PKG00250666-instructions.pdf

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Office of Well-Rounded Education

Washington, D.C. 20202-6200

Fiscal Year 2019

Application for New Grants Under the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students

Education Program

CFDA 84.206A

Dated Material - Open Immediately Closing Date: June 3, 2019

Approved OMB Number: 1894-0006

Expiration Date: 1/31/2021 ii

Paperwork Burden Statement

According to the Paperwork reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid

OMB control number for this information collection is: 1894-0006. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data resources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain benefit. If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this application, please contact Jennifer

Brianas or Sharon Burton, Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program, U.S.

Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 3E320, Washington D.C. 20202-

6200 directly. [Note: Please do not return the completed application this address.]

If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Jennifer Brianas, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland

Avenue, SW., room number 3E320, Washington, DC 20202-6200. Email:

jennifer.brianas@ed.gov; or Sharon Burton, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland

Avenue, SW., room number 3E256, Washington, DC 20202-6200. Email:

sharon.burton@ed.gov.

iii

Table of Contents

Dear Colleague Letter

Program Background Information

Program Overview

Applicant Guide

Technical Assistance Webinar for Prospective Applicants

Application Submission Procedures

Application Transmittal Instructions

Submitting Applications with Adobe Reader Software

Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants

Application Instructions

Electronic Application Format

Electronic Application Submission Checklist

Part 1: Preliminary Documents

Part 2: Budget Information

Part 3: ED Abstract Form

Part 4: Project Narrative Attachment Form

Part 5: Budget Narrative

Important Information Regarding Indirect Costs

Part 6: Other Attachment Form

Part 7: Assurances and Certifications

Part 8: Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs (Executive Order 12372)

Reporting and Accountability

Legal and Regulatory Information

Program Statute

Notice Inviting Applications

Dear

Colleague Letter

Dear Colleague:

Thank you for your interest in the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education

(Javits) Program, administered by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) of the U.S. Department of Education (Department).

The Javits Program is authorized under Section 4644 of Title IV, Part F, Subpart 4 of the

Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds

Act (ESEA). The Javits program supports evidence-based research, demonstration projects, innovative strategies and similar activities designed to build and enhance the ability of elementary and secondary schools nationwide to identify gifted and talented students and meet their special education needs. Eligible entities under this grant competition are state educational agencies; local educational agencies; the Bureau of Indian Education; institutions of higher education; other public agencies; and other private agencies and organizations.

Please take the time to review the application requirements, selection criteria, definitions, and all of the application instructions thoroughly. An application will not be evaluated for funding if the applicant does not comply with all of the procedural rules that govern the submission of the application or the application does not contain the information required under the program

(EDGAR §75.216 (b) and (c)).

The Javits competition includes three competitive preference priorities. One of the three competitive preference priorities is from section 4644(f)(1)(B) of the ESEA and the other two competitive preference priorities are from the Secretary’s Final Supplemental Priorities and

Definitions for Discretionary Grant Programs published in the Federal Register on March 2, 2018 (83 FR 9096) (Supplemental Priorities).

For this competition it is mandatory for applicants to use the government-wide website, Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov), to apply. Please note that the Grants.gov website interfaces differently than the U.S. Department of Education’s e-Application System. We strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with Grants.gov and strongly recommend that you register and submit early.

Applications submitted to Grants.gov for the Department will be posted using Adobe forms.

Therefore, applicants will need to download a compatible version of Adobe reader. Please review the Submitting Applications with Adobe Reader Software and Department

Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants forms found within this package for further information and guidance related to this requirement.

United States Department of Education

OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

OFFICE OF WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION

http://www.grants.gov/

The Department expects to award an estimated $4.7 million for new awards under this competition utilizing the FY 2019 funds allocated to the program. We will award discretionary grants on a competitive basis for a project period of 60 months. The deadline to submit applications is June 3, 2019. Grants are expected to be awarded at the end of August 2019.

Please visit our program website at https://www2.ed.gov/programs/javits/index.html for further information. If you have any questions about the program after reviewing the application package, please contact Jennifer Brianas by telephone at (202) 401-0299 or via e-mail at

Jennifer.Brianas@ed.gov or Sharon Burton at (202) 453-6569 or Sharon.burton@ed.gov .

Sylvia E. Lyles, Ph.D.

Director

Office of Well-Rounded Education https://www2.ed.gov/programs/javits/index.html mailto:Jennifer.Brianas@ed.gov mailto:Sharon.burton@ed.gov

Program Background Information

Program Overview The purpose of this competition under the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students

Education Program (Javits) is to provide grants to eligible entities to support evidence-based research, demonstration projects, innovative strategies, and similar activities designed to build and enhance the ability of elementary and secondary schools nationwide to identify gifted and talented students and meet their special educational needs.

Applicant Guide

These guidelines will help applicants to understand the Department’s expectations for addressing the priorities, requirements, definitions and selection criteria which are in the notice inviting applications

(NIA), published in the Federal Register on May 3, 2019. (See the Legal and Regulatory section of this application package which includes Javit’s NIA.)

The program narrative is the section of the application that directly responds to the priorities, requirements and selection criteria. The program narrative should follow the order of the selection criteria listed below and NIA.

Applicants should describe, in detail, the activities planned for the entire 60-month project period.

We encourage you to limit the project narrative to 35 pages. In addition, all applications must be entered into the Grants.gov system. E-mailed applications are not acceptable. Applicants have the option of uploading the narrative sections and all other attachments to their application in either

Portable Document Format (PDF) or Microsoft Word. However, we recommend applicants submit all documents as read-only, flattened Portable Document Format (PDFs), to better ensure applications are processed in a more timely, accurate, and efficient manner. If you choose to submit your application in Microsoft Word, you may do so using any version of Microsoft Word (i.e., a document ending in a .doc or .docx extension). If you upload a file type other than PDF or Microsoft

Word or if you submit a password-protected file, we will be unable to review that material. Please note that this will likely result in your application not being considered for funding. The Department will not convert material from other formats to PDF or Microsoft Word.

A minimum of three peer reviewers will evaluate each proposal. Reviewers will be asked to review the applicants’ responses to each of the criteria identified below and score each of their assigned proposals. The points for the selection criteria add up to a score of 100. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. Not responding to a specific criterion could negatively affect your score.

Additionally, there is an opportunity to score up to a maximum of 13 points if an application meets one or more of the three competitive preference priorities noted. One of the three competitive preference priorities is from section 4644(f)(1)(B) of the ESEA and the other two competitive preference priorities are from the Secretary’s Final Supplemental Priorities and Definitions for

Discretionary Grant Programs published in the Federal Register on March 2, 2018 (83 FR 9096) (FY

2018 Supplemental Priorities). The maximum score for each competitive preference priority is indicated in parentheses.

Application Requirements

This competition includes four application requirements. These application requirements are for the FY 2019 grant competition and any subsequent year in which awards are made from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.

Each application must describe how--

(1) The proposed identification methods, as well as gifted and talented services, materials, and methods, can be adapted, if appropriate, for use by all students;

(2) The proposed programs can be evaluated;

(3) The proposed project will, where appropriate, provide for the equitable participation of students and teachers in private nonprofit elementary schools and secondary schools, including the participation of teachers and other personnel in professional development programs serving such students;

(4) The proposed project will use funds to carry out one or more of the following activities:

(a) Conducting evidence-based research on methods and techniques for identifying and teaching gifted and talented students and for using gifted and talented programs and methods to identify and provide the opportunity for all students to be served, particularly low-income and at-risk students;

(b) Establishing and operating programs and projects for identifying and serving gifted and talented students, including innovative methods and strategies (such as summer programs, mentoring programs, peer tutoring programs, service learning programs, and cooperative learning programs involving business, industry, and education) for identifying and educating students who may not be served by traditional gifted and talented programs;

(c) Providing technical assistance and disseminating information, which may include how gifted and talented programs and methods may be adapted for use by all students, particularly low-income and at-risk students; or

(d) Training of personnel in the identification and education of gifted and talented students and in the use, where appropriate, of gifted and talented services, materials, and methods for all students.

Competitive Preference Priorities

The competitive preference priorities for this competition are:

PRIORITY 1 – Identification of, and Provision of Services to, Gifted and Talented Students (up to 5 points).

Projects designed to develop new information that assists schools in the identification of, and provision of services to, gifted and talented students (including economically disadvantaged individuals, individuals who are English learners, and children with disabilities) who may not be identified and served through traditional assessment methods.

PRIORITY 2 – Promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) Education, With a

Particular Focus on Computer Science (up to 5 points).

Projects designed to improve student achievement or other educational outcomes in computer science. These projects must be designed to expand access to and participation in rigorous computer science coursework for traditionally underrepresented students such as racial or ethnic minorities, women, students in communities served by rural local educational agencies, children or students with disabilities, or low-income individuals (as defined under section 312(g) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended).

PRIORITY 3 – Promoting Effective Instruction in Classrooms and Schools (up to 3 points).

Projects that are designed to promote innovative strategies to increase the number of students who have access to effective educators in one or both of the following:

(a) Schools that are located in communities served by rural local educational agencies.

(b) High-poverty schools.

Note: Examples of innovative strategies to increase the number of students who have access to effective educators may include, but are not limited to, universal screening of all students in one or more grade levels; assessment instruments that are culturally sensitive and account for language differences; preparation programs that are designed to enhance knowledge and academic skills; and identification committees that include representatives from various roles, responsibilities, and cultural backgrounds.

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria for this competition are from 34 CFR 75.210. The maximum possible score for addressing all criteria is 100 points. The maximum possible score for addressing each criterion is indicated in parentheses. The selection criteria for this competition are as follows:

(A) QUALITY OF THE PROJECT DESIGN (30 points).

The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers --

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

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

(3) The extent to which the proposed project represents an exceptional approach for meeting statutory purposes and requirements;

(4) The extent to which the proposed project is supported by promising evidence; and

(5) The extent to which performance feedback and continuous improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project.

(B) QUALITY OF PROJECT PERSONNEL (25 points).

The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project.

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

(1) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of the project director or principal investigator; and

(2) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of key project personnel.

(C) QUALITY OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN (15 points).

The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors--

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

(2) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project.

(D) QUALITY OF THE PROJECT SERVICES (30 points).

The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project. In determining the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. In addition, the

Secretary considers the likely impact of the services to be provided by the proposed project on the intended recipients of those services.

Definitions

The definitions listed below are from section 8101 of the ESEA, 34 CFR 77.1, and the

Supplemental Priorities. These definitions apply to the FY 2019 Javits grant competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition:

• Child with a disability, as defined in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities

Education Act (IDEA), means--

(a) A child--

(i) With intellectual disabilities, hearing impairments (including deafness), speech or language impairments, visual impairments (including blindness), serious emotional disturbance (referred to in the IDEA as “emotional disturbance”), orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairments, or specific learning disabilities; and

(ii) Who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services.

(b) The term “child with a disability,” for a child aged three through nine (or any subset of that age range, including ages three through five), may, at the discretion of the State and the local educational agency, include a child--

(i) Experiencing developmental delays, as defined by the State and as measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures, in one or more of the following areas:

physical development; cognitive development; communication development; social or emotional development; or adaptive development; and

(ii) Who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services.

• Computer science means the study of computers and algorithmic processes and includes the study of computing principles and theories, computational thinking, computer hardware, software design, coding, analytics, and computer applications.

Computer science often includes computer programming or coding as a tool to create software, including applications, games, websites, and tools to manage or manipulate data; or development and management of computer hardware and the other electronics related to sharing, securing, and using digital information.

In addition to coding, the expanding field of computer science emphasizes computational thinking and interdisciplinary problem-solving to equip students with the skills and abilities necessary to apply computation in our digital world.

Computer science does not include using a computer for everyday activities, such as browsing the internet; use of tools like word processing, spreadsheets, or presentation software; or using computers in the study and exploration of unrelated subjects.

• English learner means an individual--

(a) Who is aged 3 through 21;

(b) Who is enrolled or preparing to enroll in an elementary school or secondary school;

(c)(1) Who was not born in the United States or whose native language is a language other than English;

(2)(i) Who is a Native American or Alaska Native, or a native resident of the outlying areas; and

(ii) Who comes from an environment where a language other than English has had a significant impact on the individual’s level of English language proficiency; or

(3) Who is migratory, whose native language is a language other than English, and who comes from an environment where a language other than English is dominant; and

(d) Whose difficulties in speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language may be sufficient to deny the individual--

(1) The ability to meet the challenging State academic standards;

(2) The ability to successfully achieve in classrooms where the language of instruction is

English; or

(3) The opportunity to participate fully in society.

• Evidence-based, when used with respect to a State, local educational agency, or school activity, means an activity, strategy, or intervention that demonstrates a statistically significant effect on improving student outcomes or other relevant outcomes based on--

(a) Strong evidence from at least one-well designed and well-implemented experimental study;

(b) Moderate evidence from at least one well-designed and well-implemented quasi-experimental study; or

(c) Promising evidence from at least one well-designed and well-implemented correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias.

• Experimental study means a study that is designed to compare outcomes between two groups of individuals (such as students) that are otherwise equivalent except for their assignment to either a treatment group receiving a project component or a control group that does not. Randomized controlled trials, regression discontinuity design studies, and single-case design studies are the specific types of experimental studies that, depending on their design and implementation (e.g., sample attrition in randomized controlled trials and regression discontinuity design studies), can meet What Works Clearinghouse

(WWC) standards without reservations as described in the What Works Clearinghouse

Handbook (WWC Handbook):

(i) A randomized controlled trial employs random assignment of, for example, students, teachers, classrooms, or schools to receive the project component being evaluated (the treatment group) or not to receive the project component (the control group).

(ii) A regression discontinuity design study assigns the project component being evaluated using a measured variable (e.g., assigning students reading below a cutoff score to tutoring or developmental education classes) and controls for that variable in the analysis of outcomes.

(iii) A single-case design study uses observations of a single case (e.g., a student eligible for a behavioral intervention) over time in the absence and presence of a controlled treatment manipulation to determine whether the outcome is systematically related to the treatment.

• Gifted and talented, when used with respect to students, children, or youth, means students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities.

• High-poverty school means a school in which at least 50 percent of students are from low-income families as determined using one of the measures of poverty specified under section 1113(a)(5) of the of the ESEA. For middle and high schools, eligibility may be calculated on the basis of comparable data from feeder schools. Eligibility as a high-poverty school under this definition is determined on the basis of the most currently available data.

• Moderate evidence means that there is evidence of effectiveness of a key project component in improving a relevant outcome for a sample that overlaps with the populations or settings proposed to receive that component, based on a relevant finding from one of the following:

(i) A practice guide prepared by the WWC using version 2.1 or 3.0 of the WWC

Handbook reporting a “strong evidence base” or “moderate evidence base” for the corresponding practice guide recommendation;

(ii) An intervention report prepared by the WWC using version 2.1 or 3.0 of the

WWC Handbook reporting a “positive effect” or “potentially positive effect” on a relevant outcome based on a “medium to large” extent of evidence, with no reporting of a

“negative effect” or “potentially negative effect” on a relevant outcome; or

(iii) A single experimental study or quasi-experimental design study reviewed and reported by the WWC using version 2.1 or 3.0 of the WWC Handbook, or otherwise assessed by the Department using version 3.0 of the WWC Handbook, as appropriate, and that--

(A) Meets WWC standards with or without reservations;

(B) Includes at least one statistically significant and positive (i.e., favorable) effect on a relevant outcome;

(C) Includes no overriding statistically significant and negative effects on relevant outcomes reported in the study or in a corresponding WWC intervention report prepared under version 2.1 or 3.0 of the WWC Handbook; and

(D) Is based on a sample from more than one site (e.g., State, county, city, school district, or postsecondary campus) and includes at least 350 students or other individuals across sites. Multiple studies of the same project component that each meet requirements in paragraphs (iii)(A), (B), and (C) of this definition may together satisfy this requirement.

• Project component means an activity, strategy, intervention, process, product, practice, or policy included in a project. Evidence may pertain to an individual project component or to a combination of project components (e.g., training teachers on instructional practices for English learners and follow-on coaching for these teachers).

• Promising evidence means that there is evidence of the effectiveness of a key project component in improving a relevant outcome, based on a relevant finding from one of the following:

(i) A practice guide prepared by WWC reporting a “strong evidence base” or

“moderate evidence base” for the corresponding practice guide recommendation;

(ii) An intervention report prepared by the WWC reporting a “positive effect” or

“potentially positive effect” on a relevant outcome with no reporting of a negative effect” or “potentially negative effect” on a relevant outcome; or

(iii) A single study assessed by the Department, as appropriate, that—

(A) Is an experimental study, a quasi-experimental design study, or a well-designed and well-implemented correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias (e.g., a study using regression methods to account for differences between a treatment group and a comparison group); and

(B) Includes at least one statistically significant and positive (i.e., favorable) effect on a relevant outcome.

• Quasi-experimental design study means a study using a design that attempts to approximate an experimental study by identifying a comparison group that is similar to the treatment group in important respects. This type of study, depending on design and implementation (e.g., establishment of baseline equivalence of the groups being compared), can meet WWC standards with reservations, but cannot meet WWC standards without reservations, as described in the WWC Handbook.

• Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) or other outcome(s) the key project component is designed to improve, consistent with the specific goals of the program.

• Rural local educational agency means a local educational agency that is eligible under the Small Rural School Achievement (SRSA) program or the Rural and Low-Income

School (RLIS) program authorized under Title V, Part B of the ESEA. Eligible applicants may determine whether a particular district is eligible for these programs by referring to information on the Department’s website at www2.ed.gov/nclb/freedom/local/reap.html.

• Strong evidence means that there is evidence of the effectiveness of a key project component in improving a relevant outcome for a sample that overlaps with the populations and settings proposed to receive that component, based on a relevant finding from one of the following:

(i) A practice guide prepared by the WWC using version 2.1 or 3.0 of the WWC

Handbook reporting a “strong evidence base” for the corresponding practice guide recommendation;

(ii) An intervention report prepared by the WWC using version 2.1 or 3.0 of the

WWC Handbook reporting a “positive effect” on a relevant outcome based on a “medium to large” extent of evidence, with no reporting of a “negative effect” or “potentially negative effect” on a relevant outcome; or

(iii) A single experimental study reviewed and reported by the WWC using version

2.1 or 3.0 of the WWC Handbook, or otherwise assessed by the Department using version 3.0 of the WWC Handbook, as appropriate, and that—

(A) Meets WWC standards without reservations;

(B) Includes at least one statistically significant and positive (i.e., favorable) effect on a relevant outcome;

(C) Includes no overriding statistically significant and negative effects on relevant outcomes reported in the study or in a corresponding WWC intervention report prepared under version 2.1 or 3.0 of the WWC Handbook; and

(D) Is based on a sample from more than one site (e.g., State, county, city, school district, or postsecondary campus) and includes at least 350 students or other individuals across sites. Multiple studies of the same project component that each meet requirements in paragraphs (iii)(A), (B), and (C) of this definition may together satisfy this requirement.

• What Works Clearinghouse Handbook (WWC Handbook) means the standards and procedures set forth in the WWC Procedures and Standards Handbook, Version 3.0 or

Version 2.1 (incorporated by reference, see 34 CFR 77.2). Study findings eligible for review under WWC standards can meet WWC standards without reservations, meet

WWC standards with reservations, or not meet WWC standards. WWC practice guides and intervention reports include findings from systematic reviews of evidence as described in the Handbook documentation.

Technical Assistance Webinar for Prospective Applicants

To assist applicants in preparing their applications, the Department will host two (2) technical assistance (TA) conference calls/webinars sessions:

For further information about the TA webinars, please contact Jennifer Brianas by phone at

(202) 401-0299 or email: jennifer.brianas@ed.gov; or Sharon Burton by phone at (202) 453-

6569 or email: sharon.burton@ed.gov.

Application Submission Procedures

The deadline for submission of the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students

Education Program application through Grants.gov is June 3, 2019.

Application Transmittal Instructions

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

Federal Register notice announcing the grant competition.

We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format unless, as described in the

Federal Register notice for this competition, you qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions.

Date Time Webinar Link Password Join by Phone (for both TA Webinars)

5/8/19 1:00pm –

3:00pm EST

May 8th Javits

TA Webinar

Javits050819 1-888-858-2144 Call-in toll-free number

(ATT Audio Conference)

1-646-746-3008 Call-in number (ATT

Audio Conference)

211 572 8 (Access Code)

5/15/19 2:00pm –

4:00pm EST

May 15th

Javits TA

Webinar

Javits051519 https://doed.webex.com/webappng/sites/doed/meeting/info/126903069802773744?MTID=m2b2a66ac1d1348c1f9ea996fb4f056a3 https://doed.webex.com/webappng/sites/doed/meeting/info/126903069802773744?MTID=m2b2a66ac1d1348c1f9ea996fb4f056a3 https://doed.webex.com/doed/j.php?MTID=mdf9a3eb324ba2133e9c6ee9367e0ff36 https://doed.webex.com/doed/j.php?MTID=mdf9a3eb324ba2133e9c6ee9367e0ff36 https://doed.webex.com/doed/j.php?MTID=mdf9a3eb324ba2133e9c6ee9367e0ff36

Applications Submitted Electronically

Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically using the

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

Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in Federal Register notice for this competition, we will not consider your application if it is date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the application deadline date.

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

On December 31, 2017, Grants.gov retired the Legacy PDF format for submitting grant applications. A Grants.gov applicant must apply online using Workspace, a shared environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different web forms within an application. An applicant can create an individual Workspace for each application notice and establish for that application a collaborative application package that allows more than one person in the applicant’s organization to work concurrently on an application. The Grants.gov system also enables the applicant to reuse forms from previous submissions, check them in and out to complete them, and submit the application package.

For access to further instructions on how to apply using Grants.gov, refer to:

www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.

You may access the electronic grant applications at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.206 not

84.206A).

Please note the following:

• You must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in either .pdf (Portable

Document Format) 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. If you choose to submit your application in Microsoft Word, you may do so using any version of Microsoft Word

(i.e., a document ending in a .doc or .docx extension).

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

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

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

Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.

Extensions apply only to technical problems with the Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register in order to submit your application to

Grants.gov (including with the required DUNS number and TIN currently registered in

SAM) before the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

Submission of Paper Applications by Mail:

If electronic submission is not possible (e.g., you do not have access to the internet), you must provide a written statement that you intend to submit a paper application. Send your written statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date (14 calendar days or, if the 14th calendar day before the application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business day following the Federal holiday).

If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. Please send your statement to Jennifer

Brianas, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room number 3E320, Washington, DC 20202-6200. Telephone: (202) 401-0299. Email:

jennifer.brianas@ed.gov; or Sharon Burton, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland

Avenue, SW., room number 3E256, Washington, DC 20202-6200. Telephone: (202) 453-

6569. Email: sharon.burton@ed.gov.

If you submit a paper application, you must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address

U.S. Department of Education

Application Control Center

Attention: (CFDA Number 84.206A)

LBJ Basement Level 1

400 Maryland Avenue, SW.

Washington, DC 20202-4260

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

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

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

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

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

Education.

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

(1) A private metered postmark.

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

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

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

Note for Mail Delivery of Paper Applications:

If you mail your application to the Department--

(1) You must indicate on the envelope and in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your application; and

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

Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

Submitting Applications with Adobe Reader Software

The Department of Education, working with Grants.gov, is currently using Adobe Reader software exclusively and applications submitted to Grants.gov for the Department of

Education will be posted using Adobe forms.

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

Important issues to consider:

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

Reader version.

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

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

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

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

• If more than one person is entering text into a Workspace PDF form, the same version of

Adobe Reader software should be used by each person. Check the version number of the

Adobe software on each user's computer to make sure the versions match. Using different versions of Adobe Reader may cause submission and/or save errors – even if each version is individually compatible with Grants.gov.

For your convenience, a compatible version of Adobe Reader is available for free download at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html.

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

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

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 http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html mailto:support@grants.gov

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 Required

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

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 http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#browser https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

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 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 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.

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 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.