PKG00252727-instructions.doc

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20202-6450

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/gearup/index.html

FY 2019

APPLICATION FOR GRANTS

UNDER THE GAINING EARLY AWARENESS

AND READINESS FOR

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS (GEAR UP)

STATE GRANTS

CFDA Number: 84.334S

FORM APPROVED

OMB No. 1840-0821, Expiration Date: June 30, 2022

DATED MATERIAL – OPEN IMMEDIATELY

CLOSING DATE:

Table of Contents

Dear Applicant Letter

Competition Highlights Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants Application Submission Procedures And Requirements Notice Inviting Applications GEAR UP Authorizing Legislation GEAR UP Program Regulations State Grants Program Overview Evaluation of Project Performance Instructions for Completing the GEAR UP Application Package

Instructions for Completing the Application Package Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs: Executive Order 12372 Notice to Applicants: The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Application Package Checklist Instructions for Standard and Program Specific Forms GEAR UP Program Specific Forms

Applicant Eligibility Form

State Project Profile Sheet

Project Budget Summary Form

Applicant Organization Form and Cost Share Worksheet…………………………………104 Partner Identification Form and Cost Share Worksheet…………………………………...105 First-Year Budget Narrative Form

U.S. Department of Education Evidence Form Standard Application Forms Instructions Paperwork Burden Statement

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

July 2019 Dear Applicant:

Thank you for your interest in the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) program. We are pleased to provide the application package for the fiscal year (FY) 2019 GEAR UP State grant competition (CFDA 84.334S). Included in this application package are the program statute and regulations, and the instructions and forms needed for you to submit a State application to the U.S. Department of Education (Department).

Please be sure to thoroughly review the entire application package for information concerning the GEAR UP program. Applicants should pay particular attention to the section entitled “Competition Highlights” that outlines program and competition details.

The Notice published in the Federal Register is the official document describing the requirements for applying for a GEAR UP State grant and provides application submission procedures. You should not rely upon any information that is inconsistent with the guidance contained within the official document.

We appreciate your interest in the GEAR UP program. For further information regarding the program, please contact Craig Pooler, Director, GEAR UP and TRIO Talent Search Division at (202) 453-6195 or Craig.Pooler@ed.gov.

Sincerely, /Signed/

Diane Auer Jones Principal Deputy Under Secretary

Delegated to Perform the Duties of Under Secretary and

Assistant Secretary for the Office of Postsecondary Education

COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS

1. Authorization Title IV, Sections 404A-404H, of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

2. Program Website GEAR UP statutory and regulatory requirements and additional information can be found on the Department’s website at: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/gearup/index.html.

3. Purpose of the Program GEAR UP is a discretionary grant program, which encourages applicants to provide support and maintain a commitment to eligible low-income students, including students with disabilities, to assist the students in obtaining a secondary school diploma and preparing for and succeeding in postsecondary education.

4. Eligible Applicants At the time of application, the Governor of the State must designate the eligible State entity that can apply for a GEAR UP State grant on behalf of the State. State applicants must include in the application an Applicant Eligibility Form.

Note: The CFDA number for the State Program is 84.334S. Please do not mistakenly submit your application under the Partnership Program CFDA number - 84.334A.

5. Invitational Priority An applicant may address the invitational priority related to spurring investment in opportunity zones. Information on the invitational priority can be found in the Notice Inviting Applications (Notice) that was published in the Federal Register, which is included in this application package.

6. Competitive Preference Priority An applicant may be eligible to receive additional points depending on how well a Competitive Preference Priority (CPP) is addressed. Applicable CPPs can be found in the Notice Inviting Applications (Notice) that was published in the Federal Register, which is included in this application package.

7. Required Activities

GEAR UP State projects are required to implement the following activities:

· Providing comprehensive mentoring, outreach, and supportive services to students participating in the programs;

· Providing information regarding financial aid for postsecondary education to participating students in the cohort;

· Encouraging student enrollment in rigorous and challenging curricula and coursework, in order to reduce the need for remedial coursework at the postsecondary level;

· Improving the number of participating students who: a) obtain a secondary school diploma and b) complete applications for and enroll in a program of postsecondary education; and

· Providing scholarships to students.

8. Allowable Implementation Model

Applicants can choose to implement two models: cohort and/or priority students model. Details regarding the two implementation models are provided later in the application.

9. Budgetary Information

· Maximum Amount - The maximum amount a State applicant can request each year of funding under the FY 2019 competition is $5 million.

· Required Federal Allocation - State applicants must allocate no less than 25 percent and no more than 50 percent of Federal funds for activities and the remaining Federal funds for scholarships. However, there is an exception in the statute that allows applicants to allocate more for activities. Additional information on the exception is provided in the application package.

· Matching/Cost-Share - Applicants must clearly demonstrate in the application how the matching/cost-share requirement will be satisfied. GEAR UP projects are required to provide not less than 50 percent of project costs (or $1 of non-Federal funds for every $1 of Federal funds awarded), which may be cash or in-kind. Proposed Federal and non-Federal expenditures must be provided on the Budget Summary Form, and the 6- or 7-year total proposed matching contributions must be equal to or more than proposed Federal expenditures for the six- or seven-year performance period.

· Out-Year Funding - Applicants will not receive more Federal funding in out-years than the amount awarded in the first year of the grant; and therefore, the Budget Summary Form should not reflect budgetary increases in years two through six or seven.

10. Electronic Submission of Applications

GEAR UP applications must be submitted electronically using Grants.gov.

Note: The CFDA number for the State Program is 84.334S. Please do not mistakenly submit your application under the Partnership Program CFDA number - 84.334A.

You are urged to acquaint yourself with the requirements of Grants.gov early as the registration procedures may require five or more days to complete. A more thorough discussion is included later in this application package. The requirements for obtaining an exception to the electronic submission requirement are included in the Notice. If you think you may need an exception, you are urged to review the requirements promptly.

Please note that you must submit your application by 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on or before the application deadline date. Late applications will not be accepted. We suggest that you submit your application several days before the deadline. 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. We recommend that all attachments be in .PDF format.

You must provide the DUNS number that was used when your organization registered with the System for Award Management (SAM), formerly Central Contractor Registry (CCR). An applicant needs a DUNS number in order to submit an application. If you do not have one, or need to renew one, this process can take weeks. Additionally, the General Services Administration (GSA) has imposed a new requirement concerning the submission of a notarized letter appointing a designated entity administrator in order to register for SAM. Successful registration in SAM is a prerequisite to being able to register in Grants.gov and submit an application electronically. Please refer to the GEAR UP Website, http://www2.ed.gov/programs/gearup/index.html, under Applicant Information for additional details regarding the new SAM requirement.

11. Recommended Format of Application There are no formatting requirements for this competition. However, we recommend that applicants double space the application narrative and use a font that is either 12-point or larger. Charts, tables, figures, and graphs can be single spaced. The following fonts are suggested: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial.

12. GEAR UP Program Required Forms The following forms and documentation are required. Additional information on these documents is provided in this application package.

· Applicant Eligibility Form

· State Project Profile Sheet

· Project Budget Summary Form

· First-Year Budget Narrative Form

Please note that more detailed instructions for attaching these forms are covered in the

“INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE APPLICATION PACKAGE” section of the application.

13. Project Abstract The project abstract in the application should be presented on one page, single spaced. The abstract should include:

· Applicant name (branch and/or campus, if applicable)

· City and State

· Contact information (contact person, email address, telephone number)

· Project goals and objectives

· Activities and services

· Number of students to be served

· Target schools

· Partners

· Performance period

14. Selection Criteria The selection criteria in EDGAR 34 CFR part 75 sections 75.209(a) and 75.210 are used to evaluate applications. The selection criteria and maximum possible points are included in the Notice.

14.

Notice to Successful Applicants The Department’s Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs will inform the Congress regarding applications approved for new GEAR UP program grants.

Successful applicants will receive award notices electronically shortly after the Congress is notified. No funding information will be released until after the Congress is notified.

15.

Notice to Unsuccessful Applicants Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing following the notice to successful applicants.

16. Contact Information For GEAR UP program-related questions and assistance, please contact:

Program Lead:

Craig Pooler Address:

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Room 278-64

Washington, D.C. 20202 Telephone:

(202) 453-6195 Fax:

(202) 260-7464 E-mail Address:

Craig.Pooler@ed.gov

For technical support regarding Grants.gov, please contact:

Telephone:

(800) 518-4726

E-mail:

support@grants.gov Grants.gov Contact Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except Federal holidays.

Also, refer to “Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants” found in this application booklet.

You are reminded that the information published in the Notice is the official document, and that you should not rely upon any information that is inconsistent with the guidelines contained within the official document.

***Updated 02/21/2019***

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ FIRST

U.S. Department of Education

Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants

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

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.

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.

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, log in 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 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.

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.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS

This program requires the electronic submission of applications.

Important Note: The CFDA number for the State Program is 84.334S. Please do not mistakenly submit your application under the Partnership Program CFDA number - 84.334A.

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

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

Applications Submitted Electronically:

You must submit your grant application through the Internet using the software provided on the Grants.gov Web site (http://www.grants.gov) by 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on or before the deadline date.

If you submit your application through the Internet via the Grants.gov Web site, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement when we receive your application.

For more information on using Grants.gov, please refer to the Grants.gov information found in this application package and visit http://www.grants.gov.

Submission of Paper Applications by Mail:

If you qualify for an exemption to the electronic submission requirement and you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), 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 84.334S 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.

An applicant should note that the U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, an applicant should check with its local post office.

Special Note: Due to potential disruption to normal mail delivery, the Department encourages you to consider using an alternative delivery method (for example, a commercial carrier, such as Federal Express or United Parcel Service; U.S. Postal Service Express Mail; or a courier service) to transmit your application for this competition to the Department. If you use an alternative delivery method, please obtain the appropriate proof of mailing under “Applications Delivered by Mail,” and then follow the instructions for “Applications Delivered by Hand.”

Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery:

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

U.S. Department of Education

Application Control Center

Attention: CFDA Number 84.334S 550 12th Street, SW.

Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza

Washington, DC 20202-4260

Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications:

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

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

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

Application Control Center Hours of Operation:

The Application Control Center accepts application deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.

Late Applications If your application is late, we will notify you if we will not consider the application.

4000-01-U

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Applications for New Awards; Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (State Grants) AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2019 for the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) State Grants, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.334S. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1840-0821, Application for GEAR UP State Grants.

DATES:

Applications Available: [INSERT DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: [INSERT DATE __ DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (83 FR 6003), and available at www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.

For Further Information Contact: Craig Pooler, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 278-64, Washington, DC 20202-6450. Telephone: (202) 453-6195. Email: Craig.Pooler@ed.gov.

If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll-free, at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: The GEAR UP program is a discretionary grant program that encourages eligible entities to provide support, and maintain a commitment to eligible low-income students, including students with disabilities, to assist the students in obtaining a secondary school diploma (or its recognized equivalent) and to prepare for and succeed in postsecondary education. Under the GEAR UP program, the Department awards grants to two types of entities: (1) States and (2) eligible partnerships.

In this notice, the Department invites applications for State grants only. Required services under the GEAR UP program are specified in sections 404D(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1070a-24(a)), and permissible services under the GEAR UP program are specified in section 404D(b) and (c) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-24(b) and (c)). Grantee activities must include providing financial aid information for postsecondary education, encouraging enrollment in rigorous and challenging coursework in order to reduce the need for remediation at the postsecondary level, implementing activities to improve the number of participating students who obtain a secondary school diploma and who complete applications for and enroll in a program of postsecondary education, and providing scholarships as specified in section 404E of the HEA. Additional permissible activities for State grantees are specified in sections 404D(b) and (c) of the HEA.

Background:

On March 2, 2018, the Secretary published in the Federal Register the Secretary’s Final Supplemental Priorities and Definitions for Discretionary Grant Programs (83 FR 9096) (Supplemental Priorities). In order to advance the Secretary’s priorities, this competition contains a competitive preference priority that focuses on improving student achievement or other educational outcomes in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM), including computer science. In addition, consistent with the Administration’s interest in allocating funding to evidence-based practices, this competition includes a competitive preference priority that encourages applicants to propose strategies that are supported by promising evidence.

Priorities: This notice contains three competitive preference priorities and one invitational priority. Competitive Preference Priority 1 is from the Supplemental Priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii) and (iv), Competitive Preference Priority 2 is from section 404A(b)(3) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-21(b)(3)) and the GEAR UP program regulations (34 CFR 694.19). Competitive Preference Priority 3 is from 34 CFR 75.226.

Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2019 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional two points to an application, depending on how well the application meets each of these competitive preference priorities, for a maximum of six additional points.

These priorities are:

Competitive Preference Priority 1--Promoting STEM Education, With a Particular Focus on Computer Science (Up to two points).

Projects designed to improve student achievement or other educational outcomes in science, technology, engineering, math, or computer science (as defined in this notice). These projects must address creating or expanding partnerships between schools, local educational agencies, State educational agencies, 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, including computer science.

Competitive Preference Priority 2 (Up to two points).

We give priority to an eligible applicant for a State GEAR UP grant that has: (a) carried out a successful State GEAR UP grant prior to August 14, 2008, determined on the basis of data (including outcomes data) submitted by the applicant as part of its annual and final performance reports from prior GEAR UP State grants administered by the applicant and the applicant’s history of compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements; and (b) a prior demonstrated commitment to early intervention leading to college access through collaboration and replication of successful strategies.

Competitive Preference Priority 3 (Up to two points).

Applications supported by evidence that meets the definition of “promising evidence” in 34 CFR 77.1(c).

Note 1: To address the priority, for up to two authorized activities, an applicant may submit one study or What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) publication that it believes supports the implementation of the proposed activity and that meets the promising evidence standard. Non-Federal peer reviewers will evaluate studies cited by the applicants to determine if they meet the requirements for promising evidence, as well as whether they are sufficiently aligned with (relevant to) the proposed activity. Applicants will be awarded one point for each activity supported by a relevant citation that meets the promising evidence standard, for a maximum number of two points.

Cited studies may include both those already listed in the Department’s WWC Database of Individual Studies (see https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/StudyFindings) and those that have not yet been reviewed by the WWC. Studies listed in the WWC Database of Individual Studies do not necessarily satisfy any or all of the criteria needed to meet the promising evidence standard. Therefore, it is important that applicants themselves ascertain the suitability of the study for the evidence priority. Any proposed studies must be cited in the section of the application that addresses Competitive Preference Priority 3.

Note 2: As they consider the activities, they propose to implement in their GEAR UP projects and how to respond to this competitive preference priority, we encourage applicants to review research related to authorized GEAR UP activities to identify evidence that meets the promising evidence standard.

For State grantees, required GEAR UP services are specified in sections 404D(a) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-24(a)), and permissible services under the GEAR UP program are specified in section 404D(b) and (c) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-24(b) and (c)).

Invitational Priority: For FY 2019 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, this priority is an invitational priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), we do not give an application that meets this invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other applications.

This priority is:

Spurring Investment in Qualified Opportunity Zones.

Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate one or more of the following:

(a) The area in which the applicant proposes to serve individuals or otherwise provide services overlaps with a Qualified Opportunity Zone, as designated by the Secretary of the Treasury under section 1400Z-1 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 115-97). An applicant must--

(i) Provide the census tract number of the Qualified Opportunity Zone(s) in which it proposes to serve individuals or otherwise provide services; and

(ii) Describe how the applicant will serve individuals or otherwise provide services in the Qualified Opportunity Zone(s).

(b) The applicant is located in a Qualified Opportunity Zone. The applicant must provide the census tract number of the Qualified Opportunity Zone in which it is located. If the applicant has multiple locations, or if the applicant’s location overlaps with a Qualified Opportunity Zone, the applicant must demonstrate that its proximity to a Qualified Opportunity Zone is critical to the proposed project.

(c) The applicant has received, or will receive by 30 days after being awarded a grant, 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 the acquisition, construction, or renovation of real or other tangible property directly related to its proposed project. An applicant must--

(i) Identify the Qualified Opportunity Fund from which it has received or will receive financial assistance; and

(ii) Describe how the applicant will use the financial assistance for its proposed project.

Definitions: These definitions are from the Supplemental Priorities and 34 CFR 77.1(c).

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.

Demonstrates a rationale means a key project component included in the project’s logic model is informed by research or evaluation findings that suggest the project component is likely to improve relevant outcomes.

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 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.

Logic model (also referred to as a theory of action) means a framework that identifies key project components of the proposed project (i.e., the active “ingredients” that are hypothesized to be critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the theoretical and operational relationships among the key project components and relevant outcomes.

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.

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.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-21—-1070a-28.

Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 694.

II. Award Information Type of Award: Discretionary grants.

Estimated Available Funds: The Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2019 provided $360,000,000 for the GEAR UP program for FY 2019, of which we intend to use an estimated $28,276,000 for new GEAR UP State awards.

Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.

Estimated Range of Awards: $2,500,000-$5,000,000.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $3,535,000.

Maximum Award: We will not make an award for a State grant exceeding $5,000,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. Additionally, no funding will be awarded for increases in budget after the first 12-month budget period. As described in 34 CFR 694.1, the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal Register.

Estimated Number of Awards: 8.

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

Project Period: Either 72 months or 84 months.

Note: An applicant that wishes to seek funding for a seventh project year (i.e., for a project period of 84 months), in order to provide project services to GEAR UP students through their first year of attendance at an IHE, must propose to do so in the application provided in response to this notice.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: States (as defined in section 103(20) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1003(20)), which includes the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated States. Per Congressional direction in the Explanatory Statement to the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L. 115-245), only States without an active State GEAR UP grant, or States that have an active State GEAR UP grant that is scheduled to end prior to October 1, 2019, are eligible to receive a new State GEAR UP award in this competition.

2.a. Cost Sharing or Matching: Section 404C(b)(1) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-23(b)(1)) requires grantees under this program to provide from State, local, institutional, or private funds, not less than 50 percent of the cost of the program (or one dollar of non-Federal funds for every one dollar of Federal funds awarded), which may be provided in cash or in-kind. The provision also specifies that the match may be accrued over the full duration of the grant award period, except that the grantee must make substantial progress towards meeting the matching requirement in each year of the grant award period.

Section 404C(c) of the HEA provides that in-kind contributions may include (1) the amount of the financial assistance obligated under GEAR UP to students from State, local, institutional, or private funds, (2) the amount of tuition, fees, room or board waived or reduced for recipients of financial assistance under GEAR UP, (3) the amount expended on documented, targeted, long-term mentoring and counseling provided by volunteers or paid staff of non-school organizations, including businesses, religious organizations, community groups, postsecondary educational institutions, nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, and other organizations, and (4) equipment and supplies, cash contributions from non-Federal sources, transportation expenses, in-kind or discounted program services, indirect costs, and facility usage.

Grantees must include a budget detailing the source of the matching funds and must provide an outline of the types of matching contributions for at least the first year of the grant in their grant applications. Consistent with 2 CFR 200.306(b), any matching funds must be an allowable use of funds consistent with the GEAR UP program requirements and the cost principles detailed in subpart E of 2 CFR part 200, and not included as a contribution for any other Federal award.

b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement, not supplant funding requirements. Under section 404B(e) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-22(e)), grant funds awarded under this program must be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local funds that would otherwise be expended to carry out activities assisted under this program.

3. General Application Requirements: All applicants must meet the following application requirements in order to be considered for funding. The application requirements are from section 404C(a) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-23(a)).

In order for an eligible entity to qualify for a grant under the GEAR UP program, the eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application for carrying out a GEAR UP program that--

(a) Describes the activities…