80_FR_14149 80 FR 14097 - Applications for New Awards; Technical Assistance and Dissemination To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities-Model Demonstration Projects To Improve Adolescent Literacy for Students with Disabilities in Middle and High Schools, Grades 6-12

80 FR 14097 - Applications for New Awards; Technical Assistance and Dissemination To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities-Model Demonstration Projects To Improve Adolescent Literacy for Students with Disabilities in Middle and High Schools, Grades 6-12

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 52 (March 18, 2015)

Page Range14097-14103
FR Document2015-06273

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14097-14103]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06273]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Technical Assistance and 
Dissemination To Improve Services and Results for Children With 
Disabilities--Model Demonstration Projects To Improve Adolescent 
Literacy for Students with Disabilities in Middle and High Schools, 
Grades 6-12

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 
Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information: Technical Assistance and Dissemination to 
Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities--Model 
Demonstration Projects to Improve Adolescent Literacy for Students with 
Disabilities in Middle and High Schools, Grades 6-12.

    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2015.

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.326M.


DATES: Applications Available: March 18, 2015.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 4, 2015.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 1, 2015.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Technical Assistance and 
Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with 
Disabilities program is to promote academic achievement and to improve 
results for children with disabilities by providing technical 
assistance (TA), supporting model demonstration projects, disseminating 
useful information, and implementing activities that are supported by 
scientifically based research.
    Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority 
is from allowable activities specified in the statute or otherwise 
authorized in the statute (see sections 663 and 681(d) of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. 1463, 
1481(d).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2015 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, 
this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we 
consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and 
Results for Children with Disabilities--Model Demonstration Projects to 
Improve Adolescent Literacy for Students with Disabilities in Middle 
and High Schools, Grades 6-12.
    Background: The purpose of this priority is to fund three 
cooperative agreements to establish and operate model demonstration 
projects that are designed to improve adolescent literacy for students 
with disabilities in middle and high school grades 6 through 12, who 
score below grade level in reading, or who have identified reading 
goals and objectives on their individualized education program. Results 
from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) demonstrate 
that there is a persistent gap in reading achievement between students 
with disabilities and those without disabilities. In 2013, the average 
scaled scores of eighth graders with disabilities, excluding those with 
a 504 plan, were 42 points lower than their non-disabled peers. Sixty-
five percent of eighth graders with disabilities scored below basic 
level on the reading assessment compared with 19 percent of eighth 
graders without disabilities (U.S. Department of Education, 2014).
    Adolescents must possess the ability to read for understanding 
across a wide variety of content in order to meet college- and career-
ready standards. Elements of literacy at the middle and secondary level 
include the ability to recognize and decode words and how students 
engage in reading as well as writing and oral communication skills.
    To improve adolescent literacy, as defined for the purpose of this 
priority, models should be designed to implement evidence-based 
adolescent literacy interventions that are based on strong theory or 
evidence of promise for improving reading, and locating, understanding, 
interpreting, evaluating, and using written information across multiple 
content areas. Intensive reading intervention to improve adolescent 
literacy should also include a mix of effective instruction, modeling, 
professional development, and evidence-based teaching practices that 
are appropriate for classroom and small group settings. Evidence also 
suggests the implementation of reading interventions requires well 
trained professionals who are prepared to incorporate these 
interventions within instruction across subjects in middle and high 
school grades (Faggella-Luby, Ware, & Capozzoli, 2009). Therefore, 
adolescent literacy models should also include professional development 
as a component of the model. In addition, such models need to be 
replicable across content areas in classrooms and small group settings 
in multiple school sites, with a goal of scaling-up the intervention 
for wider use.
    Priority: The purpose of this priority is to fund three cooperative 
agreements to establish and operate model demonstration projects that 
are designed to improve the literacy of adolescents with disabilities 
in middle and high school grades. For purposes of this priority, the 
target population includes: Students with disabilities in grades 6 
through 12 who score below grade level in reading, or who have 
identified reading goals and objectives on their individualized 
education program. For purposes of this priority, the term ``adolescent 
literacy'' refers to the skills needed by individuals with disabilities 
in middle or high school grades to locate, read, understand, interpret, 
evaluate, and use written information across multiple content areas.
    (a) Model demonstration projects funded under this priority must 
direct their efforts at improving adolescent literacy interventions in 
content areas using effective whole-class and small group instructional 
approaches for students with disabilities;
    (b) Models must also include--
    (1) A professional development component to teach educators how to 
implement the interventions with fidelity across a variety of content 
areas.

[[Page 14098]]

    (2) Strategies for replicating interventions used by educators so 
they are effective when brought to scale across multiple classrooms 
within the participating local educational agency (LEA).
    (c) Each model must include a plan to implement at least one 
evidence-based adolescent literacy intervention that applies strong 
theory or evidence of promise. In addition, these models must be 
implemented at multiple school sites and include professional 
development for all content area teachers at all middle and high school 
grades targeted to receive the intervention.
    To be considered for funding under this absolute priority, 
applicants must meet the application requirements contained in this 
priority. Each project funded under this absolute priority also must 
meet the programmatic and administrative requirements specified in the 
priority.
    Application Requirements. An applicant must include in its 
application--
    (a) A detailed review of the research evidence that supports the 
effectiveness of the proposed model, its components, and processes to 
improve outcomes for adolescents with disabilities in middle and high 
school grades;
    (b) A logic model that depicts, at a minimum, the goals, 
activities, outputs, and outcomes of the proposed model demonstration 
project. The logic model must describe how LEAs and participating 
schools involved in the project would contribute to the activities, 
outputs, and outcomes of the proposed project. A logic model 
communicates how a project will achieve its outcomes and provides a 
framework for both the formative and summative evaluations of the 
project;

    Note: While section 77.1(c) of EDGAR contains a definition for 
``logic model,'' OSEP, based upon its experience in this area, has 
been using the above definition as standard language for the OSEP 
TA&D priorities. OSEP's definition establishes a difference between 
logic models and conceptual frameworks whereas 34 CFR 77.1(c) 
considers the model to be one and the same. The following Web sites 
provide more information on logic models: 
www.researchutilization.org/matrix/logicmodel_resource3c.html and 
www.tadnet.org/pages/589.

    (c) A description of the activities of the proposed model 
demonstration project to improve literacy for adolescents with 
disabilities in subject areas taught in middle and high schools. The 
description must include:
    (1) Intervention components, including:
    (i) Evidence-based literacy instruction and interventions that are 
provided to the adolescents with disabilities, and are replicable 
across a variety of content areas by each participating school within a 
participating LEA;
    (ii) An explanation of the culturally responsive principles \1\ to 
be incorporated within the interventions;
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    \1\ Culturally responsive principles promote redesigning the 
learning environments to support the development and success of all 
students. Some examples of incorporating culturally responsive 
principles into learning environments include communicating high 
expectations to all students, incorporating students' cultural and 
home experiences into lessons by reshaping the curriculum to reflect 
students' experiences, and engaging students in activities where 
they can converse with one another on topics that tap into their 
background knowledge and experiences (Gay, 2000; King, Artiles, & 
Kozleski, 2009).
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    (iii) An explanation of the professional development materials and 
activities that would be provided to school and LEA personnel to ensure 
that they implement the evidence-based intervention with fidelity; and
    (iv) A data plan that outlines the process for collecting, 
assessing, and analyzing \2\ data for participating adolescents with 
disabilities. The data plan should include a description of how these 
data will be used to improve the instructional interventions.
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    \2\ Applicants must ensure the confidentiality of individual 
data, consistent with the requirements of section 444 of the General 
Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g), commonly known as the 
``Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act'' (FERPA), and State 
laws or regulations concerning the confidentiality of individual 
records. Final FERPA regulatory changes became effective January 3, 
2012, and include requirements for data sharing. Applicants are 
encouraged to review the final FERPA regulations published on 
December 2, 2011 (76 FR 75604). Questions can be sent to the Family 
Policy Compliance Office (www.ed.gov/fpco) at (202) 260-3887 or 
[email protected].
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    (2) Components that will be implemented in each participating 
school and LEA and that--
    (i) Identify the methods and criteria that will be used to select 
\3\ and recruit \4\ at least three middle or high schools and describe 
the schools and LEAs that will participate in the project, including 
their populations and whether the LEAs or the schools that are 
participating are high-poverty, high-need,\5\ rural,\6\ urban, or 
suburban; and
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    \3\ For factors to consider when selecting model demonstration 
sites, the applicant should refer to Assessing Sites for Model 
Demonstration: Lessons Learned for OSEP Grantees at http://mdcc.sri.com/documents/reports/MDCC_Site_Assessment_Brief_09-30-11.pdf. The document also contains a site assessment tool.
    \4\ The applicant must describe who is going to be contacted 
within the district(s) and how ``buy-in'' from these and other 
leaders will be solicited.
    \5\ Section 2102(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA) defines a ``high-need LEA'' as an 
LEA--(A)(i) That serves not fewer than 10,000 children from families 
with incomes below the poverty line (as that term is defined in 
section 9101(33) of the ESEA); or (ii) for which not less than 20 
percent of the children served by the LEA are from families with 
incomes below the poverty line; and (B)(i) for which there is a high 
percentage of teachers not teaching in the academic subjects or 
grade levels that the teachers were trained to teach; or (ii) for 
which there is a high percentage of teachers with emergency, 
provisional, or temporary certification or licensing.
    \6\ For purposes of this priority, ``rural LEA'' means an LEA 
that is eligible under the Small Rural School Achievement (SRSA) 
program or the Rural and Low-Income School (RLIS) program authorized 
under Title VI, Part B of the ESEA. Applicants may determine whether 
a particular LEA is eligible for these programs by referring to the 
information on the following Department Web sites. For SRSA: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/reapsrsa/index.html. For RLIS: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/reaprlisp/eligibility.html.

    Note: Applicants are encouraged to identify, to the extent 
possible, LEAs and schools willing to participate in the applicant's 
model demonstration. Final site selection will be determined in 
consultation with the OSEP project officer following the kick-off 
meeting described in paragraph (d)(1) of these application 
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requirements.

    (ii) Provide initial and ongoing professional development, 
including coaching, for educators involved in implementing the models; 
and
    (3) Evaluation components, including:--
    (i) How the applicant will measure the extent to which project 
activities maintain fidelity to the proposed model;
    (ii) How the applicant will measure the social validity of the 
model--in other words, measuring the satisfaction of stakeholders' 
(i.e., educators', parents', and students') with the model components, 
processes, and outcomes;
    (iii) A formative evaluation plan, consistent with the project's 
logic model and the data-collection plan that will include, as 
appropriate, periodic collection of student performance and achievement 
data, as well as the data collection systems that will be used to 
measure the fidelity of the implementation activities to the proposed 
model, stakeholder satisfaction, and descriptions of the settings where 
the intervention will take place. The plan must outline how these data 
will be reviewed by project staff, when they will be reviewed, and how 
they will be used during the course of the project to adjust the model 
or its implementation to increase the model's usefulness, 
generalizability, and potential for sustainability; and
    (iv) The timeline and plan to collect summative evaluation data on 
the

[[Page 14099]]

reading achievement of adolescents with disabilities and their 
nondisabled peers; and
    (d) A budget for attendance at the following:
    (1) A one and one half-day kick-off meeting to be held in 
Washington, DC, after receipt of the award.
    (2) The three-day Project Directors' Conference in Washington, DC, 
during each year of the project period; and
    (3) Six travel days spread across years 2-4 of the project period 
to attend planning meetings, Department briefings, Department-sponsored 
conferences, and other meetings, as requested by OSEP, to be held in 
Washington, DC, with the OSEP project officer.
    Other Project Activities. To meet the requirements of this 
priority, each project, at a minimum, must:
    (a) Document the process for model replication purposes, should the 
model be successful;
    (b) Communicate and collaborate on an ongoing basis with other 
Department-funded literacy projects to share information on successful 
strategies and implementation challenges regarding adolescent literacy 
instruction and achievement;
    (c) Maintain ongoing telephone and email communication with the 
OSEP project officer and the other model demonstration projects funded 
under this priority; and
    (d) If the project maintains a Web site, include relevant 
information about the model, the intervention, and the demonstration 
activities that meets government- or industry-recognized standards for 
accessibility.

    References:

Faggella-Luby, M. N., Ware, S. M., & Capozzoli, A. (2009). 
Adolescent literacy--Reviewing adolescent literacy reports: Key 
components and critical questions. Journal of Literacy Research, 41, 
453-475.
Gay, G. (2000). Culturally responsive teaching: Theory, research, 
and practice. New York: Teachers College Press.
King, K. A., Artiles, A. J., & Kozleski, E. B. (2009). Professional 
learning for culturally responsive teaching. Retrieved from 
www.equityallianceatasu.org/sites/default/files/Web site_files/
exemplarFINAL.pdf.
U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. 
(2014). National Center for Education Statistics, National 
Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), The Nation's Report Card. 
Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from http://nationsreportcard.gov.

    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department generally offers interested 
parties the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities and 
requirements. However, section 681(d) of the IDEA makes the public 
comment requirements of the APA inapplicable to the priority in this 
notice.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1463 and 1481.
    Applicable Regulations:
    The following regulations apply: (a) The Education Department 
General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 
81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education Department debarment 
and suspension regulations as adopted in 2 CFR part 3485 and the 
Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit 
Requirements for Federal Awards as adopted as regulations of the 
Department in 2 CFR part 3474.\7\
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    \7\ If a for-profit (commercial) organization is awarded a 
grant, it will be required to comply with the Uniform Guidance in 2 
CFR part 200, as adopted as regulations of the Department at 2 CFR 
part 3474.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
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except federally recognized Indian tribes.


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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative agreements.
    Estimated Available Funds: $1,200,000.
    Contingent on the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2016 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $375,000 to $400,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Award: $400,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject and not review any application that 
proposes a budget exceeding $400,000 for a single budget period of 12 
months. The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a notice 
published in the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 3.

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

    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs); LEAs, 
including public charter schools that are considered LEAs under State 
law; IHEs; other public agencies; private nonprofit organizations; 
outlying areas; freely associated States; Indian tribes or tribal 
organizations; and for-profit organizations.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: General Requirements:
    (a) The projects funded under this competition must make positive 
efforts to employ, and advance in employment, qualified individuals 
with disabilities (see section 606 of the IDEA).
    (b) Each applicant and grantee under this competition must involve 
individuals with disabilities or parents of individuals with 
disabilities ages birth through 26 in planning, implementing, and 
evaluating the project (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of the IDEA).

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs), U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 22207, 
Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (703) 
605-6794. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or 
a text telephone (TTY), call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at 
its email address: [email protected].
    If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.326M.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) by contacting the person or team listed under 
Accessible Format in section VIII of this notice.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit Part III to 
the equivalent of no more than 50 pages, using 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

[[Page 14100]]

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. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, 
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part 
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the abstract, the resumes, 
the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the page limit 
does apply to all of the application narrative section (Part III).
    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit in the 
application narrative section; or if you apply standards other than 
those specified in the application package.
    Submission of Proprietary Information:
    Given the types of projects that may be proposed in applications 
for the Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and 
Results for Children with Disabilities--Model Demonstration Projects to 
Improve Adolescent Literacy for Students with Disabilities in Middle 
and High Schools, Grades 6-12, your application may include business 
information that you consider proprietary. The Department's regulations 
define ``business information'' in 34 CFR 5.11.
    Under the Department's transparency policies, we make successful 
applicants' abstracts available to the public.
    Consistent with Executive Order 12600, please designate in your 
application any information that you feel is exempt from disclosure 
under Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act. 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. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: March 18, 2015.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 4, 2015.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to section IV. 7. Other Submission 
Requirements of this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 1, 2015.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under 
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this 
competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and System for Award Management: To do business with the 
Department of Education, you must--
    a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a 
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
    b. Register both your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number and TIN 
with the System for Award Management (SAM), the Government's primary 
registrant database;
    c. Provide your UEI number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information 
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you 
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
    Currently, SAM relies on the identifier provided by Dun and 
Bradstreet (DUNS number) for the UEI. You can create a DUNS number 
within one business day.
    If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or 
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service. 
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal 
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a 
new TIN, please allow 2-5 weeks for your TIN to become active.
    The SAM registration process may take seven or more business days, 
but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the completeness 
and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by an entity. 
Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal financial 
assistance under a program administered by the Department, please allow 
sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number and TIN. We 
strongly recommend that you register early.

    Note: Once your SAM registration is active, you will need to 
allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in 
Grants.gov and before you can submit an application through 
Grants.gov. If you are currently registered with the SAM, you may 
not need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the 
TIN associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you 
will need to update your registration annually. This may take three 
or more business days to complete. Information about SAM is 
available at www.SAM.gov. To further assist you with obtaining your 
existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet, which 
you can find at: http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.

    In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, 
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with 
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the 
following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify 
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the 
instructions in this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under the Model Demonstration Projects on 
the Improvement of Adolescent Literacy for Students with Disabilities 
in Middle and High Schools in Grades 6-12 competition, CFDA number 
84.326M, must be submitted electronically using the Government-wide 
Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be 
able to download a copy of the application package, complete it 
offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not email 
an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written

[[Page 14101]]

statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Model 
Demonstration Projects to Improve Adolescent Literacy for Students with 
Disabilities in Middle and High Schools, Grades 6-12 competition at 
www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application 
package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the 
CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.326, not 
84.326M).
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 
system home page at www.G5.gov.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information you typically provide on the following forms: the 
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of 
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and 
certifications.
     You must upload any narrative sections and all other 
attachments to your application as files in a PDF (Portable Document) 
read-only, non-modifiable format. Do not upload an interactive or 
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, 
non-modifiable PDF or submit a password-protected file, we will not 
review that material. Additional, detailed information on how to attach 
files is in the application instructions.
     Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that 
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates 
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The 
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send 
a second notification to you by email. This second notification 
indicates that the Department has received your application and has 
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified 
identifying number unique to your application).
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues 
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting 
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov 
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a 
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
    If you are prevented from electronically submitting your 
application on the application deadline date because of technical 
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension 
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand 
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing 
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
    If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC 
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this 
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you 
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk 
Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a 
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that 
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The 
Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether 
your application will be accepted.

    Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply 
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the 
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed 
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before 
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem 
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Grants.gov system;

and

     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application.
    If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be 
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must 
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the 
application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: Greg Knollman, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland

[[Page 14102]]

Avenue SW., Room 4096, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 
20202-2600. FAX: (202) 245-7617.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail 
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.326M), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If your application is postmarked after the application deadline 
date, we will not consider your application.

    Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated 
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your 
local post office.

    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper 
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original 
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.326M), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center 
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except 
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.
    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail 
or hand deliver your application to the Department--
    (1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the 
Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix 
letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your 
application; and
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification 
of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this 
notification within 15 business days from the application deadline 
date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application 
Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are 
provided in the application package.
    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 
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 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Additional Review and Selection Process Factors:
    In the past, the Department has had difficulty finding peer 
reviewers for certain competitions because so many individuals who are 
eligible to serve as peer reviewers have conflicts of interest. The 
standing panel requirements under section 682(b) of IDEA also have 
placed additional constraints on the availability of reviewers. 
Therefore, the Department has determined that, for some discretionary 
grant competitions, applications may be separated into two or more 
groups and ranked and selected for funding within specific groups. This 
procedure will make it easier for the Department to find peer 
reviewers, by ensuring that greater numbers of individuals who are 
eligible to serve as reviewers for any particular group of applicants 
will not have conflicts of interest. It also will increase the quality, 
independence, and fairness of the review process, while permitting 
panel members to review applications under discretionary grant 
competitions for which they also have submitted applications. However, 
if the Department decides to select an equal number of applications in 
each group for funding, this may result in different cut-off points for 
fundable applications in each group.
    4. Special Conditions: Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the Secretary may 
impose special conditions and, in appropriate circumstances, high risk 
conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is not financially 
stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or 
other management system that does not meet the standards in 2 CFR part 
200; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise 
not responsible.

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. 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 multi-year award, you must submit an annual 
performance report that provides the most current performance and 
financial expenditure

[[Page 14103]]

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.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has established a set of 
performance measures, including long-term measures, that are designed 
to yield information on various aspects of the effectiveness and 
quality of the Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve 
Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program. These 
measures focus on the extent to which projects provide high-quality 
products and services, the relevance of project products and services 
to educational and early intervention policy and practice, and the use 
of products and services to improve educational and early intervention 
policy and practice.
    Grantees will be required to report information on their project's 
performance in annual reports to the Department (34 CFR 75.590).
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the 
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a 
grantee has made ``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives 
in its approved application.'' This consideration includes the review 
of a grantee's progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes 
in its approved application, and whether the grantee has expended funds 
in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and 
budget. In making a continuation grant, the Secretary also considers 
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in 
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil 
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities 
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Knollman, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4096, PCP, Washington, DC 
20202-2600. Telephone: (202) 245-6425.
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), 
toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) by contacting 
the Grants and Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 
400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2550. 
Telephone: (202) 245-7363. If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, 
toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys. 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 Adobe 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.

    Dated: March 12, 2015.
Sue Swenson,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services.
[FR Doc. 2015-06273 Filed 3-17-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P



                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 52 / Wednesday, March 18, 2015 / Notices                                              14097

                                                  IV. Request for Comments                                Full Text of Announcement                             Elements of literacy at the middle and
                                                     Comments are invited on: (a) Whether                 I. Funding Opportunity Description                    secondary level include the ability to
                                                  the proposed collection of information                                                                        recognize and decode words and how
                                                                                                             Purpose of Program: The purpose of                 students engage in reading as well as
                                                  is necessary for the proper performance                 the Technical Assistance and
                                                  of the functions of the agency, including                                                                     writing and oral communication skills.
                                                                                                          Dissemination to Improve Services and                    To improve adolescent literacy, as
                                                  whether the information shall have                      Results for Children with Disabilities                defined for the purpose of this priority,
                                                  practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the              program is to promote academic                        models should be designed to
                                                  agency’s estimate of the burden                         achievement and to improve results for                implement evidence-based adolescent
                                                  (including hours and cost) of the                       children with disabilities by providing               literacy interventions that are based on
                                                  proposed collection of information; (c)                 technical assistance (TA), supporting                 strong theory or evidence of promise for
                                                  ways to enhance the quality, utility, and               model demonstration projects,                         improving reading, and locating,
                                                  clarity of the information to be                        disseminating useful information, and                 understanding, interpreting, evaluating,
                                                  collected; and (d) ways to minimize the                 implementing activities that are                      and using written information across
                                                  burden of the collection of information                 supported by scientifically based                     multiple content areas. Intensive
                                                  on respondents, including through the                   research.                                             reading intervention to improve
                                                  use of automated collection techniques                     Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR                adolescent literacy should also include
                                                  or other forms of information                           75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority is from                a mix of effective instruction, modeling,
                                                  technology.                                             allowable activities specified in the                 professional development, and
                                                     Comments submitted in response to                    statute or otherwise authorized in the                evidence-based teaching practices that
                                                  this notice will be summarized and/or                   statute (see sections 663 and 681(d) of               are appropriate for classroom and small
                                                  included in the request for OMB                         the Individuals with Disabilities                     group settings. Evidence also suggests
                                                  approval of this information collection;                Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. 1463,                 the implementation of reading
                                                  they also will become a matter of public                1481(d).                                              interventions requires well trained
                                                  record.                                                    Absolute Priority: For FY 2015 and                 professionals who are prepared to
                                                    Dated: March 13, 2015.                                any subsequent year in which we make                  incorporate these interventions within
                                                  Glenna Mickelson,                                       awards from the list of unfunded                      instruction across subjects in middle
                                                  Management Analyst, Office of the Chief                 applicants from this competition, this                and high school grades (Faggella-Luby,
                                                  Information Officer.                                    priority is an absolute priority. Under 34            Ware, & Capozzoli, 2009). Therefore,
                                                  [FR Doc. 2015–06193 Filed 3–17–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                          CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only                    adolescent literacy models should also
                                                                                                          applications that meet this priority.                 include professional development as a
                                                  BILLING CODE 3510–24–P
                                                                                                             This priority is:                                  component of the model. In addition,
                                                                                                             Technical Assistance and                           such models need to be replicable
                                                                                                          Dissemination to Improve Services and                 across content areas in classrooms and
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION                                 Results for Children with Disabilities—               small group settings in multiple school
                                                                                                          Model Demonstration Projects to                       sites, with a goal of scaling-up the
                                                  Applications for New Awards;
                                                                                                          Improve Adolescent Literacy for                       intervention for wider use.
                                                  Technical Assistance and
                                                                                                          Students with Disabilities in Middle and                 Priority: The purpose of this priority
                                                  Dissemination To Improve Services
                                                                                                          High Schools, Grades 6–12.                            is to fund three cooperative agreements
                                                  and Results for Children With                              Background: The purpose of this
                                                  Disabilities—Model Demonstration                                                                              to establish and operate model
                                                                                                          priority is to fund three cooperative                 demonstration projects that are designed
                                                  Projects To Improve Adolescent                          agreements to establish and operate
                                                  Literacy for Students with Disabilities                                                                       to improve the literacy of adolescents
                                                                                                          model demonstration projects that are                 with disabilities in middle and high
                                                  in Middle and High Schools, Grades                      designed to improve adolescent literacy
                                                  6–12                                                                                                          school grades. For purposes of this
                                                                                                          for students with disabilities in middle              priority, the target population includes:
                                                  AGENCY:  Office of Special Education and                and high school grades 6 through 12,                  Students with disabilities in grades 6
                                                  Rehabilitative Services, Department of                  who score below grade level in reading,               through 12 who score below grade level
                                                  Education.                                              or who have identified reading goals                  in reading, or who have identified
                                                  ACTION: Notice.
                                                                                                          and objectives on their individualized                reading goals and objectives on their
                                                                                                          education program. Results from the                   individualized education program. For
                                                    Overview Information: Technical                       National Assessment of Educational                    purposes of this priority, the term
                                                  Assistance and Dissemination to                         Progress (NAEP) demonstrate that there                ‘‘adolescent literacy’’ refers to the skills
                                                  Improve Services and Results for                        is a persistent gap in reading                        needed by individuals with disabilities
                                                  Children with Disabilities—Model                        achievement between students with                     in middle or high school grades to
                                                  Demonstration Projects to Improve                       disabilities and those without                        locate, read, understand, interpret,
                                                  Adolescent Literacy for Students with                   disabilities. In 2013, the average scaled             evaluate, and use written information
                                                  Disabilities in Middle and High Schools,                scores of eighth graders with                         across multiple content areas.
                                                  Grades 6–12.                                            disabilities, excluding those with a 504                 (a) Model demonstration projects
                                                    Notice inviting applications for new                  plan, were 42 points lower than their                 funded under this priority must direct
                                                  awards for fiscal year (FY) 2015.                       non-disabled peers. Sixty-five percent of             their efforts at improving adolescent
                                                                                                          eighth graders with disabilities scored               literacy interventions in content areas
                                                    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
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                                                                                                          below basic level on the reading                      using effective whole-class and small
                                                  (CFDA) Number: 84.326M.
                                                                                                          assessment compared with 19 percent of                group instructional approaches for
                                                  DATES: Applications Available: March                    eighth graders without disabilities (U.S.             students with disabilities;
                                                  18, 2015.                                               Department of Education, 2014).                          (b) Models must also include—
                                                    Deadline for Transmittal of                              Adolescents must possess the ability                  (1) A professional development
                                                  Applications: May 4, 2015.                              to read for understanding across a wide               component to teach educators how to
                                                    Deadline for Intergovernmental                        variety of content in order to meet                   implement the interventions with
                                                  Review: July 1, 2015.                                   college- and career-ready standards.                  fidelity across a variety of content areas.


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                                                  14098                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 52 / Wednesday, March 18, 2015 / Notices

                                                     (2) Strategies for replicating                       the adolescents with disabilities, and                 high-poverty, high-need,5 rural,6 urban,
                                                  interventions used by educators so they                 are replicable across a variety of content             or suburban; and
                                                  are effective when brought to scale                     areas by each participating school                       Note: Applicants are encouraged to
                                                  across multiple classrooms within the                   within a participating LEA;                            identify, to the extent possible, LEAs and
                                                  participating local educational agency                                                                         schools willing to participate in the
                                                                                                             (ii) An explanation of the culturally
                                                  (LEA).                                                                                                         applicant’s model demonstration. Final site
                                                     (c) Each model must include a plan to                responsive principles 1 to be                          selection will be determined in consultation
                                                  implement at least one evidence-based                   incorporated within the interventions;                 with the OSEP project officer following the
                                                  adolescent literacy intervention that                      (iii) An explanation of the                         kick-off meeting described in paragraph
                                                                                                                                                                 (d)(1) of these application requirements.
                                                  applies strong theory or evidence of                    professional development materials and
                                                  promise. In addition, these models must                 activities that would be provided to                     (ii) Provide initial and ongoing
                                                  be implemented at multiple school sites                 school and LEA personnel to ensure that                professional development, including
                                                  and include professional development                    they implement the evidence-based                      coaching, for educators involved in
                                                  for all content area teachers at all                    intervention with fidelity; and                        implementing the models; and
                                                  middle and high school grades targeted                                                                           (3) Evaluation components,
                                                  to receive the intervention.                               (iv) A data plan that outlines the                  including:—
                                                     To be considered for funding under                   process for collecting, assessing, and                   (i) How the applicant will measure
                                                  this absolute priority, applicants must                 analyzing 2 data for participating                     the extent to which project activities
                                                  meet the application requirements                       adolescents with disabilities. The data                maintain fidelity to the proposed model;
                                                  contained in this priority. Each project                plan should include a description of                     (ii) How the applicant will measure
                                                  funded under this absolute priority also                how these data will be used to improve                 the social validity of the model—in
                                                  must meet the programmatic and                          the instructional interventions.                       other words, measuring the satisfaction
                                                  administrative requirements specified in                                                                       of stakeholders’ (i.e., educators’,
                                                                                                             (2) Components that will be
                                                  the priority.                                                                                                  parents’, and students’) with the model
                                                                                                          implemented in each participating                      components, processes, and outcomes;
                                                     Application Requirements. An
                                                                                                          school and LEA and that—                                 (iii) A formative evaluation plan,
                                                  applicant must include in its
                                                  application—                                               (i) Identify the methods and criteria               consistent with the project’s logic model
                                                     (a) A detailed review of the research                that will be used to select 3 and recruit 4            and the data-collection plan that will
                                                  evidence that supports the effectiveness                at least three middle or high schools and              include, as appropriate, periodic
                                                  of the proposed model, its components,                  describe the schools and LEAs that will                collection of student performance and
                                                  and processes to improve outcomes for                   participate in the project, including                  achievement data, as well as the data
                                                  adolescents with disabilities in middle                 their populations and whether the LEAs                 collection systems that will be used to
                                                  and high school grades;                                 or the schools that are participating are              measure the fidelity of the
                                                     (b) A logic model that depicts, at a                                                                        implementation activities to the
                                                  minimum, the goals, activities, outputs,                                                                       proposed model, stakeholder
                                                  and outcomes of the proposed model                                                                             satisfaction, and descriptions of the
                                                  demonstration project. The logic model                    1 Culturally responsive principles promote           settings where the intervention will take
                                                  must describe how LEAs and                              redesigning the learning environments to support       place. The plan must outline how these
                                                  participating schools involved in the                   the development and success of all students. Some      data will be reviewed by project staff,
                                                                                                          examples of incorporating culturally responsive
                                                  project would contribute to the                                                                                when they will be reviewed, and how
                                                                                                          principles into learning environments include
                                                  activities, outputs, and outcomes of the                communicating high expectations to all students,
                                                                                                                                                                 they will be used during the course of
                                                  proposed project. A logic model                         incorporating students’ cultural and home              the project to adjust the model or its
                                                  communicates how a project will                         experiences into lessons by reshaping the              implementation to increase the model’s
                                                  achieve its outcomes and provides a                     curriculum to reflect students’ experiences, and       usefulness, generalizability, and
                                                  framework for both the formative and                    engaging students in activities where they can         potential for sustainability; and
                                                  summative evaluations of the project;                   converse with one another on topics that tap into        (iv) The timeline and plan to collect
                                                                                                          their background knowledge and experiences (Gay,       summative evaluation data on the
                                                    Note: While section 77.1(c) of EDGAR                  2000; King, Artiles, & Kozleski, 2009).
                                                  contains a definition for ‘‘logic model,’’                2 Applicants must ensure the confidentiality of
                                                                                                                                                                    5 Section 2102(3) of the Elementary and
                                                  OSEP, based upon its experience in this area,           individual data, consistent with the requirements of
                                                  has been using the above definition as                                                                         Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended
                                                                                                          section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act    (ESEA) defines a ‘‘high-need LEA’’ as an LEA—
                                                  standard language for the OSEP TA&D                     (20 U.S.C. 1232g), commonly known as the ‘‘Family      (A)(i) That serves not fewer than 10,000 children
                                                  priorities. OSEP’s definition establishes a             Educational Rights and Privacy Act’’ (FERPA), and      from families with incomes below the poverty line
                                                  difference between logic models and                     State laws or regulations concerning the               (as that term is defined in section 9101(33) of the
                                                  conceptual frameworks whereas 34 CFR                    confidentiality of individual records. Final FERPA     ESEA); or (ii) for which not less than 20 percent of
                                                  77.1(c) considers the model to be one and the           regulatory changes became effective January 3,         the children served by the LEA are from families
                                                  same. The following Web sites provide more              2012, and include requirements for data sharing.       with incomes below the poverty line; and (B)(i) for
                                                  information on logic models:                                                                                   which there is a high percentage of teachers not
                                                                                                          Applicants are encouraged to review the final
                                                  www.researchutilization.org/matrix/                                                                            teaching in the academic subjects or grade levels
                                                                                                          FERPA regulations published on December 2, 2011        that the teachers were trained to teach; or (ii) for
                                                  logicmodel_resource3c.html and www.tadnet.              (76 FR 75604). Questions can be sent to the Family
                                                  org/pages/589.                                                                                                 which there is a high percentage of teachers with
                                                                                                          Policy Compliance Office (www.ed.gov/fpco) at          emergency, provisional, or temporary certification
                                                    (c) A description of the activities of                (202) 260–3887 or FERPA@ed.gov.                        or licensing.
                                                                                                            3 For factors to consider when selecting model          6 For purposes of this priority, ‘‘rural LEA’’ means
                                                  the proposed model demonstration
                                                                                                                                                                 an LEA that is eligible under the Small Rural
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                                                  project to improve literacy for                         demonstration sites, the applicant should refer to
                                                                                                          Assessing Sites for Model Demonstration: Lessons       School Achievement (SRSA) program or the Rural
                                                  adolescents with disabilities in subject                                                                       and Low-Income School (RLIS) program authorized
                                                                                                          Learned for OSEP Grantees at http://mdcc.sri.com/
                                                  areas taught in middle and high schools.                documents/reports/MDCC_Site_Assessment_Brief_          under Title VI, Part B of the ESEA. Applicants may
                                                  The description must include:                                                                                  determine whether a particular LEA is eligible for
                                                                                                          09–30–11.pdf. The document also contains a site
                                                    (1) Intervention components,                                                                                 these programs by referring to the information on
                                                                                                          assessment tool.                                       the following Department Web sites. For SRSA:
                                                  including:                                                4 The applicant must describe who is going to be
                                                                                                                                                                 http://www2.ed.gov/programs/reapsrsa/index.html.
                                                    (i) Evidence-based literacy instruction               contacted within the district(s) and how ‘‘buy-in’’    For RLIS: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/reaprlisp/
                                                  and interventions that are provided to                  from these and other leaders will be solicited.        eligibility.html.



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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 52 / Wednesday, March 18, 2015 / Notices                                             14099

                                                  reading achievement of adolescents                      opportunity to comment on proposed                    organizations; outlying areas; freely
                                                  with disabilities and their nondisabled                 priorities and requirements. However,                 associated States; Indian tribes or tribal
                                                  peers; and                                              section 681(d) of the IDEA makes the                  organizations; and for-profit
                                                     (d) A budget for attendance at the                   public comment requirements of the                    organizations.
                                                  following:                                              APA inapplicable to the priority in this                2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
                                                     (1) A one and one half-day kick-off                  notice.                                               competition does not require cost
                                                  meeting to be held in Washington, DC,                     Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1463                   sharing or matching.
                                                  after receipt of the award.                             and 1481.                                               3. Other: General Requirements:
                                                     (2) The three-day Project Directors’                   Applicable Regulations:                               (a) The projects funded under this
                                                  Conference in Washington, DC, during                      The following regulations apply: (a)                competition must make positive efforts
                                                  each year of the project period; and                    The Education Department General                      to employ, and advance in employment,
                                                     (3) Six travel days spread across years              Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in                 qualified individuals with disabilities
                                                  2–4 of the project period to attend                     34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86,              (see section 606 of the IDEA).
                                                  planning meetings, Department                           97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education                       (b) Each applicant and grantee under
                                                  briefings, Department-sponsored                         Department debarment and suspension                   this competition must involve
                                                  conferences, and other meetings, as                     regulations as adopted in 2 CFR part                  individuals with disabilities or parents
                                                  requested by OSEP, to be held in                        3485 and the Uniform Administrative                   of individuals with disabilities ages
                                                  Washington, DC, with the OSEP project                   Requirements, Cost Principles, and                    birth through 26 in planning,
                                                  officer.                                                Audit Requirements for Federal Awards                 implementing, and evaluating the
                                                     Other Project Activities. To meet the                as adopted as regulations of the                      project (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of the
                                                  requirements of this priority, each                     Department in 2 CFR part 3474.7                       IDEA).
                                                  project, at a minimum, must:
                                                     (a) Document the process for model                     Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79
                                                                                                                                                                IV. Application and Submission
                                                                                                          apply to all applicants except federally
                                                  replication purposes, should the model                                                                        Information
                                                                                                          recognized Indian tribes.
                                                  be successful;
                                                     (b) Communicate and collaborate on                                                                            1. Address to Request Application
                                                                                                            Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86             Package: Education Publications Center
                                                  an ongoing basis with other Department-                 apply only to institutions of higher education
                                                  funded literacy projects to share                                                                             (ED Pubs), U.S. Department of
                                                                                                          (IHEs).
                                                  information on successful strategies and                                                                      Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria,
                                                  implementation challenges regarding                     II. Award Information                                 VA 22304. Telephone, toll free: 1–877–
                                                  adolescent literacy instruction and                                                                           433–7827. FAX: (703) 605–6794. If you
                                                                                                            Type of Award: Cooperative                          use a telecommunications device for the
                                                  achievement;                                            agreements.
                                                     (c) Maintain ongoing telephone and                                                                         deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY),
                                                                                                            Estimated Available Funds:                          call, toll free: 1–877–576–7734.
                                                  email communication with the OSEP                       $1,200,000.
                                                  project officer and the other model                                                                              You can contact ED Pubs at its Web
                                                                                                            Contingent on the availability of                   site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at its
                                                  demonstration projects funded under                     funds and the quality of applications,
                                                  this priority; and                                                                                            email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
                                                                                                          we may make additional awards in FY                      If you request an application package
                                                     (d) If the project maintains a Web site,             2016 from the list of unfunded
                                                  include relevant information about the                                                                        from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this
                                                                                                          applicants from this competition.                     competition as follows: CFDA number
                                                  model, the intervention, and the                          Estimated Range of Awards: $375,000
                                                  demonstration activities that meets                                                                           84.326M.
                                                                                                          to $400,000.                                             Individuals with disabilities can
                                                  government- or industry-recognized                        Estimated Average Size of Award:
                                                  standards for accessibility.                                                                                  obtain a copy of the application package
                                                                                                          $400,000.
                                                                                                                                                                in an accessible format (e.g., braille,
                                                     References:                                            Maximum Award: We will reject and
                                                                                                                                                                large print, audiotape, or compact disc)
                                                  Faggella-Luby, M. N., Ware, S. M., &                    not review any application that
                                                                                                                                                                by contacting the person or team listed
                                                      Capozzoli, A. (2009). Adolescent                    proposes a budget exceeding $400,000
                                                                                                                                                                under Accessible Format in section VIII
                                                      literacy—Reviewing adolescent literacy              for a single budget period of 12 months.
                                                                                                                                                                of this notice.
                                                      reports: Key components and critical                The Assistant Secretary for Special
                                                                                                                                                                   2. Content and Form of Application
                                                      questions. Journal of Literacy Research,            Education and Rehabilitative Services
                                                      41, 453–475.                                                                                              Submission: Requirements concerning
                                                                                                          may change the maximum amount
                                                  Gay, G. (2000). Culturally responsive                                                                         the content of an application, together
                                                                                                          through a notice published in the
                                                      teaching: Theory, research, and practice.                                                                 with the forms you must submit, are in
                                                                                                          Federal Register.
                                                      New York: Teachers College Press.                                                                         the application package for this
                                                                                                            Estimated Number of Awards: 3.
                                                  King, K. A., Artiles, A. J., & Kozleski, E. B.                                                                competition.
                                                      (2009). Professional learning for                     Note: The Department is not bound by any               Page Limit: The application narrative
                                                      culturally responsive teaching. Retrieved           estimates in this notice.                             (Part III of the application) is where you,
                                                      from www.equityallianceatasu.org/sites/                                                                   the applicant, address the selection
                                                                                                            Project Period: Up to 48 months.
                                                      default/files/Web site_files/
                                                      exemplarFINAL.pdf.
                                                                                                                                                                criteria that reviewers use to evaluate
                                                                                                          III. Eligibility Information
                                                  U.S. Department of Education, Institute of                                                                    your application. You must limit Part III
                                                      Education Sciences. (2014). National                  Eligible Applicants: State educational              to the equivalent of no more than 50
                                                      Center for Education Statistics, National           agencies (SEAs); LEAs, including public               pages, using the following standards:
                                                                                                          charter schools that are considered                      • A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side
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                                                      Assessment of Educational Progress
                                                      (NAEP), The Nation’s Report Card.                   LEAs under State law; IHEs; other                     only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom,
                                                      Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from              public agencies; private nonprofit                    and both sides.
                                                      http://nationsreportcard.gov.                                                                                • Double space (no more than three
                                                                                                            7 If a for-profit (commercial) organization is
                                                    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking:                                                                              lines per vertical inch) all text in the
                                                                                                          awarded a grant, it will be required to comply with
                                                  Under the Administrative Procedure Act                  the Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR part 200, as
                                                                                                                                                                application narrative, including titles,
                                                  (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department                    adopted as regulations of the Department at 2 CFR     headings, footnotes, quotations,
                                                  generally offers interested parties the                 part 3474.                                            references, and captions, as well as all


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                                                  14100                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 52 / Wednesday, March 18, 2015 / Notices

                                                  text in charts, tables, figures, and                    submission requirement, please refer to                 The SAM registration process may
                                                  graphs.                                                 section IV. 7. Other Submission                       take seven or more business days, but
                                                     • Use a font that is either 12 point or              Requirements of this notice.                          may take upwards of several weeks,
                                                  larger or no smaller than 10 pitch                         We do not consider an application                  depending on the completeness and
                                                  (characters per inch).                                  that does not comply with the deadline                accuracy of the data entered into the
                                                     • Use one of the following fonts:                    requirements.                                         SAM database by an entity. Thus, if you
                                                  Times New Roman, Courier, Courier                          Individuals with disabilities who                  think you might want to apply for
                                                  New, or Arial. An application submitted                 need an accommodation or auxiliary aid                Federal financial assistance under a
                                                  in any other font (including Times                      in connection with the application                    program administered by the
                                                  Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be                      process should contact the person listed              Department, please allow sufficient time
                                                  accepted.                                               under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION                         to obtain and register your DUNS
                                                     The page limit does not apply to Part                CONTACT in section VII of this notice. If             number and TIN. We strongly
                                                  I, the cover sheet; Part II, the budget                 the Department provides an                            recommend that you register early.
                                                  section, including the narrative budget                 accommodation or auxiliary aid to an                    Note: Once your SAM registration is active,
                                                  justification; Part IV, the assurances and              individual with a disability in                       you will need to allow 24 to 48 hours for the
                                                  certifications; or the abstract, the                    connection with the application                       information to be available in Grants.gov and
                                                  resumes, the bibliography, or the letters               process, the individual’s application                 before you can submit an application through
                                                  of support. However, the page limit does                remains subject to all other                          Grants.gov. If you are currently registered
                                                  apply to all of the application narrative               requirements and limitations in this                  with the SAM, you may not need to make
                                                  section (Part III).                                                                                           any changes. However, please make certain
                                                                                                          notice.
                                                     We will reject your application if you                                                                     that the TIN associated with your DUNS
                                                                                                             Deadline for Intergovernmental                     number is correct. Also note that you will
                                                  exceed the page limit in the application                Review: July 1, 2015.                                 need to update your registration annually.
                                                  narrative section; or if you apply                         4. Intergovernmental Review: This                  This may take three or more business days
                                                  standards other than those specified in                 competition is subject to Executive                   to complete. Information about SAM is
                                                  the application package.                                Order 12372 and the regulations in 34                 available at www.SAM.gov. To further assist
                                                     Submission of Proprietary                            CFR part 79. Information about                        you with obtaining your existing SAM
                                                  Information:                                            Intergovernmental Review of Federal                   account, we have prepared a SAM.gov Tip
                                                     Given the types of projects that may                 Programs under Executive Order 12372                  Sheet, which you can find at: http://www2.
                                                  be proposed in applications for the                                                                           ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
                                                                                                          is in the application package for this
                                                  Technical Assistance and Dissemination                  competition.                                             In addition, if you are submitting your
                                                  to Improve Services and Results for                        5. Funding Restrictions: We reference              application via Grants.gov, you must (1)
                                                  Children with Disabilities—Model                        regulations outlining funding                         be designated by your organization as an
                                                  Demonstration Projects to Improve                       restrictions in the Applicable                        Authorized Organization Representative
                                                  Adolescent Literacy for Students with                   Regulations section of this notice.                   (AOR); and (2) register yourself with
                                                  Disabilities in Middle and High Schools,                   6. Data Universal Numbering System                 Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these
                                                  Grades 6–12, your application may                       Number, Taxpayer Identification                       steps are outlined at the following
                                                  include business information that you                   Number, and System for Award                          Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/
                                                  consider proprietary. The Department’s                  Management: To do business with the                   web/grants/register.html.
                                                  regulations define ‘‘business                           Department of Education, you must—                       7. Other Submission Requirements:
                                                  information’’ in 34 CFR 5.11.                              a. Have a Data Universal Numbering                 Applications for grants under this
                                                     Under the Department’s transparency                  System (DUNS) number and a Taxpayer                   competition must be submitted
                                                  policies, we make successful applicants’                Identification Number (TIN);                          electronically unless you qualify for an
                                                  abstracts available to the public.                         b. Register both your Unique Entity                exception to this requirement in
                                                     Consistent with Executive Order                      Identifier (UEI) number and TIN with                  accordance with the instructions in this
                                                  12600, please designate in your                         the System for Award Management                       section.
                                                  application any information that you                    (SAM), the Government’s primary                          a. Electronic Submission of
                                                  feel is exempt from disclosure under                    registrant database;                                  Applications.
                                                  Exemption 4 of the Freedom of                              c. Provide your UEI number and TIN                    Applications for grants under the
                                                  Information Act. In the appropriate                     on your application; and                              Model Demonstration Projects on the
                                                  Appendix section of your application,                      d. Maintain an active SAM                          Improvement of Adolescent Literacy for
                                                  under ‘‘Other Attachments Form,’’                       registration with current information                 Students with Disabilities in Middle
                                                  please list the page number or numbers                  while your application is under review                and High Schools in Grades 6–12
                                                  on which we can find this information.                  by the Department and, if you are                     competition, CFDA number 84.326M,
                                                  For additional information please see 34                awarded a grant, during the project                   must be submitted electronically using
                                                  CFR 5.11(c).                                            period.                                               the Government-wide Grants.gov Apply
                                                     3. Submission Dates and Times:                          Currently, SAM relies on the                       site at www.Grants.gov. Through this
                                                     Applications Available: March 18,                    identifier provided by Dun and                        site, you will be able to download a
                                                  2015.                                                   Bradstreet (DUNS number) for the UEI.                 copy of the application package,
                                                     Deadline for Transmittal of                          You can create a DUNS number within                   complete it offline, and then upload and
                                                  Applications: May 4, 2015.                              one business day.                                     submit your application. You may not
                                                     Applications for grants under this                      If you are a corporate entity, agency,             email an electronic copy of a grant
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                                                  competition must be submitted                           institution, or organization, you can                 application to us.
                                                  electronically using the Grants.gov                     obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue                   We will reject your application if you
                                                  Apply site (Grants.gov). For information                Service. If you are an individual, you                submit it in paper format unless, as
                                                  (including dates and times) about how                   can obtain a TIN from the Internal                    described elsewhere in this section, you
                                                  to submit your application                              Revenue Service or the Social Security                qualify for one of the exceptions to the
                                                  electronically, or in paper format by                   Administration. If you need a new TIN,                electronic submission requirement and
                                                  mail or hand delivery if you qualify for                please allow 2–5 weeks for your TIN to                submit, no later than two weeks before
                                                  an exception to the electronic                          become active.                                        the application deadline date, a written


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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 52 / Wednesday, March 18, 2015 / Notices                                               14101

                                                  statement to the Department that you                       • You will not receive additional                  hand delivery. You also may mail your
                                                  qualify for one of these exceptions.                    point value because you submit your                   application by following the mailing
                                                  Further information regarding                           application in electronic format, nor                 instructions described elsewhere in this
                                                  calculation of the date that is two weeks               will we penalize you if you qualify for               notice.
                                                  before the application deadline date is                 an exception to the electronic                           If you submit an application after
                                                  provided later in this section under                    submission requirement, as described                  4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on
                                                  Exception to Electronic Submission                      elsewhere in this section, and submit                 the application deadline date, please
                                                  Requirement.                                            your application in paper format.                     contact the person listed under FOR
                                                     You may access the electronic grant                     • You must submit all documents                    FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in
                                                  application for the Model                               electronically, including all information             section VII of this notice and provide an
                                                  Demonstration Projects to Improve                       you typically provide on the following                explanation of the technical problem
                                                  Adolescent Literacy for Students with                   forms: the Application for Federal                    you experienced with Grants.gov, along
                                                  Disabilities in Middle and High Schools,                Assistance (SF 424), the Department of                with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case
                                                  Grades 6–12 competition at                              Education Supplemental Information for                Number. We will accept your
                                                  www.Grants.gov. You must search for                     SF 424, Budget Information—Non-                       application if we can confirm that a
                                                  the downloadable application package                    Construction Programs (ED 524), and all               technical problem occurred with the
                                                  for this competition by the CFDA                        necessary assurances and certifications.              Grants.gov system and that that problem
                                                  number. Do not include the CFDA                            • You must upload any narrative                    affected your ability to submit your
                                                  number’s alpha suffix in your search                    sections and all other attachments to                 application by 4:30:00 p.m.,
                                                  (e.g., search for 84.326, not 84.326M).                 your application as files in a PDF                    Washington, DC time, on the
                                                     Please note the following:                           (Portable Document) read-only, non-                   application deadline date. The
                                                     • When you enter the Grants.gov site,                modifiable format. Do not upload an                   Department will contact you after a
                                                  you will find information about                         interactive or fillable PDF file. If you              determination is made on whether your
                                                  submitting an application electronically                upload a file type other than a read-                 application will be accepted.
                                                  through the site, as well as the hours of               only, non-modifiable PDF or submit a
                                                  operation.                                              password-protected file, we will not                     Note: The extensions to which we refer in
                                                     • Applications received by Grants.gov                review that material. Additional,                     this section apply only to the unavailability
                                                  are date and time stamped. Your                                                                               of, or technical problems with, the Grants.gov
                                                                                                          detailed information on how to attach                 system. We will not grant you an extension
                                                  application must be fully uploaded and                  files is in the application instructions.             if you failed to fully register to submit your
                                                  submitted and must be date and time                        • Your electronic application must                 application to Grants.gov before the
                                                  stamped by the Grants.gov system no                     comply with any page-limit                            application deadline date and time or if the
                                                  later than 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC                 requirements described in this notice.                technical problem you experienced is
                                                  time, on the application deadline date.                    • After you electronically submit                  unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
                                                  Except as otherwise noted in this                       your application, you will receive from                  Exception to Electronic Submission
                                                  section, we will not accept your                        Grants.gov an automatic notification of               Requirement: You qualify for an
                                                  application if it is received—that is, date             receipt that contains a Grants.gov                    exception to the electronic submission
                                                  and time stamped by the Grants.gov                      tracking number. (This notification                   requirement, and may submit your
                                                  system—after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington,                  indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not             application in paper format, if you are
                                                  DC time, on the application deadline                    receipt by the Department.) The                       unable to submit an application through
                                                  date. We do not consider an application                 Department then will retrieve your                    the Grants.gov system because—
                                                  that does not comply with the deadline                  application from Grants.gov and send a                   • You do not have access to the
                                                  requirements. When we retrieve your                     second notification to you by email.                  Internet; or
                                                  application from Grants.gov, we will                    This second notification indicates that                  • You do not have the capacity to
                                                  notify you if we are rejecting your                     the Department has received your                      upload large documents to the
                                                  application because it was date and time                application and has assigned your                     Grants.gov system;
                                                  stamped by the Grants.gov system after                  application a PR/Award number (an ED-
                                                  4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on                   specified identifying number unique to                and
                                                  the application deadline date.                          your application).                                       • No later than two weeks before the
                                                     • The amount of time it can take to                     • We may request that you provide us               application deadline date (14 calendar
                                                  upload an application will vary                         original signatures on forms at a later               days or, if the fourteenth calendar day
                                                  depending on a variety of factors,                      date.                                                 before the application deadline date
                                                  including the size of the application and                  Application Deadline Date Extension                falls on a Federal holiday, the next
                                                  the speed of your Internet connection.                  in Case of Technical Issues with the                  business day following the Federal
                                                  Therefore, we strongly recommend that                   Grants.gov System: If you are                         holiday), you mail or fax a written
                                                  you do not wait until the application                   experiencing problems submitting your                 statement to the Department, explaining
                                                  deadline date to begin the submission                   application through Grants.gov, please                which of the two grounds for an
                                                  process through Grants.gov.                             contact the Grants.gov Support Desk,                  exception prevent you from using the
                                                     • You should review and follow the                   toll free, at 1–800–518–4726. You must                Internet to submit your application.
                                                  Education Submission Procedures for                     obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case                    If you mail your written statement to
                                                  submitting an application through                       Number and must keep a record of it.                  the Department, it must be postmarked
                                                  Grants.gov that are included in the                        If you are prevented from                          no later than two weeks before the
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                                                  application package for this competition                electronically submitting your                        application deadline date. If you fax
                                                  to ensure that you submit your                          application on the application deadline               your written statement to the
                                                  application in a timely manner to the                   date because of technical problems with               Department, we must receive the faxed
                                                  Grants.gov system. You can also find the                the Grants.gov system, we will grant you              statement no later than two weeks
                                                  Education Submission Procedures                         an extension until 4:30:00 p.m.,                      before the application deadline date.
                                                  pertaining to Grants.gov under News                     Washington, DC time, the following                       Address and mail or fax your
                                                  and Events on the Department’s G5                       business day to enable you to transmit                statement to: Greg Knollman, U.S.
                                                  system home page at www.G5.gov.                         your application electronically or by                 Department of Education, 400 Maryland


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                                                  14102                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 52 / Wednesday, March 18, 2015 / Notices

                                                  Avenue SW., Room 4096, Potomac                             Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of                  applicants will not have conflicts of
                                                  Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC                      Paper Applications: If you mail or hand               interest. It also will increase the quality,
                                                  20202–2600. FAX: (202) 245–7617.                        deliver your application to the                       independence, and fairness of the
                                                    Your paper application must be                        Department—                                           review process, while permitting panel
                                                  submitted in accordance with the mail                      (1) You must indicate on the envelope              members to review applications under
                                                  or hand delivery instructions described                 and—if not provided by the                            discretionary grant competitions for
                                                  in this notice.                                         Department—in Item 11 of the SF 424                   which they also have submitted
                                                    b. Submission of Paper Applications                   the CFDA number, including suffix                     applications. However, if the
                                                  by Mail.                                                letter, if any, of the competition under              Department decides to select an equal
                                                    If you qualify for an exception to the                which you are submitting your                         number of applications in each group
                                                  electronic submission requirement, you                  application; and                                      for funding, this may result in different
                                                  may mail (through the U.S. Postal                          (2) The Application Control Center                 cut-off points for fundable applications
                                                  Service or a commercial carrier) your                   will mail to you a notification of receipt            in each group.
                                                  application to the Department. You                      of your grant application. If you do not                 4. Special Conditions: Under 2 CFR
                                                  must mail the original and two copies                   receive this notification within 15                   3474.10, the Secretary may impose
                                                  of your application, on or before the                   business days from the application                    special conditions and, in appropriate
                                                  application deadline date, to the                       deadline date, you should call the U.S.               circumstances, high risk conditions on a
                                                  Department at the following address:                    Department of Education Application                   grant if the applicant or grantee is not
                                                  U.S. Department of Education,                           Control Center at (202) 245–6288.                     financially stable; has a history of
                                                  Application Control Center, Attention:                  V. Application Review Information                     unsatisfactory performance; has a
                                                  (CFDA Number 84.326M), LBJ Basement                                                                           financial or other management system
                                                  Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,                         1. Selection Criteria: The selection                that does not meet the standards in 2
                                                  Washington, DC 20202–4260.                              criteria for this program are provided in             CFR part 200; has not fulfilled the
                                                    You must show proof of mailing                        the application package.                              conditions of a prior grant; or is
                                                  consisting of one of the following:                       2. Review and Selection Process: We                 otherwise not responsible.
                                                    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service               remind potential applicants that in
                                                  postmark.                                               reviewing applications in any                         VI. Award Administration Information
                                                    (2) A legible mail receipt with the                   discretionary grant competition, the                     1. Award Notices: If your application
                                                  date of mailing stamped by the U.S.                     Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR                  is successful, we notify your U.S.
                                                  Postal Service.                                         75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the             Representative and U.S. Senators and
                                                    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or               applicant in carrying out a previous                  send you a Grant Award Notification
                                                  receipt from a commercial carrier.                      award, such as the applicant’s use of                 (GAN); or we may send you an email
                                                    (4) Any other proof of mailing                        funds, achievement of project                         containing a link to access an electronic
                                                  acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S.                 objectives, and compliance with grant                 version of your GAN. We may notify
                                                  Department of Education.                                conditions. The Secretary may also                    you informally, also.
                                                    If you mail your application through                  consider whether the applicant failed to                 If your application is not evaluated or
                                                  the U.S. Postal Service, we do not                      submit a timely performance report or                 not selected for funding, we notify you.
                                                  accept either of the following as proof                 submitted a report of unacceptable                       2. Administrative and National Policy
                                                  of mailing:                                             quality.                                              Requirements: We identify
                                                    (1) A private metered postmark.                         In addition, in making a competitive                administrative and national policy
                                                    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by               grant award, the Secretary also requires              requirements in the application package
                                                  the U.S. Postal Service.                                various assurances including those                    and reference these and other
                                                    If your application is postmarked after               applicable to Federal civil rights laws               requirements in the Applicable
                                                  the application deadline date, we will                  that prohibit discrimination in programs              Regulations section of this notice.
                                                  not consider your application.                          or activities receiving Federal financial                We reference the regulations outlining
                                                    Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not                assistance from the Department of                     the terms and conditions of an award in
                                                  uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before              Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4,                the Applicable Regulations section of
                                                  relying on this method, you should check                108.8, and 110.23).                                   this notice and include these and other
                                                  with your local post office.                              3. Additional Review and Selection                  specific conditions in the GAN. The
                                                    c. Submission of Paper Applications                   Process Factors:                                      GAN also incorporates your approved
                                                  by Hand Delivery.                                         In the past, the Department has had                 application as part of your binding
                                                    If you qualify for an exception to the                difficulty finding peer reviewers for                 commitments under the grant.
                                                  electronic submission requirement, you                  certain competitions because so many                     3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a
                                                  (or a courier service) may deliver your                 individuals who are eligible to serve as              grant under this competition, you must
                                                  paper application to the Department by                  peer reviewers have conflicts of interest.            ensure that you have in place the
                                                  hand. You must deliver the original and                 The standing panel requirements under                 necessary processes and systems to
                                                  two copies of your application by hand,                 section 682(b) of IDEA also have placed               comply with the reporting requirements
                                                  on or before the application deadline                   additional constraints on the availability            in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive
                                                  date, to the Department at the following                of reviewers. Therefore, the Department               funding under the competition. This
                                                  address: U.S. Department of Education,                  has determined that, for some                         does not apply if you have an exception
                                                  Application Control Center, Attention:                  discretionary grant competitions,                     under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
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                                                  (CFDA Number 84.326M), 550 12th                         applications may be separated into two                   (b) At the end of your project period,
                                                  Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center                   or more groups and ranked and selected                you must submit a final performance
                                                  Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260.                       for funding within specific groups. This              report, including financial information,
                                                    The Application Control Center                        procedure will make it easier for the                 as directed by the Secretary. If you
                                                  accepts hand deliveries daily between                   Department to find peer reviewers, by                 receive a multi-year award, you must
                                                  8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington,                 ensuring that greater numbers of                      submit an annual performance report
                                                  DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays,                     individuals who are eligible to serve as              that provides the most current
                                                  and Federal holidays.                                   reviewers for any particular group of                 performance and financial expenditure


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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 52 / Wednesday, March 18, 2015 / Notices                                                  14103

                                                  information as directed by the Secretary                VIII. Other Information                               First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426,
                                                  under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary                         Accessible Format: Individuals with                in accordance with Rules 211 and 214
                                                  may also require more frequent                          disabilities can obtain this document                 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice
                                                  performance reports under 34 CFR                        and a copy of the application package in              and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and
                                                  75.720(c). For specific requirements on                 an accessible format (e.g., braille, large            385.214). Anyone filing a motion to
                                                  reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/                     print, audiotape, or compact disc) by                 intervene or protest must serve a copy
                                                  fund/grant/apply/appforms/                              contacting the Grants and Contracts                   of that document on the Applicant.
                                                  appforms.html.                                          Services Team, U.S. Department of                        Notice is hereby given that the
                                                                                                          Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,                   deadline for filing protests with regard
                                                     4. Performance Measures: Under the
                                                                                                          room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC                        to the applicant’s request for blanket
                                                  Government Performance and Results
                                                                                                          20202–2550. Telephone: (202) 245–                     authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of
                                                  Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has
                                                                                                          7363. If you use a TDD or a TTY, call                 future issuances of securities and
                                                  established a set of performance
                                                                                                          the FRS, toll free, at 1–800–877–8339.                assumptions of liability is March 30,
                                                  measures, including long-term
                                                                                                             Electronic Access to This Document:                2015.
                                                  measures, that are designed to yield                                                                             The Commission encourages
                                                  information on various aspects of the                   The official version of this document is
                                                                                                          the document published in the Federal                 electronic submission of protests and
                                                  effectiveness and quality of the                                                                              interventions in lieu of paper, using the
                                                  Technical Assistance and Dissemination                  Register. Free Internet access to the
                                                                                                          official edition of the Federal Register              FERC Online links at http://
                                                  to Improve Services and Results for                                                                           www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic
                                                  Children with Disabilities program.                     and the Code of Federal Regulations is
                                                                                                          available via the Federal Digital System              service, persons with Internet access
                                                  These measures focus on the extent to                                                                         who will eFile a document and/or be
                                                  which projects provide high-quality                     at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you
                                                                                                          can view this document, as well as all                listed as a contact for an intervenor
                                                  products and services, the relevance of                                                                       must create and validate an
                                                  project products and services to                        other documents of this Department
                                                                                                          published in the Federal Register, in                 eRegistration account using the
                                                  educational and early intervention                                                                            eRegistration link. Select the eFiling
                                                  policy and practice, and the use of                     text or Adobe Portable Document
                                                                                                          Format (PDF). To use PDF you must                     link to log on and submit the
                                                  products and services to improve                                                                              intervention or protests.
                                                  educational and early intervention                      have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
                                                                                                                                                                   Persons unable to file electronically
                                                  policy and practice.                                    available free at the site.
                                                                                                             You may also access documents of the               should submit an original and 5 copies
                                                     Grantees will be required to report                  Department published in the Federal                   of the intervention or protest to the
                                                  information on their project’s                          Register by using the article search                  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
                                                  performance in annual reports to the                    feature at: www.federalregister.gov.                  888 First Street NE., Washington, DC
                                                  Department (34 CFR 75.590).                             Specifically, through the advanced                    20426.
                                                                                                                                                                   The filings in the above-referenced
                                                     5. Continuation Awards: In making a                  search feature at this site, you can limit
                                                                                                                                                                proceeding(s) are accessible in the
                                                  continuation award, the Secretary may                   your search to documents published by
                                                                                                                                                                Commission’s eLibrary system by
                                                  consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the                      the Department.
                                                                                                                                                                clicking on the appropriate link in the
                                                  extent to which a grantee has made                        Dated: March 12, 2015.                              above list. They are also available for
                                                  ‘‘substantial progress toward meeting                   Sue Swenson,                                          review in the Commission’s Public
                                                  the objectives in its approved                          Acting Assistant Secretary for Special                Reference Room in Washington, DC.
                                                  application.’’ This consideration                       Education and Rehabilitative Services.                There is an eSubscription link on the
                                                  includes the review of a grantee’s                      [FR Doc. 2015–06273 Filed 3–17–15; 8:45 am]           Web site that enables subscribers to
                                                  progress in meeting the targets and                     BILLING CODE 4000–01–P                                receive email notification when a
                                                  projected outcomes in its approved                                                                            document is added to a subscribed
                                                  application, and whether the grantee                                                                          docket(s). For assistance with any FERC
                                                  has expended funds in a manner that is                  DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY                                  Online service, please email
                                                  consistent with its approved application                                                                      FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. or call
                                                  and budget. In making a continuation                    Federal Energy Regulatory                             (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
                                                  grant, the Secretary also considers                     Commission                                            (202) 502–8659.
                                                  whether the grantee is operating in
                                                                                                          [Docket No. ER15–1176–000]                              Dated: March 10, 2015.
                                                  compliance with the assurances in its
                                                  approved application, including those                                                                         Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
                                                                                                          South Jersey Energy ISO6, LLC;                        Deputy Secretary.
                                                  applicable to Federal civil rights laws                 Supplemental Notice That Initial
                                                  that prohibit discrimination in programs                                                                      [FR Doc. 2015–06132 Filed 3–17–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                          Market-Based Rate Filing Includes
                                                  or activities receiving Federal financial               Request for Blanket Section 204
                                                                                                                                                                BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
                                                  assistance from the Department (34 CFR                  Authorization
                                                  100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
                                                                                                            This is a supplemental notice in the                DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                                                  VII. Agency Contact                                     above-referenced proceeding, of South
                                                                                                          Jersey Energy ISO6, LLC’s application                 Federal Energy Regulatory
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:               Greg     for market-based rate authority, with an              Commission
                                                  Knollman, U.S. Department of
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                          accompanying rate schedule, noting that               Combined Notice of Filings #1
                                                  Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,                     such application includes a request for
                                                  Room 4096, PCP, Washington, DC                          blanket authorization, under 18 CFR                      Take notice that the Commission
                                                  20202–2600. Telephone: (202) 245–                       part 34, of future issuances of securities            received the following electric rate
                                                  6425.                                                   and assumptions of liability.                         filings:
                                                    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the                     Any person desiring to intervene or to                 Docket Numbers: ER15–158–001.
                                                  Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at              protest should file with the Federal                     Applicants: Southwest Power Pool,
                                                  1–800–877–8339.                                         Energy Regulatory Commission, 888                     Inc.


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Document Created: 2018-02-21 09:39:40
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 09:39:40
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesApplications Available: March 18, 2015.
ContactGreg Knollman, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4096, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2600. Telephone: (202) 245-6425.
FR Citation80 FR 14097 

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