[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 174 (Monday, September 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62352-62356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19497]


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

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Education Research Grant Programs

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice 
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the 
Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences, Research Networks 
Focused on Critical Problems of Education Policy and Practice, and 
Statistical and Research Methodology in Education Grant Programs, 
Assistance Listing Numbers (ALNs) 84.305B, 84.305D, and 84.305N. This 
notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control 
number 4040-0001.

DATES: The dates when applications are available and the deadlines for 
transmittal of applications invited under this notice are indicated in 
the chart at the end of this notice and in the Requests for 
Applications (RFAs) that are posted at the following website: https://ies.ed.gov/funding.

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 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at 
www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs. Please note that these Common Instructions supersede 
the version published on December 27, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The contact person associated with a 
particular research competition is listed in the chart at the end of 
this notice, as well as in the relevant RFA and application package.
    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: In awarding the research grants, the Institute 
of Education Sciences (IES) intends to provide national leadership in 
expanding knowledge and understanding of (1) education outcomes for all 
learners from early childhood education through postsecondary and adult 
education, and (2) employment and wage outcomes when relevant (such as 
for those engaged in career and technical, postsecondary, or adult 
education). IES research grant programs are designed to provide 
interested individuals and the general public with reliable and valid 
information about education practices that support learning and improve 
academic achievement and access to education opportunities for all 
learners. These interested individuals include parents, educators, 
learners, researchers, and policymakers. In carrying out its grant 
programs, IES provides support for programs of research in areas of 
demonstrated national need. In awarding research training grant 
programs, IES aims to prepare individuals to conduct rigorous and 
relevant education and special education research that advances 
knowledge within the field and addresses issues important to education 
policymakers and practitioners.
    Competitions in This Notice: The IES National Center for Education 
Research (NCER) is announcing three competitions--one competition in 
each of the following areas: education research training; statistical 
and

[[Page 62353]]

research methodology in education; and research networks focused on 
critical problems of education policy and practice.
    The Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences (ALN 
84.305B). Under this competition, NCER will consider only applications 
that address one of the following topics:
     Early Career Development and Mentoring Program for 
Education Research
     Early Career Development and Mentoring Program for Faculty 
at Minority-Serving Institutions \1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ To qualify as an MSI for the purpose of the Early Career 
Mentoring Program, the institution must be eligible to receive 
assistance under sections 316 through 320 of part A of title III, 
under part B of title III, or under title V of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965. Information on eligibility under these authorities is 
available on the FY 2023 Eligibility Matrix at this link. MSIs 
include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions 
(ANNH), American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and 
Universities (TCCU), Asian American and Native American Pacific 
Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-Serving 
Institutions (HSI), Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
(HBCU), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI), and Native American-
Serving, Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI). Please note that 
institutions eligible only for the Department's Title III Part A 
Strengthening Institutions program (SIP) are not considered MSIs for 
the purpose of this competition unless they also meet the 
eligibility requirements for a specific MSI category.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Methods Training for Education Researchers
    Statistical and Research Methodology in Education (ALN 84.305D). 
Under this competition, NCER will consider only applications that 
address one of the following topics:
     Core Grants (which supports the development of new and 
improved statistical and research methods and their dissemination to 
education researchers)
     Toolkits, Guidelines, Compendia, and Review Papers
    Research Networks Focused on Critical Problems of Education Policy 
and Practice (ALN 84.305N). Under this competition, NCER will consider 
only applications that address one of the following topics:
     Career and Technical Education (CTE) Network, which 
includes:
    [cir] Research Teams.
     Digital Learning Platforms Network, which includes:
    [cir] Research Teams.
    Exemption from Proposed Rulemaking: Under section 191 of the 
Education Sciences Reform Act, 20 U.S.C. 9581, IES is not subject to 
section 437(d) of the General Education Provisions Act, 20 U.S.C. 
1232(d), and is therefore not required to offer interested parties the 
opportunity to comment on matters relating to grants.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq.

    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 77, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, 
and 99. In addition, the regulations in 34 CFR part 75 are applicable, 
except for the provisions in 34 CFR 75.100, 75.101(b), 75.102, 75.103, 
75.105, 75.109(a), 75.200, 75.201, 75.209, 75.210, 75.211, 75.217(a)-
(c), 75.219, 75.220, 75.221, 75.222, 75.230, and 75.250(a). (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.

    Note:  The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions 
of higher education only.


    Note:  The open licensing requirement in 2 CFR 3474.20 does not 
apply to these competitions.

II. Award Information

    Types of Awards: Discretionary grants and cooperative agreements.
    Fiscal Information: Although Congress has not yet enacted an 
appropriation for FY 2024, IES is inviting applications for these 
competitions now so that applicants can have adequate time to prepare 
their applications. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on 
final congressional action. IES intends to announce additional 
competitions later in 2023.
    Estimated Range of Awards: See chart at the end of this notice. The 
size of the awards will depend on the scope of the projects proposed.
    Estimated Number of Awards: The number of awards made under each 
competition will depend on the quality of the applications received for 
that competition and the availability of funds.
    IES may waive any of the following limits on awards for the 
Research Networks Focused on Critical Problems of Education Policy and 
Practice competition in the special case that the peer review process 
results in a tie between two or more grant applications, making it 
impossible to adhere to the limits without funding only some of the 
equally ranked applications. In that case, IES may make a larger number 
of awards to include all applications of the same rank.
    For the Research Networks Focused on Critical Problems of Education 
Policy and Practice (ALN 84.305N), we intend to fund up to 5 Research 
Teams for the CTE Network and up to 8 Research Teams for the Digital 
Learning Platforms Network.

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

    Project Period: See chart at the end of this notice.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: For the Early Career Development and 
Mentoring Program for Faculty at Minority-Serving Institutions under 
the Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences competition 
(ALN 84.305B), applicants must be a minority-serving institution (MSI) 
located in the territorial United States that confers bachelor's, 
master's, or doctoral degrees in academic fields relevant to education. 
For the Methods Training for Education Researchers topic under the 
Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences competition (ALN 
84.305B), applicants must be located in the territorial United States 
and have the ability and capacity to conduct training in scientific 
research methods for education research.
    For all other competitions in this notice, applicants that have the 
ability and capacity to conduct rigorous research are eligible to 
apply. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, nonprofit 
and for-profit organizations and public and private agencies and 
institutions of higher education, such as colleges and universities.
    2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: These programs do not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    b. Indirect Cost Rate Information: The Research Training Programs 
in the Education Sciences (ALN 84.305B) use a training indirect cost 
rate as provided for under 34 CFR 75.562. This limits indirect cost 
reimbursement to an entity's actual indirect costs, as determined in 
its negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, or eight percent of a 
modified total direct cost base, whichever amount is less. For more 
information regarding training indirect cost rates, see 34 CFR 75.562. 
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. The other grant programs announced here use an

[[Page 62354]]

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.
    3. Subgrantees: Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c) a grantee under this 
competition may award subgrants--to directly carry out project 
activities described in its application--to the following types of 
entities: nonprofit and for-profit organizations and public and private 
agencies and institutions of higher education. The grantee may award 
subgrants to entities it has identified in an approved 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 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs, which contain requirements and information on how to 
submit an application. Please note that these Common Instructions 
supersede the version published on December 27, 2021.
    2. Other Information: Information regarding program and application 
requirements for the competitions is in the currently available IES 
Application Submission Guide and in the NCER RFAs, which are available 
on the IES website at: https://ies.ed.gov/funding/. The dates on which 
the application packages for these competitions will be available are 
indicated in the chart at the end of this notice.
    3. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application are contained in the RFA for 
the specific competition. The forms that must be submitted are in the 
application package for the specific competition.
    4. Submission Dates and Times: The deadline date for transmittal of 
applications for each competition is indicated in the chart at the end 
of this notice and in the RFAs for the competitions.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    5. Intergovernmental Review: These competitions are not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    6. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: For all its grant competitions, IES uses 
selection criteria based on a peer review process that has been 
approved by the National Board for Education Sciences. The Peer Review 
Procedures for Grant Applications can be found on the IES website at 
https://ies.ed.gov/director/sro/peer_review/application_review.asp.
    For the 84.305B competition, peer reviewers of the Early Career 
Development and Mentoring Program for Faculty at Minority-Serving 
Institutions and the Early Career Development and Mentoring Program for 
Education Research will be asked to evaluate the significance of the 
application, the quality of the research plan, the quality of the 
career development plan, the qualifications and experience of the 
personnel, the resources of the applicant to support the proposed 
activities, and the quality of the dissemination plan. For the 84.305B 
competition, peer reviewers for Methods Training for Education 
Researchers will be asked to evaluate the significance of the 
application, the quality of the research training plan, the 
qualifications and experience of the personnel, the resources of the 
applicant to support the proposed activities, and the quality of the 
dissemination plan. These criteria are described in greater detail in 
the RFA.
    For the 84.305D competition, peer reviewers will be asked to 
evaluate the significance of the application, the
    quality of the research plan, the qualifications and experience of 
the personnel, the resources of the applicant to support the proposed 
activities, and the quality of the dissemination history and 
dissemination plan. These criteria will be described in greater detail 
in the RFAs.
    For the 84.305N competition, peer reviewers will be asked to 
evaluate the significance of the application, the quality of the 
research plan, the qualifications and experience of the personnel, the 
resources of the applicant to support the proposed activities, and the 
quality of the dissemination history and dissemination plan. These 
criteria will be described in greater detail in the RFA.
    For all IES competitions, applications must include budgets no 
higher than the relevant maximum award as set out in the relevant RFA. 
IES will not make an award exceeding the maximum award amount as set 
out in the relevant RFA.
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
IES 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, compliance with the 
IES policy regarding public access to research, and compliance with 
grant conditions. IES 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, IES also 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 these competitions, the 
Department conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 
CFR 200.208, IES 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 
these competitions 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

[[Page 62355]]

$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 also notify you 
informally.
    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. Grant Administration: Applicants should budget for an annual 
meeting of up to three days for project directors to be held in 
Washington, DC.
    4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under one of the 
competitions announced in this notice, 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 
IES. 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 IES under 34 CFR 
75.118. IES 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: To evaluate the overall success of its 
education research and special education research grant programs, IES 
annually assesses the percentage of projects that result in peer-
reviewed publications and the number of IES-supported interventions 
with evidence of efficacy in improving learner education outcomes. 
Student academic outcomes include learning and achievement in academic 
content areas, such as reading, writing, math, and science, as well as 
outcomes that reflect students' successful progression through the 
education system, such as course and grade completion; high school 
graduation; and postsecondary enrollment, progress, and completion. 
Social and behavioral competencies include social and emotional skills, 
attitudes, and behaviors that are important to academic and post-
academic success. Employment and earnings outcomes include hours of 
employment, job stability, and wages and benefits, and may be measured 
in addition to student academic outcomes.
    6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 
75.253, IES 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; whether a grantee 
is in compliance with the IES policy regarding public access to 
research; and if IES 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, IES also considers whether the 
grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in its approved 
application, including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws 
that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving 
Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 
106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: On request to the relevant program contact 
person listed in the chart at the end of this notice, as well as in the 
relevant RFA and application package, individuals with disabilities can 
obtain this document and a copy of the RFA 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.

Mark Schneider,
Director, Institute of Education Sciences.

[[Page 62356]]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Deadline for                                                                      For further
         ALN and name          Application package     transmittal of          Estimated range of awards *          Project period        information
                                    available           applications                                                                        contact
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      National Center for Education Research (NCER)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.305B Research Training
 Programs in the Education
 Sciences
    [ssquf] Early Career       September 28, 2023.  January 11, 2024...                               $80,000 to  Up to 4 years.....  Katina Stapleton,
     Development and                                                                                    $267,000                       Katina.Stapleton@
     Mentoring Program for                                                                                                             ed.gov, (202) 245-
     Faculty at Minority-                                                                                                              6181.
     Serving Institutions
    [ssquf] Early Career
     Development and
     Mentoring Program for
     Education Research
    [ssquf] Methods Training
     for Education
     Researchers
84.305D Statistical and        September 28, 2023.  January 11, 2024...                              $100,000 to  Up to 3 years.....  Charles Laurin,
 Research Methodology in                                                                                $300,000                       Charles.Laurin@ed
 Education                                                                                                                             .gov, (202) 987-
                                                                                                                                       0919.
    [ssquf] Core grants
    [ssquf] Toolkits,
     Guidelines, Compendia,
     and Review Papers Grants
84.305N Research Networks      October 26, 2023...  January 11, 2024...
 Focused on Critical Problems
 of Education Policy and
 Practice
     Digital Learning                                                                  $200,000-$500,000  Up to 2 years.....  Erin Higgins,
     Platform Network                                                                                                                  [email protected]
     Research Teams                                                                                                                    ov, (202) 987-
                                                                                                                                       1532.
     Career and                                                                        $200,000-$800,000  Up to 4 years.....  Corinne Alfeld,
     Technical Education                                                                                                               Corinne.Alfeld@ed
     Network Research Teams                                                                                                            .gov, (202) 321-
                                                                                                                                       1299.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* These estimates are annual amounts.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Note: If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.


[FR Doc. 2023-19497 Filed 9-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P