[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 140 (Friday, July 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43802-43807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15826]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Expanding Opportunity Through 
Quality Charter Schools Program (CSP)--National Dissemination Grants

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) 2022 for CSP--National 
Dissemination Grants, Assistance Listing Number 84.282T. This notice 
relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 
1894-0006.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: July 22, 2022.
    Notice of Intent to Apply: Applicants are strongly encouraged, but 
not required, to submit a notice of intent to apply by August 8, 2022.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 22, 2022.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 20, 2022.
    Pre-Application Webinar Information: The CSP intends to hold a pre-
application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants. Detailed 
information regarding this webinar will be provided at https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-discretionary-grants-support-services/charter-school-programs/expanding-opportunity-through-quality-charter-schools-program-csp-national-dissemination-grants/.

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 December 27, 2021 (86 FR 73264), and available at 
www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-27979. Please note that these Common 
Instructions supersede the version published on February 13, 2019, and, 
in part, describe the transition from the requirement to register in 
SAM.gov a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to the 
implementation of the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). More information 
on the phase-out of DUNS numbers is available at www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ofo/docs/unique-entity-identifier-transition-fact-sheet.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yianni Alepohoritis, U.S. Department 
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 3E227, Washington, DC 20202-
5970. Telephone: (202) 453-5571. Email: [email protected].
    If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and 
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The major purposes of the CSP are to expand 
opportunities for all students, particularly underserved students, to 
attend charter schools and meet challenging State academic standards; 
provide financial assistance for the planning, program design, and 
initial implementation of public charter schools; increase the number 
of high-quality charter schools available to students across the United 
States; evaluate the impact of charter schools on student achievement, 
families, and communities; share best practices between charter schools 
and other public schools; aid States in providing facilities support to 
charter schools; and support efforts to strengthen the charter 
authorizing process.
    Through the CSP National Dissemination Grants (ALN 84.282T), the 
Department provides funds on a competitive basis to organizations to 
support the charter school sector and increase the number of high-
quality charter schools available to our Nation's students by 
disseminating best practices regarding charter schools.
    Background: This notice invites applications from organizations 
(e.g., State educational agencies (SEAs); State charter school boards; 
State Governors; authorized public chartering agencies; charter school 
support organizations; and public and private nonprofit organizations 
that operate, manage, or support charter schools) for grants to 
disseminate best practices of national significance regarding charter 
schools, including the development, identification, or expansion of 
such best practices. This notice contains priorities from the 
Secretary's Final Supplemental Priorities and Definitions for 
Discretionary Grant Programs published in the Federal Register on 
December 10, 2021 (86 FR 70612) (Supplemental Priorities) as well as 
definitions and selection criteria from the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA) and Department regulations.
    Priorities: This competition includes three absolute priorities. 
The absolute priorities are from the Supplemental Priorities.
    Absolute Priorities: For FY 2022, and any subsequent year in which 
we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, these priorities are absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet one of these 
priorities. Although a project may address more than one of these 
priorities, an applicant must clearly identify in its application the 
specific absolute priority under which it wishes to be considered for 
funding. These priorities are:
    Absolute Priority 1--Addressing the Impact of COVID-19 on Students, 
Educators, and Faculty.
    Projects that are designed to address the impacts of the COVID-19 
pandemic, including impacts that extend beyond the duration of the 
pandemic itself, on the students most impacted by the pandemic, with a 
focus on underserved students and the educators who serve

[[Page 43803]]

them, through one or more of the following priority areas:
    (a) Conducting community asset mapping and needs assessments that 
may include an assessment of the extent to which students, including 
subgroups of students, have become disengaged from learning, including 
students not participating in in-person or remote instruction, and 
specific strategies for reengaging and supporting students and their 
families;
    (b) Providing resources and supports to meet the basic, fundamental 
health and safety needs of students and educators;
    (c) Addressing students' social, emotional, mental health, and 
academic needs through approaches that are inclusive with regard to 
race, ethnicity, culture, language, and disability status; or
    (d) Using evidence-based instructional approaches and supports, 
such as professional development, coaching, ongoing support for 
educators, high-quality tutoring, expanded access to rigorous 
coursework and content across K-12, and expanded learning time to 
accelerate learning for students in ways that ensure all students have 
the opportunity to successfully meet challenging academic content 
standards without contributing to tracking or remedial courses.
    Absolute Priority 2--Supporting a Diverse Educator Workforce and 
Professional Growth to Strengthen Student Learning.
    Projects that are designed to increase the proportion of well-
prepared, diverse, and effective educators serving students, with a 
focus on underserved students, through building or expanding high-
poverty school districts' capacity to hire, support, and retain an 
effective and diverse educator workforce, through providing 
opportunities for educators to be involved in the design and 
implementation of local and district wide initiatives that advance 
systemic changes.
    Note: Applicants responding to this Absolute Priority may develop, 
identify, expand, and disseminate information on best practices for 
those charter schools that are their own districts.
    Absolute Priority 3--Strengthening Cross-Agency Coordination and 
Community Engagement to Advance Systemic Change.
    Projects that are designed to take a systemic evidence-based 
approach to improving outcomes for underserved students in one or more 
of the following priority areas:
    (a) Conducting community needs and asset mapping to identify 
existing programs and initiatives that can be leveraged, and new 
programs and initiatives that need to be developed and implemented, to 
advance systemic change;
    (b) Establishing cross-agency partnerships, or community-based 
partnerships with local nonprofit organizations, businesses, 
philanthropic organizations, or others, to meet family well-being 
needs;
    (c) Identifying, documenting, and disseminating policies, 
strategies, and best practices on effective approaches to creating 
systemic change through cross-agency or community-based coordination 
and collaboration; or
    (d) Expanding or improving parent and family engagement.
    Definitions: The following definitions are from section 4310 of the 
ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221i), the Supplemental Priorities, and 34 CFR part 
77.
    Ambitious means promoting continued, meaningful improvement for 
program participants or for other individuals or entities affected by 
the grant or representing a significant advancement in the field of 
education research, practices, or methodologies. When used to describe 
a performance target (as defined in this notice), whether a performance 
target is ambitious depends upon the context of the relevant 
performance measure (as defined in this notice) and the baseline (as 
defined in this notice) for that measure. (34 CFR 77.1)
    Baseline means the starting point from which performance is 
measured and targets are set. (34 CFR 77.1)
    Charter school means a public school that--
    (1) In accordance with a specific State statute authorizing the 
granting of charters to schools, is exempt from significant State or 
local rules that inhibit the flexible operation and management of 
public schools, but not from any rules relating to the other 
requirements of this definition;
    (2) 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;
    (3) 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;
    (4) Provides a program of elementary or secondary education, or 
both;
    (5) Is nonsectarian in its programs, admissions policies, 
employment practices, and all other operations, and is not affiliated 
with a sectarian school or religious institution; \1\
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    \1\ The Department will apply this element of the definition of 
``charter school'' consistent with applicable U.S. Supreme Court 
precedent, including Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. 
Comer, 137 S.Ct. 2012 (2017), Espinoza v. Montana Department of 
Revenue, 140 S.Ct. 2246 (2020), and Carson v. Makin, 142 S.Ct. 1987 
(2022).
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    (6) Does not charge tuition;
    (7) Complies with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, title VI of 
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, title IX of the Education Amendments of 
1972, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), section 444 of 
General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) (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 
(IDEA);
    (8) 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, 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 (8)(i) of this definition;
    (9) 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;
    (10) Meets all applicable Federal, State, and local health and 
safety requirements;
    (11) Operates in accordance with State law;
    (12) 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
    (13) May serve students in early childhood educational programs or 
postsecondary students. (ESEA section 4310(2))
    Charter school support organization means a nonprofit, 
nongovernmental

[[Page 43804]]

entity that is not an authorized public chartering agency and provides, 
on a statewide basis--
    (1) Assistance to developers during the planning, program design, 
and initial implementation of a charter school; and
    (2) Technical assistance to operating charter schools. (ESEA 
section 4310(4))
    Demonstrates a rationale means a key project component (as defined 
in this notice) included in the project's logic model (as defined in 
this notice) is informed by research or evaluation findings that 
suggest the project component is likely to improve relevant outcomes 
(as defined in this notice). (34 CFR 77.1)
    Educator means an individual who is an early learning educator, 
teacher, principal or other school leader, specialized instructional 
support personnel (e.g., school psychologist, counselor, school social 
worker, early intervention service personnel), paraprofessional, or 
faculty. (Supplemental Priorities)
    Evidence-based means the proposed project component is supported by 
one or more of strong evidence, moderate evidence, promising evidence, 
or evidence that demonstrates a rationale. (34 CFR 77.1)
    High-quality charter school means a charter school that--
    (1) Shows evidence of strong academic results, which may include 
strong student academic growth, as determined by a State;
    (2) Has no significant issues in the areas of student safety, 
financial and operational management, or statutory or regulatory 
compliance;
    (3) Has demonstrated success in significantly increasing student 
academic achievement, including graduation rates where applicable, for 
all students served by the charter school; and
    (4) Has demonstrated success in increasing student academic 
achievement, including graduation rates where applicable, for each of 
the subgroups of students, as defined in section 1111(c)(2) of the 
ESEA, except that such demonstration is not required in a case in which 
the number of students in a group is insufficient to yield 
statistically reliable information or the results would reveal 
personally identifiable information about an individual student. (ESEA 
section 4310(8))
    Logic model (also referred to as 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. (34 CFR 77.1)
    Performance measure means any quantitative indicator, statistic, or 
metric used to gauge program or project performance. (34 CFR 77.1)
    Performance target means a level of performance that an applicant 
would seek to meet during the course of a project or as a result of a 
project. (34 CFR 77.1)
    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 English learners and follow-on coaching for these teachers). (34 
CFR 77.1)
    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. (34 CFR 77.1)
    Underserved student means a student (which may include children in 
early learning environments, students in K-12 programs, students in 
postsecondary education or career and technical education, and adult 
learners, as appropriate) in one or more of the following subgroups:
    (a) A student who is living in poverty or is served by schools with 
high concentrations of students living in poverty.
    (b) A student of color.
    (c) A student who is a member of a federally recognized Indian 
Tribe.
    (d) An English learner.
    (e) A child or student with a disability.
    (f) A disconnected youth.
    (g) A technologically unconnected youth.
    (h) A migrant student.
    (i) A student experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
    (j) A lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, or 
intersex (LGBTQI+) student.
    (k) A student who is in foster care.
    (l) A student without documentation of immigration status.
    (m) A pregnant, parenting, or caregiving student.
    (n) A student impacted by the justice system, including a formerly 
incarcerated student.
    (o) A student who is the first in their family to attend 
postsecondary education.
    (p) A student enrolling in or seeking to enroll in postsecondary 
education for the first time at the age of 20 or older.
    (q) A student who is working full-time while enrolled in 
postsecondary education.
    (r) A student who is enrolled in or is seeking to enroll in 
postsecondary education who is eligible for a Pell Grant.
    (s) An adult student in need of improving their basic skills or an 
adult student with limited English proficiency.
    (t) A student performing significantly below grade level.
    (u) A military- or veteran-connected student. (Supplemental 
Priorities)
    Application Requirements: Applications submitted must be for 
activities of national significance related to the development, 
identification, expansion, and dissemination of best practices 
regarding charter schools consistent with the absolute priority to 
which the applicant is responding and that are included in the 
applicant's proposed project. Applicants are expected to identify the 
specific costs associated with each included activity.
    Program Authority: 4305(a)(3)(B) of the ESEA, 20 U.S.C. 7221d.
    Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner 
consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal 
civil rights laws.
    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 Supplemental Priorities.
    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian Tribes.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $4,800,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2023 from the list of 
unfunded applications from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000-$800,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $650,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 6-10.

[[Page 43805]]

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. 
The estimated range and average size of awards are based on a single 
12-month budget period. We may use FY 2022 funds to support multiple 
12-month budget periods for one or more grantees.
    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Organizations that may apply for this 
competition include but are not limited to: SEAs; State charter school 
boards; State Governors; charter school support organizations (as 
defined in this notice); authorized public chartering agencies; and 
public and private nonprofit organizations that operate, manage, or 
support charter schools.
    Entities that apply for this competition may apply as a partnership 
or consortium and, if so applying, must comply with the requirements 
for group applications set forth in 34 CFR 75.127-129.
    2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require 
cost sharing or matching.
    b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This competition does not involve 
supplement-not-supplant funding requirements.
    c. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This program uses an 
unrestricted indirect cost rate. For more information regarding 
indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate, please 
see www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html.
    d. Administrative Cost Limitation: This program does not include 
any program-specific limitation on administrative expenses. All 
administrative expenses must be reasonable and necessary and conform to 
Cost Principles described in 2 CFR part 200 subpart E of the Uniform 
Guidance.
    3. Subgrants: 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 December 27, 2021 (86 FR 73264), and available at 
www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-27979, which contain requirements and 
information on how to submit an application. Please note that these 
Common Instructions supersede the version published on February 13, 
2019, and, in part, describe the transition from the requirement to 
register in SAM.gov a DUNS number to the implementation of the UEI. 
More information on the phase-out of DUNS numbers is available at 
www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ofo/docs/unique-entity-identifier-transition-fact-sheet.pdf.
    2. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of 
projects that may be proposed in applications for the National 
Dissemination competition, your application may include business 
information that you consider proprietary. In 34 CFR 5.11, we define 
``business information'' and describe the process we use in determining 
whether any of that information is proprietary and, thus, protected 
from disclosure under Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 
U.S.C. 552, as amended). Because we plan to make successful 
applications available to the public, you may wish to request 
confidentiality of business information.
    Consistent with Executive Order 12600, please designate in your 
application any information that you believe is exempt from disclosure 
under Exemption 4. In the appropriate Appendix section of your 
application, under ``Other Attachments Form,'' please list the page 
number or numbers on which we can find this information. For additional 
information, please see 34 CFR 5.11(c).
    3. 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. Please note 
that, under 34 CFR 79.8(a), we have shortened the standard 60-day 
intergovernmental review period in order to make awards by the end of 
FY 2022.
    4. Funding Restrictions: Grantees may not use grant funds to 
conduct charter school authorizing activities, or to open new charter 
schools.
    Grantees may not use grant funds to acquire or finance the 
acquisition of a charter school facility, including through credit 
enhancement, direct lending, or subgrants.
    Grantees may not use grant funds for general organizational 
operating support beyond the costs associated with this grant project.
    We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions 
in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    5. 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 
narrative to no more than 50 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.
    The recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the 
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the 
assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes, 
the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the recommended 
page limit does apply to all of the application narrative.
    6. Notice of Intent to Apply: The Department will be able to review 
grant applications more efficiently if we know the approximate number 
of applicants that intend to apply. Therefore, we strongly encourage 
each potential applicant to notify us of their intent to submit an 
application. To do so, please email the program contact person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT with the subject line ``Intent to 
Apply,'' and include the applicant's name, a contact person's name and 
email address, and the Assistance Listing Number. Applicants that do 
not submit a notice of intent to apply may still apply for funding.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210. The maximum possible score for addressing all 
of the criteria in this section is 100 points. The maximum possible 
score for addressing each criterion is indicated in parentheses 
following the criterion.
    In evaluating an application, the Secretary considers the following 
criteria:
    (a) Significance of the proposed project (30 points).
    The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed project. 
In determining the significance of the proposed project, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (1) The national significance of the proposed project (15 points); 
and

[[Page 43806]]

    (2) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build 
local capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the 
needs of the target population (15 points).
    (b) Quality of the project design (40 points).
    The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates a 
rationale (as defined in 34 CFR 77.1(c)) (10 points);
    (2) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable; 
(10 points);
    (3) The extent to which the proposed project represents an 
exceptional approach to the priority or priorities established for the 
competition (10 points); and
    (4) The mechanisms the applicant will use to broadly disseminate 
information on its project so as to support further development or 
replication (10 points).
    (c) Quality of the management plan and adequacy of resources (20 
points).
    The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan and 
adequacy of resources for the proposed project. In determining the 
quality of the management plan and adequacy of resources for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) 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 (10 points); and
    (2) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project 
(10 points).
    (d) Quality of the project personnel (10 points).
    The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry 
out the proposed project. In determining the quality of project 
personnel, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) 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 (3 points);
    (2) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator (4 points); and
    (3) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel (3 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).
    3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.206, before awarding grants under this competition, the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
200.208, the Secretary may impose specific conditions and, under 2 CFR 
3474.10, 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 200.206(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.
    5. In General: In accordance with the Office of Management and 
Budget's guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal 
laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department will review and 
consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice inviting 
applications in accordance with--
    (a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering 
results based on the program objectives through an objective process of 
evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
    (b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video 
surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) (2 CFR 
200.216);
    (c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to 
maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United 
States (2 CFR 200.322); and
    (d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest 
extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program 
goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).

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,

[[Page 43807]]

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.
    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: Applicants must propose project-specific 
performance measures and performance targets consistent with the 
objectives of the proposed project and the project outcomes identified 
in the logic model. The project-specific performance measures should be 
sufficient to gauge progress throughout the grant period, at least on 
an annual basis, and to show results by the end of the grant period. 
Applicants must provide the following information as directed under 34 
CFR 75.110(b) and (c):
    (1) Performance measures. How each proposed performance measure 
would accurately measure the performance of the project and how the 
proposed performance measure would be consistent with the performance 
measures established for the program funding the competition.
    (2) Baseline data. (i) Why each proposed baseline is valid; or (ii) 
If the applicant has determined that there are no valid, established 
baseline data for a particular performance measure, an explanation of 
why there is no established baseline and of how and when, during the 
project period, the applicant would establish a valid baseline for the 
performance measure.
    (3) Performance targets. Why each proposed performance target is 
ambitious (as defined in this notice) yet achievable compared to the 
baseline for the performance measure and when, during the project 
period, the applicant would meet the performance target(s).
    (4) 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.
    All grantees must submit an annual performance report with 
information that is responsive to these performance measures.
    For technical assistance in developing effective performance 
measures, applicants are encouraged to review information provided by 
the Department's Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs). The RELs 
seek to build the capacity of States and school districts to 
incorporate data and research into education decision making. Each REL 
provides research support and technical assistance to its region but 
makes learning opportunities available to educators everywhere. For 
example, the REL Northeast and Islands has created the following 
resource on logic models: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/northeast/pdf/REL_2015057.pdf.
    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, whether 
the grantee has made substantial progress in achieving the performance 
targets in the grantee's approved application.
    In making a continuation award, the Secretary also considers 
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in 
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil 
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities 
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    7. Project Director's Meeting: Applicants approved for funding 
under this competition must attend a two-day meeting for project 
directors at a location to be determined in the continental United 
States during each year of the project. Applicants may include the cost 
of attending this meeting in their proposed budgets.

VII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities 
can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an 
accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an 
accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text 
format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, 
audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format.
    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 
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.

Ruth E. Ryder,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Programs Office of Elementary 
and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2022-15826 Filed 7-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P