[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 87 (Friday, May 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36785-36789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09666]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Transformative Research in the
Education Sciences and Using Longitudinal Data To Support State
Education Policymaking Grant Programs
AGENCY: Institute of Education Sciences, 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) 2025 for the
Education Research Grant Programs, Assistance Listing Numbers (ALNs)
84.305S and 84.305T. 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.
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 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). The 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.
Competitions in This Notice:
The IES National Center for Education Research (NCER) is announcing
two competitions--one competition in each of the following areas: using
longitudinal data to support State education policymaking and
transformative research in the education sciences.
Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Policymaking
(ALN 84.305S). Under this competition, NCER will only consider
applications that address State agencies' use of their State's
education longitudinal data systems to identify and reduce opportunity
and achievement gaps for learners from prekindergarten through adult
education.
Transformative Research in the Education Sciences (ALN 84.305T).
Through this program, IES seeks to support innovative research that has
the potential to make dramatic advances towards solving seemingly
intractable problems and challenges in the education field and/or to
accelerate the pace of conducting education research to facilitate
major breakthroughs. For the FY 2025 competition, the Transformative
Research in the Education Sciences grant program will focus on
accelerating learning and reducing persistent education inequities by
leveraging evidence-based principles from the learning sciences,
coupled with advanced technology to create high-reward, scalable
technology solutions.
Multiple Submissions: You may submit applications to more than one
of the FY 2025 research grant programs offered through the Department,
including those offered through IES as well as those offered through
other offices and programs within the Department. You may submit
multiple applications to each IES grant program announced here as long
as they address different key issues, programs, or policies. However,
you may submit a given application only once for the IES FY 2025 grant
competitions, meaning you may not submit the same application or
similar applications to multiple grant programs within IES, to multiple
topics within a grant competition, or multiple times within the same
topic. If you submit multiple similar applications, IES will determine
whether and which applications will be accepted for review and/or will
be eligible for funding.
In addition, if you submit the same or similar application to IES
and to another funding entity within or external to the Department and
receive funding for the non-IES application prior to IES scientific
peer review of applications,
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you must withdraw the same or similar application submitted to IES, or
IES may otherwise determine you are ineligible to receive an award. If
reviews are happening concurrently, IES staff will consult with the
other potential funder to determine the degree of overlap and which
entity will provide funding if both applications are being considered
for funding.
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, 75.250(a), and 75.708. (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 2025, 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 may announce additional competitions
later in 2024.
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: In previous years, IES has awarded 3 to
7 grants under each of these competitions. 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.
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 Using Longitudinal Data to Support
State Education Policymaking (ALN 84.305S) grant program, eligible
applications must include the eligible State agency or State
postsecondary system responsible for the education issue, program, or
policy to be examined. Eligible State agencies include the State
educational agency (SEA) responsible for the State's K-12 sector as
well as other State agencies responsible for other specific education
sectors such as prekindergarten, career and technical education,
postsecondary education, and adult education. In addition, a State
postsecondary system may serve as the eligible State agency. Eligible
State agencies may apply alone, or in conjunction with research
organizations such as universities and research firms, and/or with
other appropriate organizations (such as other State agencies or local
educational agencies).
For the Transformative Research in the Education Sciences (ALN
84.305T) grant program, eligible applicants are organizations that have
the demonstrated ability and capacity to conduct rigorous research and
development. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to,
institutions of higher education and non-profit, for-profit, public, or
private entities. Eligible applications must include research, product
development, and education agency partners. The research partner must
be an organization that has the ability and capacity to conduct
rigorous research and development. The product development partner must
be an organization that has experience developing and scaling products.
Eligible education agency partners include:
[cir] State education agencies such as departments, boards, and
commissions that oversee early learning, elementary, secondary,
postsecondary, and/or adult education. The term ``State education
agencies'' includes U.S. Territories' education agencies and Tribal
educational agencies.
[cir] Local educational agencies, which are primarily public school
districts and may also include county or city agencies that have
primary responsibility for prekindergarten or adult education.
Individual schools, including those that are recognized as a local
educational agency, or groups of schools that do not form a school
district are not eligible to apply as the education agency partner.
[cir] Intermediate districts (sometimes called service districts)
that provide services to multiple districts but do not have decision-
making authority over implementing programs and policies cannot serve
as the agency partner.
[cir] Community college districts.
[cir] State and city postsecondary systems. The postsecondary
system must apply as the agency partner. Individual postsecondary
institutions may not apply as the agency partner.
[cir] In places where State or local educational agencies do not
oversee adult education, the adult education providers, defined as
``eligible providers'' (e.g., community-based organizations,
institutions of higher education, public or non-profit agencies,
libraries) under Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act (WIOA: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-113publ128/pdf/PLAW-113publ128.pdf), can serve as the agency partner.
Applications that include non-public organizations that oversee or
administer schools (e.g., certain charter or education management
organizations) must also include, as an agency partner, the State or
local educational agency with oversight of the schools these non-public
organizations manage.
2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: The Using Longitudinal Data to
Support State Education Policymaking (ALN 84.305S) grant program does
not require cost sharing or matching.
The Transformative Research in the Education Sciences (ALN 84.305T)
grant program requires cost sharing or matching. For this program, by
the beginning of Year 2, each grant recipient must secure matching
funds in an amount equal to 10 percent of the total funds provided
under the grant in the form of cash or in-kind contributions through a
cost-sharing agreement. Specifically, continuation funding in Years 2
and 3 will be contingent upon the establishment of a cost sharing
agreement and the inclusion of a revised budget and budget narrative
that includes cost sharing funds in the first-year annual report. The
cost sharing partner must be an organization that has
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experience developing and scaling technology products.
b. Indirect Cost Rate Information: Both programs described in this
notice use 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.
3. Subgrantees: Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c) a grantee under
these competitions 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.
2. Other Information: Information regarding program and application
requirements for the competitions will be contained in the currently
available IES Application Submission Guide and in the NCER Request for
Applications (RFA)s, which will be available on or before May 6, 2024,
on the IES website at: https://ies.ed.gov/funding/. The application
packages for these competitions will also be available on or before May
6, 2024.
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 of 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 84.305S competition, peer reviewers will evaluate the
significance of the application, the quality of the research plan, the
applicability and availability of the data to be analyzed, and the
quality of the plans to disseminate and use the findings in State
decision-making. These criteria are described in greater detail in the
RFA.
For the 84.305T competition, peer reviewers will evaluate the
significance of the transformative solution, research approach,
deliverables and metrics plan, personnel, resources, and dissemination.
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 $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
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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. 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 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. School readiness outcomes include pre-
reading, reading, pre-writing, early mathematics, early science, and
social-emotional skills that prepare young children for school. Student
academic outcomes include learning and achievement in academic content
areas, such as reading, writing, math, science, and social studies as
well as outcomes that reflect students' successful progression through
the education system, such as attendance; 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 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, 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.
Matthew Soldner,
Acting Director, Institute of Education Sciences.
Institute of Education Sciences
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Deadline for
ALN and name Application package transmittal of Estimated range of Project period For further
available applications awards * information contact
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84.305S Using Longitudinal Data to May 6, 2024........... August 15, 2024....... $100,000 to $333,333. Up to 3 years........ [email protected].
Support State Education
Policymaking.
84.305T Transformative Research in May 6, 2024........... September 12, 2024.... $300,0000 to Up to 3 years........ [email protected].
the Education Sciences. $1,250,000.
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[FR Doc. 2024-09666 Filed 5-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P