[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 21, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12351-12356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05748]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Application for New Awards; Expanding Opportunity Through Quality 
Charter Schools Program (CSP)--Grants for Credit Enhancement for 
Charter School Facilities

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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting 
applications for fiscal year (FY) 2018 for CSP--Grants for Credit 
Enhancement for Charter School Facilities (Credit Enhancement), Catalog 
of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.354A.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: March 21, 2018.
    Date of Pre-Application Meeting: The Credit Enhancement program 
intends to hold a webinar designed to provide technical assistance to 
interested applicants. Detailed information regarding this webinar will 
be provided on the Credit Enhancement web page at https://innovation.ed.gov/what-we-do/charter-schools/credit-enhancement-for-charter-school-facilities-program/applicant-info-and-eligibility/.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 11, 2018.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 5, 2018.

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an 
application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to 
Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the 
Federal Register on February 12, 2018 (83 FR 6003) and available at 
www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clifton Jones, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 4W244, Washington, DC 20202-
5970. Telephone: (202) 205-2204 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 Credit Enhancement program provides grants 
to eligible entities to demonstrate innovative methods of helping 
charter schools to address the cost of acquiring, constructing, and 
renovating facilities by enhancing the availability of loans and bond 
financing.
    Background: Since FY 2002, the Department has made new Credit 
Enhancement grants each year, which has resulted in a portfolio of 
grantees using Federal funds to enhance the credit of charter schools 
so that they can access private-sector and other non-Federal capital in 
order to acquire, construct, and renovate facilities at a reasonable 
cost.
    This notice contains application requirements from the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every 
Student Succeeds Act (ESSA),\1\ and selection criteria and a 
competitive preference priority for charter schools operating in high-
need communities and geographic areas from program regulations at 34 
CFR part 225. This notice also includes an invitational priority that 
encourages applicants to partner with other entities to leverage new or 
previously untapped capital and other resources to expand support to 
more schools and students as well as improve their ability to support 
schools and students. Under this priority, an applicant could propose, 
for example, to partner with a newly created State-funded credit 
enhancement program designed to improve charter schools' credit ratings 
on bonds, thereby enabling charter school facility financing at lower 
interest rates and lower borrowing costs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Unless otherwise indicated, references to the ESEA are to 
the ESEA, as amended by the ESSA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Priorities: This competition includes one competitive preference 
priority and one invitational priority.
    Competitive Preference Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(ii), this priority is from 34 CFR 225.12. For FY 2018 and 
any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded 
applications from this competition, this priority is a competitive 
preference priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an 
additional 15 points to an application, depending on how well the 
application addresses the priority.
    This priority is:
    The capacity of charter schools to offer public school choice in 
those communities with the greatest need for this choice based on--
    (1) The extent to which the applicant would target services to 
geographic areas in which a large proportion or number of public 
schools have been identified for improvement, corrective action, or 
restructuring under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB);
    (2) The extent to which the applicant would target services to 
geographic areas in which a large proportion of students perform below 
proficient on State academic assessments; and
    (3) The extent to which the applicant would target services to 
communities with large proportions of students from low-income 
families.


    Note: With regard to paragraph (1), consistent with the ESSA, if 
applicants will be operating in States that have identified schools 
for comprehensive support and improvement or targeted support and 
improvement under the ESEA, as amended by the ESSA, ``improvement, 
corrective action, or restructuring'' refers to schools identified 
for ``comprehensive support and improvement or targeted support and 
improvement'' under the ESEA, as amended by the ESSA. If applicants 
will be operating in States that are delaying, as permitted by the 
Department, the identification of schools for comprehensive support 
and improvement or targeted support and improvement until school 
year 2018-2019, the Department will award competitive preference 
points under paragraph (1) to allow those applicants to target 
services to geographic areas in which a large proportion of public 
schools are, at the time of submission of an application under this 
competition: (i) Elementary and secondary schools identified as in 
need of improvement, corrective action, or restructuring under the 
ESEA, as amended by NCLB; or (ii) elementary and secondary schools 
identified as a priority or focus school by the State prior to 
August 1, 2016 under ESEA flexibility. After school year 2018-2019, 
the Department will require a grantee that is operating in States 
that are delaying identification of schools, and that receives 
points under this priority, to amend its approved application, as 
needed, to describe how it will target services to geographic areas 
in which a large proportion of public schools are elementary and 
secondary schools identified for comprehensive or targeted support 
and improvement under the ESEA, as amended by the ESSA.

    Invitational Priority: For FY 2018 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

[[Page 12352]]

absolute preference over other applications.
    This priority is:
    Projects proposing the development of one or more partnerships that 
will enable the applicant to leverage newly created or previously 
untapped sources of capital or other assistance, which may include non-
Federal programs, in financing charter school facilities in geographic 
areas and communities described in the competitive preference priority.
    Definitions: The following definition is from section 4310 of the 
ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221i(2)).
    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 in section 4310 of the ESEA;
    (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 (42 U.S.C. 
6101 et seq.), title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 
2000d et seq.), title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 
1681 et seq.), section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 
794), 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 (20 U.S.C. 1411 et seq.);
    (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) (20 U.S.C. 7221b(c)(3)(A)), 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 regular 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.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7221c.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 
97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget 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. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 225.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$500,000,000 for the CSP for FY 2018, of which we would use an 
estimated $65,000,000 for new awards under 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: $4,000,000 to $12,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $9,000,000.
    Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $12,000,000 for 
a single grant project period.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 7.

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

    Project Period: From the start date indicated on the grant award 
document until the Federal funds and earnings on those funds have been 
expended for the grant purposes or until financing facilitated by the 
grant has been retired, whichever is later.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants:
    (a) A public entity, such as a State or local governmental entity;
    (b) A private, nonprofit entity; or
    (c) A consortium of entities described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of 
this section.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award 
subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities 
described in its application.
    4. Other: The charter schools that a grantee selects to benefit 
from this program must meet the definition of ``charter school'' in 
section 4310 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221i).

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Application Submission Instructions: For information on how to 
submit an application please refer to our Common Instructions for 
Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, 
published in the Federal Register on February 12, 2018 (83 FR 6003) and 
available at www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Each Credit 
Enhancement program application must include the following specific 
elements:
    (a) A statement identifying the activities that the eligible entity 
proposes to carry out with funds received under the program, including

[[Page 12353]]

how the eligible entity will determine which charter schools will 
receive assistance, and how much and what types of assistance charter 
schools will receive.
    (b) A description of the involvement of charter schools in the 
application's development and the design of the proposed activities.
    (c) A description of the eligible entity's expertise in capital 
market financing. (Consortium applicants must provide this information 
for each of the participating organizations.)
    (d) A description of how the proposed activities will leverage the 
maximum amount of private-sector financing capital relative to the 
amount of government funding used and otherwise enhance credit 
available to charter schools, including how the eligible entity will 
offer a combination of rates and terms more favorable than the rates 
and terms that a charter school could receive without assistance from 
the eligible entity under this section.
    (e) A description of how the eligible entity possesses sufficient 
expertise in education to evaluate the likelihood of success of a 
charter school program for which facilities financing is sought.
    (f) In the case of an application submitted by a State governmental 
entity, a description of the actions that the eligible entity has 
taken, or will take, to ensure that charter schools within the State 
receive the funding that charter schools need to have adequate 
facilities.
    (g) In the case of applicants applying as a consortium, applicants 
must also submit consortium agreements as part of their application 
package. These applicants must either designate one member of the group 
to apply for the grant or establish a separate legal entity to apply 
for the grant. All members of the consortium must then enter into an 
agreement that details the activities that each member of the group 
plans to perform and that binds each member to the application 
statements and assurances. This consortium agreement must be submitted 
as part of the consortium's application. The Department's 
administrative regulations at 34 CFR 75.127-129 provide more details 
about the requirements that govern group/consortium applications.
    3. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of 
projects that may be proposed in applications for the Credit 
Enhancement 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 feel 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).
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program 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: (a) Reserve accounts. An eligible entity 
receiving a grant must, in accordance with State and local law, 
directly or indirectly, alone or in collaboration with others, deposit 
the funds received, other than funds used for administrative costs, in 
a reserve account established and maintained by the eligible entity. 
Amounts deposited in such account must be used by the eligible entity 
for one or more of the following purposes:
    (1) Guaranteeing, insuring, and reinsuring bonds, notes, evidences 
of debt, loans, and interests therein.
    (2) Guaranteeing and insuring leases of personal and real property.
    (3) Facilitating financing by identifying potential lending 
sources, encouraging private lending, and other similar activities that 
directly promote lending to, or for the benefit of, charter schools.
    (4) Facilitating the issuance of bonds by charter schools, or by 
other public entities for the benefit of charter schools, by providing 
technical, administrative, and other appropriate assistance (including 
the recruitment of bond counsel, underwriters, and potential investors 
and the consolidation of multiple charter school projects within a 
single bond issue).
    Funds received and deposited in the reserve account must be 
invested in obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States or a 
State, or in other similarly low-risk securities. Any earnings on funds 
received must be deposited in the reserve account and used in 
accordance with this program.
    (b) Charter school objectives. An eligible entity receiving a grant 
must use the funds deposited in the reserve account to assist one or 
more charter schools to access private-sector capital to accomplish one 
or more of the following objectives:
    (1) The acquisition (by purchase, lease, donation, or otherwise) of 
an interest (including an interest held by a third party for the 
benefit of a charter school) in improved or unimproved real property 
that is necessary to commence or continue the operation of a charter 
school.
    (2) The construction of new facilities, or the renovation, repair, 
or alteration of existing facilities, necessary to commence or continue 
the operation of a charter school.
    (3) The predevelopment costs required to assess sites and to 
commence or continue the operation of a charter school.
    (c) Other. Grantees must ensure that all costs incurred using funds 
from the reserve account are reasonable. Under 20 U.S.C. 7221c(g), an 
eligible entity may use not more than 2.5 percent of the funds received 
under this grant for the administrative costs of carrying out its 
project responsibilities.
    We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR 225.21.
    The full faith and credit of the United States are not pledged to 
the payment of funds under such obligation. In the event of a default 
on any debt or other obligation, the United States has no liability to 
cover the cost of the default.
    Applicants that are selected to receive an award must enter into a 
written Performance Agreement with the Department prior to drawing down 
funds, unless the grantee receives written permission from the 
Department in the interim to draw down a specific limited amount of 
funds. Grantees must maintain and enforce standards of conduct 
governing the performance of their employees, officers, directors, 
trustees, and agents engaged in the selection, award, and 
administration of contracts or agreements related to this grant. The 
standards of conduct must mandate disinterested decision-making. The 
Secretary, in accordance with chapter 37 of title 31 of the United 
States Code, will collect all or a portion of the funds in the reserve 
account established with grant funds (including any earnings on those 
funds) if the Secretary determines that: (1) The grantee has 
permanently ceased to use such funds to accomplish the purposes 
described in the authorizing statute and the Performance Agreement; or 
(2) not earlier than two years after the date on which it first 
receives these funds, the

[[Page 12354]]

grantee has failed to make substantial progress in undertaking the 
grant project.
    6. Recommended 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 40 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, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial.
    Furthermore, applicants are strongly encouraged to include a table 
of contents that specifies where each required part of the application 
is located.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from program regulations at 34 CFR 225.11. The Secretary awards up 
to 100 points for addressing these criteria. The maximum possible score 
for addressing each criterion is indicated in parentheses. Each 
criterion also includes the factors that the reviewers will consider to 
determine how well an application meets the criterion. We encourage 
applicants to make explicit connections to the selection criteria and 
factors in their applications.
    The Secretary uses the following criteria to evaluate an 
application for a Credit Enhancement grant:
    (a) Quality of project design and significance (35 points):
    In determining the quality of project design and significance, the 
Secretary considers--
    (1) The extent to which the grant proposal would provide financing 
to charter schools at better rates and terms than they can receive 
absent assistance through the program;
    (2) The extent to which the project goals, objectives, and timeline 
are clearly specified, measurable, and appropriate for the purpose of 
the program;
    (3) The extent to which the project implementation plan and 
activities, including the partnerships established, are likely to 
achieve measurable objectives that further the purposes of the program;
    (4) The extent to which the project is likely to produce results 
that are replicable;
    (5) The extent to which the project will use appropriate criteria 
for selecting charter schools for assistance and for determining the 
type and amount of assistance to be given;
    (6) The extent to which the proposed activities will leverage 
private or public-sector funding and increase the number and variety of 
charter schools assisted in meeting their facilities needs more than 
would be accomplished absent the program;
    (7) The extent to which the project will serve charter schools in 
States with strong charter laws, consistent with the criteria for such 
laws in section 4303(g)(2) of the ESEA; and
    (8) The extent to which the requested grant amount and the project 
costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and 
potential significance of the project.
    (b) Quality of project services (15 points):
    In determining the quality of the project services, the Secretary 
considers--
    (1) The extent to which the services to be provided by the project 
reflect the identified needs of the charter schools to be served;
    (2) The extent to which charter schools and chartering agencies 
were involved in the design of, and demonstrate support for, the 
project;
    (3) The extent to which the technical assistance and other services 
to be provided by the proposed grant project involve the use of cost-
effective strategies for increasing charter schools' access to 
facilities financing, including the reasonableness of fees and lending 
terms; and
    (4) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
grant project are focused on assisting charter schools with a 
likelihood of success and the greatest demonstrated need for assistance 
under the program.
    (c) Capacity (35 points):
    In determining an applicant's business and organizational capacity 
to carry out the project, the Secretary considers--
    (1) The amount and quality of experience of the applicant in 
carrying out the activities it proposes to undertake in its 
application, such as enhancing the credit on debt issuances, 
guaranteeing leases, and facilitating financing;
    (2) The applicant's financial stability;
    (3) The ability of the applicant to protect against unwarranted 
risk in its loan underwriting, portfolio monitoring, and financial 
management;
    (4) The applicant's expertise in education to evaluate the 
likelihood of success of a charter school;
    (5) The ability of the applicant to prevent conflicts of interest, 
including conflicts of interest by employees and members of the board 
of directors in a decision-making role;
    (6) If the applicant has co-applicants (consortium members), 
partners, or other grant project participants, the specific resources 
to be contributed by each co-applicant (consortium member), partner, or 
other grant project participant to the implementation and success of 
the grant project;
    (7) For State governmental entities, the extent to which steps have 
been or will be taken to ensure that charter schools within the State 
receive the funding needed to obtain adequate facilities; and
    (8) For previous grantees under the charter school facilities 
programs, their performance in implementing these grants.
    (d) Quality of project personnel (15 points):
    In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers--
    (1) The qualifications of project personnel, including relevant 
training and experience, of the project manager and other members of 
the project team, including consultants or subcontractors; and
    (2) The staffing plan for the grant project.
    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 
(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 competition the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
3474.10, the

[[Page 12355]]

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 the System for Award Management. 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. Open Licensing Requirements: Unless an exception applies, if you 
are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to 
openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or in 
part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists of 
modifications to pre-existing works, the license extends only to those 
modifications that can be separately identified and only to the extent 
that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any licenses or 
other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works. For 
additional information on the open licensing requirements please refer 
to 2 CFR 3474.20(c).
    4. 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) If you receive a grant under this competition, you must submit 
an annual report that complies with the reporting requirements for 
Credit Enhancement grantees in section 4304(h)(2) of the ESEA and the 
performance and financial expenditure reporting requirements in 34 CFR 
75.720. At the end of your project period, you must submit a final 
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the 
Secretary. 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.
    5. Performance Measures:
    (a) Program Performance Measures. The performance measures for this 
program are: (1) The amount of funding grantees leverage for charter 
schools to acquire, construct, and renovate school facilities and (2) 
the number of charter schools served. Grantees must provide information 
that is responsive to these measures as part of their annual 
performance reports.
    (b) Project-Specific Performance Measures. Applicants must propose 
project-specific performance measures and performance targets 
consistent with the objectives of the project and program. Applicants 
must provide the following information as directed under 34 CFR 
75.110(b):
    (1) Project Performance Measures. How each proposed project-
specific performance measure would accurately measure the performance 
of the project and how the proposed project-specific performance 
measure would be consistent with the performance measures established 
for the program funding the competition.
    (2) Project Performance Targets. Why each proposed performance 
target is ambitious yet achievable compared to the baseline for the 
performance measure and when, during the project period, the applicant 
would meet the performance target(s).

    Note: The Secretary encourages applicants to consider measures 
and targets tied to their grant activities (for instance, if an 
applicant is using eligibility for free and reduced-price lunch to 
measure the number of low-income families served by the project, the 
applicant could provide a percentage for students qualifying for 
free and reduced-price lunch), during the grant period. The measures 
should be sufficient to gauge the progress throughout the grant 
period, and show results by the end of the grant period.

    (3) Data Collection and Reporting. (i) The data collection and 
reporting methods the applicant would use and why those methods are 
likely to yield reliable, valid, and meaningful performance data; and
    (ii) The applicant's capacity to collect and report reliable, 
valid, and meaningful performance data, as evidenced by high-quality 
data collection, analysis, and reporting in other projects or research.

    Note: If applicants do not have experience with collection and 
reporting of performance data through other projects or research, 
they should provide other evidence of their capacity to successfully 
carry out data collection and reporting for their proposed project.

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.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may 
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations 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

[[Page 12356]]

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: March 16, 2018.
Margo Anderson,
Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2018-05748 Filed 3-20-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P