PKG00258295-instructions.pdf

U.S. Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Office of School Choice and Improvement Programs Washington, D.C. 20202-6200

Fiscal Year 2020

Application for New Grants Under the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program

CFDA 84.370A

Dated Material - Open Immediately

Closing Date: March 30, 2020

Approved OMB Number: 1894-0006 Expiration Date: 01/31/2021 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 24 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 form, write directly to: Beth Yeh, D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, U.S.

Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 3E335, Washington, DC 20202- 6200. Note: Please do not return the completed application to this address.

iii

Table of Contents Dear Colleague Letter

Program Background Information

Program Overview Frequently Asked Questions Applicant Guide…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………11 Technical Assistance Workshops for Prospective Applicants

Application Submission Procedures

Application Transmittal Instructions Submitting Applications with Adobe Reader Software Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants Submission Problems – What should you do?

Helpful Hints When Working with Grants.gov

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

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 Status ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 48 Notice Inviting Applications

Dear Colleague Letter Dear Colleague:

Thank you for your interest in the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP), administered by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education (Department). The OSP provides low-income students residing in the District of Columbia (DC) an opportunity to receive a scholarship to attend a DC private school of their parents’ choice.

The OSP program is authorized by the SOAR Act (Division C of the P.L. 112–10, as amended by Pub. L.116-94).

Please take the time to review the applicable priorities, selection criteria, and all 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)).

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 site works differently than the U.S. Department of Education’s e-Application System. We strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with Grants.gov and recommend that you register and submit early.

Applications submitted to Grants.gov for the Department of Education will now be posted using Adobe forms. Therefore, applicants will need to download a compatible version of Adobe reader (Grants.gov supports Adobe Reader versions 9 through 11). Please review the Submitting Applications with Adobe Reader Software and Education Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants forms found within this package for further information and guidance related to this requirement.

Using FY 2020 funds, the Department expects to award $17,000,000.00 for a new grant under this competition. We will award discretionary grants on a competitive basis for a project period of 60 months. The grant is expected to be awarded in July 2020.

United States Department of Education

OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

OFFICE OF SCHOOL CHOICE AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS

http://www.grants.gov/

Please visit our program website at https://www2.ed.gov/programs/dcchoice/index.html for further information. If you have any questions about the program after reviewing the application package, please contact Beth Yeh, (202) 205-5798, Beth.Yeh @ed.gov.

Sincerely, Norris Dickard

Norris Dickard, Director Office of School Choice and Improvement Programs https://www2.ed.gov/programs/dcchoice/index.html

Program Background Information

Program Overview

The OSP provides low-income students residing in the District of Columbia (DC) an opportunity to receive a scholarship to attend a DC private school of their parents’ choice.

The OSP program is authorized by the SOAR Act (Division C of the P.L. 112–10, as amended by Pub. L.116-94.

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Purpose

1. What is the purpose of the DC School Choice Incentive Program?

The purpose of the OSP is to provide low-income parents residing in the District of Columbia, particularly parents of students who attend an elementary school or secondary school identified as one of the lowest-performing schools under the District of Columbia’s accountability system, with expanded opportunities for enrolling their children in private schools in the District of Columbia.

Student Eligibility and Selection

2. Which children in DC will be eligible to obtain scholarships under the program?

Elementary and secondary school students (including those who will be entering school for the first time in school year 2020-2021) who are residents of the District of Columbia and are members of families whose income does not exceed 185 percent of the poverty line (currently about $47,000 for a family of four) will be able to apply to receive scholarships for this year. In succeeding years, the eligibility criteria will be the same, except that the family income limit for continuing participants will be 200 percent of the poverty line (currently $51,500 for a family of four).

3. How many scholarships will be available?

Approximately 2,000 students will be able to receive scholarships.

4. If more eligible students apply for scholarships than there are scholarships available, how will recipients be selected?

In that circumstance, applicants will be picked through a lottery.

5. If there is selection of students through a lottery, will any eligible students receive a priority? How will priorities be implemented?

Students who currently attend DC public schools that have been identified, by the school system, as in need of improvement, corrective action, or restructuring will be given a priority if a lottery is used to select scholarship recipients. (Under the “Title I” program, the DC public school system identifies schools as in need of improvement, corrective action, or restructuring based on test scores and other criteria.) In addition, students and families who lack the resources to take advantage of available educational options will receive a priority;

for instance, a student whose family faces major health care costs might receive a priority over other, otherwise similar students.

6. Will students who receive scholarships this year be able to retain them (and remain in their private schools) in future years?

Yes, so long as scholarship recipients continue to meet the family income criteria and maintain good academic standing, they will be able to continue receiving scholarships in future years without having to reapply or go through the lottery process.

7. May DC children who are currently enrolled in private schools receive scholarships?

The statute does not preclude students who meet the family income criteria, reside in the District of Columbia, and currently attend DC private schools from participating. However, they would not receive the priority for students enrolled in public schools identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring; nor would they be likely to receive the priority for students who lack the resources to take advantage of available educational options (since they already have the resources to attend a private school).

Participation of Private Schools

8. Which schools will students who receive scholarships be able to attend?

Any private school that operates lawfully in the District of Columbia and that elects to participate in this initiative will be able to enroll scholarship students.

9. What requirements will private schools that participate in the program be required to meet?

They will be required to:

o Have and maintain a valid certificate of occupancy issued by the District of Columbia;

o Makes readily available to all prospective students information on its school accreditation;

o In the case of a school that has been operating for five years or less, submits to the eligible entity administering the program proof of adequate financial resources reflecting the financial sustainability of the school and the school’s ability to be in operation through the school year;

o Agrees to submit to site visits as determined to be necessary by the eligible entity;

o Has financial systems, controls, policies, and procedures to ensure that funds are used according to this division;

o Ensures that, with respect to core subject matter, participating students are taught by a teacher who has a baccalaureate degree or equivalent degree, whether such degree was awarded in or outside of the United States;

o Conducts criminal background checks on school employees who have direct and unsupervised interaction with students;

o Complies with all requests for data and information regarding the reporting requirements;

and o Meet the civil rights requirements applicable to the initiative (see question 13 below.

10. If more scholarship recipients want to attend a particular school than the school can accommodate, how will students be selected to attend that school?

If more students who meet the academic criteria for admission to a school apply than the school can accommodate, students will be selected for admission through a lottery.

11. Could any students be exempted from a lottery conducted to determine who will be admitted to a private school?

Yes, scholarship recipients who are siblings of students already admitted to, or attending, a participating private school may be admitted to that school without going through the lottery process.

12. Will enrollment of a scholarship student make a private school a “recipient of

Federal financial assistance”?

No, the statute specifies that scholarships are considered assistance to the student and not as assistance to the participating school.

13. What civil rights requirements will apply to private schools participating in the program?

The statute authorizing the program includes the following civil rights-related provisions:

• In general, private schools cannot discriminate against participants who receive or apply for scholarships on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, or sex.

• Religiously affiliated schools participating in the program may exercise their rights in employment matters in a manner that is consistent with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including the exemptions in that law. Those schools will not be required to change their teaching mission or governance structure, remove religious art, icons, scriptures, or other symbols, or remove religious references from their names. A participating school may select its board on a religious basis, and may include religious references in its mission statement and governing documents. In addition, those schools will not have to abide by the prohibition against discrimination on the basis of sex to the extent that doing so would be incompatible with the religious tenets or beliefs of the school.

• A student may use a scholarship to attend a single-sex DC private school, or to participate in single-sex classes and activities at participating schools.

The provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 will not apply to participating schools by virtue of their participation.

14. Do students with disabilities have an equal right to participate in this program?

The entity that administers this program must select students who are eligible to participate through a lottery that does not discriminate on the basis of disability and will help place those students in schools that best meet their needs. The issue of whether a student with a disability must be given an equal opportunity to attend a particular, participating private school is more complicated. No Federal law forbids a participating religious school from discriminating against students with disabilities in admissions, assuming the school does not receive Federal financial assistance under other programs. With respect to non-religious participating schools, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) would forbid discrimination against a student with disabilities, and would require that the school provide the student auxiliary aids and services, provided that serving the student would not require fundamental alterations to the nature of the school’s program or result in an undue burden. That Act would also require removal of physical barriers to access if readily achievable. These ADA requirements would apply to non-religious private schools, whether or not they participate in this program.

15. May participating schools hold scholarship recipients to the same rules of conduct and other requirements applicable to the schools’ other students?

Yes, the authorizing legislation expressly allows participating private schools to require scholarship students to abide by the same rules of conduct and other requirements applicable to all other students who attend the school.

16. Who will be responsible for transporting scholarship recipients to private schools?

The authorizing act does not assign specific responsibility for transportation of students.

However, the law does allow students to receive scholarships that cover the cost of transportation, as well as tuition and fees, subject to the $9,022 maximum for attendance in kindergarten through grade 8 and the $13,534 maximum for attendance in grades 9 through 12 in SY19-20. These figures will be updated for inflation for school year 2020-2021 per statute.

Our expectation is that the subsidization of students’ transportation costs in this manner will allow scholarship recipients to travel to school using the same methods of transportation (school buses, public transit, private cars) used by other children attending the schools.

Administration of the Program

17. Who will select students to receive scholarships, recruit private schools to participate in the program, award the scholarships, and carry out the other activities necessary for administration of the program?

The US Department of Education will competitively select one or more independent entities to carry out these functions. To be eligible for an OSP grant, an entity must be either a nonprofit organization or a consortium of nonprofit organizations.

18. What will be the specific responsibilities of the entity or entities selected to administer the program?

The entity will be responsible for carrying out such activities as: (1) conducting outreach to eligible students and their parents, to inform them about the program and encourage their participation; (2) running the process of selecting students to receive scholarships, including conducting a lottery; (3) recruiting DC private schools to participate in the program; (4) awarding scholarships and ensuring that they are used for tuition, fees, and transportation consistent with the law; (5 providing student academic assistance; (6) completing an annual report on activities carried out under the program, on the achievement of students who receive scholarships and on parental satisfaction with the program; and (7) coordinating and collaborating with the research organization that will carry out the required evaluation.

19. What civil rights requirements apply to the entity or entities that will administer the program?

The authorizing law provides that the entity or entities may not discriminate against program participants or applicants on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, or sex. In addition, as a recipient of Federal financial assistance, the entity or entities will be covered by the nondiscrimination provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (race, color, and national origin), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (disability), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (sex), and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, in accordance with their own terms.

20. What will be the criteria for selection of the entity or entities?

The Department will select the entity or entities on the basis of such criteria as: (1) the quality of project services; (2) the quality of project personnel; (3) adequacy of resources;

and (4) quality of the management plan.

21. Will administration of the program involve the Department of Education or the independent entity in setting new requirements for private schools (for instance, in the area of teacher qualifications)?

No. Private schools participating in the program will maintain their traditional independence in such areas as hiring and establishing minimum qualifications for teachers, selecting curricula, and setting standards for grading and promotion. The Department will fully respect that independence.

Amount of Scholarships and Tuition

22. How large will the scholarships be? What educational costs will be paid for with them?

As noted above, $9,022 maximum for attendance in kindergarten through grade 8 and the $13,534 maximum for attendance in grades 9 through 12 in SY19-20. These figures will be updated for inflation for school year 2020-2021 per statute.

23. Will private schools be allowed to charge more than their usual tuition to scholarship students?

No, the statute explicitly provides that participating private schools may charge scholarship students no more than the usual tuition that they charge to students who do not participate in the program.

24. Will any students who receive scholarships have to meet costs that are not covered by the scholarship (i.e., will a scholarship always cover the full cost of attending a private school)?

Students electing to use their scholarships to attend schools that charge more than the maximum scholarship would have to make up the difference from other sources (which could include private scholarship funds available to those schools or from other sources).

Scholarship students might also have to pay costs associated with extracurricular activities, field trips, and the like, if those costs are not part of the usual and customary fees charged by a school to all students.

Parent Information

25. What kind of information about participating private schools can parents expect to receive?

The entity or entities administering the program will provide interested parents with information on the schools that have agreed to accept scholarship students, including on their educational philosophy, curriculum and instructional program, teaching staff, admissions criteria, and school environment, and on the academic achievement of the school's students.

26. How can parents apply to have their children receive scholarships?

The entity or entities selected to administer the program will establish the specific procedures and timelines for the application process. The Department's schedule calls for the selection process for the first round of scholarships to take place under this competition, and for students to select and be admitted to schools, by the end of the 2020-2021 school year.

27. What information will the parents of scholarship students receive about the program?

Each private school participating in the program will provide to the parents of scholarship students, at least annually, information on: (1) the student's academic achievement (including comparisons with other students); and (2) the safety of the school.

Evaluation of the Program

28. Who will evaluate the DC choice incentive program?

An independent research organization (that is, an organization that is independent of both the US Department of Education and the grantee) is currently conducting an evaluation of the

OSP.

29. Who will select the entity that conducts the evaluation?

The Department selected the independent organization, on a competitive basis.

30. What issues and areas will the evaluation examine?

The evaluation will look at such issues as:

• The key activities necessary to implementing the DC OSP and how the program operator carries them out;

• The factors that affect whether applicants enroll in OSP schools and remain enrolled overtime; and

• How OSP students perform and progress on math and reading assessments.

31. Will the evaluation results be used to compare one DC private school against another?

No. This is not called for under the statute and will not be part of the evaluation.

Other Issues

32. What tests will scholarship students have to take? Will other students who attend participating private schools also have to take those tests?

Under the statute, the evaluation may include testing of scholarship students or collecting assessment data for scholarship students from private schools. The evaluation results will be used to assess the academic performance of students over the course of the program.

Administration of the tests or data collection will be the responsibility of the evaluator.

(Participating schools will not be required to administer them.)

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 February 13, 2020. (See the Legal and Regulatory section of this application package which includes OSP’s NIA.)

The program narrative is the section of the application that directly responds to the priorities, requirements and selection criteria. The narrative should follow the order of the selection criteria listed below and in the 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 25 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 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 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.

Application Requirements

Each entity's application must include a detailed description of—

(A) How the entity will address the priorities described in section 3006 of the SOAR Act;

(B) How the entity will ensure that if more eligible students seek admission in the program of the entity than the program can accommodate, eligible students are selected for admission through a random selection process which gives weight to the priorities described in section 3006 of the SOAR Act;

(C) How the entity will ensure that if more participating eligible students seek admission to a participating school than the school can accommodate, participating eligible students are selected for admission through a random selection process;

(D) How the entity will notify parents of eligible students of the expanded choice opportunities in order to allow the parents to make informed decisions;

(E) The activities that the entity will carry out to provide parents of eligible students with expanded choice opportunities through the awarding of Start Printed Page 9449scholarships under section 3007(a) of the SOAR Act;

(F) How the entity will determine the amount that will be provided to parents under section 3007(a)(2) of the SOAR Act for the payment of tuition, fees, and transportation expenses, if any;

(G) How the entity will seek out private elementary schools and secondary schools in District of Columbia to participate in the program;

(H) How the entity will ensure that each participating school will meet the reporting and other program requirements under the SOAR Act;

(I) How the entity will ensure that participating schools submit to site visits by the entity as determined to be necessary by the entity;

(J) How the entity will ensure that participating schools are financially responsible and will use the funds received under section 3007 of the SOAR Act effectively;

(K) How the entity will ensure the financial viability of participating schools in which 85 percent or more of the total number of students enrolled at the school are participating eligible students that receive and use an opportunity scholarship;

(L) How the entity will address the renewal of scholarships to participating eligible students, including continued eligibility; and

(M) How the entity will ensure that a majority of its voting board members or governing organization are residents of District of Columbia.

The entity must also provide in its application an assurance that the entity will comply with all requests regarding any evaluation carried out under section 3009(a) of the SOAR Act.

(N) How the eligible entity will ensure that it-

(i) utilizes internal fiscal and quality controls; and

(ii) complies with applicable financial reporting requirements and the requirements of this division.

In addition to the statutory application requirements, we encourage applicants to include a description of (1) how they will provide information to parents on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) provisions that do or do not apply when a student with a disability is moved from a public school to a private school by their parents and

(2) if applicable, how they intend to spend funds reserved for administrative expenses, parental assistance and student academic assistance.

Technical Assistance Workshops for Prospective Applicants

To assist applicants in preparing the application, and to respond to questions applicants may have about the application process, the Department will host two technical assistance webinars, currently scheduled to occur during the following dates and times:

Technical Assistance Webinar

February 21, 2020 from 9:30am – 10:30am Eastern Time

Join Skype Meeting

Join by phone +1 (202) 991-0393,760848252# (Dial-in Number)

February 24, 2020 from 3:00pm – 4:00pm Eastern Time

Join Skype Meeting

Join by phone +1 (202) 991-0393, 864593804# (Dial-in Number)

Application Submission Procedures

The deadline for submission of OSP applications through Grants.gov is Monday, March 30, 2020 at 4:30:00 PM Washington, DC time.

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.

https://meet.lync.com/usdedeop/beth.yeh/HMFL7TCR https://meet.lync.com/usdedeop/beth.yeh/B60PS9VV

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

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

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

Please note the following:

• You must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in 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 Beth Yeh, U.S.

Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3E335, Washington, DC 20202- 6450. Telephone: (202) 453-5998. Email: beth.yeh@ed.gov.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(1) A private metered postmark.

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

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

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

Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery:

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

U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center Attention: CFDA Number 84.370A 550 12th Street, SW.

Room 7039, Potomac Center Plaza Washington, DC 20202-4260

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

Note for Mail 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 will be posted using Adobe forms

Please note: The compatible version of Adobe Reader is required for viewing, editing and submitting a complete grant application package for the Department 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 the compatible version of Adobe Reader, the application package may contain errors that will be transferred to the new package even if you later download the compatible Adobe Reader version.

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

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

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

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

• 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.

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

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.

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 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.

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

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.] https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

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, 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. 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.

http://www.sam.gov/ http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/encountering-error-messages.html

Submission Problems – What should you do?

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

If electronic submission is required, you must submit an electronic application before 11:59:59 p.m., 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 note, once you download an application from Grants.gov, you will be working offline and saving data on your computer. Please be sure to note where you are saving the Grants.gov file on your computer. You will need to logon to Grants.gov to upload and submit the application.

You must provide the DUNS number on your application that was used when you registered as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) on Grants.gov.

Please go to http://www.grants.gov/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

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 mailto:support@grants.gov https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html

Please note the following tips related to attaching files to your application, especially the requirement that applicants only include read-only, flattened .PDF files or Microsoft Word documents in their application:

• Ensure that you attach .PDF files only or Microsoft Word files for any…