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[Federal Register: January 21, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 13)]
[Notices]               
[Page 3449-3454]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21ja10-28]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 
Office of Innovation and Improvement; Overview Information; 
Teaching American History Grant Program; Notice Inviting Applications 
for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.215X.

    Dates:
    Applications Available: January 21, 2010.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent To Apply: February 22, 2010.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 22, 2010.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 21, 2010.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Teaching American History Grant (TAH) 
Program supports projects that aim to raise student achievement by 
improving teachers' knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of 
traditional American history. Grant awards assist local educational 
agencies (LEAs), in partnership with entities that have extensive 
content expertise, in developing, implementing, documenting, 
evaluating, and disseminating innovative, cohesive models of 
professional development. By helping teachers to develop a deeper 
understanding and appreciation of traditional American history as a 
separate subject within the core curriculum, these programs are 
intended to improve instruction and raise student achievement.
    Priorities: This competition includes one absolute priority and two 
invitational priorities that are explained in the following paragraphs.
    Absolute Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this 
priority is from section 2351 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA) (20 U.S.C. 6721(b)). For FY 2010 and any 
subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded 
applicants from this competition, this priority is an absolute 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that 
meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Partnerships With Other Agencies or Institutions.
    Each applicant LEA must propose to work in partnership with one or 
more of the following:
     An institution of higher education.
     A non-profit history or humanities organization.
     A library or museum.
    Invitational Priorities: For FY 2010 and any subsequent year in 
which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this 
competition, these priorities are invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application that meets these 
invitational priorities a competitive or absolute preference over other 
applications.
    These priorities are:
    1. Applications that provide for the development and dissemination 
of grant products and results through Open Educational Resources (OER). 
OER are teaching, learning, and research resources that reside in the 
public domain or have been released under an intellectual property 
license that permits their free use or repurposing by others. This 
invitational priority encourages applications that describe how the 
applicants will make their TAH grant products and resources freely 
available online, in an effort to share traditional American history 
content, proven teaching strategies, and lessons learned in 
implementing TAH projects with the wider community of history 
educators.

    Note: Each applicant addressing this priority is encouraged to 
include plans for how the applicant will disseminate resources, for 
example through a Web site that is freely available to all users. 
Each of these applicants is also encouraged to include plans 
specifying how the project will identify quality resources, such as 
lesson plans, primary source activities, reading lists, teacher 
reflections, and video of quality traditional American history 
teaching and student learning in action, for presentation to the 
wider community.

    2. Applications that provide for the collection and use of student 
work and achievement data. This invitational priority encourages 
projects that collect and use student work and achievement data to 
assess the impact of teacher participation on student learning and for 
continuous program improvement.

    Note: A goal of this program is to improve the quality of 
instruction of traditional American history in K-12 schools. Our 
purpose for establishing this priority is to support the collection 
and use of student work and achievement data that demonstrate 
increased or improved knowledge and understanding of traditional 
American history content by participating teachers and their 
students. The applicant is encouraged to address how its proposed 
professional development strategy will significantly improve both 
history teachers' abilities to teach traditional American history 
content and student performance with regard to traditional American 
history.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6721.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 
82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The notice of final selection 
criteria and other application requirements for this program, published 
in the Federal Register on April 15, 2005 (70 FR 19939). (c) The notice 
of final revisions to selection criteria, published in the Federal 
Register on December 23, 2008 (73 FR 78761).

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.


    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of 
higher education only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $118,952,000.
    We anticipate that initial awards under this competition will be 
made for a three-year (36 month) period.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and each grantee's 
substantial progress towards accomplishing the goals and objectives of 
the project as described in its approved application, we may make 
continuation awards to grantees for the remaining 24 months of the 
program. Review of each grantee's progress may include consideration of 
evidence of promising practice and strong evaluation design. Further, 
contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2011 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Maximum Award: The following maximum award amounts are from the 
notice of final selection criteria and

[[Page 3450]]

other application requirements for this program, published in the 
Federal Register on April 15, 2005 (70 FR 19939).
    (1) Total funding for a three-year project period is a maximum of 
$500,000 for LEAs with enrollments of less than 20,000 students; 
$1,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments of 20,000-300,000 students; and 
$2,000,000 for LEAs with enrollments above 300,000 students. LEAs may 
form consortia and combine their enrollments in order to receive a 
grant reflective of their combined enrollment. For districts applying 
jointly as a consortium, the maximum award is based on the combined 
enrollment of the individual districts in the consortium. See section 
III. Eligibility Information for information on joint applications.
    (2) A maximum of one grant will be awarded per applicant per 
competition.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 120-125.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: LEAs, including charter schools that are 
considered LEAs under State law and regulations, which must work in 
partnership with one or more of the following entities:
     An institution of higher education.
     A non-profit history or humanities organization.
     A library or museum.

An LEA may form a consortium with one or more other LEAs and submit a 
joint application for funds. The consortium must follow the procedures 
for joint applications described in 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 of 
EDGAR.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: ED Pubs, U.S. Department 
of Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll 
free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. If you use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call, toll free: 1-877-
576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: http://www.EDPubs.gov or at its e-mail address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
    If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify this program or competition as follows: CFDA number 84.215X.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or computer diskette) by contacting either one of the two individuals 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this 
notice.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this program. 
Additional information about this competition and the application 
requirements also can be found at http: //www.ed.gov/programs/teachinghistory/index.html.
    Notice of Intent to Apply: The Department will be able to develop a 
more efficient process for reviewing grant applications if it has a 
better understanding of the number of entities that intend to apply for 
funding under this competition. Therefore, the Secretary strongly 
encourages each potential applicant to notify the Department by sending 
a short e-mail message indicating the applicant's intent to submit an 
application for funding. The e-mail need not include information 
regarding the content of the proposed application, only the applicant's 
intent to submit it. The Secretary requests that this e-mail 
notification be sent to Alex Stein at: teachingamericanhistory@ed.gov.
    Applicants that do not provide this e-mail notification may still 
apply for funding.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. Applicants are strongly 
encouraged to limit the application narrative and the appendix to a 
total of no more than 50 pages, using the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5 x 11, on one side 
only, with 1'' margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, 
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part 
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract. 
However, the page limit does apply to all of the application narrative 
section (Part III). It also applies to the resumes, the bibliography, 
and letters of support which should be included in the appendix.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: January 21, 2010.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: February 22, 2010.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 22, 2010.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) accessible through the Department's e-Grants site. For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to section IV. 6. Other Submission 
Requirements of this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
either one of the two individuals listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT in section VII in this notice. If the Department provides an 
accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in 
connection with the application process, the individual's application 
remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this 
notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 21, 2010.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for this program.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this program must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an 
exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in 
this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.

[[Page 3451]]

    Applications for grants under the TAH Program--CFDA Number 84.215X 
must be submitted electronically using e-Application, accessible 
through the Department's e-Grants Web site at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, 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. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    While completing your electronic application, you will be entering 
data online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an 
electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    Please note the following:
     You must complete the electronic submission of your grant 
application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. E-Application will not accept an application for this 
competition after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait 
until the application deadline date to begin the application process.
     The hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site are 6:00 
a.m. Monday until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday; and 6:00 a.m. Thursday until 
8:00 p.m. Sunday, Washington, DC time. Please note that, because of 
maintenance, the system is unavailable between 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and 
6:00 a.m. on Mondays, and between 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6:00 a.m. 
on Thursdays, Washington, DC time. Any modifications to these hours are 
posted on the e-Grants Web site.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information you typically provide on the following forms: the 
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of 
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and 
certifications. You must attach any narrative sections of your 
application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF 
(Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the 
three file types specified in this paragraph or submit a password 
protected file, we will not review that material.
     Your electronic application must comply with any page 
limit requirements described in this notice.
     Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may 
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgment that will include a PR/Award number 
(an identifying number unique to your application).
     Within three working days after submitting your electronic 
application, fax a signed copy of the SF 424 to the Application Control 
Center after following these steps:
    (1) Print SF 424 from e-Application.
    (2) The applicant's Authorizing Representative must sign this form.
    (3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the 
hard-copy signature page of the SF 424.
    (4) Fax the signed SF 424 to the Application Control Center at 
(202) 245-6272.
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
other forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of e-Application 
Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting 
your application on the application deadline date because e-Application 
is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of one business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically, by mail, or by 
hand delivery. We will grant this extension if--
    (1) You are a registered user of e-Application and you have 
initiated an electronic application for this competition; and
    (2)(a) E-Application is unavailable for 60 minutes or more between 
the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date; or
    (b) E-Application is unavailable for any period of time between 
3:30 p.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date.
    We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability 
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to 
confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, you may 
contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-
Grants help desk at 1-888-336-8930. If e-Application is unavailable due 
to technical problems with the system and, therefore, the application 
deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent to all registered users 
who have initiated an e-Application. Extensions referred to in this 
section apply only to the unavailability of e-Application.
    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through e-Application because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
e-Application; and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application.
    If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be 
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must 
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the 
application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: Dr. Alex Stein, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 4W206, 
Washington, DC 20202. FAX: (202) 401-8466.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. 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 84.215X), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.

[[Page 3452]]

    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.

    c. 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 84.215X), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, 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 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 grant 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.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are 
from the notice of final selection criteria and other application 
requirements published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2005 (70 FR 
19939) and from 34 CFR 75.210, as permitted under the notice of final 
revisions to selection criteria, published in the Federal Register on 
December 23, 2008 (73 FR 78761). The Department intends to conduct a 
two-tier review process for this competition. All eligible applications 
will be reviewed and scored on the first four criteria. Only 
applications that score highly on the first four criteria will then be 
reviewed and scored on the fifth criterion, Quality of the Project 
Evaluation. The Notes following the selection criteria are guidance to 
help applicants in preparing their applications and are not required by 
statute or regulations. The selection criteria are as follows:
    (1) Project quality (35 points). The Secretary considers the 
quality of the proposed project by considering:
    (a) The likelihood that the proposed project will develop, 
implement, and strengthen programs to teach traditional American 
history as a separate academic subject (not as a component of social 
studies) within elementary school and secondary school curricula.
    (b) How specific traditional American history content (including 
the significant issues, episodes, and turning points in the history of 
the United States; how the words and deeds of individual Americans have 
determined the course of our Nation; and how the principles of freedom 
and democracy articulated in the founding documents of this Nation have 
shaped America's struggles and achievements and its social, political, 
and legal institutions and relations) will be covered by the grant; the 
format in which the project will deliver the history content; and the 
quality of the staff and consultants responsible for delivering these 
content-based professional development activities, emphasizing, where 
relevant, their postsecondary teaching experience and scholarship in 
subject areas relevant to the teaching of traditional American history. 
The applicant may also attach curriculum vitae for individuals who will 
provide the content training to the teachers.
    (c) How well the applicant describes a plan that meets the 
statutory requirement to carry out activities under the grant in 
partnership with one or more of the following:
    (i) An institution of higher education.
    (ii) A non-profit history or humanities organization.
    (iii) A library or museum.
    (d) The applicant's rationale for selecting the partner(s) and its 
description of specific activities that the partner(s) will contribute 
to the grant during each year of the project. The applicant should 
include a memorandum of understanding or detailed letters of commitment 
from the partner(s) in an appendix to the application narrative.

    Note: The Secretary encourages applicants to describe how the 
proposed history content addresses traditional American history as 
discussed in section V.(1)(b) of the Project quality criterion. 
Applicants are also encouraged to submit a detailed course of study 
for project participants, including a rationale for selecting the 
course of study, and a schedule of activities to be carried out. 
Finally, applicants are encouraged to discuss the role and 
commitment of each partner and document that each partner has been 
apprised of the partner's responsibilities for the project.

    (2) Quality of the project design (35 points). In determining the 
quality of the project design, the Secretary considers:
    (a) The extent to which there is a conceptual framework underlying 
the proposed research or demonstration activities and the quality of 
that framework.
    (b) The extent to which the proposed activities constitute a 
coherent, sustained program of training in the field.
    (c) The extent to which the proposed project is part of a 
comprehensive effort to improve teaching and learning and support 
rigorous academic standards for students.
    (d) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of 
Federal financial assistance.
    (3) Need for project (20 points). In determining the need for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers:
    (a) The magnitude or severity of the problem to be addressed by the 
proposed project.
    (b) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or 
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.
    (c) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be 
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude 
of those gaps or weaknesses.

    Note: The Secretary encourages applicants to provide information 
on the district's history program, including on the number of 
teachers, the teachers' qualifications and certifications, the 
history professional development currently being offered in the 
district, and student performance in American history class. The 
applicant is also encouraged to address how its proposed 
professional development strategy will significantly improve both 
history teachers'

[[Page 3453]]

abilities to teach traditional American history content and student 
performance with regard to traditional American history. The Need 
for project criterion should address the history content needs of 
the teachers, not the socioeconomic needs of the teachers or the 
students they serve.

    (4) Quality of the management plan (10 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project. 
In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (a) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks.
    (b) The extent to which the time commitments of the project 
director and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate 
to meet the objective of the proposed project.
    (c) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous 
improvement in the operation of the proposed project.

    Note: Section 75.112 of EDGAR requires that an applicant (a) 
propose a project period for the project and (b) include a narrative 
that describes how and when, in each budget period of the project, 
the applicant plans to meet each project objective. The Secretary 
encourages each applicant to address this criterion by including in 
this narrative, a clear implementation plan that includes annual 
timelines, key project milestones, and a schedule of activities, as 
well as a description of the personnel who would be responsible for 
each activity and the level of effort each activity entails.

    (5) Quality of the project evaluation (25 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (a) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data to the extent possible.
    (b) How well the evaluation plans are aligned with the project 
design explained under the Project quality criterion.
    (c) Whether the evaluation includes benchmarks to monitor progress 
toward specific project objectives, and outcome measures to assess the 
impact on teaching and learning or other important outcomes for project 
participants.
    (d) Whether the applicant identifies the individual and/or 
organization that has agreed to serve as evaluator for the project and 
includes a description of the qualifications of that evaluator.
    (e) The extent to which the applicant indicates the following:
    (i) What types of data will be collected.
    (ii) When various types of data will be collected.
    (iii) What methods will be used to collect data.
    (iv) What data collection instruments will be developed.
    (v) How the data will be analyzed.
    (vi) When reports of results and outcomes will be available.
    (vii) How the applicant will use the information collected through 
the evaluation to monitor the progress of the funded project and to 
provide accountability information about both success at the initial 
site and effective strategies for replication in other settings.
    (viii) How the applicant will devote an appropriate level of 
resources to project evaluation.

    Note: The Secretary encourages each applicant to specify how the 
project's evaluation plan will address the TAH performance measures 
established by the Department under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA). (The specific performance measures 
established for the overall TAH Program are discussed under 
Performance Measures in section VI of this notice.) Further, each 
applicant is encouraged to describe how the applicant's evaluation 
plan will be designed to collect both output data (e.g., number of 
teachers participating in a project, number of workshops held) and 
outcome data (e.g., improvements in teacher classroom practice, 
increases in student history achievement). Finally, each applicant 
is encouraged to select an independent, objective evaluator who has 
experience in evaluating educational programs and who will play an 
active role in the design and development of the project. For 
resources on what to consider in designing and conducting project 
evaluations, go to http://www.whatworkshelpdesk.ed.gov/.

    2. Applicant's Past Performance and Compliance History: In 
accordance with 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3)(ii) and (iii), the Secretary may 
consider an applicant's past performance and compliance history when 
evaluating applications and in making funding decisions.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN). We may notify you informally, also.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a 
final performance report, including financial information, as directed 
by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an 
annual performance report that provides the most current performance 
and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary 
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent 
performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements 
on reporting, please go to http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: We have established two performance 
measures for the TAH Program. The measures are: (1) The average 
percentage change in the scores (on a pre-post assessment of American 
history) of participants who complete at least 75 percent of the 
professional development hours offered by the project. The assessment 
will be aligned with the content provided by the TAH project, and at 
least 50 percent of its questions will come from a validated test of 
American history, and (2) the percentage of TAH participants who 
complete 75 percent or more of the total hours of professional 
development offered. Grantees will be expected to provide data on the 
two measures.

VII. Agency Contacts

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex Stein, Margarita Melendez, or 
Bonnie Carter, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Room 4W206, Washington, DC 20202-5960. Telephone: (202) 205-9085, (202) 
260-3548, or (202) 401-3576 or by e-mail: 
TeachingAmericanHistory@ed.gov.
    If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on 
request to the program contact

[[Page 3454]]

persons listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of 
this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: You can view this document, as 
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the 
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister. To 
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at 
this site.

    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the 
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal 
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: January 15, 2010.
James H. Shelton III,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 2010-1083 Filed 1-20-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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