Comp Centers App

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

School Support and Rural Programs

Washington, D.C.

Fiscal Year 201X

Application for New Grants Under the Comprehensive Centers Program

CFDA 84.283B

Dated Material - Open Immediately

Closing Date:      

Approved OMB Number: 1810-0709

Expiration Date:      

Paperwork Burden Statement

According to the Paperwork reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is: 1810-0709. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 176 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(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4651.

If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Fran Walter, Comprehensive Centers Program, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 3W115, Washington D.C. 20202-6200.

United States Department of Education

O ffice of Elementary and Secondary Education

School support and rural programs

Letter

Dear Colleague:

Thank you for your interest in the Comprehensive Centers program, administered by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education (Department). The Comprehensive Centers Program is a discretionary grant program authorized under Title II, section 203 of the Educational Technical Assistance Act (ETAA) of 2002.

The ETAA authorizes support for no fewer than 20 Comprehensive Centers to provide training, technical assistance, and professional development to State educational agencies, local educational agencies, regional educational agencies, and schools in the administration and implementation of programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Under section 203(a)(2) of the ETAA, the Department is required to establish at least one center in each of the 10 geographic regions served by the Department’s Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs). Eligible applicants for the Comprehensive Centers program include research organizations, institutions, agencies, institutions of higher education, or partnerships among such entities, or individuals, with the demonstrated ability or capacity to carry out this training, technical assistance, and professional development.

Please take the time to thoroughly review the applicable priorities, requirements, and selection criteria, as well as the application instructions. We cannot evaluate an application that does not comply with all of the procedural rules that govern the submission of an application or contain the information required under the program (EDGAR §75.216 (b) and (c)).

For this competition it is mandatory for applicants to use the government-wide website, Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov), to apply. We strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with Grants.gov and strongly recommend that you register and submit early. Also be aware that applications submitted to Grants.gov for the Department of Education will now be posted using Adobe forms. Therefore, applicants will need to download the latest version of Adobe reader (at least Adobe Reader 8.1.2). Please review the Submitting Applications with Adobe Reader Software and Education Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants forms found within this package for further information and guidance related to this requirement.

Using FY 2012 funds, the Department plans to award new, discretionary grants for 15 Regional Centers and seven Content Centers under this competition. The grants will be awarded on a competitive basis for a project period of up to 60 months. We expect to award grants in September 2012.

Please visit our program website at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/newccp/index.html for more information about the Comprehensive Centers program. If you have any questions after reviewing the application package, please contact Fran Walter by telephone at (202) 205-9198 or by e-mail at fran.walter@ed.gov.

Jenelle V. Leonard

Director

School Support and Rural Programs

Program Background Information

Program Overview

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), holds States accountable for closing achievement gaps and ensuring that all children, regardless of race, ethnicity, family income, English language proficiency, or disability, receive a high-quality education and meet challenging State academic standards.

The Educational Technical Assistance Act (ETAA) of 2002 authorizes support for no fewer than 20 Comprehensive Centers to provide training, technical assistance, and professional development to State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), regional educational agencies, and schools to support the administration and implementation of ESEA programs. Under section 203(a)(2) of the ETAA, the Department is required to establish at least one center in each of the 10 geographic regions served by the Department’s Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs).

The Comprehensive Centers will provide technical assistance at a time when States, districts, and schools are moving forward with innovative approaches to significantly improve student outcomes and are implementing college- and career-ready standards and assessments; next-generation accountability systems that focus on turning around the lowest-performing schools and closing achievement gaps; and human capital management systems that support effective teachers and leaders.

The Department believes that the best way to support these State-led reforms, consistent with the requirements of both the ESEA and the ETAA, is to focus the Comprehensive Centers funded under this program on building SEA capacity. In particular, we believe the centers must focus on helping SEAs (1) create sustainable organizational structures and performance management systems that support key initiatives and help them set priorities for using their resources, (2) increase their ability to use those structures and systems to ensure that districts and schools are provided with high-quality services and supports, (3) support the implementation and scaling up of innovative and effective strategies in districts and schools, (4) identify and implement a continuum of supports and interventions to address the specific and varying needs of districts and schools, and (5) ensure the sustainability of State-led reforms.

Regional and Content Centers

This Comprehensive Centers competition encompasses both Regional Centers and Content Centers. Fifteen Regional Centers will provide a direct link to SEAs and respond to their needs by providing relevant technical assistance and expert advice that helps them implement, support, scale up, and sustain statewide reforms. Regional Centers are expected to have a broad understanding of the context and status of education reform in each of the States they serve and to maintain a regular and highly visible presence in the region. A list of the Regional Centers and the States they serve can be found in the notice inviting applications in this package.

Seven Content Centers -- (1) the Center on Standards and Assessments Implementation, (2) the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders, (3) the Center on School Turnaround, (4) the Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes, (5) the Center on College and Career Readiness and Success, (6) the Center on Building State Capacity and Productivity, and (7) the Center on Innovations in Learning -- will increase the depth of knowledge and expertise available to Regional Centers and SEAs in these key topic areas. They will complement the work of the Regional Centers by providing information, publications, tools, and specialized technical assistance based on research-based practices, as well as emerging promising-practices.

The Comprehensive Centers program represents a significant investment in technical assistance to SEAs. The Department is committed to supporting SEAs, districts, and schools as they work to implement their own reform priorities in the context of Federal program requirements.

Priorities

This competition contains two sets of absolute priorities: an Absolute Priority for Regional Centers (priority one in the notice of final priorities and notice inviting applications in this applications package) and Absolute Priorities for Content Centers (priorities two through eight in the notice of final priorities and notice inviting applications in this application package). For Regional Center awards, we will consider only applications that meet the Absolute Priority for Regional Centers. For Content Center awards we consider only applications that meet one of the Absolute Priorities for Content Centers (i.e., priorities 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8).

This competition also contains one invitational priority. We do not give an application that meets this invitational priority any competitive or absolute preference over an application that does not. The invitational priority is Cost-Sharing or Matching. The Secretary is particularly interested in applications that provide evidence in the application of a commitment from a partner or partners from one or more entities or organizations in the public or private sector, which may include philanthropic organizations, or non-Federal funds or an in-kind match, or both that totals at least 15 percent of the total grant budget. More information about this invitational priority can be found in the notice of final priorities and the notice inviting applications in this application package.

Requirements

This competition also identifies requirements that must be addressed by applicants. These include (1) requirements for all centers, (2) requirements for all Regional Centers, (3) requirements for all Content Centers, (4) requirements unique to each of the seven Content Centers, and (5) application requirements. The full text of these requirements can be found in the Notice of Final Priorities in this application package.

Note: If an applicant wants to apply for funding for more than one center, it must submit separate applications for each proposed center.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants for the Comprehensive Centers program include research organizations, institutions, agencies, institutions of higher education, or partnerships among such entities, or individuals, with the demonstrated ability or capacity to address the priorities and meet the requirements identified for this competition.

Notice of Intent to Apply

The Department will be able to develop a more efficient process for reviewing grant applications by understanding the number of applications that are likely to be received. Therefore, it strongly encouraged that each potential applicant to send an e-mail notice of its intent to apply for funding to the following address: OESE.compcenters@ed.gov. The notice of intent to apply is optional and should not include information about the potential applicant’s proposal. Applicants that do not provide us with the notice of intent to apply may still submit an application.

Technical Assistance Briefings for Prospective Applicants

The Department will conduct briefings on this competition via conference calls to clarify the purposes of the program and the selection criteria and process. Calls related to the Regional Centers competition will be held on [10 days and 15 days after NIA is published], and calls related to the Content Center competition will be held on [12 days and 17 days after NIA is published]. Please email Fran Walter at fran.walter@ed.gov to register for a call date and time and to obtain the conference call number.

Program Statute

Comprehensive Centers Program is a discretionary grant program authorized under Section 203 of the Education Technical Assistance Act of 2002.

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ‘‘Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002’’.

SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS.

In this title:

(1) IN GENERAL.—The terms ‘‘local educational agency’’ and ‘‘State educational agency’’ have the meanings given those terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education

Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Education.

SEC. 203. COMPREHENSIVE CENTERS.

(a) AUTHORIZATION.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), beginning in fiscal year 2004, the Secretary is authorized to award not less than 20 grants to local entities, or consortia of such entities, with demonstrated expertise in providing technical assistance and professional development in reading, mathematics, science, and technology, especially to low-performing schools and districts, to establish comprehensive centers.

(2) REGIONS.—In awarding grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary—

(A) shall ensure that not less than 1 comprehensive center is established in each of the 10 geographic regions served by the regional educational laboratories established under section 941(h) of the Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994 (as H. R. 3801—37

such provision existed on the day before the date of enactment of this Act); and

(B) after meeting the requirements of subparagraph (A), shall consider, in awarding the remainder of the grants, the school-age population, proportion of economically disadvantaged students, the increased cost burdens of service delivery in areas of sparse population, and the number of schools identified for school improvement (as described in section 1116(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6316(b)) in the population served by the local entity or consortium of such entities.

(b) ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Grants under this section may be made with research organizations, institutions, agencies, institutions of higher education, or partnerships among such entities, or individuals, with the demonstrated ability or capacity to carry out the activities described in subsection (f), including regional

entities that carried out activities under the Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994 (as such Act existed on the day before the date of enactment of this Act) and title XIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (as such title existed on the day before the date of enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law 107–110)).

(2) OUTREACH.—In conducting competitions for grants under this section, the Secretary shall actively encourage potential applicants to compete for such awards by making widely available information and technical assistance relating to the competition.

(3) OBJECTIVES AND INDICATORS.—Before awarding a grant under this section, the Secretary shall design specific objectives and measurable indicators, using the results of the assessment conducted under section 206, to be used to assess the particular programs or initiatives, and ongoing progress and performance, of the regional entities, in order to ensure that the educational needs of the region are being met and that the latest and best research and proven practices are being carried out as part of school improvement efforts.

(c) APPLICATION.—

(1) SUBMISSION.—Each local entity, or consortium of such entities, seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such additional information as the Secretary may reasonably require.

(2) PLAN.—Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall contain a 5-year plan for carrying out the activities described in this section in a manner that addresses the priorities established under section 207 and addresses the needs of all States (and to the extent practicable, of local educational agencies) within the region to be served by the comprehensive center, on an ongoing basis.

(d) ALLOCATION.—Each comprehensive center established under this section shall allocate such center’s resources to and within each State in a manner which reflects the need for assistance, taking into account such factors as the proportion of economically disadvantaged students, the increased cost burden of service delivery in areas of sparse populations, and any special initiatives being undertaken by State, intermediate, local educational agencies, H. R. 3801—38 or Bureau-funded schools, as appropriate, which may require special assistance from the center.

(e) SCOPE OF WORK.—Each comprehensive center established under this section shall work with State educational agencies, local educational agencies, regional educational agencies, and schools in the region where such center is located on school improvement activities that take into account factors such as the proportion of economically disadvantaged students in the region, and give priority to—

(1) schools in the region with high percentages or numbers of students from low-income families, as determined under section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)), including such schools in rural and urban areas, and schools receiving assistance under title I of that Act (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.);

(2) local educational agencies in the region in which high percentages or numbers of school-age children are from low income families, as determined under section 1124(c)(1)(A) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6333(c)(1)(A)), including such local educational agencies in ruraland urban areas; and

(3) schools in the region that have been identified for school improvement under section 1116(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6316(b)).

(f) ACTIVITIES.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—A comprehensive center established under this section shall support dissemination and technical assistance activities by—

(A) providing training, professional development, and technical assistance regarding, at a minimum—

(i) the administration and implementation of programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education

Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.);

(ii) the use of scientifically valid teaching methods and assessment tools for use by teachers and administrators in, at a minimum—

(I) the core academic subjects of mathematics, science, and reading or language arts;

(II) English language acquisition; and

(III) education technology; and

(iii) the facilitation of communication between education experts, school officials, teachers, parents, and librarians, as appropriate; and

(B) disseminating and providing information, reports, and publications that are usable for improving academic achievement, closing achievement gaps, and encouraging and sustaining school improvement (as described in section 1116(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6316(b))), to schools, educators, parents, and policymakers within the region in which the center is located; and

(C) developing teacher and school leader inservice and preservice training models that illustrate best practices in the use of technology in different content areas.

(2) COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION.—Each comprehensive center established under this section shall coordinate its activities, collaborate, and regularly exchange information with H. R. 3801—39 the regional educational laboratory in the region in which the center is located, the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, the Office of the Secretary, the State service agency, and other technical assistance providers in the region.

(g) COMPREHENSIVE CENTER ADVISORY BOARD.—

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Each comprehensive center established under this section shall have an advisory board that shall support the priorities of such center.

(2) DUTIES.—Each advisory board established under paragraph

(1) shall advise the comprehensive center—

(A) concerning the activities described in subsection (d);

(B) on strategies for monitoring and addressing the educational needs of the region, on an ongoing basis;

(C) on maintaining a high standard of quality in the performance of the center’s activities; and

(D) on carrying out the center’s duties in a manner that promotes progress toward improving student academic achievement.

(3) COMPOSITION.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Each advisory board shall be composed

of—

(i) the chief State school officers, or such officers’ designees or other State officials, in each State served by the comprehensive center who have primary responsibility under State law for elementary and secondary education in the State; and

(ii) not more than 15 other members who are representative of the educational interests in the region served by the comprehensive center and are selected jointly by the officials specified in clause

(i) and the chief executive officer of each State served by the comprehensive center, including the following:

(I) Representatives of local educational agencies and regional educational agencies, including

representatives of local educational agencies serving urban and rural areas.

(II) Representatives of institutions of higher education.

(III) Parents.

(IV) Practicing educators, including classroom teachers, principals, and administrators.

(V) Representatives of business.

(VI) Policymakers, expert practitioners, and researchers with knowledge of, and experience

using, the results of research, evaluation, and statistics.

(B) SPECIAL RULE.—In the case of a State in which the chief executive officer has the primary responsibility under State law for elementary and secondary education in the State, the chief executive officer shall consult, to the extent permitted by State law, with the State educational agency in selecting additional members of the board under subparagraph (A)(i).

(h) REPORT TO SECRETARY.—Each comprehensive center established under this section shall submit to the Secretary an annual H. R. 3801—40 report, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, which shall include the following:

(1) A summary of the comprehensive center’s activities during the preceding year.

(2) A listing of the States, local educational agencies, and schools the comprehensive center assisted during the preceding year.

SEC. 204. EVALUATIONS.

The Secretary shall provide for ongoing independent evaluations by the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance of the comprehensive centers receiving assistance under this title, the results of which shall be transmitted to the appropriate congressional committees and the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences. Such evaluations shall include an analysis of the services provided under this title, the extent to which each of the comprehensive centers meets the objectives of its respective plan, and whether such services meet the educational needs of State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and schools in the region.

SEC. 205. EXISTING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS.

The Secretary shall continue awards for the support of the Eisenhower Regional Mathematics and Science Education Consortia established under part M of the Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994 (as such part existed on the day before the date of enactment of this Act), the Regional Technology in Education Consortia under section 3141 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (as such section existed on the day before the date of enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law 107–110)), and the Comprehensive Regional Assistance Centers established under part K of the Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994 (as such part existed on the day before the date of enactment of this Act), in accordance with the terms of such awards, until the comprehensive centers authorized under section 203 are established.

SEC. 206. REGIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Beginning in 2004, the Secretary shall establish a regional advisory committee for each region described in section 174(b) of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002.

(b) MEMBERSHIP.—

(1) COMPOSITION.—The membership of each regional advisory committee shall—

(A) not exceed 25 members;

(B) contain a balanced representation of States in the region; and

(C) include not more than one representative of each State educational agency geographically located in the region.

(2) ELIGIBILITY.—The membership of each regional advisory committee may include the following:

(A) Representatives of local educational agencies,

including rural and urban local educational agencies. H. R. 3801—41

(B) Representatives of institutions of higher education, including individuals representing university-based education research and university-based research on subjects other than education.

(C) Parents.

(D) Practicing educators, including classroom teachers, principals, administrators, school board members, and other local school officials.

(E) Representatives of business.

(F) Researchers.

(3) RECOMMENDATIONS.—In choosing individuals for membership on a regional advisory committee, the Secretary shall consult with, and solicit recommendations from, the chief executive officers of States, chief State school officers, and education stakeholders within the applicable region.

(4) SPECIAL RULE.—

(A) TOTAL NUMBER.—The total number of members on each committee who are selected under subparagraphs (A), (C), and (D) of paragraph (2), collectively, shall exceed the total number of members who are selected under paragraph (1)(C) and subparagraphs (B), (E), and (F) of paragraph (2), collectively.

(B) DISSOLUTION.—Each regional advisory committee shall be dissolved by the Secretary after submission of such committee’s report described in subsection (c)(2) to the Secretary, but each such committee may be reconvened at the discretion of the Secretary.

(c) DUTIES.—Each regional advisory committee shall advise the Secretary on the following:

(1) An educational needs assessment of its region (using the results of the assessment conducted under subsection (d)), in order to assist in making decisions regarding the regional educational priorities.

(2) Not later than 6 months after the committee is first convened, a report based on the assessment conducted under subsection (d).

(d) REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS.—Each regional advisory committee shall—

(1) assess the educational needs within the region to be served;

(2) in conducting the assessment under paragraph (1), seek input from chief executive officers of States, chief State school officers, educators, and parents (including through a process of open hearings to solicit the views and needs of schools (including public charter schools), teachers, administrators, members of the regional educational laboratory governing board, parents, local educational agencies, librarians,

businesses, State educational agencies, and other customers (such as adult education programs) within the region) regarding the need for the activities described in section 174 of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 and section 203 of this title and how those needs would be most effectively addressed; and

(3) submit the assessment to the Secretary and to the Director of the Academy of Education Sciences, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. H. R. 3801—42

SEC. 207. PRIORITIES.

The Secretary shall establish priorities for the regional educational laboratories (established under section 174 of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002) and comprehensive centers (established under section 203 of this title) to address, taking onto account the regional assessments conducted under section 206 and other relevant regional surveys of educational needs, to the extent the Secretary deems appropriate.

Application Submission Procedures

The deadline for submission of Comprehensive Centers Program applications through Grants.gov is TBD:

Application Transmittal Instructions

Attention Electronic Applicants: This program requires the electronic submission of applications--specific requirements and instructions can be found in the Federal Register notice. Please note that you must follow the Application Procedures as described in the Federal Register notice announcing the grant competition.

We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format unless, as described in the Federal Register notice for this competition, you qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions.

Applications Submitted Electronically

Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at http://www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.

Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in Federal Register notice for this competition, we will not consider your application if it is date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.

You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in this application package to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system.

Please note the following:

• You must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .pdf (Portable Document format). If you upload a file type other than a .pdf file, or submit a password-protected file, we will not review that material.

• Grants.gov cannot process an application that includes two or more files that have the same name within a grant submission.

• When attaching files, applicants should limit the size of their file names. Lengthy file names could result in difficulties with opening and processing your application. We recommend your file names be less than 50 characters. The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.

• Your electronic application must comply with any page-limit requirements described in this application package.

• If you are experiencing problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.

According to the instructions found in the Federal Register notice, only those requesting and qualifying for an exception to the electronic submission requirement may submit an application via mail, commercial carrier or by hand delivery.

Submission of Paper Applications by Mail:

If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:

U.S. Department of Education

Application Control Center

Attention: (CFDA Number 84.283B)

LBJ Basement Level 1

400 Maryland Avenue, SW.

Washington, DC 20202-4260

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

(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.

(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service.

(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier.

(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:

(1) A private metered postmark.

(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.

If your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will not consider your application.

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

Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery:

If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:

U.S. Department of Education

Application Control Center

Attention: (CFDA Number 84.283B)

550 12th Street, SW.

Washington, DC 20202-4260

The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.

Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications:

If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--

(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your application; and

(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this notification within 15 business days from the application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

Submitting Applications with Adobe Reader Software

The Department of Education, working with Grants.gov, is currently moving from using PureEdge software to using Adobe Reader software exclusively and applications submitted to Grants.gov for the Department of Education will be posted using Adobe forms. Applicants will no longer need to use the PureEdge software to create or submit an application.

Please note: The compatible version of Adobe Reader is required for viewing, editing and submitting a complete grant application package for the Department of Education through Grants.gov. Applicants should confirm the compatibility of their Adobe Reader version before downloading the application. To ensure applicants have a version of Adobe Reader on their computer that is compatible with Grants.gov, applicants are encouraged to use the test package provided by Grants.gov that can be accessed at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/AdobeVersioningTestOnly.jsp.

Important issues to consider:

• If the applicant opened or edited the application package with any software other than the compatible version of Adobe Reader, the application package may contain errors that will be transferred to the new package even if you later download the compatible Adobe Reader version.

• Applicants cannot copy and paste data from a package initially opened or edited with an incompatible version of Adobe Reader and will need to download an entirely new package using the compatible version of Adobe Reader.

• Some applicants using an incompatible version of Adobe Reader may have trouble opening and viewing the application package while others may find they can open, view and complete the application package but may not be able to submit the application package through Grants.gov.

• Grants.gov does not guarantee to support versions of Adobe Reader that are not compatible with Grants.gov.

• Any and all edits made to the Adobe Reader application package must be made with the compatible version of Adobe Reader.

For your convenience, the latest version of Adobe Reader is available for free download at http://www.grants.gov/help/download_software.jsp.

We strongly recommend that you review the information on computer and operating system compatibility with Adobe available at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant_faqs.jsp#software before downloading, completing or submitting your application.

Applicants are reminded that they should submit their application a day or two in advance of the closing date as detailed in the Federal Register Notice. If you have any questions regarding this matter please email the Grants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov or call 1-800-518-4726

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ FIRST

U.S. Department of Education

Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants

To facilitate your use of Grants.gov, this document includes important submission procedures you need to be aware of to ensure your application is received in a timely manner and accepted by the Department of Education.

ATTENTION – Adobe Forms and PDF Files Required

Applications submitted to Grants.gov for the Department of Education will be posted using Adobe forms. Therefore, applicants will need to download the latest version of Adobe reader (at least Adobe Reader 8.1.2). Information on computer and operating system compatibility with Adobe and links to download the latest version is available on Grants.gov. We strongly recommend that you review these details on www.Grants.gov before completing and submitting your application. In addition, applicants should submit their application a day or two in advance of the closing date as detailed below. Also, applicants are required to upload their attachments in .pdf format only. (See details below under “Attaching Files – Additional Tips.”) If you have any questions regarding this matter please email the Grants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov or call 1-800-518-4726.

1. REGISTER EARLY – Grants.gov registration may take five or more business days to complete. You may begin working on your application while completing the registration process, but you cannot submit an application until all of the Registration steps are complete. For detailed information on the Registration Steps, please go to: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp [Note: Your organization will need to update its Central Contractor Registry (CCR) registration annually.]

2. SUBMIT EARLY – We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the last day to submit your application. Grants.gov will put a date/time stamp on your application and then process it after it is fully uploaded. The time it takes to upload an application will vary depending on a number of factors including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection, and the time it takes Grants.gov to process the application will vary as well. If Grants.gov rejects your application (see step three below), you will need to resubmit successfully to Grants.gov before 4:30:00 p.m. Washington, DC time on the deadline date.

Note: To submit successfully, you must provide the DUNS number on your application that was used when you registered as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) on Grants.gov. This DUNS number is typically the same number used when your organization registered with the CCR (Central Contractor Registry). If you do not enter the same DUNS number on your application as the DUNS you registered with, Grants.gov will reject your application.

3. VERIFY SUBMISSION IS OK – You will want to verify that Grants.gov received your application submission on time and that it was validated successfully. To see the date/time your application was received, login to Grants.gov and click on the Track My Application link. For a successful submission, the date/time received should be earlier than 4:30:00 p.m. Washington, DC time, on the deadline date, AND the application status should be: Validated, Received by Agency, or Agency Tracking Number Assigned. Once the Department of Education receives your application from Grants.gov, an Agency Tracking Number (PR/award number) will be assigned to your application and will be available for viewing on Grants.gov’s Track My Application link.

If the date/time received is later than 4:30:00 p.m. Washington, D.C. time, on the deadline date, your application is late. If your application has a status of “Received” it is still awaiting validation by Grants.gov. Once validation is complete, the status will either change to “Validated” or “Rejected with Errors.” If the status is “Rejected with Errors,” your application has not been received successfully. Some of the reasons Grants.gov may reject an application can be found on the Grants.gov site: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant_faqs.jsp#54. For more detailed information on troubleshooting Adobe errors, you can review the Adobe Reader Error Messages document at http://www.grants.gov/assets/AdobeReaderErrorMessages.pdf. If you discover your application is late or has been rejected, please see the instructions below. Note: You will receive a series of confirmations both online and via e-mail about the status of your application. Please do not rely solely on e-mail to confirm whether your application has been received timely and validated successfully.

Submission Problems – What should you do?

If you have problems submitting to Grants.gov before the closing date, please contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1-800-518-4726 or http://www.grants.gov/contactus/contactus.jsp, or access the Grants.gov Self-Service web portal at: https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants

If electronic submission is optional and you have problems that you are unable to resolve before the deadline date and time for electronic applications, please follow the transmittal instructions for hard copy applications in the Federal Register notice and get a hard copy application postmarked by midnight on the deadline date.

If electronic submission is required, you must submit an electronic application before 4:30:00 p.m., unless you follow the procedures in the Federal Register notice and qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions. (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.)

Helpful Hints When Working with Grants.gov

Please note, once you download an application from Grants.gov, you will be working offline and saving data on your computer. Please be sure to note where you are saving the Grants.gov file on your computer. You will need to logon to Grants.gov to upload and submit the application. You must provide the DUNS number on your application that was used when you registered as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) on Grants.gov.

Please go to http://www.grants.gov/contactus/contactus.jsp for help with Grants.gov. For additional tips related to submitting grant applications, please refer to the Grants.gov Submit Application FAQs found on the Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/applicants/submit_application_faqs.jsp.

Dial-Up Internet Connections

When using a dial up connection to upload and submit your application, it can take significantly longer than when you are connected to the Internet with a high-speed connection, e.g. cable modem/DSL/T1. While times will vary depending upon the size of your application, it can take a few minutes to a few hours to complete your grant submission using a dial up connection. If you do not have access to a high-speed connection and electronic submission is required, you may want to consider following the instructions in the Federal Register notice to obtain an exception to the electronic submission requirement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.)

MAC Users

For MAC compatibility information, review the Operating System Platform Compatibility Table at the following Grants.gov link: http://www.grants.gov/help/download_software.jsp. If electronic submission is required and you are concerned about your ability to submit electronically as a non-windows user, please follow instructions in the Federal Register notice to obtain an exception to the electronic submission requirement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.)

Attaching Files – Additional Tips

Please note the following tips related to attaching files to your application, especially the requirement that applicants only include read-only, non-modifiable .PDF files in their application:

1. Ensure that you attach .PDF files only for any attachments to your application, and they must be in a read-only, non-modifiable format. PDF files are the only Education-approved file type accepted as detailed in the Federal Register application notice. Applicants must submit individual .PDF files only when attaching files to their application. Specifically, the Department will not accept any attachments that contain files within a file, such as PDF Portfolio files, or an interactive or fillable .PDF file. Any attachments uploaded that are not .PDF files or are password protected files will not be read. If you need assistance converting your files to a .pdf format, please refer to the following Grants.gov webpage with links to conversion programs under the heading of additional resources: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/app_help_reso.jsp
   
   

2. Grants.gov cannot process an application that includes two or more files that have the same name within a grant submission. Therefore, each file uploaded to your application package should have a unique file name.
   
   

3. When attaching files, applicants should follow the guidelines established by Grants.gov on the size and content of file names. Uploaded files must be less than 50 characters, contain no spaces, no special characters (example: -, &, *, %, /, #, \) including periods (.), blank spaces and accent marks. Applications submitted that do not comply with the Grants.gov guidelines will be rejected at Grants.gov and not forwarded to the Department.
   
   

4. Applicants should limit the size of their file attachments. Documents submitted that contain graphics and/or scanned material often greatly increase the size of the file attachments and can result in difficulties opening the files. For reference, the average discretionary grant application package totals 1 to 2 MB. Therefore, you may want to check the total size of your package before submission.

Application Instructions

Electronic Application Format

Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted electronically, unless you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement in accordance with the instructions in this application package.

In accordance with EDGAR §75.216 (b) and (c), an application will not be evaluated for funding if the applicant does not comply with all of the procedural rules that govern the submission of the application or the application does not contain the information required under the program.

It is recommended that your electronic application be organized in the following manner and include the following parts in order to expedite the review process. Instructions for all parts and forms of the application are found either on the following pages of the application package or individually for each form on Grants.gov.

Important note: Applications submitted to Grants.gov for the Department of Education will be posted using Adobe forms. Therefore, applicants will need to download the latest version of Adobe reader (at least Adobe Reader 8.1.2).

Information on computer and operating system compatibility with Adobe and links to download the latest version is available on Grants.gov. Also, please review the Submitting Applications with Adobe Reader Software and Education Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants forms found within this package for further information and guidance related to this requirement.

We strongly recommend that you review these details on www.Grants.gov before completing and submitting your application. In addition, applicants should submit their applications a day or two in advance of the closing date as detailed below. Applicants will no longer need to use the PureEdge software to create or submit an application. If you have any questions regarding this matter please email the Grants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov or call 1-800-518-4726.

Instructions for all parts and forms of the application are found either on the following pages of the application package or individually for each form on Grants.gov.

Note: Please do not attach any narratives, supporting files, or application components to any forms unless it is specifically required by the instructions for the individual section of the application. Although several forms accept attachments, the Department of Education will review only materials/files attached in accordance with the instructions provided within this application package.