[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 5, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26095-26099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11725]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Expanding Opportunity Through
Quality Charter Schools Program (CSP)--Grants for Credit Enhancement
for Charter School Facilities
AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice
inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2019 for CSP--Grants for
Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities (Credit Enhancement),
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.354A. This
notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control
number 1855-0007.
DATES:
Applications Available: June 5, 2019.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 19, 2019.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 18, 2019.
Pre-Application Webinar Information: 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/.
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 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clifton Jones, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 3E211, Washington, DC 20202-
5970. Telephone: (202) 205-2204. 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.
Priorities: This competition includes one competitive preference
priority and two invitational priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(ii), the competitive preference priority is from 34 CFR
225.12.
Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2019 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 comprehensive support and improvement
or targeted support and improvement under the ESEA, as amended by the
Every Student Succeeds Act (up to 5 points);
(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 (up to 5 points); and
(3) The extent to which the applicant would target services to
communities with large proportions of students from low-income families
(up to 5 points).
Invitational Priorities: For FY 2019 and any subsequent year in
which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this
competition, these priorities are invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application that meets these
invitational priorities a competitive or absolute preference over other
applications.
These priorities are:
Invitational Priority 1.
Applicants proposing to--
(1) Target services in one or more qualified opportunity zones as
designated by the Secretary of the Treasury under section 1400Z-1 of
the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
(Pub. L. 115-97); or
(2) Partner with one or more qualified opportunity funds under
section 1400Z-2 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by the Tax
Cuts and Jobs Act, in financing charter school facilities.
In addressing this priority, an applicant is encouraged to provide
the census tract number(s) of the qualified opportunity zone(s) in
which it proposes to target services and identify the qualified
opportunity fund(s) with which it proposes to partner, as applicable. A
list of qualified opportunity zones, with census tract numbers, is
available at www.cdfifund.gov/Pages/Opportunity-Zones.aspx.
Note: The Department is also interested in applications that
leverage newly created or previously untapped sources of capital or
other assistance, which may include non-Federal programs, in financing
charter school facilities.
Invitational Priority 2.
Projects proposing to target services in geographic areas and
communities for which limited or no services have been provided under
this program. Detailed information regarding the geographic areas and
communities for which services have been provided under this program is
available on the National Charter School Resource Center web page at
https://charterschoolcenter.ed.gov/facilities/facilities-transactions-data.
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;
[[Page 26096]]
(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--
(i) Admits students on the basis of a lottery, consistent with
section 4303(c)(3)(A) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221b(c)(3)(A)), if more
students apply for admission than can be accommodated; or
(ii) 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 paragraph (h)(i);
(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. (e)
The notice of final regulations published elsewhere in this issue of
the Federal Register.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $45,000,000.
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 $20,000,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $12,000,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 4.
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 (a) and (b).
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: Applicants are required to
follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of
Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal
Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf, which
contain requirements and information on how to submit an application.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Program statue, and
applicable regulations require that eligible Credit Enhancement program
applications 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
how the eligible entity will determine which charter schools will
receive assistance, and how much and what types of assistance charter
schools will receive. (ESEA section 4304(d)(2)(A)).
(b) A description of the involvement of charter schools in the
application's development and the design of the proposed activities.
(ESEA section 4304(d)(2)(B)).
(c) A description of the eligible entity's expertise in capital
market financing. (ESEA section 4304(d)(2)(C)). (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. (ESEA section 4304(d)(2)(D)).
(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. (ESEA
section 4304(d)(2)(E)).
(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. (ESEA section 4304(d)(2)(F)).
(g) In the case of applicants applying as a consortium, applicants
must also
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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. ESEA Section 4304(f)
(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 for purposes
of paragraph (1) or (2) and that are necessary to commence or continue
the operation of a charter school. ESEA Section 4304(e)
(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 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 34 CFR 225.11. The Secretary awards up to
[[Page 26098]]
100 points for addressing these criteria. The maximum possible score
for addressing each criterion is indicated in parentheses. 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 Specific 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 specific 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
$250,000), 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,
[[Page 26099]]
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.
Additionally, a grantee or subgrantee that is awarded competitive grant
funds must have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables.
This dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your
application has been reviewed and selected for funding. 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 during the grant period. 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. If an applicant is
targeting services to a Qualified Opportunity Zone, the applicant could
provide the census tract number of the Qualified Opportunity Zone(s) in
which it proposes to provide services. 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 at www.govinfo.gov. 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
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Dated: May 30, 2019.
Frank T. Brogan,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2019-11725 Filed 6-4-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P