Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 135 / Monday, July 19, 2021 / Notices 38055 

(4) ways to minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on 

respondents, including automated 

collection techniques or the use of other 

forms of information technology. 

Dated: July 14, 2021. 

Aaron T. Siegel, 

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison 

Officer, Department of Defense. 

[FR Doc. 2021–15282 Filed 7–16–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 5001–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

Applications for New Awards— 

American History and Civics Education 

National Activities Program 

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and 

Secondary Education, Department of 

Education. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Education 

(Department) is issuing a notice inviting 

applications for fiscal year (FY) 2021 for 

the American History and Civics 

Education National Activities (AHC– 

NA) Program, Assistance Listing 

Number 84.422B. This notice relates to 

the approved information collection 

under OMB 1894–0006. 

DATES: 

Applications Available: July 19, 2021. 

Pre-Application Webinars: The Office 

of Elementary and Secondary Education 

intends to post pre-recorded 

informational webinars designed to 

provide technical assistance to 

interested applicants for grants under 

the AHC–NA program. These 

informational webinars will be available 

on the AHC–NA web page shortly after 

this notice is published in the Federal 

Register at https://oese.ed.gov/offices/ 

office-of-discretionary-grants-supportservices/effective-educatordevelopment-programs/nationalactivities-grant/. 

Note: For potential grantees new or 

unfamiliar with grantmaking at the 

Department, please consult our funding 

basics resource at www2.ed.gov/ 

documents/funding-101/funding-101- 

basics.pdf or a more detailed resource at 

www2.ed.gov/documents/funding-101/ 

funding-101.pdf. 

Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: 

August 18, 2021. 

Deadline for Transmittal of 

Applications: August 18, 2021. 

Deadline for Intergovernmental 

Review: October 4, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for 

obtaining and submitting an 

application, please refer to our Common 

Instructions for Applicants to 

Department of Education Discretionary 

Grant Programs, published in the 

Federal Register on February 13, 2019 

(84 FR 3768), and available at 

www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019- 

02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Christine Miller, U.S. Department of 

Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, 

Room 3C152, Washington, DC 20202– 

5960. Telephone: (202) 260–7350. 

Email: Christine.Miller@ed.gov. 

If you use a telecommunications 

device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 

telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay 

Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877– 

8339. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Full Text of Announcement 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

Purpose of Program: The purpose of 

this program is to promote new and 

existing evidence-based strategies to 

encourage innovative American history, 

civics and government, and geography 

instruction, learning strategies, and 

professional development activities and 

programs for teachers, principals, or 

other school leaders, particularly such 

instruction, strategies, activities, and 

programs that benefit students from 

low-income backgrounds and other 

underserved populations. 

Background: The AHC–NA Program 

seeks to promote evidence-based 

approaches that encourage innovative 

American history and civics education. 

In particular, the program seeks to 

promote strategies, activities, and 

programs that benefit students from 

low-income backgrounds and other 

underserved populations. This program 

is authorized under section 2233 of the 

Elementary and Secondary Education 

Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). 

This competition includes one 

absolute priority, one competitive 

preference priority, and two invitational 

priorities. Consistent with section 2233 

of the ESEA, the absolute priority 

addresses innovative instruction or 

professional development in American 

history, civics and government, and 

geography, and the competitive 

preference priority encourages 

applicants to propose projects that 

incorporate the use of hands-on civic 

engagement activities for teachers and 

students or programs that educate 

students about the history and 

principles of the U.S. Constitution, 

including the Bill of Rights. 

The Department continues to process, 

review, and fully respond to the 

significant number of public comments 

received in response to the notice of 

proposed priorities published in the 

Federal Register on April 19, 2021 (86 

FR 20348) (NPP). As a result, it is not 

possible to issue a notice of final 

priorities in time to use the priorities 

included in that NPP as competitive 

preference priorities for this FY 2021 

competition. Because the Department 

has not yet issued final priorities, we are 

using these proposed priorities as 

invitational priorities. Consistent with 

the use of invitational priorities across 

grant competitions, applicants are not 

required to respond to the invitational 

priorities, and applications that meet 

invitational priorities do not receive a 

preference or competitive advantage 

over other applications. 

The Department believes that teaching 

and learning practices that reflect the 

diversity, identities, histories, 

contributions, and experiences of all 

students promote academic and socialemotional development for all groups of 

students. To that end, Invitational 

Priority 1 reinforces that American 

history and civics education programs 

can play an important role in supporting 

teaching and learning that reflects the 

depth and breadth of our Nation’s 

diverse history and the vital role of 

diversity in our Nation’s democracy. 

This can be accomplished, in part, 

through teaching and learning 

environments that provide students 

with a full and accurate understanding 

of our Nation’s history, expose students 

to a range of important civics topics and 

equip them with the skills needed to 

fully participate in civic life, enable 

students to see themselves and their 

histories in the learning experience, and 

empower students by developing their 

problem-solving and critical thinking 

skills. 

Accordingly, Invitational Priority 1 

encourages applicants to incorporate 

practices that reflect the diversity, 

identities, histories, contributions, and 

experiences of all students into teaching 

and learning and create inclusive, 

supportive, and identity-safe learning 

environments. 

Invitational Priority 2 encourages 

applicants to foster information literacy 

skills, including critical thinking, and 

promote student engagement in civics 

education through professional 

development opportunities for teachers. 

The Department fully recognizes and 

respects that curriculum decisions are 

made at the State and local levels, not 

by the Federal Government, and does 

not mandate, direct, or control curricula 

through this competition. Rather, the 

Department, through this competition, 

seeks to encourage efforts to implement 

more effective, student-centered 

teaching practices and professional 

development activities while promoting 


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learning practices that reflect the 

diversity, identities, histories, 

contributions, and experiences of all 

students to support enriched 

educational opportunity, equity, and 

success for all students. 

Priorities: This notice contains one 

absolute priority, one competitive 

preference priority, and two invitational 

priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 

75.105(b)(2)(iv), the absolute priority is 

from section 2233(b)(1) of the ESEA, 20 

U.S.C. 6663. The competitive preference 

priority is from section 2233(b)(2) of the 

ESEA. 

Absolute Priority: For FY 2021 and 

any subsequent year in which we make 

awards from the list of unfunded 

applications 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: 

Innovative Instruction or Professional 

Development in American History, 

Civics and Government, and Geography. 

Under this priority, we provide 

funding to projects that are designed to 

develop, implement, expand, evaluate, 

and disseminate for voluntary use, 

innovative, evidence-based approaches 

or professional development programs 

in American history, civics and 

government, and geography. To meet 

this priority, a project must— 

(a) Show potential to improve the 

quality of teaching of and student 

achievement in American history, civics 

and government, or geography, in 

elementary schools and secondary 

schools; and 

(b) Demonstrate innovation, 

scalability, accountability, and a focus 

on underserved populations. 

Competitive Preference Priority: For 

FY 2021 and any subsequent year in 

which we make awards from the list of 

unfunded applications from this 

competition, this priority is a 

competitive preference priority. Under 

34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to 

an additional five points to an 

application, depending on how well the 

application meets this priority. 

This priority is: 

Innovative Activities for Civic 

Engagement. (up to 5 points) 

Projects that include one or both of 

the following— 

(a) Hands-on civic engagement 

activities for teachers and students; or 

(b) Programs that educate students 

about the history and principles of the 

Constitution of the United States, 

including the Bill of Rights. 

Invitational Priorities: For FY 2021 

and any subsequent year in which we 

make awards from the list of unfunded 

applications 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: 

Invitational Priority 1—Projects That 

Incorporate Racially, Ethnically, 

Culturally, and Linguistically Diverse 

Perspectives into Teaching and 

Learning. 

Projects that incorporate teaching and 

learning practices that reflect the 

diversity, identities, histories, 

contributions, and experiences of all 

students and create inclusive, 

supportive, and identity-safe learning 

environments that— 

(a) Take into account systemic 

marginalization, biases, inequities, and 

discriminatory policy and practice in 

American history; 

(b) Incorporate racially, ethnically, 

culturally, and linguistically diverse 

perspectives and perspectives on the 

experience of individuals with 

disabilities; 

(c) Encourage students to critically 

analyze the diverse perspectives of 

historical and contemporary media and 

its impacts; 

(d) Support the creation of learning 

environments that validate and reflect 

the diversity, identities, and experiences 

of all students; and 

(e) Contribute to inclusive, 

supportive, and identity-safe learning 

environments. 

Invitational Priority 2—Promoting 

Information Literacy Skills. 

Projects that foster critical thinking 

and promote student engagement in 

civics education through professional 

development or other activities 

designed to support students in— 

(a) Evaluating sources and evidence 

using standards of proof; 

(b) Understanding their own biases 

when reviewing information, as well as 

uncovering and recognizing bias in 

primary and secondary sources; 

(c) Synthesizing information into 

cogent communications; and 

(d) Understanding how inaccurate 

information may be used to influence 

individuals, and developing strategies to 

recognize accurate and inaccurate 

information. 

Definitions: The following definitions 

apply to this competition. The 

definition of ‘‘evidence-based’’ is from 

section 8101 of the ESEA. The 

definitions of ‘‘demonstrates a 

rationale,’’ ‘‘experimental study,’’ ‘‘logic 

model,’’ ‘‘moderate evidence,’’ ‘‘project 

component,’’ ‘‘promising evidence,’’ 

‘‘quasi-experimental design study,’’ 

‘‘relevant outcome,’’ ‘‘strong evidence,’’ 

and ‘‘What Works Clearinghouse 

Handbooks’’ are from 34 CFR 77.1. 

Demonstrates a rationale means a key 

project component included in the 

project’s logic model is informed by 

research or evaluation findings that 

suggest the project component is likely 

to improve relevant outcomes. 

Evidence-based means an activity, 

strategy, or intervention that— 

(i) Demonstrates a statistically 

significant effect on improving student 

outcomes or other relevant outcomes 

based on— 

(A) Strong evidence from at least 1 

well-designed and well-implemented 

experimental study; 

(B) Moderate evidence from at least 1 

well-designed and well-implemented 

quasi-experimental study; or 

(C) Promising evidence from at least 

1 well designed and well-implemented 

correlational study with statistical 

controls for selection bias; or 

(ii)(A) Demonstrates a rationale based 

on high quality research findings or 

positive evaluation that such activity, 

strategy, or intervention is likely to 

improve student outcomes or other 

relevant outcomes; and 

(B) Includes ongoing efforts to 

examine the effects of such activity, 

strategy, or intervention. 

Experimental study means a study 

that is designed to compare outcomes 

between two groups of individuals 

(such as students) that are otherwise 

equivalent except for their assignment 

to either a treatment group receiving a 

project component or a control group 

that does not. Randomized controlled 

trials, regression discontinuity design 

studies, and single-case design studies 

are the specific types of experimental 

studies that, depending on their design 

and implementation (e.g., sample 

attrition in randomized controlled trials 

and regression discontinuity design 

studies), can meet What Works 

Clearinghouse (WWC) standards 

without reservations as described in the 

WWC Handbooks: 

(i) A randomized controlled trial 

employs random assignment of, for 

example, students, teachers, classrooms, 

or schools to receive the project 

component being evaluated (the 

treatment group) or not to receive the 

project component (the control group). 

(ii) A regression discontinuity design 

study assigns the project component 

being evaluated using a measured 

variable (e.g., assigning students reading 

below a cutoff score to tutoring or 

developmental education classes) and 

controls for that variable in the analysis 

of outcomes. 

(iii) A single-case design study uses 

observations of a single case (e.g., a 


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student eligible for a behavioral 

intervention) over time in the absence 

and presence of a controlled treatment 

manipulation to determine whether the 

outcome is systematically related to the 

treatment. 

Logic model (also referred to as a 

theory of action) means a framework 

that identifies key project components 

of the proposed project (i.e., the active 

‘‘ingredients’’ that are hypothesized to 

be critical to achieving the relevant 

outcomes) and describes the theoretical 

and operational relationships among the 

key project components and relevant 

outcomes. 

Moderate evidence means that there is 

evidence of effectiveness of a key 

project component in improving a 

relevant outcome for a sample that 

overlaps with the populations or 

settings proposed to receive that 

component, based on a relevant finding 

from one of the following: 

(i) A practice guide prepared by the 

WWC using version 2.1, 3.0, 4.0, or 4.1 

of the WWC Handbooks reporting a 

‘‘strong evidence base’’ or ‘‘moderate 

evidence base’’ for the corresponding 

practice guide recommendation; 

(ii) An intervention report prepared 

by the WWC using version 2.1, 3.0, 4.0, 

or 4.1 of the WWC Handbooks reporting 

a ‘‘positive effect’’ or ‘‘potentially 

positive effect’’ on a relevant outcome 

based on a ‘‘medium to large’’ extent of 

evidence, with no reporting of a 

‘‘negative effect’’ or ‘‘potentially 

negative effect’’ on a relevant outcome; 

or 

(iii) A single experimental study or 

quasi-experimental design study 

reviewed and reported by the WWC 

using version 2.1, 3.0, 4.0, or 4.1 of the 

WWC Handbooks, or otherwise assessed 

by the Department using version 4.1 of 

the WWC Handbooks, as appropriate, 

and that— 

(A) Meets WWC standards with or 

without reservations; 

(B) Includes at least one statistically 

significant and positive (i.e., favorable) 

effect on a relevant outcome; 

(C) Includes no overriding statistically 

significant and negative effects on 

relevant outcomes reported in the study 

or in a corresponding WWC 

intervention report prepared under 

version 2.1, 3.0, 4.0, or 4.1 of the WWC 

Handbooks; and 

(D) Is based on a sample from more 

than one site (e.g., State, county, city, 

school district, or postsecondary 

campus) and includes at least 350 

students or other individuals across 

sites. Multiple studies of the same 

project component that each meet 

requirements in paragraphs (iii)(A), (B), 

and (C) of this definition may together 

satisfy the requirement in this paragraph 

(iii)(D). 

Project component means an activity, 

strategy, intervention, process, product, 

practice, or policy included in a project. 

Evidence may pertain to an individual 

project component or to a combination 

of project components (e.g., training 

teachers on instructional practices for 

English learners and follow-on coaching 

for these teachers). 

Promising evidence means that there 

is evidence of the effectiveness of a key 

project component in improving a 

relevant outcome, based on a relevant 

finding from one of the following: 

(i) A practice guide prepared by WWC 

reporting a ‘‘strong evidence base’’ or 

‘‘moderate evidence base’’ for the 

corresponding practice guide 

recommendation; 

(ii) An intervention report prepared 

by the WWC reporting a ‘‘positive 

effect’’ or ‘‘potentially positive effect’’ 

on a relevant outcome with no reporting 

of a ‘‘negative effect’’ or ‘‘potentially 

negative effect’’ on a relevant outcome; 

or 

(iii) A single study assessed by the 

Department, as appropriate, that— 

(A) Is an experimental study, a quasiexperimental design study, or a welldesigned and well-implemented 

correlational study with statistical 

controls for selection bias (e.g., a study 

using regression methods to account for 

differences between a treatment group 

and a comparison group); and 

(B) Includes at least one statistically 

significant and positive (i.e., favorable) 

effect on a relevant outcome. 

Quasi-experimental design study 

means a study using a design that 

attempts to approximate an 

experimental study by identifying a 

comparison group that is similar to the 

treatment group in important respects. 

This type of study, depending on design 

and implementation (e.g., establishment 

of baseline equivalence of the groups 

being compared), can meet WWC 

standards with reservations, but cannot 

meet WWC standards without 

reservations, as described in the WWC 

Handbooks. 

Relevant outcome means the student 

outcome(s) or other outcome(s) the key 

project component is designed to 

improve, consistent with the specific 

goals of the program. 

Strong evidence means that there is 

evidence of the effectiveness of a key 

project component in improving a 

relevant outcome for a sample that 

overlaps with the populations and 

settings proposed to receive that 

component, based on a relevant finding 

from one of the following: 

(i) A practice guide prepared by the 

WWC using version 2.1, 3.0, 4.0, or 4.1 

of the WWC Handbooks reporting a 

‘‘strong evidence base’’ for the 

corresponding practice guide 

recommendation; 

(ii) An intervention report prepared 

by the WWC using version 2.1, 3.0, 4.0, 

or 4.1 of the WWC Handbooks reporting 

a ‘‘positive effect’’ on a relevant 

outcome based on a ‘‘medium to large’’ 

extent of evidence, with no reporting of 

a ‘‘negative effect’’ or ‘‘potentially 

negative effect’’ on a relevant outcome; 

or 

(iii) A single experimental study 

reviewed and reported by the WWC 

using version 2.1, 3.0, 4.0, or 4.1 of the 

WWC Handbooks, or otherwise assessed 

by the Department using version 4.1 of 

the WWC Handbooks, as appropriate, 

and that— 

(A) Meets WWC standards without 

reservations; 

(B) Includes at least one statistically 

significant and positive (i.e., favorable) 

effect on a relevant outcome; 

(C) Includes no overriding statistically 

significant and negative effects on 

relevant outcomes reported in the study 

or in a corresponding WWC 

intervention report prepared under 

version 2.1, 3.0, 4.0, or 4.1 of the WWC 

Handbooks; and 

(D) Is based on a sample from more 

than one site (e.g., State, county, city, 

school district, or postsecondary 

campus) and includes at least 350 

students or other individuals across 

sites. Multiple studies of the same 

project component that each meet 

requirements in paragraphs (iii)(A), (B), 

and (C) of this definition may together 

satisfy the requirement in this paragraph 

(iii)(D). 

What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) 

Handbooks (WWC Handbooks) means 

the standards and procedures set forth 

in the WWC Standards Handbook, 

Versions 4.0 or 4.1, and WWC 

Procedures Handbook, Versions 4.0 or 

4.1, or in the WWC Procedures and 

Standards Handbook, Version 3.0 or 

Version 2.1 (all incorporated by 

reference, see § 77.2). Study findings 

eligible for review under WWC 

standards can meet WWC standards 

without reservations, meet WWC 

standards with reservations, or not meet 

WWC standards. WWC practice guides 

and intervention reports include 

findings from systematic reviews of 

evidence as described in the WWC 

Handbooks documentation. 

Program Authority: Section 2233 of 

the ESEA, 20 U.S.C. 6663. 

Note: Projects will be awarded and 

must be operated in a manner consistent 

with the nondiscrimination 


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requirements contained in the Federal 

civil rights laws. 

Applicable Regulations: (a) The 

Education Department General 

Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR 

parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, 

and 99. (b) The Office of Management 

and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on 

Governmentwide Debarment and 

Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR 

part 180, as adopted and amended as 

regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 

part 3485. (c) The Uniform 

Administrative Requirements, Cost 

Principles, and Audit Requirements for 

Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as 

adopted and amended as regulations of 

the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. 

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: 

$2,150,000. 

Contingent upon the availability of 

funds and the quality of applications, 

we may make additional awards in 

subsequent years from the list of 

unfunded applications from this 

competition. 

Estimated Range of Awards: 

$300,000–$500,000 per year. 

Estimated Average Size of Awards: 

$400,000 per year. 

Maximum Award: We will not make 

an award exceeding $500,000 to any 

applicant per 12-month budget period. 

The Department plans to fully fund 

awards made under this notice with FY 

2021 funds. 

Estimated Number of Awards: 2–3. 

Note: The Department is not bound by 

any estimates in this notice. 

Project Period: Up to 36 months, with 

renewal of up to an additional 24 

months. 

III. Eligibility Information 

1. Eligible Applicants: An institution 

of higher education or other nonprofit or 

for-profit organization with 

demonstrated expertise in the 

development of evidence-based 

approaches with the potential to 

improve the quality of American 

history, civics and government, or 

geography learning and teaching. 

Note: If multiple eligible entities wish 

to form a consortium and jointly submit 

a single application, they must follow 

the procedures for group applications 

described in 34 CFR 75.127 through 34 

CFR 75.129. 

Note: If you are a nonprofit 

organization, under 34 CFR 75.51, you 

may demonstrate your nonprofit status 

by providing: (1) Proof that the Internal 

Revenue Service currently recognizes 

the applicant as an organization to 

which contributions are tax deductible 

under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 

Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a 

State taxing body or the State attorney 

general certifying that the organization 

is a nonprofit organization operating 

within the State and that no part of its 

net earnings may lawfully benefit any 

private shareholder or individual; (3) a 

certified copy of the applicant’s 

certificate of incorporation or similar 

document if it clearly establishes the 

nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4) 

any item described above if that item 

applies to a State or national parent 

organization, together with a statement 

by the State or parent organization that 

the applicant is a local nonprofit 

affiliate. 

2.a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This 

program does not require any cost 

sharing or matching. 

b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This 

program involves supplement-notsupplant funding requirements. In 

accordance with section 2301 of the 

ESEA, funds made available under this 

program must be used to supplement, 

and not supplant, other non-Federal 

funds that would otherwise be 

expended to carry out activities under 

this program. 

c. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This 

program uses a training indirect cost 

rate. This limits indirect cost 

reimbursement to an entity’s actual 

indirect costs, as determined in its 

negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, 

or eight percent of a modified total 

direct cost base, whichever amount is 

less. For more information regarding 

training indirect cost rates, see 34 CFR 

75.562. For more information regarding 

indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated 

indirect cost rate, please see 

www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/ 

intro.html. 

d. Administrative Cost Limitation: 

This program does not include any 

program-specific limitation on 

administrative expenses. All 

administrative expenses must be 

reasonable and necessary and conform 

to Cost Principles described in 2 CFR 

part 200 subpart E of the Uniform 

Guidance. 

3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this 

competition may not award subgrants to 

entities to directly carry out project 

activities described in its application. 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

1. Application Submission 

Instructions: Applicants are required to 

follow the Common Instructions for 

Applicants to Department of Education 

Discretionary Grant Programs, 

published in the Federal Register on 

February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768) and 

available at www.govinfo.gov/content/ 

pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf, 

which contain requirements and 

information on how to submit an 

application. 

2. Submission of Proprietary 

Information: Given the types of projects 

that may be proposed in applications for 

the AHC–NA program, your application 

may include business information that 

you consider proprietary. In 34 CFR 

5.11, we define ‘‘business information’’ 

and describe the process we use in 

determining whether any of that 

information is proprietary and, thus, 

protected from disclosure under 

Exemption 4 of the Freedom of 

Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552, as 

amended). 

Because we plan to make successful 

applications available to the public, you 

may wish to request confidentiality of 

business information. 

Consistent with Executive Order 

12600, please designate in your 

application any information that you 

believe is exempt from disclosure under 

Exemption 4. In the appropriate 

Appendix section of your application, 

under ‘‘Other Attachments Form,’’ 

please list the page number or numbers 

on which we can find this information. 

For additional information please see 34 

CFR 5.11(c). 

3. 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 

competition. Please note that, under 34 

CFR 79.8(a), we have shortened the 

standard 60-day intergovernmental 

review period in order to make awards 

by the end of FY 2021. 

4. Funding Restrictions: We specify 

unallowable costs in 2 CFR 200, subpart 

E. We reference additional regulations 

outlining funding restrictions in the 

Applicable Regulations section of this 

notice. 

5. Recommended Page Limit: The 

application narrative is where you, the 

applicant, address the selection criteria 

that reviewers use to evaluate your 

application. We recommend that you (1) 

limit the application narrative to no 

more than 50 pages and (2) use 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, 


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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. 

Furthermore, applicants are strongly 

encouraged to include a table of 

contents that specifies where each 

required part of the application is 

located. 

6. 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 of its intent to submit an 

application. To do so, please email the 

program contact person listed under FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT with the 

subject line ‘‘Intent to Apply,’’ and 

include the applicant’s name and a 

contact person’s name and email 

address. 

V. Application Review Information 

1. Selection Criteria: The selection 

criteria for this program are from 34 CFR 

75.210. An applicant may earn up to a 

total of 100 points based on the 

selection criteria. The maximum score 

for addressing each criterion is 

indicated in parentheses. 

(a) Quality of the project design. (30 

points) 

(1) The Secretary considers the 

quality of the design of the proposed 

project. 

(2) In determining the quality of the 

design of the proposed project, the 

Secretary considers the following 

factors: 

(i) The extent to which the proposed 

project demonstrates a rationale. 

(ii) The extent to which the proposed 

project represents an exceptional 

approach to the priority or priorities 

established for the competition. 

(b) Need for project. (20 points) 

(1) The Secretary considers the need 

for the proposed project. 

(2) In determining the need for the 

proposed project, the Secretary 

considers the following factors: 

(i) The magnitude or severity of the 

problem to be addressed by the 

proposed project. 

(ii) 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. 

(iii) The extent to which the proposed 

project will focus on serving or 

otherwise addressing the needs of 

disadvantaged individuals. 

(iv) The extent to which the proposed 

project is likely to build local capacity 

to provide, improve, or expand services 

that address the needs of the target 

population. 

(c) Quality of the management plan. 

(20 points) 

(1) The Secretary considers the 

quality of the management plan for the 

proposed project. 

(2) In determining the quality of the 

management plan for the proposed 

project, the Secretary considers the 

following factors: 

(i) 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. 

(ii) The adequacy of procedures for 

ensuring feedback and continuous 

improvement in the operation of the 

proposed project. 

(d) Quality of the project evaluation. 

(30 points) 

(1) The Secretary considers the 

quality of the evaluation to be 

conducted of the proposed project. 

(2) In determining the quality of the 

evaluation, the Secretary considers the 

following factors: 

(i) The extent to which the methods 

of evaluation will provide performance 

feedback and permit periodic 

assessment of progress toward achieving 

intended outcomes. (10 points) 

(ii) The extent to which the methods 

of evaluation will, if well implemented, 

produce promising evidence (as defined 

in this notice) about the project’s 

effectiveness. (10 points) 

(iii) The extent to which the methods 

of evaluation provide for examining the 

effectiveness of project implementation 

strategies. (5 points) 

(iv) The extent to which the 

evaluation will provide guidance about 

effective strategies suitable for 

replication or testing in other settings. (5 

points) 

2. Review and Selection Process: We 

remind potential applicants that in 

reviewing applications in any 

discretionary grant competition, the 

Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 

75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the 

applicant in carrying out a previous 

award, such as the applicant’s use of 

funds, achievement of project 

objectives, and compliance with grant 

conditions. The Secretary may also 

consider whether the applicant failed to 

submit a timely performance report or 

submitted a report of unacceptable 

quality. 

In addition, in making a competitive 

grant award, the Secretary requires 

various assurances, including those 

applicable to Federal civil rights laws 

that prohibit discrimination in programs 

or activities receiving Federal financial 

assistance from the Department (34 CFR 

100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23). 

3. Risk Assessment and Specific 

Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 

200.206, before awarding grants under 

this competition the Department 

conducts a review of the risks posed by 

applicants. Under 2 CFR 200.208, the 

Secretary may impose specific 

conditions and, under 2 CFR 3474.10, in 

appropriate circumstances, high-risk 

conditions on a grant if the applicant or 

grantee is not financially stable; has a 

history of unsatisfactory performance; 

has a financial or other management 

system that does not meet the standards 

in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not 

fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; 

or is otherwise not responsible. 

4. Integrity and Performance System: 

If you are selected under this 

competition to receive an award that 

over the course of the project period 

may exceed the simplified acquisition 

threshold (currently $250,000), under 2 

CFR 200.206(a)(2) we must make a 

judgment about your integrity, business 

ethics, and record of performance under 

Federal awards—that is, the risk posed 

by you as an applicant—before we make 

an award. In doing so, we must consider 

any information about you that is in the 

integrity and performance system 

(currently referred to as the Federal 

Awardee Performance and Integrity 

Information System (FAPIIS)), 

accessible through the System for 

Award Management. You may review 

and comment on any information about 

yourself that a Federal agency 

previously entered and that is currently 

in FAPIIS. 

Please note that, if the total value of 

your currently active grants, cooperative 

agreements, and procurement contracts 

from the Federal government exceeds 

$10,000,000, the reporting requirements 

in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII, 

require you to report certain integrity 

information to FAPIIS semiannually. 

Please review the requirements in 2 CFR 

part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant 

plus all the other Federal funds you 

receive exceed $10,000,000. 

5. In General: In accordance with 

OMB’s guidance located at 2 CFR part 

200, all applicable Federal laws, and 

relevant Executive guidance, the 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
38060 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 135 / Monday, July 19, 2021 / Notices 

Department will review and consider 

applications for funding pursuant to this 

notice inviting applications in 

accordance with— 

(a) Selecting recipients most likely to 

be successful in delivering results based 

on the program objectives through an 

objective process of evaluating Federal 

award applications (2 CFR 200.205); 

(b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain 

telecommunication and video 

surveillance services or equipment in 

alignment with section 889 of the 

National Defense Authorization Act of 

2019 (Pub. L. 115–232) (2 CFR 200.216); 

(c) Providing a preference, to the 

extent permitted by law, to maximize 

use of goods, products, and materials 

produced in the United States (2 CFR 

200.322); and 

(d) Terminating agreements in whole 

or in part to the greatest extent 

authorized by law if an award no longer 

effectuates the program goals or agency 

priorities (2 CFR 200.340). 

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); or we may send you an email 

containing a link to access an electronic 

version of your 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. Open Licensing Requirements: 

Unless an exception applies, if you are 

awarded a grant under this competition, 

you will be required to openly license 

to the public grant deliverables created 

in whole, or in part, with Department 

grant funds. When the deliverable 

consists of modifications to pre-existing 

works, the license must extend only to 

those modifications that can be 

separately identified and only to the 

extent that open licensing is permitted 

under the terms of any licenses or other 

legal restrictions on the use of preexisting works. Additionally, a grantee 

or subgrantee that is awarded 

competitive grant funds must have a 

plan to disseminate these public grant 

deliverables. This dissemination plan 

can be developed and submitted after 

your application has been reviewed and 

selected for funding. For additional 

information on the open licensing 

requirements please refer to 2 CFR 

3474.20. 

4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a 

grant under this competition, you must 

ensure that you have in place the 

necessary processes and systems to 

comply with the reporting requirements 

in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive 

funding under the competition. This 

does not apply if you have an exception 

under 2 CFR 170.110(b). 

(b) 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 multiyear 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 www.ed.gov/ 

fund/grant/apply/appforms/ 

appforms.html. 

(c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the 

Secretary may provide a grantee with 

additional funding for data collection 

analysis and reporting. In this case the 

Secretary establishes a data collection 

period. 

5. Performance Measures: The 

Department has established the 

following Government Performance and 

Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) performance 

objective for the AHC–NA Program: 

Participants will demonstrate through 

pre- and post-assessments an increased 

understanding of American history, 

civics and government, and geography. 

For purposes of GPRA and 

Department reporting under 34 CFR 

75.110, we will track performance on 

this objective through the following 

measure: The average percentage gain 

on an assessment after participation in 

the grant activities. 

We advise an applicant for a grant 

under this program to give careful 

consideration to this measure in 

conceptualizing the approach to, and 

evaluation of, its proposed project. Each 

grantee will be required to provide, in 

its annual and final performance 

reports, data about its performance with 

respect to this measure. 

6. Continuation Awards: In making a 

continuation award under 34 CFR 

75.253, the Secretary considers, among 

other things: Whether a grantee has 

made substantial progress in achieving 

the goals and objectives of the project; 

whether the grantee has expended funds 

in a manner that is consistent with its 

approved application and budget; 

whether the grantee has met the 

required non-Federal cost share or 

matching requirement; and, if the 

Secretary has established performance 

measurement requirements, the 

performance targets in the grantee’s 

approved application. 

In making a continuation award, the 

Secretary also considers whether the 

grantee is operating in compliance with 

the assurances in its approved 

application, including those applicable 

to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit 

discrimination in programs or activities 

receiving Federal financial assistance 

from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 

104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23). 

VII. Other Information 

Accessible Format: On request to the 

program contact person listed under FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, 

individuals with disabilities can obtain 

this document and a copy of the 

application package in an accessible 

format. The Department will provide the 

requestor with an accessible format that 

may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or 

text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 

file, braille, large print, audiotape, or 

compact disc, or other accessible format. 

Electronic Access to This Document: 

The official version of this document is 

the document published in the Federal 

Register. You may access the official 

edition of the Federal Register and the 

Code of Federal Regulations at: 

www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can 

view this document, as well as all other 

documents of this Department 

published in the Federal Register, in 

text or Portable Document Format 

(PDF). To use PDF you must have 

Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is 

available free at the site. 

You may also access documents of the 

Department published in the Federal 

Register by using the article search 

feature at: www.federalregister.gov. 

Specifically, through the advanced 

search feature at this site, you can limit 

your search to documents published by 

the Department. 

Ian Rosenblum, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and 

Programs Delegated the authority to perform 

the functions and duties of the Assistant 

Secretary, Office of Elementary and 

Secondary Education. 

[FR Doc. 2021–15365 Filed 7–16–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P 


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