Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education.
Notice.
The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2021 for the Alaska Native Education (ANE) program, Assistance Listing Number 84.356A. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1894–0006.
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
Almita Reed, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, room 3E222, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 260–1979. Email:
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.
An applicant must address both parts of the absolute priority. An applicant must clearly identify in its application where the absolute priority is addressed.
This priority is:
Eligible applicants must design a project that—
1. Develops and implements plans, methods, strategies, and activities to improve the educational outcomes of Alaska Natives; and
2. Collects data to assist in the evaluation of the programs carried out under the ANE program.
The competitive preference priority is:
Under this priority, an applicant must propose a project that is designed to address both of the following priority areas:
(a) Providing access to any of the following, in particular to serve learners without access to such technologies: Reliable, high-speed internet, learning devices, or software applications that meet all students' and educators' remote learning needs while inside the school building and in remote learning environments.
(b) Providing high-quality remote learning specifically for Native American (as defined in this notice) students.
The remote learning environment must be accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as applicable. The remote learning environment must also provide appropriate remote learning language assistance services to English learners.
(a) An Indian Tribe, as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304), that is an Indian Tribe located in Alaska;
(b) A Tribal organization, as defined in section 4 of such Act (25 U.S.C. 5304), that is a Tribal organization located in Alaska; or
(c) An organization listed in clauses (i) through (xii) of section 619(4)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 619(4)(B)(i) through (xii)), or the successor of an entity so listed.
(a) The applicant must provide a detailed description of the plans, methods, strategies, and activities it will develop and implement to improve the educational outcomes of Alaska Natives and how the applicant will develop and implement such plans, methods, strategies, and activities. (ESEA section 6304(a)(2))
(b) The applicant must provide a detailed description of the data it will collect to assist in the evaluation of the programs carried out under the ANE program, including data that address the performance measures in section VI.5 (Performance Measures) of this notice; and how the applicant will collect such data. (ESEA section 6304(a)(2))
(c) Group Application:
An applicant that applies as part of a partnership must meet this requirement, in addition to the requirements in paragraphs (a) and (b) above.
(1) An ANO that applies for a grant in partnership with a State educational agency (SEA) or local educational agency (LEA) must serve as the fiscal agent for the project.
(2) Group applications under the ANE program must include a partnership agreement that includes a Memorandum of Understanding or a Memorandum of Agreement (MOU/MOA) between the members of the partnership identified and discussed in the grant application. Each MOU/MOA must—
(i) Be signed by all partners, and dated within 120 days prior to the date of the submission of the application;
(ii) Clearly outline the work to be completed by each partner that will participate in the grant in order to accomplish the goals and objectives of the project; and
(iii) Demonstrate an alignment between the activities, roles, and responsibilities described in the grant application for each of the partners in the partnership agreement. (NFR)
(d) Applicants Establishing Eligibility through a Charter or Sanction from an Alaska Native Tribe or ANO:
For an entity that does not meet the eligibility requirements for an ANO, established in section 6304(a)(1) and 6306(2) of the ESEA and the definitions in this notice, and that seeks to establish eligibility through a charter or sanction provided by an Alaska Native Tribe or ANO as required under section 6304(a)(1)(C)(ii) of the ESEA, the following documentation is required, in addition to the information in Application Requirements (a) through (c) above:
(1) Written documentation demonstrating that the entity is physically located in the State of Alaska.
(2) Written documentation demonstrating that the entity has experience operating programs that fulfill the purposes of the ANE program.
(3) Written documentation demonstrating that the entity is predominately governed by Alaska Natives (as defined in this notice), including the total number, names, and Tribal affiliations of members of the governing board.
(4) A copy of the official charter or sanction (as defined in this notice) provided to the entity by an Alaska Native Tribe or ANO. (NFR)
(1) Give to Indians preferences and opportunities for training and employment in connection with the administration of the grant; and
(2) Give to Indian organizations and to Indian-owned economic enterprises, as defined in section 3 of the Indian
(b) For purposes of this requirement, an Indian is a member of any federally recognized Indian Tribe.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2021 or in subsequent years from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
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(b) Alaska Native organizations that do not have experience operating programs that fulfill the purposes of the ANE program, but are in partnership with—
(i) An SEA or LEA; or
(ii) An Alaska Native organization that operates a program that fulfills the purposes of the ANE program; or
(c) An entity located in Alaska, and predominately governed by Alaska Natives, that does not meet the definition of an Alaska Native organization but—
(i) Has experience operating programs that fulfill the purposes of the ANE program; and
(ii) Is granted an official charter or sanction from at least one Alaska Native Tribe or Alaska Native organization to carry out programs that meet the purposes of the ANE program.
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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).
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• 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.
The recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the application narrative. An applicant will not be disqualified if it exceeds the recommended page limit.
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The selection criteria are as follows:
(a)
The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(1) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or the activities to be carried out by the proposed project (up to 5 points).
(2) 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 (up to 5 points).
(b)
The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(1) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target population or other identified needs (up to 10 points).
(2) The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates a rationale (as defined in this notice) (up to 10 points).
(c)
The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project.
(1) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability (up to 15 points).
(2) In addition, the Secretary considers the extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice (up to 15 points).
(d)
The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project.
(1) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability (up to 5 points).
(2) In addition, the Secretary considers the qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of key project personnel (up to 5 points).
(e)
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:
(1) 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 (up to 10 points); and
(2) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products and services from the proposed project (up to 10 points).
(f)
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 extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide valid and reliable performance data on relevant outcomes.
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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).
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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.
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(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) Promoting the freedom of speech and religious liberty in alignment with Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty (E.O. 13798) and Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities (E.O. 13864) (2 CFR 200.300, 200.303, 200.339, and 200.341);
(d) 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
(e) 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).
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If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you.
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We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the
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(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
(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.
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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).
You may also access documents of the Department published in the