[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 146 (Monday, July 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44595-44602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18577]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Application for New Awards; Charter Schools Program (CSP)--
Charter School Exemplary Collaboration Awards

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

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 44596]]

Overview Information

Charter Schools Program (CSP)--Charter School Exemplary Collaboration 
Awards

    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2012.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.282P.

DATES: Applications Available: July 30, 2012.
    Date of Pre-Application Webinar: August 6, 2012 from 2:30 p.m. to 
4:30 p.m.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 29, 2012.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Charter Schools Program 
(CSP) is to increase national understanding of the charter schools 
model by--
    (1) Providing financial assistance for the planning, program 
design, and initial implementation of charter schools;
    (2) Evaluating the effects of charter schools, including the 
effects on students, student academic achievement, staff, and parents;
    (3) Expanding the number of high-quality charter schools available 
to students across the Nation; and
    (4) Encouraging the States to provide support to charter schools 
for facilities financing in an amount that is more commensurate with 
the amount States have typically provided for traditional public 
schools.
    The purpose of the Collaboration Awards competition (CFDA 84.282P) 
is to encourage high-quality public charter schools (as defined in this 
notice) to partner with non-chartered public schools and non-chartered 
LEAs to share and transfer best educational and operational practices, 
and to disseminate information about such practices. By promoting 
strong partnerships and supporting the dissemination of information 
about the activities carried out through these partnerships, these 
Collaboration Awards should facilitate the exchange of best practices 
between public charter schools, non-chartered public schools, and non-
chartered LEAs; and help the United States Department of Education 
(Department) identify and publicize successful collaborations. The 
Collaboration Awards competition is designed to encourage public 
charter schools, non-chartered public schools, and non-chartered LEAs 
to share resources and responsibilities; build trust and teamwork; 
boost academic excellence; and provide students and their parents with 
a range of effective educational options. The Department, through the 
Collaboration Awards competition, aims to increase national 
understanding of the charter school model.
    Priority: This notice includes one competitive preference priority 
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).
    Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2012 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards based on the list of unfunded applicants 
from this competition, this priority is a competitive preference 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to 5 points to an 
applicant, depending on how well the applicant meets this competitive 
preference priority.

    Note:  In order to receive preference under this competitive 
preference priority, the applicant must specify that it is 
responding to this competitive preference priority.

    Competitive Preference Priority 1---Turning Around Persistently 
Lowest-Achieving Schools (up to 5 points).
    To meet this priority, projects must be 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) Increasing graduation rates (as defined in this notice) and 
college enrollment rates for students in persistently lowest-achieving 
schools (as defined in this notice).
    (c) Providing services to students enrolled in persistently lowest-
achieving schools.

    Note:  For 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.

    Definitions: In addition to the definitions in section 5210 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), 
which include the definition of ``charter school,'' the following 
definitions apply to this Collaboration Awards competition. These 
definitions 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 from the final definitions, requirements, and 
selection criteria for this program, published elsewhere in this issue 
of the Federal Register.
    Collaboration means the activities of a partnership in which two or 
more organizations or entities work together to accomplish a common 
goal, which may involve sharing or transferring best practices or 
strategies.
    Graduation rate is the four-year or extended-year adjusted cohort 
graduation rate as defined by 34 CFR 200.19(b)(1) and may also include 
an extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate consistent with 34 CFR 
200.19(b)(1)(v) if the State in which the proposed project is 
implemented has been approved by the Secretary to use such a rate under 
Title I of the ESEA.
    High-quality charter school means a charter school (as defined in 
section 5210(1) of the ESEA) that has no significant compliance issue 
(as defined in this notice) and shows evidence of strong academic 
results for the past three years (or over the life of the school if the 
school has been open for fewer than three years), based on the 
following factors:
    (1) Increased student achievement (as defined in this notice) and 
attainment for all students, including, as applicable, educationally 
disadvantaged students served by the charter school.
    (2) Either--
    (i) Demonstrated success in closing historic achievement gaps for 
the subgroups of students described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of 
the ESEA at the charter school; or
    (ii) No significant achievement gaps between any of the subgroups 
of students described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of the ESEA at 
the charter school and significant gains in student achievement (as 
defined in this notice) with all populations of students served by the 
charter school.
    (3) Results (including, where applicable and available, performance 
on statewide tests, attendance and retention rates, high school 
graduation rates, college attendance rates, and college persistence 
rates) for low-income and other educationally disadvantaged students 
served by the charter school that are above the average achievement 
results for such students in the State.
    Persistently lowest-achieving school 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

[[Page 44597]]

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 
identified 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 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.
    Non-chartered local educational agency (LEA) means an LEA that does 
not qualify as a charter school as defined in section 5210(1) of the 
ESEA or under State law.
    Non-chartered public school means a public school that does not 
qualify as a charter school under section 5210(1) of the ESEA or under 
State law.
    Significant compliance issue means a violation that did, will, or 
could lead to the revocation of a school's charter.
    Student achievement means--
    (a) For tested grades and subjects: (1) A student's score on the 
State's assessments under the ESEA; and (2) as appropriate, 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: The CSP is authorized under 20 U.S.C. 7221-
7221i; CSP national activities are authorized under 20 U.S.C. 7221d.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 76, 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 definitions, requirements, and selection criteria for this 
program published elsewhere in this issue of the 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: $500,000.
    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: $50,000 to $200,000 per award.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 3 to 5.

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

    Project Period: 12 to 24 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants:
    (a) Eligible applicants must be high-quality charter schools (as 
defined in this notice) that apply in partnership with at least one 
non-chartered public school (as defined in this notice) or non-
chartered LEA (as defined in this notice) and have the support of the 
partner(s) to participate in the Collaboration Awards competition in 
accordance with the requirements in the Application Requirements 
section of this notice. Other public charter schools that do not 
qualify as high-quality charter schools may be included in the 
collaboration so long as: (1) The lead applicant is a high-quality 
charter school; (2) the lead applicant is separate and distinct from 
any other charter schools included as partners in the collaboration; 
and (3) at least one non-chartered public school (as defined in this 
notice) or non-chartered LEA (as defined in this notice) also is a part 
of the collaboration.
    (b) The partnership must comply with the requirements for group 
applications set forth in 34 CFR 75.127-75.129.

    Note:  Only an eligible entity (a high-quality charter school) 
may apply for a grant or be the fiscal agent for a grant. Thus, 
neither a non-chartered public school (as defined in this notice) 
nor a non-chartered LEA (as defined in this notice) is eligible to 
serve as the lead applicant or fiscal agent for a Collaboration 
Award. Nor is a public charter school that is not a high-quality 
charter school eligible to serve as the lead applicant or fiscal 
agent.

    (c) Eligible applicants may not have any significant compliance 
issues (as defined in this notice), including in the areas of student 
safety, financial management, and statutory or regulatory compliance.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
IV. Application and Submission Information
    1. Address to Request Application Package:
    Nancy Paulu or Erin Pfeltz, U.S. Department of Education, 400 
Maryland Avenue SW., room 4W246, Washington, DC 20202-5970. Emails and 
telephone numbers: ed.gov">nancy.paulu@ed.gov or (202) 205-5392; 
ed.gov">erin.pfeltz@ed.gov or (202) 205-3525.
    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 either of the program contact persons 
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. 
Additional requirements can be found under the heading, Application 
Requirements in this document.
    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. The Secretary strongly 
encourages applicants to limit Part III to the equivalent of no more 
than 30 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.

[[Page 44598]]

     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 page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, 
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part 
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the 
resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, you must 
include all of all of the application narrative in Part III.
    3. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of 
projects that may be proposed in an application for the Collaboration 
Awards competition, your application may include business information 
that you consider to be proprietary. The Department's regulations 
define ``business information'' in 34 CFR 5.11.

    Note: Because the Department plans to make successful 
applications and information about their activities available to the 
public, you may wish to request confidentiality of business 
information.

    Consistent with Executive Order 12600, please designate in your 
application any information that you feel is exempt from disclosure 
under Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act. In the appropriate 
Appendix section of your application, under ``Other Attachments Form,'' 
please list the page number or numbers on which we can find this 
information. For additional information please see 34 CFR 5.11(c).
    4. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: July 30, 2012.
    Date of Pre-Application Webinar: The Department will hold a pre-
application webinar for prospective applicants on the following date: 
August 6, 2012 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Individuals interested in 
attending the webinar are encouraged to pre-register by emailing their 
name, organization, and contact information with the subject heading 
COLLABORATION AWARDS PRE-APPLICATION WEBINAR to Charterschools.ed.gov. 
There is no registration fee for participating in the webinar.
    For further information about the pre-application webinar, contact 
Nancy Paulu or Erin Pfeltz, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland 
Avenue SW., room 4W246, Washington, DC 20202-5970. Emails and telephone 
numbers: ed.gov">nancy.paulu@ed.gov or (202) 205-5392; ed.gov">erin.pfeltz@ed.gov or 
(202) 205-3525.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 29, 2012.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to section IV. 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 
either of the persons 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.
    5. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. However, 
for this competition, intergovernmental review has been waived so that 
awards can be made by September 30, 2012, the end of the fiscal year.
    6. Funding Restrictions: A Collaboration Award recipient must use 
the grant funds for one or more of the following:
    (a) Continuing the collaboration for which it received the award, 
as described in its grant application;
    (b) Modifying the collaboration for which it received the award, as 
described in the grant application;
    (c) Expanding the collaboration for which it received the award by 
adding additional areas of collaboration, as described in the grant 
application;
    (d) Expanding the collaboration for which it received the award by 
adding additional partners (i.e., non-chartered public schools (as 
defined in this notice), non-chartered LEAs (as defined in this notice) 
or public charter schools that are not high-quality charter schools (as 
defined in this notice)), as described in the grant application. 
Collaboration Award recipients also must use a portion of the grant 
funds to disseminate information about the collaboration activities to 
other public schools, including public charter schools, non-chartered 
public schools (as defined in this notice), and non-chartered LEAs (as 
defined in this notice). All activities carried out under the 
Collaboration Awards must fall within the scope of authorized 
activities set forth in section 5205(a) of the ESEA.
    We reference other regulations outlining funding restrictions in 
the Applicable Regulations section in this notice.
    7. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, Central Contractor Registry, and System for Award Management: 
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)--and, after July 24, 2012, with the System 
for Award Management (SAM), the Government's primary registrant 
database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active CCR or SAM 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 or SAM 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. Information about SAM is available at 
SAM.gov.
    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.
    8. 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.

[[Page 44599]]

a. Electronic Submission of Applications

    Applications for grants under the Exemplary Charter School 
Collaboration Awards competition, CFDA number 84.282P, 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 CSP 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 84.282, not 
84.282P).
    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 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

[[Page 44600]]

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: Nancy Paulu or Erin 
Pfeltz, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 
4W246, Washington, DC 20202-5970. FAX: (202) 205-5630.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.

b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail

    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail 
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
CFDA Number 84.282P, 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 84.282P, 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. Application Requirements: An applicant for a Collaboration Award 
must--
    (a) Provide a detailed narrative describing (i) the applicant's 
past or existing collaboration (which may involve more than one 
partner); (ii) the applicant's proposal to continue, modify, or expand 
(by adding new areas of collaboration or new partners) the 
collaboration; and (iii) the applicant's plan to disseminate 
information about the collaboration (which may include information 
about best practices) to other public schools, including public charter 
schools, non-chartered public schools, and non-chartered LEAs. The 
proposed collaboration may focus on a wide range of areas within the 
scope of activities authorized under section 5205(a) of the ESEA. The 
list of potential areas includes, but is not limited to, curriculum and 
instruction, data management and sharing, organization and management, 
personnel, facilities, finances, Federal programs, standards, 
assessments, special education services and access to charter schools 
by students with disabilities, English learners, student 
transportation, professional development and training, and school 
climate.
    (b) Provide written assurances from authorized officials of the 
entities involved in the partnership that all participants--
     Agree to submit an application for an award under the 
competition and have read, understand, and agree with the application 
for the competition; and
     Authorize the executive summary or narrative of the 
application, with proprietary information redacted, to be published on 
the U.S. Department of Education's Web site (ed.gov), data.ed.gov, the 
National Charter School Resource Center Web site 
(charterschoolcenter.org), or any other Web site or publication deemed 
appropriate by the Secretary;
    (c) Submit a partnership agreement that meets the requirements of 
34 CFR 75.128(b);
    (d) Provide a clear description of the goals and desired outcomes 
of the proposed collaboration and current or proposed measures that 
would be used to gauge success in meeting those goals and desired 
outcomes;
    (e) Describe any past, existing, or anticipated obstacles to 
implementing the collaboration or to disseminating information about 
the collaboration, and the strategies that were or will be used to 
overcome those obstacles;
    (f) Specify how the award money will be used to implement the 
collaboration and to disseminate information about the collaboration in 
accordance with section 5205(a) of the ESEA; and
    (g) Specify how the award money will be allocated between the lead 
applicant and the partner(s) named in the application, including the 
specific activities that will be carried out by the lead applicant and 
its partner(s).
    2. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
(84.282P) are from the notice of final definitions, requirements, and 
selection criteria for this program; published elsewhere in this issue 
of the Federal Register; as well as from section 34 CFR 75.210 of 
EDGAR. The maximum possible score for addressing all of the criteria in 
this section is 95 points (up to 5 additional points can be awarded 
under the competitive preference priority). The maximum possible score 
for each criterion is indicated in parentheses following the criterion.
    The Secretary may make awards to the top-rated applications 
proposing to carry out activities in specific areas of focus (e.g., 
curriculum and instruction, data management and sharing, organization 
and management) within the scope of authorized activities under

[[Page 44601]]

section 5205(a) of the ESEA. In a particular year, the Secretary may 
restrict applications to one or more areas of focus. Additionally, in 
making awards, the Secretary may fund applications out of rank order in 
order to ensure that the Collaboration Awards are distributed 
throughout each area of the Nation or a State.
    In evaluating an application for a Collaboration Award, the 
Secretary considers the following criteria:
    (a) Record of and potential for success of collaboration (up to 15 
points).
    (1) The extent to which the applicant's past or existing 
collaboration has improved educational outcomes and operational 
practices; and
    (2) The extent to which the applicant's proposed collaboration and 
dissemination plan will achieve one or more of the following 
demonstrable results:
    (i) Improved operational practices and productivity among all 
partners in such areas as financial performance and sustainability, 
governing board performance and stewardship, and parent and community 
engagement;
    (ii) Improved student achievement (as defined in this notice);
    (iii) Improved student attendance and retention, and improved high 
school graduation rates;
    (iv) Improved rates of college matriculation and college 
graduation;
    (v) Improved rates of attendance and graduation from other 
postsecondary (i.e., non-college) institutions or programs.
    (b) Quality of the lead applicant (up to 15 points).
    (1) The degree, including the consistency over the past three 
years, to which the applicant has demonstrated success in significantly 
increasing student achievement (as defined in this notice) and 
attainment for all students, including, as applicable, educationally 
disadvantaged students served by the charter school.
    (2) Either--
    (i) The degree, including the consistency over the past three 
years, to which the applicant has demonstrated success in closing 
historic achievement gaps for the subgroups of students described in 
section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of the ESEA at the charter school; or
    (ii) The degree, including the consistency over the past three 
years, to which there have not been significant achievement gaps 
between any of the subgroups of students described in section 
1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of the ESEA at the charter school and to which 
significant gains in student achievement (as defined in this notice) 
have been made with all populations of students served by the charter 
school.
    (3) The degree, including the consistency over the past three 
years, to which the applicant has achieved results (including, where 
applicable and available, performance on statewide tests, student 
attendance and retention rates, high school graduation rates, college 
attendance rates, and college persistence rates) for students from low-
income families and other educationally disadvantaged students served 
by the charter school that are above the average academic achievement 
results for such students attending other public schools in the State.
    (c) Quality of the project design (up to 15 points). The extent to 
which the applicant proposes a high-quality plan to use its 
Collaboration Award funds to improve educational outcomes and 
operational practices in public schools, including public charter 
schools.
    (d) Potential for scalability (up to 15 points). The extent to 
which the applicant's proposed collaboration can be replicated or 
adapted beyond the participating partners by other public schools or 
LEAs, including public charter schools and charter school LEAs, and 
sustained over the long-term.
    (e) Innovation (up to 15 points). The extent to which the applicant 
demonstrates that its proposed collaboration, as well as its 
dissemination plan, are either (i) substantially different from other 
efforts in its area of focus; or (ii) substantially more effective than 
similar efforts in its area of focus.
    (f) Quality of project personnel (up to 10 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications 
from persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been 
underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or 
disability. In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator; and
    (ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of key project personnel.
    (g) Quality of the management plan (up to 10 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project. 
In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed, the 
Secretary considers 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. 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).
    4. 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

[[Page 44602]]

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: One goal of the CSP is to support the 
creation and development of a large number of high-quality charter 
schools (as defined in this notice) that are free from State or local 
rules that inhibit flexible operation, are held accountable for 
enabling students to reach challenging State performance standards, and 
are open to all students. The Secretary has two performance indicators 
to measure progress toward this goal: (1) The number of high-quality 
charter schools in operation around the Nation, and (2) the percentage 
of fourth- and eighth-grade charter school students who are achieving 
at or above the proficient level on State examinations in mathematics 
and in reading/language arts. Additionally, the Secretary has 
established the following measure to examine the efficiency of the CSP: 
Federal cost per student in implementing a successful school (defined 
as a school in operation for three or more consecutive years).
    5. Continuation Awards: The Secretary may make continuation awards 
under this competition. 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: Nancy Paulu or Erin Pfeltz, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W246, 
Washington, DC 20202-5970. Emails and telephone numbers: 
ed.gov">nancy.paulu@ed.gov or (202) 205-5392; ed.gov">erin.pfeltz@ed.gov or (202) 205-
3525.
    If you use a TDD or 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: July 25, 2012.
James H. Shelton, III,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2012-18577 Filed 7-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P