[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 75 (Thursday, April 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18619-18629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08042]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Supporting Effective Educator 
Development Program

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting 
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017 for the 
Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) Program, Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.423A.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: April 20, 2017.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent To Apply: May 5, 2017.
    Date of Informational Webinar: The SEED program intends to hold a 
webinar designed to provide technical assistance to interested 
applicants. Detailed information regarding this webinar will be 
provided on the SEED Web site at http://innovation.ed.gov/what-we-do/teacher-quality/supporting-effective-educator-development-grant-program/.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 19, 2017.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 18, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Wilson, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W111, Washington, DC 20202-
5960. Telephone: (202) 453-6709 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The SEED Program, established under section 
2242 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as 
amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (20 U.S.C. 6672),\1\ 
provides funding to increase the number of highly effective educators 
by supporting the implementation of Evidence-Based \2\ practices that 
prepare, develop, or enhance educators. These grants will allow 
eligible entities to develop, expand, and evaluate practices that can 
serve as models that can be sustained and disseminated.
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    \1\ Unless otherwise indicated, all references to the ESEA are 
to the ESEA, as amended by the ESSA.
    \2\ Throughout this notice, all defined terms are denoted with 
capitals.
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    Priorities: This competition includes two absolute priorities, two 
competitive preference priorities, and one invitational priority. We 
are establishing these priorities, and the definitions and requirements 
in this notice, for the FY 2017 grant competition and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications 
from this competition, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the 
General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1). Under 
the SEED grant competition, each of the two absolute priorities 
constitutes its own funding category. The Secretary intends to award 
grants under each absolute priority for which applications of 
sufficient quality are submitted.
    Absolute Priorities: These priorities are absolute priorities. 
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet one 
of these priorities. Applicants may address only one absolute priority 
and must clearly indicate the specific absolute priority their project 
addresses.
    These priorities are:
    Absolute Priority 1: Supporting Effective Teachers.
    Under this priority, we provide funding to projects that are 
designed to improve teacher effectiveness and increase the number of 
Highly Effective

[[Page 18620]]

Teachers in schools with high concentrations of High-Need Students.
    Projects must use strategies supported by at least Moderate 
Evidence to address one or more of the following priority areas:
    (a) Recruiting and preparing prospective teachers;
    (b) Providing professional development activities to current 
teachers that will improve pedagogy or content knowledge; or
    (c) Providing professional enhancement activities to teachers, 
which may include activities that lead to an advanced credential.
    Projects must align their activities to meet the needs of their 
partner States, districts, or schools, such as addressing teacher 
shortages, improving equitable access to Highly Effective Teachers, or 
increasing the number of teachers from underrepresented groups.
    Absolute Priority 2: Supporting Effective Principals or Other 
School Leaders.
    Under this priority, we provide funding to projects that are 
designed to improve principal or other School Leader effectiveness and 
increase the number of Highly Effective Principals or Other School 
Leaders in schools with high concentrations of High-Need Students.
    Projects must use strategies supported by at least Promising 
Evidence that address one or more of the following priority areas:
    (a) Recruiting and preparing prospective leaders;
    (b) Providing Professional Development activities to current 
leaders that will improve instructional leadership, school culture and 
climate leadership, or administrative leadership; or
    (c) Providing professional enhancement activities to leaders, which 
may include activities that lead to an advanced credential or 
certification.
    Projects must align their activities to meet the needs of their 
partner States, districts, or schools, such as improving equitable 
access to Highly Effective Principals or Other School Leaders or 
increasing the number of leaders from underrepresented groups.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2017 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications 
from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we will award up to five 
points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 1 
and up to three points to an application that meets Competitive 
Preference Priority 2, depending on how well the application meets 
these competitive preference priorities. Applicants may choose to 
address zero, one, or both of the competitive preference priorities. 
The maximum total competitive preference priority points an application 
may receive under this competition is eight.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1: Promoting Diversity in the 
Educator Workforce (0 to 5 points).
    Under this priority, we provide funding to projects that are 
designed to address both of the following priority areas:
    (a) Providing educator development activities designed to improve 
cultural competency and responsiveness skills that contribute to an 
inclusive school culture; and
    (b) Improving the recruitment, support, and retention of educators 
from diverse backgrounds.
    Applicants must respond to both of the priority areas in order to 
receive the maximum available points under this competitive preference 
priority.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2: Support for Personalized 
Learning Environments (0 to 3 points).
    Under this priority, we provide funding to projects that are 
designed to support teachers, principals, or other School Leaders 
implementing personalized learning environments in their classrooms or 
in classrooms in their schools, using data to inform their instruction, 
and increasing students' engagement, voice, and choice in their 
learning. Projects may support educators' implementation of college and 
career ready strategies such as project based learning, competency 
based education, or blended learning.
    Invitational Priority: For FY 2017 and any subsequent year in which 
we make awards from the list of unfunded applications 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:
    Invitational Priority: Support for the Use of Micro-Credentials.
    Under this priority, we are interested in projects that support 
teachers, principals, or other school leaders earning Micro-Credentials 
based on demonstrated mastery of competencies and performance-based 
outcomes.
    Definitions: The definitions of Evidence-Based, Local Educational 
Agency, Professional Development, Regular High School Diploma, School 
Leader, and State Educational Agency are from section 8101 of the ESEA 
(20 U.S.C. 7801). The definition of Institution of Higher Education is 
from section 101 of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (20 U.S.C. 
1001). We are establishing the remaining definitions for the FY 2017 
grant competition only, in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, 
20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).
    Correlational Study With Statistical Controls For Selection Bias 
means a study that (1) estimates how a Relevant Outcome varies with the 
receipt of a project component, and (2) uses sampling or analysis 
methods (e.g., multiple regression) to account for at least some of the 
differences between the groups being compared.
    Evidence-Based means a State, Local Educational Agency, or school 
activity, strategy, or intervention is supported by strong evidence, 
Moderate Evidence, or Promising Evidence.
    Experimental Study means a study, such as a Randomized Controlled 
Trial (RCT), that is designed to compare outcomes between two groups of 
individuals that are otherwise equivalent except for their assignment 
to either a treatment group receiving a practice or a control group 
that does not. In some circumstances, a finding from a Regression 
Discontinuity Design Study (RDD) or findings from a collection of 
Single-Case Design Studies (SCDs) may be considered equivalent to a 
finding from an RCT. RCTs and RDDs, and collections of SCDs, depending 
on design and implementation, can Meet What Works Clearinghouse 
Evidence Standards Without Reservations.
    High-Need Students means students who are at risk for educational 
failure or otherwise in need of special assistance and support, such as 
students who are living in poverty, who are far below grade level, who 
have left school before receiving a Regular High School Diploma, who 
are at risk of not graduating with a diploma on time, who are homeless, 
who are in foster care, who have been incarcerated, who have 
disabilities, or who are English learners.
    Highly Effective Principal or Other School Leader means a principal 
or other School Leader who receives the highest possible effectiveness 
rating.
    Highly Effective Teacher means a teacher who receives the highest 
possible effectiveness rating.
    Institution of Higher Education means an educational institution in 
any State that--
    (a) Admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of 
graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the 
recognized

[[Page 18621]]

equivalent of such a certificate, or persons who meet the requirements 
of section 1091(d) of the HEA;
    (b) Is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of 
education beyond secondary education;
    (c) Provides an educational program for which the institution 
awards a bachelor's degree or provides not less than a 2-year program 
that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, or awards a 
degree that is acceptable for admission to a graduate or professional 
degree program, subject to review and approval by the Secretary;
    (d) Is a public or other nonprofit institution; and
    (e) Is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or 
association, or if not so accredited, is an institution that has been 
granted preaccreditation status by such an agency or association that 
has been recognized by the Secretary for the granting of 
preaccreditation status, and the Secretary has determined that there is 
satisfactory assurance that the institution will meet the accreditation 
standards of such an agency or association within a reasonable time.
    Large Sample means an analytic sample of 350 or more students (or 
other single analysis units), or 50 or more groups (such as classrooms 
or schools) that each contain, on average, 10 or more students (or 
other single analysis units, regardless of whether these single 
analysis units are disaggregated in the analysis of outcomes for the 
groups). Multiple studies can cumulatively be used to meet the Multi-
Site Sample and Large Sample requirements of Moderate Evidence or 
strong evidence, as long as each study meets the other requirements of 
the particular level of evidence (i.e., Moderate Evidence or strong 
evidence).
    Local Educational Agency means:
    (a) A public board of education or other public authority legally 
constituted within a State for either administrative control or 
direction of, or to perform a service function for, public elementary 
schools or secondary schools in a city, county, township, school 
district, or other political subdivision of a State, or of or for a 
combination of school districts or counties that is recognized in a 
State as an administrative agency for its public elementary schools or 
secondary schools.
    (b) Administrative Control and Direction. The term includes any 
other public institution or agency having administrative control and 
direction of a public elementary school or secondary school.
    (c) Bureau of Indian Education Schools. The term includes an 
elementary school or secondary school funded by the Bureau of Indian 
Education but only to the extent that including the school makes the 
school eligible for programs for which specific eligibility is not 
provided to the school in another provision of law and the school does 
not have a student population that is smaller than the student 
population of the LEA receiving assistance under the ESSA with the 
smallest student population, except that the school shall not be 
subject to the jurisdiction of any State Educational Agency other than 
the Bureau of Indian Education.
    (d) Educational Service Agencies. The term includes educational 
service agencies and consortia of those agencies.
    (e) State Educational Agency. The term includes the State 
Educational Agency in a State in which the State Educational Agency is 
the sole educational agency for all public schools.
    Logic Model (also known as a theory of action) means a reasonable 
conceptual framework that identifies key components of the proposed 
project (i.e., the active ``ingredients'' that are hypothesized to be 
critical to achieving the Relevant Outcomes) and describes the 
theoretical and operational relationships among the key components and 
outcomes.
    Meets What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards Without 
Reservations is the highest possible rating for a study finding 
reviewed by the WWC. Studies receiving this rating provide the highest 
degree of confidence that an estimated effect was caused by the 
practice studied. Experimental Studies may receive this highest rating. 
These standards are described in the WWC Procedures and Standards 
Handbooks, Version 3.0, which can be accessed at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Handbooks.
    Meets What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards With Reservations 
is the second-highest rating for a study finding reviewed by the What 
Works Clearinghouse (WWC). Studies receiving this rating provide a 
reasonable degree of confidence that an estimated effect was caused by 
the practice studied. Both Experimental Studies (such as Randomized 
Controlled Trials with high rates of sample attrition) and Quasi-
Experimental Design Studies may receive this rating if they establish 
the equivalence of the treatment and comparison groups in key baseline 
characteristics. These standards are described in the WWC Procedures 
and Standards Handbooks, Version 3.0, which can be accessed at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Handbooks.
    Micro-Credential means a credential awarded to an educator who has 
demonstrated mastery of a specific skill or competency through the use 
of evidence or performance-based outcomes. The credential must be 
portable across schools, LEAs, or States.
    Moderate Evidence means the following conditions are met: (a) There 
is at least one experimental or Quasi-Experimental Design Study of the 
effectiveness of the practice with a Relevant Finding that Meets What 
Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards With or Without Reservations 
(e.g., a Quasi-Experimental Design study or high-attrition Randomized 
Controlled Trial that establishes the equivalence of the treatment and 
comparison groups in Student Achievement at baseline); (b) the Relevant 
Finding in the study described in paragraph (a) is of a statistically 
significant and positive (i.e., favorable) effect on a student outcome 
or other Relevant Outcome, with no statistically significant and 
overriding negative (i.e., unfavorable) evidence on that practice from 
other findings on the intervention reviewed by and reported on the What 
Works Clearinghouse that Meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence 
Standards With or Without Reservations; (c) the Relevant Finding in the 
study described in paragraph (a) is based on a sample that overlaps 
with the populations (e.g., the types of student served) or settings 
proposed to receive the practice (e.g., an after-school program studied 
in urban high schools and proposed for rural high schools); and (d) the 
Relevant Finding in the study described in paragraph (a) is based on a 
Large Sample and a Multi-Site Sample.
    Multi-site Sample means more than one site, where site can be 
defined as an LEA, locality, or State. A sample could be multi-site if 
it includes campuses in two or more localities (e.g., cities or 
counties), even if the campuses all belong to the same LEA or the same 
postsecondary school system. Multiple studies can cumulatively meet the 
Multi-Site Sample and Large Sample requirements of Moderate Evidence 
and strong evidence, as long as each study meets the other requirements 
of the particular level of evidence.
    National Nonprofit Organization means an entity that meets the 
definition of ``nonprofit'' under 34 CFR 77.1(c) and is of national 
scope, meaning that the entity provides services in multiple States to 
a significant number or percentage of recipients and is supported by 
staff or affiliates in multiple States.

[[Page 18622]]

    Professional Development means activities that--
    (a) Are an integral part of school and local educational agency 
strategies for providing educators (including teachers, principals, 
other school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, 
paraprofessionals, and, as applicable, early childhood educators) with 
the knowledge and skills necessary to enable students to succeed in a 
well-rounded education and to meet the challenging State academic 
standards; and
    (b) Are sustained (not stand-alone, 1-day, or short term 
workshops), intensive, collaborative, job-embedded, data-driven, and 
classroom-focused, and may include activities that--
    (i) Improve and increase teachers': (1) Knowledge of the academic 
subjects the teachers teach; (2) understanding of how students learn; 
and (3) ability to analyze student work and achievement from multiple 
sources, including how to adjust instructional strategies, assessments, 
and materials based on such analysis;
    (ii) Are an integral part of broad schoolwide and districtwide 
educational improvement plans;
    (iii) Allow personalized plans for each educator to address the 
educator's specific needs identified in observation or other feedback;
    (iv) Improve classroom management skills;
    (v) Support the recruitment, hiring, and training of effective 
teachers, including teachers who became certified through State and 
local alternative routes to certification;
    (vi) Advance teacher understanding of: (1) Effective instructional 
strategies that are evidence-based; and (2) strategies for improving 
student academic achievement or substantially increasing the knowledge 
and teaching skills of teachers;
    (vii) Are aligned with, and directly related to, academic goals of 
the school or local educational agency;
    (viii) Are developed with extensive participation of teachers, 
principals, other school leaders, parents, representatives of Indian 
Tribes (as applicable), and administrators of schools to be served 
under the ESEA;
    (ix) Are designed to give teachers of English learners, and other 
teachers and instructional staff, the knowledge and skills to provide 
instruction and appropriate language and academic support services to 
those children, including the appropriate use of curricula and 
assessments;
    (x) To the extent appropriate, provide training for teachers, 
principals, and other school leaders in the use of technology 
(including education about the harms of copyright piracy), so that 
technology and technology applications are effectively used in the 
classroom to improve teaching and learning in the curricula and 
academic subjects in which the teachers teach;
    (xi) As a whole, are regularly evaluated for their impact on 
increased teacher effectiveness and improved student academic 
achievement, with the findings of the evaluations used to improve the 
quality of professional development;
    (xii) Are designed to give teachers of children with disabilities 
or children with developmental delays, and other teachers and 
instructional staff, the knowledge and skills to provide instruction 
and academic support services, to those children, including positive 
behavioral interventions and supports, multi-tier system of supports, 
and use of accommodations;
    (xiii) Include instruction in the use of data and assessments to 
inform and instruct classroom practice;
    (xiv) Include instruction in ways that teachers, principals, other 
school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, and school 
administrators may work more effectively with parents and families;
    (xv) Involve the forming of partnerships with institutions of 
higher education, including, as applicable, Tribal Colleges and 
Universities as defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)), to establish school-based teacher, 
principal, and other school leader training programs that provide 
prospective teachers, novice teachers, principals, and other school 
leaders with an opportunity to work under the guidance of experienced 
teachers, principals, other school leaders, and faculty of such 
institutions;
    (xvi) Create programs to enable paraprofessionals (assisting 
teachers employed by a local educational agency receiving assistance 
under part A of title I) to obtain the education necessary for those 
paraprofessionals to become certified and licensed teachers;
    (xvii) Provide follow-up training to teachers who have participated 
in activities described in paragraph (b) of this definition that are 
designed to ensure that the knowledge and skills learned by the 
teachers are implemented in the classroom; and
    (xviii) Where practicable, provide jointly for school staff and 
other early childhood education program providers, to address the 
transition to elementary school, including issues related to school 
readiness.
    Project Component means an activity, strategy, or intervention 
included in a project. Evidence may pertain to an individual Project 
Component, or to a combination of Project Components (e.g., training 
teachers on instructional practices for English learners and follow-on 
coaching for these teachers).
    Promising Evidence means the following conditions are met: (a) 
There is at least one study that is a Correlational Study with 
Statistical Controls For Selection Bias with a Relevant Finding; and 
(b) the Relevant Finding in the study described in paragraph (a) of 
this definition is of a statistically significant and positive (i.e., 
favorable) effect of the Project Component on a student outcome or 
other Relevant Outcome with no statistically significant and overriding 
negative (i.e., unfavorable) evidence on that Project Component from 
other findings on the intervention reviewed by and reported in the What 
Works Clearinghouse that Meets What Works Clearinghouse Evidence 
Standards With or Without Reservations.
    Quasi-Experimental Design Study (QED) means a study using a design 
that attempts to approximate an experimental design by identifying a 
comparison group that is similar to the treatment group in important 
respects. This type of study, depending on design and implementation, 
can Meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards With Reservations 
(but not Without Reservations).
    Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) means a study that employs random 
assignment of, for example, students, teachers, classrooms, or schools 
to receive the practice being evaluated (the treatment group) or not to 
receive the practice (the control group). The estimated effectiveness 
of the practice is the difference between the average outcomes for the 
treatment group and for the control group. These studies, depending on 
design and implementation, can Meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence 
Standards Without Reservations.
    Regression Discontinuity Design Study (RDD) means a study that 
assigns the practice being evaluated using a measured variable (e.g., 
assigning students reading below a cutoff score to tutoring or 
developmental education classes) and controls for that variable in the 
analysis of outcomes. The effectiveness of the practice is estimated 
for individuals who barely qualify to receive that component. These 
studies, depending on design and implementation, can Meet What Works 
Clearinghouse Evidence Standards Without Reservations.

[[Page 18623]]

    Regular High School Diploma (a) means the standard high school 
diploma awarded to the preponderance of students in the State that is 
fully aligned with State standards, or a higher diploma, except that a 
regular high school diploma shall not be aligned to the alternate 
academic achievement standards described in section 1111(b)(1)(E) of 
the ESEA; and (b) does not include a recognized equivalent of a 
diploma, such as a general equivalency diploma, certificate of 
completion, certificate of attendance, or similar lesser credential.
    Relevant Finding means a finding from a study regarding the 
relationship between (a) an activity, strategy, or intervention 
included as a component of the Logic Model for the proposed project, 
and (b) a student outcome or other Relevant Outcome included in the 
Logic Model for the proposed project.
    Relevant Outcome means the student outcome(s) (or the ultimate 
outcome if not related to students) the proposed Project Component is 
designed to improve, consistent with the specific goals of a program.
    School Leader means a principal, assistant principal, or other 
individual who is (a) an employee or officer of an elementary school or 
secondary school, LEA, or other entity operating an elementary school 
or secondary school; and (b) responsible for the daily instructional 
leadership and managerial operations in the elementary school or 
secondary school building.
    Single-Case Design Study (SCD) means a study that uses observations 
of a single case (e.g., a student eligible for a behavioral 
intervention) over time in the absence and presence of a controlled 
treatment manipulation to determine whether the outcome is 
systematically related to the treatment. According to the What Works 
Clearinghouse Single Case Design Pilot Standards, a collection of these 
studies, depending on design and implementation (e.g., including a 
sufficient number of cases and of data points per condition), can Meet 
What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards Without Reservations.
    State Educational Agency means the agency primarily responsible for 
the State supervision of public elementary schools and secondary 
schools.
    Student Achievement means--
    For grades and subjects in which assessments are required under 
section 1111(b)(2) of the ESEA: (1) A student's score on such 
assessments; and, as appropriate, (2) other measures of student 
learning, such as those described in the subsequent paragraph, provided 
that they are rigorous and comparable across schools within a LEA.
    For grades and subjects in which assessments are not required under 
section 1111(b)(2) of the ESEA: (1) Alternative measures of student 
learning and performance, such as student results on pre-tests, end-of-
course tests, and objective performance-based assessments; (2) student 
progress on learning objectives; (3) student performance on English 
language proficiency assessments; and (4) other measures of Student 
Achievement that are rigorous and comparable across schools within an 
LEA.
    Student Growth means the change in Student Achievement for an 
individual student between two or more points in time. An applicant may 
also include other measures that are rigorous and comparable across 
classrooms.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department generally offers interested parties 
the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities, definitions, and 
requirements. Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, however, allows the Secretary 
to exempt from rulemaking requirements regulations governing the first 
grant competition under a new or substantially revised program 
authority. This is the first grant competition under section 2242 of 
the ESEA, and therefore qualifies for this exemption. In order to 
ensure timely grant awards, the Secretary has decided to forego public 
comment on the priorities, requirements, and definitions under section 
437(d)(1) of GEPA. These priorities, requirements, and definitions will 
apply to the FY 2017 grant competition and any subsequent year in which 
we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition.

    Program Authority: Section 2242 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 6672).

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 
84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The OMB Guidelines to Agencies on 
Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 
180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3474.

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Further Continuing and Security 
Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017, would provide, on an annualized 
basis, $93,814,518 for the SEED program, of which we plan to use 
$42,000,000 for this competition. The actual level of funding, if any, 
depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting 
applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if 
Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from 
the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $1,000,000-$6,000,000 for the first year 
of the project.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $4,000,000 for the first year of 
the project.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 5-8.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months, with renewal of up two additional 
years if the grantee demonstrates to the Secretary that the grantee is 
effectively using funds. Such renewal may include allowing the grantee 
to scale up or replicate the successful program.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants:
    (a) An Institution of Higher Education that provides course 
materials or resources that are evidence-based in increasing academic 
achievement, graduation rates, or rates of postsecondary education 
matriculation;
    (b) A National Nonprofit Organization with a demonstrated record of 
raising student academic achievement, graduation rates, and rates of 
higher education attendance, matriculation, or completion, or of 
effectiveness in providing preparation and professional development 
activities and programs for teachers, principals, or other school 
leaders;
    (c) The Bureau of Indian Education; or
    (d) A partnership consisting of--
    (i) One or more entities described in paragraph (a) or (b); and
    (ii) A for-profit entity.
    2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: Under section 2242 of the ESEA, 
each grant recipient must provide, from non-Federal sources, at least 
25 percent of the funds for the total cost for each year of activities 
supported by the grant. These funds may be provided in cash or

[[Page 18624]]

through in-kind contributions. Grantees must include a budget showing 
their matching contributions on an annual basis relative to the annual 
budget amount of SEED grant funds and must provide evidence of their 
matching contributions for the first year of the grant in their grant 
applications. Section 2242 of the ESEA also authorizes the Secretary to 
waive this matching requirement on a case-by-case basis in cases of 
demonstrated financial hardship. Applicants that wish to apply for a 
waiver must include a request in their application that demonstrates a 
financial hardship. Further information about applying for waivers can 
be found in the application package. However, given the importance of 
matching funds to the long-term success of the project, the Secretary 
expects eligible entities to identify appropriate matching funds.
    b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-
supplant funding requirements. Under section 2301 of the ESSA (20 
U.S.C. 6691), funds made available under this title shall be used to 
supplement, and not supplant, non-Federal funds that would otherwise be 
used for activities authorized under this title. Further, the 
prohibition against supplanting funds also means that grantees seeking 
to charge indirect costs to SEED funds will need to use their 
negotiated restricted indirect cost rates. See 34 CFR 75.563.
    3. Eligible Subgrantees: (a) Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c) a 
grantee may award subgrants--to directly carry out project activities 
described in its application--to the following types of entities: LEAs, 
public entities, and private entities suitable to carry out the 
activities proposed in the application.
    (b) The grantee may award subgrants to entities it has identified 
in an approved application or under procedures established by the 
grantee.
    4. Other: The Secretary establishes the following requirements for 
the SEED program. We are establishing the requirements for the evidence 
standards and the application requirements for evidence and study 
citations, outcomes, and interventions in this notice, for the FY 2017 
grant competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from 
the list of unfunded applications from this competition, in accordance 
with section 437(d)(1) of the GEPA (20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1)). We are 
establishing the requirements for certification and award restrictions 
in accordance with Section 2242 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 6672).
    Evidence Standards:
    1. To be eligible for an award under Absolute Priority 1, 
applicants must demonstrate how their project is supported by at least 
Moderate Evidence.
    2. To be eligible for an award under Absolute Priority 2, 
applicants must demonstrate how their project is supported by at least 
Promising Evidence.
    Application Requirements:
    Study citations, outcomes, and interventions: An applicant must 
identify up to two study citations to be reviewed against WWC Evidence 
Standards for the purposes of meeting the SEED evidence standard 
requirement. An applicant must clearly identify these citations in the 
Evidence Form. The Department will not review a study citation that an 
applicant fails to clearly identify for review. In addition to the two 
study citations, applicants should include: (1) The positive student 
outcomes they intend to replicate under their grant; (2) the 
intervention the applicant plans to implement; and (3) the intended 
student outcomes that the intervention(s) attempts to impact in the 
Evidence Form.
    Evidence: An applicant must ensure that all evidence is available 
to the Department from publicly available sources and provide links or 
other guidance indicating where it is available. If the Department 
determines that an applicant has provided insufficient information, the 
applicant will not have an opportunity to provide additional 
information at a later time. However, if the Department determines that 
a study does not provide enough information on key aspects of the study 
design, such as sample attrition or equivalence of intervention and 
comparison groups, the Department will submit a query to the study 
author(s) to gather information for use in determining a study rating. 
Authors are asked to respond to queries within 10 business days. Should 
the author query remain incomplete within 14 days of the initial 
contact to the study author(s), the Department's review of the study 
will proceed without this information.
    Certification: Applicants must include a certification that the 
services provided by an eligible entity under the grant to a LEA or to 
a school served by the LEA will not result in direct fees for 
participating students or parents.
    Award Restrictions: The Secretary shall not award more than one 
grant under this program to an eligible entity during a grant 
competition.

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: https://innovation.ed.gov/what-we-do/teacher-quality/supporting-effective-educator-development-grant-program. To obtain a 
copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call: 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 TDD or a TTY, call, 
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 package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify this program or competition as follows: CFDA number 84.423A.
    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 VII of this notice.
    2. a. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content and form 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, the Department strongly 
encourages each potential applicant 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. The Department requests that this email 
notification be sent to the SEED program inbox at: [email protected].
    Eligible entities that do not provide a notification 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. We recommend that you limit 
the application narrative to the equivalent of no more than 40 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, except for titles,

[[Page 18625]]

headings, footnotes, quotations, references, captions, 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, or letters of support. However, the page limit does apply to 
all of the application narrative section.
    b. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of 
projects that may be proposed in applications for the SEED program, 
your application may include business information that you consider 
proprietary. In 34 CFR 5.11 we define ``business information'' and 
describe the process we use in determining whether any of that 
information is proprietary and, thus, protected from disclosure under 
Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552, as 
amended).
    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 believe is exempt from disclosure 
under Exemption 4. 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: April 20, 2017.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent To Apply: May 5, 2017. Date of 
Informational Webinar: The SEED program intends to hold a webinar 
designed to provide technical assistance to interested applicants. 
Detailed information regarding this webinar will be provided on the 
SEED Web site at http://innovation.ed.gov/what-we-do/teacher-quality/supporting-effective-educator-development-grant-program/.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 19, 2017.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to Other Submission Requirements in section 
IV 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. 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: 
August 18, 2017.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under 
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this 
competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of 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), 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 at the 
following Web site: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. 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 two to five 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 you enter into the SAM database. 
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, it may be 24 to 48 
hours before you can access the information in, and 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: 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 SEED competition, CFDA number 
84.423A, 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

[[Page 18626]]

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 SEED 
competition at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable 
application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not 
include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 
84.423, not 84.423A).

    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 
system home page at www.G5.gov. In addition, for specific guidance and 
procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov, please 
refer to the Grants.gov Web site at: www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.
     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 read-only, flattened 
Portable Document Format (PDF), meaning any fillable PDF documents must 
be saved as flattened non-fillable files. Therefore, do not upload an 
interactive or fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than 
a read-only, flattened PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or 
submit a password-protected file, we will not review that material. 
Please note that this could result in your application not being 
considered for funding because the material in question--for example, 
the application narrative--is critical to a meaningful review of your 
proposal. For that reason it is important to allow yourself adequate 
time to upload all material as PDF files. The Department will not 
convert material from other formats to PDF. There is no need to 
password protect a file in order to meet the requirement to submit a 
read-only flattened PDF. And, as noted above, the Department will not 
review password protected files.
     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. Grants.gov 
will also notify you automatically by email if your application met all 
the Grants.gov validation requirements or if there were any errors 
(such as submission of your application by someone other than a 
registered Authorized Organization Representative, or inclusion of an 
attachment with a file name that contains special characters). You will 
be given an opportunity to correct any errors and resubmit, but you 
must still meet the deadline for submission of applications.
    Once your application is successfully validated by Grants.gov, the 
Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you 
an email with a unique PR/Award number for your application.
    These emails do not mean that your application is without any 
disqualifying errors. While your application may have been successfully 
validated by Grants.gov, it must also meet the Department's application 
requirements as specified in this notice and in the application 
instructions. Disqualifying errors could include, for instance, failure 
to upload attachments in a read-only, non-modifiable PDF; failure to 
submit a required part of the application; or failure to meet applicant 
eligibility requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that your 
submitted application has met all of the Department's requirements.
     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 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 the problem affected your ability to 
submit your application by

[[Page 18627]]

4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We 
will contact you after we determine 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 
prevents 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: Richard Wilson, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W111, 
Washington, DC 20202-5960. 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 84.423A), 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.

    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.

    We will not consider applications postmarked after the application 
deadline date.
    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 84.423A), 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. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are as follows:
    A. Quality of the Project Design (40 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In 
determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the proposed project represents an 
exceptional approach to the priority or priorities established for the 
competition.
    (2) The extent to which the training or professional development 
services to be provided by the proposed project are of sufficient 
quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice 
among the recipients of those services.
    (3) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for 
maximizing the effectiveness of project services.
    (4) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project are focused on those with greatest needs.
    (5) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 
population or other identified needs.
    B. Significance (15 points). The Secretary considers the 
significance of the proposed project. In determining the significance 
of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in 
teaching and Student Achievement.
    (2) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and 
benefits.
    (3) The potential for the incorporation of project purposes, 
activities, or benefits into the ongoing program of the agency or 
organization at the end of the grant.
    (4) 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.
    C. Quality of the Management Plan (25 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project. 
In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:

[[Page 18628]]

    (1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
    (2) 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) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous 
improvement in the operation of the proposed project.
    (4) 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.
    D. Quality of the Project Evaluation (20 points). The Secretary 
considers the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project. In 
determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers the 
following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes.
    (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
valid and reliable performance data on Relevant Outcomes.
    (3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will, if well-
implemented, produce evidence about the project's effectiveness that 
would meet the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with 
reservations.
    Note: Applicants may wish to review the following technical 
assistance resources on evaluation: (1) WWC Procedures and Standards 
Handbook 3.0: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Handbooks; and (2) 
``Technical Assistance Materials for Conducting Rigorous Impact 
Evaluations'' to the list of evaluation resources: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/projects/evaluationTA.asp; and (3) IES/NCEE Technical Methods 
papers: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/tech_methods/. In addition, applicants 
may view two optional webinar recordings that were hosted by the 
Institute of Education Sciences. The first webinar discussed strategies 
for designing and executing well-designed Quasi-Experimental Design 
Studies and is available at: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Multimedia.aspx?sid=23. The second webinar focused on more rigorous 
evaluation designs, discussing strategies for designing and executing 
studies that meet WWC evidence standards without reservations. This 
webinar is available at: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Multimedia.aspx?sid=18.
    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 
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).
    Additional factors we consider in selecting an application for an 
award are as follows:
    (a) As required under section 2242 of the ESEA, the Secretary shall 
ensure that, to the extent practicable, grants are distributed among 
eligible entities that will serve geographically diverse areas, 
including urban, suburban, and rural areas.
    (b) As required under section 2242 of the ESEA, the Department 
shall not award more than one grant under this program to an eligible 
entity during a grant competition. If an entity submits multiple 
applications for this competition, only the highest rated application 
will be considered for an award.
    3. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under this competition the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
3474.10, the Secretary may impose special conditions and, in 
appropriate circumstances, high-risk 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 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not 
fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not 
responsible.
    4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this 
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project 
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently 
$150,000), under 2 CFR 200.205(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your 
integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal 
awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make 
an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that 
is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as 
the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System 
(FAPIIS)), accessible through SAM. You may review and comment on any 
information about yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and 
that is currently in FAPIIS.
    Please note that, if the total value of your currently active 
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the 
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity 
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal 
funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.

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 multiyear award, you must submit an annual 
performance report

[[Page 18629]]

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.
    (c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee 
with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. In 
this case the Secretary establishes a data collection period.
    4. Performance Measures: The overall purpose of the SEED program is 
to increase the number of highly effective educators by supporting 
Evidence-Based projects that prepare or provide professional 
development or enhancement activities for teachers, principals, or 
other School Leaders. We have established the following performance 
measures for the SEED program: (a) The percentage of teacher and 
principal participants who serve concentrations of High-Need Students; 
(b) the percentage of teacher and principal participants who serve 
concentrations of High-Need Students and are highly effective; (c) the 
percentage of teacher and principal participants who serve 
concentrations of High-Need Students, are highly effective, and serve 
for at least two years; (d) the cost per such participant; and (e) the 
number of grantees with evaluations that meet the WWC standards with 
reservations. Grantees will report annually on each measure.
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: Whether a grantee 
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of 
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is 
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the 
Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the 
performance targets in the grantee's approved application.
    In making a continuation award, 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. 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 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: April 17, 2017.
Margo Anderson,
Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2017-08042 Filed 4-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P