[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6096-6101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2768]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Indian Education--Professional 
Development Grants Program

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information:
    Indian Education--Professional Development Grants Program Notice 
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2012.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.299B.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: February 7, 2012.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 8, 2012.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 7, 2012.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purposes of the Indian Education 
Professional Development Grants program are to (1) increase the number 
of qualified Indian individuals in professions that serve Indians; (2) 
provide training to qualified Indian individuals to become teachers, 
administrators, teacher aides, social workers, and ancillary 
educational personnel; and (3) improve the skills of qualified Indian 
individuals who serve in the education field. Activities may include, 
but are not limited to, continuing education programs, symposia, 
workshops, conferences, and direct financial support.
    Priorities: This competition contains three absolute priorities and 
two competitive preference priorities.
    Background: On November 5, 2009, President Obama signed a 
memorandum requiring Federal agencies to conduct consultations with 
tribal officials when developing policies that have implications for 
tribal communities. In response to the President's memorandum, the U.S. 
Department of Education (Department) conducted six consultations with 
tribal officials during FY 2010. During these consultations, the 
Department received numerous comments regarding teacher recruitment and 
retention. Specifically, these comments described difficulties that 
local educational agencies (LEAs) located on or near tribally 
controlled lands--which typically operate high-need schools--face in 
attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers due to their remote 
location and other factors. The Indian Education Professional 
Development Grants program can help address these difficulties.
    For FY 2012 the Secretary adds a new absolute priority, Enabling 
More Data-Based Decision-Making. This priority will support projects 
that provide the data that grantees need, and the capacity and training 
to use those data to inform professional development practices and 
approaches and to make informed decisions that increase program 
effectiveness. For questions and assistance about this priority, 
contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in 
section VII in this notice.
    Absolute Priorities: The absolute priorities are 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), and corrected on May 12, 2011 (76 FR 27637), and, in accordance 
with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), from the regulations for this program (34 
CFR 263.5(c)). For FY 2012 and any subsequent year in which we make 
awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, 
these priorities are absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we 
consider only applications that meet absolute priority 1 and one or 
both of absolute priorities 2 and 3.
    These priorities are:

Absolute Priority 1: Enabling More Data-Based Decision-Making

    Projects that are designed to collect (or obtain), analyze, and use 
high-quality and timely data, including data on program participant 
outcomes, in accordance with privacy requirements (as defined in this 
notice), in the following priority area:
    Improving postsecondary student outcomes relating to enrollment, 
persistence, and completion and leading to career success.

Absolute Priority 2: Pre-Service Training for Teachers

    Projects that provide support and training to Indian individuals to 
complete a pre-service education program that enables these individuals 
to meet the requirements for full State certification or licensure as a 
teacher through--
    (i)(A) Training that leads to a bachelor's degree in education 
before the end of the award period; or
    (B) For States allowing a degree in a specific subject area, 
training that leads to a bachelor's degree in the subject area as long 
as the training meets the requirements for full State teacher 
certification or licensure; or
    (C) Training in a current or new specialized teaching assignment 
that requires at least a bachelor's degree and in which a documented 
teacher shortage exists; and
    (ii) One-year induction services after graduation, certification, 
or licensure, provided during the award period to graduates of the pre-
service program while they are completing their first year of work in 
schools with significant Indian populations.

    Note: In working with various institutions of higher education 
and reviewing State certification and licensure requirements, we 
have found that States allowing a candidate for teacher 
certification to obtain a degree in a specific subject area (e.g., 
in a specialty area or in teaching at the secondary level) generally 
require a master's degree or fifth year of study before an 
individual can be certified or licensed as a teacher. These students 
would be eligible to participate so long as their training meets the 
requirements for full State certification or licensure as a teacher.

Absolute Priority 3: Pre-Service Administrator Training

    A project that provides--
    (1) Support and training to Indian individuals to complete a 
master's degree in education administration that is provided before the 
end of the award period and that allows participants to meet the 
requirements for State certification or licensure as an education 
administrator; and
    (2) One year of induction services, during the award period, to 
participants after graduation, certification, or licensure, while they 
are completing their first year of work as administrators in schools 
with significant Indian student populations.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(ii) and (iv), the competitive preference priorities are 
from the regulations for this program (34 CFR 263.5(a) and (b)). For FY 
2012 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 an additional 10 points to an application, depending on how 
well the application meets one or both of these priorities.

[[Page 6097]]

    These priorities are:

Competitive Preference Priority One (5 points)

    We award five competitive preference points to an application 
submitted by an Indian tribe, Indian organization, or Indian 
institution of higher education that is eligible to participate in the 
Indian Education Professional Development program. A consortium 
application of eligible entities that meets the requirements of 34 CFR 
75.127 through 75.129 of the Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) and includes an Indian tribe, Indian 
organization, or Indian institution of higher education will be 
considered eligible to receive the five priority points. The consortium 
agreement, signed by all parties, must be submitted with the 
application in order to be considered as a consortium application.

Competitive Preference Priority Two (5 points)

    We award five competitive preference points to an application 
submitted by a consortium of eligible applicants that includes a tribal 
college or university and that designates that tribal college or 
university as the fiscal agent for the application. The consortium 
application of eligible entities must meet the requirements of 34 CFR 
75.127 through 75.129 of EDGAR to be considered eligible to receive the 
five priority points. These competitive preference points are in 
addition to the five competitive preference points that may be given 
under Competitive Preference Priority One. The consortium agreement, 
signed by all parties, must be submitted with the application in order 
to be considered as a consortium application.
    Definitions: The following definition is from the notice of 
supplemental priorities and definitions for discretionary grant 
programs, published in the Federal Register on December 15, 2010 (75 FR 
78486), and corrected on May 12, 2011 (76 FR 27637), and applies to 
this competition. Additional definitions applicable to this program are 
found in the authorizing statute for this program at 20 U.S.C. 7442 and 
7491, and in applicable regulations in 34 CFR parts 77 and 263, and 
will be included in the application package.
    Privacy requirements means the requirements of the Family 
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232g, and its 
implementing regulations in 34 CFR part 99, the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 
552a, as well as all applicable Federal, State and local requirements 
regarding privacy.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7442.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) EDGAR in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 
80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98 and 99. (b) The regulations for this 
program in 34 CFR part 263. (c) The supplemental priorities and 
definitions for discretionary grant programs, published in the Federal 
Register on December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486), and corrected on May 12, 
2011 (76 FR 27637).

    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: $4,047,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2013 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $300,000-$400,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $340,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $400,000 for the first, second, or third 12-month 
budget period. The last 12-month budget period of a 48-month award will 
be limited to induction services only, at a cost not to exceed $90,000. 
The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education may 
change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal 
Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 12.

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

    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants for this program are 
institutions of higher education, including Indian institutions of 
higher education; State educational agencies (SEAs) or LEAs in 
consortium with an institution of higher education; Indian tribes or 
organizations in consortium with an institution of higher education; 
and Department of the Interior/Bureau of Indian Education-funded 
schools in consortium with an institution of higher education. LEAs 
include charter schools that are considered LEAs under State law.
    An application from a consortium of eligible entities must meet the 
requirements of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129. An application from a 
consortium of eligible entities must include a consortium agreement, 
signed by all parties, with the application. Letters of support do not 
meet the requirement for a consortium agreement.
    In order to be considered an eligible entity, applicants, including 
institutions of higher education, must be eligible to provide the level 
and type of degree proposed in the application or must apply in a 
consortium with an institution of higher education that is eligible to 
grant the target degree.
    Applicants applying in consortium with or as an Indian organization 
must demonstrate that they meet the definition of ``Indian 
organization'' in 34 CFR 263.3.
    The term ``Indian institution of higher education'' means an 
accredited college or university within the United States cited in 
section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 
(7 U.S.C. 301 note), any other institution that qualifies for funding 
under the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 
1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and Dine College (formerly Navajo 
Community College), authorized in the Navajo Community College 
Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 640a et seq.).
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: Projects funded under this competition are encouraged to 
budget for a two-day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, DC 
during each year of the project period. In addition, the Department 
strongly encourages grantees to begin to provide training by January 
2013.

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: ED Pubs, 
U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. 
Telephone, toll free: 1-(877) 433-7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. 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: www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html or at its email address: [email protected]

[[Page 6098]]

    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this program or competition as follows: CFDA number 84.299B.
    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 person listed under Accessible 
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 program.
    Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, 
address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your 
application. The suggested page limit for the application narrative is 
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 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.
    The suggested page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the 
budget section, including the budget narrative justification; the 
assurances and certifications; or the abstract, table of contents, the 
resumes, the bibliography, letters of support, or the signed consortium 
agreement if applicable.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: February 7, 
2012.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 8, 2012.
    Applications for grants under this competition 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. 7. Other Submission 
Requirements of 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 
of 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: May 7, 2012.
    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 specify allowable costs in 34 CFR 
263.4, a project funded under this program may include, as training 
costs, assistance to either fully finance a student's educational 
expenses or supplement other financial aid for meeting a student's 
educational expenses. For the payment of stipends to project 
participants receiving training, the Secretary expects to set the 
stipend maximum at $1,800 per month for full-time students and provide 
for a $300 allowance per month per dependent during an academic term. 
The terms ``stipend,'' ``full-time student,'' and ``dependent 
allowance'' are defined in 34 CFR 263.3. Stipends may be paid only to 
full-time students.
    We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions 
in the Applicable Regulations section of 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 competition 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 Indian Education--Professional 
Development program, CFDA Number 84.299B, 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 email 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 Indian 
Education_Professional Development program at www.Grants.gov. You must 
search for the downloadable application package

[[Page 6099]]

for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's 
alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.299, not 84.299B).
    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 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 form 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) 
read-only, non-modifiable format. If you upload a file type other than 
a read-only, non-modifiable .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 email. 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: Lana Shaughnessy, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room number 3E231, 
Washington, DC 20202. FAX: (202) 260-7779.
    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:

[[Page 6100]]

U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
CFDA Number 84.299B, 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 84.299B) 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 4:30:00 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 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 263.6 and are listed in the application package.
    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 also notify you informally.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the 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. 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 170 should 
you receive funding under this 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.
    (c) During the entire performance period of the grant, the grantee 
must submit a Semi-Annual Participant Report (SAPR), OMB Control No. 
1810-069. The SAPR includes budget expenditures, data on project 
performance measures, and information about participants and their 
status in the program.
    4. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the 
following key performance measures to evaluate the overall 
effectiveness of the Indian Education Professional Development program: 
(1) The percentage of participants in administrator preparation 
projects who become principals, vice principals, or other school 
administrators in LEAs that enroll five percent or more American Indian 
and Alaska Native students; (2) The percentage of participants in 
teacher preparation projects who become teachers in LEAs that enroll 
five percent or more American Indian and Alaska Native students; (3) 
The percentage of program participants who meet the definition of 
``Highly Qualified'' in section 9101(23) of the ESEA; (4) The 
percentage of program participants who complete their service 
requirement on schedule; (5) The cost per individual who successfully 
completes an administrator preparation program, takes a position in a 
school district with at least five percent American Indian/Alaska 
Native enrollment, and completes the service requirement in such a 
district; and (6) The cost per individual who successfully completes a 
teacher preparation program, takes a position in such a school district 
with at least five percent American Indian/Alaska Native enrollment, 
and completes the service requirement in such a district.

[[Page 6101]]

    We encourage applicants to demonstrate a strong capacity to provide 
reliable data on these measures in their responses to the selection 
criteria ``Quality of project services'' and ``Quality of the project 
evaluation.''
    All grantees will be expected to submit, as part of their 
performance report, information with respect to these performance 
measures.
    5. Continuation Awards: 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 Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lana Shaughnessy, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 3E231, Washington, DC 20202-
6335. Telephone: (202) 205-2528 mail to: or by email: 
[email protected].
    If you use a TDD, you may call the Federal Relay Service, 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 in 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: 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: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: February 2, 2012.
Michael Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2012-2768 Filed 2-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P