81 FR 34326 - Applications for New Awards; American History and Civics Academies Program

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 104 (May 31, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 104 (Tuesday, May 31, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34326-34331]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12738]



[[Page 34326]]

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; American History and Civics 
Academies Program

AGENCY: Office of Innovation and Improvement, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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Overview Information

    American History and Civics Academies Program.
    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2016.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.422A.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: May 31, 2016.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: June 30, 2016.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 15, 2016.
    Date of Pre-Application Webinar: June 9, 2016.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 13, 2016.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The American History and Civics Academies 
Program (Academies Program) supports the establishment of: (1) 
Presidential Academies for the Teaching of American History and Civics 
that offer workshops for both veteran and new teachers to strengthen 
their knowledge of American history and civics (Presidential 
Academies); and (2) Congressional Academies for Students of American 
History and Civics that provide high school students with opportunities 
to develop a broader and deeper understanding of these subjects 
(Congressional Academies).

Background

    On December 10, 2015, the President signed into law the Every 
Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Public Law 114-95, which reauthorized the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by 
the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Among other things, the 
ESSA amends part B of title II of the ESEA to include a reauthorized 
Academies program, which was previously authorized under the American 
History and Civics Education Act of 2004. Under section 5(c) of the 
ESSA, however, the amendments made by the ESSA to the ESEA with respect 
to competitive grant programs (including the Academies program) take 
effect beginning with FY 2017 appropriations. Accordingly, the 
Department will use the FY 2016 funds available for this competition to 
make Academies grants in accordance with the requirements of the 
American History and Civics Education Act of 2004, and not those of the 
ESEA, as amended by the ESSA. In addition, we intend to use FY 2016 
funds to support the entire project period of awards made under this 
competition and expect that, consistent with section 5(c) of the ESSA, 
any funding provided by Congress in FY 2017 and future years for the 
Academies program would be for the new program as authorized by the 
ESEA, as amended by the ESSA.
    Students who have an understanding of and engagement with American 
history and civics are more likely to be civically engaged and active 
participants in their community.\1\ Moreover, students' understanding 
of American history and civics will likely be enhanced if their 
learning experiences are interesting, engaging, and relevant to 
students' perspectives and communities. It is therefore important to 
ensure that teachers have a thorough understanding of American history 
and civics and are well-equipped to implement effective teaching 
strategies that help their students master the necessary content 
knowledge and skills. Students who are engaged in learning in these 
content areas will be better equipped to be active members of their 
community and the world at large, and to participate fully in all forms 
of civic engagement.\2\
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    \1\ American Academy of Arts and Sciences, The Heart of the 
Matter: The Humanities and Social Sciences for a Vibrant, 
Competitive, and Secure Nation (2013) via 
www.humanitiescommission.org/_pdf/hss_report.pdf.
    \2\ Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools, ``Guardian of 
Democracy: The Civic Mission of Schools,'' (2011), via http://civicmission.s3.amazonaws.com/118/f0/5/171/1/Guardian-of-Democracy-report.pdf.
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    Recent studies indicate a critical need to improve teaching and 
learning in American history and civics. For example, only 18 percent 
of eighth-graders performed at or above the proficient level on the 
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessment in U.S. 
history, and only 23 percent performed at or above the proficient level 
on the NAEP assessment in civics.\3\
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    \3\ U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education 
Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National 
Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), The Nation's Report Card: 
2014 U.S. History, Geography, and Civics at Grade 8 (NCES 2015112) 
via www.nationsreportcard.gov/hgc_2014/
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    The Academies Program supports projects to raise student 
achievement in American history and civics by improving teachers' and 
students' knowledge, understanding, and engagement with these subjects 
through intensive workshops with scholars, master teachers, and 
curriculum experts. Project activities should reflect the best 
available research and practice in teaching and learning. Presidential 
Academies will strive to enable teachers to develop further expertise 
in the content areas of American history and civics, teaching 
strategies, use of technologies, and other essential elements of 
teaching to rigorous college- and career-ready standards. Congressional 
Academies are intended to broaden and deepen students' interest in and 
understanding of American history and civics through the use of 
content-rich, engaging learning resources and strategies.
    Offering a wide array of perspectives in teaching and learning 
American history and civics is essential to acknowledging students' 
rich and diverse perspectives and experiences, and to stimulating their 
long-term interest in these subjects. Accordingly, projects funded 
under this grant program might consider incorporating diverse 
historical perspectives and relying on an array of resources (e.g., 
historical documents, oral histories, and artifacts) that convey the 
full range of American experiences.
    Through a competitive preference priority, we encourage applicants 
to consider projects that will focus on serving high-need students and 
students from underserved populations to help ensure that these 
students have access to high-quality, interactive instruction that will 
help them become college- and career-ready and be better prepared to 
participate fully in civic activities. In addition, applicants may want 
to consider projects that are designed to recruit teachers and students 
from the same schools and school districts in order to promote a 
seamless delivery of training and instruction into a target district 
and maximize project benefits.
    Grantees will be expected to measure the impact of their projects 
on teacher development and student learning. Early findings from 
grantee evaluations are expected to help guide the grantee's subsequent 
teacher professional development and student learning efforts over the 
three-year project period.
    Priorities: This notice contains two absolute priorities and one 
competitive preference priority. Both absolute priorities are from the 
American Civics and History Education Act of 2004, Public Law 108-474. 
The competitive priority is from the Secretary's final supplemental 
priorities and definitions for discretionary grant programs, published 
in the Federal Register on

[[Page 34327]]

December 10, 2014 at 79 FR 73425 (Supplemental Priorities).
    Absolute Priorities: For FY 2016 and any subsequent year in which 
we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, these priorities are absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet both of the 
following priorities:

Absolute Priority 1--Presidential Academies for the Teaching of 
American History and Civics

    Under this priority, an applicant must propose to establish a 
Presidential Academy for Teaching of American History and Civics that 
may offer workshops for both veteran and new teachers of American 
history and civics.

Absolute Priority 2--Congressional Academies for Students of American 
History and Civics

    Under this priority, an applicant must propose to establish a 
Congressional Academy for Students of American History and Civics.
    Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2016 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications 
from this competition, this priority is a competitive preference 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii) we award up to an additional 10 
points to an application depending on how well the application meets 
this priority. If an applicant wishes to be considered for these 
competitive preference points, it must clearly identify where in the 
project narrative section of its application it addresses this 
priority.
    This priority is:

Competitive Preference Priority--Supporting High-Need Students (Up to 
10 Points)

    Projects that are designed to improve academic outcomes for high-
need students (as defined in this notice).

Definitions

    The following definitions are from the Supplemental Priorities and 
apply to this competition:
    High-minority school means a school as that term is defined by a 
local educational agency (LEA), which must define the term in a manner 
consistent with its State's Teacher Equity Plan, as required by section 
1111(b)(8)(C) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (ESEA). The applicant must provide the definition(s) of ``high-
minority schools'' used in its application.
    High-need students means students who are at risk of educational 
failure or otherwise in need of special assistance and support, such as 
students who are living in poverty, who attend high-minority schools, 
who are far below grade level, who have left school before receiving a 
regular high school diploma, who are at risk of not graduating with a 
diploma on time, who are homeless, who are in foster care, who have 
been incarcerated, who have disabilities, or who are English learners.
    Regular high school diploma means the standard high school diploma 
that is awarded to students in the State and that is fully aligned with 
the State's academic content standards or a higher diploma and does not 
include a General Education Development (GED) credential, certificate 
of attendance, or any alternative award.

    Authority:  American History and Civics Education Act of 2004, 
Pub. Law 108-474.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 
86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension 
(Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as 
regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as 
regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474.

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $1,785,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2017 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $600,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.

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

    Project Period: 36 months. The Department intends to fund the 
entire project period of a grant with FY 2016 funds.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants include:
     Local educational agencies;
     Institutions of higher education; and
     Other public and private agencies, organizations, and 
institutions, including cultural institutions and museums.
    To be eligible to receive an award, an applicant must include in 
its application evidence of its expertise in historical methodology or 
the teaching of history.

    Note: If more than one eligible entity wishes to form a 
consortium and jointly submit a single application, they must follow 
the procedures for group applications described in 34 CFR 75.127 
through 34 CFR 75.129.

    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Christine Miller, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W205, 
Washington, DC 20202-5970. Telephone: (202) 453-6740 or by email: 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
    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 program contact person listed in 
this section.
    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 program.
    Notice of Intent to Apply: June 30, 2016.
    The Department will be able to develop a more efficient process for 
reviewing grant applications if it has a better understanding of the 
number of entities that intend to apply for funding under this 
competition. Therefore, the Secretary strongly encourages each 
potential applicant to notify the Department by sending a short email 
message indicating the applicant's intent to submit an application for 
funding. The email need not include information regarding the content 
of the proposed application, only the applicant's intent to submit it. 
The Department requests that this email notification be sent to the 
Academies Program inbox at: [email protected]. Applicants that fail to 
provide this email notification may still apply for funding.

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    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. We recommend that you limit 
the application narrative to 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. However, you may 
single space all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The recommended 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 one-
page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of 
support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the 
application narrative.
    b. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of 
projects that may be proposed in applications for the Academies 
Program, your application may include business information that you 
consider proprietary. In 34 CFR 5.11 we define ``business information'' 
and describe the process we use in determining whether any of that 
information is proprietary and, thus, protected from disclosure under 
Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C 552, as 
amended).
    Because we plan to post the project narrative section of funded 
Academies Program applications on our Web site, you may wish to request 
confidentiality of business information.
    Consistent with Executive Order 12600, please designate in your 
application any information that you believe is exempt from disclosure 
under Exemption 4. In the appropriate Appendix section of your 
application, under ``Other Attachments Form,'' please list the page 
number or numbers on which we can find this information. For additional 
information please see 34 CFR 5.11(c).
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: May 31, 2016.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: June 30, 2016.
    Date of Pre-Application Webinar: June 9, 2016.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 15, 2016.
    Applications for grants under this program 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 Other Submission Requirements in section 
IV 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: September 13, 2016.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for this program.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We specify unallowable costs in 2 CFR 200, 
subpart E. 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 DUNS number and TIN with the System for Award 
Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry), the 
Government's primary registrant database;
    c. Provide your DUNS 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.
    You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet at the 
following Web site: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. A DUNS number can be 
created within one to two business days.
    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 two to five weeks for your TIN to become active.
    The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business 
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the 
completeness and accuracy of the data you enter into the SAM database. 
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, it may be 24 to 48 
hours before you can access the information in, and submit an 
application through, Grants.gov.

    If you are currently registered with 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.
    Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further 
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in 
SAM or updating 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 program must be submitted 
electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement 
in accordance with the instructions in this section.

[[Page 34329]]

 a. Electronic Submission of Applications

    Applications for grants under the Academies Program, CFDA 84.422, 
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 
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 Academies 
Program at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable 
application package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include 
the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.422, 
not 84.422A).
    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 program 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. In addition, for specific guidance and procedures 
for submitting an application through Grants.gov, please refer to the 
Grants.gov Web site at: www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.
     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 read-only, non-modifiable 
Portable Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or 
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, 
non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a 
password-protected file, we will not review that material. Please note 
that this could result in your application not being considered for 
funding because the material in question--for example, the project 
narrative--is critical to a meaningful review of your proposal. For 
that reason, it is important to allow yourself adequate time to upload 
all material as PDF files. The Department will not convert material 
from other formats to PDF.
     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. Grants.gov 
will also notify you automatically by email if your application met all 
the Grants.gov validation requirements or if there were any errors 
(such as submission of your application by someone other than a 
registered Authorized Organization Representative, or inclusion of an 
attachment with a file name that contains special characters). You will 
be given an opportunity to correct any errors and resubmit, but you 
must still meet the deadline for submission of applications.
    Once your application is successfully validated by Grants.gov, the 
Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you 
an email with a unique PR/Award number for your application.
    These emails do not mean that your application is without any 
disqualifying errors. While your application may have been successfully 
validated by Grants.gov, it must also meet the Department's application 
requirements as specified in this notice and in the application 
instructions. Disqualifying errors could include, for instance, failure 
to upload attachments in a read-only, non-modifiable PDF; failure to 
submit a required part of the application; or failure to meet applicant 
eligibility requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that your 
submitted application has met all of the Department's requirements.
     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

[[Page 34330]]

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 the problem affected your ability to submit your application 
by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. 
We will contact you after we determine 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 
prevents 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: Christine Miller, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W205, 
Washington, DC 20202-5960. FAX: (202) 205-5630.
    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 84.422A), 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.

    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.

    We will not consider applications postmarked after the application 
deadline date.

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 84.422A), 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 
from 34 CFR 75.210. An applicant may earn up to a total of 100 points 
based on the selection criteria. The maximum score for addressing each 
criterion is indicated in parentheses. Each criterion also includes the 
factors that the reviewers will consider in determining how well an 
application addresses the criterion.

Selection Criteria

    A. Quality of the Project Design (up to 35 points). In determining 
the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary 
considers the following factors--
    (i) The extent to which the proposed project represents an 
exceptional approach to the priority or priorities established for the 
competition.
    (ii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the 
proposed project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for 
maximizing the effectiveness of project services.
    (iii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project 
reflects up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice.
    B. Significance (20 points). In determining the significance of the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build 
local capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the 
needs of the target population.
    (ii) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in 
teaching and student achievement.
    C. Quality of the Management Plan (30 points). In determining the 
quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks.
    (ii) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products 
and services from the proposed project.
    D. Quality of the Project Evaluation (15 points). In determining 
the quality of

[[Page 34331]]

project evaluation, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data to the extent possible.
    (ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes.
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal civil 
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities 
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department of Education 
(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under this competition the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
3474.10, the Secretary may impose 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, subpart D; 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 multiyear award, you must submit an annual 
performance report that provides the most current performance and 
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance 
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, 
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    (c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee 
with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. In 
this case the Secretary establishes a data collection period.
    4. Performance Measures
    The Department has established the following Government Performance 
and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) performance objective for the Academies 
Program:
    Participants will demonstrate through pre- and post-assessments an 
increased understanding of American history and civics that can be 
directly linked to their participation in the Presidential Academy or 
Congressional Academy.
    We will track performance on this objective through the following 
indicators:
    Presidential Academies: The average percentage gain on an 
assessment after participation in the Presidential Academy.
    Congressional Academies: The average percentage gain on an 
assessment after participation in the Congressional Academy.
    We advise an applicant for a grant under this program to give 
careful consideration to these indicators in conceptualizing the 
approach and evaluation of its proposed project. Each grantee will be 
required to provide, in its annual and final performance reports, data 
about its performance with respect to the performance objective and 
these indicators.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Christine Miller, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W205, Washington, DC 20202-
5960, telephone (202) 453-6740. Or by email: [email protected].
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the 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) on request to 
the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
in section VII of this notice.
    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 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: May 25, 2016.
Nadya Chinoy Dabby,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2016-12738 Filed 5-27-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P