[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 101 (Tuesday, May 27, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30099-30109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12161]



[[Page 30099]]

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grants 
to Non-State Educational Agency (Non-SEA) Eligible Applicants for 
Planning, Program Design, and Initial Implementation and for 
Dissemination

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

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information:
    CSP Grants to Non-SEA Eligible Applicants for Planning, Program 
Design, and Initial Implementation and for Dissemination.
    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2014.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.282B and 
84.282C.


DATES: 
Applications Available: May 27, 2014.

    Dates of Pre-Application Webinars (all times are Washington, DC 
time):

1. May 28, 2014, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; and
2. June 4, 2014, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 11, 2014.

    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 24, 2014.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the CSP is to increase national 
understanding of the charter school model by expanding the number of 
high-quality charter schools available to students across the Nation; 
providing financial assistance for the planning, program design, and 
initial implementation of charter schools; and evaluating the effects 
of charter schools, including their effects on students, student 
academic achievement, staff, and parents.
    This notice invites applications from non-SEA eligible applicants 
for two types of grants: (1) Planning, Program Design, and Initial 
Implementation (CFDA 84.282B); and (2) Dissemination (CFDA 84.282C). 
Each type of grant has its own eligibility requirements and selection 
criteria. Information pertaining to each type of grant is provided in 
subsequent sections of this notice.
    Non-SEA eligible applicants are those that are qualified to 
participate based on requirements set forth in this notice. Non-SEA 
eligible applicants must be from States in which the SEA does not have 
an approved application under the CSP. States with approved CSP 
applications are Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of 
Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, 
Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, 
South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
    Non-SEA eligible applicants that propose to use grant funds for 
planning, program design, and initial implementation of charter schools 
must apply under CFDA number 84.282B. Non-SEA eligible applicants that 
request funds for dissemination activities must apply under CFDA number 
84.282C.
    Priorities: This notice includes one absolute priority, two 
competitive preference priorities, and one invitational priority. The 
absolute priority and competitive preference priorities are from the 
notice of final supplemental priorities and definitions for 
discretionary grant programs published in the Federal Register on 
December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486), and corrected on May 12, 2011 (76 FR 
27637).
    Background:
    The absolute and competitive preference priorities focus this 
competition on assisting educationally disadvantaged students and other 
students--specifically students attending high-poverty schools, 
students with disabilities, English learners, military-connected 
students, and students in rural areas--in meeting State academic 
content standards and State student academic achievement standards.
    The competitive preference priorities for students with 
disabilities and English learners are included for the following two 
reasons. First, recent reports have indicated that charter schools may 
be serving students with disabilities at a lower rate than traditional 
public schools; \1\ and second, across the Nation, the number of public 
school students identified as English learners increased significantly 
from 2002 to 2010, with the 2013 National Assessment of Education 
Progress reports showing significant achievement gaps between English 
learners and their peers.\2\
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    \1\ Government Accountability Office. GAO-12-543, June 2012. 
``Additional Federal Attention Needed to Help Protect Access for 
Students with Disabilities,'' available online at www.gao.gov/assets/600/591435.pdf.
    \2\ U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education 
Statistics. 2013. ``The Condition of Education 2013 (NCES 2013-
037),'' available online at http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2013/2013037.pdf.
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    The Secretary also recognizes that military-connected students 
often face distinct obstacles in receiving a high-quality education due 
to such factors as significant parental absence and frequent 
relocations.\3\
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    \3\ The White House. January 2011. ``Strengthening Our Military 
Families: Meeting America's Commitment.'' Available online at 
www.defense.gov/home/features/2011/0111_initiative/strengthening_our_military_january_2011.pdf.
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    Lastly, the Department understands that rural schools confront 
their own unique challenges and seeks to encourage rural education 
leaders to use charter schools, as appropriate, as part of their 
overall school improvement efforts.
    The absolute priority and competitive preference priorities are 
intended to encourage applicants to develop innovative projects 
designed to eliminate achievement gaps between the subgroups described 
in this notice and the highest-achieving subgroups in their States. The 
priorities are also intended to encourage applicants to develop 
innovative projects for students facing unique educational challenges.
    The invitational priority builds on these goals by focusing on 
applicants who are designing charter schools that will attract and 
serve students from diverse backgrounds. The Department encourages the 
meaningful inclusion of diversity in charter school models, and looks 
to learn more about successful practices through this invitational 
priority.
    All charter schools receiving CSP funds, as outlined in section 
5210(1)(G) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (ESEA), must comply with various non-discrimination laws, 
including the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, title VI of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1964, title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 
section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, part B of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (i.e., rights afforded to 
students with disabilities and their parents), and applicable State 
laws.
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2014 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, 
this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we 
consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Improving Achievement and High School Graduation Rates [High-
Poverty].
    Accelerating learning and helping to improve high school graduation 
rates (as defined in this notice) and college enrollment rates in high-
poverty schools (as defined in this notice).

    Note 1: To meet this priority, an applicant for either a 
dissemination grant (CFDA 84.282C) or a planning, program design, 
and

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initial implementation grant (84.282B) whose charter school has 
enrolled students must demonstrate that the school is a high-poverty 
school (as defined in this notice) by providing enrollment data. An 
applicant for a planning, program design, and initial implementation 
grant whose charter school has not yet enrolled students must 
demonstrate, consistent with the definition of high-poverty school, 
that it will target for enrollment students who are eligible for 
free or reduced-price lunches under the Richard B. Russell National 
School Lunch Act or students who are from low-income families as 
determined using one of the criteria specified under section 
1113(a)(5) of the ESEA.


    Note 2: Applications approved for funding must meet the absolute 
priority throughout the performance period.

    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2014 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from 
this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we will award up to an 
additional four points to an application depending on how well the 
application addresses Competitive Preference Priority 1 and up to an 
additional three points to an application depending on how well the 
application addresses Competitive Preference Priority 2. The maximum 
number of points an application can receive under these priorities is 
seven.

    Note: In order to be eligible to receive points under these 
competitive preference priorities, the applicant must identify the 
priority or priorities that it believes it addresses, provide a 
detailed explanation of how the project addresses the priority or 
priorities, and provide documentation supporting its claims.

    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Improving Achievement and High 
School Graduation Rates [Rural Students, Students with Disabilities, 
and English Learners] (up to 4 points).
    Projects that are designed to address one or more of the following 
priority areas:
    (a) Accelerating learning and helping to improve high school 
graduation rates (as defined in this notice) and college enrollment 
rates for students in rural local educational agencies (as defined in 
this notice).
    (b) Accelerating learning and helping to improve high school 
graduation rates (as defined in this notice) and college enrollment 
rates for students with disabilities.
    (c) Accelerating learning and helping to improve high school 
graduation rates (as defined in this notice) and college enrollment 
rates for English Learners.

    Note: The Department encourages the applicant to provide a 
thoughtful, in-depth response to the priority area(s) to which it is 
well-suited to respond. Applicants may choose to respond to one or 
more of the priority areas and are not required to respond to each 
priority area in order to receive the maximum available points under 
this competitive preference priority.

    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Support for Military Families 
(up to 3 points).
    Projects that are designed to address the needs of military-
connected students (as defined in this notice).

    Note: To receive points under this priority, an applicant's 
project must target military-connected students who are current or 
prospective public charter school students. The applicant's 
recruitment and admissions policies and practices must comply with 
the State's charter school law and CSP program requirements (for 
information on admissions and the lottery under the CSP, see 
``Charter Schools Program Nonregulatory Guidance'' at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/charter/nonregulatory-guidance.html).

    Invitational Priority: For FY 2014 and any subsequent year in which 
we make awards based on the list of unfunded applicants from this 
competition, this priority is an invitational priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(1), we do not give an application that meets this 
invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other 
applications.
    This priority is:
    Promoting Diversity.
    The Secretary is particularly interested in applications from 
charter school developers planning schools, or from charter schools, 
that are designed to attract and serve students from diverse 
backgrounds, including students from different racial and ethnic groups 
and educationally disadvantaged students (e.g., economically 
disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, migrant students, 
English learners, neglected or delinquent students, and homeless 
students), as reflected in the charter school's (a) mission statement, 
(b) vision of the charter school, or (c) charter or performance 
agreement between the charter school and its authorizers.

    Note: For information on permissible ways to address this 
priority, please refer to the joint guidance issued by the 
Department of Education and the Department of Justice entitled, 
``Guidance on the Voluntary Use of Race to Achieve Diversity and 
Avoid Racial Isolation in Elementary and Secondary Schools'' at 
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/guidance-ese-201111.pdf and to Section E of the CSP Nonregulatory Guidance at 
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/charter/nonregulatory-guidance.html.

Definitions
    The following definitions applicable to this competition are from 
the notice of final supplemental priorities and definitions for 
discretionary grant programs, published in the Federal Register on 
December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486) and corrected on May 12, 2011 (76 FR 
27637); and from 34 CFR 77.1(c).
    Ambitious means promoting continued, meaningful improvement for 
program participants or for other individuals or entities affected by 
the grant, or representing a significant advancement in the field of 
education research, practices, or methodologies. When used to describe 
a performance target, whether a performance target is ambitious depends 
upon the context of the relevant performance measure and the baseline 
for that measure.
    Baseline means the starting point from which performance is 
measured and targets are set.
    Graduation rate means a four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate 
consistent with 34 CFR 200.19(b)(1) and may also include an extended-
year adjusted cohort graduation rate consistent with 34 CFR 
200.19(b)(1)(v) if the State in which the proposed project is 
implemented has been approved by the Secretary to use such a rate under 
Title I of the ESEA.

    Note: The regulations regarding graduation rate at 34 CFR 
200.19(b)(1) require that adjusted cohort graduation rates be 
calculated based on the number of students who graduate with a 
regular high school diploma. Under 34 CFR 200.19(b)(1)(iv), the term 
``regular high school diploma'' means the standard high school 
diploma that is awarded to students in the State and that is fully 
aligned with the State's academic content standards or a higher 
diploma and does not include a General Educational Development (GED) 
credential, certificate of attendance, or any alternative award.

    High-poverty school means a school in which at least 50 percent of 
students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches under the 
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act or in which at least 50 
percent of students are from low-income families as determined using 
one of the criteria specified under section 1113(a)(5) of the ESEA. For 
middle and high schools, eligibility may be calculated on the basis of 
comparable data from feeder schools. Eligibility as a high-poverty 
school under this definition is determined on the basis of the most 
currently available data.
    Logic model (also referred to as theory of action) means a well-
specified conceptual framework that identifies key components of the 
proposed process, product, strategy, or practice (i.e., the active 
``ingredients'' that are

[[Page 30101]]

hypothesized to be critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and 
describes the relationships among the key components and outcomes, 
theoretically and operationally.
    Military-connected student means: (a) A child participating in an 
early learning program, a student in preschool through grade 12, or a 
student enrolled in postsecondary education or training who has a 
parent or guardian on active duty in the uniformed services (as defined 
by 37 U.S.C. 101, in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast 
Guard, National Guard, or the reserve component of any of the 
aforementioned services) or (b) a student who is a veteran of the 
uniformed services, who is on active duty, or who is the spouse of an 
active-duty service member.
    Performance measure means any quantitative indicator, statistic, or 
metric used to gauge program or project performance.
    Performance target means a level of performance that an applicant 
would seek to meet during the course of a project or as a result of a 
project.
    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.
    Rural local educational agency means a local educational agency 
(LEA) that is eligible under the Small Rural School Achievement (SRSA) 
program or the Rural and Low-Income School (RLIS) program authorized 
under Title VI, Part B of the ESEA. Eligible applicants may determine 
whether a particular LEA is eligible for these programs by referring to 
information on the Department's Web site at http://www2.ed.gov/nclb/freedom/local/reap.html.
    Strong theory means a rationale for the proposed process, product, 
strategy, or practice that includes a logic model.
    Requirements: Applicants approved for funding under this 
competition must attend an in-person, two-day meeting for project 
directors during each year of the project.

    Note: The applicant is encouraged to include the cost of 
attending this meeting in its proposed budgets.



    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7221-7221i.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 
80, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education Department 
suspension and debarment regulations in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The notice 
of final supplemental priorities and definitions for discretionary 
grant programs published in the Federal Register on December 15, 2010 
(75 FR 78486), and corrected on May 12, 2011 (76 FR 27637).

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.


    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply only to 
institutions of higher education.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $4,000,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2015 from the list of 
unfunded applications from this competition.

    Note: The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 states that 
``funds available for part B of title V of the ESEA may be used for 
grants that support preschool education in charter schools.'' An 
application submitted under this competition may propose to use CSP 
funds to support preschool education in a charter school, provided 
that the charter school meets the definition of ``charter school'' 
in section 5210(1) of the ESEA, including the requirement that the 
charter school provide a program of elementary or secondary 
education, or both. Under section 9101(18) of the ESEA, ``elementary 
school'' means a nonprofit institutional day or residential school, 
including a public elementary charter school, that provides 
elementary education, as determined under State law. In a number of 
States, preschool education is part of elementary education under 
State law. In such States, CSP funds may be used to support 
preschool education in charter schools (as defined in section 
5210(1)) that provide elementary or secondary education beyond 
preschool, as well as in charter schools that provide only preschool 
education. In States in which preschool education is not part of 
elementary education under State law, CSP funds may be used to 
support preschool education so long as the preschool program is 
offered as part of a school that meets the definition of ``charter 
school'' in section 5210(1)--i.e., the school provides elementary or 
secondary education, or both. Thus, in States in which preschool 
education is not part of elementary education under State law, CSP 
funds may not be used to support charter schools that provide only 
preschool education. In the coming weeks, the Department plans to 
release nonregulatory guidance that will provide additional 
information about how CSP funds may be used to support preschool 
education in charter schools. Please continue to check the Charter 
Schools Program Web site for updates.

    Estimated Range of Awards (84.282B): $150,000 to $250,000 per year.
    Estimated Range of Awards (84.282C): $100,000 to $300,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $200,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 18-22.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months for planning, program design, and 
initial implementation grants under CFDA number 84.282B. Up to 24 
months for dissemination grants under CFDA number 84.282C.

    Note: For planning, program design, and initial implementation 
grants awarded by the Secretary to non-SEA eligible applicants under 
CFDA number 84.282B, no more than 18 months may be used for planning 
and program design and no more than 24 months may be used for the 
initial implementation of a charter school.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants:
    (a) Planning, Program Design, and Initial Implementation grants 
(CFDA number 84.282B): A developer that has (1) applied to an 
authorized public chartering authority to operate a charter school; and 
(2) provided adequate and timely notice to that authority under section 
5203(d)(3) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221b(d)(3)). In accordance with 
section 5203(d)(3) of the ESEA, an applicant for a pre-charter planning 
grant may include, in section V of its application, a request for a 
waiver from the Secretary of the requirement that the eligible 
applicant provide its authorized public chartering authority timely 
notice, and a copy, of its application for CSP funds (20 U.S.C. 
7221b(d)(3)).

    Note: Section 5210(2) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221i(2)) defines 
``developer'' as an individual or group of individuals (including a 
public or private nonprofit organization), which may include 
teachers, administrators and other school staff, parents, or other 
members of the local community in which a charter school project 
will be carried out. Additionally, the charter school must be 
located in a State with a State statute specifically authorizing the 
establishment of charter schools and in which the SEA does not have 
an application approved under the CSP.

    (b) Dissemination grants (CFDA number 84.282C): Charter schools, as 
defined in section 5210(1) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221i(1)), that have 
been in operation for at least three consecutive years and have 
demonstrated overall success, including--
    (1) Substantial progress in improving student academic achievement;
    (2) High levels of parent satisfaction; and
    (3) The management and leadership necessary to overcome initial 
start-up problems and establish a thriving, financially viable charter 
school.


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    Note: Consistent with section 5204(f)(6) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 
7221c(f)(6)), a charter school may apply for funds to carry out 
dissemination activities, whether or not the charter school 
previously applied for or received funds under the CSP for planning, 
program design, or implementation.


    Note: These competitions (CFDA numbers 84.282B and 84.282C) are 
limited to eligible applicants in States in which the SEA does not 
have an approved application under the CSP (or will not have an 
approved application as of October 1, 2014). The following States 
currently have approved applications under the CSP: Arizona, 
Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, 
Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New 
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, 
Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

    Eligible applicants, including charter schools, located in States 
with currently approved CSP applications that are interested in 
participating in the CSP should contact the SEA for information related 
to the State's CSP subgrant competition. Further information is 
available at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oii/csp/funding.html.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Brian Martin, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W224, 
Washington, DC 20202-5970. Telephone: (202) 205-9085 or by email: 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) by contacting the program contact person listed in 
this section.
    2.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 application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. The Secretary strongly 
encourages applicants to limit Part III to the equivalent of no more 
than 50 pages, using the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial.
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, 
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part 
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the 
resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, you must 
include all of the application narrative in Part III.
    b. Submission of Proprietary Information:
    Given the types of projects that may be proposed in applications 
for the CSP Non-SEA Grants for Planning, Program Design, and Initial 
Implementation and for Dissemination, an application may include 
business information that the applicant considers proprietary. The 
Department's regulations define ``business information'' in 34 CFR 
5.11.
    Because we plan to make successful applications available to the 
public, you may wish to request confidentiality of business 
information.
    Consistent with Executive Order 12600, please designate in your 
application any information that you feel is exempt from disclosure 
under Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act. In the appropriate 
Appendix section of your application, under ``Other Attachments Form,'' 
please list the page number or numbers on which we can find this 
information. For additional information please see 34 CFR 5.11(c).
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: May 27, 2014.
    Dates of Pre-Application Webinar: The Department will hold a pre-
application Webinar for prospective applicants on the following dates 
(all times are Washington, DC time):
    1. May 28, 2014, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; and
    2. June 4, 2014, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    Individuals interested in attending one of the Webinars are 
encouraged to pre-register by emailing their name, organization, 
contact information, and preferred Webinar date and time with the 
subject heading NON-SEA PRE-APPLICATION MEETING to 
[email protected]. There is no registration fee for attending this 
Webinar.
    For further information about the pre-application Webinar, contact 
Brian Martin, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Room 4W224, Washington, DC 20202-5970. Telephone: (202) 205-9085 or by 
email: [email protected].
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 11, 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. 7. Other Submission 
Requirements of this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 24, 2014.
    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 program.
    5. Funding Restrictions:
    Use of Funds for Post-Award Planning and Design of the Educational 
Program and Initial Implementation of the Charter School. A non-SEA 
eligible applicant receiving a grant under CFDA number 84.282B may use 
the grant funds only for--
    (a) Post-award planning and design of the educational program, 
which may include (1) refinement of the desired educational results and 
of the methods for measuring progress toward achieving those results; 
and (2) professional development of teachers and other staff who will 
work in the charter school; and
    (b) Initial implementation of the charter school, which may include 
(1) informing the community about the school; (2) acquiring necessary

[[Page 30103]]

equipment and educational materials and supplies; (3) acquiring or 
developing curriculum materials; and (4) other initial operational 
costs that cannot be met from State or local sources. (20 U.S.C. 
7221c(f)(3))

    Note: CSP funds awarded under CFDA number 84.282B may be used 
only for the planning and initial implementation of a charter 
school. As a general matter, the Secretary considers charter schools 
that have been in operation for more than three years to be past the 
initial implementation phase and, therefore, ineligible to receive 
CSP funds to support the initial implementation of a charter school.

    Use of Funds for Dissemination Activities. A charter school 
receiving a grant under CFDA number 84.282C may use the grant funds to 
assist other schools in adapting the charter school's program (or 
certain aspects of the charter school's program), or to disseminate 
information about the charter school, through such activities as--
    (a) Assisting other individuals with the planning and start-up of 
one or more new public schools, including charter schools, that are 
independent of the assisting charter school and the assisting charter 
school's developers, and that agree to be held to at least as high a 
level of accountability as the assisting charter school;
    (b) Developing partnerships with other public schools, including 
charter schools, designed to improve student academic achievement in 
each of the schools participating in the partnership;
    (c) Developing curriculum materials, assessments, and other 
materials that promote increased student achievement and are based on 
successful practices within the assisting charter school; and
    (d) Conducting evaluations and developing materials that document 
the successful practices of the assisting charter school and that are 
designed to improve student performance in other schools. (20 U.S.C. 
7221c(f)(6))
    We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions 
in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, 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 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 through 
Grants.gov and before you can submit an application in 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: 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 CSP, CFDA Numbers 84.282B and 
84.282C, 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 CSP at 
www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application 
package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA 
number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.282, not 
84.282B or 282C).
    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.

[[Page 30104]]

     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: Brian Martin, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W224, 
Washington, DC 20202-5970.
    FAX: (202) 205-5630.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail 
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.282B or 84.282C), 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.


[[Page 30105]]


    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 84.282B or 84.282C), 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 
notification within 15 business days from the application deadline 
date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application 
Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Application Requirements. An applicant applying for CSP grant 
funds, under either CFDA number 84.282B or 84.282C, must address the 
following application requirements, which are based on section 5203(b) 
of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221b(b)), as well as the applicable selection 
criteria in this notice, and may choose to respond to the application 
requirements in the context of its responses to the selection criteria.
    (a) Describe the educational program to be implemented by the 
proposed charter school, including how the program will enable all 
students to meet challenging State student academic achievement 
standards, the grade levels or ages of children to be served, and the 
curriculum and instructional practices to be used;

    Note:  An applicant proposing to create or substantially expand 
a single-sex charter school should include in its application a 
detailed description of how it is complying with applicable 
nondiscrimination laws, including the Equal Protection Clause of the 
U.S. Constitution (as interpreted in United States v. Virginia, 518 
U.S. 515 (1996) and other cases) and Title IX of the Education 
Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) and its regulations, 
including 34 CFR 106.34(c). Specifically, the applicant should 
provide a written justification for a proposed single-sex charter 
school that explains (1) how the single-sex charter school is based 
on an important governmental objective(s); and (2) how the single-
sex nature of the charter school is substantially related to the 
stated objective(s). An applicant proposing to operate a single-sex 
charter school that is part of an LEA and not a single-school LEA 
under State law, should also provide (1) information about whether 
there is a substantially equal single-sex school(s) for students of 
the excluded sex, and, if so, a detailed description of both the 
proposed single-sex charter school and the substantially equal 
single-sex school(s) based on the factors in 34 CFR 106.34(c)(3); 
and (2) information about whether there is a substantially equal 
coeducational school(s) for students of the excluded sex, and, if 
so, a detailed description of both the proposed single-sex charter 
school and the substantially equal coeducational school(s) based on 
the factors in 34 CFR 106.34(c)(3).

    (b) Describe how the charter school will be managed;
    (c) Describe the objectives of the charter school and the methods 
by which the charter school will determine its progress toward 
achieving those objectives;

    Note:  The applicant should review the Performance Measures 
section of this notice for information on the requirements for 
developing project-specific performance measures and targets 
consistent with the objectives of the proposed project. The 
applicant may choose to include a discussion of the project-specific 
performance measures and targets it develops in response to the 
Performance Measures requirement as part of its response to this 
application requirement.

    (d) Describe the administrative relationship between the charter 
school and the authorized public chartering agency;
    (e) Describe how parents and other members of the community will be 
involved in the planning, program design, and implementation of the 
charter school;
    (f) Describe how the authorized public chartering agency will 
provide for continued operation of the charter school once the Federal 
grant has expired, if that agency determines that the charter school 
has met its objectives as described in paragraph (c) of this section;
    (g) If the charter school desires the Secretary to consider waivers 
under the authority of the CSP, include a request and justification for 
waivers of any Federal statutory or regulatory provisions that the 
applicant believes are necessary for the successful operation of the 
charter school, and a description of any State or local rules, 
generally applicable to public schools, that will be waived for, or 
otherwise not apply to, the school. Each applicant for a planning, 
program design, and initial implementation grant under CFDA number 
84.282B that is requesting a waiver of the requirement under section 
5203(d)(3) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221b(d)(3)) to provide its 
authorized public chartering agency with notice, and a copy, of its CSP 
application should indicate whether it has applied for a charter 
previously and, if so, the name of the authorized public chartering 
authority and the disposition of the charter application;
    (h) Describe how the grant funds will be used, including a 
description of how these funds will be used in conjunction with other 
Federal programs administered by the Secretary;
    (i) Describe how students in the community will be informed about 
the charter school and be given an equal opportunity to attend the 
charter school;

    Note:  The applicant should provide a detailed description of 
its recruitment and admissions policies and practices, including a 
description of the lottery it plans to employ if more students apply 
for admission than can be accommodated. The applicant should also 
describe any current or planned use of a weighted lottery or 
exemptions of certain categories of students from the lottery and 
how the use of such weights or exemptions is consistent with State 
law and the CSP authorizing statute. For information on the CSP 
lottery requirement, including permissible exemptions from the 
lottery and the circumstances under which charter schools receiving 
CSP funds may use weighted lotteries, see Section E of the CSP 
Nonregulatory Guidance at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/charter/nonregulatory-guidance.html.

    An applicant that proposes to use a weighted lottery should provide 
the following:
    (1) Information concerning the circumstances in which a weighted 
lottery would be used, including the specific categories of students 
the weighted lottery would favor;
    (2) Evidence that (a) the use of a weighted lottery is necessary to 
comply with Federal or State law; or (b) the State permits the use of a 
weighted lottery under the circumstances in which a weighted lottery is 
proposed to be used (e.g., in favor of educationally disadvantaged 
students). State permission to use a weighted lottery can be evidenced 
by the fact that weighted lotteries for such students are expressly 
permitted under the State charter school law, a State regulation, or a 
written State policy consistent with the State charter school law or 
regulation, or, in the

[[Page 30106]]

absence of express authorization, confirmation from the State's 
Attorney General, in writing, that State law permits the use of 
weighted lotteries in favor of such students;
    (3) Information concerning the mechanisms that exist (if any) for 
an oversight entity (e.g., the SEA or an authorized public chartering 
agency) to review, approve, or monitor specific lottery practices, 
including the establishment of weight amounts if applicable;
    (4) Information concerning how the use of a weighted lottery for a 
permitted purpose is within the scope and objectives of the proposed 
project; and
    (5) Information concerning the amount or range of lottery weights 
that will be employed or permitted and the rationale for these weights.
    (j) Describe how a charter school that is considered an LEA under 
State law, or an LEA in which a charter school is located, will comply 
with sections 613(a)(5) and 613(e)(1)(B) of the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)(for additional information on IDEA, 
please see http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2Cstatute%2CI%2CB%2C613%2C); and
    (k) If the eligible applicant desires to use grant funds for 
dissemination activities under section 5202(c)(2)(c) of the ESEA (20 
U.S.C 7221a(c)(2)(C)), describe those activities and how those 
activities will involve charter schools and other public schools, LEAs, 
charter school developers, and potential charter school developers.
    2. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from sections 5203, 5204, and 5210 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221b, 
7221c, and 7221i) and 34 CFR 75.210.
    The selection criteria for applicants submitting applications under 
CFDA number 84.282B are listed in paragraph (a) of this section, and 
the selection criteria for applicants submitting applications under 
CFDA number 84.282C are listed in paragraph (b) of this section.
    (a) Selection Criteria for Planning, Program Design, and Initial 
Implementation Grants (CFDA number 84.282B).
    The following selection criteria are based on sections 5203, 5204, 
and 5210 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221b, 7221c, and 7221i) and 34 CFR 
75.210. The maximum possible score for addressing all of the criteria 
in this section is 100 points. The maximum possible score for 
addressing each criterion is indicated in parentheses following the 
criterion. In evaluating an application for a planning, program design, 
and implementation grant, the Secretary considers the following 
criteria:
    (1) Quality of the proposed curriculum and instructional practices 
(20 U.S.C. 7221c(b)(1)) (up to 15 points).

    Note: The Secretary encourages the applicant to describe the 
quality of the educational program to be implemented by the proposed 
charter school, including: how the program will enable all students 
to meet challenging State student academic achievement and content 
standards; the grade levels or ages of students to be served; and 
the curriculum and instructional practices to be used. If the 
curriculum and instructional practices have been successfully used 
in other schools operated or managed by the applicant, the Secretary 
encourages the applicant to describe the implementation of such 
practices and the academic results achieved.

    (2) The extent to which the proposed project will assist 
educationally disadvantaged students in meeting State academic content 
standards and State student academic achievement standards (20 U.S.C. 
7221c(a)(1)) (up to 5 points).
    (3) The quality of the strategy for assessing achievement of the 
charter school's objectives (20 U.S.C. 7221c(a)(4)) (up to 15 points).

    Note:  The Secretary encourages the applicant to propose a 
comprehensive plan for assessing the achievement of the charter 
school's objectives, including developing performance measures and 
performance targets for its proposed grant project that are 
consistent with those objectives. The applicant should clearly 
identify the project-specific performance measures and performance 
targets in its plan and should review the Performance Measures 
section of this notice for information on the requirements for 
developing those performance measures and performance targets 
consistent with the objectives of the proposed project. The 
applicant may choose to include a discussion of the project-specific 
performance measures and targets it develops in response to the 
Performance Measures requirements when addressing this criterion.

    (4) The extent of community support and parental and community 
involvement (20 U.S.C. 7221c(b)(3); 20 U.S.C. 7221b(b)(3)(E)) (up to 10 
points).
    The Secretary considers the extent of community support for, and 
parental and community involvement in, the charter school. In 
determining the extent of community support for, and parental and 
community involvement in, the charter school, the Secretary considers--
    (i) The extent of community support for the application (up to 5 
points); and
    (ii) The extent to which the proposed project encourages parental 
and community involvement in the planning, program design, and 
implementation of the charter school (up to 5 points).

    Note:  In describing the extent to which the proposed project 
encourages parental and community involvement in the planning, 
program design, and implementation of the charter school, the 
Secretary encourages the applicant to describe how parents and other 
members of the community will be informed about the charter school 
and how students will be given an equal opportunity to attend the 
charter school.

    (5) Quality of project personnel (34 CFR 75.210(e)(1), (e)(2), and 
(e)(3)(ii)) (up to 22 points).
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will 
carry out the proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers--
    (A) The extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability (up to 2 points); and
    (B) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel (up to 20 points).

    Note:  The Secretary encourages the applicant to provide 
evidence of the key project personnel's skills, experience, and 
success in the following areas: launching a high-quality charter 
school; developing an innovative school design; managing or leading 
a non-profit organization; establishing or maintaining school 
governance by a board of trustees; developing and implementing an 
effective curriculum; recruiting and evaluating effective educators; 
and strengthening fiscal management.

    (6) Quality of the management plan (34 CFR 75.210(g)(1) and 
(g)(2)(i)) (up to 15 points).
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the adequacy of the 
management plan to achieve the objectives of the proposed project on 
time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, 
timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project tasks.
    (7) Existence and quality of a charter or performance contract 
between the charter school and its authorized public chartering agency 
(20 U.S.C. 7221i(1)(L)) (up to 15 points).
    The existence of a written charter or performance contract between 
the charter school and its authorized public chartering agency and the 
extent to which the charter or performance

[[Page 30107]]

contract describes how student performance will be measured in the 
charter school pursuant to State assessments that are required of other 
schools and pursuant to any other assessments mutually agreeable to the 
authorized public chartering agency and the charter school.

    Note:  The applicant is encouraged to submit a copy of its 
approved charter or performance contract. If the applicant has had 
an application for a charter denied, the applicant should describe 
the circumstances surrounding such denial and how it plans to revise 
the charter application before resubmitting it to the authorized 
public chartering agency.

    (8) The degree of flexibility afforded by the SEA and, if 
applicable, the LEA to the charter school (20 U.S.C. 7721c(b)(2)) (up 
to 3 points).

    Note:  The Secretary encourages the applicant to describe the 
flexibility afforded under its State's charter school law in terms 
of establishing an administrative relationship between the charter 
school and the authorized public chartering agency, and whether 
charter schools are exempt from significant State or local rules 
that inhibit the flexible operation and management of public 
schools.

    The Secretary also encourages the applicant to include a 
description of the degree of autonomy the charter school will have over 
such matters as the charter school's budget, expenditures, daily 
operations, curriculum, and personnel in accordance with its State's 
charter school law.
    (b) Selection Criteria for Dissemination Grants (CFDA number 
84.282C).
    The following selection criteria are based on sections 5204 and 
5210(1)(L) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221c and 7221i(1)(L)) and from 34 
CFR 75.210. The maximum possible score for addressing all the criteria 
in this section is 100 points. The maximum possible score for 
addressing each criterion is indicated in parentheses following the 
criterion. In evaluating an application for a dissemination grant, the 
Secretary considers the following criteria:
    (1) Quality of project design (34 CFR 75.210(c)(1) and (c)(2)(xxix) 
and 20 U.S.C. 7221c(b)(7)) (up to 20 points).
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the 
proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors--
    (A) The quality of the proposed dissemination activities and the 
likelihood that those activities will improve student achievement (up 
to 10 points).

    Note:  The Secretary encourages the applicant to describe the 
objectives for the proposed dissemination activities and the methods 
by which the charter school will determine its progress toward 
achieving those objectives. The applicant should review the 
Performance Measures section of this notice for information on the 
requirements for developing project-specific performance measures 
and targets consistent with those objectives. The applicant may 
choose to include a discussion of the project-specific performance 
measures and targets it develops in response to the Performance 
Measures requirements when addressing this criterion.

    (B) The extent to which the proposed project is supported by strong 
theory (as defined in 34 CFR 77.1(c)) (up to 10 points).
    (2) Existence of a charter or performance contract between the 
charter school and its authorized public chartering agency (20 U.S.C. 
7221i(1)(L)) (up to 1 point).
    The existence of a written charter or performance contract between 
the charter school and its authorized public chartering agency and how 
the charter or performance contract requires student performance to be 
measured in the charter school pursuant to State assessments that are 
required of other schools and pursuant to any other assessments 
mutually agreeable to the authorized public chartering agency and the 
charter school.
    (3) Demonstration of success (20 U.S.C. 7221c(f)(6)(A)) (up to 35 
points).
    The extent to which the school has demonstrated overall success, 
including--
    (i) Substantial progress in improving student academic achievement 
(up to 25 points);
    (ii) High levels of parent satisfaction (up to 5 points); and
    (iii) The management and leadership necessary to overcome initial 
start-up problems and establish a thriving, financially viable charter 
school (up to 5 points).

    Note:  The Secretary encourages the applicant to provide 
performance data (both school-wide and by subgroup) for the past 
three years on State assessments as compared to all students in 
other schools in the State at the same grade level, and as compared 
to other schools serving similar populations of students (while 
maintaining the appropriate standards that protect personally 
identifiable information).

    The Secretary also encourages the applicant to provide its most 
recent State or LEA Report Card.
    (4) Dissemination strategy (34 CFR 75.210(b)(2)(xii)) (up to 15 
points).
    (i) The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed 
project.
    (ii) In determining the significance of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the extent to which the results of the proposed 
project are to be disseminated in ways that will enable others to use 
the information or strategies.
    (5) Quality of project personnel (34 CFR 75.210(e)(1), (e)(2), and 
(e)(3)(i)) (up to 14 points).
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will 
carry out the proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers--
    (A) The extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability (up to 3 points); and
    (B) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator (up to 11 points).
    (6) Quality of the management plan (34 CFR 75.210 (g)(1) and 
(g)(2)(i)) (up to 15 points).
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the adequacy of the 
management plan to achieve the objectives of the proposed project on 
time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, 
timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project tasks.
    3. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
also requires various assurances, including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    4. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary 
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is 
not

[[Page 30108]]

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:
    (a) Program Performance Measures. The goal of the CSP is to support 
the creation and development of a large number of high-quality charter 
schools that are free from State or local rules that inhibit flexible 
operation, are held accountable for enabling students to reach 
challenging State performance standards, and are open to all students. 
The Secretary has two performance indicators to measure progress toward 
this goal: (1) The number of charter schools in operation around the 
Nation, and (2) the percentage of fourth- and eighth-grade charter 
school students who are achieving at or above the proficient level on 
State assessments in mathematics and reading/language arts. 
Additionally, the Secretary has established the following measure to 
examine the efficiency of the CSP: Federal cost per student in 
implementing a successful school (defined as a school in operation for 
three or more consecutive years).
    All grantees must submit an annual performance report with 
information that is responsive to these performance measures.
    (b) Project-Specific Performance Measures. Applicants must propose 
project-specific performance measures and performance targets 
consistent with the objectives of the proposed project. Applications 
must provide the following information as required under 34 CFR 
75.110(b) and (c):
    (1) Performance measures. How each proposed performance measure 
would accurately measure the performance of the project and how the 
proposed performance measure would be consistent with the performance 
measures established for the program funding the competition.
    (2) Baseline data. (i) Why each proposed baseline is valid; or (ii) 
If the applicant has determined that there are no established baseline 
data for a particular performance measure, an explanation of why there 
is no established baseline and of how and when, during the project 
period, the applicant would establish a valid baseline for the 
performance measure.
    (3) Performance targets. Why each proposed performance target is 
ambitious yet achievable compared to the baseline for the performance 
measure and when, during the project period, the applicant would meet 
the performance target(s).

    Note:  The Secretary encourages the applicant to consider 
measures and targets tied to its grant activities (for instance, if 
grant funds will support professional development for teachers and 
other staff, the applicant should include measures related to the 
outcomes for the professional development), as well as to student 
academic achievement during the grant period. The measures should be 
sufficient to gauge the progress throughout the grant period, show 
results by the end of the grant period, and be included in the logic 
model supporting a strong theory under Selection Criterion 7, 
Quality of project design, for Dissemination Grants (CFDA number 
84.282C).

    For technical assistance in developing effective performance 
measures, applicants are encouraged to review information provided by 
the Department's Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs). The RELs 
seek to build the capacity of States and school districts to 
incorporate data and research into education decision-making. Each REL 
provides research support and technical assistance to its region but 
makes learning opportunities available to educators everywhere. For 
example, the REL Northeast and Islands has created the following 
resource on logic models: http://relpacific.mcrel.org/ELM.html.
    (3) Data Collection and Reporting. The applicant must also describe 
in the application: (i) the data collection and reporting methods the 
applicant would use and why those methods are likely to yield reliable, 
valid, and meaningful performance data, and (ii) the applicant's 
capacity to collect and report reliable, valid, and meaningful 
performance data, as evidenced by high-quality data collection, 
analysis, and reporting in other projects or research.

    Note:  If the applicant does not have experience with the 
collection and reporting of performance data through other projects 
or research, the applicant should provide other evidence of its 
capacity to successfully carry out data collection and reporting for 
the proposed project.

    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the 
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a 
grantee has made ``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives 
in its approved application.'' This consideration includes the review 
of a grantee's progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes 
in its approved application, and whether the grantee has expended funds 
in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and 
budget. In making a continuation grant, the Secretary also considers 
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in 
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil 
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities 
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Pfeltz, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W228, Washington, DC 20202-
5970; or Brian Martin, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland 
Avenue SW., Room 4W224, Washington, DC 20202-5970. Emails and telephone 
numbers:

[[Page 30109]]

[email protected] or (202) 205-3525; [email protected] or (202) 205-
9085.
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-
8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to 
the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
in section VII of this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well 
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF 
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the 
site. You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: May 21, 2014.
Nadya Chinoy Dabby,
Associate Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2014-12161 Filed 5-23-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P