assigned to a treatment or 
comparison group based on a numerical rating or score of a variable 
unrelated to the treatment such as the rating of an application for 
funding. Another example would be assignment of eligible students, 
teachers, classrooms, or schools above a certain score (``cut score'') 
to the treatment group and assignment of those below the score to the 
comparison group.
    Strong evidence means evidence from previous studies whose designs 
can support causal conclusions (i.e., studies with high internal 
validity), and studies that in total include enough of the range of 
participants and settings to support scaling up to the State, regional, 
or national level (i.e., studies with high external validity). The 
following are examples of strong evidence: (1) More than one well-
designed and well-implemented (as defined in this notice) experimental 
study (as defined in this notice) or well-designed and well-implemented 
(as defined in this notice) quasi-experimental study (as defined in 
this notice) that supports the effectiveness of the practice, strategy, 
or program; or (2) one large, well-designed and well-implemented (as 
defined in this notice) randomized controlled, multisite trial that 
supports the effectiveness of the practice, strategy, or program.
    Well-designed and well-implemented means, with respect to an 
experimental or quasi-experimental study (as defined in this notice), 
that the study meets the What Works Clearinghouse evidence standards, 
with or without reservations (see http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/references/idocviewer/doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1 and in particular the 
description of ``Reasons for Not Meeting Standards'' at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/references/idocviewer/Doc.aspx?docId=19&tocId=4#reasons).
    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 priorities, selection criteria, 
requirements, and definitions. 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 Supporting Effective 
Educator Development Grant Program competition, and, therefore, it 
qualifies for this exemption. In order to ensure timely grant awards, 
the Secretary has decided to forgo public comment on the absolute 
priorities, selection criteria, requirements, and definitions in this 
notice under section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. These priorities, selection 
criteria, requirements, and definitions will apply to the FY 2012 grant 
competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the 
list of unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Program Authority: Public Law 112-10, Department of Defense and 
Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 81, 
82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The notice of final supplemental 
priorities and definitions for discretionary grant programs, published 
in the Federal Register on December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486).

    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 (IHEs) only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds:
    Approximately $24,680,000 will be available for this competition. 
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2012 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $5,000,000-$15,000,000 per award.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $8,300,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1-5 awards.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months. We anticipate that initial awards 
under this competition will be made for a one-year (12 month) period.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: National non-profit organizations.
    2. Evidence Standards: To be eligible for an award, an application 
for an award under this program must be supported by at least moderate 
evidence, as defined in this notice.
    3. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Soumya Sathya, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 4C131, 
Washington, DC 20202-5960 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 accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) 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: October 11, 2011. 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. The Secretary requests that 
this e-mail notification be sent to Soumya Sathya at: 
[email protected].
    Eligible entities 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. We 
suggest you limit the application narrative Part III to the equivalent 
of no more than 50 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, except for titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, captions, 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.

[[Page 55661]]

    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, or letters of support.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: September 8, 2011.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: October 11, 2011.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: November 7, 2011.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grant.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. 7. 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: January 6, 2012.
    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. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and Central Contractor Registry: To do business with the 
Department of Education, you must--
    a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a 
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
    b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the Central 
Contractor Registry (CCR), the Government's primary registrant 
database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active CCR registration with current information 
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you 
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
    You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number 
can be created within one business day.
    If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or 
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service. 
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal 
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a 
new TIN, please allow 2-5 weeks for your TIN to become active.
    The CCR registration process may take five or more business days to 
complete. If you are currently registered with the CCR, you may not 
need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN 
associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will 
need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take 
three or more business days to complete.
    In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, 
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with 
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the 
following Grants.gov Web page: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.
    7. 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 Supporting Effective Educator Development Grant Program, CFDA 
number 84.367D must be submitted electronically using the 
Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at 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 Supporting 
Effective Educator Development Grant Program at 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 84.367, not 84.367D).
    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 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. 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 
4:30:00 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 under News and Events on the Department's G5 system home 
page at http://www.G5.gov.
     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

[[Page 55662]]

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: The 
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.
     You must upload any narrative sections and all other 
attachments to your application as files in a .PDF (Portable Document) 
format only. If you upload a file type other than a .PDF 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 4:30:00 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 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC 
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of 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 4:30:00 
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: Soumya Sathya, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 4C131, 
Washington, DC 20202-5960. FAX: (202) 401-8466.
    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 following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.367D) LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    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 84.367D) 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center 
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.

The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 
8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 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

[[Page 55663]]

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

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR or, in other cases, were developed by 
the Department specifically for this competition pursuant to the 
requirements of section 437(d)(1) of the General Education Provisions 
Act. The maximum score for all the selection criteria is 100 points. 
The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. In 
addressing each criterion, applicants are encouraged to make explicit 
connections to relevant aspects of responses to other selection 
criteria.
    A. Significance (25 points). The Secretary considers the 
significance of the proposed project. In determining the significance 
of the proposed project, the Secretary considers:
    (1) The national significance of the proposed project.
    (2) The potential contribution of the proposed project to the 
development and advancement of theory, knowledge, and practices in the 
subject area in which the applicant would carry out project activities.
    (3) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in 
teaching and student achievement.
    B. Quality of the Project Design and Services (30 points). The 
Secretary considers the quality of the design and services of the 
proposed project. In determining the quality of the design and services 
of the proposed project, the Secretary considers:
    (1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
    (2) The extent to which the proposed project is part of a 
comprehensive effort to improve teaching and learning and support 
rigorous academic standards for students.
    (3) The extent to which the training or professional development 
services to be provided by the proposed project are of sufficient 
quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice 
among the recipients of those services.
    C. Quality of the Management Plan and Personnel (20 points). The 
Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed 
project and of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project. 
In determining the quality of the management plan and the project 
personnel, the Secretary considers:
    (1) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator, key project 
personnel, and project consultants or subcontractors.
    (2) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks.
    (3) The extent to which the time commitments of the project 
director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are 
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed 
project.
    D. Sustainability (25 points). The Secretary considers the adequacy 
of resources to continue the proposed project after the grant period 
ends. In determining the adequacy of resources and the potential for 
utility of the proposed project's activities and products by other 
organizations, the Secretary considers:
    (1) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of 
Federal financial assistance.
    (2) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to yield 
findings and products (such as information, materials, processes, or 
techniques) that may be used by other agencies and organizations.
    (3) The extent to which the evaluation conducted as part of the 
project will provide guidance about effective strategies suitable for 
replication or testing in other settings.
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary 
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is 
not financially stable, has a history of unsatisfactory performance, 
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the 
standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable, has not fulfilled 
the conditions of a prior grant, or is otherwise not responsible.

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 of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Transparency and Open Government Policy: After awards are made 
under this competition, all of the submitted successful applications, 
together with reviewer scores and comments, will be posted on the 
Department's Web site. Given the types of projects that may be proposed 
under this program, some applications may include confidential 
commercial information. Confidential commercial information is defined 
as information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to 
cause substantial competitive harm. Upon submission, applicants should 
identify any information contained in their application that they 
consider to be confidential commercial information. Applicants are 
encouraged to identify only the specific information that the applicant 
considers to be proprietary and list the page numbers on which this 
information can be found in the appropriate Appendix section, under 
``Other Attachments Form,'' of their applications. In addition to 
identifying the page number on which that information can be found, 
eligible applicants will assist the Department in making determinations 
on public

[[Page 55664]]

release of the application by being as specific as possible in 
identifying the information they consider proprietary. Please note 
that, in many instances, identification of entire pages of 
documentation would not be appropriate.
    4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, 
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and 
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply 
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
    (b) 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.
    5. Performance Measures: The overall purpose of the Supporting 
Effective Educator Development Grant Program is to support projects by 
national non-profit organizations that are supported by at least 
moderate evidence, as defined in this notice, to recruit, select, and 
prepare or provide professional enhancement activities for teachers or 
for teachers and principals. We have established the following 
performance measures for the Supporting Effective Educator Development 
Grant Program: For absolute priorities 1 and 2, the percentage of 
teacher and principal participants who serve concentrations of high-
need students, are highly effective, and serve for at least two years, 
and the cost per such participant. For absolute priority 3, the 
percentage of teacher participants who receive advanced certification 
or advanced credentialing and are highly effective, and the cost per 
such participant. Grantees will report annually on each component of 
these measures.
    6. Continuation Awards: Contingent upon the availability of funds 
and each grantee's substantial progress towards accomplishing the goals 
and objectives of the project as described in its approved application, 
after the initial 12 month project period we may make continuation 
awards to grantees for the remaining 24 months of the program. Review 
of each grantee's progress may include consideration of evidence of 
promising practices and a strong evaluation design.
    Additionally, in making a continuation award, the Secretary may 
consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a grantee has made 
``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives in its approved 
application.'' This consideration includes the review of a grantee's 
progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes in its approved 
application, and whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner 
that is consistent with its approved application and budget. In making 
a continuation grant, the Secretary also considers whether the grantee 
is operating in compliance with the assurances in its approved 
application, including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws 
that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving 
Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 
106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. Agency Contacts

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Soumya Sathya, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 4C131, Washington, DC 20202-
5960. Telephone: (202) 260-0819, or by e-mail: [email protected].
    If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to 
the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
in section VII of this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: 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 via the Federal Digital System 
at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site 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). To 
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at 
the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: http://www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: September 2, 2011.
James H. Shelton, III,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2011-23011 Filed 9-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P