PKG00250112-instructions.pdf

FY 2019

U.S. Department of

Education Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education Washington, DC 20202-7142

APPLICATION FOR GRANTS UNDER

PERKINS INNOVATION AND MODERNIZATION

GRANT PROGRAM

CFDA Number: 84.051F Form Approved OMB No. 1894-0006 Expiration Date: 01-31-2021 Closing Date: June 14, 2019

Table of Contents

Pre-Application Webinar

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ FIRST……………………………………………………………………………….5

I. Background Information Program Overview Authorizing Legislation

II. Basic Application Information Perkins Innovation and Modernization Competition Design Elements

III. Application Submission Procedures Submission Procedures

IV. Application Instructions Electronic Application Format Completing and Submitting Your Application Addressing Your Questions

A. Required Forms Standard Forms Instructions

B. Application Narrative Instructions Instructions for ED Abstract Narrative Instructions for Project Narrative

C. Budget Narrative Instructions for Budget Narrative

D. Other Attachment Form Instructions for Appendix

E. Additional Information 2019 Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Application Selection Criteria Executive Order 12372 Paperwork Burden Statement

IV. Optional Attachments……………………………………………………………………………………………….40 Optional Checklist for Documenting Rural Eligibility and Locale Codes Optional Application Checklist

Dear Applicant:

Thank you for your interest in the Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Program! This opportunity is authorized by section 114(e) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, as amended by the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (the Perkins Act). With this new authority, we are seeking projects that will identify, support, and evaluate Evidence-Based and innovative strategies and activities to improve and modernize Career and Technical Education (CTE) and align workforce skills with labor market needs in CTE programs funded under the Perkins Act.

Please take time to review the Notice Inviting Applications published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2019 and this application package thoroughly. You will need a clear understanding of the program background, absolute priority, competitive preference priorities, invitational priority, program and application requirements, definitions, selection criteria, and all of the application instructions. 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 if the application does not contain the information required under the program (EDGAR §75.216 (b) (c)). We ask applicants to view this initiative not just as an opportunity for additional funds, but as an opportunity to redesign CTE programming to better prepare students for successful careers.

For this competition, it is mandatory for applicants to use the government-wide website, Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) to apply. Be sure to read the Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants in this application package for more information. We strongly urge you to familiarize yourself with Grants.gov and recommend that you register and submit your application early.

The Department expects to award up to 6 new grants under this competition. We will award grants on a competitive basis for an initial project period of up to 36 months. Subject to the availability of funds and a grantee’s demonstrated progress in achieving its project objectives, we may make a continuation award for a final 24-month project period. We invite you to attend a pre-application webinar on this grant initiative on Thursday, April 25 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. You will find registration information in this application package. Please email PerkinsIandMgrants@ed.gov if you have other questions. Again, thank you for your interest in this competition and your commitment to improving the quality of CTE programming and student learning in schools across this country.

Sincerely, Sharon Miller

Director, Division of Academic and Technical Education Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education U. S. Department of Education

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE OF CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/04/15/2019-07456/applications-for-new-awards-perkins-innovation-and-modernization-grant-program mailto:PerkinsIandMgrants@ed.gov

PRE-APPL IC AT IO N WEBI N AR

The Department will host an informational session online, designed to help interested applicants with the application process, on April 25, 2019 at 2:00 pm EDT. We encourage interested applicants to participate in this webinar. Registration is required for this event. You may register at the following link: https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/register/zhkupzsx

Participation in the webinar is voluntary. For those who are not able to attend, the training will be archived and available via a link posted on the Perkins Collaborative Resource Network (PCRN) Web site at cte.ed.gov.

https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/register/zhkupzsx https://cte.ed.gov/

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ FIRST

Applications must be submitted though Grants.gov. The deadline for submission of all applications is June 14, 2019 at 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

***Updated 02/2019***

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.

Browser Support

The latest versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Apple Safari are supported for use with Grants.gov. However, these web browsers undergo frequent changes and updates, so we recommend you have the latest version when using Grants.gov. Legacy versions of these web browsers may be functional, but you may experience issues.

For additional information or updates, please see the Grants.gov Browser information in the Applicant FAQs: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#browser

ATTENTION – Workspace, Adobe Forms and PDF Files

Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different web forms within an application. For each funding opportunity announcement (FOA), you can create individual instances of a workspace.

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

1) Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

2) Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of your application process as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help.

a. Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out web forms you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#browser https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html

b. Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit your application.

c. Complete SF-424 Fields First: The forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant name, address, and DUNS Number. Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.

3) Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab. Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

4) Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after submission. Using the tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html

Helpful Reminders

1) REGISTER EARLY – Grants.gov registration involves many steps including registration on SAM (www.sam.gov) which may take approximately one week to complete, but could take upwards of several weeks to complete, depending upon the completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by an applicant. 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. Please note that once your SAM registration is active, it will take 24-48 hours for the information to be available in Grants.gov, and before you can submit an application through Grants.gov. For detailed information on the Registration Steps, please go to:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html [Note: Your organization will need to update its SAM registration annually.]

Primary information about SAM is available at www.sam.gov. However, to further assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in SAM or updating your existing SAM account the Department of Education has prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet which you can find at:

http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html

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 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html http://www.sam.gov/ http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html

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 SAM. 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 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern 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 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern 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/web/grants/applicants/encountering-error-messages.html. For more detailed information on troubleshooting Adobe errors, you can review the Adobe Reader Software Tip Sheet at:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html. 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 email at: mailto:support@grants.gov or access the Grants.gov Self-Service Knowledge Base web portal at: https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants

If electronic submission is required, you must submit an electronic application before 11:59:59 p.m.

Eastern Time, 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. 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. (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.)

Helpful Hints When Working with Grants.gov Please go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html for help with Grants.gov. For additional tips related to submitting grant applications, please refer to the Grants.gov Applicant FAQs found at this Grants.gov link: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html as well as additional information on Workspace at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#workspace.

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/encountering-error-messages.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/encountering-error-messages.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html mailto:support@grants.gov https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#workspace https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#workspace

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.)

Attaching Files – Additional Tips Please note the following tips related to attaching files to your application:

• When you submit your application electronically, you must upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to your application as files in either Portable Document Format (PDF) or Microsoft Word. Although applicants have the option of uploading any narrative sections and all other attachments to their application in either PDF or Microsoft Word, we recommend applicants submit all documents as read-only flattened PDFs, meaning any fillable PDF files must be saved and submitted as non-fillable PDF files and not as interactive or fillable PDF files, to better ensure applications are processed in a more timely, accurate, and efficient manner.

• 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.

• When attaching files, applicants should follow the guidelines established by Grants.gov on the size and content of file names. Uploaded file names must be fewer than 50 characters, and, in general, applicants should not use any special characters. However, Grants.gov does allow for the following UTF-8 characters when naming your attachments: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore, hyphen, space, period, parenthesis, curly braces, square brackets, ampersand, tilde, exclamation point, comma, semi colon, apostrophe, at sign, number sign, dollar sign, percent sign, plus sign, and equal sign. Applications submitted that do not comply with the Grants.gov guidelines will be rejected at Grants.gov and not forwarded to the Department.

• 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 with all attachments is less than 5 MB. Therefore, you may want to check the total size of your package before submission.

I . Background Information

PROGRA M OVERVIEW

Program Office: Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education Grant Name: Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Program CFDA Number: 84.051F Grant Type: Discretionary/Competitive Grant

Program Description: The purpose of the Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Program is to identify, support, and evaluate Evidence-Based1 and innovative strategies and activities to improve and modernize Career and Technical Education (CTE) and align workforce skills with labor market needs in CTE programs funded under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, as amended by the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V or the Act).

AUTHO RIZ I NG LEGI SL A TIO N

Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Program is authorized under Section 114(e) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, as amended by Perkins V.

Section 114 (e) INNOVATION AND MODERNIZATION.—

(1) GRANT PROGRAM.--To identify, support, and rigorously evaluate evidence-based and innovative strategies and activities to improve and modernize career and technical education and align workforce skills with labor market needs as part of the State plan under section 122 and local application under section 134 and the requirements of this subsection, the Secretary may use not more than 20 percent of the amounts appropriated under subsection (f) to award grants to eligible entities, eligible institutions, or eligible recipients to carry out the activities described in paragraph (7).

(2) NON-FEDERAL MATCH.—

(A) MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED.--Except as provided under subparagraph (B), to receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity, eligible institution, or eligible recipient shall, through cash or in-kind contributions, provide matching funds from non-Federal sources in an amount equal to not less than 50 percent of the funds provided under such grant.

(B) EXCEPTION.--The Secretary may waive the matching fund requirement under subparagraph

(A) if the eligible entity, eligible institution, or eligible recipient demonstrates exceptional circumstances.

(3) APPLICATION.--To receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity, eligible institution, or eligible recipient shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such

1 All defined terms are denoted with capitals. For definitions, see the Federal Register Notice Inviting Applications.

manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including, at a minimum—

(A) an identification and designation of the agency, institution, or school responsible for the administration and supervision of the program assisted under this paragraph;

(B) a description of the budget for the project, the source and amount of the matching funds required under paragraph (2)(A), and how the applicant will continue the project after the grant period ends, if applicable;

(C) a description of how the applicant will use the grant funds, including how such funds will directly benefit students, including special populations, served by the applicant;

(D) a description of how the program assisted under this subsection will be coordinated with the activities carried out under section 124 or 135;

(E) a description of how the career and technical education programs or programs of study to be implemented with grant funds reflect the needs of regional, State, or local employers, as demonstrated by the comprehensive needs assessment under section 134(c);

(F) a description of how the program assisted under this subsection will be evaluated and how that evaluation may inform the report described in subsection (d)(2)(C); and

(G) an assurance that the applicant will—

(i) provide information to the Secretary, as requested, for evaluations that the Secretary may carry out; and

(ii) make data available to third parties for validation, in accordance with applicable data privacy laws, including section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C.

1232g, commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974).

(4) PRIORITY.--In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to applications from eligible entities, eligible institutions, or eligible recipients that will predominantly serve students from low-income families.

(5) GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY.—

(A) In general.--In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall award no less than 25 percent of the total available funds for any fiscal year to eligible entities, eligible institutions, or eligible recipients proposing to fund career and technical education activities that serve—

(i) a local educational agency with an urban-centric district locale code of 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the Secretary;

(ii) an institution of higher education primarily serving the one or more areas served by such a local educational agency;

(iii) a consortium of such local educational agencies or such institutions of higher education;

(iv) a partnership between—

(I) an educational service agency or a nonprofit organization; and

(II) such a local educational agency or such an institution of higher education; or

(v) a partnership between—

(I) a grant recipient described in clause (i) or (ii); and

(II) a State educational agency.

(B) EXCEPTION.—Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall reduce the amount of funds made available under such clause if the Secretary does not receive a sufficient number of applications of sufficient quality.

(6) Duration.—

(A) IN GENERAL.--Grants awarded under this subsection shall be for a period of not more than 3 years.

(B) EXTENSION.--The Secretary may extend such grants for not more than 1 additional 2-year period if the grantee demonstrates to the Secretary that the grantee is achieving the grantee's program objectives and, as applicable, has improved education outcomes for career and technical education students, including special populations.

(7) USES OF FUNDS.--An eligible entity, eligible institution, or eligible recipient that is awarded a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale evidence-based, field-initiated innovations to modernize and improve effectiveness and alignment of career and technical education and to improve student outcomes in career and technical education, and rigorously evaluate such innovations, through one or more of the following activities:

(A) Designing and implementing courses or programs of study aligned to labor market needs in new or emerging fields and working with industry to upgrade equipment, technology, and related curriculum used in career and technical education programs, which is needed for the development, expansion, and implementation of State-approved career and technical education programs of study, including—

(i) the development or acquisition of instructional materials associated with the equipment and technology purchased by an eligible entity, eligible institution, or eligible recipient through the grant; or

(ii) efforts to expand, develop, or implement programs designed to increase opportunities for students to take rigorous courses in coding or computer science subject areas, and support for statewide efforts to increase access and implementation of coding or computer science courses in order to meet local labor market needs in occupations that require skills in those subject areas.

(B) Improving career and technical education outcomes of students served by eligible entities, eligible institutions, or eligible recipients through activities such as—

(i) supporting the development and enhancement of innovative delivery models for career and technical education related work-based learning, including school-based simulated work sites, mentoring, work site visits, job shadowing, project-based learning, and skills-based and paid internships;

(ii) increasing the effective use of technology within career and technical education programs and programs of study;

(iii) supporting new models for integrating academic content at the secondary and postsecondary level in career and technical education; or

(iv) integrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, including computer science education, with career and technical education.

(C) Improving the transition of students—

(i) from secondary education to postsecondary education or employment through programs, activities, or services that may include the creation, development, or expansion of dual or concurrent enrollment programs, articulation agreements, credit transfer agreements, and competency-based education; or

(ii) from the completion of one postsecondary program to another postsecondary program that awards a recognized postsecondary credential.

(D) Supporting the development and enhancement of innovative delivery models for career and technical education.

(E) Working with industry to design and implement courses or programs of study aligned to labor market needs in new or emerging fields.

(F) Supporting innovative approaches to career and technical education by redesigning the high school experience for students, which may include evidence-based transitional support strategies for students who have not met postsecondary education eligibility requirements.

(G) Creating or expanding recruitment, retention, or professional development activities for career and technical education teachers, faculty, school leaders, administrators, specialized instructional support personnel, career guidance and academic counselors, and paraprofessionals, which may include—

(i) providing resources and training to improve instruction for, and provide appropriate accommodations to, special populations;

(ii) externships or site visits with business and industry;

(iii) the integration of coherent and rigorous academic content standards and career and technical education curricula, including through opportunities for appropriate academic and career and technical education teachers to jointly develop and implement curricula and pedagogical strategies;

(iv) mentoring by experienced teachers;

(v) providing resources or assistance with meeting State teacher licensure and credential requirements; or

(vi) training for career guidance and academic counselors at the secondary level to improve awareness of postsecondary education and postsecondary career options, and improve the ability of such counselors to communicate to students the career opportunities and employment trends.

(H) Improving CTE concentrator employment outcomes in non-traditional fields.

(I) Supporting the use of career and technical education programs and programs of study in a coordinated strategy to address identified employer needs and workforce shortages, such as shortages in the early childhood, elementary school, and secondary school education workforce.

(J) Providing integrated student support that addresses the comprehensive needs of students, such as incorporating accelerated and differentiated learning opportunities supported by evidence-based strategies for special populations.

(K) Establishing an online portal for career and technical education students, including special populations, preparing for postsecondary career and technical education, which may include opportunities for mentoring, gaining financial literacy skills, and identifying career opportunities and interests, and a platform to establish online savings accounts to be used exclusively for postsecondary career and technical education programs and programs of study.

(L) Developing and implementing a pay for success initiative.

(8) Evaluation.--Each eligible entity, eligible institution, or eligible recipient receiving a grant under this subsection shall provide for an independent evaluation of the activities carried out using such grant and submit to the Secretary an annual report that includes—

(A) a description of how funds received under this paragraph were used;

(B) the performance of the eligible entity, eligible institution, or eligible recipient with respect to, at a minimum, the performance indicators described under section 113, as applicable, and disaggregated by—

(i) subgroups of students described in section 1111(c)(2)(B) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;

(ii) special populations; and

(iii) as appropriate, each career and technical education program and program of study;

and

(C) a quantitative analysis of the effectiveness of the project carried out under this paragraph.

I I . Basic Application Information

Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grants (84.051F) Application available: April 15, 2019

Pre-Application Information Webinar for potential applicants: April 25, 2019 Intent to Apply: May 15, 2019

Deadline for transmitting applications: June 14, 2019 Estimated Award Announcement: Late summer, 2019

NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS

The full text of the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for the FY 2019 Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Program competition can be found on the Federal Register Web site at:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/04/15/2019-07456/applications-for-new-awards-perkins-innovation-and-modernization-grant-program. For convenience, the FY 2019 Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Program NIA is also posted on the PCRN website.

Deadline All applications must be received on or before 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time, on June 14, 2019. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted, and must be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time, on the application deadline date. Late applications will not be accepted. The Department is required to enforce the established deadline to ensure fairness to all applicants. No changes or additions to an application will be accepted after the deadline date and time. Only applications that are successfully submitted by the established deadline will be peer reviewed.

An applicant may check the status of its application, any time after submission, by using the "Track My Application" feature available from the upper navigation on the Grants.gov site. Applicants may also check the status of a submission by logging into their Grants.gov account using the Applicant Login.

After logging in, an applicant should click on the "Check Application Status" link on the left-hand menu.

Application Package Please note that the Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Program Application Package is for applicants to download and use as a guide only. All Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Program applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov, unless 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.

Intent to Apply We will be able to develop a more efficient process for reviewing grant applications if we can anticipate the number of applicants that intend to apply for funding under this competition. Therefore, we strongly encourage each potential applicant to notify us of the applicant’s intent to submit an application for funding by sending a short email message with the applicant organization’s name and address to PerkinsIandMgrants@ed.gov with “Intent to Apply” in the email subject line. Applicants that do not provide this email notification may still apply for funding.

Apply!

All applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov.

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/08/18/2014-19426/applications-for-new-awards-preschool-development-grants-development-grants https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/04/15/2019-07456/applications-for-new-awards-perkins-innovation-and-modernization-grant-program https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/04/15/2019-07456/applications-for-new-awards-perkins-innovation-and-modernization-grant-program https://cte.ed.gov/grants/funding-opportunities http://grants.gov/applicants/applicant_profile.jsp http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/home.html

PERKI N S I N NO VA TIO N A N D MODE R NIZ AT IO N GR A N T PR OGR AM COMPE TIT IO N DE SIG N ELEME NT S

I. Eligibility

The following entities are eligible to apply under this competition. Definitions for these entities are included in the Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Program NIA:

(a) An Eligible Entity.

(b) An Eligible Institution.

(c) An Eligible Recipient.

Note: An Eligible Entity must comply with the regulations in 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129, which address group applications.

Rural Applicants: Consistent with section 114(e)(5) of Perkins V, the Department plans to award at least 25 percent of the available funds to applicants serving eligible rural communities, contingent on receipt of a sufficient number of applications of sufficient quality. To qualify as a rural applicant under section 114(e)(5)(A), an applicant must meet at least one of the following requirements:

(a) The applicant is--

(1) An LEA with an urban-centric district locale code of 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the Secretary;

(2) An IHE primarily serving one or more areas served by an LEA with an urban-centric district locale code of 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the Secretary;

(3) A consortium of such LEAs or such IHEs described in clause (1) or (2), above;

(4) An educational service agency or a nonprofit organization in partnership with such an LEA or such an IHE, in clause (1) or (2), above; or

(5) An applicant described in clause (1) or (2) in partnership with an SEA.

Note: For the purposes of meeting the statutory rural set aside, an applicant must meet the requirements as listed above and provide the necessary locale codes in its grant application. Applicants are encouraged to retrieve locale codes from the National Center for Education Statistics School District search tool (https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/), where districts can be looked up individually to retrieve locale codes.

II. Absolute, Competitive, and Invitational Priorities

This competition includes one absolute priority that applicants must address in order to be eligible for a grant. An applicant that is eligible to apply to the Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Program competition will not be considered for funding if the Department finds that it fails to meet the absolute priority or a requirement set forth in the NIA. For this reason, we strongly encourage each applicant to respond carefully and fully to the absolute priority and to each requirement. Responding to the competitive and invitational priorities is optional.

The FY 2019 Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Program competition identifies one Absolute Priority that applicants must address:

Plan for Evidence-Based Field-Initiated Innovations. To meet this priority, applicants must submit a plan to create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale Evidence-Based, field-initiated innovations to modernize and to improve effectiveness and alignment of CTE with labor market needs and to improve student outcomes in CTE. The plan must include the following information:

(a) A description of how the proposed project will carry out one or more of the allowable activities under section 114(e)(7) of Perkins V, detailed in Program Requirement 2: Use of Funds, and how the proposed project is designed to create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale Evidence-Based, field-initiated innovations to modernize and improve effectiveness and alignment of CTE with labor market needs and to improve student outcomes in CTE.

(b) A detailed description of the key goals, the activities to be undertaken, the rationale for selecting those activities, the timeline, and the parties responsible for implementing the activities.

(c) A description of how the proposed project Demonstrates a Rationale, including the corresponding Logic Model.

This competition also identifies three competitive preference priorities that applicants may choose to address. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an additional 3 points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 1(a), and we award an additional 2 points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 1(b), as applicable. We award up to an additional 3 points to an application, depending on how well the application meets Competitive Preference Priority 2, and we award an additional 2 points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 3. The total maximum points we may award an application that chooses to address all of the Competitive Preference Priorities is 10. These priorities are:

Competitive Preference Priority 1 – Promoting STEM Education and Computer Science Education.

Projects designed to improve student achievement or other education outcomes in one or more of the following areas: science, technology, engineering, math and Computer Science. These projects must address Competitive Preference Priority 1(a) or both Competitive Preference Priority 1(a) and Competitive Preference Priority 1(b):

Competitive Preference Priority 1(a)--Promoting STEM Education. Projects designed to improve student achievement or other education outcomes in one or more of the following areas: science, technology, engineering, and math. These projects must address one or more of the following priority areas:

(a) Increasing access to STEM coursework, and hands-on learning opportunities, such as through expanded course offerings, dual-enrollment, high-quality online coursework, or other innovative delivery mechanisms.

(b) Creating or expanding partnerships between schools, local educational agencies (LEAs), State educational agencies (SEAs), businesses, not-for-profit organizations, or Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) to give students access to internships, apprenticeships, or other Work-Based Learning experiences in STEM fields.

(c) Supporting programs that lead to Recognized Postsecondary Credentials or skills that align to the skill needs of industries in the State or regional economy for careers in STEM fields.

Competitive Preference Priority 1(b)--Promoting Computer Science Education. Projects designed to improve student achievement or other education outcomes in Computer Science. These projects must address one or more of the following priority areas:

(a) Increasing access to Computer Science coursework, and hands-on Computer Science learning opportunities, such as through expanded course offerings, dual-enrollment, high-quality online coursework, or other innovative delivery mechanisms.

(b) Creating or expanding partnerships between schools, LEAs, SEAs, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, or IHEs to give students access to Computer Science internships, apprenticeships, or other Work-Based Learning experiences in Computer Science fields.

(c) Supporting programs that lead to Computer Science Recognized Postsecondary Credentials or skills that align with the skill needs of industries in the State or regional economy involved for careers in Computer Science.

Competitive Preference Priority 2--Serving Students from Low-Income Families. Projects designed to predominantly serve students from low-income families. To meet this priority, applicants must submit a plan in which the students the applicant proposes to serve are predominantly from low-income families.

The plan must include—

(a) The specific activities the applicant proposes to ensure that the project will predominantly serve students from low-income families;

(b) The rationale for how the proposed activities will result in projects in which the students to be served are predominantly students from low-income families;

(c) The timeline for implementing the activities;

(d) The parties responsible for implementing the activities; and

(e) The key data sources and measures demonstrating that the project is designed to predominantly serve students from low-income families.

Note: These data sources and measures may include: children aged 5 through 17 in poverty counted in the most recent census data approved by the Secretary2; students eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.); students from families receiving assistance under the State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act; students eligible to receive medical assistance under the Medicaid Program; students who are Federal Pell Grant recipients; students who are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

2 The U.S. Census Bureau LEA poverty estimates are available at: https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/2017/demo/saipe/2017-school-districts.html https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/2017/demo/saipe/2017-school-districts.html https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/2017/demo/saipe/2017-school-districts.html

Program authorized by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2013 et seq.); or a composite of such indicators.

Competitive Preference Priority 3--Serving Students in Qualified Opportunity Zones. Projects designed to promote economic mobility by serving students residing or attending CTE programs in Qualified Opportunity Zones. To meet this priority, each eligible applicant must—

(a) Submit documentation that identifies at least one designated Qualified Opportunity Zone by census tract number, as well as by the county and State; and

(b) Describe how the project will promote economic mobility by serving students who reside, or who will attend CTE programs, in the designated Qualified Opportunity Zone(s) identified under paragraph (a).

This competition includes one invitational priority that applicants may choose to address.

Invitational Priority--Spurring Investment in CTE from Qualified Opportunity Funds. Under this priority, an applicant must provide evidence in its application that it has received or will receive financial assistance from a qualified opportunity fund under section 1400Z-2 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, for a purpose directly related to its proposed project, especially for property including needed equipment and technology. In addressing this priority, an applicant must identify the qualified opportunity fund from which it has received or will receive financial assistance.

Note: Financial assistance from a qualified opportunity fund could allow an eligible applicant to meet the cost sharing or matching requirement in whole or in part.

III. Requirements

This competition includes seven application requirements that eligible applicants must meet in order to be considered for funding:

(a) Each applicant must identify and designate the agency, institution, or school responsible for the administration and supervision of the proposed project;

(b) Each applicant must describe the budget for the project, including the source and amount of the required matching funds and how the applicant will continue the project after the grant period ends, if applicable;

(c) Each applicant must describe how the applicant will use the grant funds, including how such grant funds will directly benefit students, including Special Populations, served by the applicant;

Note: In addressing this application requirement, applicants should indicate which allowable activities in Program Requirement 2 the applicant intends to fund.

(d) Each applicant must describe how the program assisted under this subsection will be coordinated with the activities carried out under section 124 or 135 of Perkins V.

Note: In addressing this application requirement, applicants need only describe this coordination, to the extent the applicant is aware of State leadership activities or local uses of funds under section 124 or 135 of Perkins V;

(e) Each applicant must describe how the CTE programs or Programs of Study to be implemented with grant funds reflect the needs of regional, State, or local employers;

(f) Each applicant must describe how the proposed program will be evaluated and how that evaluation may inform the report described in section 114(d)(2)(C) of Perkins V; and Note: In addressing this application requirement, applicants should ensure that their response is consistent with Program Requirement 1.

(g) Each applicant must provide an assurance that the applicant will—

(i) Provide information to the Secretary, as requested, for evaluations that the Secretary may carry out; and

(ii) Make data available to third parties for validation, in accordance with applicable data privacy laws, including section 444 of GEPA (20 U.S.C. 1232g, commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974).

Note: The applicable FERPA disclosure regulations regarding prior consent may be found at 34 CFR 99.30 and 34 CFR 99.31(a).

Additionally, there are two program requirements for the Perkins Innovation and Modernization grants:

Program Requirement 1--Evaluation. In accordance with section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, a grantee must conduct an Independent Evaluation of the activities carried out under the grant and submit to the Secretary an annual report that includes:

(a) A description of how the grant funds were used;

(b) The performance of the project with respect to, at a minimum, the performance indicators described under section 113 of the Act, as applicable, and disaggregated by—

(1) Subgroups of students described in section 1111(c)(2)(B) of the ESEA;

(2) Special Populations; and

(3) As appropriate, each CTE program and Program of Study; and

(c) A quantitative analysis of the effectiveness of the project.

Program Requirement 2--Use of Funds. In accordance with section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, a grantee must use Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Program funds for one or more of the following activities:

(a) Designing and implementing courses or Programs of Study aligned to labor market needs in new or emerging fields and working with industry to upgrade equipment, technology, and related curriculum used in CTE programs, which is needed for the development, expansion, and implementation of State-approved CTE Programs of Study, including—

(1) The development or acquisition of instructional materials associated with the equipment and technology purchased by an Eligible Entity, Eligible Institution, or Eligible Recipient through the grant; or

(2) Efforts to expand, develop, or implement programs designed to increase opportunities for students to take rigorous courses in coding or Computer Science subject areas, and support for statewide efforts to increase access and implementation of coding or Computer Science courses in order to meet local labor market needs in occupations that require skills in those subject areas.

(b) Improving CTE outcomes of students served by Eligible Entities, Eligible Institutions, or Eligible Recipients through activities such as—

(1) Supporting the development and enhancement of innovative delivery models for CTE-related Work-Based Learning, including school-based simulated work sites, mentoring, work site visits, job shadowing, project-based learning, and skills-based and paid internships;

(2) Increasing the effective use of technology within CTE programs and Programs of Study;

(3) Supporting new models…