82_FR_13485 82 FR 13438 - Application for New Awards; Indian Education Formula Grants to Local Educational Agencies; Part I of the Formula Grant Electronic Application System for Indian Education (EASIE) Applications

82 FR 13438 - Application for New Awards; Indian Education Formula Grants to Local Educational Agencies; Part I of the Formula Grant Electronic Application System for Indian Education (EASIE) Applications

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 47 (March 13, 2017)

Page Range13438-13442
FR Document2017-04907

The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017 for Indian Education Formula Grants to Local Educational Agencies, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.060A.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 47 (Monday, March 13, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 47 (Monday, March 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13438-13442]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04907]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Application for New Awards; Indian Education Formula Grants to 
Local Educational Agencies; Part I of the Formula Grant Electronic 
Application System for Indian Education (EASIE) Applications

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting 
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017 for Indian 
Education Formula Grants to Local Educational Agencies, Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.060A.

DATES: Part I of EASIE Applications Available: March 31, 2017.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Part I Applications: April 28, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about the Formula Grants 
program, contact Bernard Garcia, U.S. Department of Education, 400 
Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3W115, Washington, DC 20202-6335. Telephone: 
(202) 260-1454 or by email: [email protected]. For questions about 
the EASIE application and uploading documentation, contact the EDFacts 
PSC, telephone: 877-457-3336 (877-HLP-EDEN) or by email at: 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf or a text 
telephone, call the EDFacts PSC, toll free, at 1-888-403-3336 (888-403-
EDEN).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

    Note: Applicants must meet the deadlines for Part I to be 
eligible to complete Part II of the application process. EASIE Part 
II application dates will be announced in a separate notice inviting 
applications. Applicants must meet the deadlines for both EASIE Part 
I and Part II to be eligible to receive a grant. Any application not 
meeting the Part I and Part II deadlines will not be considered for 
funding. Failure to submit the required supplemental documentation, 
described under Content and Form of Application Submission in 
section IV of this notice, by the EASIE Parts I and II deadlines 
will result in an incomplete application that will not be considered 
for funding. The Office of Indian Education recommends uploading the 
documentation at least two days prior to each deadline date to 
ensure that any potential submission issues are resolved prior to 
the deadlines.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Indian Education Formula Grants to Local 
Educational Agencies (Formula Grants) program provides grants to 
support local educational agencies (LEAs), Indian tribes and 
organizations, and other eligible entities in developing elementary and 
secondary school programs that serve Indian students. The U.S. 
Department of Education (Department) funds comprehensive programs that 
are designed to meet the unique cultural, language, and educational 
needs of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students, and ensure 
that all students meet challenging State academic standards.
    As authorized under section 6116 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds 
Act (ESSA),\1\ the Secretary will, upon receipt of an acceptable plan 
for the integration of education and related services, and in 
cooperation with other relevant Federal agencies, authorize the entity 
receiving the funds under this program to consolidate all Federal funds 
that are to be used exclusively for Indian students. Instructions for 
submitting an integration of education and related services plan are 
included in the EASIE, which is described under Application Process and 
Submission Information in section IV of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ All references to the ESEA refer to the ESEA, as amended by 
the ESSA.

    Note: Under the Formula Grants program, all applicants are 
required to develop the project for which an application is made in 
open consultation with parents of Indian children and teachers of 
Indian children, representatives of Indian tribes on Indian lands 
located within 50 miles of any school that the LEA will serve if 
such tribes have any children in such school, Indian organizations 
(IOs), and, if appropriate, Indian students from secondary schools, 
including through public hearings held to provide to the individuals 
described above a full opportunity to understand the program and to 
offer recommendations regarding the program (ESEA section 
6114(c)(3)(C)). LEA applicants are required to develop the project 
for which an application is made with the participation and written 
approval of a parent committee whose membership includes parents and 
family members of Indian children in the LEA's schools; 
representatives of Indian tribes on Indian lands located within 50 
miles of any school that the LEA will serve if such tribes have any 
children in such school; teachers in the schools; and if 
appropriate, Indian students attending secondary schools of the LEA 
(ESEA section 6114(c)(4)). The majority of the parent committee 
members must be parents and family members of Indian children (ESEA 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
section 6114(c)(4)).

    Definitions: The following definition is from section 6112(d)(3) of 
the ESEA:
    Indian community-based organization means any organization that (1) 
is composed primarily of Indian parents, family members and community 
members, tribal government educational officials, and tribal members, 
from a specific community; (2) assists in the social, cultural, and 
educational development of Indians in such community; (3) meets the 
unique cultural, language, and academic needs of Indian students; and 
(4) demonstrates organizational and administrative capacity to manage 
the grant.
    Statutory Hiring Preference:
    (a) Awards that are primarily for the benefit of Indians are 
subject to the provisions of section 7(b) of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (Pub. L. 93-638). That 
section requires that, to the greatest extent feasible, a grantee--
    (1) Give to Indians preferences and opportunities for training and 
employment in connection with the administration of the grant; and
    (2) Give to IOs and to Indian-owned economic enterprises, as 
defined in section 3 of the Indian Financing Act of 1974 (25 U.S.C. 
1452(e)), preference in the award of contracts in connection with the 
administration of the grant.
    (b) For purposes of this section, an Indian is a member of any 
federally recognized Indian tribe.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7421 et seq.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 
84, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines 
to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) 
in 2 CFR part 180, as

[[Page 13439]]

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 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Formula grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Further Continuing and Security 
Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017, would provide, on an annualized 
basis, $100,190,176 for Indian Education Formula Grants to LEAs. The 
actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. 
However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete 
the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $3,000 to $3,058,055.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $77,069.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1,300.

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

    Project Period: 12 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: The following entities are eligible under 
this program: Certain LEAs, including charter schools authorized as 
LEAs under State law, as prescribed by section 6112(b) of the ESEA; 
certain schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Education of the U.S. 
Department of the Interior (BIE), as prescribed by section 6113(d) of 
the ESEA; Indian tribes and IOs under certain conditions, as prescribed 
by section 6112(c) of the ESEA; and Indian community-based 
organizations (ICBOs), as prescribed by section 6112(d) of the ESEA. 
Consortia of two or more LEAs, Indian tribes, IOs, and ICBOs are also 
eligible under certain circumstances, as prescribed by section 
6112(a)(4) of the ESEA.
    2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-
supplant funding requirements. Section 6114(c)(1) of the ESEA requires 
an LEA to use these grant funds only to supplement the funds that, in 
the absence of these Federal funds, such agency would make available 
for services described in this application, and not to supplant such 
funds.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. How to Request an Application Package: You can obtain a login 
and password for the electronic application for grants under this 
program by contacting the EdFacts Partner Support Center (EDFacts PSC) 
listed under Agency Contacts in section VI of this notice.
    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 EDFacts PSC listed under Agency 
Contacts in section VI 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 EASIE.
    a. Changes to Part I for EASIE FY 2017 due to the ESEA 
reauthorization include the following:
    (i) Application types. IOs and ICBOs have been added as eligible 
applicants (ESEA section 6112(a)).
    (ii) Application time span. All applicants must indicate whether 
they are submitting an application for a single year or a multiyear 
period. All applicants are required to start a new application cycle 
regardless of what the applicant selected the previous year.
    b. Supplementary Documentation: The EASIE application requires 
submission of the following supplementary documentation in electronic 
Portable Document Format (PDF):
    (i) Applicants that are tribes, IOs, or ICBOs must upload 
verification of their eligibility no later than April 28, 2017. The 
details of the verification process, which are necessary to meet the 
statutory eligibility requirements for tribes, IOs, and ICBOs, are in 
the application package. Applicants are required to use the correct 
applicant type eligibility verification document, all of which are 
available in EASIE as downloadable documents.
    (ii) An applicant that is the lead applicant for a consortium must 
upload a consortium agreement that meets the requirements of 34 CFR 
75.128(b) no later than April 28, 2017. Applicants must use the 
consortium agreement that is available in EASIE as a downloadable 
document.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Part I of the Formula Grant EASIE 
Applications Available: March 31, 2017.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Part I Applications: April 28, 2017, 
8:00:00 p.m., Washington, DC time.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using EASIE. 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 requirements, 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 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.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    5. Funding Restrictions: Not more than 5 percent of the funds 
provided to a grantee may be used for administrative costs (ESEA 
section 6115(d)). We reference regulations outlining other 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), 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,

[[Page 13440]]

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.
    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 
www.SAM.gov. 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.
    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.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under the Formula Grants program, CFDA 
number 84.060A, must be submitted electronically using the EASIE 
application located in the EDFacts System Portal at https://eden.ed.gov.
    Applications submitted in paper format will be rejected unless you 
qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission 
requirement described later in this section under Exception to 
Electronic Submission Requirement, and follow the submission rules 
outlined therein.
    Electronic Application System for Indian Education (EASIE): EASIE 
is an easy-to-use, electronic application found in the EdFacts System 
Portal at https://eden.ed.gov. The EASIE application is divided into 
two parts.
    Part I, student count, provides the appropriate data-entry screens 
to submit your verified Indian student count totals. All applicants 
must submit a current Indian student count for FY 2017. Applicants must 
use the Indian Student Eligibility Certification Form (ED 506 Form) to 
document eligible Indian students; however, BIE schools may use either 
the Indian School Equalization Program (ISEP) count or the ED 506 Form 
count to verify their Indian student counts. All individual data 
collected shall be protected and only aggregated data shall be reported 
to the Secretary.
    Applicants that verify their Indian student counts with the ED 506 
form must document their Indian student counts by completing the 
following procedures: (1) Each year, the LEA must verify there is a 
valid ED 506 Form for each Indian child included in the count; (2) all 
ED 506 Forms included in the count must be completed, signed, and dated 
by the parent, and be on file; (3) the LEA must maintain a copy of the 
student enrollment roster(s) covering the same period of time indicated 
in the application as the ``count period''; and (4) each Indian child 
included in the count must be listed on the LEA's enrollment roster(s) 
for at least one day during the count period. BIE schools that enter an 
ISEP count must use the most current Indian student count certified by 
the BIE.
    Once an Indian child is determined to be eligible to be counted for 
such grant award, the applicant shall maintain a record of such 
determination and shall not require a new or duplicate determination or 
form to be made for such child for a subsequent application for a grant 
under this subpart.
    Applicants will also indicate the time span for the project 
objectives and corresponding activities and services for AI/AN 
students. Applicants can choose to set objectives that remain the same 
for up to four years in order to facilitate data collection and enhance 
long-term planning.
    Registration for Formula Grant EASIE: Current, former, and new 
applicants interested in submitting an Indian Education Formula Grant 
EASIE application must register for Formula Grant EASIE. Prospective 
applicants will no longer register through the Registration Web site. 
In lieu of the Web site, the EDFacts PSC will send a broadcast to prior 
year grantees and new prospective applicants that have contacted 
EDFacts PSC and registered for EASIE. All recipients who receive 
EDFacts PSC's broadcast will be asked to respond to EDFacts PSC 
directly to confirm their intent to register and make updates to the 
registration information. Entities are strongly encouraged to respond 
to the email to ensure that any potential registration issues are 
resolved prior to the deadline for the submission of an application. 
Entities that do not have an active registration or are new applicants 
should contact EDFacts PSC to register any time before the Part I 
application deadline date. Registration does not serve as the entity's 
grant application. For assistance registering, contact the EDFacts PSC 
listed under Agency Contacts in section VI of this notice.
    Certification for Formula Grant EASIE: The applicant's authorized 
representative, who must be authorized by the applicant to legally bind 
the applicant, must certify Part I. Only users with the role type 
``managing user'' or ``certifying official user'' in the EASIE system 
can certify an application. Each applicant should identify at least 
three system users, one for each of the following: Project director, 
authorized representative, and another party designated to answer 
questions in the event the project director is unavailable. The 
certification process ensures that the information in the application 
is true, reliable, and valid. An applicant that provides a false 
statement in the application is subject to penalties under the False 
Claims Act, 18 U.S.C. 1001.
    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 EASIE system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload documents to the 
EASIE system;
    and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date for Part I (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: Bernard Garcia, U.S. 
Department of Education, Office of Indian Education, 400 Maryland 
Avenue SW., Room 3W115, Washington, DC 20202-6335. FAX: (202) 205-0606.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.

[[Page 13441]]

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 dates for both Part I and Part II, to the 
Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, 
Office of Indian Education, Attention: CFDA Number 84.060A, 400 
Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3W115, Washington, DC 20202-6335.
    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 for Part I or Part II.

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 dates for both Part I and Part II, to the 
Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, 
Office of Indian Education, Attention: CFDA Number 84.060A, 400 
Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3W115, Washington, DC 20202-6335.
    The program office 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 program under which you are submitting your 
application; and
    (2) The program office will mail 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 contact 
the program office at (202) 260-3774.

V. Grant Administration Information

    1. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under this program 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.
    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 a grant in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this program, 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. This does not apply if you have an exception under 2 
CFR 170.110(b).
    (b) You must submit a performance report using the EDFacts System 
Portal at https://eden.ed.gov, including financial information, as 
directed by the Secretary, within 90 days after the close of the grant 
year. The performance report is located within the EDFacts System 
Portal as Part III.
    (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 Secretary has established the 
following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness and 
efficiency of the Formula Grants program: (1) The percentage of AI/AN 
students in grades four and eight who score at or above the basic level 
in reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP); 
(2) the percentage of AI/AN students in grades four and eight who score 
at or above the basic level in mathematics on the NAEP; (3) the 
percentage of AI/AN students in grades three through eight meeting 
State achievement standards by scoring at or above the proficient level 
in reading and mathematics on State assessments; (4) the difference 
between the percentage of AI/AN students in grades three through eight 
at or above the proficient level in reading and mathematics on State 
assessments and the percentage of all students scoring at those levels; 
(5) the percentage of AI/AN students who graduate from high school as 
measured by the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate; and (6) the 
percentage of funds used by grantees prior to award close-out.
    5. Integrity and Performance System: If you receive an award under 
this grant program that over the course of the project period may 
exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $150,000), under 
2 CFR 200.205(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your integrity, 
business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards--that 
is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make an award. In 
doing so, we must consider any information about you that is in the 
integrity and performance system (currently referred to as the Federal 
Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)), 
accessible through SAM. You may review and comment on any information 
about yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and that is 
currently in FAPIIS.
    Please note that, if the total value of your currently active 
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the 
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity 
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal 
funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.

VI. 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 EDFacts PSC listed under

[[Page 13442]]

Agency Contacts in section VI 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 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: March 8, 2017.
Monique M. Chism,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2017-04907 Filed 3-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P



                                                  13438                         Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 47 / Monday, March 13, 2017 / Notices

                                                  September 14, 2016 (81 FR 63173),                         Note: Applicants must meet the deadlines             Indian students from secondary schools,
                                                  deferring a decision on the SPE.                        for Part I to be eligible to complete Part II of       including through public hearings held to
                                                    A Notice of Availability of the Draft                 the application process. EASIE Part II                 provide to the individuals described above a
                                                  Supplemental EIS will be published in                   application dates will be announced in a               full opportunity to understand the program
                                                                                                          separate notice inviting applications.                 and to offer recommendations regarding the
                                                  the Federal Register when ready for                     Applicants must meet the deadlines for both            program (ESEA section 6114(c)(3)(C)). LEA
                                                  public review and the document will be                  EASIE Part I and Part II to be eligible to             applicants are required to develop the project
                                                  available for a 45 day public comment                   receive a grant. Any application not meeting           for which an application is made with the
                                                  period. A Final Supplemental EIS will                   the Part I and Part II deadlines will not be           participation and written approval of a
                                                  then be prepared to address comments                    considered for funding. Failure to submit the          parent committee whose membership
                                                  received on the Draft Supplemental EIS.                 required supplemental documentation,                   includes parents and family members of
                                                  No decision will be made to implement                   described under Content and Form of                    Indian children in the LEA’s schools;
                                                  the proposed action until the EIS                       Application Submission in section IV of this           representatives of Indian tribes on Indian
                                                  process is completed and a ROD is                       notice, by the EASIE Parts I and II deadlines          lands located within 50 miles of any school
                                                                                                          will result in an incomplete application that          that the LEA will serve if such tribes have
                                                  signed by the DoN.                                      will not be considered for funding. The                any children in such school; teachers in the
                                                     Authority: 35 U.S.C. 207, 37 CFR part 404.           Office of Indian Education recommends                  schools; and if appropriate, Indian students
                                                    Dated: February 23, 2017.                             uploading the documentation at least two               attending secondary schools of the LEA
                                                                                                          days prior to each deadline date to ensure             (ESEA section 6114(c)(4)). The majority of
                                                  A.M. Nichols,                                           that any potential submission issues are               the parent committee members must be
                                                  Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate                    resolved prior to the deadlines.                       parents and family members of Indian
                                                  General’s Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register                                                                   children (ESEA section 6114(c)(4)).
                                                  Liaison Officer.                                        I. Funding Opportunity Description                        Definitions: The following definition
                                                  [FR Doc. 2017–04750 Filed 3–10–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                             Purpose of Program: The Indian                      is from section 6112(d)(3) of the ESEA:
                                                  BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
                                                                                                          Education Formula Grants to Local                         Indian community-based organization
                                                                                                          Educational Agencies (Formula Grants)                  means any organization that (1) is
                                                                                                          program provides grants to support local               composed primarily of Indian parents,
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION                                 educational agencies (LEAs), Indian                    family members and community
                                                                                                          tribes and organizations, and other                    members, tribal government educational
                                                  Application for New Awards; Indian                      eligible entities in developing                        officials, and tribal members, from a
                                                  Education Formula Grants to Local                       elementary and secondary school                        specific community; (2) assists in the
                                                  Educational Agencies; Part I of the                     programs that serve Indian students.                   social, cultural, and educational
                                                  Formula Grant Electronic Application                    The U.S. Department of Education                       development of Indians in such
                                                  System for Indian Education (EASIE)                     (Department) funds comprehensive                       community; (3) meets the unique
                                                  Applications                                            programs that are designed to meet the                 cultural, language, and academic needs
                                                                                                          unique cultural, language, and                         of Indian students; and (4) demonstrates
                                                  AGENCY: Office of Elementary and                        educational needs of American Indian                   organizational and administrative
                                                  Secondary Education, Department of                      and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students,                    capacity to manage the grant.
                                                  Education.                                              and ensure that all students meet                         Statutory Hiring Preference:
                                                  ACTION: Notice.                                         challenging State academic standards.                     (a) Awards that are primarily for the
                                                                                                             As authorized under section 6116 of                 benefit of Indians are subject to the
                                                  SUMMARY:   The Department of Education                  the Elementary and Secondary
                                                  is issuing a notice inviting applications                                                                      provisions of section 7(b) of the Indian
                                                                                                          Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as                       Self-Determination and Education
                                                  for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017                amended by the Every Student Succeeds
                                                  for Indian Education Formula Grants to                                                                         Assistance Act (Pub. L. 93–638). That
                                                                                                          Act (ESSA),1 the Secretary will, upon                  section requires that, to the greatest
                                                  Local Educational Agencies, Catalog of
                                                                                                          receipt of an acceptable plan for the                  extent feasible, a grantee—
                                                  Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
                                                                                                          integration of education and related                      (1) Give to Indians preferences and
                                                  Number: 84.060A.
                                                                                                          services, and in cooperation with other                opportunities for training and
                                                  DATES: Part I of EASIE Applications                     relevant Federal agencies, authorize the               employment in connection with the
                                                  Available: March 31, 2017.                              entity receiving the funds under this                  administration of the grant; and
                                                     Deadline for Transmittal of Part I                   program to consolidate all Federal funds                  (2) Give to IOs and to Indian-owned
                                                  Applications: April 28, 2017.                           that are to be used exclusively for                    economic enterprises, as defined in
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For                    Indian students. Instructions for                      section 3 of the Indian Financing Act of
                                                  questions about the Formula Grants                      submitting an integration of education                 1974 (25 U.S.C. 1452(e)), preference in
                                                  program, contact Bernard Garcia, U.S.                   and related services plan are included                 the award of contracts in connection
                                                  Department of Education, 400 Maryland                   in the EASIE, which is described under                 with the administration of the grant.
                                                  Avenue SW., Room 3W115,                                 Application Process and Submission                        (b) For purposes of this section, an
                                                  Washington, DC 20202–6335.                              Information in section IV of this notice.              Indian is a member of any federally
                                                  Telephone: (202) 260–1454 or by email:                     Note: Under the Formula Grants program,             recognized Indian tribe.
                                                  Bernard.Garcia@ed.gov. For questions                    all applicants are required to develop the                Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7421 et
                                                  about the EASIE application and                         project for which an application is made in            seq.
                                                  uploading documentation, contact the                    open consultation with parents of Indian                  Applicable Regulations: (a) The
                                                  EDFacts PSC, telephone: 877–457–3336                    children and teachers of Indian children,              Education Department General
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                                                  (877–HLP–EDEN) or by email at: eden_                    representatives of Indian tribes on Indian             Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in
                                                  OIE@ed.gov.                                             lands located within 50 miles of any school
                                                                                                                                                                 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 97,
                                                     If you use a telecommunications                      that the LEA will serve if such tribes have
                                                                                                          any children in such school, Indian                    98, and 99. (b) The Office of
                                                  device for the deaf or a text telephone,                                                                       Management and Budget Guidelines to
                                                                                                          organizations (IOs), and, if appropriate,
                                                  call the EDFacts PSC, toll free, at 1–888–                                                                     Agencies on Governmentwide
                                                  403–3336 (888–403–EDEN).                                  1 All references to the ESEA refer to the ESEA, as   Debarment and Suspension
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              amended by the ESSA.                                   (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as


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                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 47 / Monday, March 13, 2017 / Notices                                            13439

                                                  adopted and amended as regulations of                   IV. Application and Submission                        electronically using EASIE. For
                                                  the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c)                  Information                                           information (including dates and times)
                                                  The Uniform Administrative                                 1. How to Request an Application                   about how to submit your application
                                                  Requirements, Cost Principles, and                      Package: You can obtain a login and                   electronically, or in paper format by
                                                  Audit Requirements for Federal Awards                   password for the electronic application               mail or hand delivery if you qualify for
                                                  in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and                       for grants under this program by                      an exception to the electronic
                                                  amended as regulations of the                           contacting the EdFacts Partner Support                submission requirements, please refer to
                                                  Department in 2 CFR part 3474.                          Center (EDFacts PSC) listed under                     Other Submission Requirements in
                                                    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79               Agency Contacts in section VI of this                 section IV of this notice.
                                                  apply to all applicants except federally                notice.                                                 We do not consider an application
                                                  recognized Indian tribes.                                  Individuals with disabilities can                  that does not comply with the deadline
                                                                                                          obtain a copy of the application package              requirements.
                                                  II. Award Information                                   in an accessible format (e.g., braille,                 Individuals with disabilities who
                                                     Type of Award: Formula grants.                       large print, audiotape, or compact disc)              need an accommodation or auxiliary aid
                                                     Estimated Available Funds: The                       by contacting the EDFacts PSC listed                  in connection with the application
                                                  Further Continuing and Security                         under Agency Contacts in section VI of                process should contact the person listed
                                                  Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017,                    this notice.                                          under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
                                                  would provide, on an annualized basis,                     2. Content and Form of Application                 CONTACT in section of this notice. If the
                                                  $100,190,176 for Indian Education                       Submission: Requirements concerning                   Department provides an accommodation
                                                  Formula Grants to LEAs. The actual                      the content of an application, together               or auxiliary aid to an individual with a
                                                  level of funding, if any, depends on                    with the forms you must submit, are in                disability in connection with the
                                                  final congressional action. However, we                 EASIE.                                                application process, the individual’s
                                                  are inviting applications to allow                         a. Changes to Part I for EASIE FY 2017             application remains subject to all other
                                                  enough time to complete the grant                       due to the ESEA reauthorization include               requirements and limitations in this
                                                  process if Congress appropriates funds                  the following:                                        notice.
                                                  for this program.                                          (i) Application types. IOs and ICBOs                 4. Intergovernmental Review: This
                                                     Estimated Range of Awards: $3,000 to                 have been added as eligible applicants                program is not subject to Executive
                                                  $3,058,055.                                             (ESEA section 6112(a)).                               Order 12372 and the regulations in 34
                                                     Estimated Average Size of Awards:                       (ii) Application time span. All                    CFR part 79.
                                                  $77,069.                                                applicants must indicate whether they                   5. Funding Restrictions: Not more
                                                     Estimated Number of Awards: 1,300.                   are submitting an application for a                   than 5 percent of the funds provided to
                                                                                                          single year or a multiyear period. All                a grantee may be used for administrative
                                                    Note: The Department is not bound by any              applicants are required to start a new
                                                  estimates in this notice.                                                                                     costs (ESEA section 6115(d)). We
                                                                                                          application cycle regardless of what the              reference regulations outlining other
                                                     Project Period: 12 months.                           applicant selected the previous year.                 funding restrictions in the Applicable
                                                  III. Eligibility Information                               b. Supplementary Documentation:
                                                                                                                                                                Regulations section of this notice.
                                                                                                          The EASIE application requires
                                                     1. Eligible Applicants: The following                                                                        6. Data Universal Numbering System
                                                                                                          submission of the following
                                                  entities are eligible under this program:                                                                     Number, Taxpayer Identification
                                                                                                          supplementary documentation in
                                                  Certain LEAs, including charter schools                                                                       Number, and System for Award
                                                                                                          electronic Portable Document Format
                                                  authorized as LEAs under State law, as                                                                        Management: To do business with the
                                                                                                          (PDF):
                                                  prescribed by section 6112(b) of the                       (i) Applicants that are tribes, IOs, or            Department of Education, you must—
                                                  ESEA; certain schools funded by the                     ICBOs must upload verification of their                 a. Have a Data Universal Numbering
                                                  Bureau of Indian Education of the U.S.                  eligibility no later than April 28, 2017.             System (DUNS) number and a Taxpayer
                                                  Department of the Interior (BIE), as                    The details of the verification process,              Identification Number (TIN);
                                                  prescribed by section 6113(d) of the                    which are necessary to meet the                         b. Register both your DUNS number
                                                  ESEA; Indian tribes and IOs under                       statutory eligibility requirements for                and TIN with the System for Award
                                                  certain conditions, as prescribed by                    tribes, IOs, and ICBOs, are in the                    Management (SAM), the Government’s
                                                  section 6112(c) of the ESEA; and Indian                 application package. Applicants are                   primary registrant database;
                                                  community-based organizations                           required to use the correct applicant                   c. Provide your DUNS number and
                                                  (ICBOs), as prescribed by section                       type eligibility verification document,               TIN on your application; and
                                                  6112(d) of the ESEA. Consortia of two                   all of which are available in EASIE as                  d. Maintain an active SAM
                                                  or more LEAs, Indian tribes, IOs, and                   downloadable documents.                               registration with current information
                                                  ICBOs are also eligible under certain                      (ii) An applicant that is the lead                 while your application is under review
                                                  circumstances, as prescribed by section                 applicant for a consortium must upload                by the Department and, if you are
                                                  6112(a)(4) of the ESEA.                                 a consortium agreement that meets the                 awarded a grant, during the project
                                                     2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This                 requirements of 34 CFR 75.128(b) no                   period.
                                                  program does not require cost sharing or                later than April 28, 2017. Applicants                   You can obtain a DUNS number from
                                                  matching.                                               must use the consortium agreement that                Dun and Bradstreet at the following
                                                     b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This                     is available in EASIE as a downloadable               Web site: http://fedgov.dnb.com/
                                                  program involves supplement-not-                        document.                                             webform. A DUNS number can be
                                                  supplant funding requirements. Section                                                                        created within one to two business days.
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                                                                                                             3. Submission Dates and Times: Part
                                                  6114(c)(1) of the ESEA requires an LEA                  I of the Formula Grant EASIE                            If you are a corporate entity, agency,
                                                  to use these grant funds only to                        Applications Available: March 31, 2017.               institution, or organization, you can
                                                  supplement the funds that, in the                          Deadline for Transmittal of Part I                 obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue
                                                  absence of these Federal funds, such                    Applications: April 28, 2017, 8:00:00                 Service. If you are an individual, you
                                                  agency would make available for                         p.m., Washington, DC time.                            can obtain a TIN from the Internal
                                                  services described in this application,                    Applications for grants under this                 Revenue Service or the Social Security
                                                  and not to supplant such funds.                         program must be submitted                             Administration. If you need a new TIN,


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                                                  13440                         Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 47 / Monday, March 13, 2017 / Notices

                                                  please allow two to five weeks for your                 Indian students; however, BIE schools                 to register any time before the Part I
                                                  TIN to become active.                                   may use either the Indian School                      application deadline date. Registration
                                                     The SAM registration process can take                Equalization Program (ISEP) count or                  does not serve as the entity’s grant
                                                  approximately seven business days, but                  the ED 506 Form count to verify their                 application. For assistance registering,
                                                  may take upwards of several weeks,                      Indian student counts. All individual                 contact the EDFacts PSC listed under
                                                  depending on the completeness and                       data collected shall be protected and                 Agency Contacts in section VI of this
                                                  accuracy of the data you enter into the                 only aggregated data shall be reported to             notice.
                                                  SAM database. Thus, if you think you                    the Secretary.                                           Certification for Formula Grant
                                                  might want to apply for Federal                            Applicants that verify their Indian                EASIE: The applicant’s authorized
                                                  financial assistance under a program                    student counts with the ED 506 form                   representative, who must be authorized
                                                  administered by the Department, please                  must document their Indian student                    by the applicant to legally bind the
                                                  allow sufficient time to obtain and                     counts by completing the following                    applicant, must certify Part I. Only users
                                                  register your DUNS number and TIN.                      procedures: (1) Each year, the LEA must               with the role type ‘‘managing user’’ or
                                                  We strongly recommend that you                          verify there is a valid ED 506 Form for               ‘‘certifying official user’’ in the EASIE
                                                  register early.                                         each Indian child included in the count;              system can certify an application. Each
                                                     If you are currently registered with                 (2) all ED 506 Forms included in the                  applicant should identify at least three
                                                  SAM, you may not need to make any                       count must be completed, signed, and                  system users, one for each of the
                                                  changes. However, please make certain                   dated by the parent, and be on file; (3)              following: Project director, authorized
                                                  that the TIN associated with your DUNS                  the LEA must maintain a copy of the                   representative, and another party
                                                  number is correct. Also note that you                   student enrollment roster(s) covering                 designated to answer questions in the
                                                  will need to update your registration                   the same period of time indicated in the              event the project director is unavailable.
                                                  annually. This may take three or more                   application as the ‘‘count period’’; and              The certification process ensures that
                                                  business days.                                          (4) each Indian child included in the                 the information in the application is
                                                     Information about SAM is available at                count must be listed on the LEA’s                     true, reliable, and valid. An applicant
                                                  www.SAM.gov. To further assist you                      enrollment roster(s) for at least one day             that provides a false statement in the
                                                  with obtaining and registering your                     during the count period. BIE schools                  application is subject to penalties under
                                                  DUNS number and TIN in                                  that enter an ISEP count must use the                 the False Claims Act, 18 U.S.C. 1001.
                                                  www.SAM.gov. or updating your                           most current Indian student count                        Exception to Electronic Submission
                                                  existing SAM account, we have                           certified by the BIE.                                 Requirement: You qualify for an
                                                  prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet, which                        Once an Indian child is determined to              exception to the electronic submission
                                                  you can find at: http://www2.ed.gov/                    be eligible to be counted for such grant              requirement, and may submit your
                                                  fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.                         award, the applicant shall maintain a                 application in paper format, if you are
                                                     7. Other Submission Requirements:                    record of such determination and shall                unable to submit an application through
                                                  Applications for grants under this                      not require a new or duplicate                        the EASIE system because––
                                                  program must be submitted                               determination or form to be made for                     • You do not have access to the
                                                  electronically unless you qualify for an                such child for a subsequent application               Internet; or
                                                  exception to this requirement in                        for a grant under this subpart.                          • You do not have the capacity to
                                                  accordance with the instructions in this                   Applicants will also indicate the time             upload documents to the EASIE system;
                                                  section.                                                span for the project objectives and                      and
                                                     a. Electronic Submission of                          corresponding activities and services for                • No later than two weeks before the
                                                  Applications.                                           AI/AN students. Applicants can choose                 application deadline date for Part I (14
                                                     Applications for grants under the                    to set objectives that remain the same                calendar days or, if the fourteenth
                                                  Formula Grants program, CFDA number                     for up to four years in order to facilitate           calendar day before the application
                                                  84.060A, must be submitted                              data collection and enhance long-term                 deadline date falls on a Federal holiday,
                                                  electronically using the EASIE                          planning.                                             the next business day following the
                                                  application located in the EDFacts                         Registration for Formula Grant EASIE:              Federal holiday), you mail or fax a
                                                  System Portal at https://eden.ed.gov.                   Current, former, and new applicants                   written statement to the Department,
                                                     Applications submitted in paper                      interested in submitting an Indian                    explaining which of the two grounds for
                                                  format will be rejected unless you                      Education Formula Grant EASIE                         an exception prevents you from using
                                                  qualify for one of the exceptions to the                application must register for Formula                 the Internet to submit your application.
                                                  electronic submission requirement                       Grant EASIE. Prospective applicants                      If you mail your written statement to
                                                  described later in this section under                   will no longer register through the                   the Department, it must be postmarked
                                                  Exception to Electronic Submission                      Registration Web site. In lieu of the Web             no later than two weeks before the
                                                  Requirement, and follow the submission                  site, the EDFacts PSC will send a                     application deadline date. If you fax
                                                  rules outlined therein.                                 broadcast to prior year grantees and new              your written statement to the
                                                     Electronic Application System for                    prospective applicants that have                      Department, we must receive the faxed
                                                  Indian Education (EASIE): EASIE is an                   contacted EDFacts PSC and registered                  statement no later than two weeks
                                                  easy-to-use, electronic application                     for EASIE. All recipients who receive                 before the application deadline date.
                                                  found in the EdFacts System Portal at                   EDFacts PSC’s broadcast will be asked                    Address and mail or fax your
                                                  https://eden.ed.gov. The EASIE                          to respond to EDFacts PSC directly to                 statement to: Bernard Garcia, U.S.
                                                  application is divided into two parts.                  confirm their intent to register and make             Department of Education, Office of
                                                     Part I, student count, provides the                  updates to the registration information.              Indian Education, 400 Maryland
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                                                  appropriate data-entry screens to submit                Entities are strongly encouraged to                   Avenue SW., Room 3W115,
                                                  your verified Indian student count                      respond to the email to ensure that any               Washington, DC 20202–6335. FAX:
                                                  totals. All applicants must submit a                    potential registration issues are resolved            (202) 205–0606.
                                                  current Indian student count for FY                     prior to the deadline for the submission                 Your paper application must be
                                                  2017. Applicants must use the Indian                    of an application. Entities that do not               submitted in accordance with the mail
                                                  Student Eligibility Certification Form                  have an active registration or are new                or hand delivery instructions described
                                                  (ED 506 Form) to document eligible                      applicants should contact EDFacts PSC                 in this notice.


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                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 47 / Monday, March 13, 2017 / Notices                                             13441

                                                  b. Submission of Paper Applications by                     (1) You must indicate on the envelope              Formula Grants program: (1) The
                                                  Mail                                                    and—if not provided by the                            percentage of AI/AN students in grades
                                                     If you qualify for an exception to the               Department—in Item 11 of the SF 424                   four and eight who score at or above the
                                                  electronic submission requirement, you                  the CFDA number, including suffix                     basic level in reading on the National
                                                  may mail (through the U.S. Postal                       letter, if any, of the program under                  Assessment of Educational Progress
                                                  Service or a commercial carrier) your                   which you are submitting your                         (NAEP); (2) the percentage of AI/AN
                                                  application to the Department. You                      application; and                                      students in grades four and eight who
                                                                                                             (2) The program office will mail you               score at or above the basic level in
                                                  must mail the original and two copies
                                                                                                          a notification of receipt of your grant               mathematics on the NAEP; (3) the
                                                  of your application, on or before the
                                                                                                          application. If you do not receive this               percentage of AI/AN students in grades
                                                  application deadline dates for both Part                notification within 15 business days
                                                  I and Part II, to the Department at the                                                                       three through eight meeting State
                                                                                                          from the application deadline date, you               achievement standards by scoring at or
                                                  following address: U.S. Department of                   should contact the program office at
                                                  Education, Office of Indian Education,                                                                        above the proficient level in reading and
                                                                                                          (202) 260–3774.                                       mathematics on State assessments; (4)
                                                  Attention: CFDA Number 84.060A, 400
                                                  Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3W115,                        V. Grant Administration Information                   the difference between the percentage of
                                                  Washington, DC 20202–6335.                                                                                    AI/AN students in grades three through
                                                                                                             1. Risk Assessment and Special                     eight at or above the proficient level in
                                                     You must show proof of mailing                       Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
                                                  consisting of one of the following:                                                                           reading and mathematics on State
                                                                                                          200.205, before awarding grants under                 assessments and the percentage of all
                                                     (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service              this program the Department conducts a
                                                  postmark.                                                                                                     students scoring at those levels; (5) the
                                                                                                          review of the risks posed by applicants.              percentage of AI/AN students who
                                                     (2) A legible mail receipt with the                  Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the Secretary may
                                                  date of mailing stamped by the U.S.                                                                           graduate from high school as measured
                                                                                                          impose special conditions and, in                     by the four-year adjusted cohort
                                                  Postal Service.                                         appropriate circumstances, high-risk
                                                     (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or                                                                    graduation rate; and (6) the percentage
                                                                                                          conditions on a grant if the applicant or             of funds used by grantees prior to award
                                                  receipt from a commercial carrier.                      grantee is not financially stable; has a
                                                     (4) Any other proof of mailing                                                                             close-out.
                                                                                                          history of unsatisfactory performance;
                                                  acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S.                                                                          5. Integrity and Performance System:
                                                                                                          has a financial or other management
                                                  Department of Education.                                                                                      If you receive an award under this grant
                                                                                                          system that does not meet the standards
                                                     If you mail your application through                                                                       program that over the course of the
                                                                                                          in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not
                                                  the U.S. Postal Service, we do not                                                                            project period may exceed the
                                                                                                          fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant;
                                                  accept either of the following as proof                                                                       simplified acquisition threshold
                                                                                                          or is otherwise not responsible.
                                                  of mailing:                                                2. Administrative and National Policy              (currently $150,000), under 2 CFR
                                                     (1) A private metered postmark.                      Requirements: We identify                             200.205(a)(2) we must make a judgment
                                                     (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by              administrative and national policy                    about your integrity, business ethics,
                                                  the U.S. Postal Service.                                requirements in the application package               and record of performance under
                                                    Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not                and reference these and other                         Federal awards—that is, the risk posed
                                                  uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before              requirements in the Applicable                        by you as an applicant—before we make
                                                  relying on this method, you should check                Regulations section of this notice. We                an award. In doing so, we must consider
                                                  with your local post office.                            reference the regulations outlining the               any information about you that is in the
                                                    We will not consider applications                     terms and conditions of a grant in the                integrity and performance system
                                                  postmarked after the application deadline
                                                                                                          Applicable Regulations section of this                (currently referred to as the Federal
                                                  date for Part I or Part II.                                                                                   Awardee Performance and Integrity
                                                                                                          notice.
                                                                                                             3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a               Information System (FAPIIS)),
                                                  c. Submission of Paper Applications by                                                                        accessible through SAM. You may
                                                  Hand Delivery                                           grant under this program, you must
                                                                                                          ensure that you have in place the                     review and comment on any
                                                    If you qualify for an exception to the                necessary processes and systems to                    information about yourself that a
                                                  electronic submission requirement, you                  comply with the reporting requirements                Federal agency previously entered and
                                                  (or a courier service) may deliver your                 in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive                  that is currently in FAPIIS.
                                                  paper application to the Department by                  funding. This does not apply if you have                 Please note that, if the total value of
                                                  hand. You must deliver the original and                 an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).                  your currently active grants, cooperative
                                                  two copies of your application by hand,                    (b) You must submit a performance                  agreements, and procurement contracts
                                                  on or before the application deadline                   report using the EDFacts System Portal                from the Federal Government exceeds
                                                  dates for both Part I and Part II, to the               at https://eden.ed.gov, including                     $10,000,000, the reporting requirements
                                                  Department at the following address:                    financial information, as directed by the             in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII,
                                                  U.S. Department of Education, Office of                 Secretary, within 90 days after the close             require you to report certain integrity
                                                  Indian Education, Attention: CFDA                       of the grant year. The performance                    information to FAPIIS semiannually.
                                                  Number 84.060A, 400 Maryland Avenue                     report is located within the EDFacts                  Please review the requirements in 2 CFR
                                                  SW., Room 3W115, Washington, DC                         System Portal as Part III.                            part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant
                                                  20202–6335.                                                (c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the                    plus all the other Federal funds you
                                                    The program office accepts hand                       Secretary may provide a grantee with                  receive exceed $10,000,000.
                                                  deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and                  additional funding for data collection
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                                                                                                                                                                VI. Other Information
                                                  4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time,                      analysis and reporting. In this case the
                                                  except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal                  Secretary establishes a data collection                 Accessible Format: Individuals with
                                                  holidays.                                               period.                                               disabilities can obtain this document
                                                    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of                        4. Performance Measures: The                       and a copy of the application package in
                                                  Paper Applications: If you mail or hand                 Secretary has established the following               an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
                                                  deliver your application to the                         key performance measures for assessing                print, audiotape, or compact disc) by
                                                  Department—                                             the effectiveness and efficiency of the               contacting the EDFacts PSC listed under


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                                                  13442                         Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 47 / Monday, March 13, 2017 / Notices

                                                  Agency Contacts in section VI of this                   Notice inviting applications for new                  courses in subject areas such as reading
                                                  notice.                                                  awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017                     or math that are required as a part of
                                                     Electronic Access to This Document:                                                                        almost any postsecondary program of
                                                  The official version of this document is                Full Text of Announcement
                                                                                                                                                                study, hundreds of thousands of
                                                  the document published in the Federal                   I. Funding Opportunity Description                    beginning college students are referred
                                                  Register. Free Internet access to the                      Purpose of Program: The GEAR UP                    to noncredit-bearing ‘‘developmental’’
                                                  official edition of the Federal Register                Program is a discretionary grant                      or ‘‘remedial’’ courses based on their
                                                  and the Code of Federal Regulations is                  program that provides funding for                     performance on a placement test or
                                                  available via the Federal Digital System                academic and related support services                 academic reference. Remedial or
                                                  at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you                                                                       developmental courses are designed to
                                                                                                          to eligible low-income students,
                                                  can view this document, as well as other                                                                      bring academically underprepared
                                                                                                          including students with disabilities and
                                                  documents of this Department                                                                                  students to expected competency levels
                                                                                                          English learners, to help them to obtain
                                                  published in the Federal Register in text                                                                     for college-level work.
                                                                                                          a secondary school diploma and to
                                                  or PDF. To use PDF you must have                                                                                Remediation needs are common at all
                                                                                                          prepare for and succeed in
                                                  Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is                                                                                types of colleges. According to recent
                                                                                                          postsecondary education. Under the
                                                  available free at the site.                                                                                   National Center for Education Statistics
                                                     You may also access documents of the                 GEAR UP Program, the Department
                                                                                                          awards grants to two types of entities:               (NCES) research, 68 percent of public
                                                  Department published in the Federal                                                                           two-year students and 40 percent of
                                                  Register by using the article search                    (1) States and (2) partnerships
                                                                                                          comprised, at minimum, of institutions                public four-year students who began
                                                  feature at: www.federalregister.gov.                                                                          their postsecondary education in 2003
                                                  Specifically, through the advanced                      of higher education (IHE)s and local
                                                                                                          educational agencies (LEAs).                          took at least one remedial course by
                                                  search feature at this site, you can limit                                                                    2009.1 Remedial course-taking rates are
                                                  your search to documents published by                      In this notice we invite applications
                                                                                                          for State grants only. We will invite                 higher among some subgroups of
                                                  the Department.                                                                                               students, including African American
                                                                                                          applications for partnership grants in
                                                    Dated: March 8, 2017.                                 another notice. Required services under               students, Hispanic students, English
                                                  Monique M. Chism,                                       the GEAR UP Program are specified in                  learners, students from low-income
                                                  Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and           sections 404D(a) of the Higher                        families, and first-generation students.2
                                                  Secondary Education.                                    Education Act of 1965, as amended                       Unfortunately, for too many students
                                                  [FR Doc. 2017–04907 Filed 3–10–17; 8:45 am]             (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1070a–24(a)), and                    remedial education represents a barrier
                                                  BILLING CODE 4000–01–P                                  permissible services under the GEAR                   to postsecondary persistence and
                                                                                                          UP Program are specified in section                   completion.3 While in remediation,
                                                                                                          404D(b) and (c) of the HEA (20 U.S.C.                 students spend time and money, may
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION                                 1070a–24(b) and (c)). For State grantees,             accumulate debt, add to their
                                                                                                          services must include providing                       opportunity costs of lost earnings, and
                                                  Applications for New Awards; Gaining                                                                          in some cases, deplete a significant
                                                                                                          financial aid information, encouraging
                                                  Early Awareness and Readiness for                                                                             portion of their eligibility for financial
                                                                                                          enrollment in challenging coursework
                                                  Undergraduate Programs (State                                                                                 aid. Further, available evidence suggests
                                                                                                          in order to reduce the need for
                                                  Grants)                                                                                                       that participation in remedial education,
                                                                                                          remediation at the postsecondary level,
                                                  AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary                         implementing activities to improve the                especially longer sequences of remedial
                                                  Education, Department of Education.                     number of students who obtain a high                  courses, generally does not improve
                                                  ACTION: Notice.                                         school diploma and complete                           outcomes; on the contrary, data show
                                                                                                          applications for and enroll in a program              that students who take remedial
                                                  SUMMARY:   Gaining Early Awareness and                  of postsecondary education, and                       education courses are more likely to
                                                  Readiness for Undergraduate Programs                    provision of scholarships as specified in             drop out before completing a degree.4
                                                  (GEAR UP): Notice inviting applications                 section 404E of the HEA. GEAR UP                      Remedial education also carries
                                                  for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017.               funds may also be used to provide a                   significant costs to the Federal
                                                  Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance                  number of additional support services
                                                  (CFDA) Number: 84.334S.                                 such as mentoring, tutoring, academic
                                                                                                                                                                  1 http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2016/2016405.pdf.
                                                                                                                                                                  2 http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2016/2016405.pdf.
                                                  DATES:                                                  English language development,                            3 MDRC, Unlocking the Gate: What We Know
                                                    Applications Available: March 13,                     academic and career counseling, and                   About Improving Developmental Education, June
                                                  2017.                                                   exposure to college campuses.                         2011 (/www.mdrc.org/sites/default/files/full_
                                                    Deadline for Transmittal of                                                                                 595.pdf).
                                                  Applications: April 24, 2017.                           Background                                               4 Attewell, P.A., Lavin, D.E., Domina, T., & Levey,

                                                    Deadline for Intergovernmental                           The GEAR UP Program is a critical                  T., 2006, New Evidence on College Remediation,
                                                  Review: June 21, 2017.                                                                                        The Journal of Higher Education. (www.jstor.org/
                                                                                                          component of the Department’s efforts                 stable/3838791 (even after controlling for high
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        to improve college access and                         school preparation and family background, taking
                                                  Karmon Simms-Coates, U.S. Department                    completion for students who have been                 developmental courses reduced the chances of
                                                  of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue                                                                             graduation at four-year colleges and universities by
                                                                                                          traditionally underrepresented in                     6 to 7 percent). Thomas Bailey, Dong Wook Jeong,
                                                  SW., Room 5W250, Washington, DC                         postsecondary education. The                          Sung-Woo Cho, Referral, Enrollment, and
                                                  20202–6450. Telephone: (202) 453–7917                   Department believes that GEAR UP                      Completion in Developmental Education Sequences
                                                  or by email: Karmon.simms-coates@                       projects can play an essential role in                in Community Colleges, Community College
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                                  ed.gov.                                                                                                       Research Center, Working Paper No. 15, November
                                                                                                          improving postsecondary outcomes of                   2009 (http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/media/k2/
                                                    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the                   their participants by placing a greater               attachments/referral-enrollment-completion-
                                                  FRS, toll free, at 1–800–877–8339.                      emphasis on increasing readiness for                  developmental.pdf). Nguyen Barry, M. &
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              success once students reach the                       Dannenberg, M., 2016, The high cost of inadequate
                                                                                                                                                                high schools and high school student achievement
                                                  Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness                   postsecondary level.                                  on college affordability, Retrieved from https://
                                                    for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR                         Each year, rather than being able to               edreformnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Ed
                                                    UP)                                                   enroll in entry-level general education               ReformNow-O-O-P-Embargoed-Final.pdf.



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Document Created: 2018-02-01 14:57:54
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 14:57:54
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.
DatesPart I of EASIE Applications Available: March 31, 2017.
ContactFor questions about the Formula Grants program, contact Bernard Garcia, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3W115, Washington, DC 20202-6335. Telephone: (202) 260-1454 or by email: [email protected] For questions about the EASIE application and uploading documentation, contact the EDFacts PSC, telephone: 877-457-3336 (877-HLP-EDEN) or by email at: [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 13438 

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