Monday,

February 6, 2006

Part IV

Department of
Education
Office of Innovation and Improvement;
Overview Information; Arts in Education
Model Development and Dissemination
Grant Program; Notice Inviting
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal
Year (FY) 2006; Notice
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 6184 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 24 / Monday, February 6, 2006 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION continuation awards (see 34 CFR including their skills in creating,
75.253). performing, and responding to the arts.
Office of Innovation and Improvement; Estimated Average Size of Awards: In order to meet this priority, an
Overview Information; Arts in $250,000. applicant must demonstrate that the
Education Model Development and Estimated Number of Awards: 35. model project for which it seeks funding
Dissemination Grant Program; Notice (1) serves only elementary school or
Inviting Applications for New Awards Note: The Department is not bound by any middle school grades, or both, and (2)
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 estimates in this notice. is linked to State and national standards
Project Period: Up to 48 months. intended to enable all students to meet
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance challenging expectations and to improve
(CFDA) Number: 84.351D. Note: The first 12 months may be used to student and school performance.
Dates: build capacity to effectively carry out the Competitive Preference Priority: This
Applications Available: February 6, comprehensive activities involved in the priority is from the notice of final
2006. evaluation plan described in the competitive priority published in the Federal
Deadline for Notice of Intent to preference priority.
Register on January 25, 2005 (70 FR
Apply: March 8, 2006. Deadline for
Full Text of Announcement 3586). For FY 2006 and any subsequent
Transmittal of Applications: April 7, years in which we make awards based
2006. Deadline for Intergovernmental I. Funding Opportunity Description on the list of unfunded applicants from
Review: June 6, 2006. this competition, this priority is a
Eligible Applicants: (1) One or more Purpose of Program: The Arts in
Education Model Development and competitive preference priority. Under
local educational agencies (LEAs),
Dissemination (AEMDD) program 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to
including charter schools that are an additional 20 points to an
considered LEAs under State law and supports the enhancement, expansion,
documentation, evaluation, and application, depending on how well the
regulations, that may work in application meets this priority. These
partnership with one or more of the dissemination of innovative, cohesive
models that are based on research and points are in addition to any points the
following: application earns under the selection
• A State or local non-profit or have demonstrated that they effectively:
criteria.
governmental arts organization, (1) Integrate standards-based arts
When using the priority to give
• A State educational agency (SEA) or education into the core elementary and
competitive preference to an
regional educational service agency, middle school curricula; (2) strengthen
application, the Secretary will review
• An institution of higher education, standards-based arts instruction in these
applications using a two-stage process.
or grades; and (3) improve students’
In the first stage, the application will be
• A public or private agency, academic performance, including their
reviewed without taking the priority
institution, or organization, such as a skills in creating, performing, and
into account. In the second stage of
community- or faith-based organization; responding to the arts. Projects funded
review, the applications rated highest in
or through the AEMDD program are
stage one will be reviewed for
(2) One or more State or local non- intended to increase the amount of
competitive preference. We will
profit or governmental arts nationally available information on
consider awarding additional
organizations that must work in effective models for arts education that
(competitive preference) points only to
partnership with one or more LEAs and integrate the arts with standards-based
those applicants with top-ranked scores
may partner with one or more of the education programs.
on their selection criteria. We expect
following: Priorities: This competition includes
• An SEA or regional educational that up to 30 applicants will receive
one absolute priority and one
service agency, these additional competitive preference
competitive preference priority.
• An institution of higher education, points.
Absolute Priority: This priority is from This priority is:
or the notice of final priorities for this The Secretary establishes a priority
• A public or private agency, program, published in the Federal for projects proposing an evaluation
institution, or organization, such as a Register on March 30, 2005 (70 FR plan that is based on rigorous
community-or faith-based organization. 16234). For FY 2006, and any scientifically based research methods to
Note: If more than one LEA or arts subsequent year in which we make assess the effectiveness of a particular
organization wishes to form a consortium awards based on the list of unfunded intervention. The Secretary intends that
and jointly submit a single application, they applicants from this competition, this this priority will allow program
must follow the procedures for group priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 participants and the Department to
applications described in 34 CFR 75.127 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only determine whether the project produces
through 34 CFR 75.129 of the Education applications that meet this priority.
Department General Administrative
meaningful effects on student
This priority is: achievement or teacher performance.
Regulations (EDGAR).
This priority supports projects that Evaluation methods using an
Estimated Available Funds: $8.7 enhance, expand, document, evaluate, experimental design are best for
million. Contingent upon the and disseminate innovative cohesive determining project effectiveness. Thus,
availability of funds and the quality of models that are based on research and when feasible, the project must use an
applications, we may make additional have demonstrated their effectiveness in experimental design under which
awards in FY 2007 from the list of (1) integrating standards-based arts participants—e.g., students, teachers,
unfunded applications from this education into the core elementary or classrooms, or schools—are randomly
competition. middle school curriculum, (2) assigned to participate in the project
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Estimated Range of Awards: strengthening standards-based arts activities being evaluated or to a control
$225,000–$275,000 for the first year of instruction in the elementary or middle group that does not participate in the
the project. Funding for the second, school grades, and (3) improving the project activities being evaluated.
third and fourth years is subject to the academic performance of students in If random assignment is not feasible,
availability of funds and the approval of elementary or middle school grades, the project may use a quasi-

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experimental design with carefully (4) A proposed evaluator, preferably reliable and valid data across evaluators
matched comparison conditions. This independent, with the necessary and observers, across multiple
alternative design attempts to background and technical expertise to measurements and observations, and
approximate a randomly assigned carry out the proposed evaluation. An across studies by the same or different
control group by matching independent evaluator does not have investigators;
participants—e.g., students, teachers, any authority over the project and is not (iv) Is evaluated using experimental or
classrooms, or schools—with non- involved in its implementation. quasi-experimental designs in which
participants having similar pre-program In general, depending on the individuals, entities, programs, or
characteristics. implemented program or project, under activities are assigned to different
In cases where random assignment is a competitive preference priority, conditions and with appropriate
not possible and participation in the random assignment evaluation methods controls to evaluate the effects of the
intervention is determined by a will receive more points than matched condition of interest, with a preference
specified cutting point on a quantified comparison evaluation methods. for random-assignment experiments, or
continuum of scores, regression Application Requirement other designs to the extent that those
discontinuity designs may be employed. designs contain within-condition or
To be eligible for AEMDD funds, across-condition controls;
For projects that are focused on
applicants must propose to address the
special populations in which sufficient (v) Ensures that experimental studies
needs of children from low-income
numbers of participants are not are presented in sufficient detail and
families by carrying out projects that
available to support random assignment clarity to allow for replication or, at a
serve at least one elementary or middle
or matched comparison group designs, minimum, offer the opportunity to build
school in which 35 percent or more of
single-subject designs such as multiple systematically on their findings; and
the children enrolled are from low-
baseline or treatment-reversal or (vi) Has been accepted by a peer-
income families (based on data used in
interrupted time series that are capable reviewed journal or approved by a panel
meeting the poverty criteria in Title I,
of demonstrating causal relationships of independent experts through a
Section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary
can be employed. and Secondary Education Act of 1965, comparably rigorous, objective, and
Proposed evaluation strategies that as amended by the No Child Left Behind scientific review.
use neither experimental designs with Act of 2001 (ESEA)). Random assignment or experimental
random assignment nor quasi- design means random assignment of
experimental designs using a matched Definitions students, teachers, classrooms, or
comparison group nor regression As used in the absolute priority in schools to participate in a project being
discontinuity designs will not be this notice— evaluated (treatment group) or not
considered responsive to the priority Arts includes music, dance, theater, participate in the project (control
when sufficient numbers of participants media arts, and visual arts, including group). The effect of the project is the
are available to support these designs. folk arts. difference in outcomes between the
Evaluation strategies that involve too Integrating means (i) encouraging the treatment and control groups.
small a number of participants to use of high-quality arts instruction in Quasi-experimental designs include
support group designs must be capable other academic/content areas and (ii) several designs that attempt to
of demonstrating the causal effects of an strengthening the place of the arts as a approximate a random assignment
intervention or program on those core academic subject in the school design.
participants. curriculum. Carefully matched comparison groups
The proposed evaluation plan must Based on research, when used with design means a quasi-experimental
describe how the project evaluator will respect to an activity or a program, design in which project participants are
collect—before the project intervention means that, to the extent possible, the matched with non-participants based on
commences and after it ends—valid and activity or program is based on the most key characteristics that are thought to be
reliable data that measure the impact of rigorous theory, research, and related to the outcome.
participation in the program or in the evaluation available and is effective in Regression discontinuity design
comparison group. improving student achievement and means a quasi-experimental design that
If the priority is used as a competitive performance and other program closely approximates an experimental
preference priority, points awarded objectives. design. In a regression discontinuity
under this priority will be determined As used in the competitive preference design, participants are assigned to a
by the quality of the proposed priority in this notice— treatment or control group based on a
evaluation method. In determining the Scientifically based research (section
numerical rating or score of a variable
quality of the evaluation method, we 9101(37) of the ESEA as amended by
unrelated to the treatment such as the
will consider the extent to which the NCLB, 20 U.S.C. 7801(37)):
(A) Means research that involves the rating of an application for funding.
applicant presents a feasible, credible Eligible students, teachers, classrooms,
application of rigorous, systematic, and
plan that includes the following: or schools above a certain score (‘‘cut
objective procedures to obtain reliable
(1) The type of design to be used (that and valid knowledge relevant to score’’) are assigned to the treatment
is, random assignment or matched education activities and programs; and group and those below the score are
comparison). If matched comparison, (B) Includes research that— assigned to the control group. In the
include in the plan a discussion of why (i) Employs systematic, empirical case of the scores of applicants’
random assignment is not feasible. methods that draw on observation or proposals for funding, the ‘‘cut score’’ is
(2) Outcomes to be measured. experiment; established at the point where the
(3) A discussion of how the applicant (ii) Involves rigorous data analyses program funds available are exhausted.
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plans to assign students, teachers, that are adequate to test the stated Single subject design means a design
classrooms, or schools to the project and hypotheses and justify the general that relies on the comparison of
control group or match them for conclusions drawn; treatment effects on a single subject or
comparison with other students, (iii) Relies on measurements or group of single subjects. There is little
teachers, classrooms, or schools. observational methods that provide confidence that findings based on this

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design would be the same for other Note: The Department is not bound by any about obtaining a restricted indirect cost
members of the population. estimates in this notice. rate to use on the Budget Information
Treatment reversal design means a Project Period: Up to 48 months. form (ED Form 524) included with the
single subject design in which a pre- application package.
treatment or baseline outcome Note: The first 12 months may be used to 3. Coordination Requirement: Under
measurement is compared with a post- build capacity to effectively carry out the section 5551(f)(1) of the ESEA, the
treatment measure. Treatment would comprehensive activities involved in the Secretary requires that each entity
evaluation plan described in the competitive funded under this program coordinate,
then be stopped for a period of time, a
preference priority. to the extent practicable, each project or
second baseline measure of the outcome
would be taken, followed by a second program carried out with funds awarded
III. Eligibility Information
application of the treatment or a under this program with appropriate
different treatment. For example, this 1. Eligible Applicants: activities of public or private cultural
design might be used to evaluate a (1) One or more LEAs, including agencies, institutions, and
behavior modification program for charter schools that are considered organizations, such as museums, arts
disabled students with behavior LEAs under State law and regulations, education associations, libraries, and
disorders. that may work in partnership with one theaters.
Multiple baseline design means a or more of the following:
• A State or local non-profit or IV. Application and Submission
single subject design to address Information
concerns about the effects of normal governmental arts organization,
development, timing of the treatment, • An SEA or regional educational 1. Address to Request Application
and amount of the treatment with service agency, Package: Education Publications Center
treatment-reversal designs by using a • An institution of higher education, (ED Pubs), P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD
varying time schedule for introduction or 20794–1398. Telephone (toll free): 1–
of the treatment and/or treatments of • A public or private agency, 877–433–7827. FAX: (301) 470–1244. If
different lengths or intensity. institution, or organization, such as a you use a telecommunications device
Interrupted time series design means community- or faith-based organization; for the deaf (TDD), you may call (toll
a quasi-experimental design in which or free): 1–877–576–7734.
the outcome of interest is measured (2) One or more State or local non- You may also contact ED Pubs at its
multiple times before and after the profit or governmental arts Web site: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/
treatment for program participants only. organizations that must work in edpubs.html or you may contact ED
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7271. partnership with one or more LEAs and Pubs at its e-mail address:
may partner with one or more of the [email protected].
Applicable Regulations: (a) EDGAR in
following: If you request an application from ED
34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82,
84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The notice • An SEA or regional educational Pubs, be sure to identify this
service agency, competition as follows: CFDA number
of final priorities for this program,
published in the Federal Register on • An institution of higher education, 84.351D.
or You may also obtain the application
March 30, 2005 (70 FR 16234). (c) The package for the program via the Internet
notice of final priority for Scientifically • A public or private agency,
institution, or organization, such as a at the following address: http://
Based Evaluation Methods, published in www.ed.gov/programs/artsedmodel/
the Federal Register on January 25, community- or faith-based organization.
applicant.html.
2005 (70 FR 3586). Note: If more than one LEA or arts Individuals with disabilities may
organization wish to form a consortium and obtain a copy of the application package
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 jointly submit a single application, they must
apply to all applicants except federally in an alternative format (e.g., Braille,
follow the procedures for group applications
recognized Indian tribes. described in 34 CFR 75.127 through 34 CFR large print, audiotape, or computer
75.129 of EDGAR. diskette) by contacting the program
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 contact person listed in section VII of
apply to institutions of higher education 2. Cost Sharing and Matching: This this notice.
only. program does not involve cost sharing 2. Content and Form of Application
or matching but does involve Submission: Requirements concerning
II. Award Information
supplement-not-supplant funding the content of an application, together
Type of Award: Discretionary grants. provisions. with the forms you must submit, are in
Estimated Available Funds: $8.7 Under section 5551(f)(2) of the ESEA, the application package for this
million. Contingent upon the the Secretary requires that assistance program.
availability of funds and quality of provided under this subpart be used Notice of Intent to Apply: The
applications, we may make additional only to supplement, and not to Department will be able to develop a
awards in FY 2007 from the list of supplant, other assistance or funds more efficient process for reviewing
unfunded applications from this made available from non-Federal grant applications if it has a better
competition. sources for the activities assisted under understanding of the number of entities
Estimated Range of Awards: this subpart. that intend to apply for funding under
$225,000–$275,000 for the first year of This restriction also has the effect of this competition. Therefore, the
the project. Funding for the second, allowing projects to recover indirect Secretary strongly encourages each
third and fourth years is subject to the costs only on the basis of a restricted potential applicant to notify the
availability of funds and the approval of indirect cost rate, according to the Department by sending a short e-mail
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continuation awards (see 34 CFR requirements in 34 CFR 75.563 and 34 message indicating the applicant’s
75.253). CFR 76.564 through 34 CFR 76.569. As intent to submit an application for
Estimated Average Size of Awards: soon as they decide to apply, applicants funding. The e-mail need not include
$250,000. are urged to contact the ED Indirect Cost information regarding the content of the
Estimated Number of Awards: 35. Group at (202) 377–3833 for guidance proposed application, only the

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applicant’s intent to submit it. This e- accordance with the instructions in this Therefore, we strongly recommend that
mail notification should be sent to section. you do not wait until the application
Diane Austin at [email protected]. deadline date to begin the submission
a. Electronic Submission of
Applicants that fail to provide this e- process through Grants.gov.
Applications • You should review and follow the
mail notification may still apply for
funding. Applications for grants under the Education Submission Procedures for
Page Limit for Program Narrative: The AEMDD program—CFDA Number submitting an application through
program narrative (Part III of the 84.351D—must be submitted Grants.gov that are included in the
application) is where you, the applicant, electronically using the Grants.gov application package for this program to
address the selection criteria that Apply site at: http://www.grants.gov. ensure that you submit your application
reviewers use to evaluate your Through this site, you will be able to in a timely manner to the Grants.gov
application. Applicants are strongly download a copy of the application system. You can also find the Education
encouraged to limit Part III to the package, complete it offline, and then Submission Procedures pertaining to
equivalent of no more than 30 single- upload and submit your application. Grants.gov at http://eGrants.ed.gov/
sided, double-spaced pages printed in You may not e-mail an electronic copy help/
12-font type or larger. of a grant application to us. GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
The suggested page limit does not
We will reject your application if you • To submit your application via
submit it in paper format unless, as Grants.gov, you must complete all of the
apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II,
described elsewhere in this section, you steps in the Grants.gov registration
the budget section, including the
qualify for one of the exceptions to the process (see http://www.Grants.gov/
narrative budget justification; Part IV,
electronic submission requirement and GetStarted). These steps include (1)
the assurances and certifications; or the
submit, no later than two weeks before registering your organization, (2)
one-page abstract, the competitive
the application deadline date, a written registering yourself as an Authorized
preference priority, the absolute
statement to the Department that you Organization Representative (AOR), and
priority, curriculum vitae, or
qualify for one of these exceptions. (3) getting authorized as an AOR by
bibliography of literature cited.
Further information regarding your organization. Details on these steps
However, you must include all of the
calculation of the date that is two weeks are outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step
program narrative in Part III.
before the application deadline date is Registration Guide (see http://
3. Submission Dates and Times:
provided later in this section under www.grants.gov/assets/
Applications Available: February 6,
Exception to Electronic Submission GrantsgovCoBrandBrochure8X11.pdf).
2006.
Requirement. You also must provide on your
Deadline for Notice of Intent To You may access the electronic grant application the same D-U-N-S Number
Apply: March 8, 2006. application for the AEMDD program at: used with this registration. Please note
Deadline for Transmittal of http://www.grants.gov. You must search that the registration process may take
Applications: April 7, 2006. for the downloadable application five or more business days to complete,
Applications for grants under this package for this program by the CFDA and you must have completed all
competition must be submitted number. Do not include the CFDA registration steps to allow you to
electronically using the Grants.gov number’s alpha suffix in your search. successfully submit an application via
Apply site (Grants.gov). For information Please note the following: Grants.gov.
(including dates and times) about how • When you enter the Grants.gov site, • You will not receive additional
to submit your application you will find information about point value because you submit your
electronically or by mail or hand submitting an application electronically application in electronic format, nor
delivery if you qualify for an exception through the site, as well as the hours of will we penalize you if you qualify for
to the electronic submission operation. an exception to the electronic
requirement, please refer to section • Applications received by Grants.gov submission requirement, as described
IV. 6. Other Submission Requirements are time and date stamped. Your elsewhere in this section, and submit
in this notice. application must be fully uploaded and your application in paper format.
We do not consider an application submitted, and must be date/time • You must submit all documents
that does not comply with the deadline stamped by the Grants.gov system no electronically, including all information
requirements. later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC typically included on the Application
Deadline for Intergovernmental time, on the application deadline date. for Federal Education Assistance (ED
Review: June 6, 2006. Except as otherwise noted in this 424), Budget Information—Non-
4. Intergovernmental Review: This section, we will not consider your Construction Programs (ED 524), and all
competition is subject to Executive application if it is date/time stamped by necessary assurances and certifications.
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 the Grants.gov system later than 4:30 You must attach any narrative sections
CFR part 79. Information about p.m., Washington, DC time, on the of your application as files in a .DOC
Intergovernmental Review of Federal application deadline date. When we (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF
Programs under Executive Order 12372 retrieve your application from (Portable Document) format. If you
is in the application package for this Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are upload a file type other than the three
competition. rejecting your application because it file types specified above or submit a
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference was date/time stamped by the password protected file, we will not
regulations outlining funding Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m., review that material.
restrictions in the Applicable Washington, DC time, on the • Your electronic application must
Regulations section of this notice. application deadline date. comply with any page limit
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6. Other Submission Requirements: • The amount of time it can take to requirements described in this notice.
Applications for grants under this upload an application will vary • After you electronically submit
competition must be submitted depending on a variety of factors your application, you will receive an
electronically unless you qualify for an including the size of the application and automatic acknowledgment from
exception to this requirement in the speed of your Internet connection. Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov

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tracking number. The Department will falls on a Federal holiday, the next (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by
retrieve your application from business day following the Federal the U.S. Postal Service.
Grants.gov and send you a second holiday), you mail or fax a written If your application is postmarked after
confirmation by e-mail that will include statement to the Department, explaining the application deadline date, we will
a PR/Award number (an ED-specified which of the two grounds for an not consider your application.
identifying number unique to your exception prevent you from using the Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not
application). Internet to submit your application. If uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before
• We may request that you provide us you mail your written statement to the relying on this method, you should check
original signatures on forms at a later Department, it must be postmarked no with your local post office.
date. later than two weeks before the
Application Deadline Date Extension application deadline date. If you fax c. Submission of Paper Applications by
in Case of Technical Issues with the your written statement to the Hand Delivery
Grants.gov System: If you are prevented Department, we must receive the faxed
from electronically submitting your If you qualify for an exception to the
statement no later than two weeks electronic submission requirement, you
application on the application deadline before the application deadline date.
date because of technical problems with (or a courier service) may deliver your
Address and mail or fax your paper application to the Department by
the Grants.gov system, we will grant you statement to: Diane Austin, U.S.
an extension until 4:30 p.m., hand. You must deliver the original and
Department of Education, 400 Maryland two copies of your application by hand,
Washington, DC time, the following Avenue, SW., room 4W210,
business day to enable you to transmit on or before the application deadline
Washington, DC 20202–5950. FAX: date, to the Department at the following
your application electronically, or by (202) 205–5630.
hand delivery. You also may mail your address: U.S. Department of Education,
Your paper application must be Application Control Center, Attention:
application by following the mailing submitted in accordance with the mail
instructions as described elsewhere in (CFDA Number 84.351D), 550 12th
or hand delivery instructions described Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center
this notice. If you submit an application in this notice.
after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260.
the deadline date, please contact the b. Submission of Paper Applications by The Application Control Center
person listed elsewhere in this notice Mail accepts hand deliveries daily between 8
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC
If you qualify for an exception to the time, except Saturdays, Sundays and
CONTACT, and provide an explanation of
electronic submission requirement, you Federal holidays.
the technical problem you experienced may mail (through the U.S. Postal
with Grants.gov, along with the Service or a commercial carrier), your Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number application to the Department. You Applications: If you mail or hand deliver
(if available). We will accept your must mail the original and two copies your application to the Department:
application if we can confirm that a (1) You must indicate on the envelope
of your application, on or before the and—if not provided by the Department—in
technical problem occurred with the application deadline date, to the
Grants.gov system and that that problem Item 4 of the Application for Federal
Department at the applicable following Education Assistance (ED 424) the CFDA
affected your ability to submit your address: number—and suffix letter, if any—of the
application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, By mail through the U.S. Postal competition under which you are submitting
DC time, on the application deadline Service: U.S. Department of Education, your application.
date. The Department will contact you Application Control Center, Attention: (2) The Application Control Center will
after a determination is made on (CFDA Number 84.351D), 400 Maryland mail a grant application receipt
whether your application will be Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202– acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive
accepted. the grant application receipt
4260; or, acknowledgment within 15 business days
Note: Extensions referred to in this section By mail through a commercial carrier: from the application deadline date, you
apply only to the unavailability of or U.S. Department of Education, should call the U.S. Department of Education
technical problems with the Grants.gov Application Control Center—Stop 4260, Application Control Center at (202) 245–
system. We will not grant you an extension Attention: (CFDA Number 84.351D), 6288.
if you failed to fully register to submit your
application to Grants.gov before the deadline
7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD
date and time or if the technical problem you 20785–1506. V. Application Review Information
experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov Regardless of which address you use, Selection Criteria: The selection
system. you must show proof of mailing criteria for this competition are from
Exception to Electronic Submission consisting of one of the following: section 75.210 of EDGAR. The
Requirement: You qualify for an (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service maximum score for all the selection
exception to the electronic submission postmark, criteria is 100 points. The maximum
requirement, and may submit your (2) A legible mail receipt with the score for each criterion is indicated in
application in paper format, if you are date of mailing stamped by the U.S. parentheses. Each criterion also
unable to submit an application through Postal Service, includes the factors that the reviewers
the Grants.gov system because— (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or will consider in determining how well
• You do not have access to the receipt from a commercial carrier, or an application meets the criterion. The
Internet; or (4) Any other proof of mailing Note following selection criterion (e) is
• You do not have the capacity to acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. guidance to help applicants in preparing
upload large documents to the Department of Education. their applications, and are not required
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Grants.gov system; and If you mail your application through by statute or regulations. The criteria are
• No later than two weeks before the the U.S. Postal Service, we do not as follows:
application deadline date (14 calendar accept either of the following as proof (a) Need for project (10 points). The
days or, if the fourteenth calendar day of mailing: Secretary considers the need for the
before the application deadline date (1) A private metered postmark, or proposed project. In determining the

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 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 24 / Monday, February 6, 2006 / Notices 6189

need for the project the Secretary (d) Quality of the management plan effective strategies for replication in other
considers the following factors: (15 points). The Secretary considers the settings. Applicants are encouraged to devote
(1) The extent to which the proposed quality of the management plan for the an appropriate level of resources to project
proposed project. In determining the evaluation.
project will provide services or
otherwise address the needs of students quality of the management plan for the
VI. Award Administration Information
at risk of educational failure. proposed project, the Secretary
(2) The extent to which specific gaps considers the following factors: 1. Award Notices: If your application
or weaknesses in services, (1) The adequacy of the management is successful, we notify your U.S.
infrastructure, or opportunities have plan to achieve the objectives of the Representative and U.S. Senators and
been identified and will be addressed by proposed project on time and within send you a Grant Award Notification
the proposed project, including the budget, including clearly defined (GAN). We may also notify you
nature and magnitude of those gaps or responsibilities, timelines, and informally.
weaknesses. milestones for accomplishing project If your application is not evaluated or
(b) Significance (20 points). The tasks. not selected for funding, we notify you.
Secretary considers the significance of (2) The extent to which the time 2. Administrative and National Policy
the proposed project. In determining the commitments of the project director and Requirements: We identify
significance of the proposed project, the principal investigator and other key administrative and national policy
Secretary considers the following project personnel are appropriate and requirements in the application package
factors: adequate to meet the objectives of the and reference these and other
(1) The importance or magnitude of proposed project. requirements in the Applicable
the results or outcomes likely to be (3) The adequacy of procedures for Regulations section of this notice.
ensuring feedback and continuous We reference the regulations outlining
attained by the proposed project,
improvement in the operation of the the terms and conditions of an award in
especially improvements in teaching
proposed project. the Applicable Regulations section of
and student achievement.
(e) Quality of the project evaluation this notice and include these and other
(2) The likely utility of the products
(20 points). The Secretary considers the specific conditions in the GAN. The
(such as information, materials,
quality of the evaluation to be GAN also incorporates your approved
processes, or techniques) that will result
conducted of the proposed project. In application as part of your binding
from the proposed project, including the
determining the quality of the commitments under the grant.
potential for their being used effectively 3. Grant Administration: Applicants
in a variety of other settings. evaluation, the Secretary considers the
following factors: should budget for a three-day meeting
(3) The potential replicability of the for project directors to be held in
(1) The extent to which the methods
proposed project or strategies, Washington, DC.
of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and
including, as appropriate, the potential 4. Reporting: At the end of your
appropriate to the goals, objectives, and
for implementation in a variety of project period, you must submit a final
outcomes of the proposed project.
settings. (2) The extent to which the methods performance report, including financial
(4) The extent to which the results of of evaluation will provide performance information, as directed by the
the proposed project are to be feedback and permit periodic Secretary. If you receive a multi-year
disseminated in ways that will enable assessment of progress toward achieving award, you must submit an annual
others to use the information or intended outcomes. performance report that provides the
strategies. (3) The extent to which the evaluation most current performance and financial
(c) Quality of the project design (35 will provide guidance about effective expenditure information as specified by
points). The Secretary considers the strategies suitable for replication or the Secretary in 34 CFR 75.118. For
quality of the design of the proposed testing in other settings. specific requirements on grantee
project. In determining the quality of the reporting, please go to: http://
design of the proposed project, the Note: A strong evaluation plan should be
included in the application narrative and www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/
Secretary considers the following appforms/appforms.html and review
should be used, as appropriate, to shape the
factors: development of the project from the the links on that Web page specifically
(1) The extent to which the design of beginning of the grant period. The plan associated with ED Form 524B.
the proposed project reflects up-to-date should include benchmarks to monitor 5. Performance Measures: In response
knowledge from research and effective progress toward specific project objectives to the Government Performance and
practice. and also outcome measures to assess the Results Act (GPRA), the Department has
(2) The extent to which the proposed impact on teaching and learning or other established the following performance
project is part of a comprehensive effort important outcomes for project participants.
measure for assessing the effectiveness
to improve teaching and learning and More specifically, the plan should identify
the individual and/or organization that has of the AEMDD program: the percentage
support rigorous academic standards for agreed to serve as evaluator for the project of students participating in arts models
students. and describe the qualifications of that programs who demonstrate higher
(3) The extent to which the design for evaluator. The plan should describe the achievement than those in control or
implementing and evaluating the evaluation design, indicating: (1) What types comparison groups. Grantees funded
proposed project will result in of data will be collected; (2) when various under this competition will be expected
information to guide possible types of data will be collected; (3) what to collect and report to the Department
replication of project activities or methods will be used; (4) what instruments data on the numbers of these students
strategies, including information about will be developed and when; (5) how the
data will be analyzed; (6) when reports of
applicable to their project.
the effectiveness of the approach or
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results and outcomes will be available; and VII. Agency Contact

strategies employed by the project. (7) how the applicant will use the
(4) The extent to which the proposed information collected through the evaluation For Further Information Contact:
project is designed to build capacity and to monitor progress of the funded project and Diane Austin, U.S. Department of
yield results that will extend beyond the to provide accountability information both Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
period of Federal financial assistance. about success at the initial site and about Room 4W210, Washington, DC 20202–

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 6190 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 24 / Monday, February 6, 2006 / Notices

5950. Telephone: (202) 260–1280 or by all other documents of this Department Register. Free Internet access to the official
e-mail: [email protected]. published in the Federal Register, in edition of the Federal Register and the Code
If you use a telecommunications text or Adobe Portable Document of Federal Regulations is available on GPO
device for the deaf (TDD), you may call Format (PDF) on the Internet at the Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/
the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1– following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/ index.html.
800–877–8339. fedregister.
Individuals with disabilities may Dated: February 1, 2006.
To use PDF you must have Adobe
obtain this document in an alternative Acrobat Reader, which is available free Christopher J. Doherty,
format (e.g., Braille, large print, at this site. If you have questions about Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary, Office of
audiotape, or computer diskette) on using PDF, call the U.S. Government Innovation and Improvement.
request to the program contact person Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1– [FR Doc. 06–1076 Filed 2–3–06; 8:45 am]
listed in this section. 888–293–6498; or in the Washington, BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
VIII. Other Information DC area at (202) 512–1530.
Electronic Access to This Document: Note: The official version of this document
You may view this document, as well as is the document published in the Federal
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