[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 116 (Friday, June 15, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35947-35953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14732]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Arts in Education National Program

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

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information; Arts in Education National Program; Notice 
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2012.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.351F.

    Dates: Applications Available: June 15, 2012.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 30, 2012.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 28, 2012.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Arts in Education National Program (AENP) 
supports national-level high-quality arts education activities and 
services for children and youth, with special emphasis on serving 
children from low-income families (as defined in this notice) and 
children with disabilities (as defined in this notice).
    Priorities: This notice includes one absolute priority and four 
competitive preference priorities.
    The absolute priority is from the notice of final priority, 
requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for this program, 
published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2012 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, 
this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we 
consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Model Projects.
    One or more high-quality projects that are designed to develop and 
implement, or expand, initiatives in arts education and arts 
integration (as defined in this notice) on a national level for pre-
kindergarten-through-grade-12 children and youth, with special emphasis 
on serving children from low-income families (as defined in this 
notice) and children with disabilities (as defined in this notice). In 
order to meet this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the 
project for which it seeks funding will provide services and develop 
initiatives in multiple schools and school districts throughout the 
country, including in at least one urban, at least one rural, and at 
least one high-need community (as defined in this notice).
    Competitive Preference Priorities: These four 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). 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. Applicants may choose 
to address one or more of these competitive preference priorities. 
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional 20 points to 
an application, depending on how well the application meets one or more 
of these priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Turning Around Persistently Lowest-Achieving Schools (up to an 
additional 5 points).
    Projects that are designed to address one or more of the following 
priority areas:
    (a) Improving student achievement (as defined in this notice) in 
persistently lowest-achieving schools (as defined in this notice).
    (b) Providing services to students enrolled in persistently lowest-
achieving schools (as defined in this notice).

    Note:  For the purposes of this priority, the Department 
considers schools that are identified as Tier I or Tier II schools 
under the School Improvement Grants Program (see 75 FR 66363) as 
part of a State's approved FY 2009 or FY 2010 applications to be 
persistently lowest-achieving schools. A list of these Tier I and 
Tier II schools can be found on the Department's Web site at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/sif/index.html.


[[Page 35948]]


    Technology (up to an additional 5 points).
    Projects that are designed to improve student achievement (as 
defined in this notice) or teacher effectiveness through the use of 
high-quality digital tools or materials, which may include preparing 
teachers to use the technology to improve instruction, as well as 
developing, implementing, or evaluating digital tools or materials.

    Note: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the 
Department's regulations implementing Section 504 at 34 CFR part 
104, prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in programs 
and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the 
Department. They require recipients to provide an equal opportunity 
to individuals with disabilities to participate in, and receive the 
benefits of, the educational program, and to provide accommodations 
or modifications when necessary to ensure equal treatment. In 
particular, they apply to a recipient's use of technology, including 
digital tools and equipment. For additional information regarding 
their application to technology, please refer to the May 26, 2011, 
Dear Colleague Letter available at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201105-ese.pdf, and attached Frequently 
Asked Questions about the June 26, 2010, Dear Colleague Letter 
available at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-ebook-faq-201105.pdf.

    Enabling More Data-Based Decision-Making (up to an additional 5 
points).
    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 one or more of the following priority areas:
    (a) Improving instructional practices, policies, and child outcomes 
in early learning settings.
    (b) Improving instructional practices, policies, and student 
outcomes in elementary or secondary schools.
    (c) Providing reliable and comprehensive information on the 
implementation of Department of Education programs, and participant 
outcomes in these programs, by using data from State longitudinal data 
systems or by obtaining data from reliable third-party sources.
    Building Evidence of Effectiveness (up to an additional 5 points).
    Projects that propose evaluation plans that are likely to produce 
valid and reliable evidence in one or more of the following priority 
areas:
    (a) Improving project design and implementation or designing more 
effective future projects to improve outcomes.
    (b) Identifying and improving practices, strategies, and policies 
that may contribute to improving outcomes. Under this priority, at a 
minimum, the outcome of interest is to be measured multiple times 
before and after the treatment for project participants and, where 
feasible, for a comparison group of non-participants.
    Application Requirements:
    The following eligibility and application requirements are from the 
AENP notice of final priority, requirements, definitions, and selection 
criteria, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, 
and apply to this competition. We may use one or more of these 
requirements in any year in which we award grants for the AENP.
    1. To be eligible for an award, an applicant must be a national 
nonprofit arts education organization (as defined in this notice).
    2. An applicant must describe in its application how it would serve 
children from low-income families (as defined in this notice) and 
children with disabilities (as defined in this notice).
    3. An applicant must describe in its application how it would 
implement the following activities and services at the national level:
    (i) Professional development based on State or national standards 
for pre-kindergarten-through-grade-12 arts educators (as defined in 
this notice).

    Note: National standards are the arts standards developed by the 
Consortium of National Arts Education Associations or another, 
comparable set of national arts standards. The standards developed 
by the Consortium outline what students should know and be able to 
do in the arts. These are not Department standards. To view the 
standards, please go to www.menc.org/resources/view/the-national-standards-for-arts-education-a-brief-history.

    (ii) Development and dissemination of instructional materials, 
including online resources, in music, dance, theater, media arts, and 
visual arts, including folk arts, for arts educators (as defined in 
this notice).
    (iii) Arts-based educational programming in music, dance, theater, 
media arts, and visual arts, including folk arts, for pre-kindergarten-
through-grade-12 students and arts educators (as defined in this 
notice).
    (iv) Community and national outreach activities and services that 
strengthen and expand partnerships among schools, school districts, and 
communities throughout the country.
    Definitions:
    All of the definitions, except the definitions of ``persistently 
lowest-achieving schools,'' ``privacy requirements,'' and ``student 
achievement'' are from the notice of final priority, requirements, 
definitions, and selection criteria for this program, published 
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. The definitions of 
``persistently lowest-achieving schools,'' ``privacy requirements,'' 
and ``student achievement'' 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). We may use one or more of 
these definitions in any year in which we award grants for the AENP.
    Arts means music, dance, theater, media arts, and visual arts, 
including folk arts.
    Arts educator means a teacher or other instructional staffer who 
works in music, dance, theater, media arts, or visual arts, including 
folk arts.
    Arts integration means (i) using high-quality arts instruction 
within other academic content areas, and (ii) strengthening the arts as 
a core academic subject in the school curriculum.
    Child from low-income family means a child who is determined by a 
State educational agency or local educational agency to be a child, in 
pre-kindergarten through grade 12, from a low-income family, on the 
basis of (a) The child's eligibility for free or reduced-price lunches 
under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, (b) the child's 
eligibility for medical assistance under the Medicaid program under 
title XIX of the Social Security Act, (c) the family having an income 
that meets the poverty criteria established by the U.S Department of 
Commerce, or (d) the family's receipt of assistance under Part A of 
title IV of the Social Security Act.
    Children with disabilities means children who meet the definition 
of ``individual with a disability'' applicable to Section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, which definition is set out at 
29 U.S.C. 705(20)(B).
    High-need community means (i) a political subdivision of a State or 
portion of a political subdivision of a State, in which at least 50 
percent of the children are from low-income families; or (ii) a 
political subdivision of a State that is among the 10 percent of 
political subdivisions of the State having the greatest numbers of such 
children. For the purposes of determining if a community meets this 
definition, the term ``low-income families'' means families that have 
an income that meets the poverty criteria established by the U.S. 
Department of Commerce for the most recent fiscal year for which 
satisfactory data are available.

[[Page 35949]]

    National non-profit arts education organization means an 
organization of national scope that is supported by staff or affiliates 
at the State and local levels and that has a demonstrated history of 
advancing high-quality arts education and arts integration for arts 
educators, education leaders, artists, and students through 
professional development, partnerships, educational programming, and 
supporting systemic school reform.
    Persistently lowest-achieving schools means, as determined by the 
State: (i) Any Title I school in improvement, corrective action, or 
restructuring that (a) Is among the lowest-achieving five percent of 
Title I schools in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring or 
the lowest-achieving five Title I schools in improvement, corrective 
action, or restructuring in the State, whichever number of schools is 
greater; or (b) is a high school that has had a graduation rate as 
defined in 34 CFR 200.19(b) that is less than 60 percent over a number 
of years; and (ii) any secondary school that is eligible for, but does 
not receive, Title I funds that: (a) Is among the lowest-achieving five 
percent of secondary schools or the lowest-achieving five secondary 
schools in the State that are eligible for, but do not receive, Title I 
funds, whichever number of schools is greater; or (b) is a high school 
that has had a graduation rate as defined in 34 CFR 200.19(b) that is 
less than 60 percent over a number of years.
    To identify the persistently lowest-achieving schools, a State must 
take into account both: (i) The academic achievement of the ``all 
students'' group in a school in terms of proficiency on the State's 
assessments under section 1111(b)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), in reading/language arts and 
mathematics combined; and (ii) the school's lack of progress on those 
assessments over a number of years in the ``all students'' group.
    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.
    Student achievement means--
    (a) For tested grades and subjects: (1) A student's score on the 
State's assessments under the ESEA; and, as appropriate, (2) other 
measures of student learning, such as those described in paragraph (b) 
of this definition, provided they are rigorous and comparable across 
schools.
    (b) For non-tested grades and subjects: Alternative measures of 
student learning and performance, such as student scores on pre-tests 
and end-of-course tests; student performance on English language 
proficiency assessments; and other measures of student achievement that 
are rigorous and comparable across schools.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7271.

    Applicable Regulations:(a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
    (b) The Education Department suspension and debarment regulations 
in 2 CFR part 3485.
    (c) The notice of final priority, requirements, definitions, and 
selection criteria for this program, published elsewhere in this 
Federal Register.
    (d) 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).

    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: $6,640,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1-2.

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

    Budget Period: 12 months.
    Project Period: Up to 36 months (subject to availability of funds).

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: A national non-profit arts education 
organization (as defined in this notice).
    2.a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-
supplant funding requirements. Under section 5551(f)(2) of the ESEA, 
the Secretary requires that assistance provided under this program be 
used only to supplement, and not to supplant, any other assistance or 
funds made available from non-Federal sources for the activities 
assisted under the program.
    c. Coordination Requirement: Under section 5551(f)(1) of the ESEA, 
the Secretary requires that each entity funded under this program 
coordinate, to the extent practicable, each project or program carried 
out with funds awarded under this program with appropriate activities 
of public or private cultural agencies, institutions, and 
organizations, including museums, arts education associations, 
libraries, and theaters.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Diane Austin, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 4W245, 
Washington, DC 20202-5950. Telephone: (202) 260-1280 or by email: 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), 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.
    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 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, 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.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: June 15, 2012.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 30, 2012.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov site (Grants.gov). For information 
(including dates and times) about how to submit your application 
electronically, or in

[[Page 35950]]

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: September 28, 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 reference 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 registration annually. 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: 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 Arts in Education National 
Program, CFDA number 84.351F, 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 Arts in 
Education National 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 84.351, not 84.351F).
    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 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 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) 
read-only, non-modifiable format. Do not upload an interactive or 
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, 
non-modifiable PDF or submit a

[[Page 35951]]

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: Diane Austin, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W245, 
Washington, DC 20202-5950. 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 following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.351F), 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: 
(84.351F), 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 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: We will use four selection criteria to 
evaluate applications for this competition. Selection criteria (1) 
Significance, (2) Quality of the project design, and (3) Quality of 
project services are established in the notice of final priority, 
requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for this program,

[[Page 35952]]

published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. Selection 
criterion (4) Quality of the project evaluation is from 34 CFR 75.210.
    The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. 
The maximum score for all of the selection criteria is 100 points. The 
total maximum score of an application is 120 points (up to 100 points 
under the selection criteria and up to an additional 20 points under 
the competitive preference priorities in this notice). Each criterion 
also includes the factors that the reviewers will consider in 
determining how well an application meets the criterion. The notes 
following the selection criteria are provided as guidance to help 
applicants in preparing their applications, and are not required by 
statute or regulations.
    The selection criteria are as follows:
    (1) Significance (20 points). The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine the extent to which--
    (a) The proposed project is likely to build State and local 
capacity to provide, improve, or expand arts education and arts 
integration that address the needs of children and youth, with special 
emphasis on serving children from low-income families and children with 
disabilities; and
    (b) The applicant has a history of three or more years of 
demonstrated excellence in the areas of arts education and arts 
integration on a national scale.
    (2) Quality of the project design (40 points). The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine the extent to which--
    (a) The design of the proposed project is appropriate to, and will 
successfully address, the arts education needs of pre-kindergarten-
through-grade-12 children and youth, with special emphasis on children 
from low-income families and children with disabilities;
    (b) The proposed project will provide high-quality professional 
development for pre-kindergarten-through-grade-12 arts educators who 
provide instruction in music, dance, drama, media arts, or visual arts, 
including folk arts;
    (c) The proposed project will develop and disseminate instructional 
materials, including online resources, in multiple arts disciplines for 
arts educators and other instructional staff;
    (d) The proposed project will support arts-based educational 
programming; and
    (e) The proposed project will provide community and national 
outreach that strengthens and expands partnerships among schools, 
school districts, and communities throughout the country.
    (3) Quality of project services (20 points). In determining the 
quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the extent to which--
    (a) The services to be provided by the proposed project involve the 
collaboration of appropriate partners in order to maximize the 
effectiveness of project services; and
    (b) The proposed project will provide services and initiatives that 
will reach students and arts educators in multiple schools and school 
districts in urban, rural, and high-need communities throughout the 
country.
    (4) Quality of the project evaluation (20 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers one or more of the following factors:
    (a) The extent to which the methods of evaluation 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.
    (b) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes.
    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. 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 www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Secretary has established four 
performance measures to assess the effectiveness of this program. 
Projects funded under this competition will be expected to collect and 
report to the Department data related to these measures. Applications 
should, but are not required to, discuss in the application narrative 
how they propose to collect these data. The four GPRA performance 
measures are: (1) The total number of students who participate in 
standards-based arts education sponsored by the grantee; (2) the number 
of teachers participating in the grantee's program who receive 
professional development that is

[[Page 35953]]

sustained and intensive; (3) the total number of students from low-
income families who participate in standards-based arts education 
sponsored by the grantee; and (4) the total number of students with 
disabilities who participate in standards-based arts education 
sponsored by the grantee.
    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: Diane Austin, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W245, Washington, DC 20202-
5950. Telephone: (202) 260-1280 or by email: [email protected].
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, 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: 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: June 12, 2012.
James H. Shelton, III,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2012-14732 Filed 6-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P