82_FR_34020 82 FR 33881 - Applications for New Awards; Promise Neighborhoods Program

82 FR 33881 - Applications for New Awards; Promise Neighborhoods Program

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 139 (July 21, 2017)

Page Range33881-33894
FR Document2017-15359

The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017 for the Promise Neighborhoods Program--Grant Competition, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.215N.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 139 (Friday, July 21, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 139 (Friday, July 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33881-33894]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15359]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Promise Neighborhoods Program

AGENCY: Office of Innovation and Improvement, 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 the Promise 
Neighborhoods Program--Grant Competition, Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance (CFDA) number 84.215N.

DATES: Applications Available: July 21, 2017.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: August 21, 2017.
    Date of Pre-Application Webinars: The Promise Neighborhoods team 
intends to hold pre-application webinars to provide technical 
assistance to interested applicants. Detailed information regarding 
these webinar times will be provided on the Promise Neighborhoods' Web 
site at https://innovation.ed.gov/what-we-do/parental-options/promise-neighborhoods-pn/.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 5, 2017.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: November 3, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adrienne Hawkins, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W256, Washington, DC 20202. 
Telephone: (202) 453-5638 or by email: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Program

    The Promise Neighborhoods program is newly authorized under the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by 
the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The purpose of the Promise 
Neighborhoods program is to significantly improve the academic and 
developmental outcomes of children living in the most distressed 
communities of the United States, including ensuring school readiness, 
high school graduation, and access to a community-based continuum of 
high-quality services. The program serves neighborhoods with high 
concentrations of low-income individuals; multiple signs of distress, 
which may include high rates of poverty, childhood obesity, academic 
failure, and juvenile delinquency, adjudication, or incarceration; and 
schools implementing comprehensive support and improvement activities 
or targeted support and improvement activities under section 1111(d) of 
the ESEA. All strategies in the continuum of solutions must be 
accessible to children with disabilities and English learners.

Background

    The vision of the Promise Neighborhoods program is that all 
children and youth living in our most distressed communities have 
access to great schools and strong systems of family and community 
support that will prepare them to attain an excellent education and 
successfully transition to postsecondary education and a career.
    A Promise Neighborhood is both a place and a strategy. A place 
eligible to become a Promise Neighborhood is a geographic area \1\ that 
is distressed, often facing inadequate access to high-quality early 
learning programs and services, with struggling schools, low high 
school and college graduation rates, high rates of unemployment, high 
rates of crime, and indicators of poor health. These conditions 
contribute to and intensify

[[Page 33882]]

the negative outcomes associated with children and youth living in 
poverty.
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    \1\ For the purpose of this notice, the Department uses the 
terms ``geographic area'' and ``neighborhood'' interchangeably.
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    A Promise Neighborhood strategy addresses the complex, 
interconnected issues in the distressed community it serves. Promise 
Neighborhoods are led by organizations, such as nonprofit 
organizations, institutions of higher education, offices of chief 
elected officials of local governments, or Indian Tribes or Tribal 
organizations, that work to ensure that all children and youth in the 
target geographic area have access to services that lead to improved 
educational and developmental outcomes from cradle-to-career. The 
organizations ensure that services are based on the best available 
evidence and employ robust data collection and management systems to 
learn about the impact of approaches for which there is less evidence; 
that services are linked and integrated seamlessly; and that services 
include education programs as well as programs that provide family and 
community supports. Promise Neighborhoods enable children and youth 
within targeted distressed communities to participate in the full range 
of cradle-to-career supports that are necessary for them to realize 
their potential. The Department of Education's expectation is that over 
time, a greater proportion of the neighborhood residents receive these 
supports and that neighborhood indicators (see Table 1) show 
significant progress. For this reason, each Promise Neighborhood 
applicant must demonstrate several core features: (1) Significant need 
in the neighborhood; (2) a strategy to build pipeline services (as 
defined in this notice) with strong schools at the center; and (3) the 
organizational and relational capacity to achieve results.
    This year's Promise Neighborhoods competition is different from 
previous years' competitions in several ways. The Promise Neighborhoods 
program, under the ESEA as amended by ESSA, requires applicants to 
propose the use of not less than 50 percent of grant funds in year one, 
and not less than 25 percent in year two, to support planning 
activities for the development and implementation of pipeline services. 
Because applicants must now propose to use grant funds for limited 
planning activities, the Department will no longer award separate 
Promise Neighborhoods planning and implementation grants. The 
priorities and some program requirements for this year's competition 
have also changed from previous competitions. In this year's 
competition, we introduce new data and performance management 
requirements while continuing to prioritize evidence-based (see section 
8101(21) of the ESEA) activities and programs. Previously funded 
Promise Neighborhoods grantees have struggled to conduct meaningful 
data collection and evaluation activities, which include collecting the 
full range of data necessary to effectively employ comprehensive case 
and longitudinal data management systems. Such data systems are 
critical to effectively coordinate a range of services for high-need 
students and their families within a Promise Neighborhood. In response 
to this challenge, we now require applicants to address specific data 
collection and performance management requirements.
    In addressing these requirements, we strongly encourage applicants 
to review a publication released by the Department in 2013 entitled, 
``Measuring Performance: A Guidance Document for Promise Neighborhoods 
on Collecting Data and Reporting Results.'' \2\ This publication 
provides guidance on Promise Neighborhoods case management and 
longitudinal data systems; data collection strategies, sources, and 
methods; and data tracking and reporting procedures.
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    \2\ https://www2.ed.gov/programs/promiseneighborhoods/pndataguidance.pdf.
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    Priorities: This competition includes three absolute priorities and 
four competitive preference priorities. The three absolute priorities 
focus on the types of neighborhoods or geographic areas that the 
proposed project will serve. Absolute Priority 1 is focused on non-
rural and non-Tribal applicants; Absolute Priority 2 is focused on 
rural communities; and Absolute Priority 3 is focused on Tribal 
communities.
    Absolute Priorities: We are establishing Absolute Priorities 1, 2, 
and 3 for the FY 2017 grant competition and any subsequent year in 
which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the General 
Education Provisions Act (GEPA). Applicants should indicate in their 
application whether they are applying under Absolute Priority 1, 
Absolute Priority 2, or Absolute Priority 3. If an applicant applies 
under Absolute Priority 2 or Absolute Priority 3 and is deemed 
ineligible, the application still may be considered for funding under 
Absolute Priority 1. The Secretary prepares a rank order of 
applications for each absolute priority based solely on the evaluation 
of their quality according to the selection criteria.
    Each of the three absolute priorities constitutes its own funding 
category. Assuming that applications in each funding category are of 
sufficient quality, the Secretary intends to award grants under each 
absolute priority.
    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet 
one or more of these priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Absolute Priority 1--Promise Neighborhoods in Non-Rural and Non-
Tribal Communities.\3\
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    \3\ An applicant that serves one or more non-rural or non-Tribal 
communities will not be disqualified because it also proposes to 
serve rural or Tribal communities.
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    To meet this priority, an applicant must propose to implement a 
Promise Neighborhood strategy that serves one or more non-rural or non-
Tribal communities.
    Absolute Priority 2--Promise Neighborhoods in Rural Communities.
    To meet this priority, an applicant must propose to implement a 
Promise Neighborhood strategy that serves one or more rural communities 
(as defined in this notice) only.
    Under section 4623 of the ESEA, the Department will use at least 15 
percent of the funds available for the Promise Neighborhoods program to 
award grants to eligible entities (as defined in this notice) that 
propose to carry out the Promise Neighborhoods activities in rural 
areas. The Department will reduce the funds reserved for rural areas if 
we do not receive enough applications of sufficient quality.
    Absolute Priority 3--Promise Neighborhoods in Tribal Communities.
    To meet this priority, an applicant must propose to implement a 
Promise Neighborhood strategy that serves one or more Indian Tribes (as 
defined in this notice).
    Competitive Preference Priorities: We are establishing Competitive 
Preference Priorities 1 and 2 for the FY 2017 grant competition and any 
subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded 
applications from this competition in accordance with section 437(d)(1) 
of the GEPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1). Competitive Preference Priority 3 is 
from section 4624 of the ESEA, as amended by the ESSA, 20 U.S.C. 7231e. 
Competitive Preference Priority 4 is from the Promise Zones notice of 
final priority published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2014 (79 
FR 17035) (Promise Zones NFP).
    For FY 2017 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from 
the list of unfunded applications from this competition, these 
priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an additional three points to an application 
that meets Competitive Preference

[[Page 33883]]

Priority 1; we award three additional points to an application that 
meets Competitive Preference Priority 2; we award one additional point 
to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 3; and we 
award one additional point to an application that meets Competitive 
Preference Priority 4.
    Applicants may address all of the competitive preference 
priorities. Also, applicants should identify on the abstract form and 
in the project narrative section of their application which competitive 
preference priority or priorities the applicants address. We will not 
award competitive preference priority points to an application that 
fails to clearly identify the competitive preference priority or 
priorities it wishes the Department to consider for purposes of earning 
the competitive preference priority points.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Byrne Criminal Justice 
Innovation (BCJI) Program (0 or 3 points).
    To meet this priority, an applicant must propose to serve 
geographic areas that were the subject of a targeted strategy 
addressing crime in a specific community pursuant to a BCJI grant 
awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice during FY 2012 or later 
years. To be eligible under this priority, the applicant must either: 
(1) Be able to demonstrate that it has received a BCJI grant; or (2) 
provide, in its application, a memorandum of understanding between it 
and a partner that is a recipient of a BCJI grant. The memorandum of 
understanding must indicate a commitment on the part of the applicant 
and partner to coordinate implementation and align resources to the 
greatest extent practicable.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Drug Free Communities (DFC) 
Support Program (0 or 3 points).
    To receive points under this priority, the applicant must either: 
(1) Demonstrate that it has received a DFC grant to prevent opioid 
abuse (as one of its areas of focus); or (2) provide, in its 
application, a memorandum of understanding between it and a partner 
that is a recipient of a DFC grant to address opioid abuse prevention 
as one of its areas of focus.
    Competitive Preference Priority 3--Evidence-Based Activities, 
Strategies, or Interventions (0 or 1 point).
    To meet this priority, an applicant must propose to carry out 
evidence-based activities, strategies, or interventions that, based on 
information included in their application, are supported by promising 
evidence (as defined in this notice).
    Competitive Preference Priority 4--Promise Zones (0 or 1 point).
    This priority is for projects that are designed to serve and 
coordinate with a federally designated Promise Zone.
    To meet this priority, an applicant must include a Certification of 
Consistency with Promise Zone Goals and Implementation (HUD Form 50153) 
signed by an authorized representative of the lead organization of a 
Promise Zone designated by the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development (HUD) or the United States Department of Agriculture. An 
application for Promise Neighborhoods grant funds that is not 
accompanied by a signed certification (HUD Form 50153) will receive 
zero points for this priority. The certification form is available at /
/portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=HUD_Form_50153.pdf. To 
view the list of designated Promise Zones and lead organizations please 
go to www.hud.gov/promisezones.
Definitions
    The definition of ``strong theory'' is from 34 CFR 77.1. The 
remaining definitions are established in accordance with section 
437(d)(1) of GEPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).
    The following definitions apply to this program:
    Eligible entity means an organization that:
    (1) Is representative of the geographic area (as defined in this 
notice) proposed to be served;
    (2) Operates or proposes to work with and involve in carrying out 
its proposed project, in coordination with the school's local 
educational agency (LEA), at least one public elementary or secondary 
school that is located within the identified geographic area that the 
grant will serve;
    (3) Is one of the following:
    (a) An institution of higher education, as defined in section 102 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1002);
    (b) An Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, as defined in section 4 
of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
U.S.C. 5304); or
    (c) One or more nonprofit entities working in formal partnership 
with not less than one of the following entities:
    i. A high-need LEA.
    ii. An institution of higher education, as defined in section 102 
of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1002).
    iii. The office of a chief elected official of a unit of local 
government.
    iv. An Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, as defined under 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
(25 U.S.C. 5304); and
    (4) Currently provides at least one of the solutions from the 
applicant's proposed pipeline services in the geographic area proposed 
to be served.
    Experimental study means a study, such as a randomized controlled 
trial (RCT) (as defined in this notice), that is designed to compare 
outcomes between two groups of individuals that are otherwise 
equivalent except for their assignment to either a treatment group 
receiving a project component (as defined in this notice) or a control 
group that does not. In some circumstances, a finding from a regression 
discontinuity design study (RDD) (as defined in this notice) or 
findings from a collection of single-case design studies (SCDs) (as 
defined in this notice) may be considered equivalent to a finding from 
an RCT. RCTs, RDDs, and collections of SCDs, depending on design and 
implementation, can Meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards 
without reservations.
    Graduation rate means the four-year or extended-year adjusted 
cohort graduation rate as defined by 34 CFR 200.19(b)(1).

    Note: This definition is not meant to prevent a grantee from 
also collecting information about the reasons why students do not 
graduate from the target high school, e.g., dropping out or moving 
outside of the school district for non-academic or academic reasons.

    Indian Tribe means an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, as 
defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)
    Indicators of need means currently available data that describe--
    (1) Education need, which means--
    (a) All or a portion of the neighborhood includes or is within the 
attendance zone of a low-performing school that is a high school, 
especially one in which the graduation rate (as defined in this notice) 
is less than 60 percent or a school that can be characterized as low-
performing based on another proxy indicator, such as students' on-time 
progression from grade to grade; and
    (b) Other indicators, such as significant achievement gaps between 
subgroups of students (as identified in section 1111(b)(2)(B)(xi) of 
the ESEA) within a school or LEA, high teacher and principal turnover, 
or high student absenteeism; and
    (2) Family and community support need, which means--
    (a) Percentages of children with preventable chronic health 
conditions (e.g., asthma, poor nutrition, dental

[[Page 33884]]

problems, obesity) or avoidable developmental delays;
    (b) Immunization rates;
    (c) Rates of crime, including violent crime;
    (d) Student mobility rates;
    (e) Teenage birth rates;
    (f) Percentage of children in single-parent or no-parent families;
    (g) Rates of vacant or substandard homes, including distressed 
public and assisted housing; or
    (h) Percentage of the residents living at or below the Federal 
poverty threshold.
    Logic model (also known as a theory of action) means a reasonable 
conceptual framework that identifies key components of the proposed 
project (i.e., the active ``ingredients'' that are hypothesized to be 
critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the 
theoretical and operational relationships among the key components and 
outcomes.
    Meets What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without 
reservations is the highest possible rating for a study finding 
reviewed by the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC). Studies receiving this 
rating provide the highest degree of confidence that an observed effect 
was caused by the project component studied. Experimental studies (as 
defined in this notice) may receive this highest rating. These 
standards are described in the WWC Procedures and Standards Handbooks, 
Version 3.0, which can be accessed at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Handbooks.
    Meets What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations 
is the second-highest rating for a group design study reviewed by the 
WWC. Studies receiving this rating provide a reasonable degree of 
confidence that an observed effect was caused by the project component 
studied. Both experimental studies (such as randomized controlled 
trials with high rates of sample attrition) and quasi-experimental 
design studies (as defined in this notice) may receive this rating if 
they establish the equivalence of the treatment and comparison groups 
in key baseline characteristics. These standards are described in the 
WWC Procedures and Standards Handbooks, Version 3.0, which can be 
accessed at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Handbooks.
    Pipeline services means a continuum of coordinated supports, 
services, and opportunities for children from birth through entry into 
and success in postsecondary education, and career attainment. Such 
services shall include, at a minimum, strategies to address through 
services or programs (including integrated student supports) the 
following:
    (a) High-quality early childhood education programs.
    (b) High-quality school and out-of-school-time programs and 
strategies.
    (c) Support for a child's transition to elementary school, from 
elementary school to middle school, from middle school to high school, 
and from high school into and through postsecondary education and into 
the workforce, including any comprehensive readiness assessment 
determined necessary.
    (d) Family and community engagement and supports, which may include 
engaging or supporting families at school or at home.
    (e) Activities that support postsecondary and work-force readiness, 
which may include job training, internship opportunities, and career 
counseling.
    (f) Community-based support for students who have attended the 
schools in the area served by the pipeline, or students who are members 
of the community, facilitating their continued connection to the 
community and success in postsecondary education and the workforce.
    (g) Social, health, nutrition, and mental health services and 
supports.
    (h) Juvenile crime prevention and rehabilitation programs.
    Project component means an activity, strategy, or intervention 
included in a project. Evidence (as this term is used in this notice) 
may pertain to an individual project component, or to a combination of 
project components (e.g., training teachers on instructional practices 
for English learners and follow-on coaching for these teachers).
    Promising evidence means the following conditions are met:
    (a) There is at least one study that is a correlational study with 
statistical controls for selection bias with a relevant finding (quasi-
experimental design studies or experimental studies may also qualify); 
and
    (b) The relevant finding in the study described in paragraph (a) is 
of a statistically significant and positive (i.e., favorable) effect of 
the project component on a student outcome or other relevant outcome 
with no statistically significant and overriding negative (i.e., 
unfavorable) evidence on that project component from other findings on 
the intervention reviewed by and reported in the What Works 
Clearinghouse that Meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards 
with or without reservations.
    Public officials means elected officials (e.g., council members, 
aldermen and alderwomen, commissioners, State legislators, 
Congressional representatives, members of the school board), appointed 
officials (e.g., members of a planning or zoning commission, or of any 
other regulatory or advisory board or commission), or individuals who 
are not necessarily public officials (as defined in this notice), but 
who have been appointed by a public official to serve on the Promise 
Neighborhoods governing board or advisory board.
    Quasi-experimental design study means a study using a design that 
attempts to approximate an experimental design by identifying a 
comparison group that is similar to the treatment group in important 
respects. This type of study, depending on design and implementation, 
can Meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations 
(but not without reservations).
    Randomized controlled trial (RCT) means a study that employs random 
assignment of, for example, students, teachers, classrooms, or schools 
to receive the project component being evaluated (the treatment group) 
or not to receive the project component (the control group). The 
estimated effectiveness of the project component is the difference 
between the average outcomes for the treatment group and for the 
control group. These studies, depending on design and implementation, 
can Meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without 
reservations.
    Regression discontinuity design study (RDD) means a study that 
assigns the project component being evaluated using a measured variable 
(e.g., assigning students reading below a cutoff score to tutoring or 
developmental education classes) and controls for that variable in the 
analysis of outcomes. The effectiveness of the project component is 
estimated for individuals who barely qualify to receive that component. 
These studies, depending on design and implementation, can Meet What 
Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations.
    Relevant finding means a finding from a study regarding the 
relationship between (A) an activity, strategy, or intervention 
included as a component of the logic model (as defined in this notice) 
for the proposed project, and (B) a student outcome or other relevant 
outcome included in the logic model for the proposed project.
    Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) (or the ultimate 
outcome if not related to students) the proposed project component is 
designed to

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improve, consistent with the specific goals of a program.
    Representative of the geographic area proposed to be served means 
that residents of the geographic area proposed to be served have an 
active role in decision-making and that at least one-third of the 
eligible entity's (as defined in this notice) governing board or 
advisory board is made up of--
    (1) Residents who live in the geographic area proposed to be 
served, which may include residents who are representative of the 
ethnic and racial composition of the neighborhood's residents and the 
languages they speak;
    (2) Residents of the city or county in which the neighborhood is 
located but who live outside the geographic area proposed to be served, 
and who are low-income (which means earning less than 80 percent of the 
area's median income as published by HUD);
    (3) Public officials (as defined in this notice) who serve the 
geographic area proposed to be served (although not more than one-half 
of the governing board or advisory board may be made up of public 
officials); or
    (4) Some combination of individuals from the three groups listed in 
paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this definition.
    Rural community means a neighborhood that--
    (1) Is served by an LEA that is currently eligible under the Small 
Rural School Achievement (SRSA) program or the Rural and Low-Income 
School (RLIS) program authorized under Title VI, Part B of the ESEA. 
Applicants may determine whether a particular LEA is eligible for these 
programs by referring to information on the following Department Web 
sites. For the SRSA program: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/reapsrsa/eligible16/index.htmlFor the RLIS program: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/reaprlisp/eligibility.html; or
    (2) Includes only schools designated with a school locale code of 
41, 42, or 43. Applicants may determine school locale codes by 
referring to the following Department Web site: http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/.
    Segmentation analysis means the process of grouping and analyzing 
data from children and families in the geographic area proposed to be 
served according to indicators of need (as defined in this notice) or 
other relevant indicators. The analysis is intended to allow grantees 
to differentiate and more effectively target interventions based on 
what they learn about the needs of different populations in the 
geographic area.
    Single-case design study (SCD) means a study that uses observations 
of a single case (e.g., a student eligible for a behavioral 
intervention) over time in the absence and presence of a controlled 
treatment manipulation to determine whether the outcome is 
systematically related to the treatment. According to the WWC Single 
Case Design Pilot Standards, a collection of these studies, depending 
on design and implementation (e.g., including a sufficient number of 
cases and of data points per condition), can Meet What Works 
Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations.
    Strong theory means a rationale for the proposed process, product, 
strategy, or practice that includes a logic model.
    Student achievement means--
    (1) For tested grades and subjects:
    (a) A student's score on the State's assessments under the ESEA; 
and, as appropriate,
    (b) Other measures of student learning, such as those described in 
paragraph (2) of this definition, provided they are rigorous and 
comparable across classrooms and programs.
    (2) For non-tested grades and subjects: Alternative measures of 
student learning and performance, such as student scores on pre-tests 
and end-of-course tests; student performance on English language 
proficiency assessments; and other measures of student achievement that 
are rigorous and comparable across classrooms.
    Student mobility rate is calculated by dividing the total number of 
new student entries and withdrawals at a school, from the day after the 
first official enrollment number is collected through the end of the 
academic year, by the first official enrollment number of the academic 
year.

    Note: This definition is not meant to limit a grantee from also 
collecting information about why students enter or withdraw from the 
school, e.g., transferring to charter schools, moving outside of the 
school district for non-academic or academic reasons.

    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally offers interested parties 
the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities, selection criteria, 
definitions, and other requirements. Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, 
however, allows the Secretary to exempt from rulemaking requirements, 
regulations governing the first grant competition under a new or 
substantially revised program authority. This is the first grant 
competition for this program under section 4623-4624 of the ESEA, 20 
U.S.C. 7273-7274, and therefore qualifies for this exemption. In order 
to ensure timely grant awards, the Secretary has decided to forgo 
public comment on the priorities, requirements, definitions, and 
selection criteria under section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. These priorities, 
requirements, definitions, and selection criteria will apply to the FY 
2017 grant competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards 
from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7273-7274.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79 81, 82, 
84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The OMB Guidelines to Agencies on 
Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 
180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3474. (d) Promise Zones NFP.

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


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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $30,000,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from 
the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $4,000,000 to $6,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $5,000,000.
    Maximum Award: $6,000,000.
    The maximum award amount is $6,000,000 per 12-month budget period. 
We will not fund an annual budget exceeding $6,000,000 per 12-month 
budget period.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 5-7.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.
    Under section 4623 of the ESEA, a grant awarded under this 
competition will be for a period of not more than five years, and may 
be extended for an additional period of not more than two

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years. In addition, continued funding of a grant under this 
competition, including an extended grant, after the third year of the 
initial grant period will be contingent on the eligible entity's 
progress toward meeting the performance metrics and annual performance 
objectives and outcomes under section 4625(a)(4)(C) of the ESEA.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Under section 4623 of the ESEA, an eligible 
organization must:
    (1) Be representative of the geographic area proposed to be served;
    (2) Operate or propose to work with and involve in carrying out its 
proposed project, in coordination with the school's LEA, at least one 
public elementary or secondary school that is located within the 
identified geographic area that the grant will serve;
    (3) Be one of the following:
    (a) An institution of higher education, as defined in section 102 
of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1002);
    (b) An Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, as defined in section 4 
of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
U.S.C. 5304); or
    (c) One or more nonprofit entities working in formal partnership 
with not less than one of the following entities:
    i. A high-need LEA.
    ii. An institution of higher education, as defined in section 102 
of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1002).
    iii. The office of a chief elected official of a unit of local 
government.
    iv. An Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, as defined under 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
(25 U.S.C. 5304); and
    (4) Currently provide at least one of the solutions from the 
applicant's proposed pipeline services in the geographic area proposed 
to be served.
    2. Cost-Sharing or Matching: To be eligible for a grant under this 
competition, an applicant must demonstrate a commitment from one or 
more entities in the public or private sector, which may include 
Federal, State, and local public agencies, philanthropic organizations, 
private businesses, or individuals, to provide matching funds. An 
applicant proposing a project that meets Absolute Priority 1--Promise 
Neighborhoods in Non-rural and Non-Tribal Communities must obtain 
matching funds or in-kind donations equal to at least 100 percent of 
its grant award. An applicant proposing a project that meets Absolute 
Priority 2--Promise Neighborhoods in Rural Communities or Absolute 
Priority 3--Promise Neighborhoods in Tribal Communities must obtain 
matching funds or in-kind donations equal to at least 50 percent of its 
grant award.
    Eligible sources of matching funds include sources of funds used to 
pay for solutions within the pipeline services, initiatives supported 
by the LEA, or public health services for children in the neighborhood. 
At least 10 percent of an applicant's total match must be cash or in-
kind contributions from the private sector, which may include 
philanthropic organizations, private businesses, or individuals.
    Applicants must demonstrate a commitment of matching funds in the 
application. Applicants must specify the source of the funds or 
contributions and in the case of a third-party in-kind contribution, a 
description of how the value was determined for the donated or 
contributed goods or service. Applicants must demonstrate the match 
commitment by including letters in their applications explaining the 
type and quantity of the match commitment with original signatures from 
the executives of organizations or agencies providing the match.
    The Secretary may consider decreasing the matching requirement in 
the most exceptional circumstances, on a case-by-case basis. An 
applicant that is unable to meet the matching requirement must include 
in its application a request to the Secretary to reduce the matching 
requirement, including the amount of the requested reduction, the total 
remaining match contribution, and a statement of the basis for the 
request. The Secretary will grant this request only if an applicant 
demonstrates a significant financial hardship. An applicant should 
review the Department's cost-sharing and cost-matching regulations, 
which include specific limitations, in 2 CFR 200.306 and the cost 
principles regarding donations, capital assets, depreciations and 
allowable costs, set out in subpart E of 2 CFR part 200.
    3. Application Requirements: Each applicant that receives a grant 
award for the Promise Neighborhoods competition must use the grant 
funds to implement the pipeline services and continuously evaluate the 
success of the program and improve the program based on data and 
outcomes. Applicants may use not less than 50 percent of grant funds in 
year one, and not less than 25 percent of grant funds in year two for 
planning activities to develop and implement pipeline services.
    Under section 4624 of the ESEA, as amended by the ESSA, applicants 
must submit and address the following:
    (1) A plan to significantly improve the academic outcomes of 
children living in the geographically defined area (neighborhood) that 
is served by the eligible entity by providing pipeline services that 
address the needs of children in the neighborhood, as identified by the 
needs analysis; and that is supported by effective practices.
    (2) A description of the neighborhood the eligible entity will 
serve. Applicants may propose to serve multiple, non-contiguous 
geographically defined areas. In cases where target areas are non-
contiguous, the applicant must explain its rationale for including non-
contiguous areas.
    (3) An analysis of the needs and assets of the neighborhood, 
including:
    (a) The size and scope of the population affected;
    (b) A description of the process through which the needs analysis 
was produced, including a description of how parents, families, and 
community members were engaged in such analysis;
    (c) An analysis of community assets and collaborative efforts 
(including programs already provided from Federal and non-Federal 
sources) within, or accessible to, the neighborhood, including, at a 
minimum, early learning opportunities, family and student supports, 
local businesses, local educational agencies, and institutions of 
higher education;
    (d) The steps that the eligible entity is taking at the time of the 
application to address the needs identified in the needs analysis; and
    (e) Any barriers the eligible entity, public agencies, and other 
community-based organizations have faced in meeting such needs.
    (4) A description of all information the entity used to identify 
the pipeline services to be provided, which shall not include 
information that is more than 3 years old. This description should 
address how the eligible entity plans to collect data on children 
served by each pipeline service; and increase the percentage of 
children served over time.
    (5) A description of the process used to develop the Promise 
Neighborhoods application, including the involvement of family and 
community members.
    (6) A description of how the pipeline services will facilitate the 
coordination of the following activities:
    (a) Providing early learning opportunities for children, including 
by:
    (i) Providing opportunities for families to acquire the skills to 
promote early learning and child development; and
    (ii) Ensuring appropriate diagnostic assessments and referrals for 
children with disabilities and children aged 3

[[Page 33887]]

through 9 experiencing developmental delays, consistent with the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), 
where applicable.
    (b) Supporting, enhancing, operating, or expanding rigorous, 
comprehensive, effective educational improvements, which may include 
high-quality academic programs, expanded learning time, and programs 
and activities to prepare students for postsecondary education 
admissions and success.
    (c) Supporting partnerships between schools and other community 
resources with an integrated focus on academics and other social, 
health, and familial supports.
    (d) Providing social, health, nutrition, and mental health services 
and supports, for children, family members, and community members, 
which may include services provided within the school building.
    (e) Supporting evidence-based programs (see section 8101(21) of the 
ESEA) that assist students through school transitions, which may 
include expanding access to postsecondary education courses and 
postsecondary education enrollment aid or guidance, and other supports 
for at-risk youth.
    (7) A description of the strategies that will be used to provide 
pipeline services (including a description of which programs and 
services will be provided to children, family members, community 
members, and children within the neighborhood) to support the purpose 
of the Promise Neighborhoods program.
    (8) An explanation of the process the eligible entity will use to 
establish and maintain family and community engagement, including:
    (a) Involving representative participation by the members of such 
neighborhood in the planning and implementation of the activities of 
each grant awarded;
    (b) The provision of strategies and practices to assist family and 
community members in actively supporting student achievement and child 
development;
    (c) Providing services for students, families, and communities 
within the school building; and
    (d) Collaboration with institutions of higher education, workforce 
development centers, and employers to align expectations and 
programming with postsecondary education and workforce readiness.
    (9) An explanation of how the eligible entity will continuously 
evaluate and improve the continuum of high-quality pipeline services to 
provide for continuous program improvement and potential expansion.
    (10) A commitment to collecting the required Promise Neighborhoods 
performance indicators' data; establishing the conditions for effective 
case and data management; and using data to improve program outcomes. 
In understanding the conditions necessary to collect, manage, and 
utilize data for Promise Neighborhoods, an applicant is required to:
    (a) Hire dedicated staff to ensure its project has sufficient 
personnel and/or contractors to effectively manage its data collection 
activities, case management, and data systems;
    (b) Submit a detailed data collection and reporting plan that 
includes a description of how it will conduct a bi-annual neighborhood 
survey of children and adults in the Promise Neighborhood; collect, at 
least annually, data on the performance indicators in Table 1; 
establish clear, annual targets and goals for growth on the performance 
indicators; and report those data to the Department annually;

                              Table 1--Promise Neighborhoods Performance Indicators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Result                                   Indicator                               Source
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Children enter kindergarten       1. Number and percentage of children in          Administrative data from
 ready to succeed in school.          kindergarten who demonstrate at the beginning    LEA.
                                      of the program or school year age-appropriate
                                      functioning across multiple domains of early
                                      learning as determined using developmentally-
                                      appropriate early learning measures.
2. Students are proficient in core   2.1 Number and percentage of students at or
 academic subjects.                   above grade level according to State
                                      mathematics assessments in at least the grades
                                      required by the ESEA (3rd through 8th grades
                                      and once in high school).
                                     2.2 Number and percentage of students at or
                                      above grade level according to State English
                                      language arts assessments in at least the
                                      grades required by the ESEA.
3. Students successfully transition  3.1 Attendance rate of students in 6th, 7th,
 from middle school grades to high    8th, and 9th grade as defined by average daily
 school.                              attendance.
                                     3.2 Chronic absenteeism rate of students in
                                      6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th grades.
4. Youth graduate from high school.  4. Four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate...
5. High school graduates obtain a    5.1 Number and percentage of Promise             Third party data such as
 postsecondary degree,                Neighborhood students who enroll in a two-year   the National Student
 certification or credential.         or four-year college or university after         Clearinghouse.
                                      graduation.
                                     5.2 Number and percent of Promise Neighborhood
                                      students who graduate from a two-year or four-
                                      year college or university or vocational
                                      certification completion.
6. Students are healthy............  Number and percentage of children who consume    Neighborhood survey,
                                      five or more servings of fruits and vegetables   school climate survey or
                                      daily.                                           other reliable data
                                                                                       source for population
                                                                                       level data collection.
7. Students feel safe at school and  7. Number and percentage of children who feel
 in their community.                  safe at school and traveling to and from
                                      school as measured by a school climate survey.
8. Students live in stable           8. Student mobility rate (as defined in the
 communities.                         notice).

[[Page 33888]]

 
9. Families and community members    9.1 Number and percentage of parents or family
 support learning in promise          members that read to or encourage their
 Neighborhood Schools.                children to read three or more times a week or
                                      reported their child read to themselves three
                                      or more times a week (birth-8th grade).
                                     9.2 Number and percentage of parents/family
                                      members who report talking about the
                                      importance of college and career (9th-12th
                                      grade).
10. Students have access to 21st     10. Number and percentage of students who have
 century learning tools.              school and home access to broadband internet
                                      and a connected computing device.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note:  The indicators in Table 1 are not intended to limit an 
applicant from collecting and using data from additional Family and 
Community Support indicators proposed to the Department. Applicants 
are strongly encouraged, but not required, to propose additional 
performance indicators aligned to the specific pipeline services 
proposed in their application.

    (c) Describe how it will develop a case management system to track 
key information and progress toward outcomes for individual children 
and adults participating in its Promise Neighborhoods programs and to 
facilitate communication and the coordination of services on behalf of 
these individuals; and
    (d) Describe how it will develop and maintain a longitudinal data 
system to track outcome measures and other performance indicators over 
time (e.g., snapshots and extracts from the case management system at 
different points in time).
    The established performance indicators for the Promise 
Neighborhoods program serve as indicators of improved academic and 
developmental outcomes for children, including indicators of school 
readiness, high school graduation, postsecondary education and career 
readiness, and other academic and developmental outcomes. Each grantee 
is required to collect and report data on the performance indicators 
annually. Subsequently, the Department will make a determination for 
continuation funding and grant extensions based on performance 
indicator outcomes and available funding.
    (11) A commitment to work with the Department, and with a national 
evaluator for Promise Neighborhoods or another entity designated by the 
Department, to ensure that data collection and program design are 
consistent with plans to conduct a rigorous national evaluation of the 
Promise Neighborhoods program and of specific solutions and strategies 
pursued by individual grantees. This commitment must include, but need 
not be limited to--
    (a) Ensuring that, through memoranda of understanding with 
appropriate entities, the national evaluator and the Department have--
consistent with applicable privacy requirements--access to relevant 
program and project data sources (e.g., administrative data and program 
and project indicator data), including on a quarterly basis if 
requested by the Department;
    (b) Developing, in consultation with the national evaluator, an 
evaluation strategy, including identifying a credible comparison group; 
and
    (c) Developing, in consultation with the national evaluator, a plan 
for identifying and collecting reliable and valid baseline data for 
both program participants and a designated comparison group of non-
participants.
    (12) Each applicant must submit, as part of its application, a 
preliminary memorandum of understanding, signed by each organization or 
agency with which it would partner in implementing the proposed Promise 
Neighborhood. Within the preliminary memorandum of understanding, all 
applicants must detail each partner's financial, programmatic, and 
long-term commitment with respect to the strategies described in the 
application.
    Under section 4624(c) of the ESEA, applicants that are non-profit 
entities must submit a preliminary memorandum of understanding signed 
by each partner entity or agency, which must include at least one of 
the following: A high-need LEA; an institution of higher education, as 
defined in section 102 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1002); the office of a 
chief elected official of a unit of local government; or an Indian 
Tribe or Tribal organization as defined in section 4 of the Indian 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
    Each eligible entity that receives a grant under this program is 
required to prepare and submit an annual report to the Secretary that 
must include the following: (1) Information about the number and 
percentage of children in the neighborhood who are served by the grant 
program, including a description of the number and percentage of 
children accessing each support service offered as part of the pipeline 
of services; and (2) information relating to the metrics established 
under the Promise Neighborhood Performance Indicators.
    In addition, grantees are required to make these data publicly 
available, including through electronic means. To the extent 
practicable, and as required by law, such information must be provided 
in a form and language accessible to parents and families in the 
neighborhood served under the Promise Neighborhoods grant. In addition, 
data on academic indicators pertinent to the Promise Neighborhoods 
program will, in most cases, already be part of statewide longitudinal 
data systems.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package via the internet or from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the internet, use the following 
address: www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/. To obtain a copy from 
ED Pubs, write, fax, or call: ED Pubs, U.S. Department of Education, 
P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-
7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. If you use a TDD or a TTY, call FRS, toll 
free: 1-877-576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at 
its email address: [email protected].
    If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify this program or competition as follows: CFDA number 84.215N.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) by contacting the person or team listed under 
Accessible Format in section VII of this notice.
    2. a. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together

[[Page 33889]]

with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this 
competition.
    The Department will be able to develop a more efficient process for 
reviewing grant applications if it has a better understanding of the 
number of entities that intend to apply for funding under this 
competition. Therefore, the Secretary strongly encourages each 
potential applicant to notify the Department of the applicant's intent 
to submit an application for funding by completing a web-based form. 
When completing this form, applicants will provide (1) the applicant 
organization's name and address, and (2) information on the competitive 
preference priority or priorities under which the applicant intends to 
apply. Applicants may access this form online at https://innovation.ed.gov/what-we-do/parental-options/promise-neighborhoods-pn/. Applicants that do not complete this form may still apply for 
funding.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) 
limit the application narrative to 75 pages, and (2) use the following 
standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5 x 11, on one side 
only, with 1 margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial.
    The recommended page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover 
sheet; Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget 
justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-
page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of 
support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the 
application narrative.
    2. b. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of 
projects that may be proposed in applications for the Promise 
Neighborhoods program, your application may include business 
information that you consider proprietary. In 34 CFR 5.11 we define 
``business information'' and describe the process we use in determining 
whether any of that information is proprietary and, thus, protected 
from disclosure under Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 
U.S.C. 552, as amended).
    Because we plan to make successful applications available to the 
public, you may wish to request confidentiality of business 
information.
    Consistent with Executive Order 12600, please designate in your 
application any information that you feel is exempt from disclosure 
under Exemption 4. In the appropriate Appendix section of your 
application, under ``Other Attachments Form,'' please list the page 
number or numbers on which we can find this information. For additional 
information please see 34 CFR 5.11(c).
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: July 21, 2017.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: August 21, 2017.
    Date of Pre-Application Webinar: Promise Neighborhoods intends to 
hold pre-application webinars to provide technical assistance to 
interested applicants. Detailed information regarding pre-application 
webinar times will be provided on the Web site at https://innovation.ed.gov/what-we-do/parental-options/promise-neighborhoods-pn/.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 5, 2017.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to 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. If the 
Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual 
with a disability in connection with the application process, the 
individual's application remains subject to all other requirements and 
limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: November 3, 2017.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for this competition.
    Applicants that operate a school in a neighborhood served by a 
grant program must provide such school with the operational 
flexibility, including autonomy over staff, time, and budget, needed to 
effectively carry out the activities described in this Notice.
    Grantees cannot, in carrying out activities to improve early 
childhood education programs, use Promise Neighborhoods funds to carry 
out the following activities:
    (1) Assessments that provide rewards or sanctions for individual 
children or teachers.
    (2) A single assessment that is used as the primary or sole method 
for assessing program effectiveness.
    (3) Evaluation of children, other than for the purposes of 
improving instruction, classroom environment, professional development, 
or parent and family engagement, or program improvement.
    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, 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

[[Page 33890]]

administered by the Department, please allow sufficient time to obtain 
and register your DUNS number and TIN. We strongly recommend that you 
register early.

    Note:  Once your SAM registration is active, it may be 24 to 48 
hours before you can access the information in, and submit an 
application through, Grants.gov.

    If you are currently registered with SAM, you may not need to make 
any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with 
your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will need to update 
your registration annually. This may take three or more business days.
    Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further 
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in 
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov 
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
    In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, 
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with 
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the 
following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify 
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the 
instructions in this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under Promise Neighborhoods, CFDA number 
84.215N, must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide 
Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be 
able to download a copy of the application package, complete it 
offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not email 
an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Promise 
Neighborhoods program at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the 
downloadable application package for this competition by the CFDA 
number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search 
(e.g., search for 84.215, not 84.215N).
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 
system home page at www.G5.gov. In addition, for specific guidance and 
procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov, please 
refer to the Grants.gov Web site at: www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information you typically provide on the following forms: The 
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of 
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and 
certifications.
     You must upload any narrative sections and all other 
attachments to your application as files in a read-only, flattened 
Portable Document Format (PDF), meaning any fillable PDF documents must 
be saved as flattened non-fillable files. Therefore, do not upload an 
interactive or fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than 
a read-only, flattened PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or 
submit a password-protected file, we will not review that material. 
Please note that this could result in your application not being 
considered for funding because the material in question--for example, 
the application narrative--is critical to a meaningful review of your 
proposal. For that reason it is important to allow yourself adequate 
time to upload all material as PDF files. The Department will not 
convert material from other formats to PDF. There is no need to 
password protect a file in order to meet the requirement to submit a 
read-only flattened PDF. And, as noted above, the Department will not 
review password protected files.
     Your electronic application must comply with any page 
limit requirements described in this notice.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that 
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. This notification indicates 
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department. Grants.gov 
will also notify you automatically by email if your application met all 
the Grants.gov validation requirements or if there were any errors 
(such as submission of your application by someone other than a 
registered Authorized Organization Representative, or inclusion of an 
attachment with a file name that contains special characters). You will 
be given an opportunity to correct any errors and resubmit, but you 
must still meet the deadline for submission of applications.
    Once your application is successfully validated by Grants.gov, the 
Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you 
an email with

[[Page 33891]]

a unique PR/Award number for your application.
    These emails do not mean that your application is without any 
disqualifying errors. While your application may have been successfully 
validated by Grants.gov, it must also meet the Department's application 
requirements as specified in this notice and in the application 
instructions. Disqualifying errors could include, for instance, failure 
to upload attachments in a read-only, flattened PDF; failure to submit 
a required part of the application; or failure to meet applicant 
eligibility requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that your 
submitted application has met all of the Department's requirements.
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues 
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting 
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov 
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a 
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
    If you are prevented from electronically submitting your 
application on the application deadline date because of technical 
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension 
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand 
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing 
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
    If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC 
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT and provide an explanation 
of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with 
the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. We will accept your 
application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with 
the Grants.gov system and that the problem affected your ability to 
submit your application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date. We will contact you after we determine 
whether your application will be accepted.

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

    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Grants.gov system; and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
prevents you from using the internet to submit your application.
    If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be 
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must 
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the 
application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: Adrienne Hawkins, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W256, 
Washington, DC 20202-5970. FAX: (202) 205-5630.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail 
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.215N), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.

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

    We will not consider applications postmarked after the application 
deadline date.
    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper 
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original 
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.215N), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center 
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except 
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.

    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications:  If you 
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--
    (1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by 
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including 
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are 
submitting your application; and
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a 
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not 
receive this notification within 15 business days from the 
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of 
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria are either from 34 
CFR 75.210 or established in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, 
20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1). All of the selection criteria are listed in this 
section and in the application package. The maximum score for all of 
the selection criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each 
criterion is included in parentheses following the title of the 
specific selection criterion. Each criterion also includes the factors 
that reviewers will consider in

[[Page 33892]]

determining the extent to which an applicant meets the criterion.
    Points awarded under these selection criteria are in addition to 
any points an applicant earns under the competitive preference 
priorities in this notice. The maximum score that an application may 
receive under the competitive preference priorities and the selection 
criteria is 108 points.
    (a) Need for the Project (15 points).
    The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In 
determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers:
    (1) The magnitude or severity of the problems to be addressed by 
the proposed project as described by indicators of need (as defined in 
this notice) and other relevant indicators identified in part by the 
needs assessment and segmentation analysis (as defined in this notice);
    (2) The extent to which the geographically defined area has been 
described; and
    (3) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be 
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude 
of those gaps or weaknesses. (34 CFR 75.210)
    (b) Quality of Project Design (30 points).
    The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of 
the project design. In determining the quality of the design of the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the applicant describes a plan to create a 
complete pipeline of services, including early learning through grade 
12, college- and career-readiness, and family and community supports, 
without time and resource gaps, that will prepare all children in the 
neighborhood to attain an excellent education and successfully 
transition to college and a career, and that will significantly 
increase the proportion of students in the neighborhood that are served 
by the complete continuum to reach scale over time;
    (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data to the extent possible (34 CFR 75.210); and
    (3) The extent to which the proposed project is supported by strong 
theory (as defined in this notice) (34 CFR 75.210).
    (c) Quality of Project Services (20 points).
    The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be provided 
by the proposed project. In determining the quality of the project 
services, the Secretary considers:
    (1) The quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal 
access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members 
of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, 
color, national origin, gender, age, or disability (34 CFR 75.210);
    (2) The likelihood that the services to be provided by the proposed 
project will lead to improvement in the achievement of students as 
measured against rigorous academic standards (34 CFR 75.210); and
    (3) The quality of the applicant's plan to establish formal and 
informal partnerships, including the alignment of the visions, theories 
of action, and theories of change described in its memorandum of 
understanding, and to create a system for holding partners accountable 
for performance in accordance with the memorandum of understanding.
    (d) Quality of the Management Plan (20 points).
    The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks (34 CFR 75.210); and
    (2) The adequacy of the management plan's provisions on collecting, 
analyzing, and using data for decision-making, learning, continuous 
improvement, and accountability, including whether the applicant has a 
plan to build, adapt, or expand a longitudinal data system that 
integrates student-level data from multiple sources in order to measure 
progress while abiding by privacy laws and requirements, and ensuring 
that any systems built, adapted, or expanded upon includes essential 
security controls.
    (e) Adequacy of Resources (15 points).
    The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
project. In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers:
    (1) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and 
benefits (34 CFR 75.210);
    (2) The extent to which the applicant demonstrates that it has the 
resources to operate the project beyond the length of the grant, 
including a multi-year financial and operating model and accompanying 
plan; the demonstrated commitment of any partners; evidence of broad 
support from stakeholders (e.g., State educational agencies, teachers' 
unions) critical to the project's long-term success; or more than one 
of these types of evidence (34 CFR 75.210); and
    (3) The extent to which the applicant identifies existing 
neighborhood assets and programs supported by Federal, State, local, 
and private funds that will be used to implement pipeline services.
    2. Review and Selection Process: The Department will screen 
applications submitted in accordance with the requirements in this 
notice, and will determine which applications have met eligibility and 
other statutory requirements.
    The Department will use independent reviewers from various 
backgrounds and professions including: Pre-kindergarten through grade 
12, teachers and principals, college and university educators, 
researchers and evaluators, social entrepreneurs, strategy consultants, 
grant makers and managers, and others with community development and 
education expertise. The Department will thoroughly screen all 
reviewers for conflicts of interest to ensure a fair and competitive 
review process.
    Reviewers will read, prepare a written evaluation of, and score the 
applications assigned to their panel, using the selection criteria 
provided in this notice.
    The Secretary prepares a rank order of applications for each 
absolute priority based solely on the evaluation of their quality 
according to the selection criteria and competitive preference priority 
points. The Department may use more than one tier of reviews in 
determining grantees, including possible site visits for applicants. 
Additional information about the review process will be posted on the 
Department's Web site.
    We remind potential applicants that in reviewing applications in 
any discretionary grant competition, the Secretary may consider, under 
34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the applicant in carrying 
out a previous award, such as the applicant's use of funds, achievement 
of project objectives, and compliance with grant conditions. The 
Secretary may also consider whether the applicant failed to submit a 
timely performance report or

[[Page 33893]]

submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    3. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under this competition the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
3474.10, the Secretary may impose specific conditions and, in 
appropriate circumstances, high-risk conditions on a grant if the 
applicant or grantee is not financially stable; has a history of 
unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or other management system 
that does not meet the standards in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not 
fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not 
responsible.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to 
access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally, 
also.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, 
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and 
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply 
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b). If awarded a grant 
under this competition, information about the number and percentage of 
children in the neighborhood who are served by the grant program, 
including a description of the number and percentage of children 
accessing each support or service offered as part of the pipeline 
services; and information relating to the performance metrics must be 
stated in each annual report.
    (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final 
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the 
Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual 
performance report that provides the most current performance and 
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance 
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, 
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this 
competition to receive an award 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.
    5. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established performance 
indicators (i.e., performance measures) for Promise Neighborhoods. 
Performance indicators established by the Secretary include improved 
academic and development outcomes for children, including indicators of 
school readiness, high school graduation, postsecondary education and 
career readiness, and other academic and developmental outcomes. These 
outcomes promote data-driven decision-making and access to a community-
based continuum of high quality services for children living in the 
most distressed communities of the United States, beginning at birth. 
All grantees will be required to submit data annually against these 
performance measures as part of their annual performance report.
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the 
Secretary considers, among other things: Whether a grantee has made 
substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of the 
project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is 
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, the 
performance of the grantee in meeting the targets established for each 
performance indicator identified in the grantee's approved data plan.
    In making a continuation award, the Secretary also considers 
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in 
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil 
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities 
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to 
the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well 
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or PDF. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat 
Reader, which is available free at the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.


[[Page 33894]]


    Dated: July 18, 2017.
Margo Anderson,
Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2017-15359 Filed 7-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P



                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 139 / Friday, July 21, 2017 / Notices                                                    33881

                                                helps the public understand the                          related to the civil rights laws’                     Room 4W256, Washington, DC 20202.
                                                Department’s information collection                      requirement that public local                         Telephone: (202) 453–5638 or by email:
                                                requirements and provide the requested                   educational agencies (LEAs) and                       PromiseNeighborhoods@ed.gov.
                                                data in the desired format. ED is                        elementary and secondary schools                         If you use a telecommunications
                                                soliciting comments on the proposed                      provide equal educational opportunity.                device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
                                                information collection request (ICR) that                ED has analyzed the uses of many data                 telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay
                                                is described below. The Department of                    elements collected in the 2013–14 and                 Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877–
                                                Education is especially interested in                    2015–16 CRDCs and sought advice from                  8339.
                                                public comment addressing the                            experts across ED to refine, improve,                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                following issues: (1) Is this collection                 and where appropriate, add or remove
                                                necessary to the proper functions of the                 data elements from the collection. ED                 Full Text of Announcement
                                                Department; (2) will this information be                 also made the CRDC data definitions                   I. Funding Opportunity Description
                                                processed and used in a timely manner;                   and metrics consistent with other
                                                (3) is the estimate of burden accurate;                  mandatory collections across ED                       Purpose of Program
                                                (4) how might the Department enhance                     wherever possible. ED seeks OMB                          The Promise Neighborhoods program
                                                the quality, utility, and clarity of the                 approval under the Paperwork                          is newly authorized under the
                                                information to be collected; and (5) how                 Reduction Act to collect from LEAs, the               Elementary and Secondary Education
                                                might the Department minimize the                        elementary and secondary education                    Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the
                                                burden of this collection on the                         data described in the sections of                     Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
                                                respondents, including through the use                   Attachment A. In addition, ED requests                The purpose of the Promise
                                                of information technology. Please note                   that LEAs and other stakeholders                      Neighborhoods program is to
                                                that written comments received in                        respond to the directed questions found               significantly improve the academic and
                                                response to this notice will be                          in Attachment A–5.                                    developmental outcomes of children
                                                considered public records.                                                                                     living in the most distressed
                                                                                                           Dated: July 17, 2017.
                                                   Title of Collection: Mandatory Civil                                                                        communities of the United States,
                                                Rights Data Collection.                                  Stephanie Valentine,
                                                                                                                                                               including ensuring school readiness,
                                                   OMB Control Number: 1870–0504.                        Acting Director, Information Collection
                                                                                                         Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy
                                                                                                                                                               high school graduation, and access to a
                                                   Type of Review: A revision of an                                                                            community-based continuum of high-
                                                existing information collection.                         Officer, Office of Management.
                                                                                                                                                               quality services. The program serves
                                                   Respondents/Affected Public: State,                   [FR Doc. 2017–15293 Filed 7–20–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                               neighborhoods with high concentrations
                                                Local, or Tribal Governments.                            BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
                                                   Total Estimated Number of Annual                                                                            of low-income individuals; multiple
                                                Responses: 17,621.                                                                                             signs of distress, which may include
                                                   Total Estimated Number of Annual                      DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION                               high rates of poverty, childhood obesity,
                                                Burden Hours: 1,521,827.                                                                                       academic failure, and juvenile
                                                   Abstract: The collection, use, and                    Applications for New Awards; Promise                  delinquency, adjudication, or
                                                reporting of education data is an integral               Neighborhoods Program                                 incarceration; and schools
                                                component of the mission of the U.S.                                                                           implementing comprehensive support
                                                                                                         AGENCY: Office of Innovation and                      and improvement activities or targeted
                                                Department of Education (ED). EDFacts,                   Improvement, Department of Education.
                                                an ED initiative to put performance data                                                                       support and improvement activities
                                                                                                         ACTION: Notice.                                       under section 1111(d) of the ESEA. All
                                                at the center of ED’s policy,
                                                management, and budget decision-                         SUMMARY:   The Department of Education                strategies in the continuum of solutions
                                                making processes for all K–12 education                  is issuing a notice inviting applications             must be accessible to children with
                                                programs, has transformed the way in                     for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017              disabilities and English learners.
                                                which ED collects and uses data. For                     for the Promise Neighborhoods                         Background
                                                school years 2009–10 and 2011–12, the                    Program—Grant Competition, Catalog of                   The vision of the Promise
                                                Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) was                  Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)                    Neighborhoods program is that all
                                                approved by OMB as part of the EDFacts                   number 84.215N.                                       children and youth living in our most
                                                information collection (1875–0240). For                  DATES: Applications Available: July 21,               distressed communities have access to
                                                school years 2013–14 and 2015–16, the                    2017.                                                 great schools and strong systems of
                                                Office for Civil Rights (OCR) cleared the                   Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply:            family and community support that will
                                                CRDC as a separate collection from                       August 21, 2017.                                      prepare them to attain an excellent
                                                EDFacts. OCR used the most current                          Date of Pre-Application Webinars:
                                                                                                                                                               education and successfully transition to
                                                EDFacts information collection                           The Promise Neighborhoods team
                                                                                                                                                               postsecondary education and a career.
                                                approved by OMB (1875–0240) as a                         intends to hold pre-application                         A Promise Neighborhood is both a
                                                model for the 2013–14 and 2015–16                        webinars to provide technical assistance              place and a strategy. A place eligible to
                                                CRDC information collections that were                   to interested applicants. Detailed                    become a Promise Neighborhood is a
                                                approved by OMB (1870–0504).                             information regarding these webinar                   geographic area 1 that is distressed, often
                                                Similarly, the currently proposed                        times will be provided on the Promise                 facing inadequate access to high-quality
                                                revised CRDC information collection for                  Neighborhoods’ Web site at https://                   early learning programs and services,
                                                school year 2017–18 is modeled after                     innovation.ed.gov/what-we-do/parental-                with struggling schools, low high school
                                                the most recent OMB-approved EDFacts
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                         options/promise-neighborhoods-pn/.                    and college graduation rates, high rates
                                                information collection (1850–0925). For                     Deadline for Transmittal of
                                                                                                                                                               of unemployment, high rates of crime,
                                                the 2017–18 CRDC, OCR is proposing                       Applications: September 5, 2017.
                                                                                                            Deadline for Intergovernmental                     and indicators of poor health. These
                                                few changes, and those changes will
                                                                                                         Review: November 3, 2017.                             conditions contribute to and intensify
                                                have the net effect of reducing burden
                                                on school districts. As with previous                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                         1 For the purpose of this notice, the Department
                                                CRDC collections, the purpose of the                     Adrienne Hawkins, U.S. Department of                  uses the terms ‘‘geographic area’’ and
                                                2017–18 CRDC is to obtain vital data                     Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,                   ‘‘neighborhood’’ interchangeably.



                                           VerDate Sep<11>2014   19:50 Jul 20, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00018   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\21JYN1.SGM   21JYN1


                                                33882                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 139 / Friday, July 21, 2017 / Notices

                                                the negative outcomes associated with                    (see section 8101(21) of the ESEA)                    funding category are of sufficient
                                                children and youth living in poverty.                    activities and programs. Previously                   quality, the Secretary intends to award
                                                   A Promise Neighborhood strategy                       funded Promise Neighborhoods grantees                 grants under each absolute priority.
                                                addresses the complex, interconnected                    have struggled to conduct meaningful                    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we
                                                issues in the distressed community it                    data collection and evaluation activities,            consider only applications that meet
                                                serves. Promise Neighborhoods are led                    which include collecting the full range               one or more of these priorities.
                                                by organizations, such as nonprofit                      of data necessary to effectively employ                 These priorities are:
                                                organizations, institutions of higher                    comprehensive case and longitudinal                     Absolute Priority 1—Promise
                                                education, offices of chief elected                      data management systems. Such data                    Neighborhoods in Non-Rural and Non-
                                                officials of local governments, or Indian                systems are critical to effectively                   Tribal Communities.3
                                                Tribes or Tribal organizations, that work                coordinate a range of services for high-                To meet this priority, an applicant
                                                to ensure that all children and youth in                 need students and their families within               must propose to implement a Promise
                                                the target geographic area have access to                a Promise Neighborhood. In response to                Neighborhood strategy that serves one
                                                services that lead to improved                           this challenge, we now require                        or more non-rural or non-Tribal
                                                educational and developmental                            applicants to address specific data                   communities.
                                                outcomes from cradle-to-career. The                      collection and performance                              Absolute Priority 2—Promise
                                                organizations ensure that services are                   management requirements.                              Neighborhoods in Rural Communities.
                                                based on the best available evidence and                    In addressing these requirements, we                 To meet this priority, an applicant
                                                employ robust data collection and                        strongly encourage applicants to review               must propose to implement a Promise
                                                management systems to learn about the                    a publication released by the                         Neighborhood strategy that serves one
                                                impact of approaches for which there is                  Department in 2013 entitled,                          or more rural communities (as defined
                                                less evidence; that services are linked                  ‘‘Measuring Performance: A Guidance                   in this notice) only.
                                                and integrated seamlessly; and that                      Document for Promise Neighborhoods                      Under section 4623 of the ESEA, the
                                                services include education programs as                   on Collecting Data and Reporting                      Department will use at least 15 percent
                                                well as programs that provide family                     Results.’’ 2 This publication provides                of the funds available for the Promise
                                                and community supports. Promise                          guidance on Promise Neighborhoods                     Neighborhoods program to award grants
                                                Neighborhoods enable children and                        case management and longitudinal data                 to eligible entities (as defined in this
                                                youth within targeted distressed                         systems; data collection strategies,                  notice) that propose to carry out the
                                                communities to participate in the full                   sources, and methods; and data tracking               Promise Neighborhoods activities in
                                                range of cradle-to-career supports that                  and reporting procedures.                             rural areas. The Department will reduce
                                                are necessary for them to realize their                     Priorities: This competition includes              the funds reserved for rural areas if we
                                                potential. The Department of                             three absolute priorities and four                    do not receive enough applications of
                                                Education’s expectation is that over                     competitive preference priorities. The                sufficient quality.
                                                time, a greater proportion of the                        three absolute priorities focus on the                  Absolute Priority 3—Promise
                                                neighborhood residents receive these                     types of neighborhoods or geographic                  Neighborhoods in Tribal Communities.
                                                supports and that neighborhood                           areas that the proposed project will                    To meet this priority, an applicant
                                                indicators (see Table 1) show significant                serve. Absolute Priority 1 is focused on              must propose to implement a Promise
                                                progress. For this reason, each Promise                  non-rural and non-Tribal applicants;                  Neighborhood strategy that serves one
                                                Neighborhood applicant must                              Absolute Priority 2 is focused on rural               or more Indian Tribes (as defined in this
                                                demonstrate several core features: (1)                   communities; and Absolute Priority 3 is               notice).
                                                Significant need in the neighborhood;                    focused on Tribal communities.                          Competitive Preference Priorities: We
                                                (2) a strategy to build pipeline services                   Absolute Priorities: We are                        are establishing Competitive Preference
                                                (as defined in this notice) with strong                  establishing Absolute Priorities 1, 2, and            Priorities 1 and 2 for the FY 2017 grant
                                                schools at the center; and (3) the                       3 for the FY 2017 grant competition and               competition and any subsequent year in
                                                organizational and relational capacity to                any subsequent year in which we make                  which we make awards from the list of
                                                achieve results.                                         awards from the list of unfunded                      unfunded applications from this
                                                   This year’s Promise Neighborhoods                     applications from this competition in                 competition in accordance with section
                                                competition is different from previous                   accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the              437(d)(1) of the GEPA, 20 U.S.C.
                                                years’ competitions in several ways. The                 General Education Provisions Act                      1232(d)(1). Competitive Preference
                                                Promise Neighborhoods program, under                     (GEPA). Applicants should indicate in                 Priority 3 is from section 4624 of the
                                                the ESEA as amended by ESSA, requires                    their application whether they are                    ESEA, as amended by the ESSA, 20
                                                applicants to propose the use of not less                applying under Absolute Priority 1,                   U.S.C. 7231e. Competitive Preference
                                                than 50 percent of grant funds in year                   Absolute Priority 2, or Absolute Priority             Priority 4 is from the Promise Zones
                                                one, and not less than 25 percent in year                3. If an applicant applies under                      notice of final priority published in the
                                                two, to support planning activities for                  Absolute Priority 2 or Absolute Priority              Federal Register on March 27, 2014 (79
                                                the development and implementation of                    3 and is deemed ineligible, the
                                                pipeline services. Because applicants                                                                          FR 17035) (Promise Zones NFP).
                                                                                                         application still may be considered for                 For FY 2017 and any subsequent year
                                                must now propose to use grant funds for                  funding under Absolute Priority 1. The
                                                limited planning activities, the                                                                               in which we make awards from the list
                                                                                                         Secretary prepares a rank order of                    of unfunded applications from this
                                                Department will no longer award                          applications for each absolute priority
                                                separate Promise Neighborhoods                                                                                 competition, these priorities are
                                                                                                         based solely on the evaluation of their               competitive preference priorities. Under
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                                                planning and implementation grants.                      quality according to the selection
                                                The priorities and some program                                                                                34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an
                                                                                                         criteria.                                             additional three points to an application
                                                requirements for this year’s competition                    Each of the three absolute priorities
                                                have also changed from previous                                                                                that meets Competitive Preference
                                                                                                         constitutes its own funding category.
                                                competitions. In this year’s competition,                Assuming that applications in each                      3 An applicant that serves one or more non-rural
                                                we introduce new data and performance                                                                          or non-Tribal communities will not be disqualified
                                                management requirements while                              2 https://www2.ed.gov/programs/                     because it also proposes to serve rural or Tribal
                                                continuing to prioritize evidence-based                  promiseneighborhoods/pndataguidance.pdf.              communities.



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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 139 / Friday, July 21, 2017 / Notices                                             33883

                                                Priority 1; we award three additional                      Competitive Preference Priority 4—                  Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
                                                points to an application that meets                      Promise Zones (0 or 1 point).                         5304); and
                                                Competitive Preference Priority 2; we                      This priority is for projects that are                 (4) Currently provides at least one of
                                                award one additional point to an                         designed to serve and coordinate with a               the solutions from the applicant’s
                                                application that meets Competitive                       federally designated Promise Zone.                    proposed pipeline services in the
                                                Preference Priority 3; and we award one                    To meet this priority, an applicant                 geographic area proposed to be served.
                                                additional point to an application that                  must include a Certification of                          Experimental study means a study,
                                                meets Competitive Preference Priority 4.                 Consistency with Promise Zone Goals                   such as a randomized controlled trial
                                                   Applicants may address all of the                     and Implementation (HUD Form 50153)                   (RCT) (as defined in this notice), that is
                                                competitive preference priorities. Also,                 signed by an authorized representative                designed to compare outcomes between
                                                applicants should identify on the                        of the lead organization of a Promise                 two groups of individuals that are
                                                abstract form and in the project                         Zone designated by the Department of                  otherwise equivalent except for their
                                                narrative section of their application                   Housing and Urban Development (HUD)                   assignment to either a treatment group
                                                which competitive preference priority                    or the United States Department of                    receiving a project component (as
                                                or priorities the applicants address. We                 Agriculture. An application for Promise               defined in this notice) or a control group
                                                will not award competitive preference                    Neighborhoods grant funds that is not                 that does not. In some circumstances, a
                                                priority points to an application that                   accompanied by a signed certification                 finding from a regression discontinuity
                                                fails to clearly identify the competitive                (HUD Form 50153) will receive zero                    design study (RDD) (as defined in this
                                                preference priority or priorities it                     points for this priority. The certification           notice) or findings from a collection of
                                                wishes the Department to consider for                    form is available at //portal.hud.gov/                single-case design studies (SCDs) (as
                                                purposes of earning the competitive                      hudportal/documents/                                  defined in this notice) may be
                                                preference priority points.                              huddoc?id=HUD_Form_50153.pdf. To                      considered equivalent to a finding from
                                                   These priorities are:                                 view the list of designated Promise                   an RCT. RCTs, RDDs, and collections of
                                                   Competitive Preference Priority 1—                    Zones and lead organizations please go                SCDs, depending on design and
                                                Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI)                 to www.hud.gov/promisezones.                          implementation, can Meet What Works
                                                Program (0 or 3 points).                                                                                       Clearinghouse Evidence Standards
                                                                                                         Definitions                                           without reservations.
                                                   To meet this priority, an applicant
                                                must propose to serve geographic areas                      The definition of ‘‘strong theory’’ is                Graduation rate means the four-year
                                                that were the subject of a targeted                      from 34 CFR 77.1. The remaining                       or extended-year adjusted cohort
                                                strategy addressing crime in a specific                  definitions are established in                        graduation rate as defined by 34 CFR
                                                community pursuant to a BCJI grant                       accordance with section 437(d)(1) of                  200.19(b)(1).
                                                awarded by the U.S. Department of                        GEPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).                             Note: This definition is not meant to
                                                Justice during FY 2012 or later years. To                   The following definitions apply to                 prevent a grantee from also collecting
                                                be eligible under this priority, the                     this program:                                         information about the reasons why students
                                                                                                            Eligible entity means an organization              do not graduate from the target high school,
                                                applicant must either: (1) Be able to
                                                                                                         that:                                                 e.g., dropping out or moving outside of the
                                                demonstrate that it has received a BCJI                                                                        school district for non-academic or academic
                                                                                                            (1) Is representative of the geographic
                                                grant; or (2) provide, in its application,                                                                     reasons.
                                                                                                         area (as defined in this notice) proposed
                                                a memorandum of understanding
                                                                                                         to be served;                                            Indian Tribe means an Indian Tribe or
                                                between it and a partner that is a                          (2) Operates or proposes to work with
                                                recipient of a BCJI grant. The                                                                                 Tribal organization, as defined in
                                                                                                         and involve in carrying out its proposed              section 4 of the Indian Self-
                                                memorandum of understanding must                         project, in coordination with the
                                                indicate a commitment on the part of                                                                           Determination and Education
                                                                                                         school’s local educational agency (LEA),              Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)
                                                the applicant and partner to coordinate                  at least one public elementary or                        Indicators of need means currently
                                                implementation and align resources to                    secondary school that is located within               available data that describe—
                                                the greatest extent practicable.                         the identified geographic area that the                  (1) Education need, which means—
                                                   Competitive Preference Priority 2—                    grant will serve;                                        (a) All or a portion of the
                                                Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support                         (3) Is one of the following:                       neighborhood includes or is within the
                                                Program (0 or 3 points).                                    (a) An institution of higher education,            attendance zone of a low-performing
                                                   To receive points under this priority,                as defined in section 102 of the Higher               school that is a high school, especially
                                                the applicant must either: (1)                           Education Act of 1965, as amended                     one in which the graduation rate (as
                                                Demonstrate that it has received a DFC                   (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1002);                               defined in this notice) is less than 60
                                                grant to prevent opioid abuse (as one of                    (b) An Indian Tribe or Tribal                      percent or a school that can be
                                                its areas of focus); or (2) provide, in its              organization, as defined in section 4 of              characterized as low-performing based
                                                application, a memorandum of                             the Indian Self-Determination and                     on another proxy indicator, such as
                                                understanding between it and a partner                   Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.                   students’ on-time progression from
                                                that is a recipient of a DFC grant to                    5304); or                                             grade to grade; and
                                                address opioid abuse prevention as one                      (c) One or more nonprofit entities                    (b) Other indicators, such as
                                                of its areas of focus.                                   working in formal partnership with not                significant achievement gaps between
                                                   Competitive Preference Priority 3—                    less than one of the following entities:              subgroups of students (as identified in
                                                Evidence-Based Activities, Strategies, or                   i. A high-need LEA.                                section 1111(b)(2)(B)(xi) of the ESEA)
                                                Interventions (0 or 1 point).
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                                                                                                            ii. An institution of higher education,            within a school or LEA, high teacher
                                                   To meet this priority, an applicant                   as defined in section 102 of the HEA (20              and principal turnover, or high student
                                                must propose to carry out evidence-                      U.S.C. 1002).                                         absenteeism; and
                                                based activities, strategies, or                            iii. The office of a chief elected                    (2) Family and community support
                                                interventions that, based on information                 official of a unit of local government.               need, which means—
                                                included in their application, are                          iv. An Indian Tribe or Tribal                         (a) Percentages of children with
                                                supported by promising evidence (as                      organization, as defined under section 4              preventable chronic health conditions
                                                defined in this notice).                                 of the Indian Self-Determination and                  (e.g., asthma, poor nutrition, dental


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                                                33884                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 139 / Friday, July 21, 2017 / Notices

                                                problems, obesity) or avoidable                          integrated student supports) the                      legislators, Congressional
                                                developmental delays;                                    following:                                            representatives, members of the school
                                                   (b) Immunization rates;                                  (a) High-quality early childhood                   board), appointed officials (e.g.,
                                                   (c) Rates of crime, including violent                 education programs.                                   members of a planning or zoning
                                                crime;                                                      (b) High-quality school and out-of-                commission, or of any other regulatory
                                                   (d) Student mobility rates;                           school-time programs and strategies.                  or advisory board or commission), or
                                                   (e) Teenage birth rates;                                 (c) Support for a child’s transition to            individuals who are not necessarily
                                                   (f) Percentage of children in single-                 elementary school, from elementary                    public officials (as defined in this
                                                parent or no-parent families;                            school to middle school, from middle                  notice), but who have been appointed
                                                   (g) Rates of vacant or substandard                    school to high school, and from high                  by a public official to serve on the
                                                homes, including distressed public and                   school into and through postsecondary                 Promise Neighborhoods governing
                                                assisted housing; or                                     education and into the workforce,                     board or advisory board.
                                                   (h) Percentage of the residents living                including any comprehensive readiness                    Quasi-experimental design study
                                                at or below the Federal poverty                          assessment determined necessary.                      means a study using a design that
                                                threshold.                                                  (d) Family and community
                                                   Logic model (also known as a theory                                                                         attempts to approximate an
                                                                                                         engagement and supports, which may                    experimental design by identifying a
                                                of action) means a reasonable                            include engaging or supporting families
                                                conceptual framework that identifies                                                                           comparison group that is similar to the
                                                                                                         at school or at home.                                 treatment group in important respects.
                                                key components of the proposed project                      (e) Activities that support
                                                (i.e., the active ‘‘ingredients’’ that are                                                                     This type of study, depending on design
                                                                                                         postsecondary and work-force                          and implementation, can Meet What
                                                hypothesized to be critical to achieving                 readiness, which may include job
                                                the relevant outcomes) and describes                                                                           Works Clearinghouse Evidence
                                                                                                         training, internship opportunities, and               Standards with reservations (but not
                                                the theoretical and operational                          career counseling.
                                                relationships among the key                                                                                    without reservations).
                                                                                                            (f) Community-based support for
                                                components and outcomes.                                                                                          Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
                                                                                                         students who have attended the schools
                                                   Meets What Works Clearinghouse                                                                              means a study that employs random
                                                                                                         in the area served by the pipeline, or
                                                Evidence Standards without                                                                                     assignment of, for example, students,
                                                                                                         students who are members of the
                                                reservations is the highest possible                                                                           teachers, classrooms, or schools to
                                                                                                         community, facilitating their continued
                                                rating for a study finding reviewed by                                                                         receive the project component being
                                                                                                         connection to the community and
                                                the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC).                                                                            evaluated (the treatment group) or not to
                                                                                                         success in postsecondary education and
                                                Studies receiving this rating provide the                                                                      receive the project component (the
                                                                                                         the workforce.
                                                highest degree of confidence that an                                                                           control group). The estimated
                                                                                                            (g) Social, health, nutrition, and
                                                observed effect was caused by the                                                                              effectiveness of the project component
                                                                                                         mental health services and supports.
                                                project component studied.                                  (h) Juvenile crime prevention and                  is the difference between the average
                                                Experimental studies (as defined in this                 rehabilitation programs.                              outcomes for the treatment group and
                                                notice) may receive this highest rating.                    Project component means an activity,               for the control group. These studies,
                                                These standards are described in the                     strategy, or intervention included in a               depending on design and
                                                WWC Procedures and Standards                             project. Evidence (as this term is used               implementation, can Meet What Works
                                                Handbooks, Version 3.0, which can be                     in this notice) may pertain to an                     Clearinghouse Evidence Standards
                                                accessed at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/                  individual project component, or to a                 without reservations.
                                                Handbooks.                                               combination of project components                        Regression discontinuity design study
                                                   Meets What Works Clearinghouse                        (e.g., training teachers on instructional             (RDD) means a study that assigns the
                                                Evidence Standards with reservations is                  practices for English learners and                    project component being evaluated
                                                the second-highest rating for a group                    follow-on coaching for these teachers).               using a measured variable (e.g.,
                                                design study reviewed by the WWC.                           Promising evidence means the                       assigning students reading below a
                                                Studies receiving this rating provide a                  following conditions are met:                         cutoff score to tutoring or
                                                reasonable degree of confidence that an                     (a) There is at least one study that is            developmental education classes) and
                                                observed effect was caused by the                        a correlational study with statistical                controls for that variable in the analysis
                                                project component studied. Both                          controls for selection bias with a                    of outcomes. The effectiveness of the
                                                experimental studies (such as                            relevant finding (quasi-experimental                  project component is estimated for
                                                randomized controlled trials with high                   design studies or experimental studies                individuals who barely qualify to
                                                rates of sample attrition) and quasi-                    may also qualify); and                                receive that component. These studies,
                                                experimental design studies (as defined                     (b) The relevant finding in the study              depending on design and
                                                in this notice) may receive this rating if               described in paragraph (a) is of a                    implementation, can Meet What Works
                                                they establish the equivalence of the                    statistically significant and positive (i.e.,         Clearinghouse Evidence Standards
                                                treatment and comparison groups in key                   favorable) effect of the project                      without reservations.
                                                baseline characteristics. These standards                component on a student outcome or                        Relevant finding means a finding from
                                                are described in the WWC Procedures                      other relevant outcome with no                        a study regarding the relationship
                                                and Standards Handbooks, Version 3.0,                    statistically significant and overriding              between (A) an activity, strategy, or
                                                which can be accessed at http://                         negative (i.e., unfavorable) evidence on              intervention included as a component of
                                                ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Handbooks.                           that project component from other                     the logic model (as defined in this
                                                   Pipeline services means a continuum                                                                         notice) for the proposed project, and (B)
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                                                                                                         findings on the intervention reviewed
                                                of coordinated supports, services, and                   by and reported in the What Works                     a student outcome or other relevant
                                                opportunities for children from birth                    Clearinghouse that Meet What Works                    outcome included in the logic model for
                                                through entry into and success in                        Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with                 the proposed project.
                                                postsecondary education, and career                      or without reservations.                                 Relevant outcome means the student
                                                attainment. Such services shall include,                    Public officials means elected officials           outcome(s) (or the ultimate outcome if
                                                at a minimum, strategies to address                      (e.g., council members, aldermen and                  not related to students) the proposed
                                                through services or programs (including                  alderwomen, commissioners, State                      project component is designed to


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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 139 / Friday, July 21, 2017 / Notices                                             33885

                                                improve, consistent with the specific                       Single-case design study (SCD) means               therefore qualifies for this exemption. In
                                                goals of a program.                                      a study that uses observations of a single            order to ensure timely grant awards, the
                                                   Representative of the geographic area                 case (e.g., a student eligible for a                  Secretary has decided to forgo public
                                                proposed to be served means that                         behavioral intervention) over time in the             comment on the priorities,
                                                residents of the geographic area                         absence and presence of a controlled                  requirements, definitions, and selection
                                                proposed to be served have an active                     treatment manipulation to determine                   criteria under section 437(d)(1) of
                                                role in decision-making and that at least                whether the outcome is systematically                 GEPA. These priorities, requirements,
                                                one-third of the eligible entity’s (as                   related to the treatment. According to                definitions, and selection criteria will
                                                defined in this notice) governing board                  the WWC Single Case Design Pilot                      apply to the FY 2017 grant competition
                                                or advisory board is made up of—                         Standards, a collection of these studies,             and any subsequent year in which we
                                                   (1) Residents who live in the                         depending on design and                               make awards from the list of unfunded
                                                geographic area proposed to be served,                   implementation (e.g., including a                     applications from this competition.
                                                which may include residents who are                      sufficient number of cases and of data                  Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7273–
                                                representative of the ethnic and racial                  points per condition), can Meet What                  7274.
                                                composition of the neighborhood’s                        Works Clearinghouse Evidence                            Applicable Regulations: (a) The
                                                residents and the languages they speak;                  Standards without reservations.                       Education Department General
                                                   (2) Residents of the city or county in                   Strong theory means a rationale for                Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in
                                                which the neighborhood is located but                    the proposed process, product, strategy,              34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79 81, 82, 84, 86,
                                                who live outside the geographic area                     or practice that includes a logic model.              97, 98, and 99. (b) The OMB Guidelines
                                                proposed to be served, and who are low-                     Student achievement means—                         to Agencies on Governmentwide
                                                income (which means earning less than                       (1) For tested grades and subjects:                Debarment and Suspension
                                                80 percent of the area’s median income                      (a) A student’s score on the State’s               (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as
                                                as published by HUD);                                    assessments under the ESEA; and, as                   adopted and amended as regulations of
                                                   (3) Public officials (as defined in this              appropriate,                                          the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c)
                                                notice) who serve the geographic area                       (b) Other measures of student                      The Uniform Administrative
                                                proposed to be served (although not                      learning, such as those described in                  Requirements, Cost Principles, and
                                                more than one-half of the governing                      paragraph (2) of this definition,                     Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
                                                board or advisory board may be made                      provided they are rigorous and                        in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and
                                                up of public officials); or                              comparable across classrooms and                      amended as regulations of the
                                                   (4) Some combination of individuals                   programs.                                             Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d)
                                                from the three groups listed in                             (2) For non-tested grades and subjects:            Promise Zones NFP.
                                                paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this                     Alternative measures of student learning                Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79
                                                definition.                                              and performance, such as student scores               apply to all applicants except federally
                                                   Rural community means a                               on pre-tests and end-of-course tests;                 recognized Indian Tribes.
                                                neighborhood that—                                       student performance on English
                                                                                                         language proficiency assessments; and                   Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86
                                                   (1) Is served by an LEA that is
                                                                                                         other measures of student achievement                 apply to institutions of higher education
                                                currently eligible under the Small Rural                                                                       only.
                                                School Achievement (SRSA) program or                     that are rigorous and comparable across
                                                the Rural and Low-Income School                          classrooms.
                                                                                                                                                               II. Award Information
                                                (RLIS) program authorized under Title                       Student mobility rate is calculated by
                                                VI, Part B of the ESEA. Applicants may                   dividing the total number of new                        Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
                                                determine whether a particular LEA is                    student entries and withdrawals at a                    Estimated Available Funds:
                                                eligible for these programs by referring                 school, from the day after the first                  $30,000,000.
                                                to information on the following                          official enrollment number is collected                 Contingent upon the availability of
                                                Department Web sites. For the SRSA                       through the end of the academic year,                 funds and the quality of applications,
                                                program: https://www2.ed.gov/                            by the first official enrollment number               we may make additional awards in
                                                programs/reapsrsa/eligible16/                            of the academic year.                                 subsequent years from the list of
                                                index.htmlFor the RLIS program:                                                                                unfunded applications from this
                                                                                                           Note: This definition is not meant to limit
                                                https://www2.ed.gov/programs/                                                                                  competition.
                                                                                                         a grantee from also collecting information
                                                reaprlisp/eligibility.html; or                           about why students enter or withdraw from               Estimated Range of Awards:
                                                                                                         the school, e.g., transferring to charter             $4,000,000 to $6,000,000.
                                                   (2) Includes only schools designated
                                                                                                         schools, moving outside of the school district          Estimated Average Size of Awards:
                                                with a school locale code of 41, 42, or
                                                                                                         for non-academic or academic reasons.                 $5,000,000.
                                                43. Applicants may determine school
                                                                                                                                                                 Maximum Award: $6,000,000.
                                                locale codes by referring to the                           Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking:
                                                                                                                                                                 The maximum award amount is
                                                following Department Web site: http://                   Under the Administrative Procedure Act
                                                                                                                                                               $6,000,000 per 12-month budget period.
                                                nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/.                           (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally
                                                                                                                                                               We will not fund an annual budget
                                                   Segmentation analysis means the                       offers interested parties the opportunity
                                                                                                                                                               exceeding $6,000,000 per 12-month
                                                process of grouping and analyzing data                   to comment on proposed priorities,
                                                                                                                                                               budget period.
                                                from children and families in the                        selection criteria, definitions, and other              Estimated Number of Awards: 5–7.
                                                geographic area proposed to be served                    requirements. Section 437(d)(1) of
                                                according to indicators of need (as                      GEPA, however, allows the Secretary to                  Note: The Department is not bound by any
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                                                defined in this notice) or other relevant                exempt from rulemaking requirements,                  estimates in this notice.
                                                indicators. The analysis is intended to                  regulations governing the first grant                   Project Period: Up to 60 months.
                                                allow grantees to differentiate and more                 competition under a new or                              Under section 4623 of the ESEA, a
                                                effectively target interventions based on                substantially revised program authority.              grant awarded under this competition
                                                what they learn about the needs of                       This is the first grant competition for               will be for a period of not more than five
                                                different populations in the geographic                  this program under section 4623–4624                  years, and may be extended for an
                                                area.                                                    of the ESEA, 20 U.S.C. 7273–7274, and                 additional period of not more than two


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                                                33886                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 139 / Friday, July 21, 2017 / Notices

                                                years. In addition, continued funding of                 3—Promise Neighborhoods in Tribal                        (1) A plan to significantly improve the
                                                a grant under this competition,                          Communities must obtain matching                      academic outcomes of children living in
                                                including an extended grant, after the                   funds or in-kind donations equal to at                the geographically defined area
                                                third year of the initial grant period will              least 50 percent of its grant award.                  (neighborhood) that is served by the
                                                be contingent on the eligible entity’s                      Eligible sources of matching funds                 eligible entity by providing pipeline
                                                progress toward meeting the                              include sources of funds used to pay for              services that address the needs of
                                                performance metrics and annual                           solutions within the pipeline services,               children in the neighborhood, as
                                                performance objectives and outcomes                      initiatives supported by the LEA, or                  identified by the needs analysis; and
                                                under section 4625(a)(4)(C) of the ESEA.                 public health services for children in                that is supported by effective practices.
                                                                                                         the neighborhood. At least 10 percent of                 (2) A description of the neighborhood
                                                III. Eligibility Information                                                                                   the eligible entity will serve. Applicants
                                                                                                         an applicant’s total match must be cash
                                                   1. Eligible Applicants: Under section                 or in-kind contributions from the                     may propose to serve multiple, non-
                                                4623 of the ESEA, an eligible                            private sector, which may include                     contiguous geographically defined
                                                organization must:                                       philanthropic organizations, private                  areas. In cases where target areas are
                                                   (1) Be representative of the geographic               businesses, or individuals.                           non-contiguous, the applicant must
                                                area proposed to be served;                                 Applicants must demonstrate a                      explain its rationale for including non-
                                                   (2) Operate or propose to work with                   commitment of matching funds in the                   contiguous areas.
                                                and involve in carrying out its proposed                 application. Applicants must specify the                 (3) An analysis of the needs and assets
                                                project, in coordination with the                        source of the funds or contributions and              of the neighborhood, including:
                                                school’s LEA, at least one public                        in the case of a third-party in-kind                     (a) The size and scope of the
                                                elementary or secondary school that is                   contribution, a description of how the                population affected;
                                                located within the identified geographic                 value was determined for the donated or                  (b) A description of the process
                                                area that the grant will serve;                          contributed goods or service. Applicants              through which the needs analysis was
                                                   (3) Be one of the following:                          must demonstrate the match                            produced, including a description of
                                                   (a) An institution of higher education,                                                                     how parents, families, and community
                                                                                                         commitment by including letters in
                                                as defined in section 102 of the HEA (20                                                                       members were engaged in such analysis;
                                                                                                         their applications explaining the type
                                                U.S.C. 1002);                                                                                                     (c) An analysis of community assets
                                                                                                         and quantity of the match commitment
                                                   (b) An Indian Tribe or Tribal                                                                               and collaborative efforts (including
                                                                                                         with original signatures from the
                                                organization, as defined in section 4 of                                                                       programs already provided from Federal
                                                                                                         executives of organizations or agencies
                                                the Indian Self-Determination and                                                                              and non-Federal sources) within, or
                                                                                                         providing the match.
                                                Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.                                                                            accessible to, the neighborhood,
                                                5304); or                                                   The Secretary may consider
                                                                                                         decreasing the matching requirement in                including, at a minimum, early learning
                                                   (c) One or more nonprofit entities                                                                          opportunities, family and student
                                                working in formal partnership with not                   the most exceptional circumstances, on
                                                                                                         a case-by-case basis. An applicant that               supports, local businesses, local
                                                less than one of the following entities:                                                                       educational agencies, and institutions of
                                                   i. A high-need LEA.                                   is unable to meet the matching
                                                                                                         requirement must include in its                       higher education;
                                                   ii. An institution of higher education,                                                                        (d) The steps that the eligible entity is
                                                as defined in section 102 of the HEA (20                 application a request to the Secretary to
                                                                                                                                                               taking at the time of the application to
                                                U.S.C. 1002).                                            reduce the matching requirement,
                                                                                                                                                               address the needs identified in the
                                                   iii. The office of a chief elected                    including the amount of the requested
                                                                                                                                                               needs analysis; and
                                                official of a unit of local government.                  reduction, the total remaining match                     (e) Any barriers the eligible entity,
                                                   iv. An Indian Tribe or Tribal                         contribution, and a statement of the                  public agencies, and other community-
                                                organization, as defined under section 4                 basis for the request. The Secretary will             based organizations have faced in
                                                of the Indian Self-Determination and                     grant this request only if an applicant               meeting such needs.
                                                Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.                      demonstrates a significant financial                     (4) A description of all information
                                                5304); and                                               hardship. An applicant should review                  the entity used to identify the pipeline
                                                   (4) Currently provide at least one of                 the Department’s cost-sharing and cost-               services to be provided, which shall not
                                                the solutions from the applicant’s                       matching regulations, which include                   include information that is more than 3
                                                proposed pipeline services in the                        specific limitations, in 2 CFR 200.306                years old. This description should
                                                geographic area proposed to be served.                   and the cost principles regarding                     address how the eligible entity plans to
                                                   2. Cost-Sharing or Matching: To be                    donations, capital assets, depreciations              collect data on children served by each
                                                eligible for a grant under this                          and allowable costs, set out in subpart               pipeline service; and increase the
                                                competition, an applicant must                           E of 2 CFR part 200.                                  percentage of children served over time.
                                                demonstrate a commitment from one or                        3. Application Requirements: Each                     (5) A description of the process used
                                                more entities in the public or private                   applicant that receives a grant award for             to develop the Promise Neighborhoods
                                                sector, which may include Federal,                       the Promise Neighborhoods competition                 application, including the involvement
                                                State, and local public agencies,                        must use the grant funds to implement                 of family and community members.
                                                philanthropic organizations, private                     the pipeline services and continuously                   (6) A description of how the pipeline
                                                businesses, or individuals, to provide                   evaluate the success of the program and               services will facilitate the coordination
                                                matching funds. An applicant proposing                   improve the program based on data and                 of the following activities:
                                                a project that meets Absolute Priority                   outcomes. Applicants may use not less                    (a) Providing early learning
                                                1—Promise Neighborhoods in Non-rural                     than 50 percent of grant funds in year
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                                                                                                                                                               opportunities for children, including by:
                                                and Non-Tribal Communities must                          one, and not less than 25 percent of                     (i) Providing opportunities for
                                                obtain matching funds or in-kind                         grant funds in year two for planning                  families to acquire the skills to promote
                                                donations equal to at least 100 percent                  activities to develop and implement                   early learning and child development;
                                                of its grant award. An applicant                         pipeline services.                                    and
                                                proposing a project that meets Absolute                     Under section 4624 of the ESEA, as                    (ii) Ensuring appropriate diagnostic
                                                Priority 2—Promise Neighborhoods in                      amended by the ESSA, applicants must                  assessments and referrals for children
                                                Rural Communities or Absolute Priority                   submit and address the following:                     with disabilities and children aged 3


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                                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 139 / Friday, July 21, 2017 / Notices                                               33887

                                                through 9 experiencing developmental                         (7) A description of the strategies that             (9) An explanation of how the eligible
                                                delays, consistent with the Individuals                   will be used to provide pipeline services             entity will continuously evaluate and
                                                with Disabilities Education Act (20                       (including a description of which                     improve the continuum of high-quality
                                                U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), where applicable.                   programs and services will be provided                pipeline services to provide for
                                                   (b) Supporting, enhancing, operating,                  to children, family members,                          continuous program improvement and
                                                or expanding rigorous, comprehensive,                     community members, and children                       potential expansion.
                                                effective educational improvements,                       within the neighborhood) to support the                 (10) A commitment to collecting the
                                                which may include high-quality                            purpose of the Promise Neighborhoods                  required Promise Neighborhoods
                                                academic programs, expanded learning                      program.                                              performance indicators’ data;
                                                time, and programs and activities to                         (8) An explanation of the process the              establishing the conditions for effective
                                                prepare students for postsecondary                        eligible entity will use to establish and             case and data management; and using
                                                education admissions and success.                         maintain family and community                         data to improve program outcomes. In
                                                                                                          engagement, including:                                understanding the conditions necessary
                                                   (c) Supporting partnerships between
                                                                                                             (a) Involving representative                       to collect, manage, and utilize data for
                                                schools and other community resources
                                                                                                          participation by the members of such                  Promise Neighborhoods, an applicant is
                                                with an integrated focus on academics
                                                                                                          neighborhood in the planning and                      required to:
                                                and other social, health, and familial
                                                                                                          implementation of the activities of each                (a) Hire dedicated staff to ensure its
                                                supports.
                                                                                                          grant awarded;                                        project has sufficient personnel and/or
                                                   (d) Providing social, health, nutrition,                  (b) The provision of strategies and                contractors to effectively manage its
                                                and mental health services and                            practices to assist family and                        data collection activities, case
                                                supports, for children, family members,                   community members in actively                         management, and data systems;
                                                and community members, which may                          supporting student achievement and                      (b) Submit a detailed data collection
                                                include services provided within the                      child development;                                    and reporting plan that includes a
                                                school building.                                             (c) Providing services for students,               description of how it will conduct a bi-
                                                   (e) Supporting evidence-based                          families, and communities within the                  annual neighborhood survey of children
                                                programs (see section 8101(21) of the                     school building; and                                  and adults in the Promise
                                                ESEA) that assist students through                           (d) Collaboration with institutions of             Neighborhood; collect, at least annually,
                                                school transitions, which may include                     higher education, workforce                           data on the performance indicators in
                                                expanding access to postsecondary                         development centers, and employers to                 Table 1; establish clear, annual targets
                                                education courses and postsecondary                       align expectations and programming                    and goals for growth on the performance
                                                education enrollment aid or guidance,                     with postsecondary education and                      indicators; and report those data to the
                                                and other supports for at-risk youth.                     workforce readiness.                                  Department annually;

                                                                                        TABLE 1—PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
                                                                  Result                                                        Indicator                                                 Source

                                                1. Children enter kindergarten ready           1. Number and percentage of children in kindergarten who dem-                 Administrative data from LEA.
                                                  to succeed in school.                          onstrate at the beginning of the program or school year age-appro-
                                                                                                 priate functioning across multiple domains of early learning as de-
                                                                                                 termined using developmentally-appropriate early learning meas-
                                                                                                 ures.
                                                2. Students are proficient in core             2.1 Number and percentage of students at or above grade level ac-
                                                  academic subjects.                             cording to State mathematics assessments in at least the grades
                                                                                                 required by the ESEA (3rd through 8th grades and once in high
                                                                                                 school).
                                                                                               2.2 Number and percentage of students at or above grade level ac-
                                                                                                 cording to State English language arts assessments in at least the
                                                                                                 grades required by the ESEA.
                                                3. Students successfully transition            3.1 Attendance rate of students in 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th grade as
                                                  from middle school grades to high              defined by average daily attendance.
                                                  school.                                      3.2 Chronic absenteeism rate of students in 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th
                                                                                                 grades.
                                                4. Youth graduate from high school             4. Four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate.
                                                5. High school graduates obtain a              5.1 Number and percentage of Promise Neighborhood students who                Third party data such as the Na-
                                                  postsecondary degree, certifi-                 enroll in a two-year or four-year college or university after gradua-         tional Student Clearinghouse.
                                                  cation or credential.                          tion.
                                                                                               5.2 Number and percent of Promise Neighborhood students who
                                                                                                 graduate from a two-year or four-year college or university or vo-
                                                                                                 cational certification completion.
                                                6. Students are healthy ....................   Number and percentage of children who consume five or more                    Neighborhood survey, school cli-
                                                                                                 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.                                      mate survey or other reliable
                                                                                                                                                                               data source for population level
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                                                                                                                                                                               data collection.
                                                7. Students feel safe at school and            7. Number and percentage of children who feel safe at school and
                                                  in their community.                            traveling to and from school as measured by a school climate sur-
                                                                                                 vey.
                                                8. Students live in stable commu-              8. Student mobility rate (as defined in the notice).
                                                  nities.




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                                                33888                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 139 / Friday, July 21, 2017 / Notices

                                                                             TABLE 1—PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS PERFORMANCE INDICATORS—Continued
                                                                 Result                                                        Indicator                                              Source

                                                9. Families and community mem-               9.1 Number and percentage of parents or family members that read
                                                  bers support learning in promise             to or encourage their children to read three or more times a week
                                                  Neighborhood Schools.                        or reported their child read to themselves three or more times a
                                                                                               week (birth–8th grade).
                                                                                             9.2 Number and percentage of parents/family members who report
                                                                                               talking about the importance of college and career (9th–12th
                                                                                               grade).
                                                10. Students have access to 21st             10. Number and percentage of students who have school and home
                                                  century learning tools.                      access to broadband internet and a connected computing device.



                                                  Note: The indicators in Table 1 are not                   (a) Ensuring that, through memoranda               grant program, including a description
                                                intended to limit an applicant from collecting           of understanding with appropriate                     of the number and percentage of
                                                and using data from additional Family and                entities, the national evaluator and the              children accessing each support service
                                                Community Support indicators proposed to
                                                                                                         Department have—consistent with                       offered as part of the pipeline of
                                                the Department. Applicants are strongly
                                                encouraged, but not required, to propose                 applicable privacy requirements—                      services; and (2) information relating to
                                                additional performance indicators aligned to             access to relevant program and project                the metrics established under the
                                                the specific pipeline services proposed in               data sources (e.g., administrative data               Promise Neighborhood Performance
                                                their application.                                       and program and project indicator data),              Indicators.
                                                   (c) Describe how it will develop a case               including on a quarterly basis if                       In addition, grantees are required to
                                                management system to track key                           requested by the Department;                          make these data publicly available,
                                                information and progress toward                             (b) Developing, in consultation with               including through electronic means. To
                                                outcomes for individual children and                     the national evaluator, an evaluation                 the extent practicable, and as required
                                                adults participating in its Promise                      strategy, including identifying a credible            by law, such information must be
                                                Neighborhoods programs and to                            comparison group; and                                 provided in a form and language
                                                facilitate communication and the                            (c) Developing, in consultation with               accessible to parents and families in the
                                                                                                         the national evaluator, a plan for                    neighborhood served under the Promise
                                                coordination of services on behalf of
                                                                                                         identifying and collecting reliable and               Neighborhoods grant. In addition, data
                                                these individuals; and
                                                   (d) Describe how it will develop and                  valid baseline data for both program                  on academic indicators pertinent to the
                                                maintain a longitudinal data system to                   participants and a designated                         Promise Neighborhoods program will,
                                                track outcome measures and other                         comparison group of non-participants.                 in most cases, already be part of
                                                performance indicators over time (e.g.,                     (12) Each applicant must submit, as                statewide longitudinal data systems.
                                                snapshots and extracts from the case                     part of its application, a preliminary                IV. Application and Submission
                                                management system at different points                    memorandum of understanding, signed                   Information
                                                in time).                                                by each organization or agency with
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Address to Request Application
                                                   The established performance                           which it would partner in implementing
                                                                                                                                                               Package: You can obtain an application
                                                indicators for the Promise                               the proposed Promise Neighborhood.
                                                                                                                                                               package via the internet or from the
                                                Neighborhoods program serve as                           Within the preliminary memorandum of
                                                                                                                                                               Education Publications Center (ED
                                                indicators of improved academic and                      understanding, all applicants must
                                                                                                                                                               Pubs). To obtain a copy via the internet,
                                                developmental outcomes for children,                     detail each partner’s financial,
                                                                                                                                                               use the following address: www.ed.gov/
                                                including indicators of school readiness,                programmatic, and long-term
                                                                                                                                                               fund/grant/apply/grantapps/. To obtain
                                                high school graduation, postsecondary                    commitment with respect to the
                                                                                                                                                               a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call:
                                                education and career readiness, and                      strategies described in the application.
                                                                                                                                                               ED Pubs, U.S. Department of Education,
                                                other academic and developmental                            Under section 4624(c) of the ESEA,                 P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304.
                                                outcomes. Each grantee is required to                    applicants that are non-profit entities               Telephone, toll free: 1–877–433–7827.
                                                collect and report data on the                           must submit a preliminary                             FAX: (703) 605–6794. If you use a TDD
                                                performance indicators annually.                         memorandum of understanding signed                    or a TTY, call FRS, toll free: 1–877–576–
                                                Subsequently, the Department will                        by each partner entity or agency, which               7734.
                                                make a determination for continuation                    must include at least one of the                         You can contact ED Pubs at its Web
                                                funding and grant extensions based on                    following: A high-need LEA; an                        site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at its
                                                performance indicator outcomes and                       institution of higher education, as                   email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
                                                available funding.                                       defined in section 102 of the HEA (20                    If you request an application package
                                                   (11) A commitment to work with the                    U.S.C. 1002); the office of a chief elected           from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this
                                                Department, and with a national                          official of a unit of local government; or            program or competition as follows:
                                                evaluator for Promise Neighborhoods or                   an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization as             CFDA number 84.215N.
                                                another entity designated by the                         defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-                 Individuals with disabilities can
                                                Department, to ensure that data                          Determination and Education                           obtain a copy of the application package
                                                collection and program design are                        Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
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                                                                                                                                                               in an accessible format (e.g., braille,
                                                consistent with plans to conduct a                          Each eligible entity that receives a               large print, audiotape, or compact disc)
                                                rigorous national evaluation of the                      grant under this program is required to               by contacting the person or team listed
                                                Promise Neighborhoods program and of                     prepare and submit an annual report to                under Accessible Format in section VII
                                                specific solutions and strategies pursued                the Secretary that must include the                   of this notice.
                                                by individual grantees. This                             following: (1) Information about the                     2. a. Content and Form of Application
                                                commitment must include, but need not                    number and percentage of children in                  Submission: Requirements concerning
                                                be limited to—                                           the neighborhood who are served by the                the content of an application, together


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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 139 / Friday, July 21, 2017 / Notices                                           33889

                                                with the forms you must submit, are in                   and, thus, protected from disclosure                  Programs under Executive Order 12372
                                                the application package for this                         under Exemption 4 of the Freedom of                   is in the application package for this
                                                competition.                                             Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552, as                     competition.
                                                   The Department will be able to                        amended).                                                Applicants that operate a school in a
                                                develop a more efficient process for                        Because we plan to make successful                 neighborhood served by a grant program
                                                reviewing grant applications if it has a                 applications available to the public, you             must provide such school with the
                                                better understanding of the number of                    may wish to request confidentiality of                operational flexibility, including
                                                entities that intend to apply for funding                business information.                                 autonomy over staff, time, and budget,
                                                under this competition. Therefore, the                      Consistent with Executive Order                    needed to effectively carry out the
                                                Secretary strongly encourages each                       12600, please designate in your                       activities described in this Notice.
                                                potential applicant to notify the                        application any information that you                     Grantees cannot, in carrying out
                                                Department of the applicant’s intent to                  feel is exempt from disclosure under                  activities to improve early childhood
                                                submit an application for funding by                     Exemption 4. In the appropriate                       education programs, use Promise
                                                completing a web-based form. When                        Appendix section of your application,                 Neighborhoods funds to carry out the
                                                completing this form, applicants will                    under ‘‘Other Attachments Form,’’                     following activities:
                                                provide (1) the applicant organization’s                 please list the page number or numbers                   (1) Assessments that provide rewards
                                                name and address, and (2) information                    on which we can find this information.                or sanctions for individual children or
                                                on the competitive preference priority                   For additional information please see 34              teachers.
                                                or priorities under which the applicant                  CFR 5.11(c).                                             (2) A single assessment that is used as
                                                intends to apply. Applicants may access                     3. Submission Dates and Times:                     the primary or sole method for assessing
                                                this form online at https://                                Applications Available: July 21, 2017.             program effectiveness.
                                                innovation.ed.gov/what-we-do/parental-                      Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply:               (3) Evaluation of children, other than
                                                options/promise-neighborhoods-pn/.                       August 21, 2017.                                      for the purposes of improving
                                                Applicants that do not complete this                        Date of Pre-Application Webinar:                   instruction, classroom environment,
                                                form may still apply for funding.                        Promise Neighborhoods intends to hold                 professional development, or parent and
                                                   Page Limit: The application narrative                 pre-application webinars to provide                   family engagement, or program
                                                (Part III of the application) is where you,              technical assistance to interested                    improvement.
                                                the applicant, address the selection                     applicants. Detailed information                         6. Data Universal Numbering System
                                                criteria that reviewers use to evaluate                  regarding pre-application webinar times               Number, Taxpayer Identification
                                                your application. We recommend that                      will be provided on the Web site at                   Number, and System for Award
                                                you (1) limit the application narrative to               https://innovation.ed.gov/what-we-do/                 Management: To do business with the
                                                75 pages, and (2) use the following                      parental-options/promise-                             Department of Education, you must—
                                                standards:                                               neighborhoods-pn/.                                       a. Have a Data Universal Numbering
                                                   • A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side                  Deadline for Transmittal of                        System (DUNS) number and a Taxpayer
                                                only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom,                Applications: September 5, 2017.                      Identification Number (TIN);
                                                and both sides.                                             Applications for grants under this                    b. Register both your DUNS number
                                                   • Double space (no more than three                    competition must be submitted                         and TIN with the System for Award
                                                lines per vertical inch) all text in the                 electronically using the Grants.gov                   Management (SAM), the Government’s
                                                application narrative, including titles,                 Apply site (Grants.gov). For information              primary registrant database;
                                                headings, footnotes, quotations,                         (including dates and times) about how                    c. Provide your DUNS number and
                                                references, and captions, as well as all                 to submit your application                            TIN on your application; and
                                                text in charts, tables, figures, and                     electronically, or in paper format by                    d. Maintain an active SAM
                                                graphs.                                                  mail or hand delivery if you qualify for              registration with current information
                                                   • Use a font that is either 12 point or               an exception to the electronic                        while your application is under review
                                                larger or no smaller than 10 pitch                       submission requirement, please refer to               by the Department and, if you are
                                                (characters per inch).                                   Other Submission Requirements in                      awarded a grant, during the project
                                                   • Use one of the following fonts:                     section IV of this notice. We do not                  period.
                                                Times New Roman, Courier, Courier                        consider an application that does not                    You can obtain a DUNS number from
                                                New, or Arial.                                           comply with the deadline requirements.                Dun and Bradstreet at the following
                                                   The recommended page limit does not                      Individuals with disabilities who                  Web site: http://fedgov.dnb.com/
                                                apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II,               need an accommodation or auxiliary aid                webform. A DUNS number can be
                                                the budget section, including the                        in connection with the application                    created within one to two business days.
                                                narrative budget justification; Part IV,                 process should contact the person listed                 If you are a corporate entity, agency,
                                                the assurances and certifications; or the                under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION                         institution, or organization, you can
                                                one-page abstract, the resumes, the                      CONTACT. If the Department provides an                obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue
                                                bibliography, or the letters of support.                 accommodation or auxiliary aid to an                  Service. If you are an individual, you
                                                However, the recommended page limit                      individual with a disability in                       can obtain a TIN from the Internal
                                                does apply to all of the application                     connection with the application                       Revenue Service or the Social Security
                                                narrative.                                               process, the individual’s application                 Administration. If you need a new TIN,
                                                   2. b. Submission of Proprietary                       remains subject to all other                          please allow two to five weeks for your
                                                Information: Given the types of projects                 requirements and limitations in this                  TIN to become active.
                                                that may be proposed in applications for                                                                          The SAM registration process can take
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                                                                                                         notice.
                                                the Promise Neighborhoods program,                          Deadline for Intergovernmental                     approximately seven business days, but
                                                your application may include business                    Review: November 3, 2017.                             may take upwards of several weeks,
                                                information that you consider                               4. Intergovernmental Review: This                  depending on the completeness and
                                                proprietary. In 34 CFR 5.11 we define                    program is subject to Executive Order                 accuracy of the data you enter into the
                                                ‘‘business information’’ and describe the                12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR                   SAM database. Thus, if you think you
                                                process we use in determining whether                    part 79. Information about                            might want to apply for Federal
                                                any of that information is proprietary                   Intergovernmental Review of Federal                   financial assistance under a program


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                                                33890                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 139 / Friday, July 21, 2017 / Notices

                                                administered by the Department, please                      You may access the electronic grant                an exception to the electronic
                                                allow sufficient time to obtain and                      application for the Promise                           submission requirement, as described
                                                register your DUNS number and TIN.                       Neighborhoods program at                              elsewhere in this section, and submit
                                                We strongly recommend that you                           www.Grants.gov. You must search for                   your application in paper format.
                                                register early.                                          the downloadable application package                     • You must submit all documents
                                                   Note: Once your SAM registration is active,           for this competition by the CFDA                      electronically, including all information
                                                it may be 24 to 48 hours before you can                  number. Do not include the CFDA                       you typically provide on the following
                                                access the information in, and submit an                 number’s alpha suffix in your search                  forms: The Application for Federal
                                                application through, Grants.gov.                         (e.g., search for 84.215, not 84.215N).               Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
                                                   If you are currently registered with                     Please note the following:                         Education Supplemental Information for
                                                SAM, you may not need to make any                           • When you enter the Grants.gov site,              SF 424, Budget Information—Non-
                                                changes. However, please make certain                    you will find information about                       Construction Programs (ED 524), and all
                                                that the TIN associated with your DUNS                   submitting an application electronically              necessary assurances and certifications.
                                                number is correct. Also note that you                    through the site, as well as the hours of                • You must upload any narrative
                                                will need to update your registration                    operation.                                            sections and all other attachments to
                                                                                                            • Applications received by                         your application as files in a read-only,
                                                annually. This may take three or more
                                                                                                         Grants.gov are date and time stamped.                 flattened Portable Document Format
                                                business days.
                                                   Information about SAM is available at                 Your application must be fully                        (PDF), meaning any fillable PDF
                                                www.SAM.gov. To further assist you                       uploaded and submitted and must be                    documents must be saved as flattened
                                                with obtaining and registering your                      date and time stamped by the                          non-fillable files. Therefore, do not
                                                DUNS number and TIN in SAM or                            Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00               upload an interactive or fillable PDF
                                                updating your existing SAM account,                      p.m., Washington, DC time, on the                     file. If you upload a file type other than
                                                we have prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet,                    application deadline date. Except as                  a read-only, flattened PDF (e.g., Word,
                                                which you can find at: www2.ed.gov/                      otherwise noted in this section, we will              Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a
                                                fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.                          not accept your application if it is                  password-protected file, we will not
                                                   In addition, if you are submitting your               received—that is, date and time                       review that material. Please note that
                                                application via Grants.gov, you must (1)                 stamped by the Grants.gov system—after                this could result in your application not
                                                be designated by your organization as an                 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on                 being considered for funding because
                                                Authorized Organization Representative                   the application deadline date. We do                  the material in question—for example,
                                                (AOR); and (2) register yourself with                    not consider an application that does                 the application narrative—is critical to a
                                                Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these                   not comply with the deadline                          meaningful review of your proposal. For
                                                steps are outlined at the following                      requirements. When we retrieve your                   that reason it is important to allow
                                                Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/                     application from Grants.gov, we will                  yourself adequate time to upload all
                                                web/grants/register.html.                                notify you if we are rejecting your                   material as PDF files. The Department
                                                   7. Other Submission Requirements:                     application because it was date and time              will not convert material from other
                                                Applications for grants under this                       stamped by the Grants.gov system after                formats to PDF. There is no need to
                                                competition must be submitted                            4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on                 password protect a file in order to meet
                                                electronically unless you qualify for an                 the application deadline date.                        the requirement to submit a read-only
                                                exception to this requirement in                            • The amount of time it can take to                flattened PDF. And, as noted above, the
                                                accordance with the instructions in this                 upload an application will vary                       Department will not review password
                                                section.                                                 depending on a variety of factors,                    protected files.
                                                   a. Electronic Submission of                           including the size of the application and                • Your electronic application must
                                                Applications.                                            the speed of your internet connection.                comply with any page limit
                                                   Applications for grants under Promise                 Therefore, we strongly recommend that                 requirements described in this notice.
                                                Neighborhoods, CFDA number 84.215N,                      you do not wait until the application                    • After you electronically submit
                                                must be submitted electronically using                   deadline date to begin the submission                 your application, you will receive from
                                                the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply                      process through Grants.gov.                           Grants.gov an automatic notification of
                                                site at www.Grants.gov. Through this                        • You should review and follow the                 receipt that contains a Grants.gov
                                                site, you will be able to download a                     Education Submission Procedures for                   tracking number. This notification
                                                copy of the application package,                         submitting an application through                     indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not
                                                complete it offline, and then upload and                 Grants.gov that are included in the                   receipt by the Department. Grants.gov
                                                submit your application. You may not                     application package for this competition              will also notify you automatically by
                                                email an electronic copy of a grant                      to ensure that you submit your                        email if your application met all the
                                                application to us.                                       application in a timely manner to the                 Grants.gov validation requirements or if
                                                   We will reject your application if you                Grants.gov system. You can also find the              there were any errors (such as
                                                submit it in paper format unless, as                     Education Submission Procedures                       submission of your application by
                                                described elsewhere in this section, you                 pertaining to Grants.gov under News                   someone other than a registered
                                                qualify for one of the exceptions to the                 and Events on the Department’s G5                     Authorized Organization
                                                electronic submission requirement and                    system home page at www.G5.gov. In                    Representative, or inclusion of an
                                                submit, no later than two weeks before                   addition, for specific guidance and                   attachment with a file name that
                                                the application deadline date, a written                 procedures for submitting an                          contains special characters). You will be
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                                                statement to the Department that you                     application through Grants.gov, please                given an opportunity to correct any
                                                qualify for one of these exceptions.                     refer to the Grants.gov Web site at:                  errors and resubmit, but you must still
                                                Further information regarding                            www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/                 meet the deadline for submission of
                                                calculation of the date that is two weeks                apply-for-grants.html.                                applications.
                                                before the application deadline date is                     • You will not receive additional                     Once your application is successfully
                                                provided later in this section under                     point value because you submit your                   validated by Grants.gov, the Department
                                                Exception to Electronic Submission                       application in electronic format, nor                 will retrieve your application from
                                                Requirement.                                             will we penalize you if you qualify for               Grants.gov and send you an email with


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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 139 / Friday, July 21, 2017 / Notices                                              33891

                                                a unique PR/Award number for your                        technical problem you experienced is                    (4) Any other proof of mailing
                                                application.                                             unrelated to the Grants.gov system.                   acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S.
                                                   These emails do not mean that your            Exception to Electronic Submission                            Department of Education.
                                                application is without any disqualifying       Requirement: You qualify for an                                   If you mail your application through
                                                errors. While your application may have        exception to the electronic submission                          the U.S. Postal Service, we do not
                                                been successfully validated by                 requirement, and may submit your                                accept either of the following as proof
                                                Grants.gov, it must also meet the              application in paper format, if you are                         of mailing:
                                                Department’s application requirements          unable to submit an application through                           (1) A private metered postmark.
                                                as specified in this notice and in the         the Grants.gov system because—                                    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by
                                                application instructions. Disqualifying          • You do not have access to the                               the U.S. Postal Service.
                                                errors could include, for instance,            Internet; or                                                      Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not
                                                failure to upload attachments in a read-         • You do not have the capacity to                             uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before
                                                only, flattened PDF; failure to submit a       upload large documents to the                                   relying on this method, you should check
                                                required part of the application; or           Grants.gov system; and                                          with your local post office.
                                                failure to meet applicant eligibility             • No later than two weeks before the                           We will not consider applications
                                                requirements. It is your responsibility to     application deadline date (14 calendar                          postmarked after the application
                                                ensure that your submitted application         days or, if the fourteenth calendar day                         deadline date.
                                                has met all of the Department’s                before the application deadline date                              c. Submission of Paper Applications
                                                requirements.                                  falls on a Federal holiday, the next                            by Hand Delivery.
                                                   • We may request that you provide us        business day following the Federal                                If you qualify for an exception to the
                                                original signatures on forms at a later        holiday), you mail or fax a written                             electronic submission requirement, you
                                                date.                                          statement to the Department, explaining                         (or a courier service) may deliver your
                                                   Application Deadline Date Extension         which of the two grounds for an                                 paper application to the Department by
                                                in Case of Technical Issues with the           exception prevents you from using the                           hand. You must deliver the original and
                                                Grants.gov System: If you are                  internet to submit your application.                            two copies of your application by hand,
                                                experiencing problems submitting your             If you mail your written statement to                        on or before the application deadline
                                                application through Grants.gov, please         the Department, it must be postmarked                           date, to the Department at the following
                                                contact the Grants.gov Support Desk,           no later than two weeks before the                              address: U.S. Department of Education,
                                                toll free, at 1–800–518–4726. You must         application deadline date. If you fax                           Application Control Center, Attention:
                                                obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case          your written statement to the                                   (CFDA Number 84.215N), 550 12th
                                                Number and must keep a record of it.           Department, we must receive the faxed
                                                   If you are prevented from                                                                                   Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center
                                                                                               statement no later than two weeks                               Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260.
                                                electronically submitting your
                                                                                               before the application deadline date.                             The Application Control Center
                                                application on the application deadline
                                                                                                  Address and mail or fax your                                 accepts hand deliveries daily between
                                                date because of technical problems with
                                                                                               statement to: Adrienne Hawkins, U.S.                            8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington,
                                                the Grants.gov system, we will grant you
                                                                                               Department of Education, 400 Maryland                           DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays,
                                                an extension until 4:30:00 p.m.,
                                                                                               Avenue SW., Room 4W256,                                         and Federal holidays.
                                                Washington, DC time, the following
                                                                                               Washington, DC 20202–5970. FAX:                                    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper
                                                business day to enable you to transmit
                                                                                               (202) 205–5630.                                                 Applications: If you mail or hand deliver
                                                your application electronically or by
                                                                                                  Your paper application must be                               your application to the Department—
                                                hand delivery. You also may mail your
                                                                                               submitted in accordance with the mail                              (1) You must indicate on the envelope
                                                application by following the mailing                                                                           and—if not provided by the Department—in
                                                                                               or hand delivery instructions described
                                                instructions described elsewhere in this                                                                       Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number,
                                                                                               in this notice.
                                                notice.                                                                                                        including suffix letter, if any, of the
                                                   If you submit an application after             b. Submission of Paper Applications
                                                                                               by Mail.                                                        competition under which you are submitting
                                                4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on                                                                          your application; and
                                                the application deadline date, please             If you qualify for an exception to the                          (2) The Application Control Center will
                                                contact the person listed under FOR            electronic submission requirement, you                          mail to you a notification of receipt of your
                                                FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT and
                                                                                               may mail (through the U.S. Postal                               grant application. If you do not receive this
                                                provide an explanation of the technical        Service or a commercial carrier) your                           notification within 15 business days from the
                                                problem you experienced with                   application to the Department. You                              application deadline date, you should call
                                                Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov          must mail the original and two copies                           the U.S. Department of Education
                                                                                               of your application, on or before the                           Application Control Center at (202) 245–
                                                Support Desk Case Number. We will                                                                              6288.
                                                accept your application if we can              application deadline date, to the
                                                confirm that a technical problem               Department at the following address:
                                                                                               U.S. Department of Education,                                   V. Application Review Information
                                                occurred with the Grants.gov system
                                                and that the problem affected your             Application Control Center, Attention:                             1. Selection Criteria: The selection
                                                ability to submit your application by          (CFDA Number 84.215N), LBJ Basement                             criteria are either from 34 CFR 75.210 or
                                                4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on          Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,                               established in accordance with section
                                                the application deadline date. We will         Washington, DC 20202–4260.                                      437(d)(1) of GEPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).
                                                contact you after we determine whether            You must show proof of mailing                               All of the selection criteria are listed in
                                                                                               consisting of one of the following:                             this section and in the application
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                                                your application will be accepted.
                                                                                                  (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service                      package. The maximum score for all of
                                                   Note: The extensions to which we refer in   postmark.                                                       the selection criteria is 100 points. The
                                                this section apply only to the unavailability
                                                of, or technical problems with, the Grants.gov
                                                                                                  (2) A legible mail receipt with the                          maximum score for each criterion is
                                                system. We will not grant you an extension     date   of mailing stamped by the U.S.                           included in parentheses following the
                                                if you failed to fully register to submit your Postal Service.                                                 title of the specific selection criterion.
                                                application to Grants.gov before the              (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or                      Each criterion also includes the factors
                                                application deadline date and time or if the   receipt from a commercial carrier.                              that reviewers will consider in


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                                                33892                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 139 / Friday, July 21, 2017 / Notices

                                                determining the extent to which an                          The Secretary considers the quality of             anticipated results and benefits (34 CFR
                                                applicant meets the criterion.                           the services to be provided by the                    75.210);
                                                   Points awarded under these selection                  proposed project. In determining the                     (2) The extent to which the applicant
                                                criteria are in addition to any points an                quality of the project services, the                  demonstrates that it has the resources to
                                                applicant earns under the competitive                    Secretary considers:                                  operate the project beyond the length of
                                                preference priorities in this notice. The                   (1) The quality and sufficiency of                 the grant, including a multi-year
                                                maximum score that an application may                    strategies for ensuring equal access and              financial and operating model and
                                                receive under the competitive                            treatment for eligible project                        accompanying plan; the demonstrated
                                                preference priorities and the selection                  participants who are members of groups                commitment of any partners; evidence
                                                criteria is 108 points.                                  that have traditionally been                          of broad support from stakeholders (e.g.,
                                                   (a) Need for the Project (15 points).                 underrepresented based on race, color,                State educational agencies, teachers’
                                                   The Secretary considers the need for                  national origin, gender, age, or disability           unions) critical to the project’s long-
                                                the proposed project. In determining the                 (34 CFR 75.210);                                      term success; or more than one of these
                                                need for the proposed project, the                          (2) The likelihood that the services to            types of evidence (34 CFR 75.210); and
                                                Secretary considers:                                     be provided by the proposed project                      (3) The extent to which the applicant
                                                   (1) The magnitude or severity of the                  will lead to improvement in the                       identifies existing neighborhood assets
                                                problems to be addressed by the                          achievement of students as measured                   and programs supported by Federal,
                                                proposed project as described by                         against rigorous academic standards (34               State, local, and private funds that will
                                                indicators of need (as defined in this                   CFR 75.210); and                                      be used to implement pipeline services.
                                                                                                                                                                  2. Review and Selection Process: The
                                                notice) and other relevant indicators                       (3) The quality of the applicant’s plan
                                                                                                                                                               Department will screen applications
                                                identified in part by the needs                          to establish formal and informal
                                                                                                                                                               submitted in accordance with the
                                                assessment and segmentation analysis                     partnerships, including the alignment of
                                                                                                                                                               requirements in this notice, and will
                                                (as defined in this notice);                             the visions, theories of action, and
                                                                                                                                                               determine which applications have met
                                                   (2) The extent to which the                           theories of change described in its
                                                                                                                                                               eligibility and other statutory
                                                geographically defined area has been                     memorandum of understanding, and to
                                                                                                                                                               requirements.
                                                described; and                                           create a system for holding partners                     The Department will use independent
                                                   (3) The extent to which specific gaps                 accountable for performance in                        reviewers from various backgrounds and
                                                or weaknesses in services,                               accordance with the memorandum of                     professions including: Pre-kindergarten
                                                infrastructure, or opportunities have                    understanding.                                        through grade 12, teachers and
                                                been identified and will be addressed by                    (d) Quality of the Management Plan                 principals, college and university
                                                the proposed project, including the                      (20 points).                                          educators, researchers and evaluators,
                                                nature and magnitude of those gaps or                       The Secretary considers the quality of             social entrepreneurs, strategy
                                                weaknesses. (34 CFR 75.210)                              the management plan for the proposed                  consultants, grant makers and managers,
                                                   (b) Quality of Project Design (30                     project. In determining the quality of the            and others with community
                                                points).                                                 management plan for the proposed                      development and education expertise.
                                                   The Secretary reviews each                            project, the Secretary considers the                  The Department will thoroughly screen
                                                application to determine the quality of                  following factors:                                    all reviewers for conflicts of interest to
                                                the project design. In determining the                      (1) The adequacy of the management                 ensure a fair and competitive review
                                                quality of the design of the proposed                    plan to achieve the objectives of the                 process.
                                                project, the Secretary considers the                     proposed project on time and within                      Reviewers will read, prepare a written
                                                following factors:                                       budget, including clearly defined                     evaluation of, and score the applications
                                                   (1) The extent to which the applicant                 responsibilities, timelines, and                      assigned to their panel, using the
                                                describes a plan to create a complete                    milestones for accomplishing project                  selection criteria provided in this
                                                pipeline of services, including early                    tasks (34 CFR 75.210); and                            notice.
                                                learning through grade 12, college- and                     (2) The adequacy of the management                    The Secretary prepares a rank order of
                                                career-readiness, and family and                         plan’s provisions on collecting,                      applications for each absolute priority
                                                community supports, without time and                     analyzing, and using data for decision-               based solely on the evaluation of their
                                                resource gaps, that will prepare all                     making, learning, continuous                          quality according to the selection
                                                children in the neighborhood to attain                   improvement, and accountability,                      criteria and competitive preference
                                                an excellent education and successfully                  including whether the applicant has a                 priority points. The Department may
                                                transition to college and a career, and                  plan to build, adapt, or expand a                     use more than one tier of reviews in
                                                that will significantly increase the                     longitudinal data system that integrates              determining grantees, including
                                                proportion of students in the                            student-level data from multiple sources              possible site visits for applicants.
                                                neighborhood that are served by the                      in order to measure progress while                    Additional information about the review
                                                complete continuum to reach scale over                   abiding by privacy laws and                           process will be posted on the
                                                time;                                                    requirements, and ensuring that any                   Department’s Web site.
                                                   (2) The extent to which the methods                   systems built, adapted, or expanded                      We remind potential applicants that
                                                of evaluation include the use of                         upon includes essential security                      in reviewing applications in any
                                                objective performance measures that are                  controls.                                             discretionary grant competition, the
                                                clearly related to the intended outcomes                    (e) Adequacy of Resources (15 points).             Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR
                                                of the project and will produce                             The Secretary considers the adequacy               75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the
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                                                quantitative and qualitative data to the                 of resources for the proposed project. In             applicant in carrying out a previous
                                                extent possible (34 CFR 75.210); and                     determining the adequacy of resources                 award, such as the applicant’s use of
                                                   (3) The extent to which the proposed                  for the proposed project, the Secretary               funds, achievement of project
                                                project is supported by strong theory (as                considers:                                            objectives, and compliance with grant
                                                defined in this notice) (34 CFR 75.210).                    (1) The extent to which the costs are              conditions. The Secretary may also
                                                   (c) Quality of Project Services (20                   reasonable in relation to the number of               consider whether the applicant failed to
                                                points).                                                 persons to be served and to the                       submit a timely performance report or


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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 139 / Friday, July 21, 2017 / Notices                                           33893

                                                submitted a report of unacceptable                       of the number and percentage of                       decision-making and access to a
                                                quality.                                                 children accessing each support or                    community-based continuum of high
                                                   In addition, in making a competitive                  service offered as part of the pipeline               quality services for children living in
                                                grant award, the Secretary also requires                 services; and information relating to the             the most distressed communities of the
                                                various assurances including those                       performance metrics must be stated in                 United States, beginning at birth. All
                                                applicable to Federal civil rights laws                  each annual report.                                   grantees will be required to submit data
                                                that prohibit discrimination in programs                    (b) At the end of your project period,             annually against these performance
                                                or activities receiving Federal financial                you must submit a final performance                   measures as part of their annual
                                                assistance from the Department of                        report, including financial information,
                                                                                                                                                               performance report.
                                                Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4,                   as directed by the Secretary. If you
                                                108.8, and 110.23).                                      receive a multiyear award, you must                      5. Continuation Awards: In making a
                                                   3. Risk Assessment and Special                        submit an annual performance report                   continuation award, the Secretary
                                                Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR                        that provides the most current                        considers, among other things: Whether
                                                200.205, before awarding grants under                    performance and financial expenditure                 a grantee has made substantial progress
                                                this competition the Department                          information as directed by the Secretary              in achieving the goals and objectives of
                                                conducts a review of the risks posed by                  under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary                    the project; whether the grantee has
                                                applicants. Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the                     may also require more frequent                        expended funds in a manner that is
                                                Secretary may impose specific                            performance reports under 34 CFR                      consistent with its approved application
                                                conditions and, in appropriate                           75.720(c). For specific requirements on               and budget; and, the performance of the
                                                circumstances, high-risk conditions on a                 reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/                   grantee in meeting the targets
                                                grant if the applicant or grantee is not                 fund/grant/apply/appforms/                            established for each performance
                                                financially stable; has a history of                     appforms.html.                                        indicator identified in the grantee’s
                                                unsatisfactory performance; has a                           4. Integrity and Performance System:
                                                                                                                                                               approved data plan.
                                                financial or other management system                     If you are selected under this
                                                that does not meet the standards in 2                    competition to receive an award that                     In making a continuation award, the
                                                CFR part 200, subpart D; has not                         over the course of the project period                 Secretary also considers whether the
                                                fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant;               may exceed the simplified acquisition                 grantee is operating in compliance with
                                                or is otherwise not responsible.                         threshold (currently $150,000) under 2                the assurances in its approved
                                                                                                         CFR 200.205(a)(2) we must make a                      application, including those applicable
                                                VI. Award Administration Information                     judgment about your integrity, business               to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit
                                                   1. Award Notices: If your application                 ethics, and record of performance under               discrimination in programs or activities
                                                is successful, we notify your U.S.                       Federal awards—that is, the risk posed                receiving Federal financial assistance
                                                Representative and U.S. Senators and                     by you as an applicant—before we make                 from the Department (34 CFR 100.4,
                                                send you a Grant Award Notification                      an award. In doing so, we must consider               104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
                                                (GAN); or we may send you an email                       any information about you that is in the
                                                containing a link to access an electronic                integrity and performance system                      VII. Other Information
                                                version of your GAN. We may notify                       (currently referred to as the Federal
                                                you informally, also.                                    Awardee Performance and Integrity                        Accessible Format: Individuals with
                                                   If your application is not evaluated or               Information System (FAPIIS)),                         disabilities can obtain this document
                                                not selected for funding, we notify you.                 accessible through SAM. You may                       and a copy of the application package in
                                                   2. Administrative and National Policy                 review and comment on any                             an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
                                                Requirements: We identify                                information about yourself that a                     print, audiotape, or compact disc) on
                                                administrative and national policy                       Federal agency previously entered and                 request to the program contact person
                                                requirements in the application package                  that is currently in FAPIIS.                          listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
                                                and reference these and other                               Please note that, if the total value of            CONTACT.
                                                requirements in the Applicable                           your currently active grants, cooperative                Electronic Access to This Document:
                                                Regulations section of this notice.                      agreements, and procurement contracts                 The official version of this document is
                                                   We reference the regulations outlining                from the Federal Government exceeds
                                                                                                                                                               the document published in the Federal
                                                the terms and conditions of an award in                  $10,000,000, the reporting requirements
                                                                                                                                                               Register. Free Internet access to the
                                                the Applicable Regulations section of                    in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII,
                                                this notice and include these and other                  require you to report certain integrity               official edition of the Federal Register
                                                specific conditions in the GAN. The                      information to FAPIIS semiannually.                   and the Code of Federal Regulations is
                                                GAN also incorporates your approved                      Please review the requirements in 2 CFR               available via the Federal Digital System
                                                application as part of your binding                      part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant                 at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you
                                                commitments under the grant.                             plus all the other Federal funds you                  can view this document, as well as all
                                                   3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a                  receive exceed $10,000,000.                           other documents of this Department
                                                grant under this competition, you must                      5. Performance Measures: The                       published in the Federal Register, in
                                                ensure that you have in place the                        Secretary has established performance                 text or PDF. To use PDF you must have
                                                necessary processes and systems to                       indicators (i.e., performance measures)               Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
                                                comply with the reporting requirements                   for Promise Neighborhoods.                            available free at the site.
                                                in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive                     Performance indicators established by                    You may also access documents of the
                                                funding under the competition. This                      the Secretary include improved
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                                                                                                                                                               Department published in the Federal
                                                does not apply if you have an exception                  academic and development outcomes                     Register by using the article search
                                                under 2 CFR 170.110(b). If awarded a                     for children, including indicators of
                                                                                                                                                               feature at: www.federalregister.gov.
                                                grant under this competition,                            school readiness, high school
                                                                                                                                                               Specifically, through the advanced
                                                information about the number and                         graduation, postsecondary education
                                                percentage of children in the                            and career readiness, and other                       search feature at this site, you can limit
                                                neighborhood who are served by the                       academic and developmental outcomes.                  your search to documents published by
                                                grant program, including a description                   These outcomes promote data-driven                    the Department.



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                                                33894                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 139 / Friday, July 21, 2017 / Notices

                                                  Dated: July 18, 2017.                                  otherwise follow the applicable funding               III. Eligibility Information
                                                Margo Anderson,                                          provisions in 34 CFR 222.189.
                                                Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary for                       This priority is:                                     1. Eligible Applicants: An LEA must
                                                Innovation and Improvement.                                 Emergency Repair Grants.                           meet the absolute priority in this notice.
                                                [FR Doc. 2017–15359 Filed 7–20–17; 8:45 am]                 An LEA is eligible to apply for and                An LEA is eligible to receive an
                                                                                                         receive an emergency grant under this                 emergency grant under the priority if
                                                BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
                                                                                                         priority if it—                                       it—
                                                                                                            (a) Is eligible to receive formula                    (a) Is eligible to receive formula
                                                DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION                                  construction funds for the fiscal year                construction funds for the fiscal year
                                                                                                         under section 7007(a) of the Act (20                  under section 7007(a) of the Act (20
                                                Applications for New Awards; Impact                      U.S.C. 7707(a));                                      U.S.C. 7707(a)) because it enrolls a high
                                                Aid Discretionary Construction Grant                        (b)(1) Has no practical capacity to
                                                                                                                                                               percentage (at least 50 percent) of
                                                Program                                                  issue bonds;
                                                                                                            (2) Has minimal capacity to issue                  federally connected children in average
                                                AGENCY: Office of Elementary and                         bonds and has used at least 75 percent                daily attendance (ADA) who either
                                                Secondary Education, Department of                       of its bond limit; or                                 reside on Indian lands or who have a
                                                Education.                                                  (3) Is eligible to receive funds for the           parent on active duty in the U.S.
                                                ACTION: Notice.                                          fiscal year for heavily impacted districts            uniformed services.
                                                                                                         under section 7003(b)(2) of the Act (20                  (b)(1) Has no practical capacity to
                                                SUMMARY:    The Department of Education                  U.S.C. 7707(b)(2)); and                               issue bonds (as defined in 34 CFR
                                                is issuing a notice inviting applications                   (c) Has a school facility emergency                222.176);
                                                for fiscal year (FY) 2017 for the Impact                 that the Secretary has determined,
                                                                                                                                                                  (2) Has minimal capacity to issue
                                                Aid Discretionary Construction Grant                     consistent with 34 CFR 222.172(a) and
                                                Program, Catalog of Federal Domestic                                                                           bonds (as defined in 34 CFR 222.176)
                                                                                                         222.173, poses a health or safety hazard
                                                Assistance (CFDA) number 84.041C.                                                                              and has used at least 75 percent of its
                                                                                                         to students and school personnel.
                                                                                                            Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7707(b).              bond limit; or
                                                DATES: Applications Available: July 21,
                                                2017.                                                       Applicable Regulations: (a) The                       (3) Is eligible to receive funds for the
                                                   Deadline for Transmittal of                           Education Department General                          fiscal year for heavily impacted districts
                                                Applications: September 15, 2017.                        Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in                 under section 7003(b)(2) of the Act (20
                                                   Deadline for Intergovernmental                        34 CFR parts 75 (except for 34 CFR                    U.S.C. 7703(b)(2)); and
                                                Review: November 14, 2017.                               75.600 through 75.617), 77, 79, 82, 84,                  (c) Has a school facility emergency
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                         97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of                     that the Secretary has determined,
                                                Amanda Ognibene, Impact Aid Program,                     Management and Budget Guidelines to                   consistent with 34 CFR 222.172(a) and
                                                U.S. Department of Education, 400                        Agencies on Governmentwide                            222.173, poses a health or safety hazard
                                                Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3C129,                         Debarment and Suspension                              to students and school personnel.
                                                Washington, DC 20202–6244.                               (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as
                                                                                                         adopted and amended as regulations of                    2.a. Cost Sharing or Matching: In
                                                Telephone: 202–260–3858 or by email:                                                                           reviewing proposed awards, the
                                                Amanda.Ognibene@ed.gov.                                  the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c)
                                                                                                         The Uniform Administrative                            Secretary considers the funds available
                                                   If you use a telecommunications                                                                             to the grantee from other sources,
                                                device for the deaf (TDD) or a text                      Requirements, Cost Principles, and
                                                                                                         Audit Requirements for Federal Awards                 including local, State, and other Federal
                                                telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay                                                                        funds. See 20 U.S.C. 7707(b)(5)(A)(iii)
                                                Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877–                  in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and
                                                                                                         amended as regulations of the                         and 34 CFR 222.174 and 222.191
                                                8339.                                                                                                          through 222.193. Consistent with 34
                                                                                                         Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                               regulations for this program in 34 CFR                CFR 222.192, an applicant will be
                                                                                                         part 222.                                             required to submit the applicant’s most
                                                Full Text of Announcement                                                                                      recently available audited financial
                                                I. Funding Opportunity Description                       II. Award Information                                 reports for three consecutive fiscal
                                                   Purpose of Program: The Impact Aid                       Type of Award: Discretionary grants.               years, showing closing balances for all
                                                Discretionary Construction Grant                            Estimated Available Funds:                         school funds. If significant balances (as
                                                Program provides grants for emergency                    $17,400,000.                                          detailed in 34 CFR 222.192) are
                                                repairs and modernization of school                         Contingent upon the availability of                available at the close of the applicant’s
                                                facilities to certain local educational                  funds and the quality of applications,                FY 2016, or its most recently audited
                                                agencies (LEAs) that receive Impact Aid                  we may make additional awards in FY                   year, that are not obligated for other
                                                formula funds.                                           2018 from the list of unfunded                        purposes, those funds will be
                                                   Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR                   applications from this competition.                   considered available for the proposed
                                                75.105(b)(2)(ii) and (iv), this priority is                 Estimated Range of Awards: $60,000–                emergency repair project. Available
                                                from section 7007(b)(2)(A) of the                        $6,000,000.                                           balances may reduce the amount of
                                                                                                            Estimated Average Size of Awards:                  funds that may be awarded or eliminate
                                                Elementary and Secondary Education
                                                                                                         $2,175,000.                                           the applicant’s eligibility for an
                                                Act of 1965, as amended (Act) (20                           Estimated Number of Awards: 8.
                                                U.S.C. 7707(b)), and the regulations for                                                                       emergency grant award under this
                                                this program in 34 CFR 222.177.                            Note: The Department is not bound by any            competition.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                   Absolute Priority: For FY 2017 and                    estimates in this notice.                                b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This
                                                any subsequent year in which we make                       Project Period: Up to 60 months. We                 competition involves supplement-not-
                                                awards from the list of unfunded                         will determine each project period                    supplant funding requirements. As
                                                applications from this competition, this                 based on the nature of the project                    outlined in 34 CFR 222.174, grant funds
                                                priority is an absolute priority. Under 34               proposed and the time needed to                       under this competition may not be used
                                                CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only                        complete it. We will specify this period              to supplant or replace other available
                                                applications that meet this priority and                 in the grant award document.                          non-Federal construction money.


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Document Created: 2017-07-21 06:00:06
Document Modified: 2017-07-21 06:00:06
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesApplications Available: July 21, 2017.
ContactAdrienne Hawkins, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4W256, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 453-5638 or by email: [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 33881 

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