[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 87 (Tuesday, May 6, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25846-25853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10361]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Full-Service Community Schools 
Program

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

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information:
    Full-Service Community Schools Program.
    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2014.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.215J.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: May 6, 2014.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: May 21, 2014.
    Date of Pre-Application Webinar: Wednesday, May 21, 2014.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 20, 2014.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 7, 2014.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Fund for the Improvement of Education 
(FIE), which is authorized by section 5411 of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), supports nationally 
significant programs to improve the quality of elementary and secondary 
education at the State and local levels and to help all children meet 
challenging academic content and academic achievement standards. The 
Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) program, which is funded under 
FIE, encourages coordination of academic, social, and health services 
through partnerships between (1) public elementary and secondary 
schools; (2) the schools' local educational agencies (LEAs); and (3) 
community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and other 
public or private entities. The purpose of this collaboration is to 
provide comprehensive academic, social, and health services for 
students, students' family members, and community members that will 
result in improved educational outcomes for children. The FSCS program 
is a ``place-based'' program (see http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/memoranda_fy2009/m09-28.pdf) that can 
leverage investments by focusing resources and drawing on the 
compounding effects of well-coordinated actions. Place-based approaches 
can also streamline otherwise redundant and disconnected programs.
    Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and one 
competitive preference priority. The absolute priority is from the 
notice of final priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection 
criteria for this program (FSCS NFP), published in the Federal Register 
on June 8, 2010 (75 FR 32440). The competitive preference priority is 
from the notice of final priority for Promise Zones (Promise Zones 
NFP), published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2014 (79 FR 
17035).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2014 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Projects that Establish or Expand Full-Service Community Schools.
    Background:
    In order for children to be ready and able to learn, they need 
academic, social, and health supports. The Harvard Family Research 
Project has cited compelling evidence that, when schools partner with 
families and community-based organizations, these partnerships improve 
children's development and school success.\1\ Community schools provide 
a base of support for students and their families by attending to their 
academic, social,

[[Page 25847]]

and health needs through a school setting.
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    \1\ Harris, E & Wilkes, S (2013). Partnerships for Learning: 
Community Support for Youth Success. Cambridge: Harvard Family 
Research Project.
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    A full-service community school (as defined in this notice) is a 
public elementary or secondary school that works with its LEA and 
community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and other 
public or private entities to provide a coordinated and integrated set 
of comprehensive academic, social, and health services that respond to 
the needs of its students, students' family members, and community 
members. This coordination leads to results-focused partnerships (as 
defined in this notice) that are based on identified student needs and 
organized around a set of mutually defined results and outcomes.
    Full-service community schools recognize that schools do not 
operate in isolation from the communities in which they are located. 
Community challenges such as poverty, violence, poor physical health, 
and family instability can have consequences for education when left 
unaddressed. When schools and community partners collaborate to address 
these issues and align their resources to achieve common results, 
children are more likely to succeed academically, socially, and 
physically. Full-service community schools seek to address the myriad 
challenges that affect students by connecting students, students' 
family members, and community members with available services and 
opportunities, creating the conditions for students to achieve in 
school and beyond.
    Children, particularly those living in poverty, need a variety of 
family and community resources, including intellectual, social, 
physical, and emotional supports, to have the opportunity to attain 
academic success. Many children live in communities that lack not only 
high-performing schools, but also the supports needed to be ready and 
able to learn when they start school. School-community partnerships can 
be key strategies for providing resources to these individual students. 
A variety of organizations can help provide the missing resources for 
children living in poverty and, therefore, begin to transform 
struggling schools and communities. These organizations can be public 
or private, community-based or faith-based, governmental or non-
governmental, or a combination thereof, but they must work together 
with clearly articulated and mutually agreed upon goals, target 
populations, roles, and desired results and outcomes. Partnerships 
between schools and organizations may take many forms and should be 
based on overlapping vital interests and student needs. For example, a 
telecommunications firm might provide internships to high school 
students to foster real-world connections to the school's science 
curriculum. Or, a local police department might provide mentors for 
troubled youth in order to keep students in school. Such results-
focused partnerships (as defined in this notice) can transform the 
capacity of both the school and its partners to better serve students' 
and families' diverse needs and improve their outcomes.
    A full-service community school coordinator (as defined in this 
notice) is often central to the effective facilitation of these 
partnerships, as well as the coordination and integration of services, 
programs, supports, and available opportunities. The full-service 
community school coordinator's main responsibility is to work closely 
and plan jointly with the school's principal to drive, develop, and 
implement the community school effort. The full-service community 
school coordinator by, for example, convening a cross-section of school 
staff, parents, and community organizations, can facilitate the 
development of systems with which to coordinate new and existing 
programs that respond to the needs of the school and community through 
ongoing needs assessments. The full-service community school 
coordinator adds capacity to the principal's leadership of the school 
and is essential to ensuring that all programs, supports, services, 
opportunities, and the mutually defined results and outcomes are fully 
aligned.
    The Department of Education (the Department) recognizes that in 
order for students and the members of the communities in which they 
reside to thrive, their schools must be effective. Effective schools 
create learning environments that support student academic success and 
foster student engagement. When characterized by stable leadership and 
a strong instructional program, full-service community schools have 
been associated with improved attendance and student achievement,\2\ 
increased family and community engagement,\3\ and improved student 
behavior and youth development.\4\ In addition, system-wide support 
should be present for developing, implementing, and sustaining 
effective full-service community schools. There is greater potential 
impact when full-service community schools have strong infrastructures 
in place to support sustaining the overall effort and expanding the 
number of FSCS sites throughout an LEA.
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    \2\ Krenichyn, K., Clark, H. & Benitez, L. (2008). Children's 
Aid Society 21st Century Community Learning Centers After-School 
Programs at Six Middle Schools: Final Report of a Three-Year 
Evaluation, 2004-2007. New York: ActKnowledge.
    \3\ Quinn, J., & Dryfoos, J. (2009). Freeing teachers to teach: 
Students in full-service community schools are ready to learn. 
American Educator, Summer 2009:16-21.
    \4\ Whalen, S. (2007). Three Years Into Chicago's Community 
Schools Initiative (CSI): Progress, Challenges, and Emerging 
Lessons. Chicago: University of Illinois at Chicago. Retrieved April 
9, 2010. from http://www.aypf.org/documents/CSI_ThreeYearStudy.pdf.
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    Priority:
    This absolute priority supports projects that propose to establish 
or expand (through collaborative efforts among LEAs, community-based 
organizations, nonprofit organizations, and other public and private 
entities) full-service community schools, as defined in this notice, 
offering a range of services. To meet this priority, an applicant must 
propose a project that is based on scientifically based research--as 
defined in section 9101(37) of the ESEA--and that establishes or 
expands a full-service community school. Each applicant must propose to 
provide at least three of the following eligible services at each 
participating full-service community school included in its proposed 
project:
    1. High-quality early learning programs or services.
    2. Remedial education, aligned with academic supports and other 
enrichment activities, providing students with a comprehensive academic 
program.
    3. Family engagement, including parental involvement, parent 
leadership, family literacy, and parent education programs.
    4. Mentoring and other youth development programs.
    5. Community service and service learning opportunities.
    6. Programs that provide assistance to students who have been 
chronically absent, truant, suspended, or expelled.
    7. Job training and career counseling services.
    8. Nutrition services and physical activities.
    9. Primary health and dental care.
    10. Activities that improve access to and use of social service 
programs and programs that promote family financial stability.
    11. Mental health services.
    12. Adult education and literacy services including instruction of 
adults in English as a second language.
    Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2014 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of

[[Page 25848]]

unfunded applicants from this competition, this priority is a 
competitive preference priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award 
an additional three points to an application, depending on whether the 
application meets this priority.
    This priority is:
    Promise Zones (0 or 3 points).
    Background:
    We give competitive preference to applicants working with 
communities that have been awarded a Promise Zone designation. Promise 
Zone designees have committed to establishing comprehensive, 
coordinated approaches in order to ensure that America's most 
vulnerable children succeed from cradle to career. In January 2014, 
President Obama announced the first five Promise Zones: The Choctaw 
Nation of Oklahoma, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Antonio, and 
Kentucky Highlands. This designation is designed to assist local 
leaders in creating jobs, increasing economic activity, improving 
educational opportunities, leveraging private investment, and reducing 
violent crime in high-poverty urban, rural, and tribal communities. By 
partnering with Promise Zone designees, the Federal government will 
help communities access the resources and expertise they need--
including the resources from various neighborhood revitalization 
initiatives--to ensure that Federal programs and resources support the 
efforts to transform these communities.
    Priority:
    Projects that are designed to serve and coordinate with a federally 
designated Promise Zone.

    Note:
     Applicants should submit a letter of support from the lead 
organization of a designated Promise Zone attesting to the 
contribution of the applicant's proposed activities. A list of 
designated Promise Zones and lead organizations can be found at 
http://hud.gov/promisezones.

    Definitions: The following definitions are from the FSCS NFP and 
from 34 CFR 77.1(c).
    Community member means an individual who is not a student or a 
student's family member, as defined in this notice, but who lives in 
the community served by the FSCS grant.
    Full-service community school means a public elementary or 
secondary school that works with its local educational agency and 
community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and other 
public or private entities to provide a coordinated and integrated set 
of comprehensive academic, social, and health services that respond to 
the needs of its students, students' family members, and community 
members. In addition, a full-service community school promotes family 
engagement by bringing together many partners in order to offer a range 
of supports and opportunities for students, students' family members, 
and community members.
    Full-service community school coordinator means an individual who 
works closely and plans jointly with the school's principal to drive 
the development and implementation of the FSCS effort and who, in that 
capacity, facilitates the partnerships and coordination and integration 
of service delivery.
    Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) (or the ultimate 
outcome if not related to students) the proposed process, product, 
strategy, or practice is designed to improve; consistent with the 
specific goals of a program.
    Results-focused partnership means a partnership between a full-
service community school and one or more nonprofit organizations 
(including community-based organizations) that is based on identified 
needs and organized around a set of mutually defined results and 
outcomes for increasing student success and improving access to family 
and community services.
    Student means a child enrolled in a public elementary or secondary 
school served by the FSCS grant.
    Student's family member means the student's parents/guardians, 
siblings, and any other related individuals living in the same 
household as the student and not enrolled in the school served by the 
FSCS grant.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7243-7243b.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education Department suspension 
and debarment regulations in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The notice of final 
priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria (NFP) for 
this program, published in the Federal Register on June 8, 2010 (75 FR 
32440). (d) The notice of final priority for Promise Zones, published 
in the Federal Register on March 27, 2014 (79 FR 17035).

    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.

    Application Requirements:
    The following requirements are from the FSCS NFP.
    In order to receive funding, an applicant must include the 
following in its application:
    1. A description of the needs of the students, students' family 
members, and community members to be served, including information 
about (a) the basic demographic characteristics of the students, 
students' family members, and community members; (b) the magnitude or 
severity of the needs to be addressed by the project; and (c) the 
extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 
infrastructures, or opportunities have been identified and will be 
addressed by the proposed project.
    2. A list of entities that will partner with the applicant to 
coordinate existing services or to provide additional services that 
promote successful student, family, and community results and outcomes. 
The applicant must describe how existing resources and services will be 
coordinated and integrated with new resources and services.
    3. A memorandum of understanding between the applicant and all 
partner entities, describing the role each partner will assume, the 
services or resources each one will provide, and the desired results 
and outcomes.
    4. A description of the organizational capacity of the applicant to 
provide and coordinate eligible services at a full-service community 
school that will support increased student achievement. The description 
must include the applicant's experience partnering with the target 
school(s) and other partner entities; examples of how the applicant has 
responded to challenges working with these schools and entities; 
lessons learned from similar work or previous community-school efforts, 
and a description of the existing or proposed infrastructure to support 
the implementation and sustainability of the full-service community 
school. Applicants must also describe their past experience (a) 
building relationships and community support to achieve results; and 
(b) collecting and using data for decision-making and continuous 
improvement.
    5. A comprehensive plan based on results-focused partnerships (as 
defined in this notice) that includes a description of well-aligned 
goals, services, activities, objectives, performance measures, and 
project results and outcomes. In addition, the plan must include the 
estimated total number of individuals to be served, disaggregated by 
the number of students, students' family members, and community 
members, and the type and

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frequency of services to be provided to each group.

    Note:  Applicants are also encouraged to articulate in the 
comprehensive plan how the proposed FSCS strategy is aligned with 
other school improvement strategies and Federal funding streams.

    6. A list and description of the eligible services to be provided 
or coordinated by the applicant and the partner entities; a description 
of the applicant's approach to integrating new and existing programs 
and services with the school's (or schools') core instructional 
program; and identification of the intended results and outcomes.
    7. A description of how the applicant will use data to drive 
decision-making and measure success. This includes a description of the 
applicant's plans to monitor and assess outcomes of the eligible 
services provided and coordinated by the FSCS project, as well as the 
number of individuals served, while complying with Federal, State, and 
other privacy laws and requirements.
    8. A description of the roles and responsibilities of a full-time 
full-service community school coordinator and the proposed approach to 
ensuring that the full-service community school coordinator engages in 
joint planning with the principal and key community stakeholders to 
guide the proposed full-service community school.
    Applications that do not meet these requirements will not be read 
and will not be considered for funding.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $4,570,250.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $275,000--$500,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $457,025.
    Maximum Award: $500,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 10.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: To be eligible for a grant under this 
competition, an applicant must be a consortium consisting of an LEA and 
one or more community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, or 
other public or private entities. Consortia must comply with the 
provisions governing group applications in 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 
of EDGAR.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: To be eligible for an award, a portion 
of the services provided by the applicant must be supported through 
non-Federal contributions, either in cash or in-kind donations. The 
applicant must propose the amount of cash or in-kind resources to be 
contributed for each year of the grant.

    Note:  An applicant is encouraged to provide a minimum match of 
20 percent through non-Federal contributions, either in cash or in-
kind donations.

    3. Planning: Interagency collaborative efforts are highly complex 
undertakings that require extensive planning and communication among 
partners and key stakeholders. Partnerships should be based on 
identified needs and organized around a set of mutually-defined results 
and outcomes. Applicants under this program may devote funds received 
during the first year of the project period to comprehensive program 
planning, establishing results-focused partnerships, and capacity 
building. Funding received by grantees during the remainder of the 
project period must be devoted to program implementation.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address To Request Application Package:
    You can obtain an application package via the Internet or from the 
Education Publications Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the 
Internet, use the following address: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/communityschools/applicant.html.
    To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call the following: 
ED Pubs, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 
22304. Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. If 
you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free: 1-
877-576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at 
its email address: [email protected].
    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this program or competition as follows: CFDA number 84.215J.
    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 or team listed under 
Accessible Format in section VIII of this notice.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
    Notice of Intent To Apply: The Department will be able to develop a 
more efficient process for reviewing grant applications if it has a 
better understanding of the number of entities that intend to apply for 
funding under this competition. Therefore, each potential applicant is 
strongly encouraged to notify the Department by sending a short email 
message indicating the applicant's intent to submit an application for 
funding. The email need not include information regarding the content 
of the proposed application, only the applicant's intent to submit it. 
This email notification should be sent to [email protected] with ``INTENT TO 
APPLY'' in the subject line by May 21, 2014. Applicants that do not 
notify us of their intent to apply may still apply for funding.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application.
    You are strongly encouraged to limit the application narrative 
[Part III] to the equivalent of no more than 35 pages, using the 
following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    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, the page 
limit does apply to all of the application narrative section [Part 
III].
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: May 6, 2014.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: May 21, 2014.
    Date of Pre-Application Webinar: The Department will hold a pre-
application webinar for prospective applicants on Wednesday, May 21, 
2014, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Washington, DC time. The webinar will 
discuss the purpose of the FSCS program, absolute and

[[Page 25850]]

competitive preference priorities, application requirements, 
definitions, selection criteria, application content, submission 
requirements, and reporting requirements.
    Interested parties may obtain information about this webinar from 
the program Web site at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/communityschools/index.html. A recording of this webinar will be available on this Web 
site following the session.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 20, 2014.
    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.
    4. Other Submission Requirements of this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 7, 2014.
    5. 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.
    6. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice.
    7. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and Central Contractor Registry: To do business with the 
Department of Education, you must--
    a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a 
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
    b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the System for Award 
Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry (CCR)), the 
Government's primary registrant database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active 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-to-two business days.
    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 SAM registration process can take approximately seven business 
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the 
completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by 
an entity. Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal 
financial assistance under a program administered by the Department, 
please allow sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number 
and TIN. We strongly recommend that you register early.

    Note:  Once your SAM registration is active, you will need to 
allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in 
Grants.gov and before you can submit an application through 
Grants.gov.

    If you are currently registered with SAM, 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.
    Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further 
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in 
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov 
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
    In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, 
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with 
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the 
following Grants.gov Web page: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.
    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 FSCS Program, CFDA Number 
84.215J, must be submitted electronically using the Government wide 
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 FSCS 
Program at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable 
application package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include 
the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.215, 
not 84.215J).
    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

[[Page 25851]]

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 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: Adrienne Hawkins, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W256, 
Washington, DC 20202-5950. FAX: (202) 205-5630.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail 
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:

U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center,
Attention: (CFDA Number 84.215J)
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.


[[Page 25852]]


    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 84.215J)
550 12th Street SW.,
Room 7039, 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 grant 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 NFP for this program, published in the Federal Register on 
June 8, 2010 (75 FR 13781) and from 34 CFR 75.210. These selection 
criteria are listed in the application package as well as this notice. 
We may apply one or more of these criteria in any year in which this 
program is in effect. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated 
in parentheses with the criterion, and the total maximum score for all 
selection criteria is 100 points.
    The selection criteria are as follows:
    (a) Quality of the Project Design (up to 25 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the 
proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the extent to which the proposed 
project consists of a comprehensive plan that includes a description 
of--
    (i) The students, students' family members, and community to be 
served, including information about the demographic characteristics and 
needs of the students, students' family members, and other community 
members and the estimated number of individuals to be served;
    (ii) The eligible services (as listed in the Absolute Priority 
described elsewhere in this notice) to be provided or coordinated by 
the applicant and its partner entities, how those services will meet 
the needs of students, students' family members, and other community 
members, and the frequency with which those services will be provided 
to students, students' family members, and community members;
    (iii) The potential and planning for the incorporation of project 
purposes, activities, or benefits into the ongoing work of the 
applicant beyond the end of the grant; and
    (iv) The extent to which the proposed project will integrate with 
or build on similar or related efforts to improve relevant outcomes (as 
defined in this notice), using existing funding streams from other 
programs or policies supported by community, State, and Federal 
resources.
    (b) Adequacy of Resources (up to 20 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the 
proposed project.
    (2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors--
    (i) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, 
supplies, and other resources to be provided by the applicant and 
consortium partners;
    (ii) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in 
the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project; 
and
    (iii) The extent to which costs are reasonable in relation to the 
number of persons to be served and services to be provided.
    (c) Quality of the Management Plan (up to 25 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors--
    (i) The extent to which the proposed project consists of a 
comprehensive plan that includes a description of planning, 
coordination, management, and oversight of the eligible services (as 
listed in the Absolute Priority described elsewhere in this notice) to 
be provided at each school to be served, including the role of the 
school principal, the FSCS coordinator, partner entities, parents, and 
community members; and
    (ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of the full-service community school coordinator and other 
key project personnel including prior performance of the applicant on 
similar or related efforts.
    (d) Quality of Project Services (up to 20 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be 
provided by the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the project services, the 
Secretary considers the following--
    (i) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective 
practice; and
    (ii) The likelihood that the services to be provided by the 
proposed project will lead to improvements in the achievement of 
students as measured against rigorous academic standards.
    (e) Quality of the Project Evaluation (up to 10 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be 
conducted of the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the proposed evaluation--
    (i) Will provide timely and valid information on the management, 
implementation, or efficiency of the project; and
    (ii) Will provide guidance on or strategies for replicating or 
testing the project intervention in multiple settings.
    (3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
valid and reliable performance data on relevant outcomes.
    Factors Applicants May Wish to Consider in Developing an Evaluation 
Plan: The quality of the evaluation plan is one of the selection 
criteria by which applications in this competition will be judged. A 
strong evaluation plan should be included in the application narrative 
and should be used, as appropriate, to shape the development of the 
project from the beginning of the project period. The plan should 
include benchmarks to monitor progress toward specific project 
objectives and also outcome measures to assess the impact on teaching 
and learning or other important outcomes for project participants. More 
specifically, the plan should identify the individual or organization 
that has agreed to serve as evaluator for the

[[Page 25853]]

project and describe the qualifications of that evaluator. The plan 
should describe the evaluation design, indicating: (1) What types of 
data will be collected; (2) when various types of data will be 
collected; (3) what methods will be used; (4) what instruments will be 
developed and when; (5) how the data will be analyzed; (6) when reports 
of results and outcomes will be available; and (7) how the applicant 
will use the information collected through the evaluation to monitor 
progress of the funded project and to provide accountability 
information both about success at the initial site and about effective 
strategies for replication in other settings. Applicants are encouraged 
to devote an appropriate level of resources to project evaluation.
    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 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: The Secretary has established one 
performance indicator for this program: The percentage of individuals 
targeted for services who receive services during each year of the 
project period. All grantees will be required to submit an annual 
performance report documenting their contribution in assisting the 
Department in measuring the performance of the program against this 
indicator, as well as performance on project-specific indicators.
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the 
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a 
grantee has made ``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives 
in its approved application'' and the performance measures established 
for this program. 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: Adrienne Hawkins, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W256, Washington, DC 20202. 
Telephone: (202) 401-2091 or by email: [email protected].
    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) by contacting 
the Grants and Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 
400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2550. 
Telephone: (202) 245-7363.
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-
8339.
    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 1, 2014.
Nadya Chinoy Dabby,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2014-10361 Filed 5-5-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P