[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23785-23791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10662]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Native Hawaiian Education Program

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, 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 Native 
Hawaiian Education Program, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 
(CFDA) Number 84.362A.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: May 24, 2017.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 23, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanne Osborne, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E306, Washington, DC 20202-
6200. Telephone: (202) 401-1265 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 primary purpose of the Native Hawaiian 
Education (NHE) program is to support innovative projects that enhance 
the educational services provided to Native Hawaiian (as defined in 
this notice) children and adults. These projects may include one or 
more of the activities authorized under section 6205(a)(3) of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by 
the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (20 U.S.C. 7515(a)(3)).\1\
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    \1\ In December 2015, Congress enacted the ESSA, which 
reauthorized the ESEA, including the NHE program. Therefore, for 
purposes of this notice, all references to the ``ESEA'' are to the 
``ESEA, as amended by the ESSA.''

    Note: The construction of facilities that support the operation 
of Native Hawaiian education programs will be a permissible activity 
only if Congress specifically authorizes the use of FY 2017 funds 
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for that purpose.

    Priorities: This notice includes four competitive preference 
priorities. The competitive preference priorities are from section 
6205(a)(2) of the ESEA.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2017 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants, 
these priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional 20 points to applicants 
that propose projects that are designed to address one or more of the 
following priorities, depending on how well the application addresses 
the priority or priorities. The maximum possible score for each 
competitive preference priority is five points.
    These priorities are:
    Priority 1--Beginning Reading and Literacy (up to 5 points).
    To receive points under this priority, the application must propose 
to address beginning reading and literacy among students in 
kindergarten through third grade.
    Priority 2--The Needs of At-Risk Children and Youth (up to 5 
points).
    To receive points under this priority, the application must propose 
to address the needs of at-risk children and youth.
    Priority 3--Native Hawaiian Underemployment (up to 5 points).
    To receive points under this priority, the application must propose 
to address the needs in fields or disciplines in which Native Hawaiians 
are underemployed.
    Priority 4--Use of Native Hawaiian Language (up to 5 points).
    To receive points under this priority, the application must propose 
to address the use of Native Hawaiian language (also referred to as 
``Hawaiian language'') in instruction.
    Application Requirement: The following application requirement is 
from section 6206(b) of the ESEA and applies to the FY 2017 grant 
competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the 
list of unfunded applications from this competition:
    Each applicant for a grant under this program must submit the 
application for comment to the local educational agency serving 
students who will participate in the program to be carried out under 
the grant, and include those comments, if any, with the application to 
the Secretary.
    Definitions: The definitions below are from 34 CFR 77.1(c) and 
200.34(c)(2), and sections 6207 and 4310(2) of the ESEA. These 
definitions 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.

[[Page 23786]]

    Charter School means a public school that--
    (a) In accordance with a specific State statute
    authorizing the granting of charters to schools, is exempt from 
significant State or local rules that inhibit the flexible operation 
and management of public schools, but not from any rules relating to 
the other requirements of this definition;
    (b) Is created by a developer as a public school, or is adapted by 
a developer from an existing public school, and is operated under 
public supervision and direction;
    (c) Operates in pursuit of a specific set of educational objectives 
determined by the school's developer and agreed to by the authorized 
public chartering agency;
    (d) Provides a program of elementary or secondary education, or 
both;
    (e) Is nonsectarian in its programs, admissions policies, 
employment practices, and all other operations, and is not affiliated 
with a sectarian school or religious institution;
    (f) Does not charge tuition;
    (g) Complies with 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, the Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), section 444 of the 
General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g) (commonly referred 
to as the ``Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974''), and 
part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act;
    (h) Is a school to which parents choose to send their children, and 
that (1) admits students on the basis of a lottery, consistent with 
section 4303(c)(3)(A) of the ESEA, if more students apply for admission 
than can be accommodated; or (2) in the case of a school that has an 
affiliated charter school (such as a school that is part of the same 
network of schools), automatically enrolls students who are enrolled in 
the immediate prior grade level of the affiliated charter school and, 
for any additional student openings or student openings created through 
attrition in student enrollment in the affiliated charter school and 
the enrolling school, admits students on the basis of a lottery as 
described in clause (1);
    (i) Agrees to comply with the same Federal and State audit 
requirements as do other elementary schools and secondary schools in 
the State, unless such State audit requirements are waived by the 
State;
    (j) Meets all applicable Federal, State, and local health and 
safety requirements;
    (k) Operates in accordance with State law;
    (l) Has a written performance contract with the authorized public 
chartering agency in the State that includes a description of how 
student performance will be measured in charter schools 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 and;
    (m) May serve students in early childhood education programs or 
postsecondary students.
    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 hypothesized to be critical to achieving the 
relevant outcomes) and describes the relationships among the key 
components and outcomes, theoretically and operationally.
    Native Hawaiian means any individual who is--
    (a) A citizen of the United States; and
    (b) A descendant of the aboriginal people who, prior to 1778, 
occupied and exercised sovereignty in the area that now comprises the 
State of Hawaii, as evidenced by--
    (1) Genealogical records;
    (2) Kupuna (elders) or Kamaaina (long-term community residents) 
verification; or
    (3) Certified birth records.
    Native Hawaiian community-based organization means any organization 
that is composed primarily of Native Hawaiians from a specific 
community and that assists in the social, cultural, and educational 
development of Native Hawaiians in that community.
    Native Hawaiian educational organization means a private nonprofit 
organization that--
    (a) Serves the interests of Native Hawaiians;
    (b) Has Native Hawaiians in substantive and policymaking positions 
within the organization;
    (c) Incorporates Native Hawaiian perspective, values, language, 
culture, and traditions into the core function of the organization;
    (d) Has demonstrated expertise in the education of Native Hawaiian 
youth; and
    (e) Has demonstrated expertise in research and program development.
    Native Hawaiian language means the single Native American language 
indigenous to the original inhabitants of the State of Hawaii.
    Native Hawaiian organization means a private nonprofit organization 
that--
    (a) Serves the interests of Native Hawaiians;
    (b) Has Native Hawaiians in substantive and policymaking positions 
within the organization; and
    (c) Is recognized by the Governor of Hawaii for the purpose of 
planning, conducting, or administering programs (or portions of 
programs) for the benefit of Native Hawaiians.
    Regular high school diploma 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. A regular high 
school diploma does not include--
    (a) A diploma aligned to the alternate academic achievement 
standards described in section 1111(b)(1)(E) of the ESEA; or
    (b) A general equivalency diploma, certificate of completion, 
certificate of attendance, or any similar or lesser credential, such as 
a diploma based on meeting individualized education program (IEP) 
goals.
    Strong theory means a rationale for the proposed process, product, 
strategy, or practice that includes a logic model (as defined in this 
notice).
    Program Authority: Title VI, Part B of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7511-
7517).
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 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 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: $21,498,999.
    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: $250,000 to $950,000.

[[Page 23787]]

    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $693,516.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 31.

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

    Project Period: 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: (a) Native Hawaiian educational 
organizations (as defined in this notice); (b) Native Hawaiian 
community-based organizations (as defined in this notice); (c) public 
and private nonprofit organizations, agencies, and institutions with 
experience in developing or operating Native Hawaiian programs or 
programs of instruction in the Native Hawaiian language (as defined in 
this notice); (d) charter schools (as defined in this notice); (e) 
consortia of the eligible applicants listed in (a) through (c).
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: Performance reports. If you receive an award under this 
program, you are required to provide copies of the performance reports 
(see section VI of this document below) to the Native Hawaiian 
Education Council (authorized under section 6204 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 
7514)).

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package via the internet, from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs), or from the program office.
    To obtain a copy via the internet, use the following address: 
www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html.
    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 as follows: CFDA number 84.362A.
    To obtain a copy from the program office, contact: Joanne Osborne, 
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E306, 
Washington, DC 20202-6200. Telephone: (202) 401-1265 or by email: 
[email protected]. If you use a TDD or TTY, call 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. 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. Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the 
applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to 
evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the 
application narrative to no more than 30 pages, and (2) use 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.
     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 recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the 
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the 
assurances and certifications; the one-page abstract, resumes, 
bibliography, or letters of support. However, the recommended page 
limit does apply to all of the application narrative section.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: May 24, 2017.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 23, 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 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. 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.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in CFR part 79.
    5. Funding Restrictions: No more than five percent of funds awarded 
for a grant under this program may be used for program administration 
(20 U.S.C. 7515(b)). We reference regulations outlining additional 
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

[[Page 23788]]

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 Native Hawaiian Education 
Program, CFDA number 84.362A, 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 NHE program 
at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application 
package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the 
CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.362, not 
84.362A).
    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.
     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, flattened PDF; failure to submit 
a

[[Page 23789]]

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 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: Joanne Osborne, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E306, 
Washington, DC 20202-6200. FAX: (202) 260-8969.
    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 84.362A, 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 84.362A, 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. The maximum possible score for all criteria is 
100 points. The maximum possible score for addressing each criterion is 
indicated in parentheses. The selection criteria for this competition 
are as follows:
    (a) Need for project (up to 10 points)
    The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In 
determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers 
the extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be 
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude 
of those gaps or weaknesses.
    (b) Significance (up to 10 points)
    The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed project. 
In determining the significance of the proposed project, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the

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proposed project is likely to yield findings that may be utilized by 
other appropriate agencies and organizations.
    (c) Quality of the project design (up to 30 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 is part of a 
comprehensive effort to improve teaching and learning and support 
rigorous academic standards for students. (up to 10 points);
    (2) The extent to which the proposed project encourages parental 
involvement. (up to 10 points); and
    (3) The extent to which the proposed project is supported by strong 
theory (as defined in this notice). (up to 10 points).
    (d) Quality of project services (up to 10 points)
    The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be provided 
by the proposed project. In determining the quality of the services to 
be provided by the proposed project, the Secretary considers the 
quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and 
treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups 
that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, 
national origin, gender, age, or disability.
    In addition, the Secretary considers the extent to which the 
services to be provided by the proposed project reflect up-to-date 
knowledge from research and effective practice.
    (e) Quality of project personnel (up to 10 points)
    The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry 
out the proposed project. In determining the quality of the project 
personnel, the Secretary considers 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.
    In addition, the Secretary considers the qualifications, including 
relevant training and experience, of key project personnel.
    (f) Adequacy of resources (up to 10 points)
    The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
project. In determining the adequacy of resources, the Secretary 
considers 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.
    (g) Quality of the management plan (up to 10 points)
    The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan, 
the Secretary considers the adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-
quality products and services from the proposed project.
    (h) Strategy to Scale (up to 10 points)
    The Secretary considers the quality of the applicant's strategy to 
scale the proposed project. In determining the quality of the 
applicant's capacity to scale the proposed project, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the applicant identifies a specific 
strategy or strategies that address a particular barrier or barriers 
that prevented the applicant, in the past, from reaching the level of 
scale that is proposed in the application.
    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).
    3. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under this program 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

[[Page 23791]]

submit an annual performance report (APR) 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/aapforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: The Department has established the 
following four Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 
performance measures for this program: (1) The percentage of Native 
Hawaiian students in schools served by the program who meet or exceed 
proficiency standards in reading, mathematics, and science on the State 
assessments; (2) The percentage of Native Hawaiian children 
participating in early education programs who consistently demonstrate 
school readiness in literacy as measured by the Hawaii School Readiness 
Assessment; (3) The percentage of Native Hawaiian students in schools 
served by the program who graduate from high school with a regular high 
school diploma (as defined in this notice) in four years; and (4) The 
percentage of students participating in a Native Hawaiian language 
program conducted under the Native Hawaiian Education program who meet 
or exceed proficiency standards in reading on a test of the Native 
Hawaiian language.
    All grantees will be expected to submit an APR that includes data 
addressing these performance measures, to the extent that they apply to 
the grantee's project.
    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 disk) 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 the text or 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 19, 2017.
Jason Botel,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2017-10662 Filed 5-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P