Notice: Grants and Cooperative Agreements Availability, Etc.: Innovation and Improvement&#8212 Charter School Program

Tuesday,
May 16, 2006
Part IV
Department of
Education
Office of Innovation and Improvement;
Overview Information; Charter School
Program (CSP); Notice Inviting
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal
Year (FY) 2006; Notice
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28526 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 94 / Tuesday, May 16, 2006 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Priority: Under this competition we Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 99
are particularly interested in apply only to an educational agency or
Office of Innovation and Improvement; applications that address the following institution.
Overview Information; Charter School priority.
Program (CSP); Notice Inviting II. Award Information
Invitational Priority: For FY 2006 this
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal priority is an invitational priority. Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Year (FY) 2006 Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), we do not Estimated Available Funds:
give an application that meets this $6,900,000.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
invitational priority a competitive or Estimated Range of Awards:
(CFDA) Number: 84.282N.
absolute preference over other $500,000–$1,500,000 per year.
Dates: Estimated Average Size of Awards:
applications.
Applications Available: May 16, 2006. $1,150,000 per year.
Deadline for Transmittal of This priority is:
Estimated Number of Awards: 6.
Applications: June 30, 2006. The applicant proposes a project that
Deadline for Intergovernmental enhances and expands a State’s capacity Note: The Department is not bound by any
to support high-quality charter schools estimates in this notice.
Review: August 29, 2006.
Eligible Applicants: State educational in one or more geographic areas, Project Period: Up to three years.
agencies (SEAs) and local educational particularly urban and rural areas, in
which a large proportion or number of III. Eligibility Information
agencies (LEAs) in States with a State
statute specifically authorizing the public schools has been identified for 1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs and LEAs
establishment of charter schools, and improvement, corrective action, or in States with a State statute specifically
public and private non-profit restructuring under Title I, Part A of the authorizing the establishment of charter
organizations. Eligible applicants may ESEA. The proposed project schools, and public and private non-
also apply as a group or consortium. demonstrates research and effective profit organizations. Eligible applicants
Estimated Available Funds: practices in building charter school may also apply as a group or
$6,900,000. capacity through (1) the alignment of consortium.
Estimated Range of Awards: curriculum models with State content 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
$500,000–$1,500,000 per year. standards to enable all students to meet competition does not involve cost
Estimated Average Size of Awards: challenging expectations for improving sharing or matching.
$1,150,000 per year. student academic performance; (2) the
IV. Application and Submission
Estimated Number of Awards: 6. creation and dissemination of models
Information
Note: The Department is not bound by any for high-quality authorized public
estimates in this notice. chartering agencies; (3) the 1. Address to Request Application
improvement in the academic Package: Dean Kern, U.S. Department of
Project Period: Up to three years. performance of African-American Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Full Text of Announcement students, Hispanic students, students room 4W227, FB6, Washington, DC
with disabilities, English language 20202–5970. Telephone: (202) 260–1882
I. Funding Opportunity Description or by e-mail: dean.kern@ed.gov.
learners, or children from low-income
Purpose of Program: The purpose of families; (4) the recruitment, training, If you use a telecommunications
the CSP is to increase national ongoing professional development, and device for the deaf (TDD), you may call
understanding of the charter school retention of highly qualified teachers, the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–
model and to expand the number of including highly qualified mid-career 800–877–8339.
high-quality charter schools available to professionals and recent college Individuals with disabilities may
students across the Nation by providing graduates who have not majored in obtain a copy of the application package
financial assistance for the planning, education, as teachers in high-need in an alternative format (e.g., Braille,
program design, and initial charter schools as defined in section large print, audiotape, or computer
implementation of charter schools, and 2304(d)(3) of the ESEA; (5) the diskette) by contacting the program
to evaluate the effects of charter schools, dissemination of models and best contact person listed in this section.
including their effects on students, practices for chartering ‘‘restructured 2. Content and Form of Application
student academic achievement, staff, schools’’ under Title I, Part A of the Submission: Requirements concerning
and parents. Section 5205 of the ESEA; or (6) the identification and the content of an application, together
Elementary and Secondary Education replication of high-performing charter with the forms you must submit, are in
Act of 1965, as amended by the No schools in high-need communities as the application package for this
Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (ESEA) defined in section 2151(e)(9)(B) of the competition.
(20 U.S.C. 7221d), authorizes the ESEA. Page Limit: The application narrative
Secretary to award grants under the CSP Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7221– (Part III of the application) is where you,
to carry out national activities. 7221j. the applicant, address the selection
For FY 2006, the Department is Applicable Regulations: The criteria that reviewers use to evaluate
holding a grant competition for national Education Department General your application. The Secretary strongly
activities projects listed in section Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in encourages applicants to limit Part III to
5205(a) of the ESEA. Grants for national 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 80, 81, the equivalent of no more than 100
activities projects under the CSP are 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. pages, using the following standards:
highly competitive. Applicants should • A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side
make a well-reasoned and compelling Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom,
case for the national significance of the apply to all applicants except federally
and both sides.
recognized Indian tribes.
problems or issues that will be the • Double space (no more than three
subject of the proposed project and of Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 lines per vertical inch) all text in the
the approach the project would take to apply only to institutions of higher application narrative, including titles,
addressing those problems or issues. education. headings, footnotes, quotations,
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 94 / Tuesday, May 16, 2006 / Notices 28527
references, and captions, as well as all previous public or private school provided later in this section under
text in charts, tables, figures, and enrollment) of charter school students. Exception to Electronic Submission
graphs. (c) Technical Assistance and Requirement.
• Use a font that is either 12 point or Planning. Assisting States and charter You may access the electronic grant
larger or no smaller than 10 pitch school developers with all aspects of application for the Charter School
(characters per inch). planning, design, and implementing a Program at: http://www.grants.gov. You
The suggested page limit does not charter school. Some areas in which must search for the downloadable
apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, newly created charter schools face application package for this program by
the budget section, including the challenges include program design, the CFDA number. Do not include the
narrative budget justification; Part IV, curriculum development, defining the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your
the assurances and certifications; or the school’s mission, hiring staff, drafting search.
one-page abstract, the resumes, the charter applications, student Please note the following:
bibliography, or the letters of support. recruitment and admissions, public • When you enter the Grants.gov site,
However, you must include all of the relations and community involvement, you will find information about
application narrative in Part III. governance, acquiring equipment and submitting an application electronically
3. Submission Dates and Times: services, budget and finances, facilities, through the site, as well as the hours of
assessment and accountability, parental operation.
Applications Available: May 16, 2006.
involvement, serving students with • Applications received by Grants.gov
Deadline for Transmittal of are time and date stamped. Your
Applications: June 30, 2006. disabilities, and collaborating with other
entities to provide high-quality application must be fully uploaded and
Applications for grants under this submitted, and must be date/time
competition must be submitted instruction and services.
(d) Best or Promising Practices. stamped by the Grants.gov system no
electronically using the Grants.gov later than 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC
Disseminating information on best or
Apply site (Grants.gov). For information time, on the application deadline date.
promising practices in charter schools to
(including dates and times) about how Except as otherwise noted in this
other public schools, including charter
to submit your application section, we will not consider your
schools.
electronically or by mail or hand (e) Facilities. Collecting and application if it is date/time stamped by
delivery if you qualify for an exception disseminating information about the Grants.gov system later than 4:30
to the electronic submission programs and financial resources p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
requirement, please refer to section IV.6. available to charter schools for facilities, application deadline date. When we
Other Submission Requirements in including information about successful retrieve your application from
this notice. programs and how charter schools can Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are
We do not consider an application access private capital. rejecting your application because it
that does not comply with the deadline We reference regulations outlining was date/time stamped by the
requirements. We do not consider an additional funding restrictions in the Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m.,
application that does not address the Applicable Regulations section of this Washington, DC time, on the
application requirements, selection notice. application deadline date.
criteria, and other required information 6. Other Submission Requirements. • The amount of time it can take to
outlined in the application package. Applications for grants under this upload an application will vary
Deadline for Intergovernmental competition must be submitted depending on a variety of factors
Review: August 29, 2006. electronically unless you qualify for an including the size of the application and
4. Intergovernmental Review: This exception to this requirement in the speed of your Internet connection.
competition is subject to Executive accordance with the instructions in this Therefore, we strongly recommend that
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 section. you do not wait until the application
CFR part 79. Information about a. Electronic Submission of deadline date to begin the submission
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Applications. Applications for grants process through Grants.gov.
Programs under Executive Order 12372 under the Charter School Program, • You should review and follow the
is in the application package for this CFDA Number 84.282N must be Education Submission Procedures for
competition. submitted electronically using the submitting an application through
5. Funding Restrictions: An eligible Grants.gov Apply site at: http:// Grants.gov that are included in the
applicant receiving a grant under this www.grants.gov. Through this site, you application package for this program to
program may use the grant funds only will be able to download a copy of the ensure that you submit your application
for— application package, complete it offline, in a timely manner to the Grants.gov
(a) Access to Federal Funds. and then upload and submit your system. You can also find the Education
Disseminating information to charter application. You may not e-mail an Submission Procedures pertaining to
schools about Federal funds that they electronic copy of a grant application to Grants.gov at http://e-Grants.ed.gov/
are eligible to receive and Federal us. help/
programs in which they may be eligible We will reject your application if you GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
to participate and providing technical submit it in paper format unless, as • To submit your application via
assistance to charter schools in applying described elsewhere in this section, you Grants.gov, you must complete all of the
for Federal education funds that are qualify for one of the exceptions to the steps in the Grants.gov registration
allocated by formula. electronic submission requirement and process (see http://www.Grants.gov/
(b) Research. Conducting evaluations submit, no later than two weeks before GetStarted). These steps include (1)
or studies on various issues concerning the application deadline date, a written registering your organization, (2)
charter schools, such as student statement to the Department that you registering yourself as an Authorized
achievement, teacher qualifications and qualify for one of these exceptions. Organization Representative (AOR), and
retention, and the demographic makeup Further information regarding (3) getting authorized as an AOR by
(e.g., age, race, gender, disability, calculation of the date that is two weeks your organization. Details on these steps
limited English proficiency, and before the application deadline date is are outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step
Registration Guide (see http:// person listed elsewhere in this notice to the electronic submission
www.grants.gov/assets/ under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION requirement, you may mail (through the
GrantsgovCoBrandBrochure8x11.pdf). CONTACT, and provide an explanation of U.S. Postal Service or a commercial
You also must provide on your the technical problem you experienced carrier) your application to the
application the same D–U–N–S Number with Grants.gov, along with the Department. You must mail the original
used with this registration. Please note Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and two copies of your application, on
that the registration process may take (if available). We will accept your or before the application deadline date,
five or more business days to complete, application if we can confirm that a to the Department at the applicable
and you must have completed all technical problem occurred with the following address:
registration steps to allow you to Grants.gov system and that that problem By mail through the U.S. Postal
successfully submit an application via affected your ability to submit your Service: U.S. Department of Education,
Grants.gov. application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, Application Control Center, Attention:
• You will not receive additional DC time, on the application deadline CFDA Number 84.282N, 400 Maryland
point value because you submit your date. The Department will contact you Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202–
application in electronic format, nor after a determination is made on 4260; or
will we penalize you if you qualify for whether your application will be By mail through a commercial carrier:
an exception to the electronic accepted. U.S. Department of Education,
submission requirement, as described Application Control Center—Stop 4260,
Note: Extensions referred to in this section
elsewhere in this section, and submit apply only to the unavailability of or Attention: CFDA Number 84.282N, 7100
your application in paper format. technical problems with the Grants.gov Old Landover Road, Landover, MD
• You must submit all documents system. We will not grant you an extension 20785–1506.
electronically, including all information if you failed to fully register to submit your Regardless of which address you use,
typically included on the Application application to Grants.gov before the deadline you must show proof of mailing
for Federal Education Assistance (ED date and time or if the technical problem you consisting of one of the following:
424), Budget Information—Non- experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov
system.
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all postmark,
necessary assurances and certifications. Exception to Electronic Submission (2) A legible mail receipt with the
You must attach any narrative sections Requirement: You qualify for an date of mailing stamped by the U.S.
of your application as files in a .DOC exception to the electronic submission Postal Service,
(document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF requirement, and may submit your (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or
(Portable Document) format. If you application in paper format, if you are receipt from a commercial carrier, or
upload a file type other than the three unable to submit an application through (4) Any other proof of mailing
file types specified above or submit a the Grants.gov system because— acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S.
password protected file, we will not • You do not have access to the Department of Education.
review that material. Internet; or If you mail your application through
• Your electronic application must • You do not have the capacity to the U.S. Postal Service, we do not
comply with any page limit upload large documents to the accept either of the following as proof
requirements described in this notice. Grants.gov system; and of mailing:
• After you electronically submit • No later than two weeks before the (1) A private metered postmark, or
your application, you will receive an application deadline date (14 calendar (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by
automatic acknowledgment from days or, if the fourteenth calendar day the U.S. Postal Service.
Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov before the application deadline date If your application is postmarked after
tracking number. The Department will falls on a Federal holiday, the next the application deadline date, we will
retrieve your application from business day following the Federal not consider your application.
Grants.gov and send you a second holiday), you mail or fax a written
confirmation by e-mail that will include statement to the Department, explaining Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not
a PR/Award number (an ED-specified uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before
which of the two grounds for an
relying on this method, you should check
identifying number unique to your exception prevent you from using the with your local post office.
application). Internet to submit your application. If
• We may request that you provide us you mail your written statement to the c. Submission of Paper Applications
original signatures on forms at a later Department, it must be postmarked no by Hand Delivery. If you qualify for an
date. later than two weeks before the exception to the electronic submission
Application Deadline Date Extension application deadline date. If you fax requirement, you (or a courier service)
in Case of Technical Issues with the your written statement to the may deliver your paper application to
Grants.gov System: If you are prevented Department, we must receive the faxed the Department by hand. You must
from electronically submitting your statement no later than two weeks deliver the original and two copies of
application on the application deadline before the application deadline date. your application by hand, on or before
date because of technical problems with Address and mail or fax your the application deadline date, to the
the Grants.gov system, we will grant you statement to: Dean Kern, U.S. Department at the following address:
an extension until 4:30 p.m., Department of Education, 400 Maryland U.S. Department of Education,
Washington, DC time, the following Avenue, SW., room 4W227, FB6, Application Control Center, Attention:
business day to enable you to transmit Washington, DC 20202–5970. Fax: (202) CFDA Number 84.282N, 550 12th Street,
your application electronically, or by 205–5630. SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza,
hand delivery. You also may mail your Your paper application must be Washington, DC 20202–4260.
application by following the mailing submitted in accordance with the mail The Application Control Center
instructions as described elsewhere in or hand delivery instructions described accepts hand deliveries daily between
this notice. If you submit an application in this notice. 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC
after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on b. Submission of Paper Applications time, except Saturdays, Sundays and
the deadline date, please contact the by Mail. If you qualify for an exception Federal holidays.
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 94 / Tuesday, May 16, 2006 / Notices 28529
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of gender, age, or disability. In addition, Representative and U.S. Senators and
Paper Applications: If you mail or hand the Secretary considers the following send you a Grant Award Notification
deliver your application to the factors — (GAN). We may also notify you
Department: (a) The qualifications, including informally.
(1) You must indicate on the envelope relevant training and experience, of the If your application is not evaluated or
and—if not provided by the project director or principal not selected for funding, we notify you.
Department—in Item 4 of the investigator.
(b) The qualifications, including 2. Administrative and National Policy
Application for Federal Education
relevant training and experience of Requirements: We identify
Assistance (ED 424) the CFDA
project consultants or subcontractors. administrative and national policy
number—and suffix letter, if any—of the
(5) Quality of the management plan requirements in the application package
competition under which you are
(20 points). The Secretary considers the and reference these and other
submitting your application.
quality of the management plan for the requirements in the Applicable
(2) The Application Control Center
proposed project. In determining the Regulations section of this notice.
will mail a grant application receipt
acknowledgment to you. If you do not quality of the management plan for the We reference the regulations outlining
receive the grant application receipt proposed project, the Secretary the terms and conditions of an award in
acknowledgment within 15 business considers the adequacy of the the Applicable Regulations section of
days from the application deadline date, management plan to achieve the this notice and include these and other
you should call the U.S. Department of objectives of the proposed project on specific conditions in the GAN. The
Education Application Control Center at time and within budget, including GAN also incorporates your approved
(202) 245–6288. clearly defined responsibilities, application as part of your binding
timelines, and milestones for commitments under the grant.
V. Application Review Information accomplishing project tasks. 3. Reporting: At the end of your
Selection Criteria. The selection (6) Quality of the project evaluation project period, you must submit a final
criteria for this competition are in 34 (30 points). The Secretary considers the performance report, including financial
CFR 75.210 and are as follows. quality of the evaluation to be information, as directed by the
In evaluating an application, the conducted of the proposed project. In Secretary. If you receive a multi-year
Secretary considers the following determining the quality of the award, you must submit an annual
criteria: evaluation, the Secretary considers the performance report that provides the
(1) Need for project (10 points). The extent to which the methods of most current performance and financial
Secretary considers the need for the evaluation include the use of objective expenditure information as specified by
proposed project. In determining the performance measures that are clearly the Secretary in 34 CFR 75.118. For
need for the proposed project, the related to the intended outcomes of the specific requirements on grantee
Secretary considers the extent to which project and will produce quantitative reporting, please go to the ED
the proposed project will provide and qualitative data to the extent Performance Report Form 524B at
services or otherwise address the needs possible. http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/
of students at risk of educational failure. Note: A strong evaluation plan should be appforms/appforms.html.
(2) Significance (10 points). The included in the application narrative and 4. Performance Measures: The goal of
Secretary considers the significance of should be used, as appropriate, to shape the the CSP is to support the creation and
the proposed project. In determining the development of the project from the development of a large number of high-
significance of the proposed project, the beginning of the grant period. The plan
quality charter schools that are free from
Secretary considers— should include benchmarks to monitor
(a) The national significance of the progress toward specific project objectives State or local rules that inhibit flexible
proposed project. and also outcome measures to assess the operation, are held accountable for
(b) The extent to which the proposed impact on teaching and learning or other enabling students to reach challenging
project is likely to build local capacity important outcomes for project participants. State performance standards, and are
to provide, improve, or expand services More specifically, the plan should identify open to all students. The Secretary has
the individual and/or organization that has set three performance measures to
that address the needs of the target agreed to serve as evaluator for the project
population. measure progress toward this goal: (1)
and describe the qualifications of that The number of States, including the
(3) Quality of the project design (20 evaluator. The plan should describe the
points). The Secretary considers the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico,
evaluation design, indicating: (1) What types
quality of the design of the proposed of data will be collected; (2) when various with charter school laws, (2) the number
project. In determining the quality of the types of data will be collected; (3) what of charter schools in operation around
design of the proposed project, the methods will be used; (4) what instruments the Nation, and (3) the percentage of
Secretary considers the extent to which will be developed and when; (5) how the charter school students who are
the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be data will be analyzed; (6) when reports of achieving at or above the proficient
achieved by the proposed project are results and outcomes will be available; and level on State examinations in
(7) how the applicant will use the mathematics and reading. Additionally,
clearly specified and measurable. information collected through the evaluation
(4) Quality of project personnel (10 the Secretary has established the
to monitor progress of the funded project and
points). The Secretary considers the following measure to examine the
to provide accountability information both
quality of the personnel who will carry about success at the initial site and effective efficiency of the CSP: Federal cost per
out the proposed project. In determining strategies for replication in other settings. student in implementing a successful
the quality of the project personnel, the Applicants are encouraged to devote an school (defined as a school in operation
Secretary considers the extent to which appropriate level of resources to project for three or more years).
the applicant encourages applications evaluation. All grantees will be expected to

for employment from persons who are submit an annual performance report
members of groups that have VI. Award Administration Information documenting their contribution in
traditionally been underrepresented 1. Award Notices: If your application assisting the Department in meeting
based on race, color, national origin, is successful, we will notify your U.S. these performance measures.
VII. Agency Contact request to the program contact person 888–293–6498; or in the Washington,
listed in this section. DC, area at (202) 512–1530.
For Further Information Contact:
Dean Kern, U.S. Department of VIII. Other Information Note: The official version of this document
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Electronic Access to This Document: is the document published in the Federal
You may view this document, as well as Register. Free Internet access to the official
room 4W227, FB6, Washington, DC
edition of the Federal Register and the Code
20202–5961. Telephone: (202) 260–1882 all other documents of this Department
of Federal Regulations is available on GPO
or by e-mail: dean.kern@ed.gov. published in the Federal Register, in
Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/
If you use a telecommunications text or Adobe Portable Document
index.html.
Format (PDF) on the Internet at the
device for the deaf (TDD), you may call
following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/ Dated: May 11, 2006.
the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–
fedregister.
800–877–8339. To use PDF you must have Adobe Christopher J. Doherty,
Individuals with disabilities may Acrobat Reader, which is available free Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary for
obtain this document in an alternative at this site. If you have questions about Innovation and Improvement.
format (e.g., Braille, large print, using PDF, call the U.S. Government [FR Doc. 06–4575 Filed 5–15–06; 8:45 am]
audiotape, or computer diskette) on Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1– BILLING CODE 4000–01–P

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the applicant encourages applications evaluation. All grantees will be expected to

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