[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 100 (Thursday, May 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31359-31365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12212]



  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 100 / Thursday, May 23, 2013 / 
Notices  

[[Page 31359]]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Ehanced Assessment Instruments 
Grants Program--Enhanced Assessment Instruments--Kindergarten Entry 
Assissment Competition

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

ACTION: Notice.

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Overview Information

Enhanced Assessment Instruments Grants Program--Enhanced Assessment 
Instruments--Kindergarten Entry Assessment Competition

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

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.368A.

DATES: Applications Available: May 23, 2013.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: June 24, 2013.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 8, 2013.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 5, 2013.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Enhanced Assessment 
Instruments Grant program, also called the Enhanced Assessment Grants 
(EAG) program, is to enhance the quality of assessment instruments and 
systems used by States for measuring the academic achievement of 
elementary and secondary school students.
    In 2013, the Department will hold a competition for fiscal year 
(FY) 2012 EAG funds to support the development or enhancement of a 
kindergarten entry assessment (KEA) that is aligned with the State's 
early learning and development standards and that must cover all of the 
essential domains of school readiness. We will give priority to early 
learning collaborative efforts among States (collaborative efforts) in 
developing this assessment.
    Priorities: This competition includes five absolute priorities and 
one competitive preference priority. In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(iv), absolute priorities 1 through 4 (Statutory 
Priorities) are based on section 6112 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. 7301a. Absolute 
priority 5 (Regulatory Priority) and competitive preference priority 1 
are from the notice of final priorities, requirement, definitions, and 
selection criteria published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal 
Register.
    Absolute Priorities: For awards made in 2013 with FY 2012 funds, 
and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition, these priorities are 
absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only 
applications that meet: (a) one or more of the Statutory Priorities 
(Absolute Priorities 1 through 4) and (b) the Regulatory Priority 
(Absolute Priority 5).
    These priorities are:

Absolute Priority 1--Collaboration

    Collaborate with institutions of higher education, other research 
institutions, or other organizations to improve the quality, validity, 
and reliability of State academic assessments beyond the requirements 
for these assessments described in section 1111(b)(3) of the ESEA.

Absolute Priority 2--Use of Multiple Measures of Student Academic 
Achievement

    Measure student academic achievement using multiple measures of 
student academic achievement from multiple sources.

Absolute Priority 3--Charting Student Progress Over Time

    Chart student progress over time.

Absolute Priority 4--Comprehensive Academic Assessment Instruments

    Evaluate student academic achievement through the development of 
comprehensive academic assessment instruments, such as performance- and 
technology-based academic assessments.

Absolute Priority 5--Kindergarten Entry Assessment

    To meet this priority, an applicant must propose a project that 
supports the development or enhancement of a KEA that meets the 
following requirements:
    (a) Purpose. The KEA must--
    (1) Provide, at kindergarten entry, valid, reliable, and fair 
information on each child's learning and development across the 
essential domains of school readiness (as defined in this notice) with 
each domain making a significant contribution to the overall 
comprehensive score.
    (2) Not be used--
    (i) To prevent children's entry into kindergarten; or
    (ii) For purposes for which it has not been validated or as a 
single measure for high-stakes decisions.
    (b) Design. The KEA must--
    (1) Be a component of a State's student assessment system, 
including, a State's comprehensive early learning assessment system (as 
defined in this notice) for the applicant State and, if the State 
applies as part of a consortium, each State in the consortium, in which 
a comprehensive early learning assessment system exists;
    (2) Be aligned with a set of early learning and development 
standards (as defined in this notice);
    (3) Measure the full range of learning and development across the 
essential domains of school readiness (as defined in this notice);
    (4) Measure children's learning and development against a set of 
levels of performance where the levels of performance encompass 
descriptors of what a child knows and is able to do for each level, are 
common statewide, and, if the applicant State applies on behalf of a 
consortium, are common across States in the consortium;
    (5) Provide a summative assessment of each child's learning and 
development at kindergarten entry across the essential domains of 
school readiness (as defined in this notice);
    (6) Be capable of assessing all children in the applicant State, 
and if the State applies as part of a consortium, all children in the 
consortium;
    (7) Be developed consistent with universal design principles to be 
accessible to all children, including children with disabilities or 
developmental delays and English learners (as defined in this notice);
    (8) As needed, provide appropriate accommodations and supports for 
children with disabilities or developmental delays and English learners 
(as defined in this notice) (e.g., augmentative communication devices 
and assistive technologies);
    (9) Be administered soon enough after a child's enrollment into 
kindergarten to achieve the purposes for which the assessment was 
developed, including the purpose specified in paragraph (a) of this 
priority;
    (10) Use multiple methods (e.g., performance tasks, selected 
responses, observational ratings) to measure children's performance and 
development;
    (11) Be administered by a trained assessor or assessors;
    (12) Be designed to incorporate technology in the collection of 
student data and in the process of assessing children's performance on 
learning and development tasks; and
    (13) Be cost-effective to administer, maintain, and enhance during 
and after the project period.
    (c) Technical Quality. The KEA must measure children's learning and

[[Page 31360]]

development at kindergarten entry in ways that--
    (1) Are consistent with nationally recognized professional and 
technical standards for assessment;
    (2) Are consistent with current research and best practices in the 
field, and the recommendations of the National Research Council report 
on early childhood assessments; \1\
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    \1\ National Research Council. (2008). Early Childhood 
Assessment: Why, What, and How. Committee on Developmental Outcomes 
and Assessments for Young Children, C.E. Snow and S.B. Van Hemel, 
Editors. Board on Children, Youth, and Families, Board on Testing 
and Assessment, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and 
Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Available 
at www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12446.
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    (3) Are valid, reliable, fair, and appropriate for their intended 
purposes;
    (4) Provide a valid, reliable, and fair measure across the 
performance spectrum of each child's learning and development at 
kindergarten entry, including children with disabilities or 
developmental delays and English learners.
    (d) Data. The KEA must produce data and information that--
    (1) Can guide individualized instruction for children enrolled in 
kindergarten and throughout the school year;
    (2) Can be reported to and easily understood and used by various 
stakeholders, including families, teachers, administrators, early 
learning providers, and policy-makers, consistent with requirements of 
federal, State, and local privacy laws; and
    (3) Can be incorporated into a State's longitudinal data system 
(SLDS) and a State's early learning data system (if it is separate from 
an SLDS), consistent with requirements of Federal, State, and local 
privacy laws.
    (e) Compatibility. The KEA must use approaches to assessment design 
and implementation (e.g., use of technology, assessment administration, 
scoring, and reporting) that facilitate the integration of the KEA with 
a State's student assessment system, including a State's comprehensive 
early learning assessment system (as defined in this notice) for each 
State included in an application in which a comprehensive early 
learning assessment system exists.
    Competitive Preference Priority: For awards made in 2013 with FY 
2012 funds, and any subsequent year in which we make awards from 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 an additional 30 points to an application, depending on how well 
the application meets this priority.
    In awarding these points, an applicant will receive more points 
based on the extent to which it includes a larger number of States in 
the consortium, with three to four States representing a low number of 
States, five to seven States representing an intermediate number of 
States, and eight or more States representing a high number of States.
    This priority is:

Competitive Preference Priority 1-- Early Learning Collaborative 
Efforts Among States

    To meet this priority, an applicant must--
    (a) Include a minimum of three States in the consortium and propose 
developing or enhancing a common KEA for those States. An applicant 
will receive a greater number of points under this priority based on 
the extent to which it includes a greater number of States in its 
consortium;
    (b) Adopt or propose a plan for all States in the consortium to 
adopt a set of early learning and development standards (as defined in 
this notice) that, for at least the year prior to kindergarten entry, 
are substantially identical across all States in the consortium;
    (c) Adopt or propose a plan for all States in the consortium to 
adopt the common KEA; and
    (d) Provide in the memorandum of understanding or other binding 
agreement executed by each State in the consortium an assurance that, 
as a condition of remaining in the consortium, the State will, no later 
than the end of the project period, adopt the common KEA developed 
under this priority and the set of early learning and development 
standards (as defined in this notice) upon which the KEA is based.
    Requirements: The following requirements for this competition are 
from the final priorities, requirements, definitions and selection 
criteria for this program published in the Federal Register on April 
19, 2011 (76 FR 21986), and from the final priorities, requirement, 
definitions and selection criteria published elsewhere in this issue of 
the Federal Register. An eligible applicant awarded a grant under this 
program must:
    (a) Evaluate the validity, reliability, and fairness of any 
assessments or other assessment-related instruments developed under a 
grant from this competition, and make available documentation of 
evaluations of technical quality through formal mechanisms (e.g., peer-
reviewed journals) and informal mechanisms (e.g., newsletters), both in 
print and electronically;
    (b) Actively participate in any applicable technical assistance 
activities conducted or facilitated by the Department or its designees, 
coordinate with Race To The Top Assessment program staff in the 
development of assessments under this program, and participate in other 
activities as determined by the Department;
    (c) Develop a strategy to make student-level data that result from 
any assessments or other assessment-related instruments developed under 
a grant from this competition available on an ongoing basis for 
research, including for prospective linking, validity, and program 
improvement studies; \2\
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    \2\ Eligible applicants awarded a grant under this program must 
comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) 
and 34 CFR Part 99, as well as State and local requirements 
regarding privacy.
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    (d) Ensure that any assessments or other assessment-related 
instruments developed under a grant from this competition will be 
operational (ready for large-scale administration) at the end of the 
project period;
    (e) Ensure that funds awarded under the EAG program are not used to 
support the development of standards, such as under the English 
language proficiency assessment system priority or any other priority.
    (f) Maximize the interoperability of any assessments and other 
assessment-related instruments developed with funds from this 
competition across technology platforms and the ability for States to 
move their assessments from one technology platform to another by doing 
the following, as applicable, for any assessments developed with funds 
from this competition by--
    (1) Developing all assessment items in accordance with an industry-
recognized open-licensed interoperability standard that is approved by 
the Department during the grant period, without non-standard extensions 
or additions; and
    (2) Producing all student-level data in a manner consistent with an 
industry-recognized open-licensed interoperability standard that is 
approved by the Department during the grant period;
    (g) Unless otherwise protected by law or agreement as proprietary 
information, make any assessment content (i.e., assessments and 
assessment items) and other assessment-related instruments developed 
with funds from this competition freely available to States, technology 
platform providers, and others that request it for purposes of

[[Page 31361]]

administering assessments, provided that those parties receiving 
assessment content comply with consortium or State requirements for 
test or item security; and
    (h) For any assessments and other assessment-related instruments 
developed with funds from this competition, use technology to the 
maximum extent appropriate to develop, administer, and score the 
assessments and report results.
    (i) Adopt and implement any assessments, other assessment-related 
instruments developed or enhanced under the proposed project, and any 
standards upon which they are based. In addition, if the applicant 
State applies as, or on behalf of a consortium of States, it must 
provide in any memorandum of understanding or other binding agreement 
executed by each State in the consortium an assurance that, to remain 
in the consortium, the State will adopt and implement any assessments 
or other assessment-related instruments developed or enhanced under the 
proposed project and any standards upon which they are based by the end 
of the project period.
    Definitions: The following definitions are from the final 
priorities, requirements, definitions and selection criteria for this 
program published in the Federal Register on April 19, 2011 (76 FR 
21986), and the final priorities, requirement, definitions and 
selection criteria for this program published elsewhere in this issue 
of the Federal Register.
    Comprehensive early learning assessment system means a coordinated 
and comprehensive system of multiple assessments, each of which is 
valid and reliable for its specified purpose and for the population 
with which it will be used, that organizes information about the 
process and context of young children's learning and development in 
order to help teachers make informed instructional and programmatic 
decisions and that conforms with the recommendations of the National 
Research Council report on early childhood assessments \3\ by 
including, at a minimum: (a) screening measures (as defined in this 
notice); (b) formative assessments; (c) measures of environmental 
quality (as defined in this notice); (d) measures of the quality of 
adult-child interactions (as defined in this notice); and (e) a 
kindergarten entry assessment (KEA).
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    \3\ National Research Council (2008). Early Childhood 
Assessment: Why, What, and How. Committee on Developmental Outcomes 
and Assessments for Young Children, C.E. Snow and S.B. Van Hemel, 
Editors. Board on Children, Youth, and Families, Board on Testing 
and Assessment, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and 
Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Available 
at www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12446.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Early learning and development standards means a set of 
expectations, guidelines, or developmental milestones that--
    (a) Describe what all children from birth to kindergarten entry 
should know and be able to do and their dispositions toward learning;
    (b) Are appropriate for each age group (e.g., infants, toddlers, 
and preschoolers); for English learners; and for children with 
disabilities or developmental delays;
    (c) Cover all essential domains of school readiness (as defined in 
this notice);
    (d) Are universally designed and developmentally, culturally, and 
linguistically appropriate; and
    (e) Are aligned with the State's K-3 academic standards in, at a 
minimum, early literacy and mathematics.
    English learner means a child, including a child aged three and 
younger, who is an English learner consistent with the definition of a 
child who is ``limited English proficient,'' as applicable, in section 
9101(25) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended.
    Essential domains of school readiness means the domains of language 
and literacy development, cognition and general knowledge (including 
early mathematics and early scientific development), approaches toward 
learning, physical well-being and motor development (including adaptive 
skills), and social and emotional development.
    Formative assessment (also known as a classroom-based or ongoing 
assessment) means assessment questions, tools, and processes--
    (a) That are--
    (1) Specifically designed to monitor children's progress;
    (2) Valid and reliable for their intended purposes and their target 
populations; and
    (3) Linked directly to the curriculum; and
    (b) The results of which are used to guide and improve 
instructional practices.
    Measures of environmental quality means valid and reliable 
indicators of the overall quality of the early learning environment.
    Measures of the quality of adult-child interactions means the 
measures obtained through valid and reliable processes for observing 
how teachers and caregivers interact with children, where such 
processes are designed to promote child learning and to identify 
strengths and areas for improvement for early learning professionals.
    Screening measures means age and developmentally appropriate, 
valid, and reliable instruments that are used to identify children who 
may need follow-up services to address developmental, learning, or 
health needs in, at a minimum, the areas of physical health, behavioral 
health, oral health, child development, vision, and hearing.
    Student with a disability means a student who has been identified 
as a child with a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities 
Education Act, as amended.
    Universal design means a concept or philosophy for designing and 
delivering products and services that are usable by people with the 
widest possible range of functional capabilities, which include 
products and services that are directly usable (without requiring 
assistive technologies) and products and services that are made usable 
with assistive technologies. This meaning is given to the term in 
section 3 of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 3002).

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7301a and 7842.

    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 final priorities, 
requirements, definitions, and selection criteria published in the 
Federal Register on April 19, 2011 (76 FR 21986). (d) The final 
priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria published 
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

    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: $9,200,000 in FY 2012 funds to be 
awarded in a competition in 2013.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards with FY 2013 funds from the 
list of unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $4,200,000 to $5,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $4,600,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 2.


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    Note: Applicants should submit a single budget request for a 
single budget and project period of up to 48 months. Subject to the 
availability of future years' funds, the Department may make 
supplemental grant awards to the grants awarded with FY 2012 funds.


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

    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs) as 
defined in section 9101(41) of the ESEA and consortia of such SEAs.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: An application from a consortium of SEAs must designate 
one SEA as the fiscal agent.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can access the 
electronic grant application for the Enhanced Assessment Instruments 
Grants Program at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable 
application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not 
include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 
84.368, not 84.368A). You can also obtain a copy of the application 
package by contacting the program contact, Erin Shackel, Enhanced 
Assessment Grants Program, Office of Elementary and Secondary 
Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 
3W110, Washington, DC 20202-6132. Telephone: (202) 453-6423 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 person listed under Accessible 
Format in section VIII of this notice.
    2. a. 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 project narrative (Part 3 of the application) is where you, 
the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to 
evaluate your application. You must limit the project narrative (Part 
3) to the equivalent of no more than 65 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 project narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use Times New Roman font no smaller than 11.0 point for 
all text in the project narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables figures, and graphs. (Font sizes that are smaller than 
11 but round up to 11, such as 10.7 point, will be considered smaller 
than 11.0.)
     Any screen shots included as part of the narrative should 
follow these standards or, if other standards are applied, be sized to 
equal the equivalent amount of space if these standards were applied.
    The page limit applies to the project narrative (Part 3), including 
the table of contents, which must include a discussion of how the 
application meets one or more of the statutory absolute priorities and 
how well the applicant meets the regulatory absolute priority; if 
applicable, how the application meets the competitive preference 
priority; and how well the application addresses each of the selection 
criteria. The page limit also applies to any attachments to the project 
narrative other than the references/bibliography. In other words, the 
entirety of Part 3 of the application, including the aforementioned 
discussion and any attachments to the project narrative, must be 
limited to the equivalent of no more than 65 pages. The only allowable 
attachments other than those included in the project narrative are 
outlined in Part 6, ``Other Attachments Forms'' in the application 
package. Any attachments other than those included within the page 
limit of the project narrative and those outlined in Part 6 will not be 
reviewed.
    The 65-page limit, or its equivalent, does not apply to the 
following sections of an application: Part 1 (including the response 
regarding research activities involving human subjects); Part 2 (two-
page project abstract); Part 4 (the budget sections, including the 
chart and narrative budget justification); Part 5 (standard assurances 
and certifications); and Part 6 (memoranda of understanding or other 
binding agreement, copy of applicant's indirect cost rate agreement, 
letters of commitment and support from collaborating SEAs and 
organizations, and other attachments forms, including, if applicable, 
references/bibliography for the project narrative, individual 
r[eacute]sum[eacute]s for project director(s) and key personnel. 
Applicants are encouraged to limit each r[eacute]sum[eacute] to no more 
than five pages).
    In addition, do not use hyperlinks in an application. Reviewers 
will be instructed not to follow hyperlinks if included. Our reviewers 
will not read any pages of your project narrative that exceed the page 
limit, or the equivalent of the page limit if you apply other 
standards. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications that meet 
the page limit following the standards outlined in this section rather 
than submitting applications that are the equivalent of the page limit 
applying other standards.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: May 23, 2013.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: June 24, 2013.
    We will be able to develop a more efficient process for reviewing 
grant applications if we have a better understanding of the number of 
applicants that intend to apply for funding under this competition. 
Therefore, we strongly encourage each potential applicant to notify us 
of the applicant's intent to submit an application for funding. This 
notification should be brief, and provide the applicant organization's 
name and the SEA the applicant will designate as the fiscal agent for 
an award. Submit this notification to by email to [email protected] 
with ``Intent to Apply'' in the email subject line or mail to Erin 
Shackel, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 
3W110, Washington, DC 20202-6132. Applicants that do not provide this 
email notification may still apply for funding.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 8, 2013.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to section IV. 7. Other Submission 
Requirements of this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

[[Page 31363]]

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 5, 2013.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under 
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this 
competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, 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 CCR registration on an annual basis. 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 in the 
Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify 
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the 
instructions in this section.

a. Electronic Submission of Applications

    Applications for grants under the Enhanced Assessment Instruments 
Grants KEA competition, CFDA number 84.368A, 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 Enhanced 
Assessment Instruments Grants KEA competition at www.Grants.gov. You 
must search for the downloadable application package for this 
competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha 
suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.368, not 84.368A).
    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 competition 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.

[[Page 31364]]

     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: Erin Shackel, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, room 3W110, 
Washington, DC 20202-6132. FAX: (202) 205-0310.
    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 84.368A), 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 84.368A), 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: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from the final priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection 
criteria published in the Federal Register on April 19, 2011 (76 FR 
21986), and the final priorities, requirement, definitions, and 
selection criteria published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal 
Register, and are listed in the application package.

[[Page 31365]]

    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); or we may send you an email containing a link to 
access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally, 
also.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we will also 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 Department has developed four measures 
to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the Enhanced Assessment 
Instruments Grants program: (1) The number of States that participate 
in Enhanced Assessment Instruments Grants projects funded by this 
competition; (2) the percentage of grantees that, at least twice during 
the period of their grants, make available to SEA staff in non-
participating States and to assessment researchers information on 
findings resulting from the Enhanced Assessment Instruments Grants 
through presentations at national conferences, publications in refereed 
journals, or other products disseminated to the assessment community; 
and (3) for each grant cycle and as determined by an expert panel, the 
percentage of Enhanced Assessment Instruments Grants that yield 
significant research, methodologies, products, or tools regarding 
assessment systems or assessments. Grantees will be expected to include 
in their interim and final performance reports information about the 
accomplishments of their projects because the Department will need data 
on these measures.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Shackel, Enhanced Assessment 
Grants Program, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3W110, 
Washington, DC 20202-6132. Telephone: (202) 453-6423 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 in this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well 
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF 
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the 
site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: May 17, 2013.
Deborah S. Delisle,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2013-12212 Filed 5-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P