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[Federal Register: January 20, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 12)]
[Notices]               
[Page 3212-3216]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20ja10-49]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 
Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools; Overview Information; Grant 
Competition for the Cooperative Civic Education and Economic Education 
Exchange Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for 
Fiscal Year (FY) 2010

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.304A.

    Dates:

[[Page 3213]]

    Applications Available: January 20, 2010.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 8, 2010.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 5, 2010.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Cooperative Civic Education and Economic 
Education Exchange Program provides grants to improve the quality of 
civic education and economic education through cooperative civic and 
economic education exchange programs with emerging democracies.

    Note: This competition invites applications that address civic 
education or economic education. We estimate that one award will be 
made to an application addressing the absolute priority for civic 
education and one award will be made to an application that 
addresses the absolute priority for economic education.

    Priorities: This competition includes two absolute priorities and 
one invitational priority. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), 
the absolute priorities are from section 2345(c) of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 6715(c)).
    Absolute Priorities: For FY 2010, there are two absolute 
priorities, one for civic education, and one for economic education. 
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet one 
of these priorities.
    These priorities are:

Absolute Priority 1--Civic Education

    Each applicant that proposes a project to carry out a cooperative 
civic education exchange program must propose to carry out each of the 
following activities:
    (1) Provide to the participants from eligible countries--
    (A) Seminars on the basic principles of United States 
constitutional democracy, including seminars on the major governmental 
institutions and systems in the United States, and visits to such 
institutions;
    (B) Visits to school systems, institutions of higher education, and 
nonprofit organizations conducting exemplary programs in civics and 
government education, in the United States;
    (C) Translations and adaptations with respect to United States 
civics and government education, curricular programs for students and 
teachers, and in the case of training programs for teachers, 
translations and adaptations into forms useful in schools in eligible 
countries, and joint research projects in such areas; and
    (D) Independent research and evaluation assistance to determine the 
effects of the cooperative civic education exchange programs on 
students' development of the knowledge, skills, and traits of character 
essential for the preservation and improvement of constitutional 
democracy.
    (2) Provide to the participants from the United States--
    (A) Seminars on the histories and systems of government of eligible 
countries;
    (B) Visits to school systems, institutions of higher education, and 
organizations conducting exemplary programs in civics and government 
education, located in eligible countries;
    (C) Assistance from educators and scholars in eligible countries in 
the development of curricular materials on the history and government 
of such countries that are useful in United States classrooms;
    (D) Opportunities to provide onsite demonstrations of United States 
curricula and pedagogy for educational leaders in eligible countries; 
and
    (E) Independent research and evaluation assistance to determine the 
effects of the cooperative civic education exchange programs assisted 
through this grant on students' development of the knowledge, skills, 
and traits of character essential for the preservation and improvement 
of constitutional democracy.
    (F) Assist participants from eligible countries and the United 
States to participate in international conferences on civics and 
government education for educational leaders, teacher trainers, 
scholars in related disciplines, and educational policymakers.

Absolute Priority 2--Economic Education

    Each applicant that proposes to carry out a cooperative economic 
exchange program must propose to carry out each of the following 
activities:
    (1) Provide to the participants from eligible countries--
    (A) Seminars on the basic principles of the economic system in the 
United States, including seminars on the economic institutions in the 
United States, and visits to such institutions;
    (B) Visits to school systems, institutions of higher education, and 
nonprofit organizations conducting exemplary programs in economic 
education, in the United States;
    (C) Translations and adaptations with respect to United States 
economic education, curricular programs for students and teachers, and 
in the case of training programs for teachers, translations and 
adaptations into forms useful in schools in eligible countries, and 
joint research projects in such areas; and
    (D) Independent research and evaluation assistance to determine the 
effects of the cooperative economic education exchange programs on 
students' ability to identify effective participation in, and the 
preservation and improvement of an efficient market economy.
    (2) Provide to the participants from the United States--
    (A) Seminars on the economies of eligible countries;
    (B) Visits to school systems, institutions of higher education, and 
organizations conducting exemplary programs in economic education 
located in eligible countries;
    (C) Assistance from educators and scholars in eligible countries in 
the development of curricular materials on the economy of such 
countries that are useful in United States classrooms;
    (D) Opportunities to provide onsite demonstrations of United States 
curricula and pedagogy for educational leaders in eligible countries; 
and
    (E) Independent research and evaluation assistance to determine the 
effects of the cooperative economic education exchange programs 
assisted through this grant on students' ability to identify effective 
participation in, and the preservation and improvement of an efficient 
market economy.
    (F) Assist participants from eligible countries and the United 
States to participate in international conferences on economic 
education for educational leaders, teacher trainers, scholars in 
related disciplines, and educational policymakers.
    Within the absolute priorities, we are particularly interested in 
applications that address the following invitational priority.
    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:
    Performance Data
    We are particularly interested in projects that use pre- and post-
intervention testing, or more rigorous methods, to measure the effects 
of the Cooperative Civic Education and Economic Education Exchange 
Program on the knowledge and skills of students and the classroom 
practice(s) of participating teachers.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6711-6716.

[[Page 3214]]

    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

    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: $2,682,787.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $700,000-$1,982,787.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,341,393.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 2.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.


    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Organizations in the United States 
experienced in the development of curricula and programs in civics and 
government education, or economic education for students in elementary 
schools and secondary schools in countries other than the United 
States.
    2. Eligible Country: For the purpose of this grant competition, the 
term eligible country means a Central European country, an Eastern 
European country, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the independent states of 
the former Soviet Union as defined in section 3 of the FREEDOM Support 
Act (22 U.S.C. 5801), the Republic of Ireland, the province of Northern 
Ireland in the United Kingdom, and any developing country (as such term 
is defined in section 209(d) of the Education for the Deaf Act (20 
U.S.C. 4359a(d)) if the Secretary, with the concurrence of the 
Secretary of State, determines that such developing country has a 
democratic form of government. (See 20 U.S.C. 6715(g)).
    A list of the countries is included in the application package.
    3. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    4. Other: Primary participants in the cooperative education 
exchange programs assisted through this grant shall be educational 
leaders in the areas of civic and government education, and economic 
education, including teachers, curriculum and teacher training 
specialists, scholars in relevant disciplines, educational 
policymakers, and government and private sector leaders from the United 
States and eligible countries. (See 20 U.S.C. 6715(d)).

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Rita Foy Moss, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Potomac Center Plaza 
(PCP), Room 10006, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245-7866 or 
by e-mail: rita.foy.moss@ed.gov.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the 
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
    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 the program contact person listed 
in this section.
    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 the Cooperative Civic 
Education and Economic Education Exchange Program competition.
    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. You must limit the 
application narrative [Part III] to no more than 25 pages, using the 
following standards:
    1. A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' margins 
at the top, bottom, and both sides.
    2. 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.
    3. Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller than 
10 pitch (characters per inch).
    4. 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, the 
resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the page 
limit does apply to all of the application narrative section [Part 
III].
    Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application that 
exceed the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: January 20, 2010.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 8, 2010. 
Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted 
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) accessible through the Department's e-Grants System, or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates 
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery, 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 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 
of 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 5, 2010.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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 
competition.
    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 competition may be submitted electronically or in paper format by 
mail or hand delivery.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    If you choose to submit your application to us electronically, you 
must use e-Application, accessible through the Department's e-Grants 
Web site at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    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:
     Your participation in e-Application is voluntary.
     You must complete the electronic submission of your grant 
application by

[[Page 3215]]

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 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 program contact 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this 
notice.
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System 
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 acknowledgement 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. If e-Application is available, and, 
for any reason, you are unable to submit your application 
electronically or you do not receive an automatic acknowledgment of 
your submission, you may submit your application in paper format by 
mail or hand delivery in accordance with the instructions in this 
notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If 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 84.304A) LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If your application is postmarked after the application deadline 
date, we will not consider your application.

    Note:  The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a 
dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with 
your local post office.

    c. Submission of Paper Application by Hand Delivery.
    If you submit your application in paper format by hand delivery, 
you (or a courier service) 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 84.304A) 
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 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

    Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are 
from 34 CFR 75.210 in EDGAR and are listed in the application package.

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.

[[Page 3216]]

    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 Measure: If funded, applicants will be expected, 
consistent with one of the statutory purposes of this program (see 20 
U.S.C. 6715(b)(5)(A)), to provide information on the results of any 
independent research and evaluation assistance supported to determine 
the effects of the Cooperative Civic Education and Economic Education 
Exchange Program on students' development of the knowledge, skills, and 
traits of character essential for the preservation and improvement of 
constitutional democracy and market economies. In addition, funded 
applicants responding to the Invitational Priority are encouraged to 
collect and submit data on the effects of the program on the knowledge 
and skills of students, and the classroom practice(s) of participating 
teachers.

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: Rita Foy Moss, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., PCP, room 10006, Washington, DC 
20202. Telephone: (202) 245-7866, FAX: (202) 485-0013 or by e-mail: 
rita.foy.moss@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 contact person 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 14, 2010.
Kevin Jennings,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools.
[FR Doc. 2010-965 Filed 1-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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