Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/12/22/2015-32089/applications-for-new-awards-talent-search-program
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Federal Register :: Applications for New Awards; Talent Search Program
Applications for New Awards; Talent Search Program
A Notice by the Education Department on 12/22/2015
Applications Available: December 22, 2015.
80 FR 79574
79574-79580 (7 pages)
2015-32089
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-32089 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-32089
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 5, 2016.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 20, 2016.
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Talent Search Program is to identify qualified individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds with potential for education at the postsecondary level and encourage them to complete secondary school and undertake postsecondary education. Talent Search projects publicize the availability of, and facilitate the application for, student financial assistance for persons who seek to pursue postsecondary education, and encourage persons who have not completed programs at the secondary or postsecondary level to enter or reenter and complete these programs.
Background: The Federal TRIO programs, including the Talent Search Program, represent a national commitment to education for all students regardless of race, ethnic background, disability status, or economic circumstances. Consistent with this mission, the Department has a strong interest in ensuring that students Start Printed Page 79575who are low-income, potential first-generation college students, limited English proficient, students from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education, students with disabilities, students who are homeless children and youths, students who are in foster care or are aging out of the foster care system, or other disconnected students receive services provided by Talent Search.
Priorities: This notice contains two competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), Competitive Preference Priority 1(a) is from allowable activities specified in the statute (see section 402B(c)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA))(20 U.S.C. 1070a-12(c)(1)). Competitive Preference Priority 1(b) is from 34 CFR 75.226. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), Competitive Preference Priority 2(a) is from allowable activities specified in the statute (see section 402B(c)(6) of the HEA)(20 U.S.C. 1070a-12(c)(6)). Competitive Preference Priority 2(b) is from 34 CFR 75.226.
Applicants must include, in the one-page abstract submitted with the application, a statement indicating which, if any, of the competitive preference priorities are addressed. If the applicant addresses any of the competitive preference priorities, this information must also be listed on the Talent Search Program Profile Form.
Background on Competitive Preference Priorities: Each competitive preference priority has two parts—(a) and (b)—and the applicant must address both parts to receive consideration for the highest available number of points for that priority.
Competitive Preference Priority 1(a). Under Competitive Preference Priority 1(a), the Department will award a competitive preference to projects designed to provide academic tutoring, which may include instruction in reading, writing, study skills, mathematics, science, and other subjects. The Department is interested in receiving applications with strong plans to provide effective tutoring programs for students to increase the likelihood that they complete high school and enroll in a postsecondary institution. Applicants addressing this priority should demonstrate how their proposals will improve student outcomes consistent with the Talent Search Program.
Competitive Preference Priority 2(a). Through Competitive Preference Priority 2(a), the Department encourages applicants to propose strategies focused on developing mentoring programs. Mentoring programs are administered in various forms. Most scholars believe that mentoring is an important complement to other strategies employed to improve student outcomes. Yet, it is less clear which programmatic approaches to mentoring are particularly effective for students with different academic, social, or economic profiles. The Department is interested in receiving applications with strong plans to provide effective mentoring to students to increase the likelihood that they complete high school and enroll in a postsecondary institution. Applicants addressing this priority should demonstrate how their proposals will improve student outcomes consistent with the Talent Search Program.
Competitive Preference Priorities 1(b) and 2(b). To meet Competitive Preference Priority (1)(b) or (2)(b), applicants must cite research studies that support their proposed tutoring or mentoring strategies. Applicants must address part (a) of each priority to be considered for the points available in part (b) of each priority. In recognition of the growing and emergent body of available research on tutoring and mentoring strategies that improve student success, we will award points for studies with varying levels of methodological rigor: One point for studies that meet Evidence of Promise (as defined in this notice) or two points for studies that meet Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness (as defined in this notice).
Through Competitive Preference Priorities 1(b) and 2(b), an applicant can earn one additional point for each priority by demonstrating that its strategy is based on research that meets the Evidence of Promise standard or two additional points for each priority by demonstrating that its strategy is based on research that meets the Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness standard. Applicants seeking to address Competitive Preference Priority 1(b) or 2(b) should identify up to two citations for studies that meet the definition of the applicable evidence standard for each priority (a maximum of four citations if addressing both priorities). The Department will review the studies cited by the applicants to determine if they meet the requirements for Evidence of Promise or Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness.
Cited studies may include those already listed in the Department's What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Reviewed Studies Database (see http://ies.ed.gov/​ncee/​wwc/​ReviewedStudies.aspx) or those that are not included in that database. Studies listed in the WWC Reviewed Studies Database do not necessarily satisfy any or all of the criteria needed to meet either the Evidence of Promise standard or the Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness standard, as defined in this notice, and therefore it is important that applicants themselves ascertain the suitability of a study for an evidence priority.
Points will only be awarded if the submitted studies are determined to meet the particular evidence standard, and if a determination is made that the research cited is relevant to the proposed projects. Applicants addressing Competitive Preference Priorities 1(b) or 2(b) should clearly demonstrate the relevance of the cited studies to proposed project activities. Applicants should also clearly demonstrate how the proposed project activities align with the cited study with sufficient fidelity. Where modifications to the cited intervention will be made to account for student or institutional/organizational characteristics, resource limitations, or other special factors, the applicant should provide a justification or basis for the modifications in the narrative response to the priority.
The link(s) for the citation(s) submitted for Competitive Preference Priority 1(b) or 2(b) should be provided on the abstract, as well as on the Talent Search Program Profile Form. Applicants should specify in their narrative responses to these priorities the findings within the studies cited as evidence in support of their strategies and ensure that the citation(s) and link(s) are from an available source.
Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2016 and any subsequent year for which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to six additional points to an application, depending on how well application meets one or more of these priorities.
Competitive Preference Priority 1(a)—Providing Academic Tutoring. The Secretary gives priority to projects designed to provide academic tutoring, which may include instruction in reading, writing, study skills, mathematics, science, and other subjects (1 additional point).
Competitive Preference Priority 1(b)—Strategies supported by Evidence of Promise (1 additional point) or by Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness (2 additional points).
Competitive Preference Priority 2(a)—Providing Mentoring Programs (1 additional point). The Secretary gives priority to projects designed to provide mentoring programs involving Start Printed Page 79576elementary or secondary school teachers or counselors, faculty members at institutions of higher education, students, or any combination of such persons (1 additional point).
Competitive Preference Priority 2(b)—Programs supported by Evidence of Promise (1 additional point) or on Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness (2 additional points).
The following definitions are from 34 CFR 77.1.
(ii) There is at least one study of the effectiveness of the process, product, strategy, or practice being proposed that meets the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations, found a statistically significant favorable impact on a relevant outcome (with no statistically significant and overriding unfavorable impacts on that outcome for relevant populations in the study or in other studies of the intervention reviewed by and reported on by the What Works Clearinghouse), includes a sample that overlaps with the populations or settings proposed to receive the process, product, strategy, or practice, and includes a large sample and a multi-site sample. Note: Multiple studies can cumulatively meet the large and multi-site sample requirements as long as each study meets the other requirements in this paragraph.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 and 1070a-12.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75 (except for §§ 75.215 through 75.221), 77, 79, 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 in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 643.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested $859,752,000 for the Federal TRIO Program for FY 2016, of which we intend to use an estimated $134,662,000 for Talent Search awards. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final Congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
Estimated Range of Awards: $230,000-$681,210.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $265,754.
For an applicant that is not currently receiving a Talent Search Program grant, the maximum award amount is $230,000 for a project that will serve a minimum of 500 participants, based upon a per-participant cost of no more than $460.
For an applicant that is currently receiving a Talent Search Program grant, the maximum award amount is the greater of (a) $230,000 or (b) 100 percent of the applicant's base award amount for FY 2015. The minimum number of participants an applicant proposes to serve must be 500 and the project must propose a per-participant cost that does not exceed $460 per participant. For example, an applicant that is eligible for a $460,000 grant, must propose to serve at least 1,000 participants.
We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the maximum amount listed above for a single budget period of 12 months. We will also reject any application that proposes a budget to serve fewer than 500 participants, and will reject any application that proposes a budget that Start Printed Page 79577exceeds the maximum per participant cost of $460.
Estimated Number of Awards: 451.
1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education, public and private agencies, and organizations including community-based organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth, combinations of such institutions, agencies and organizations, and secondary schools, for planning, developing, or carrying out one or more of the services identified under this program.
3. Other: An applicant may submit multiple applications if each separate application describes a project that will serve a different target area or different target schools. The term target area is defined as a geographic area served by a project, and the term target school is a school designated by the applicant as a focus of project services (34 CFR 643.7).
1. Address to Request Application Package: Craig Pooler, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Suite 7010, Washington, DC 20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7600; or email: TRIO@ed.gov.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) by contacting the contact person listed in this section.
Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit the project narrative (Part III), which includes the budget narrative, to the equivalent of no more than 65 pages using the following standards. However, any application addressing the competitive preference priorities may include up to two additional pages for each part of each priority (1(a) and (b); 2(a) and (b)), if addressed. Those up to eight additional pages must be used to discuss how the application meets the competitive preference priority (or priorities). The additional pages allotted to address priorities cannot be used for or transferred to the project narrative or any section of the application.
For the purpose of determining compliance with the page limit, each page on which there is text or graphics will be counted as one full page.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the project narrative.
Single space is appropriate for titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in figures, charts, and graphs.
You should also include a table of contents in the project narrative, which will not be counted toward the page limit.
The page limit does not apply to Part I—the Application for Federal Assistance Face Sheet (SF 424); Part II—the budget information summary form (ED Form 524); Part III, the Talent Search Program Profile Form, the one-page Project Abstract form; and Part IV—the Assurances and Certifications. If you include any attachments or appendices, these items will be counted as part of Part III—the Project Narrative, for the purpose of the page-limit requirement. You must include your complete response to the selection criteria and priorities in Part III—the Project Narrative.
5. Funding Restrictions: We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR 643.31. We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service. If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service or the Social Security Start Printed Page 79578Administration. If you need a new TIN, please allow two to five weeks for your TIN to become active.
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline date because of technical problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to enable you to transmit your application electronically or by Start Printed Page 79579hand delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: James Davis, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 7007, Washington, DC 20006-8510. FAX: (202) 502-7545.
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 84.044A) LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260.
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 84.044A), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary also 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 of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4,1 08.8, and 110.23).
For this competition, a panel of three non-Federal reviewers will review each application in accordance with the selection criteria, pursuant to 34 CFR 643.21. The individual scores assigned by the reviewers will be added and the sum divided by the number of reviewers to determine the peer reviewer score received in the review process. Additionally, in accordance with 34 CFR 643.22, the Secretary will award prior experience points to applicants that have conducted a Talent Search project during budget periods 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, based on their documented experience. Prior experience points, if any, will be added to the application's averaged reader score to determine the total score for each application.
3. Tie-breaker: If there are insufficient funds for all applications with the same total scores, the Secretary will choose Start Printed Page 79580among the tied applications so as to serve geographical areas that have been underserved by the Talent Search Program.
4. Performance Measures: The success of the Talent Search Program will be measured by secondary school persistence and graduation rates of Talent Search participants, as well as postsecondary enrollment and completion rates. All Talent Search Program grantees will be required to submit an annual performance report documenting secondary school persistence, secondary school graduation and postsecondary enrollment of their participants. Since students may take different amounts of time to complete their postsecondary education, multiple years of performance report data are needed to determine the postsecondary completion rates of Talent Search Program participants. The Department of Education will aggregate the data provided in the annual performance reports from all grantees to determine the accomplishment level.
Craig Pooler, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Suite 7010, Washington, DC 20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7600 or email: TRIO@ed.gov
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 compact disc) on request to the program contact persons listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII if this notice.
[FR Doc. 2015-32089 Filed 12-21-15; 8:45 am]