01-9293. Bilingual Education: Comprehensive School Grants; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001

Note to Applicants:

This notice is a complete application package. Together with the statute authorizing the program and the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), this notice contains all of the information, application forms, and instructions needed to apply for an award under this program. The statutory authorization for this program, and the application requirements that apply to this competition, are contained in sections 7114 and 7116 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-382, enacted October 20, 1994 (the Act) (20 U.S.C. 7424 and 7426)).

Purpose of Program: This program provides grants to implement schoolwide bilingual education programs or schoolwide special alternative instruction programs for reforming, restructuring, and upgrading all relevant programs and operations, within an individual school, that serve all or virtually all limited English proficient (LEP) children and youth in one or more schools with significant concentrations of these children and youth.

Eligible Applicants: (a) One or more local educational agencies (LEAs); or (b) one or more LEAs in collaboration with an institution of higher education, community-based organizations, other LEAs, or a State educational agency.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 15, 2001.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 14, 2001.

Available Funds: $8 million.

Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000-$300,000.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $250,000.

Estimated Number of Awards: 32.

Note:

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

Project Period: 60 months.

Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit the application narrative to the equivalent of no more than 50 pages, using the following standards:

• A page is 81/2″ by 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).

The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, the budget section, including the budget justification and the cost itemization; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the table of contents or the one-page abstract. However, you must include all of the application narrative in Part III.

If, to meet the page limit, you use more than one side of the page, you use a larger page, or you use a print size, spacing, or margins smaller than the standards in this notice, we will reject your application.

Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, 86, and 99. (b) The regulations in 34 CFR part 299.

Description of Program: Funds under this program are to be used to reform, restructure, and upgrade all relevant operations and programs, within a school, that serve LEP children and youth. Before carrying out a project assisted under this program, a grantee will plan, train personnel, develop curriculum, and acquire or develop materials. In addition, grantees are authorized, under this program, to improve the education of LEP children and youth and their families by implementing family education programs, improving the instructional program for LEP children, compensating personnel who have been trained—or are being trained—to serve LEP children and youth, providing tutorials and academic or career counseling for LEP children and youth, and providing intensified instruction.

Priorities

Absolute Priority: The priority in the notice of final priority for this program, as published in the Federal Register on October 30, 1995 (60 FR 55245) and repeated immediately below, applies to this competition.

Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and section 7114(a) of the Act, the Secretary gives an absolute preference to applications that meet the following priority. The Secretary funds under this competition only applications that meet this absolute priority:

Projects that serve only schools in which the number of LEP students, in each school served, equals at least 25 percent of the total student enrollment.

Competitive Priority: Within the absolute priority specified in this notice, the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii) and 34 CFR 299.3(b) gives preference to applications that meet the following competitive priority. An application that meets this competitive priority is selected by the Secretary over applications of comparable merit that do not meet the priority:

Projects that will contribute to systemic educational reform in an Empowerment Zone or an Enterprise Community designated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development or the United States Department of Agriculture, and are made an integral part of the Zone's or Community's comprehensive community revitalization strategies.

A list of areas that have been designated as Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities is provided at the end of this notice and is also available on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ezec.gov.

Invitational Priorities: Within the absolute priority specified in this notice, the Secretary is particularly interested in applications that meet one or more of the following invitational priorities. However, under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) an application that meets one or more of these invitational priorities does not receive competitive or absolute preference over other applications.

Invitational Priority 1—Reading

Projects that focus on reforming, restructuring, and upgrading reading instruction to assist limited English proficient students to read independently and well by the end of third grade.

Invitational Priority 2—Mathematics

Projects that focus on reforming, restructuring, and upgrading mathematics instruction to assist limited English proficient students to master challenging mathematics, including the foundations of algebra and geometry, by the end of eighth grade.

Invitational Priority 3—Preparation for Postsecondary Education

Projects that focus on motivating and academically preparing limited English proficient students for successful participation in college and other postsecondary education.

Invitational Priority 4—Professional Development

Applicants that consider the U.S. Department of Education Professional Development Principles in planning and designing a Comprehensive School Grant project.

Those principles call for educator professional development that focuses on teachers as central to student learning, yet includes all other members of the school community; focuses on individual, collegial, and organizational improvement; respects and nurtures the intellectual and leadership capacity of teachers, principals, and others in the school community; reflects best available research and practice in teaching, learning, and leadership; enables teachers to develop further expertise in subject content, teaching strategies, uses of technologies, and other essential elements in teaching to high standards; promotes continuous inquiry and improvement embedded in the daily life of schools; is planned collaboratively by those who will participate in and facilitate that development; requires substantial time and other resources; is driven by a coherent long-term plan; is evaluated ultimately on the basis of its impact on teacher effectiveness and student learning; and uses this assessment to guide subsequent professional development efforts.

Selection Criteria

(a)(1) The Secretary uses the following selection criteria in 34 CFR 75.210 and sections 7114, 7116, and 7123 of the Act to evaluate applications for new grants under this competition.

(2) The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points.

(3) The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses.

(b) The criteria—(1) Meeting the purposes of the authorizing statute. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine how well the proposed project will implement schoolwide bilingual education programs or schoolwide special alternative instruction programs for reforming, restructuring, and upgrading all relevant programs and operations, within an individual school, that serve all (or virtually all) children and youth of limited English proficiency in schools with significant concentrations of those children and youth.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7424(a))

(2) Need for the project. (10 points) The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(i) The number of children and youth of limited English proficiency in the school or school district to be served, and

(ii) The characteristics of those children and youth, such as—

(A) Language spoken;

(B) Dropout rates;

(C) Proficiency in English and the native language;

(D) Academic standing in relation to the English proficient peers of those children and youth; and

(E) If applicable, the recency of immigration.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7426(g)(1)(A))

(3) Quality of the project design. (15 points) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.

(ii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target population or other identified needs.

(iii) The extent to which the proposed project is part of a comprehensive effort to improve teaching and learning and support rigorous academic standards for students. (Authority: 34 CFR 75.210(c)(2)(i), (ii), and (xviii))

(4) Project activities. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine—

(i) How well the proposed project will improve the education of limited English proficient students and their families by carrying out some or all of the following authorized activities:

(A) Implementing family education programs and parent outreach and training activities designed to assist parents to become active participants in the education of their children.

(B) Improving the instructional program for limited English proficient students by identifying, acquiring, and upgrading curriculum, instructional materials, educational software, and assessment procedures, and, if appropriate, applying educational technology.

(C) Compensating personnel, including teacher aides who have been specifically trained, or are being trained, to provide services to children and youth of limited English proficiency.

(D) Providing training for personnel participating in or preparing to participate in the program that will assist that personnel in meeting State and local certification requirements and, to the extent possible, obtaining college or university credit.

(E) Providing tutorials and academic or career counseling for children and youth of limited English proficiency.

(F) Providing intensified instruction.

(ii) The degree to which the program for which assistance is sought involves the collaborative efforts of institutions of higher education, community-based organizations, and the appropriate local and State educational agency or businesses; and

(iii) How well the proposed project provides for utilization of the State and national dissemination sources for program design and in dissemination of results and products. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7424(b)(3); 7426(h)(6) and (i)(4)-(5))

(5) Quality of the management plan. (10 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:

(i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project tasks.

(ii) The extent to which the time commitments of the project director and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed project. (Authority: 34 CFR 75.210(g)(1) and (2)(i) and (iv))

(6) Quality of project personnel. (5 points) (i) The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project.

(ii) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability.

(iii) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(A) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of the project director.

(B) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of key project personnel. (Authority: 34 CFR 75.210(e)(1)-(3)(i) and (ii))

(7) Language skills of personnel. (3 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine how well the proposed project meets the following requirements:

(i) The program will use qualified personnel, including personnel who are proficient in the language or languages used for instruction.

(ii) The applicant will employ teachers in the proposed program who, individually or in combination, are proficient in English, including written, as well as oral, communication skills. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7426(g)(1)(E) and (h)(1))

(8) Adequacy of resources. (4 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 the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the proposed project.

(ii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.

(Authority: 34 CFR 75.210(f)(1) and (2)(iii)-(iv))

(9) Integration of project funds. (3 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine how well funds received under this program will be integrated with all other Federal, State, local, and private resources that may be used to serve children and youth of limited English proficiency.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7426(g)(2)(A)(iii))

(10) Evaluation plan. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine how well the proposed project's evaluation will meet the following requirements:

(i) Student evaluation and assessment procedures must be valid, reliable, and fair for limited English proficient students.

(ii) The evaluation must include—

(A) How students are achieving the State student performance standards, if any, including data comparing children and youth of limited English proficiency with nonlimited English proficient children and youth with regard to school retention, academic achievement, and gains in English (and, if applicable, native language) proficiency;

(B) Program implementation indicators that provide information for informing and improving program management and effectiveness, including data on appropriateness of curriculum in relationship to grade and course requirements, appropriateness of program management, appropriateness of the program's staff professional development, and appropriateness of the language of instruction; and

(C) Program context indicators that describe the relationship of the activities funded under the grant to the overall school program and other Federal, State, or local programs serving children and youth of limited English proficiency.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7426(h)(3) and 7433(c)(1)-(3))

(11) Commitment and capacity building. (5 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine how well the proposed project meets the following requirements:

(i) The proposed project must contribute toward building the capacity of the applicant to provide a program on a regular basis, similar to that proposed for assistance, that will be of sufficient size, scope, and quality to promise significant improvement in the education of students of limited English proficiency.

(ii) The applicant will have the resources and commitment to continue the program when assistance under this program is reduced or no longer available.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7426(h)(5))

Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs

This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs) and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.

One of the objectives of the Executive order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism. The Executive order relies on processes developed by State and local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance.

If you are an applicant, you must contact the appropriate State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to find out about, and to comply with, the State's process under Executive order 12372. If you propose to perform activities in more than one State, you should immediately contact the SPOC for each of those States and follow the procedure established in each State under the Executive order. If you want to know the name and address of any SPOC, see the list in the appendix to this application notice; or you may view the latest official SPOC list on the Web site of the Office of Management and Budget at the following address: http://www.whitehouse.gov/​omb/​grants.

In States that have not established a process or chosen a program for review, State, areawide, regional, and local entities may submit comments directly to the Department.

Any State Process Recommendation and other comments submitted by a SPOC and any comments from State, areawide, regional, and local entities must be mailed or hand-delivered by the date indicated in this application notice to the following address: The Secretary, E.O. 12372—CFDA# 84.290U, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 7E200, Washington, DC 20202-0125.

We will determine proof of mailing under 34 CFR 75.102 (Deadline date for applications). Recommendations or comments may be hand-delivered until 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) on the date indicated in this notice.

Please note that the above address is not the same address as the one to which an applicant submits its completed application. do not send applications to the above address.

Instructions for Transmittal of Applications

Note:

Some of the procedures in these instructions for transmitting applications differ from those in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) (34 CFR 75.102). Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to comment on proposed regulations. However, these amendments make procedural changes only and do not establish new substantive policy. Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), the Secretary has determined that proposed rulemaking is not required.

Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications

The U.S. Department of Education is expanding its pilot project of electronic submission of applications to include certain formula grant programs, as well as additional discretionary grant competitions. The Bilingual Education Comprehensive School Grants Program (CFDA No. 84.290U) is one of the programs included in the pilot project. If you are an applicant under the Bilingual Education Comprehensive School Grants Program, you may submit your application to us in either electronic or paper format.

The pilot project involves the use of the Electronic Grant Application System (e-APPLICATION, formerly e-GAPS) portion of the Grant Administration and Payment System (GAPS). We request your participation in this pilot project. We shall continue to evaluate its success and solicit suggestions for improvement.

If you participate in this e-APPLICATION pilot, please note the following:

• Your participation is voluntary.
• You will not receive any additional point value or penalty because you submit a grant application in electronic or paper format.
• You can submit all documents electronically, including the Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications.
• Fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424) after following these steps:

1. Print ED 424 from the e-APPLICATION system.

2. Make sure that the institution's Authorizing Representative signs this form.

3. Before faxing this form, submit your electronic application via the e-APPLICATION system. You will receive an automatic acknowledgement, which will include a PR/Award number (an identifying number unique to your application).

4. Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of ED 424.

5. Fax ED 424 to the Application Control Center within three working days of submitting your electronic application. We will indicate a fax number in e-APPLICATION at the time of your submission.

• We may request that you give us original signatures on all other forms at a later date.

You may access the electronic grant application for the Bilingual Education Comprehensive School Grants Program at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

We have included additional information about the e-APPLICATION pilot project (see Parity Guidelines between Paper and Electronic Applications) elsewhere in this notice.

If you want to apply for a grant and be considered for funding, you must meet the following deadline requirements.

(A) If You Send Your Application by Mail

You must mail the original and two copies of the application on or before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: CFDA No. 84.290U, Washington, DC 20202-4725.

You must show one of the following as proof of mailing:

(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.

If you mail an 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.

(B) If You Deliver Your Application by Hand

You or your courier must hand-deliver the original and two copies of the application by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) on or before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: CFDA No. 84.290U, Room 3633, Regional Office Building 3, 7th and D Streets, SW., Washington, DC.

The Application Control Center accepts application deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time), except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. The Center accepts application deliveries through the D Street entrance only. A person delivering an application must show identification to enter the building.

(C) If You Submit Your Application Electronically

You must submit your grant application through the Internet using the software provided on the e-Grants Web site (http://e-grants.ed.gov) by 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) on the deadline date.

The regular hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site are 6:00 a.m. until 12:00 midnight (Washington, DC time) Monday—Friday and 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Saturdays. The system is unavailable on the second Saturday of every month, Sundays, and Federal holidays. Please note that on Wednesdays the Web site is closed for maintenance at 7:00 p.m. (Washington, DC time).

Notes:

(1) 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.

(2) If you send your application by mail or deliver it by hand or by a courier service, the Application Control Center will mail a Grant Application Receipt Acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the notification of application receipt within 15 days from the date of mailing the application, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at [phone].

(3) You must indicate on the envelope and—if not provided by the Department—in Item 4 of the Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424; revised November 12, 1999) the CFDA number—and suffix letter, if any—of the competition under which you are submitting your application.

(4) If you submit your application through the Internet via the e-Grants Web site, you will receive an automatic acknowledgment when we receive your application.

Application Instructions and Forms

The appendix to this application notice contains the following forms and instructions, including a statement regarding estimated public reporting burden, a checklist for applicants, a notice to applicants regarding compliance with section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), and various assurances, certifications, and required documentation:

a. Estimated Burden Statement.

b. Application Instructions.

c. Checklist for Applicants.

d. Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424) and Instructions.

e. Group Application Certification.

f. Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs (ED 524) and Instructions.

g. Student Data.

h. Project Documentation.

i. Program Assurances.

j. Assurances—Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B) and Instructions.

k. Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED 80-0013) and Instructions.

l. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion—Lower Tier Covered Transactions (ED 80-0014) and Instructions.

m. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL) and Instructions.

n. Notice to All Applicants (GEPA Requirement) (OMB No. 1801-0004).

o. List of Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities.

p. List of State Single Points of Contact.

An applicant may submit information on a photostatic copy of the application forms, assurances, and certifications. However, if an application is submitted in conventional paper form, one copy of the application forms, assurances, and certifications must have an original signature.

All applicants submitting their applications in conventional paper form must submit ONE original signed application, including ink signatures on all forms and assurances, and TWO copies of the application. Please mark each application as original or copy. No grant may be awarded unless a complete application has been received.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Margarita Ackley, Lorena Dickerson, or Jessica Knight, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 5086, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-6510. Telephone: Margarita Ackley [phone], Lorena Dickerson [phone], Jessica Knight [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail].

Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Washington, DC time), Monday through Friday.

Individuals with disabilities may obtain this notice in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to one of the contact persons listed above. Please note, however, that the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternative format the standard forms included in the notice.

Electronic Access to This Document

You may view this document, as well as all other Department of Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/​legislation/​FedRegister.

To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the preceding site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498 or in the Washington, DC area at [phone].

Note:

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 on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/​nara/​index.html.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7424.

Dated: April 10, 2001.

Art Love,

Acting Director, Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs.

Appendix—Estimated Burden Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is OMB No. 1885-0535 (Exp. 12/31/2001). The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 120 hours per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate or suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202-4651.

If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 5086, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-6510.

Application Instructions

Parity Guidelines Between Paper and Electronic Applications

The Department of Education is expanding the pilot project, which began in FY 2000, that allows applicants to use an Internet-based electronic system for submitting applications. This competition is among those that have an electronic submission option available to all applicants. The system, called e-APPLICATION, formerly e-GAPS (Electronic Grant Application Package System), allows an applicant to submit a grant application to us electronically, using a current version of the applicant's Internet browser. To see e-APPLICATION visit the following address: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

In an effort to ensure parity and a similar look between applications transmitted electronically and applications submitted in conventional paper form, e-APPLICATION has an impact on all applicants under this competition.

Users of e-APPLICATION, a data driven system, will be entering data on-line while completing their applications. This will be more interactive than just e-mailing a soft copy of a grant application to us. If you participate in this voluntary pilot project by submitting an application electronically, the data you enter on-line will go into a database and ultimately will be accessible in electronic form to our reviewers.

This pilot project is another step in the Department's transition to an electronic grant award process. In addition to e-APPLICATION, the Department is conducting a limited pilot of electronic peer review (e-READER) and electronic annual performance reporting (e-REPORTS).

To help ensure parity and a similar look between electronic and paper copies of grant applications, we are asking each applicant that submits a paper application to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Submit your application on 81/2″ by 11″ paper.
• Leave a 1-inch margin on all sides.
• Use consistent font throughout your document. You may also use boldface type, underlining, and italics. However, please do not use colored text.
• Please use black and white, also, for illustrations, including charts, tables, graphs, and pictures.
• For the narrative component, your application should consist of the number and the heading of each selection criterion followed by the narrative. The heading of the selection criterion, if included, does not count against any page limitation.
• Place a page number at the bottom right of each page of the narrative component, beginning with 1; and number your pages consecutively throughout the narrative component.

Abstract

The narrative component should be preceded by a one-page abstract that includes a short description of the population to be served by the project, project objectives, and planned project activities.

Selection Criteria

The narrative should address fully all aspects of the selection criteria in the order listed and should give detailed information regarding each criterion. Do not simply paraphrase the criteria. Do not include resumes or curriculum vitae for project personnel; provide position descriptions instead. Do not include bibliographies, letters of support, or appendices in your application.

GPRA Program Performance Indicators

The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 directs Federal agencies to improve the effectiveness of their programs by setting outcome-related goals for programs and measuring program results against those goals. One of the steps taken by the U.S. Department of Education to implement this Act is to ask its grantees to report annually their progress toward meeting the objectives of their projects in relation to the GPRA program performance indicators. Therefore applicants for new grants should ensure that the project goals and objectives they propose in the narrative component of their applications include outcome-oriented performance goals and objectives that are measurable and reportable in relation to the GPRA performance indicators for the particular program under which they are seeking Federal assistance.

Applicants under the Bilingual Education Comprehensive School Grants Program should, in devising project goals and objectives, take into account the following GPRA performance indicators:

• English proficiency: Students in the project will annually demonstrate continuous and educationally significant progress on oral and written English proficiency measures. Target: 75 percent of project students will make gains in oral and written English proficiency.
• Other academic achievement: Students in the project will annually demonstrate continuous and educationally significant progress on appropriate academic achievement measures of language arts, reading, and mathematics. Target: 75 percent of project students will make gains in academic achievement in language arts, reading, and mathematics.
• Students exiting programs: Students in Title VII projects who have received bilingual education/ESL services continuously since first grade will exit those projects in three years. This GPRA program performance indicator applies to students in transitional bilingual education projects or special alternative instruction projects. The indicator also applies to students in dual language education projects to the extent that those projects must assist the participating students to become proficient in English, but the participating students do not need to exit the projects in three years.
• Teacher training: The number of teachers in Title VII Comprehensive School projects who receive quality professional development in the instruction of limited English proficient students will increase each year by 20 percent.

Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community Priority

Applicants that wish to be considered under the competitive priority for Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities, as specified in a previous section of this notice, should identify in Section D of the Project Documentation Form the applicable Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community. The application narrative should describe the extent to which the proposed project will contribute to systemic educational reform in the particular Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community and be an integral part of the Zone's or Community's comprehensive revitalization strategies. A list of areas that have been designated as Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities is provided at the end of this notice and is also available on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ezec.gov.

Table of Contents

The application should include a table of contents listing the various parts of the narrative in the order of the selection criteria. The table should include the page numbers where the parts of the narrative are found.

Budget

A separate budget summary and cost itemization must be provided on the Budget Information Form (ED 524) and in the itemized budget for each project year. Budget line items should be directly related to the activities that are proposed to achieve the goals and objectives of the project.

Submission of Application to State Educational Agency

Section 7116(a)(2) of the authorizing statute (Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994, Pub. L. 103-382) requires all applicants except schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to submit a copy of their application to their State educational agency (SEA) for review and comment (20 U.S.C. 7426(a)(2)). This requirement applies both to applicants that submit their application to the U.S. Department of Education electronically and to applicants that submit their application in conventional paper form. Section 75.156 of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) requires applicants to submit their application to the SEA on or before the deadline date for submitting the application to the U.S. Department of Education. This section of EDGAR also requires applicants to attach to the application they submit to the U.S. Department of Education a copy of their letter that requests the SEA to comment on the application (34 CFR 75.156). This letter should be attached to the Project Documentation Form contained in this application package. APPLICANTS THAT DO NOT SUBMIT A COPY OF THEIR APPLICATION TO THEIR STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE STATUTORY AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING.

Continued Eligibility of Current or Prior Grantees for New Grants

Please note that the authorizing statute for the Comprehensive School Program provides that entities that have received Title VII grants are eligible for funding under this competition only if their new applications propose activities that do not duplicate activities currently or previously funded by a Title VII grant.

Final Application Preparation

Use the Checklist for Applicants provided below to verify that your application is complete. If you submit your application in conventional paper form, provide three copies of the application, including one copy with an original signature on each form that requires the signature of the authorized representative. Do not use elaborate bindings, notebooks, or covers. If you mail your application, the application must be postmarked by the deadline date.

Checklist for Applicants

Application Forms and Other Items

1. Application for Federal Education Assistance Form (ED 424).

2. Group Application Certification Form (if applicable).

3. Budget Information Form (ED 524).

4. Itemized budget for each project year.

5. Student Data Form.

6. Project Documentation Form, including:

Section A—Copy of transmittal letter to SEA (if applicable);

Section B—Documentation of consultation with nonprofit private school officials (if applicable);

Section C—Appropriate box checked;

Section D—Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community identified (if applicable).

7. Program Assurances Form.

8. Assurances—Non-Construction Programs Form (SF 424B).

9. Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements Form (ED 80-0013).

10. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion—Lower Tier Covered Transactions Form (ED 80-0014) (if applicable).

11. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Form (SF LLL).

12. Notice to All Applicants (GEPA Requirement) (OMB No. 1801-0004).

13. One-page abstract.

14. Table of contents.

15. Application narrative (subject to page limit specifications).

Application Transmittal

1. By mail or hand delivery: one original and two copies of the application to the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center; or by electronic transmission: software provided on the e-Grants Web site.

2. One copy to the appropriate State Educational Agency (if applicable).

3. One copy to the appropriate State Single Point of Contact (if applicable).