[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32431-32437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14370]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Gaining Early Awareness and 
Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (State Grants)

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice 
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2019 for the 
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR 
UP) State Grants, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 
84.334S. This notice relates to the approved information collection 
under OMB control number 1840-0821, Application for GEAR UP State 
Grants.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: July 8, 2019.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 7, 2019.

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 (83 FR 6003), and available at 
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Pooler, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 278-64, Washington, DC 20202-
6450. Telephone: (202) 453-6195. 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: 

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The GEAR UP program is a discretionary grant 
program that encourages eligible entities to provide support, and 
maintain a commitment to eligible low-income students, including 
students with disabilities, to assist the students in obtaining a 
secondary school diploma (or its recognized equivalent) and to prepare 
for and succeed in postsecondary education. Under the GEAR UP program, 
the Department awards grants to two types of entities: (1) States and 
(2) eligible partnerships.
    In this notice, the Department invites applications for State 
grants only. Required services under the GEAR UP program are specified 
in sections 404D(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended 
(HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1070a-24(a)), and permissible services under the GEAR 
UP program are specified in section 404D(b) and (c) of the HEA (20 
U.S.C. 1070a-24(b) and (c)). Grantee activities must include providing 
financial aid information for postsecondary education, encouraging 
enrollment in rigorous and challenging coursework in order to reduce 
the need for remediation at the postsecondary level, implementing 
activities to improve the number of participating students who obtain a 
secondary school diploma and who complete applications for and enroll 
in a program of postsecondary education, and providing scholarships as 
specified in section 404E of the HEA. Additional permissible activities 
for State grantees are specified in sections 404D(b) and (c) of the 
HEA.
    Background: On March 2, 2018, the Secretary published in the 
Federal Register the Secretary's Final Supplemental Priorities and 
Definitions for Discretionary Grant Programs (83 FR 9096) (Supplemental 
Priorities). In order to advance the Secretary's priorities, this 
competition contains a competitive preference priority that focuses on 
improving student achievement or other educational outcomes in science, 
technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM), including computer 
science. In addition, consistent with the Administration's interest in 
allocating funding to evidence-based practices, this competition 
includes a competitive preference priority that encourages applicants 
to propose strategies that are supported by promising evidence.
    Priorities: This notice contains three competitive preference 
priorities and one invitational priority. Competitive Preference 
Priority 1 is from the Supplemental Priorities. In accordance with 34 
CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii) and (iv), Competitive Preference Priority 2 is 
from section 404A(b)(3) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-21(b)(3)) and the 
GEAR UP program regulations (34 CFR 694.19). Competitive Preference 
Priority 3 is from 34 CFR 75.226.
    Competitive Preference 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 competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional 
two points to an application, depending on how well the application 
meets each of these competitive preference priorities, for a maximum of 
six additional points.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Promoting STEM Education, With a 
Particular Focus on Computer Science (Up to two points).
    Projects designed to improve student achievement or other 
educational outcomes in science, technology, engineering, math, or 
computer science (as defined in this notice). These projects must 
address creating or expanding partnerships between schools, local 
educational agencies, State educational agencies, businesses, not-for-
profit organizations, or institutions of higher education (IHEs) to 
give students access to internships, apprenticeships, or other work-
based learning experiences in STEM fields, including computer science.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2 (Up to two points).
    We give priority to an eligible applicant for a State GEAR UP grant 
that has: (a) Carried out a successful State GEAR UP grant prior to 
August 14, 2008, determined on the basis of data (including outcomes 
data) submitted by the applicant as part of its annual and final 
performance reports from prior GEAR UP State grants administered by the 
applicant and the applicant's history of compliance with applicable 
statutory and regulatory requirements; and (b) a prior demonstrated 
commitment to early intervention leading to college access through 
collaboration and replication of successful strategies.
    Competitive Preference Priority 3 (Up to two points).

[[Page 32432]]

    Applications supported by evidence that meets the definition of 
``promising evidence'' in 34 CFR 77.1(c).

    Note 1: To address the priority, for up to two authorized 
activities, an applicant may submit one study or What Works 
Clearinghouse (WWC) publication that it believes supports the 
implementation of the proposed activity and that meets the promising 
evidence standard. Non-Federal peer reviewers will evaluate studies 
cited by the applicants to determine if they meet the requirements 
for promising evidence, as well as whether they are sufficiently 
aligned with (relevant to) the proposed activity. Applicants will be 
awarded one point for each activity supported by a relevant citation 
that meets the promising evidence standard, for a maximum number of 
two points.
    Cited studies may include both those already listed in the 
Department's WWC Database of Individual Studies (see https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/StudyFindings) and those that have not yet been 
reviewed by the WWC. Studies listed in the WWC Database of 
Individual Studies do not necessarily satisfy any or all of the 
criteria needed to meet the promising evidence standard. Therefore, 
it is important that applicants themselves ascertain the suitability 
of the study for the evidence priority. Any proposed studies must be 
cited in the section of the application that addresses Competitive 
Preference Priority 3.


    Note 2:  As they consider the activities, they propose to 
implement in their GEAR UP projects and how to respond to this 
competitive preference priority, we encourage applicants to review 
research related to authorized GEAR UP activities to identify 
evidence that meets the promising evidence standard.

    For State grantees, required GEAR UP services are specified in 
sections 404D(a) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-24(a)), and permissible 
services under the GEAR UP program are specified in section 404D(b) and 
(c) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-24(b) and (c)).
    Invitational 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 an invitational priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(1), we do not give an application that meets this 
invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other 
applications.
    This priority is:
    Spurring Investment in Qualified Opportunity Zones.
    Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate one or more of 
the following:
    (a) The area in which the applicant proposes to serve individuals 
or otherwise provide services overlaps with a Qualified Opportunity 
Zone, 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). An applicant must--
    (i) Provide the census tract number of the Qualified Opportunity 
Zone(s) in which it proposes to serve individuals or otherwise provide 
services; and
    (ii) Describe how the applicant will serve individuals or otherwise 
provide services in the Qualified Opportunity Zone(s).
    (b) The applicant is located in a Qualified Opportunity Zone. The 
applicant must provide the census tract number of the Qualified 
Opportunity Zone in which it is located. If the applicant has multiple 
locations, or if the applicant's location overlaps with a Qualified 
Opportunity Zone, the applicant must demonstrate that its proximity to 
a Qualified Opportunity Zone is critical to the proposed project.
    (c) The applicant has received, or will receive by 30 days after 
being awarded a grant, financial assistance from a Qualified 
Opportunity Fund under section 1400Z-2 of the Internal Revenue Code, as 
amended by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, for the acquisition, 
construction, or renovation of real or other tangible property directly 
related to its proposed project. An applicant must--
    (i) Identify the Qualified Opportunity Fund from which it has 
received or will receive financial assistance; and
    (ii) Describe how the applicant will use the financial assistance 
for its proposed project.
    Definitions: These definitions are from the Supplemental Priorities 
and 34 CFR 77.1(c).
    Computer science means the study of computers and algorithmic 
processes and includes the study of computing principles and theories, 
computational thinking, computer hardware, software design, coding, 
analytics, and computer applications.
    Computer science often includes computer programming or coding as a 
tool to create software, including applications, games, websites, and 
tools to manage or manipulate data; or development and management of 
computer hardware and the other electronics related to sharing, 
securing, and using digital information.
    In addition to coding, the expanding field of computer science 
emphasizes computational thinking and interdisciplinary problem-solving 
to equip students with the skills and abilities necessary to apply 
computation in our digital world.
    Computer science does not include using a computer for everyday 
activities, such as browsing the internet; use of tools like word 
processing, spreadsheets, or presentation software; or using computers 
in the study and exploration of unrelated subjects.
    Demonstrates a rationale means a key project component included in 
the project's logic model is informed by research or evaluation 
findings that suggest the project component is likely to improve 
relevant outcomes.
    Experimental study means a study that is designed to compare 
outcomes between two groups of individuals (such as students) that are 
otherwise equivalent except for their assignment to either a treatment 
group receiving a project component or a control group that does not. 
Randomized controlled trials, regression discontinuity design studies, 
and single-case design studies are the specific types of experimental 
studies that, depending on their design and implementation (e.g., 
sample attrition in randomized controlled trials and regression 
discontinuity design studies), can meet What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) 
standards without reservations as described in the WWC Handbook:
    (i) A randomized controlled trial employs random assignment of, for 
example, students, teachers, classrooms, or schools to receive the 
project component being evaluated (the treatment group) or not to 
receive the project component (the control group).
    (ii) A regression discontinuity design study assigns the project 
component being evaluated using a measured variable (e.g., assigning 
students reading below a cutoff score to tutoring or developmental 
education classes) and controls for that variable in the analysis of 
outcomes.
    (iii) A single-case design study uses observations of a single case 
(e.g., a student eligible for a behavioral intervention) over time in 
the absence and presence of a controlled treatment manipulation to 
determine whether the outcome is systematically related to the 
treatment.
    Logic model (also referred to as a theory of action) means a 
framework that identifies key project components of the proposed 
project (i.e., the active ``ingredients'' that are hypothesized to be 
critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the 
theoretical and operational relationships among the key project 
components and relevant outcomes.
    Project component means an activity, strategy, intervention, 
process, product, practice, or policy included in a project. Evidence 
may pertain to an individual project component or to a combination of 
project components (e.g., training teachers on instructional practices 
for

[[Page 32433]]

English learners and follow-on coaching for these teachers).
    Promising evidence means that there is evidence of the 
effectiveness of a key project component in improving a relevant 
outcome, based on a relevant finding from one of the following:
    (i) A practice guide prepared by WWC reporting a ``strong evidence 
base'' or ``moderate evidence base'' for the corresponding practice 
guide recommendation;
    (ii) An intervention report prepared by the WWC reporting a 
``positive effect'' or ``potentially positive effect'' on a relevant 
outcome with no reporting of a ``negative effect'' or ``potentially 
negative effect'' on a relevant outcome; or
    (iii) A single study assessed by the Department, as appropriate, 
that--
    (A) Is an experimental study, a quasi-experimental design study, or 
a well-designed and well-implemented correlational study with 
statistical controls for selection bias (e.g., a study using regression 
methods to account for differences between a treatment group and a 
comparison group); and
    (B) Includes at least one statistically significant and positive 
(i.e., favorable) effect on a relevant outcome.
    Quasi-experimental design study means a study using a design that 
attempts to approximate an experimental study by identifying a 
comparison group that is similar to the treatment group in important 
respects. This type of study, depending on design and implementation 
(e.g., establishment of baseline equivalence of the groups being 
compared), can meet WWC standards with reservations, but cannot meet 
WWC standards without reservations, as described in the WWC Handbook.
    Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) or other outcome(s) 
the key project component is designed to improve, consistent with the 
specific goals of the program.
    What Works Clearinghouse Handbook (WWC Handbook) means the 
standards and procedures set forth in the WWC Procedures and Standards 
Handbook, Version 3.0 or Version 2.1 (incorporated by reference, see 34 
CFR 77.2). Study findings eligible for review under WWC standards can 
meet WWC standards without reservations, meet WWC standards with 
reservations, or not meet WWC standards. WWC practice guides and 
intervention reports include findings from systematic reviews of 
evidence as described in the Handbook documentation.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-21-1070a-28.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 
84, 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 694.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Department of Education 
Appropriations Act, 2019 provided $360,000,000 for the GEAR UP program 
for FY 2019, of which we intend to use an estimated $28,276,000 for new 
GEAR UP State awards.
    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: $2,500,000-$5,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $3,535,000.
    Maximum Award: We will not make an award for a State grant 
exceeding $5,000,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. 
Additionally, no funding will be awarded for increases in budget after 
the first 12-month budget period. As described in 34 CFR 694.1, the 
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education may change the maximum 
amount through a notice published in the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 8.

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

    Project Period: Either 72 months or 84 months.

    Note: An applicant that wishes to seek funding for a seventh 
project year (i.e., for a project period of 84 months), in order to 
provide project services to GEAR UP students through their first 
year of attendance at an IHE, must propose to do so in the 
application provided in response to this notice.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: States (as defined in section 103(20) of 
the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1003(20)), which includes the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, the United States 
Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and 
the Freely Associated States. Per Congressional direction in the 
Explanatory Statement to the Department of Education Appropriations 
Act, 2019 (Pub. L. 115-245), only States without an active State GEAR 
UP grant, or States that have an active State GEAR UP grant that is 
scheduled to end prior to October 1, 2019, are eligible to receive a 
new State GEAR UP award in this competition.
    2.a. Cost Sharing or Matching: Section 404C(b)(1) of the HEA (20 
U.S.C. 1070a-23(b)(1)) requires grantees under this program to provide 
from State, local, institutional, or private funds, not less than 50 
percent of the cost of the program (or one dollar of non-Federal funds 
for every one dollar of Federal funds awarded), which may be provided 
in cash or in-kind. The provision also specifies that the match may be 
accrued over the full duration of the grant award period, except that 
the grantee must make substantial progress towards meeting the matching 
requirement in each year of the grant award period.
    Section 404C(c) of the HEA provides that in-kind contributions may 
include (1) the amount of the financial assistance obligated under GEAR 
UP to students from State, local, institutional, or private funds, (2) 
the amount of tuition, fees, room or board waived or reduced for 
recipients of financial assistance under GEAR UP, (3) the amount 
expended on documented, targeted, long-term mentoring and counseling 
provided by volunteers or paid staff of non-school organizations, 
including businesses, religious organizations, community groups, 
postsecondary educational institutions, nonprofit and philanthropic 
organizations, and other organizations, and (4) equipment and supplies, 
cash contributions from non-Federal sources, transportation expenses, 
in-kind or discounted program services, indirect costs, and facility 
usage.
    Grantees must include a budget detailing the source of the matching 
funds and must provide an outline of the types of matching 
contributions for at least the first year of the grant in their grant 
applications. Consistent with 2 CFR 200.306(b), any matching funds must 
be an allowable use of funds consistent with the GEAR UP program 
requirements and the cost principles detailed in subpart E of 2 CFR 
part 200, and not included as a contribution for any other Federal 
award.
    b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement, not 
supplant funding requirements. Under

[[Page 32434]]

section 404B(e) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-22(e)), grant funds awarded 
under this program must be used to supplement, and not supplant, other 
Federal, State, and local funds that would otherwise be expended to 
carry out activities assisted under this program.
    3. General Application Requirements: All applicants must meet the 
following application requirements in order to be considered for 
funding. The application requirements are from section 404C(a) of the 
HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-23(a)).
    In order for an eligible entity to qualify for a grant under the 
GEAR UP program, the eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an 
application for carrying out a GEAR UP program that--
    (a) Describes the activities for which assistance under this 
program is sought, including how the eligible entity will carry out the 
required activities described in section 404D(a) of the HEA;
    (b) Describes, in the case of an eligible entity described in 
section 404A(c)(1) of the HEA, how the eligible entity will meet the 
requirements of section 404E of the HEA;
    (c) Provides assurances that adequate administrative and support 
staff will be responsible for coordinating the activities described in 
section 404D of the HEA;
    (d) Provides assurances that activities assisted under this program 
will not displace an employee or eliminate a position at a school 
assisted under this program, including a partial displacement such as a 
reduction in hours, wages, or employment benefits;
    (e) Describes, in the case of an eligible entity described in 
section 404A(c)(1) of the HEA that chooses to use a cohort approach, 
how the eligible entity will define the cohorts of the students served 
by the eligible entity pursuant to section 404B(d) of the HEA, and how 
the eligible entity will serve the cohorts through grade 12, 
including--
    (i) How vacancies in the program under this program will be filled; 
and
    (ii) How the eligible entity will serve students attending 
different secondary schools;
    (f) Describes how the eligible entity will coordinate programs 
under this program with other existing Federal, State, or local 
programs to avoid duplication and maximize the number of students 
served;
    (g) Provides such additional assurances as the Secretary determines 
necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of this program;
    (h) Provides information about the activities that will be carried 
out by the eligible entity to support systemic changes from which 
future cohorts of students will benefit; and
    (i) Describes the sources of matching funds that will enable the 
eligible entity to meet the matching requirement described in section 
404C(b).
    4. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award 
subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities 
described in its application.

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 (83 FR 6003), 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. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. However, under 34 
CFR 79.8(a), we waive intergovernmental review in order to make awards 
by the end of FY 2019.
    3. Funding Restrictions: We specify unallowable costs in subpart E 
of 2 CFR part 200. We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    Under HEA section 404E(b)(1), a State must use not less than 25 
percent and not more than 50 percent of the grant funds for GEAR UP 
project activities described in HEA section 404D,\1\ with the remainder 
of grant funds spent on scholarships to eligible GEAR UP students 
described in HEA section 404E. However, HEA section 404E(b)(2) permits 
the Secretary to allow a State to use more than 50 percent of grant 
funds received under this program for GEAR UP project activities 
described in HEA section 404D if the State demonstrates that it has 
another means of providing eligible GEAR UP students with the financial 
assistance described in HEA section 404E and describes such means in 
the State's application.
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    \1\ Excluding the provision of funds for postsecondary 
scholarships required by HEA section 404D(a)(4).
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    4. Recommended Page Limit and Format: The application narrative is 
where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers 
use to assess your application. There is no page limit for the 
application narrative; however, we recommend no more than 50 pages, and 
that you present your information clearly and concisely. Include your 
complete response to the selection criteria, the invitational priority, 
and Competitive Preference Priority 1 in the application narrative. 
Include your complete response to Competitive Preference Priority 2 on 
the Project Profile Form, which can be found in the information 
collection under OMB control number 1840-0821. Include your response to 
Competitive Preference Priority 3 on the Evidence Form (OMB 1894-0001), 
which can also be found in the information collection under OMB control 
number 1840-0821.
    Note: Applications that do not follow the formatting 
recommendations will not be penalized.
    We recommend the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins.
     Double-space all text in the application narrative and 
single-space titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and 
captions.
     Use a 12-point font.
     Use an easily readable font such as Times New Roman, 
Courier, Courier New, or Arial.
    Other requirements concerning the content of an application, 
together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package 
for this program.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210 and section 404D(a) of the HEA.
    a. Need for the project (15 points).
    (i) The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the need for the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers:
    (A) The magnitude or severity of the problem to be addressed by the 
proposed project (up to 8 points); and
    (B) 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 (up to 7 points).
    b. Quality of project design (25 points).
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the 
proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers:
    (A) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable 
(up to 10 points); and

[[Page 32435]]

    (B) The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates a 
rationale (as defined in this notice)(up to 15).
    c. Quality of project services (15 points).
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be 
provided by the proposed project.
    (ii) 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 (up to 5 points).
    (iii) In addition, the Secretary considers:
    (A) The extent to which the project services are likely to provide 
comprehensive mentoring, outreach, and supportive services to students, 
including the following activities: information regarding financial aid 
for postsecondary education to participating students, encouraging 
student enrollment in rigorous and challenging curricula and coursework 
in order to reduce the need for remedial coursework at the 
postsecondary level, and improving the number of participating students 
who obtain a secondary school diploma and complete applications for and 
enroll in a program of postsecondary education (up to 5 points); and
    (B) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for 
maximizing the effectiveness of project services (up to 5 points).
    d. Quality of project personnel (10 points).
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will 
carry out the proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability (up to 2 points).
    (iii) In addition, the Secretary considers:
    (A) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator (up to 4 points); and
    (B) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key personnel (up to 4 points).
    e. Quality of the management plan (10 points).
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers:
    (A) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks (up to 4 points);
    (B) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous 
improvement in the operation of the proposed project (up to 2 points);
    (C) The extent to which the time commitments of the project 
director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are 
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed project 
(up to 2 points); and
    (D) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives 
are brought to bear in the operation of the proposed project, including 
those of parents, teachers, the business community, a variety of 
disciplinary and professional fields, recipients or beneficiaries of 
services, or others, as appropriate (up to 2 points).
    f. Quality of the project evaluation (10 points).
    (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be 
conducted of the proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the quality of the project evaluation, the 
Secretary considers:
    (A) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data to the extent possible (up to 4 points);
    (B) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes (up to 4 points); and
    (C) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance about 
effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other 
settings (up to 2 points).
    g. Adequacy of resources (15 points).
    (i) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the 
proposed project.
    (ii) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers:
    (A) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in 
the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project 
(up to 5 points);
    (B) 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 (up to 5 points); and
    (C) The potential for continued support of the project after 
Federal funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated 
commitment of appropriate entities to such support (up to 5 points).
    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).
    For this competition, a panel of non-Federal reviewers will review 
each application in accordance with the selection criteria in 34 CFR 
75.217(d)(3), as required by 20 U.S.C. 1070-a23(d). The individual 
scores of the reviewers will be added and the sum divided by the number 
of reviewers to determine the peer review score received in the review 
process.
    If there are insufficient funds for all applications with the same 
total scores, the Secretary will, to the extent practicable, consider 
the distribution of grant awards based on the geographic distribution 
of such grant awards and the distribution between urban and rural 
applicants for the GEAR UP program consistent with 20 U.S.C. 1070a-
22(a)(3).
    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

[[Page 32436]]

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, 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 will 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) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final 
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the 
Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual 
performance report that provides the most current performance and 
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance 
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, 
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    (c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee 
with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. In 
this case the Secretary establishes a data collection period.
    5. Performance Measures: The objectives of the GEAR UP program are 
(1) to increase the academic performance and preparation for 
postsecondary education of participating students; (2) to increase the 
rate of high school graduation and participation in postsecondary 
education of participating students; and (3) to increase education 
expectations for participating students and increase student and family 
knowledge of postsecondary education options, preparation, and 
financing.
    The effectiveness of this program depends on the rate at which 
program participants complete high school and enroll in and complete a 
postsecondary education. Under the Government Performance and Results 
Act of 1993 (GPRA), we developed the following performance measures to 
track progress toward achieving the program's goals:
    1. The percentage of GEAR UP students who pass Pre-Algebra or its 
equivalent by the end of eighth grade.
    2. The percentage of GEAR UP students who pass Algebra 1 or its 
equivalent by the end of ninth grade.
    3. The percentage of GEAR UP students who graduate from high 
school.
    4. The percentage of GEAR UP students who complete the Free 
Application for Federal Student Aid.
    5. The percentage of GEAR UP students and former GEAR UP students 
who are enrolled at an IHE.
    6. The percentage of GEAR UP students who place into college-level 
math and English without need for remediation.
    7. The percentage of current GEAR UP students and former GEAR UP 
students who enrolled at an IHE and persisted to the second year of 
postsecondary education at the initial or a subsequent IHE.
    In addition, to assess the efficiency of the program, we track the 
average cost, in Federal funds, of achieving a successful outcome, 
where success is defined as enrollment in a program of undergraduate 
instruction at an IHE of GEAR UP students immediately after high school 
graduation. These performance measures constitute GEAR UP's indicators 
of the success of the program. Accordingly, we require that applicants 
include these performance measures in conceptualizing the design, 
implementation, and evaluation of their proposed projects.
    6. 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 grant, the Secretary also considers 
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in 
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil 
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities 
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

[[Page 32437]]

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 
one of the program contact persons 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 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 
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.

Diane Auer Jones,
Principal Deputy Under Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-14370 Filed 7-5-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P