2024-08730.pdf

31172 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 2024 / Notices https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/ #/public-documents.

3. Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Scope of Recognition:

The accreditation and preaccreditation (‘‘Candidacy status’’) of institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education programs and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. Recognition extends to the Executive Committee to act on behalf of the Commission as necessary on cases of initial, reaffirmed, and continued candidacy or initial, reaffirmed and continued accreditation.

Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: The United States. The compliance report includes findings of noncompliance with certain criteria in 34 CFR part 602 identified in the May 31, 2023, letter from the SDO following the February 28, 2023 NACIQI meeting.

The SDO letter is available under NACIQI meeting date 2/28/2023, at https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/ #/public-documents.

4. New England Commission of Higher Education. Scope of Recognition:

The accreditation and pre-accreditation (‘‘Candidacy status’’) of institutions of higher education including the accreditation of programs offered via distance education and direct assessment within those institutions.

Jointly with the Commission, this recognition extends to its Executive Committee and also to the Appeals Body for decisions related to the appeal of denial or withdrawal of candidacy;

probation; and denial or withdrawal of accreditation. Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: The United States. The compliance report includes findings of noncompliance with certain criteria in 34 CFR part 602 identified in the May 31, 2023, letter from the SDO following the February 28, 2023, NACIQI meeting. The SDO letter is available under NACIQI meeting date 2/ 28/2023, at https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/ erecognition/#/public-documents.

5. Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Scope of Recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (‘‘Candidate for Accreditation’’) of institutions of higher education that offer the baccalaureate degree or above, including distance education programs offered at those institutions. Geographic area of accrediting activities: The United States. The compliance report includes findings of noncompliance with certain criteria in 34 CFR part 602 identified in the May 31, 2023, letter from the SDO following the February 28, 2023, NACIQI meeting. The SDO letter is available under NACIQI meeting date 2/ 28/2023, at https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/ erecognition/#/public-documents.

Submission of Written Comments Regarding a Specific Accrediting Agency Under Review

Written comments about the recognition of any of the accrediting agencies listed above must be received by May 20, 2024, in the ThirdPartyComments@ed.gov mailbox.

Please include in the subject line ‘‘Written Comments: (agency name).’’ The electronic mail (email) must include the name(s), title, organization/ affiliation, mailing address, email address, and telephone number of the person(s) making the comment.

Comments should be submitted as a PDF, Microsoft Word document or in a medium compatible with Microsoft Word that is attached to an email or provided in the body of an email message. Comments about an agency that has submitted a compliance report scheduled for review by the Department must relate to the criteria for recognition cited in the SDO letter that requested the compliance report following the February 28, 2023, NACIQI meeting, or in the Secretary’s appeal decision, if any. The SDO letters for the specific agencies referenced in this Federal Register notice are available under NACIQI meeting date 2/28/2023, at https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/ #/public-documents.

Only written materials submitted by the deadline to the email address listed in this notice, and in accordance with these instructions, become part of the official record concerning agencies scheduled for review and are considered by the Department and NACIQI in their deliberations. Written comments about the specific agencies identified in this Federal Register notice that are submitted after the deadline will not be considered by the Department or provided to NACIQI for purposes of the current review. However, comments may be provided orally at the summer 2025 NACIQI meeting, which has not yet been scheduled, but which will be announced in a future Federal Register notice.

Electronic Access to this Document:

The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site, you can view this document, as well as all other documents of the Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site. You may also access documents of the Department published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature at:

www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department.

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b; 20 U.S.C.

1011c.

Nasser Paydar, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Postsecondary Education.

[FR Doc. 2024–08770 Filed 4–23–24; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Application for New Awards;

Expanding Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Program (CSP)—Grants to State Entities (State Entity)

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2024 for CSP Grants to State Entities, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) number 84.282A. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1810–0767.

DATES:

Applications Available: April 24, 2024.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 13, 2024.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 12, 2024.

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045), and available at https:// www.federalregister.gov/documents/ 2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Adrienne Hawkins, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202–5970.

Telephone: (202) 453–5638. Email: SE_ Competition@ed.gov.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7–1–1.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:48 Apr 23, 2024 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1kh am m on d on

D S

K

JM

1Z 7X

2P R

O D w ith

N O

T

IC

E S https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents mailto:ThirdPartyComments@ed.gov http://www.federalregister.gov mailto:SE_Competition@ed.gov mailto:SE_Competition@ed.gov http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs

31173 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 2024 / Notices

1 www.ed.gov/raisethebar/.

2 The six strategies of Raise the Bar include:

accelerating learning, developing a well-rounded education, eliminating the educator shortage, investing in mental health, ensuring every student has a postsecondary pathway, and a pathway to multilingualism.

3 Although the statute utilizes the term ‘‘authorizing,’’ the term was modified to ‘‘authorized’’ in this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Program: The CSP State Entity program, ALN 84.282A, is authorized under Title IV, Part C of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA) (20 U.S.C.

7221–7221j). Through the CSP State Entity competition, the Department awards grants to State entities that, in turn, award subgrants to eligible applicants for the purpose of opening new charter schools and replicating and expanding high-quality charter schools.

State entities also may use grant funds to provide technical assistance to eligible applicants and authorized public chartering agencies in opening new charter schools and replicating and expanding high-quality charter schools, and to work with authorized public chartering agencies in the State to improve authorizing quality, including developing capacity for, and conducting, fiscal oversight and auditing of charter schools. State Entity grant funds may also be used for grant administration, which may include technical assistance and monitoring of subgrants for performance and fiscal and regulatory compliance, as required under 2 CFR 200.332(d).

The CSP State Entity program provides financial assistance to State entities to support charter schools that serve elementary and secondary school students in States with a specific State statute authorizing the granting of charters to schools. Charter schools receiving funds under the CSP State Entity program may also serve students in early childhood education programs or postsecondary students.

Background: The major purposes of the CSP are to expand opportunities for all students, particularly traditionally underserved students, to attend high-quality public charter schools and meet challenging State academic standards;

provide financial assistance for the planning, program design, and initial implementation of charter schools;

increase the number of high-quality charter schools available to students across the United States; evaluate the impact of charter schools on student achievement, families, and communities; share best practices between charter schools and other public schools; encourage States to provide facilities support to charter schools; and support efforts to strengthen the charter school authorizing process.

‘‘Raise the Bar: Lead the World’’ (RTB) is the Department’s call to action to all stakeholders to transform pre-kindergarten through postsecondary education and unite around evidence-based strategies that advance educational equity and excellence for all students.1 When we raise the bar in education, all our Nation’s students will be able to build the skills to thrive inside and outside of school. As part of the RTB initiative, the Department is focusing on six strategies aimed at promoting academic excellence and wellness for every learner and better preparing our Nation for global competitiveness.2 This competition advances several RTB strategies, most notably those intended to deliver a comprehensive and rigorous education for every student.

Further, on July 6, 2022 (87 FR 40406), the Department published in the Federal Register a notice of final priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria (2022 NFP). The 2022 NFP supplements the program statute and is intended to help support the creation, replication, and expansion of high-quality charter schools that promote positive student outcomes, educator and community empowerment, promising practices, and school diversity. The 2022 NFP promotes greater fiscal and operational transparency and accountability for CSP-funded charter schools. The application requirements and assurances associated with subgrant monitoring and the review of subgrant applications help facilitate the proper peer review and evaluation of CSP grant applications. The priorities, application requirements, assurances, selection criteria, and definitions in this notice are designed to support access to high-quality, diverse, and equitable learning opportunities, which should be a goal of all public schools.

Priorities: This notice includes one absolute priority, five competitive preference priorities, and one invitational priority. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priority and competitive preference priorities are from section 4303(g)(2) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221b(g)(2)).

Absolute Priority: For FY 2024, and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34

CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet the absolute priority.

This priority is:

Best Practices for Charter School

Authorizers.

To meet this priority, the State entity must demonstrate that it has taken steps to ensure that all authorized 3 public chartering agencies implement best practices for charter school authorizing.

Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2024, and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award 1 additional point to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 1;

up to 2 additional points to an application depending on how well it meets Competitive Preference Priority 2;

up to 2 additional points to an application depending on how well it meets Competitive Preference Priority 3;

up to 2 additional points to an application depending on how well it meets Competitive Preference Priority 4;

and up to 3 additional points to an application depending on how well it meets Competitive Preference Priority 5.

An applicant must identify in the abstract form and in the project narrative section of its application the priority or priorities it wishes the Department to consider for purposes of earning competitive preference priority points. The Department will not review or award points for any competitive preference priority that an applicant fails to clearly identify as a competitive preference priority or priorities it wishes the Department to consider for purposes of earning competitive preference priority points. An application may receive a total of up to 10 additional points under the competitive preference priorities.

These priorities are:

Competitive Preference Priority 1—At

Least One Authorized Public Chartering Agency Other than a Local Educational Agency, or an Appeals Process (0 or 1 point).

To meet this priority, the State entity must demonstrate that it is located in a State that—

(a) Allows at least one entity that is not a local educational agency (LEA) to be an authorized public chartering agency for developers seeking to open a charter school in the State; or

(b) In the case of a State in which LEAs are the only authorized public

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:48 Apr 23, 2024 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1kh am m on d on

D S

K

JM

1Z 7X

2P R

O D w ith

N O

T

IC

E S http://www.ed.gov/raisethebar/

31174 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 2024 / Notices chartering agencies, the State has an appeals process for the denial of an application for a charter school.

Competitive Preference Priority 2— Equitable Financing (up to 2 points).

To be eligible to receive points under this priority, the State entity must demonstrate that it is located in a State that ensures equitable financing, as compared to traditional public schools, for charter schools and students in a prompt manner.

Competitive Preference Priority 3— Best Practices to Improve Struggling Schools and LEAs (up to 2 points).

To be eligible to receive points under this priority, the State entity must demonstrate that it is located in a State that uses best practices from charter schools to help improve struggling schools and LEAs.

Competitive Preference Priority 4— Charter School Facilities (up to 2 points).

To be eligible to receive points under this priority, the State entity must demonstrate that it is located in a State that provides charter schools one or more of the following:

(a) Funding for facilities.

(b) Assistance with facilities acquisition.

(c) Access to public facilities.

(d) The ability to share in bonds or mill levies.

(e) The right of first refusal to purchase public school buildings.

(f) Low- or no-cost leasing privileges.

Competitive Preference Priority 5—

Serving At-Risk Students (up to 3 points).

To be eligible to receive points under this priority, the State entity must demonstrate that it supports charter schools that serve at-risk students through activities such as dropout prevention, dropout recovery, or comprehensive career counseling services.

Invitational Priority: For FY 2024, and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, this priority is an invitational priority.

Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), we do not give an application that meets this invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other applications.

This priority is:

Invitational Priority—Collaborations between Charter Schools and Traditional Public Schools or Districts that Benefit Students and Families across Schools.

(a) The Secretary is interested in funding applications that propose to encourage, but not require, eligible applicants for subgrants to propose projects that include a new collaboration, or the continuation of an existing collaboration, with at least one traditional public school or traditional school district that is designed to benefit students or families served by at least one member of the collaboration, is designed to lead to increased and improved educational opportunities for students served by at least one member of the collaboration, and includes implementation of one or more of the following:

(1) Co-developed or shared curricular and instructional resources or academic course offerings.

(2) Professional development opportunities for teachers and other educators, which may include professional learning communities, opportunities for teachers to earn additional certifications, such as in a high-need area or national board certification, and partnerships with educator preparation programs to support teaching residencies.

(3) Evidence-based (as defined in section 8101(21) of the ESEA) practices to improve academic performance for underserved students.

(4) Policies and practices to create safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments, such as systems of positive behavioral intervention and support.

(5) Transparent enrollment and retention practices and processes that include clear and consistent disclosure to families of policies or requirements (e.g., discipline policies, purchasing and wearing specific uniforms and other fees, or family participation), and any services that are or are not provided that could impact a family’s ability to enroll or remain enrolled (e.g., transportation services or participation in the National School Lunch Program).

(6) A shared transportation plan and system that reduces transportation costs for members of the collaboration and takes into consideration various transportation options, including public transportation and district-provided or shared transportation options, cost-sharing or free or reduced-cost fare options, and any distance considerations for prioritized bus services.

(7) A shared special education collaborative designed to address a significant barrier or challenge faced by participating charter schools and traditional public schools in improving academic or developmental outcomes and services for students with disabilities (as defined in section 8101 of the ESEA).

(8) A shared English learner collaborative designed to address a significant barrier or challenge faced by participating charter schools or traditional public schools in improving academic outcomes for English learners (as defined in section 8101 of the

ESEA).

(9) Other collaborations, such as the sharing of innovative and best practices, designed to address a significant barrier or challenge faced by participating charter schools or traditional public schools and designed to improve academic outcomes for all students served by members of the collaboration.

(b) The State entity certifies that it will ask each eligible applicant that proposes a project that includes such a collaboration to—

(1) Provide in its subgrant application a description of the collaboration that—

(i) Describes each member of the collaboration and whether the collaboration would be a new or existing commitment;

(ii) States the purpose and duration of the collaboration;

(iii) Describes the anticipated roles and responsibilities of each member of the collaboration;

(iv) Describes how the collaboration will benefit one or more members of the collaboration, including how it will benefit students or families affiliated with a member and lead to increased or improved educational opportunities for students, and meet specific and measurable, if applicable, goals;

(vi) Describes the resources members of the collaboration will contribute; and

(vii) Contains any other relevant information; and

(2) Within 120 days of receiving a subgrant award or within 120 days of the date the collaboration is scheduled to begin, whichever is later, provide evidence of participation in the collaboration (which may include, but is not required to include, a memorandum of understanding).

Application Requirements:

The following application requirements are from section 4303(f) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221b(f)) and from the 2022 NFP. The Department will not fund an application that does not meet each application requirement.

In addressing the following application requirements, applicants must clearly identify which application requirement they are addressing. An applicant must address application requirements (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(vii), (a)(1)(ix), (a)(2)(ii), and (a)(2)(iii) in its response to paragraph (a)(1) of the Quality of the Project Design selection criterion; application requirement (a)(8) in its response to paragraph (a)(4) of the Quality of the Project Design selection criterion; application requirements

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:48 Apr 23, 2024 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1kh am m on d on

D S

K

JM

1Z 7X

2P R

O D w ith

N O

T

IC

E

31175 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 2024 / Notices

4 In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), applications are not required to address competitive preference priorities but may receive additional points if they do so. However, to meet this application requirement, the State entity must describe the extent to which it is able to meet and carry out competitive preference priorities 1 through 5. If the State entity is unable to meet and carry out one or more of these competitive preference priorities, the description for that priority should state that the State entity is unable to meet or carry out the priority.

(a)(1)(ii), (a)(1)(xiii), (a)(3)(i), (a)(3)(ii), (a)(3)(iii), (a)(5), and (a)(7) in its response to the Quality of Eligible Subgrant Applicants selection criterion;

application requirements (a)(1)(vi), (a)(1)(x), and (a)(9) in its response to paragraph (c)(1) of the State Plan selection criterion; application requirements (a)(1)(iii), (a)(1)(iv), (a)(1)(viii), and (a)(1)(xi) in its response to paragraph (c)(3) of the State Plan selection criterion; and application requirement (a)(4) in its response to paragraph (d)(1) of the Quality of the Management Plan selection criterion.

An applicant must respond to all other application requirements in paragraph

(a) that are not listed above in the Project Narrative.

Applications for funding under the CSP State Entity program must contain the following:

(a) Description of Program—A description of the State entity’s objectives in running a quality charter school program and how the objectives of the program will be carried out, including—

(1) A description of how the State entity will—

(i) Support the opening of charter schools through the startup of new charter schools and, if applicable, the replication of high-quality charter schools, and the expansion of high-quality charter schools (including the proposed number of new charter schools to be opened, high-quality charter schools to be opened as a result of the replication of a high-quality charter school, or high-quality charter schools to be expanded under the State entity’s program) (4303(f));

(ii) Inform eligible charter schools, developers, and authorized public chartering agencies of the availability of funds under the program (4303(f));

(iii) Work with eligible applicants to ensure that the eligible applicants access all Federal funds that such applicants are eligible to receive, and help the charter schools supported by the applicants and the students attending those charter schools—

(A) Participate in the Federal programs in which the schools and students are eligible to participate;

(B) Receive the commensurate share of Federal funds the schools and students are eligible to receive under such programs; and

(C) Meet the needs of students served under such programs, including students with disabilities and English learners (4303(f));

(iv) Ensure that authorized public chartering agencies, in collaboration with surrounding LEAs where applicable, establish clear plans and procedures to assist students enrolled in a charter school that closes or loses its charter to attend other high-quality schools (4303(f));

(v) In the case of a State entity that is not a State educational agency (SEA)—

(A) Work with the SEA and charter schools in the State to maximize charter school participation in Federal and State programs for which charter schools are eligible; and

(B) Work with the SEA to operate the State entity’s program under section 4303 of the ESEA, if applicable (4303(f));

(vi) Ensure that each eligible applicant that receives a subgrant under the State entity’s program—

(A) Is using funds provided under this program for one of the activities described in section 4303(b)(1) of the ESEA; and

(B) Is prepared to continue to operate charter schools funded under section 4303 of the ESEA in a manner consistent with the eligible applicant’s application for such subgrant once the subgrant funds under this program are no longer available (4303(f));

(vii) Support—

(A) Charter schools in LEAs with a significant number of schools identified by the State for comprehensive support and improvement under section 1111(c)(4)(D)(i) of the ESEA; and

(B) The use of charter schools to improve struggling schools, or to turn around struggling schools (4303(f));

(viii) Work with charter schools on—

(A) Recruitment and enrollment practices to promote inclusion of all students, including by eliminating any barriers to enrollment for educationally disadvantaged students (who include foster youth and unaccompanied homeless youth); and

(B) Supporting all students once they are enrolled to promote retention, including by reducing the overuse of discipline practices that remove students from the classroom (4303(f));

(ix) Share best and promising practices between charter schools and other public schools (4303(f));

(x) Ensure that charter schools receiving funds under the State entity’s program meet the educational needs of their students, including children with disabilities and English learners (4303(f));

(xi) Support efforts to increase charter school quality initiatives, including meeting the quality authorizing elements described in section 4303(f)(2)(E) of the ESEA (4303(f));

(xii)(A) In the case of a State entity that is not a charter school support organization, a description of how the State entity will provide oversight of authorizing activity, including how the State will help ensure better authorizing, such as by establishing authorizing standards that may include approving, monitoring, and re-approving or revoking the authority of an authorized public chartering agency based on the performance of the charter schools authorized by such agency in the areas of student achievement, student safety, financial and operational management, and compliance with all applicable statutes and regulations; and

(B) In the case of a State entity that is a charter school support organization, a description of how the State entity will work with the State to support the State’s system of technical assistance and oversight of the authorizing activity of authorized public chartering agencies, as described in application requirement (a)(1)(xii)(A) (4303(f)); and

(xiii) Work with eligible applicants receiving a subgrant under the State entity’s program to support the opening of new charter schools or charter school models described in application requirement (a)(1)(i) that are high schools (4303(f));

(2) A description of the extent to which the State entity—

(i) Is able to meet and carry out Competitive Preference Priorities 1 through 5; 4

(ii) Is working to develop or strengthen a cohesive statewide system to support the opening of new charter schools and, if applicable, the replication of high-quality charter schools, and the expansion of high-quality charter schools; and

(iii) Is working to develop or strengthen a cohesive strategy to encourage collaboration between charter schools and LEAs on the sharing of best practices (4303(f));

(3) A description of how the State entity will award subgrants, on a competitive basis, including—

(i) A detailed description of how the State entity will review applications from eligible applicants, including—

(A) How eligibility will be determined;

(B) How peer reviewers will be recruited and selected, including efforts the applicant will make to recruit peer reviewers from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented groups;

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:48 Apr 23, 2024 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1kh am m on d on

D S

K

JM

1Z 7X

2P R

O D w ith

N O

T

IC

31176 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 2024 / Notices

(C) How subgrant applications will be reviewed and evaluated;

(D) How cost analyses and budget reviews will be conducted to ensure that costs are necessary, reasonable, and allocable to the subgrant;

(E) How applicants will be assessed for risk (i.e., fiscal, programmatic, compliance); and

(F) How funding decisions will be made (2022 NFP);

(ii) A description of the application each eligible applicant desiring to receive a subgrant will be required to submit, which application must include the following:

(A) A description of the roles and responsibilities of eligible applicants, partner organizations, and charter management organizations (CMO), including the administrative and contractual roles and responsibilities of such partners (4303(f));

(1) For any existing or proposed contract between a charter school and a for-profit management organization (including a nonprofit management organization operated by or on behalf of a for-profit entity), without regard to whether the management organization or its related entities exercises full or substantial administrative control over the charter school or the CSP project, the applicant must provide the following information or equivalent information that the applicant has submitted to the authorized public chartering agency—

(i) A copy of the existing contract with the for-profit management organization or a description of the terms of the contract, including the name and contact information of the management organization; the cost (i.e., fixed costs and estimates of any ongoing costs or fees), including the amount of CSP funds proposed to be used toward such cost, and the percentage such cost represents of the school’s overall funding; the duration; roles and responsibilities of the management organization; and steps the applicant will take to ensure that it pays fair market value for any services or other items purchased or leased from the management organization, makes all programmatic decisions, maintains control over all CSP funds, and directly administers or supervises the administration of the grant in accordance with 34 CFR 75.701;

(ii) A description of any business or financial relationship between the charter school developer and the management organization, including payments, contract terms, and any property owned, operated, or controlled by the management organization or related individuals or entities that will be used by the charter school;

(iii) The name and contact information for each member of the governing board of the charter school and a list of the management organization’s officers, chief administrator, or other administrators, and any staff involved in approving or executing the management contract; and a description of any actual or perceived conflicts of interest, including financial interests, and how the applicant resolved or will resolve any actual or perceived conflicts of interest to ensure compliance with 2 CFR 200.318(c);

(iv) A description of how the applicant will ensure that members of the governing board of the charter school are not selected, removed, controlled, or employed by the management organization and that the charter school’s legal, accounting, and auditing services will be procured independently from the management organization;

(v) An explanation of how the applicant will ensure that the management contract is severable, severing the management contract will not cause the proposed charter school to close, the duration of the management contract will not extend beyond the expiration date of the school’s charter, and renewal of the management contract will not occur without approval and affirmative action by the governing board of the charter school; and

(vi) A description of the steps the applicant will take to ensure that it maintains control over all student records and has a process in place to provide those records to another public school or school district in a timely manner upon the transfer of a student from the charter school to another public school, including due to closure of the charter school, in accordance with section 4308 of the ESEA (2022

NFP).

(B) A description of the quality controls agreed to between the eligible applicant and the authorized public chartering agency involved, such as a contract or performance agreement; how a school’s performance in the State’s accountability system and impact on student achievement (which may include student academic growth) will be one of the most important factors for renewal or revocation of the school’s charter; and how the State entity and the authorized public chartering agency involved will reserve the right to revoke or not renew a school’s charter based on financial, structural, or operational factors involving the management of the school (4303(f));

(C) A description of how the autonomy and flexibility granted to a charter school is consistent with the definition of charter school in section 4310 of the ESEA (4303(f));

(D) A description of how the eligible applicant will solicit and consider input from parents and other members of the community on the implementation and operation of each charter school that will receive funds under the State entity’s program (4303(f));

(E) A description of the eligible applicant’s planned activities and expenditures of subgrant funds to support opening and preparing for the operation of new charter schools, opening and preparing for the operation of replicated high-quality charter schools, or expanding high-quality charter schools, and how the eligible applicant will maintain financial sustainability after the end of the subgrant period (4303(f));

(F) A description of how the eligible applicant will support the use of effective parent, family, and community engagement strategies to operate each charter school that will receive funds under the State entity’s program (4303(f)); and

(G) A needs analysis and description of the need for the proposed project, including how the proposed project would serve the interests and meet the needs of students and families in the communities the charter school intends to serve. The needs analysis, which may consist of information and documents previously submitted to an authorized public chartering agency to address need, must include, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:

(1) Descriptions of the local community support, including information that demonstrates interest in, and need for, the charter school;

benefits to the community; and other evidence of demand for the charter school that demonstrates a strong likelihood the charter school will achieve and maintain its enrollment projections. Such information may include information on waiting lists for the proposed charter school or existing charter schools or traditional public schools, data on access to seats in high-quality public schools in the districts from which the charter school expects to draw students, and family interest in specialized instructional approaches proposed to be implemented at the charter school.

(2) Information on the proposed charter school’s projected student enrollment and evidence to support the projected enrollment based on the needs analysis and other relevant data and

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:48 Apr 23, 2024 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1kh am m on d on

D S

K

JM

1Z 7X

2P R

O D w ith

N O

T

IC

31177 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 2024 / Notices factors, such as the methodology and calculations used.

(3) An analysis of the proposed charter school’s projected student demographics and a description of the demographics of students attending public schools in the local community in which the charter school would be located and the school districts from which the students are, or would be, drawn to attend the charter school; a description of how the applicant plans to establish and maintain a racially and socio-economically diverse student body, including proposed strategies (that are consistent with applicable legal requirements) to recruit, admit, enroll, and retain a diverse student body. An applicant that is unlikely to establish and maintain a racially and socio-economically diverse student body at the proposed charter school because the charter school would be located in a racially or socio-economically segregated or isolated community, or due to the charter school’s specific educational mission, must describe-

(i) Why it is unlikely to be able to establish and maintain a racially and socio-economically diverse student body at the proposed charter school;

(ii) How the anticipated racial and socio-economic makeup of the student body would promote the purposes of the CSP to provide high-quality educational opportunities to all students, which may include a specialized educational program or mission; and

(iii) The anticipated impact of the proposed charter school on the racial and socio-economic diversity of the public schools and school districts from which students would be drawn to attend the charter school.

(4) A robust family and community engagement plan designed to ensure the active participation of families and the community that includes the following:

(i) How families and the community were, are, or will be engaged in determining the vision and design for the charter school, including specific examples of how families’ and the community’s input was, is, or is expected to be incorporated into the vision and design for the charter school.

(ii) How the charter school will meaningfully engage with both families and the community to create strong and ongoing partnerships.

(iii) How the charter school will foster a collaborative culture that involves the families of all students, including underserved students, in ensuring their ongoing input in school decision-making.

(iv) How the charter school’s recruitment, admissions, enrollment, and retention processes will engage and accommodate families from various backgrounds, including English learners, students with disabilities, and students of color, including by holding enrollment and recruitment events on weekends or during non-standard work hours, making interpreters available, and providing enrollment and recruitment information in widely accessible formats (e.g., hard copy and online in multiple languages; as appropriate, large print or braille for visually impaired individuals) through widely available and transparent means (e.g., online and at community locations).

(v) How the charter school has engaged or will engage families and the community to develop an instructional model to best serve the targeted student population and their families, including students with disabilities and English learners.

(5) How the plans for the operation of the charter school will support and reflect the needs of students and families in the community, including consideration of district or community assets and how the school’s location, or anticipated location if a facility has not been secured, will facilitate access for the targeted student population (e.g., access to public transportation or other transportation options, the demographics of neighborhoods within walking distance of the school, and transportation plans and costs for students who are not able to walk or use public transportation to access the school).

(6) A description of the steps the applicant has taken or will take to ensure that the proposed charter school

(A) would not hamper, delay, or negatively affect any desegregation efforts in the community in which the charter school would be located and the public school districts from which students are, or would be, drawn to attend the charter school, including efforts to comply with a court order, statutory obligation, or voluntary efforts to create and maintain desegregated public schools; and (B) to ensure that the proposed charter school would not otherwise increase racial or socio-economic segregation or isolation in the schools from which the students are, or would be, drawn to attend the charter school. (2022 NFP).

(iii)(A) A description of how the State entity, in awarding subgrants to eligible applicants, will—

(1) Give priority to eligible applicants that propose projects that include the creation, replication, or expansion of a high-quality charter school that is developed and implemented—

(i) With meaningful and ongoing engagement with current or former teachers and other educators; and

(ii) Using a community-centered approach that includes an assessment of community assets, informs the development of the charter school, and includes the implementation of protocols and practices designed to ensure that the charter school will use and interact with community assets on an ongoing basis to create and maintain strong community ties.

(B) In its application, an eligible applicant must provide a high-quality plan that demonstrates how its proposed project would meet the requirements in paragraph (G)(6)(iii)(A)(1) of these application requirements, accompanied by a timeline for key milestones that span the course of planning, development, and implementation of the charter school.

(iv) In the case of a State entity that partners with an outside organization to carry out the State entity’s quality charter school program, in whole or in part, a description of the roles and responsibilities of the partner (4303(f));

(v) A description of how the State entity will ensure that each charter school receiving funds under the State entity’s program has considered and planned for the transportation needs of the school’s students (4303(f));

(vi) A description of how the State in which the State entity is located addresses charter schools in the State’s open meetings and open records laws (4303(f));

(vii) A description of how the State entity will support diverse charter school models, including models that serve rural communities (4303(f));

(viii) Evidence to support the requested funds and projected enrollment, such as explanations regarding the methodology and calculations (2022 NFP); and

(iX) A description, including a timeline, of how the State entity will monitor and report on subgrant performance in accordance with 2 CFR 200.329, and address and mitigate subgrantee risk, including—

(A) How subgrantees will be selected for in-depth monitoring, including factors that indicate higher risk (e.g., charter schools that have management contracts with for-profit education management organizations, virtual charter schools, and charter schools with a history of poor performance);

(B) How identified subgrantee risk will be addressed;

(C) How subgrantee expenditures will be monitored;

(D) How monitors will be trained;

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:48 Apr 23, 2024 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1kh am m on d on

D S

K

JM

1Z 7X

2P R

O D w ith

N O

T

IC

31178 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 24, 2024 / Notices

(E) How monitoring findings will be shared with subgrantees;

(F) How corrective action plans will be used to resolve monitoring findings;

(G) How the State entity will ensure transparency so that monitoring findings and corrective action plans are available to families and the public; and

(H) How the State entity will work with authorized public chartering agencies to share information regarding the monitoring of subgrantees, including in areas related to fiscal protocols and organizational governance, for the purpose of reducing the reporting burden on charter schools (2022 NFP).

(b) Assurances—Assurances by the State entity that—

(1) Each charter school receiving funds through the State entity’s program will have a high degree of autonomy over budget and operations, including autonomy over personnel decisions (4303(f));

(2) The State entity will support charter schools in meeting the educational needs of their students, including children with disabilities and English learners (4303(f));

(3) The State entity will ensure that the authorized public chartering agency of any charter school that receives funds under the State entity’s program adequately monitors each charter school under the authority of such agency in recruiting, enrolling, retaining, and meeting the needs of all students, including children with disabilities and English learners (4303(f));

(4) The State entity will provide adequate technical assistance to eligible applicants to meet the objectives described in application requirement (a)(1)(8) (4303(f));

(5) The State entity will promote quality authorizing, consistent with State law, such as through providing technical assistance to support each authorized public chartering agency in the State to improve such agency’s ability to monitor the charter schools authorized by the agency, including by—

(i) Assessing annual performance data of the schools, including, as appropriate, graduation rates, student academic growth, and rates of student attrition;

(ii) Reviewing the schools’ independent, annual audits of financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and ensuring that any such audits are publicly reported; and

(iii) Holding charter schools accountable to the academic, financial, and operational quality controls agreed to between the charter school and the authorized public chartering agency involved, such as renewal, non-renewal, or revocation of the school’s charter (4303(f));

(6) The State entity will work to ensure that charter schools are included with the traditional public schools in decision-making about the public school system in the State (4303(f));

(7) The State entity will ensure that each charter school receiving funds under the State entity’s program makes publicly available, consistent with the dissemination requirements of the annual State report card under section 1111(h) of the ESEA, including on the website of the school, information to help parents make informed decisions about the education options available to their children, including—

(i) Information on the educational program;

(ii) Student support services;

(iii) Parent contract requirements (as applicable), including any financial obligations or fees;

(iv) Enrollment criteria (as applicable); and

(v) Annual performance and enrollment data for each of the subgroups of students, as defined in section 1111(c)(2) of the ESEA, except that such disaggregation of performance and enrollment data shall not be required in a case in which the number of students in a group is insufficient to yield statistically reliable information or the results would reveal personally identifiable information about an individual student (4303(f)).

(8) The State Entity will ensure that each charter school receiving CSP funding has not and will not enter into a contract with a for-profit…