Form 84.044A Talent Search Application

U.S. Department of Education

OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

Washington, DC 20202

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/triotalent/index.html

FY 2021

APPLICATION FOR GRANTS

UNDER THE TALENT SEARCH PROGRAM

CFDA NUMBER: 84.044A

Form Approved OMB No. 1840-0818

Expiration Date: xx/xx/xxxx

DATED MATERIAL – OPEN IMMEDIATELY

CLOSING DATE: TBD

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dear Applicant Letter 3

Competition Highlights 4

Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants 7

Application Transmittal Instructions 12

Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards 14

Authorizing Legislation 48

Talent Search Program Regulations 65

Annual Low-Income Levels 78

Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs 79

Introduction 80

TS Program Profile 82

Talent Search Program Assurances 89

Prior Experience 90

INSTRUCTIONS

Instructions for Completing the Application Package 93

Instructions for Project Narrative 95

Instructions for Standard Forms 100

Instructions for the SF-424 101

Instructions for Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424 104

Definitions for Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424 106

Instructions for ED 524 109

Instructions for Completion of SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 112

General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) 114

Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) 116

Instructions for Budget Summary Form & Itemized Budget 118

Application Checklist 122

Paperwork Burden Statement 123

U NITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

Dear Applicant:

Thank you for your interest in applying for a grant under the Talent Search (TS) Program. The TS Program provides grants to institutions of higher education, public and private agencies and organizations, community-based organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth, combinations of such institutions, agencies and organizations, and secondary schools to operate projects that serve qualified individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TS projects encourage youth to complete secondary school and enroll in postsecondary education and publicize the availability of, and facilitate the application for, student financial assistance for persons who seek to pursue postsecondary education or complete these programs.

This letter highlights a few items in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 application package that will be important to you in applying for a grant under this program. The “Competition Highlights” section notes some of the requirements for applying for a grant under the FY 2021 TS Program competition. You should review the entire application package carefully before preparing and submitting your application. Information on the TS Program is accessible at the U.S. Department of Education (Department) Web site at:

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/triotalent/index.html.

Applications for FY 2021 grants under the TS Program must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov system. An applicant who is unable to submit an application through the Grants.gov system must submit a written request for a waiver of the electronic submission requirement at least two weeks before the deadline date. Additional information about Grants.gov submission requirements can be found in the Competition Highlights, the Notice published in the Federal Register, and in the transmittal instructions, which are included in this package. Grants.gov is accessible through its portal page at: http://www.Grants.gov.

For more information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, please refer to the official Notice published in the Federal Register and included in this application booklet. You are reminded that the Notice published in the Federal Register is the official document and that you should not rely upon any information that is inconsistent with the guidance contained within that official document.

Thank you for your interest in the Talent Search Program. We look forward to receiving your application.

Sincerely,

/signed/

Christopher J. McCaghren, Ed.D.

Deputy Assistant Secretary

Higher Education Programs

COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS

1. Purpose of the Program

The Talent Search program is a discretionary grant program which encourages applicants to provide support and maintain a commitment to eligible individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

2. Eligible Applicants

Institutions of higher education (IHEs), public and private agencies and organizations including community-based organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth, combinations of such institutions, agencies and organizations, and as appropriate to the purposes of the program, secondary schools.

3. Electronic Submission of Applications

TS Program applications for FY 2021 must be submitted electronically using Grants.gov. You are urged to acquaint yourself with the requirements of Grants.gov early as the registration procedures may require 5 or more days to complete. A more thorough discussion is included later in this application package. Grants.gov is accessible through its portal page at: http://www.Grants.gov. The requirements for obtaining an exception to the electronic submission requirement are included in the Notice for FY 2021. If you think you may need an exception, you are urged to review the requirements promptly. REGISTER EARLY – Grants.gov registration involves many steps including registration on SAM (www.sam.gov) which may take approximately one week to complete, but could take upwards of several weeks to complete, depending upon the completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by an applicant. You may begin working on your application while completing the registration process, but you cannot submit an application until all of the registration steps are complete. Please note that once your SAM registration is active, it will take 24-48 hours for the information to be available in Grants.gov,

Grants.gov does not allow applicants to “un-submit” applications. Therefore, if you discover that changes or additions are needed once your application has been accepted and validated by the Department, you must “re-submit” the application. You should know that if the Department receives duplicate applications, we will accept and process the application with the latest “date/time received” validation.

Please note that you must submit your application by 11:59:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on or before the application deadline date. Late applications will not be accepted. We suggest that you submit your application several days before the deadline. The Department is required to enforce the established deadline to ensure fairness to all applicants. No changes or additions to an application will be accepted after the deadline date and time.

Electronic submission of applications is required; therefore, you must submit an electronic application unless you follow the procedures outlined in the Notice for FY 2021 and qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement.

We recommend that you limit the application narrative, which includes the budget narrative, to the equivalent of no more than 65 pages. The page limit for the project competitive preference priorities narrative portion is 8 pages.

All attachments must be in a Portable Document Format (PDF) or Microsoft Word.

Other types of files will not be accepted. You must provide the DUNS number that was used when your organization registered with the System for Award Management (SAM).

For Grants.gov related questions and assistance, please contact:

Support Desk e-Mail: [email protected]

Support Desk Telephone: (800) 518-4726

Contact Telephone Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week, except Federal holidays

Online Web Site: http://www.Grants.gov

Also, refer to the “U.S. Department of Education Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants” section found in this application booklet.

You are reminded that the Notice published in the Federal Register is the official document, and that you should not rely upon any information that is inconsistent with the guidelines contained within the official document.

4. Format of Application

Applicants must double space the application project narrative and use a font that is either 12-point or larger. However, charts, tables, figures, graphs, footnotes, and endnotes may be single spaced but font must be 12-point or larger. The following fonts are required to be used: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial. Applications submitted in any other font, including Times Roman and Arial Narrow, will not be accepted.

5. Project Abstract

The project abstract is limited to one page and may be single spaced. The abstract should describe the target area to be served, the services that will be provided and the activities to be conducted during the 5-year performance period. All applicants must provide a one-page abstract. Complete instructions for submitting the abstract are included in the Instructions for Completing the Application Package in this application. The abstract must be uploaded into the ED Abstract Form section in Grants.gov.

6. Notice to Successful Applicants

The Department’s Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs will inform the Congress regarding applications approved for new TS program grants. Successful applicants will receive award notices by mail or e-mail shortly after the Congress is notified. No funding information will be released before the Congress is notified.

7. Notice to Unsuccessful Applicants

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing following the notice to successful applicants.

8. Second Review Process

To implement the statutory requirements for a second review of unsuccessful applications, the Department has adopted a two-slate process. After the peer review of applications and the awarding of PE points, as applicable, the Department will rank all the applications. The Department then will establish a funding band to determine the percentage of the total funds allotted for the competition that will be set aside for the second review. The determination of the percentage of funds to be reserved for the second review and the applications to be included in the funding band will be based on the distribution of application scores. The funding band will include all of the applications with a rank-order score that is 1) below the lowest score of applications funded after the first review and 2) that would be funded if the Secretary had 150 percent of the funds that were set aside for the second review.

Only applicants whose applications scored within the funding band will be eligible for the second review. In addition, those applicants deemed eligible for the second review will have to provide evidence demonstrating that the Department, an agent of the Department, or a peer reviewer made an administrative or scoring error (as defined in the regulations) in the review of its application.

9. Prior Experience

In accordance with 34 CFR 643.22, the Secretary will award prior experience points to applicants that have conducted a TRIO TS Program project during these fiscal years: 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20. Based on the applicant’s documented experience, up to 13.5 of the 15 prior experience (PE) points will be added to the application’s averaged reader score to determine the total score for each application and the total score will be used in funding decisions as defined in the Notice.

10. Contact Information

Team Lead: Antoinette Clark Edwards

Address: Talent Search Program

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.

LBJ 278-50

Washington, DC 20202

Telephone: (202) 453-7121

E-mail Address: [email protected]

***Updated 02/21/2019***

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ FIRST

U.S. Department of Education

Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants

To facilitate your use of Grants.gov, this document includes important submission procedures you need to be aware of to ensure your application is received in a timely manner and accepted by the Department of Education.

Browser Support

The latest versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Apple Safari are supported for use with Grants.gov. However, these web browsers undergo frequent changes and updates, so we recommend you have the latest version when using Grants.gov. Legacy versions of these web browsers may be functional, but you may experience issues.

For additional information or updates, please see the Grants.gov Browser information in the Applicant FAQs: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#browser.

ATTENTION – Workspace, Adobe Forms and PDF Files

Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different web forms within an application. For each funding opportunity announcement (FOA), you can create individual instances of a workspace.

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html.

1. Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

2. Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of your application process as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help.

a. Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out web forms, you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can down load and saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html.

b. Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit your application.

c. Complete SF-424 Fields First: The forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant name, address, and DUNS Number. Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.

1. Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through Workspace by clicking the Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab. Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

3. Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after submission. Using the tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html.

Helpful Reminders

1. REGISTER EARLY – Grants.gov registration involves many steps including registration on SAM (www.sam.gov) which may take approximately one week to complete, but could take upwards of several weeks to complete, depending upon the completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by an applicant. You may begin working on your application while completing the registration process, but you cannot submit an application until all of the registration steps are complete. Please note that once your SAM registration is active, it will take 24-48 hours for the information to be available in Grants.gov, and before you can submit an application through Grants.gov. For detailed information on the registration steps, please go to:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.

[Note: Your organization will need to update its SAM registration annually.]

Primary information about SAM is available at www.sam.gov. However, to further assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in SAM or updating your existing SAM account, the Department of Education has prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet which you can find at: http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.

2. SUBMIT EARLY – We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the last day to submit your application. Grants.gov will put a date/time stamp on your application and then process it after it is fully uploaded. The time it takes to upload an application will vary depending on a number of factors including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection, and the time it takes Grants.gov to process the application will vary as well. If Grants.gov rejects your application (see step three below), you will need to resubmit successfully to Grants.gov before 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.

Note: To submit successfully, you must provide the DUNS number on your application that was used when you registered as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) on Grants.gov. This DUNS number is typically the same number used when your organization registered with the SAM. If you do not enter the same DUNS number on your application as the DUNS you registered with, Grants.gov will reject your application.

3. VERIFY SUBMISSION IS OK – You will want to verify that Grants.gov received your application submission on time and that it was validated successfully. To see the date/time your application was received, log in to Grants.gov and click on the Track My Application link. For a successful submission, the date/time received should be earlier than 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date, AND the application status should be: Validated, Received by Agency, or Agency Tracking Number Assigned. Once the Department of Education receives your application from Grants.gov, an Agency Tracking Number (PR/award number) will be assigned to your application and will be available for viewing on Grants.gov’s Track My Application link.

If the date/time received is later than 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date, your application is late. If your application has a status of “Received” it is still awaiting validation by Grants.gov. Once validation is complete, the status will either change to “Validated” or “Rejected with Errors.” If the status is “Rejected with Errors,” your application has not been received successfully.

Some of the reasons Grants.gov may reject an application can be found on the Grants.gov site:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/encountering-error-messages.html.

For more detailed information on troubleshooting Adobe errors, you can review the Adobe Reader Software Tip Sheet at: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html.

If you discover your application is late or has been rejected, please see the instructions below. Note: You will receive a series of confirmations both online and via e-mail about the status of your application. Please do not rely solely on e-mail to confirm whether your application has been received timely and validated successfully.

Submission Problems – What should you do?

If you have problems submitting to Grants.gov before the closing date, please contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1-800-518-4726 or [email protected] or access the Grants.gov Self-Service Knowledge Base web portal at: https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants.

If electronic submission is required, you must submit an electronic application before 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time, unless you follow the procedures in the Federal Register notice and qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions. If electronic submission is optional and you have problems that you are unable to resolve before the deadline date and time for electronic applications, please follow the transmittal instructions for hard copy applications in the Federal Register notice and get a hard copy application postmarked by midnight on the deadline date. (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.)

Helpful Hints When Working with Grants.gov

Please go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html for help with Grants.gov. For additional tips related to submitting grant applications, please refer to the Grants.gov Applicant FAQs found at this Grants.gov link: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html, as well as additional information on Workspace at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#workspace.

Dial-Up Internet Connections

When using a dial up connection to upload and submit your application, it can take significantly longer than when you are connected to the Internet with a high-speed connection, e.g. cable modem/DSL/T1. While times will vary depending upon the size of your application, it can take a few minutes to a few hours to complete your grant submission using a dial up connection. If you do not have access to a high-speed connection and electronic submission is required, you may want to consider following the instructions in the Federal Register notice to obtain an exception to the electronic submission requirement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. (See the Federal Register notice for detailed instructions.)

Attaching Files – Additional Tips

Please note the following tips related to attaching files to your application:

• When you submit your application electronically, you must upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to your application as files in either Portable Document Format (PDF) or Microsoft Word. Although applicants have the option of uploading any narrative sections and all other attachments to their application in either PDF or Microsoft Word, we recommend applicants submit all documents as read-only flattened PDFs, meaning any fillable PDF files must be saved and submitted as non-fillable PDF files and not as interactive or fillable PDF files, to better ensure applications are processed in a more timely, accurate, and efficient manner.

• Grants.gov cannot process an application that includes two or more files that have the same name within a grant submission. Therefore, each file uploaded to your application package should have a unique file name.

• When attaching files, applicants should follow the guidelines established by Grants.gov on the size and content of file names. Uploaded file names must be fewer than 50 characters, and, in general, applicants should not use any special characters. However, Grants.gov does allow for the following UTF-8 characters when naming your attachments: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore, hyphen, space, period, parenthesis, curly braces, square brackets, ampersand, tilde, exclamation point, comma, semi colon, apostrophe, at sign, number sign, dollar sign, percent sign, plus sign, and equal sign. Applications submitted that do not comply with the Grants.gov guidelines will be rejected at Grants.gov and not forwarded to the Department.

• Applicants should limit the size of their file attachments. Documents submitted that contain graphics and/or scanned material often greatly increase the size of the file attachments and can result in difficulties opening the files. For reference, the average discretionary grant application package with all attachments is less than 5 MB. Therefore, you may want to check the total size of your package before submission.

APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS

ATTENTION ELECTRONIC APPLICANTS: Please note that you must follow the Application Procedures as described in the Federal Register Notice announcing the grant competition.

This program requires the electronic submission of applications; specific requirements and waiver instructions can be found in the Federal Register Notice.

According to the instructions found in the Federal Register Notice, those requesting and qualifying for an exception to the electronic submission requirement may submit an application by mail, commercial carrier or by hand delivery.

If you want to apply for a grant and be considered for funding, you must meet the following deadline requirements:

Applications Submitted Electronically

You must submit your grant application through the Internet using the software provided on the Grants.gov Web site (http://www.grants.gov) by 11:59:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on or before the deadline date.

If you submit your application through the Internet via the Grants.gov Web site, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement when we receive your application.

For more information on using Grants.gov, please refer to the “Notice Inviting Applications” that was published in the Federal Register or visit http://www.grants.gov.

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 84.044A

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.

An applicant should note that the U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, an applicant should check with its local post office.

Special Note: Due to potential disruption to normal mail delivery, the Department encourages you to consider using an alternative delivery method (for example, a commercial carrier, such as Federal Express or United Parcel Service; U.S. Postal Service Express Mail; or a courier service) to transmit your application for this competition to the Department. If you use an alternative delivery method, please obtain the appropriate proof of mailing under “Applications Delivered by Mail,” and then follow the instructions for “Applications Delivered by Hand.”

Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery:

If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date.

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.

Late Applications

If your application is late, we will notify you that we will not consider the application.

Note: The U.S. Department of Education is not planning to have a Talent Search grant competition in fiscal year 2020. Therefore, the most recent Notice Inviting Applications for this program (FY 2016) has been included.

NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR NEW AWARDS

4000-01-U

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Applications for New Awards; Talent Search Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education

ACTION: Notice.

Overview Information:

Talent Search Program

Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2016.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.044A.

Dates:

Applications Available: [December 22, 2015].

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: [February 5, 2016].

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: [April 20, 2016].

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

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 who 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.

The competitive preference priorities are:

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 elementary 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).

Definitions:

The following definitions are from 34 CFR 77.1.

Evidence of Promise means there is empirical evidence to support the theoretical linkage(s) between at least one critical component and at least one relevant outcome presented in the logic model for the proposed process, product, strategy, or practice. Specifically, Evidence of Promise means the conditions in both paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this definition are met:

(i) There is at least one study that is a--

(A) Correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias;

(B) Quasi-experimental design study that meets the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations; or

(C) Randomized controlled trial that meets the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with or without reservations.

(ii) The study referenced in paragraph (i) of this definition found a statistically significant or substantively important (defined as a difference of 0.25 standard deviations or larger) favorable association between at least one critical component and one relevant outcome presented in the logic model for the proposed process, product, strategy, or practice.

Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness means one of the following conditions is met:

(i) 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 without 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), and includes a sample that overlaps with the populations or settings proposed to receive the process, product, strategy, or practice.

(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.

Multi-site sample means more than one site, where site can be defined as an LEA, locality, or State.

Quasi-experimental design study means a study using a design that attempts to approximate an experimental design by identifying a comparison group that is similar to the treatment group in important respects. These studies, depending on design and implementation, can meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations (but not What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations).

Randomized controlled trial means a study that employs random assignment of, for example, students, teachers, classrooms, schools, or districts to receive the intervention being evaluated (the treatment group) or not to receive the intervention (the control group). The estimated effectiveness of the intervention is the difference between the average outcome for the treatment group and for the control group. These studies, depending on design and implementation, can meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations.

Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) (or the ultimate outcome if not related to students) the proposed process, product, strategy, or practice is designed to improve; consistent with the specific goals of a program.

What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards means the standards set forth in the What Works Clearinghouse Procedures and Standards Handbook (Version 3.0, March 2014), which can be found at the following link: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/DocumentSum.aspx?sid=19.

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.

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR Part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian tribes.

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR Part 86 apply to institutions of higher education only.

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Discretionary grants.

Estimated Available Funds: 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.

Maximum Award:

• 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 exceeds the maximum per participant cost of $460.

Estimated Number of Awards: 451.

Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.

Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

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.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost sharing or matching.

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).

IV. Application and Submission Information

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: [email protected].

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.

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.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission:

Requirements concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this program.

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.

Note: 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.

A “page” is 8.5” x 11”, on one side only, with 1” margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. Page numbers and an identifier may be within the 1” margin.

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.

Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).

Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font (including Times Roman and Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.

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.

We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.

3. Submission Dates and Times:

Applications Available: [December 22, 2015].

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: [February 5, 2016].

Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to section IV. 7. 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 in this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the application process, the individual’s application remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this notice.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: [April 20, 2016].

4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this program.

5. Funding Restrictions: We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR 643.31. We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification Number, and System for Award Management: To do business with the Department of Education, you must--

a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);

b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the System for Award Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry (CCR)), the Government’s primary registrant database;

c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and

d. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information while your application is under review by the Department and, if you are awarded a grant, during the project period.

You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number can be created within one to two business days.

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 Administration. If you need a new TIN, please allow two to five weeks for your TIN to become active.

The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by an entity. Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal financial assistance under a program administered by the Department, please allow sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number and TIN. We strongly recommend that you register early.

Note: Once your SAM registration is active, you will need to allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in Grants.gov and before you can submit an application through Grants.gov.

If you are currently registered with SAM, you may not need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will need to update your registration annually. This may take three or more business days.

Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet, which you can find at:

www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.

In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.

7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in this section.

a. Electronic Submission of Applications.

Applications for grants under the Talent Search Program, CFDA number 84.044A, must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not email an electronic copy of a grant application to us.

We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.

You may access the electronic grant application for the Talent Search Program at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.044, not 84.044A).

Please note the following:

• When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, as well as the hours of operation.

• Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.

• The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.

• You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this program to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department’s G5 system home page at www.G5.gov.

• You will not receive additional point value because you submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your application in paper format.

• You must submit all documents electronically, including all information you typically provide on the following forms: the Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications.

• You must upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to your application as files in a PDF (Portable Document) read-only, non-modifiable format. Do not upload an interactive or fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, non-modifiable PDF 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.

• After you electronically submit your application, you will receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification indicates that the Department has received your application and has assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying number unique to your application).

• We may request that you provide us original signatures on forms at a later date.

Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.

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 hand delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing instructions described elsewhere in this notice.

If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII of this notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.

Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application through the Grants.gov system because––

• You do not have access to the Internet; or

• You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to the Grants.gov system;

and

• No later than two weeks before the application deadline date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application.

If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date.

Address and mail or fax your statement to: James Davis, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., room 7007, Washington, DC 20006-8510. FAX: (202) 502-7545.

Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.

b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.

If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:

U.S. Department of Education

Application Control Center

Attention: (CFDA Number 84.044A)

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 Applications by Hand Delivery.

If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:

U.S. Department of Education

Application Control Center

Attention: (CFDA Number 84.044A)

550 12th Street, SW.

Room 7039, Potomac Center Plaza

Washington, DC 20202-4260

The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and 11:59:59 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

1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program competition are in 34 CFR 643.21 and listed in the application package.

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 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 among the tied applications so as to serve geographical areas that have been underserved by the Talent Search Program.

4. Special Conditions: Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the Secretary may impose special conditions and, 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.

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.

1. 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 in 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 www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.

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.

5. 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; and, if the Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the performance targets in the grantee’s approved application. In making a continuation grant, 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. Agency Contact

For Further Information Contact: Craig Pooler, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW, Suite 7010, Washington, DC 20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7640 or email: [email protected]

If you use a TDD or a TTY, 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 compact disc) on request to the program contact persons listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII if this notice.

Electronic Access to This Document: 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 via the Federal Digital System at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well as all other documents of the Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe 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.

Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education has delegated authority to Jamienne S. Studley, Deputy Under Secretary, to perform the functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

Dated:

______________________

Jamienne S. Studley,

Deputy Under Secretary.

AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION

20 USC CHAPTER 28, SUBCHAPTER IV, Part A: federal early outreach and student services programs Text contains those laws in effect on January 7, 2011

From Title 20—EDUCATION

CHAPTER 28—HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCESUBCHAPTER IV—STUDENT ASSISTANCE

Part A—Grants to Students in Attendance at Institutions of Higher Education

subpart 2—federal early outreach and student services programs

Codification

Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, §402(a)(2), (4), July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 482, added subpart 2 and redesignated former subpart 2 comprising sections 1070b to 1070b–3 of this title as subpart 3.

Division 1—Federal TRIO Programs

§1070a–11. Program authority; authorization of appropriations

1. Grants and contracts authorized

The Secretary shall, in accordance with the provisions of this division, carry out a program of making grants and contracts designed to identify qualified individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, to prepare them for a program of postsecondary education, to provide support services for such students who are pursuing programs of postsecondary education, to motivate and prepare students for doctoral programs, and to train individuals serving or preparing for service in programs and projects so designed.

(b) Recipients, duration, and size

(1) Recipients

For the purposes described in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary is authorized, without regard to section 6101 of title 41, to make grants to, and contracts with, 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, as appropriate to the purposes of the program, secondary schools, for planning, developing, or carrying out one or more of the services assisted under this division.

(2) Duration

Grants or contracts made under this division shall be awarded for a period of 5 years, except that—

(A) in order to synchronize the awarding of grants for programs under this division, the Secretary may, under such terms as are consistent with the purposes of this division, provide a one-time, limited extension of the length of such an award;

(B) grants made under section 1070a–17 of this title shall be awarded for a period of 2 years; and

(C) grants under section 1070a–18 of this title shall be awarded for a period determined by the Secretary.

(3) Minimum grants

Unless the institution or agency requests a smaller amount, an individual grant authorized under this division shall be awarded in an amount that is not less than $200,000, except that an individual grant authorized under section 1070a–17 of this title shall be awarded in an amount that is not less than $170,000.

(c) Procedures for awarding grants and contracts

(1) Application requirements

An eligible entity that desires to receive a grant or contract under this division shall submit an application to the Secretary in such manner and form, and containing such information and assurances, as the Secretary may reasonably require.

(2) Considerations

(A) Prior experience

In making grants under this division, the Secretary shall consider each applicant's prior experience of high quality service delivery, as determined under subsection (f), under the particular program for which funds are sought. The level of consideration given the factor of prior experience shall not vary from the level of consideration given such factor during fiscal years 1994 through 1997, except that grants made under section 1070a–18 of this title shall not be given prior experience consideration.

(B) Participant need

In making grants under this division, the Secretary shall consider the number, percentages, and needs of eligible participants in the area, institution of higher education, or secondary school to be served to aid such participants in preparing for, enrolling in, or succeeding in postsecondary education, as appropriate to the particular program for which the eligible entity is applying.

(3) Order of awards; program fraud

(A) Except with respect to grants made under sections 1070a–17 and 1070a–18 of this title and as provided in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall award grants and contracts under this division in the order of the scores received by the application for such grant or contract in the peer review process required under paragraph (4) and adjusted for prior experience in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection.

(B) The Secretary shall not provide assistance to a program otherwise eligible for assistance under this division, if the Secretary has determined that such program has involved the fraudulent use of funds under this division.

(4) Peer review process

(A) The Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, members of groups underrepresented in higher education, including African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, and Native American Pacific Islanders (including Native Hawaiians), are represented as readers of applications submitted under this division. The Secretary shall also ensure that persons from urban and rural backgrounds are represented as readers.

(B) The Secretary shall ensure that each application submitted under this division is read by at least three readers who are not employees of the Federal Government (other than as readers of applications).

(5) Number of applications for grants and contracts

The Secretary shall not limit the number of applications submitted by an entity under any program authorized under this division if the additional applications describe programs serving different populations or different campuses.

(6) Coordination with other programs for disadvantaged students

The Secretary shall encourage coordination of programs assisted under this division with other programs for disadvantaged students operated by the sponsoring institution or agency, regardless of the funding source of such programs. The Secretary shall not limit an entity's eligibility to receive funds under this division because such entity sponsors a program similar to the program to be assisted under this division, regardless of the funding source of such program. The Secretary shall permit the Director of a program receiving funds under this division to administer one or more additional programs for disadvantaged students operated by the sponsoring institution or agency, regardless of the funding sources of such programs. The Secretary shall, as appropriate, require each applicant for funds under the programs authorized by this division to identify and make available services under such program, including mentoring, tutoring, and other services provided by such program, to foster care youth (including youth in foster care and youth who have left foster care after reaching age 13) or to homeless children and youths as defined in section 11434a of title 42.

(7) Application status

The Secretary shall inform each entity operating programs under this division regarding the status of their application for continued funding at least 8 months prior to the expiration of the grant or contract. The Secretary, in the case of an entity that is continuing to operate a successful program under this division, shall ensure that the start-up date for a new grant or contract for such program immediately follows the termination of the preceding grant or contract so that no interruption of funding occurs for such successful applicants. The Secretary shall inform each entity requesting assistance under this division for a new program regarding the status of their application at least 8 months prior to the proposed startup date of such program.

(8) Review and notification by the Secretary

(A) Guidance

Not later than 180 days after August 14, 2008, the Secretary shall issue non regulatory guidance regarding the rights and responsibilities of applicants with respect to the application and evaluation process for programs and projects assisted under this division, including applicant access to peer review comments. The guidance shall describe the procedures for the submission, processing, and scoring of applications for grants under this division, including—

(i) the responsibility of applicants to submit materials in a timely manner and in accordance with the processes established by the Secretary under the authority of the General Education Provisions Act [20 U.S.C. 1221 et seq.];

(ii) steps the Secretary will take to ensure that the materials submitted by applicants are processed in a proper and timely manner;

(iii) steps the Secretary will take to ensure that prior experience points for high quality service delivery are awarded in an accurate and transparent manner;

(iv) steps the Secretary will take to ensure the quality and integrity of the peer review process, including assurances that peer reviewers will consider applications for grants under this division in a thorough and complete manner consistent with applicable Federal law; and

(v) steps the Secretary will take to ensure that the final score of an application, including prior experience points for high quality service delivery and points awarded through the peer review process, is determined in an accurate and transparent manner.

(B) Updated guidance

Not later than 45 days before the date of the commencement of each competition for a grant under this division that is held after the expiration of the 180-day period described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall update and publish the guidance described in such subparagraph.

(C) Review

(i) In general

With respect to any competition for a grant under this division, an applicant may request a review by the Secretary if the applicant—

(I) has evidence of a specific technical, administrative, or scoring error made by the Department, an agent of the Department, or a peer reviewer, with respect to the scoring or processing of a submitted application; and

(II) has otherwise met all of the requirements for submission of the application.

(ii) Technical or administrative error

In the case of evidence of a technical or administrative error listed in clause (i)(I), the Secretary shall review such evidence and provide a timely response to the applicant. If the Secretary determines that a technical or administrative error was made by the Department or an agent of the Department, the application of the applicant shall be reconsidered in the peer review process for the applicable grant competition.

(iii) Scoring error

In the case of evidence of a scoring error listed in clause (i)(I), when the error relates to either prior experience points for high quality service delivery or to the final score of an application, the Secretary shall—

(I) review such evidence and provide a timely response to the applicant; and

(II) if the Secretary determines that a scoring error was made by the Department or a peer reviewer, adjust the prior experience points or final score of the application appropriately and quickly, so as not to interfere with the timely awarding of grants for the applicable grant competition.

(iv) Error in peer review process

(I) Referral to secondary review

In the case of a peer review process error listed in clause (i)(I), if the Secretary determines that points were withheld for criteria not required in Federal statute, regulation, or guidance governing a program assisted under this division or the application for a grant for such program, or determines that information pertaining to selection criteria was wrongly determined to be missing from an application by a peer reviewer, then the Secretary shall refer the application to a secondary review panel.

(II) Timely review; replacement score

The secondary review panel described in subclause (I) shall conduct a secondary review in a timely fashion, and the score resulting from the secondary review shall replace the score from the initial peer review.

(III) Composition of secondary review panel

The secondary review panel shall be composed of reviewers each of whom—

(aa) did not review the application in the original peer review;

(bb) is a member of the cohort of peer reviewers for the grant program that is the subject of such secondary review; and

(cc) to extent practicable, has conducted peer reviews in not less than two previous competitions for the grant program that is the subject of such secondary review.

(IV) Final score

The final peer review score of an application subject to a secondary review under this clause shall be adjusted appropriately and quickly using the score awarded by the secondary review panel, so as not to interfere with the timely awarding of grants for the applicable grant competition.

(V) Qualification for secondary review

To qualify for a secondary review under this clause, an applicant shall have evidence of a scoring error and demonstrate that—

(aa) points were withheld for criteria not required in statute, regulation, or guidance governing the Federal TRIO programs or the application for a grant for such programs; or

(bb) information pertaining to selection criteria was wrongly determined to be missing from the application.

(v) Finality

(I) In general

A determination by the Secretary under clause (i), (ii), or (iii) shall not be reviewable by any officer or employee of the Department.

(II) Scoring

The score awarded by a secondary review panel under clause (iv) shall not be reviewable by any officer or employee of the Department other than the Secretary.

(vi) Funding of applications with certain adjusted scores

To the extent feasible based on the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall fund applications with scores that are adjusted upward under clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) to equal or exceed the minimum cut off score for the applicable grant competition.

(d) Outreach

(1) In general

The Secretary shall conduct outreach activities to ensure that entities eligible for assistance under this division submit applications proposing programs that serve geographic areas and eligible populations which have been underserved by the programs assisted under this division.

(2) Notice

In carrying out the provisions of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall notify the entities described in subsection (b) of this section of the availability of assistance under this subsection not less than 120 days prior to the deadline for submission of applications under this division and shall consult national, State, and regional organizations about candidates for notification.

(3) Technical assistance

The Secretary shall provide technical training to applicants for projects and programs authorized under this division. The Secretary shall give priority to serving programs and projects that serve geographic areas and eligible populations which have been underserved by the programs assisted under this division. Technical training activities shall include the provision of information on authorizing legislation, goals and objectives of the program, required activities, eligibility requirements, the application process and application deadlines, and assistance in the development of program proposals and the completion of program applications. Such training shall be furnished at conferences, seminars, and workshops to be conducted at not less than 10 sites throughout the United States to ensure that all areas of the United States with large concentrations of eligible participants are served.

(4) Special rule

The Secretary may contract with eligible entities to conduct the outreach activities described in this subsection.

(e) Documentation of status as a low-income individual

(1) Except in the case of an independent student, as defined in section 1087vv(d) of this title, documentation of an individual's status pursuant to subsection (h)(4) shall be made by providing the Secretary with—

(A) a signed statement from the individual's parent or legal guardian;

(B) verification from another governmental source;

(C) a signed financial aid application; or

(D) a signed United States or Puerto Rico income tax return.

(2) In the case of an independent student, as defined in section 1087vv(d) of this title, documentation of an individual's status pursuant to subsection (h)(4) shall be made by providing the Secretary with—

(A) a signed statement from the individual;

(B) verification from another governmental source;

(C) a signed financial aid application; or

(D) a signed United States or Puerto Rico income tax return.

(3) Notwithstanding this subsection and subsection (h)(4), individuals who are foster care youth (including youth in foster care and youth who have left foster care after reaching age 13), or homeless children and youths as defined in section 11434a of title 42, shall be eligible to participate in programs under sections 1070a–12, 1070a–13, 1070a–14, and 1070a–16 of this title.

(f) Outcome criteria

(1) Use for prior experience determination

For competitions for grants under this division that begin on or after January 1, 2009, the Secretary shall determine an eligible entity's prior experience of high quality service delivery, as required under subsection (c)(2), based on the outcome criteria described in paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) Disaggregation of relevant data

The outcome criteria under this subsection shall be disaggregated by low-income students, first generation college students, and individuals with disabilities, in the schools and institutions of higher education served by the program to be evaluated.

(3) Contents of outcome criteria

The outcome criteria under this subsection shall measure, annually and for longer periods, the quality and effectiveness of programs authorized under this division and shall include the following:

(A) For programs authorized under section 1070a–12 of this title, the extent to which the eligible entity met or exceeded the entity's objectives established in the entity's application for such program regarding—

(i) the delivery of service to a total number of students served by the program;

(ii) the continued secondary school enrollment of such students;

(iii) the graduation of such students from secondary school with a regular secondary school diploma in the standard number of years;

(iv) the completion by such students of a rigorous secondary school program of study that will make such students eligible for programs such as the Academic Competitiveness Grants Program;

(v) the enrollment of such students in an institution of higher education; and

(vi) to the extent practicable, the postsecondary education completion of such students.

(B) For programs authorized under section 1070a–13 of this title, the extent to which the eligible entity met or exceeded the entity's objectives for such program regarding—

(i) the delivery of service to a total number of students served by the program, as agreed upon by the entity and the Secretary for the period;

(ii) such students’ school performance, as measured by the grade point average, or its equivalent;

(iii) such students’ academic performance, as measured by standardized tests, including tests required by the students’ State;

(iv) the retention in, and graduation from, secondary school of such students;

(v) the completion by such students of a rigorous secondary school program of study that will make such students eligible for programs such as the Academic Competitiveness Grants Program;

(vi) the enrollment of such students in an institution of higher education; and

(vii) to the extent practicable, the postsecondary education completion of such students.

(C) For programs authorized under section 1070a–14 of this title—

(i) the extent to which the eligible entity met or exceeded the entity's objectives regarding the retention in postsecondary education of the students served by the program;

(ii)(I) in the case of an entity that is an institution of higher education offering a baccalaureate degree, the extent to which the entity met or exceeded the entity's objectives regarding the percentage of such students’ completion of the degree programs in which such students were enrolled; or

(II) in the case of an entity that is an institution of higher education that does not offer a baccalaureate degree, the extent to which such students met or exceeded the entity's objectives regarding—

(aa) the completion of a degree or certificate by such students; and

(bb) the transfer of such students to institutions of higher education that offer baccalaureate degrees;

(iii) the extent to which the entity met or exceeded the entity's objectives regarding the delivery of service to a total number of students, as agreed upon by the entity and the Secretary for the period; and

(iv) the extent to which the entity met or exceeded the entity's objectives regarding the students served under the program who remain in good academic standing.

(D) For programs authorized under section 1070a–15 of this title, the extent to which the entity met or exceeded the entity's objectives for such program regarding—

(i) the delivery of service to a total number of students served by the program, as agreed upon by the entity and the Secretary for the period;

(ii) the provision of appropriate scholarly and research activities for the students served by the program;

(iii) the acceptance and enrollment of such students in graduate programs; and

(iv) the continued enrollment of such students in graduate study and the attainment of doctoral degrees by former program participants.

(E) For programs authorized under section 1070a–16 of this title, the extent to which the entity met or exceeded the entity's objectives for such program regarding—

(i) the enrollment of students without a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, who were served by the program, in programs leading to such diploma or equivalent;

(ii) the enrollment of secondary school graduates who were served by the program in programs of postsecondary education;

(iii) the delivery of service to a total number of students served by the program, as agreed upon by the entity and the Secretary for the period; and

(iv) the provision of assistance to students served by the program in completing financial aid applications and college admission applications.

(4) Measurement of progress

In order to determine the extent to which each outcome criterion described in paragraph (2) or (3) is met or exceeded, the Secretary shall compare the agreed upon target for the criterion, as established in the eligible entity's application approved by the Secretary, with the results for the criterion, measured as of the last day of the applicable time period for the determination for the outcome criterion.

(g) Authorization of appropriations

For the purpose of making grants and contracts under this division, there are authorized to be appropriated $900,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the five succeeding fiscal years. Of the amount appropriated under this division, the Secretary may use no more than ½ of 1 percent of such amount to obtain additional qualified readers and additional staff to review applications, to increase the level of oversight monitoring, to support impact studies, program assessments and reviews, and to provide technical assistance to potential applicants and current grantees. In expending these funds, the Secretary shall give priority to the additional administrative requirements provided in the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, to outreach activities, and to obtaining additional readers.

(h) Definitions

For the purpose of this division:

(1) Different campus

The term “different campus” means a site of an institution of higher education that—

(A) is geographically apart from the main campus of the institution;

(B) is permanent in nature; and

(C) offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential.

(2) Different population

The term “different population” means a group of individuals that an eligible entity desires to serve through an application for a grant under this division, and that—

(A) is separate and distinct from any other population that the entity has applied for a grant under this division to serve; or

(B) while sharing some of the same needs as another population that the eligible entity has applied for a grant under this division to serve, has distinct needs for specialized services.

(3) First generation college student

The term “first generation college student” means—

(A) an individual both of whose parents did not complete a baccalaureate degree; or

(B) in the case of any individual who regularly resided with and received support from only one parent, an individual whose only such parent did not complete a baccalaureate degree.

(4) Low-income individual

The term “low-income individual” means an individual from a family whose taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent of an amount equal to the poverty level determined by using criteria of poverty established by the Bureau of the Census.

(5) Veteran eligibility

No veteran shall be deemed ineligible to participate in any program under this division by reason of such individual's age who—

(A) served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days and was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable;

(B) served on active duty and was discharged or released therefrom because of a service connected disability;

(C) was a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces called to active duty for a period of more than 30 days; or

(D) was a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces who served on active duty in support of a contingency operation (as that term is defined in section 101(a)(13) of title 10) on or after September 11, 2001.

(6) Waiver

The Secretary may waive the service requirements in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (5) if the Secretary determines the application of the service requirements to a veteran will defeat the purpose of a program under this division.

(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, §402A, as added Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, §402(a)(4), July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 482; amended Pub. L. 103–208, §2(b)(6)–(9), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2458; Pub. L. 105–244, title I, §102(b)(1), title IV, §402(a), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1622, 1652; Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, §403(a), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3191; Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, §401(a)(4), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1938.)

References in Text

The General Education Provisions Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(8)(A)(i), is title IV of Pub. L. 90–247, Jan. 2, 1968, 81 Stat. 814, which is classified generally to chapter 31 (§1221 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1221 of this title and Tables.

The Higher Education Amendments of 1992, referred to in subsec. (g), is Pub. L. 102–325, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 448. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1992 Amendment note set out under section 1001 of this title and Tables.

References to Subpart 2, 3, or 4 of This Part Deemed To Refer to Subpart 3, 4, or 2 of This Part

Section 402(b) of Pub. L. 102–325 provided that: “Reference in any provision of law (other than the Act [20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.]) to subpart 2, 3, or 4 of part A of title IV of the Act shall, after the date of enactment of this Act [July 23, 1992], be deemed to refer to subpart 3 [20 U.S.C. 1070b et seq.], 4 [20 U.S.C. 1070c et seq.], or 2 [20 U.S.C. 1070a–11 et seq.] of such part, respectively.”

Codification

In subsec. (b)(1), “section 6101 of title 41” substituted for “section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5)” on authority of Pub. L. 111–350, §6(c), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3854, which Act enacted Title 41, Public Contracts.

Amendments

2009—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–39, §401(a)(4)(A), substituted “organizations, including” for “organizations including”.

Subsec. (c)(8)(C)(iv)(I). Pub. L. 111–39, §401(a)(4)(B), inserted “to be” after “determined”.

2008—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(1)(A), inserted “including community-based organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth” after “private agencies and organizations” and substituted “, as appropriate to the purposes of the program” for “in exceptional circumstances”.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(1)(B)(i), substituted “5 years” for “4 years” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(1)(B)(ii), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment subpar. (A) read as follows: “the Secretary shall award such grants or contracts for 5 years to applicants whose peer review scores were in the highest 10 percent of scores of all applicants receiving grants or contracts in each program competition for the same award year;”.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(1)(C), added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Unless the institution or agency requests a smaller amount, individual grants under this division shall be no less than—

“(A) $170,000 for programs authorized by sections 1070a–14 and 1070a–17 of this title;

“(B) $180,000 for programs authorized by sections 1070a–12 and 1070a–16 of this title; and

“(C) $190,000 for programs authorized by sections 1070a–13 and 1070a–15 of this title.”

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(2)(A), inserted par. heading, designated former par. heading as subpar. (A) heading and existing provisions as subpar. (A), substituted “high quality service delivery, as determined under subsection (f),” for “service delivery”, and added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (c)(3)(B). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(2)(B), substituted “shall not” for “is not required to”.

Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(2)(C), substituted “different campuses” for “campuses”.

Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(2)(D), inserted at end “The Secretary shall, as appropriate, require each applicant for funds under the programs authorized by this division to identify and make available services under such program, including mentoring, tutoring, and other services provided by such program, to foster care youth (including youth in foster care and youth who have left foster care after reaching age 13) or to homeless children and youths as defined in section 11434a of title 42.”

Subsec. (c)(8). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(2)(E), added par. (8).

Subsec. (e)(1), (2). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(3)(A), substituted “subsection (h)(4)” for “subsection (g)(2)” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(3)(B), added par. (3).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(5), added subsec. (f). Former subsec. (f) redesignated (g).

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(6), substituted “$900,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the five succeeding fiscal years” for “$700,000,000 for fiscal year 1999, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years” and struck out last sentence which read as follows: “The Secretary shall report to Congress by October 1, 1994, on the use of these funds.”

Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(4), redesignated subsec. (f) as (g). Former subsec. (g) redesignated (h).

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(7)(A), (B), added pars. (1) and (2) and redesignated former pars. (1) to (4) as (3) to (6), respectively.

Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(4), redesignated subsec. (g) as (h).

Subsec. (h)(5)(A). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(7)(C)(i), struck out “, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955,” after “more than 180 days” and “or” after semicolon.

Subsec. (h)(5)(B). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(7)(C)(ii), struck out “after January 31, 1955,” after “active duty” and substituted a semicolon for period at end.

Subsec. (h)(5)(C), (D). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(7)(C)(iii), added subpars. (C) and (D).

Subsec. (h)(6). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(a)(7)(D), substituted “subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (5)” for “subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (3)”.

1998—Subsec. (b)(2)(C). Pub. L. 105–244, §402(a)(1), added subpar. (C).

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 105–244, §402(a)(2), amended heading and text of par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In any year in which the appropriations authorized under this division exceed the prior year appropriation as adjusted for inflation, the Secretary shall use 80 percent of the amount appropriated above the current services level to bring each award up to the minimum grant level or the amount requested by the institution or agency, whichever is less. The minimum grant level (A) for programs authorized under section 1070a–14 or 1070a–17 of this title, shall not be less than $170,000 for fiscal year 1993; (B) for programs authorized under section 1070a–12 or 1070a–16 of this title shall not be less than $180,000 for fiscal year 1994; and (C) for programs authorized under section 1070a–13 or 1070a–15 of this title shall not be less than $190,000 for fiscal year 1995.”

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–244, §402(a)(3), amended subsec. (c) generally, revising and restating former pars. (1) to (6), relating to procedures for awarding grants and contracts, as pars. (1) to (7).

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 105–244, §102(b)(1), substituted “section 1011g” for “section 1145d–1”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 105–244, §402(a)(4), substituted “$700,000,000 for fiscal year 1999” for “$650,000,000 for fiscal year 1993”.

Subsec. (g)(4). Pub. L. 105–244, §402(a)(5), added par. (4).

1993—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 103–208, §2(b)(6), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “Grants or contracts made under this division shall be awarded for a period of 4 years, except that the Secretary shall award such grants or contracts for 5 years to applicants whose peer review scores were in the highest 10 percent of scores of all applicants receiving grants or contracts in each program competition for the same award year.”

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 103–208, §2(b)(7), inserted before period at end of second sentence “, except that in the case of the programs authorized in sections 1070a–15 and 1070a–17 of this title, the level of consideration given to prior experience shall be the same as the level of consideration given this factor in the other programs authorized in this division”.

Subsec. (c)(2)(A). Pub. L. 103–208, §2(b)(8), inserted “with respect to grants made under section 1070a–17 of this title, and” after “Except”.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–208, §2(b)(9), amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) read as follows: “Documentation of an individual's status pursuant to subsection (g)(2) of this section shall be made—

“(1) in the case of an individual who is eighteen years of age or younger or a dependent student by providing the Secretary with a signed statement from the parent or legal guardian, verification from another governmental source, a signed financial aid application, or a signed United States or Puerto Rican income tax return; and

“(2) in the case of an individual who is age 18 or older or who is an independent student, by providing the Secretary with a signed statement from the individual, verification from another governmental source, a signed financial aid form, or a signed United States or Puerto Rican income tax return.”

Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–39 effective as if enacted on the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–315 (Aug. 14, 2008), see section 3 of Pub. L. 111–39, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–244 effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 105–244, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105–244, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Amendment by section 2(b)(6), (8), (9) of Pub. L. 103–208 effective as if included in the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, Pub. L. 102–325, except as otherwise provided, and amendment by section 2(b)(7) of Pub. L. 103–208 effective on and after Dec. 20, 1993, see section 5(a), (b)(2) of Pub. L. 103–208 set out as a note under section 1051 of this title.

Advanced Placement Fee Payment Program

Pub. L. 105–244, title VIII, §810, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1808, which authorized grants to States to enable States to reimburse low-income individuals to cover part or all of the cost of advanced placement test fees, required dissemination of information regarding availability of payments, set forth requirements for approval of applications and funding rules, authorized regulations, required annual report, defined terms, and authorized appropriations, was repealed by Pub. L. 107–110, title X, §1011(2), Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1986.

Similar provisions were contained in Pub. L. 102–325, title XV, §1545, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 837, which was repealed by Pub. L. 107–110, title X, §1011(1), Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1986.

§1070a–12. Talent search

(a) Program authority

The Secretary shall carry out a program to be known as talent search which shall be designed—

(1) to identify qualified youths with potential for education at the postsecondary level and to encourage such youths to complete secondary school and to undertake a program of postsecondary education;

(2) to publicize the availability of, and facilitate the application for, student financial assistance available to persons who pursue a program of postsecondary education; and

(3) to encourage persons who have not completed programs of education at the secondary or postsecondary level to enter or reenter, and complete such programs.

(b) Required services

Any project assisted under this section shall provide—

(1) connections to high quality academic tutoring services, to enable students to complete secondary or postsecondary courses;

(2) advice and assistance in secondary course selection and, if applicable, initial postsecondary course selection;

(3) assistance in preparing for college entrance examinations and completing college admission applications;

(4)(A) information on the full range of Federal student financial aid programs and benefits (including Federal Pell Grant awards and loan forgiveness) and resources for locating public and private scholarships; and

(B) assistance in completing financial aid applications, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid described in section 1090(a) of this title;

(5) guidance on and assistance in—

(A) secondary school reentry;

(B) alternative education programs for secondary school dropouts that lead to the receipt of a regular secondary school diploma;

(C) entry into general educational development (GED) programs; or

(D) postsecondary education; and

(6) connections to education or counseling services designed to improve the financial literacy and economic literacy of students or the students’ parents, including financial planning for postsecondary education.

(c) Permissible services

Any project assisted under this section may provide services such as—

(1) academic tutoring, which may include instruction in reading, writing, study skills, mathematics, science, and other subjects;

(2) personal and career counseling or activities;

(3) information and activities designed to acquaint youth with the range of career options available to the youth;

(4) exposure to the campuses of institutions of higher education, as well as cultural events, academic programs, and other sites or activities not usually available to disadvantaged youth;

(5) workshops and counseling for families of students served;

(6) mentoring programs involving elementary or secondary school teachers or counselors, faculty members at institutions of higher education, students, or any combination of such persons; and

(7) programs and activities as described in subsection (b) or paragraphs (1) through (6) of this subsection that are specially designed for students who are limited English proficient, students from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education, students with disabilities, students who are homeless children and youths (as such term is defined in section 11434a of title 42), students who are in foster care or are aging out of the foster care system, or other disconnected students.

(d) Requirements for approval of applications

In approving applications for projects under this section for any fiscal year the Secretary shall—

(1) require an assurance that not less than two-thirds of the individuals participating in the project proposed to be carried out under any application be low-income individuals who are first generation college students;

(2) require that such participants be persons who either have completed 5 years of elementary education or are at least 11 years of age but not more than 27 years of age, unless the imposition of any such limitation with respect to any person would defeat the purposes of this section or the purposes of section 1070a–16 of this title;

(3) require an assurance that individuals participating in the project proposed in the application do not have access to services from another project funded under this section or under section 1070a–16 of this title; and

(4) require an assurance that the project will be located in a setting accessible to the persons proposed to be served by the project.

(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, §402B, as added Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, §402(a)(4), July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 486; amended Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, §402(b), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1654; Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, §403(b), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3198.)

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(b)(1)(A), inserted “, and facilitate the application for,” after “the availability of”.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(b)(1)(B), substituted “to enter or reenter, and complete” for “, but who have the ability to complete such programs, to reenter”.

Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(b)(3), added subsecs. (b) and (c) and struck out former subsec. (b) which related to permissible services. Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–315, §403(b)(2), (4), redesignated subsec. (c) as (d) and substituted “projects under this section” for “talent search projects under this division” in introductory provisions.

1998—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 105–244, §402(b)(1), added par. (4) and struck out former par. (4) which read as follows: “guidance on secondary school reentry or entry to general educational development (GED) programs or other alternative education programs for secondary school dropouts;”.

Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 105–244, §402(b)(2), inserted before semicolon “, or activities designed to acquaint individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds with careers in which the individuals are particularly underrepresented”.

Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 105–244, §402(b)(3), substituted “families” for “parents”.

Subsec. (b)(9). Pub. L. 105–244, §402(b)(4), inserted “or counselors” after “teachers”.

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–244 effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 105–244, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105–244, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.

TALENT SEARCH PROGRAM REGULATIONS

Subpart A—General

Sec.

643.1 What is the Talent Search program?

643.2 Who is eligible for a grant?

643.3 Who is eligible to participate in a project?

643.4 What services does a project provide?

643.5 How long is a project period?

643.6 What regulations apply?

643.7 What definitions apply?

§ 643.1 What is the Talent Search program?

The Talent Search program provides grants for projects designed to— (a) Identify qualified youths with potential for education at the postsecondary level and encourage them to complete secondary school and undertake a program of postsecondary education; (b) Publicize the availability of, and facilitate the application for, student financial assistance for persons who seek to pursue postsecondary education; and (c) Encourage persons who have not completed education programs at the secondary or postsecondary level to enter or reenter and complete these Programs. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–12) [58 FR 59145, Nov. 5, 1993, as amended at 75 FR 65774, Oct. 26, 2010]

§ 643.2 Who is eligible for a grant?

The following entities are eligible for a grant to carry out a Talent Search project:

(a) An institution of higher education.

(b) A public or private agency or organization, including a community based organization with experience in serving disadvantaged youth.

(c) A secondary school.

(d) A combination of the types of institutions, agencies, and organizations described in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–11) [58 FR 59145, Nov. 5, 1993, as amended at 75 FR 65774, Oct. 26, 2010]

§ 643.3 Who is eligible to participate in a project?

(a) An individual is eligible to participate in a Talent Search project if the individual meets all the following requirements:

(1)(i) Is a citizen or national of the United States; (ii) Is a permanent resident of the United States; (iii) Is in the United States for other than a temporary purpose and provides evidence from the Immigration and Naturalization Service of his or her intent to become a permanent resident; (iv) Is a permanent resident of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau); or (v) Is a resident of the Freely Associated States—the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

(2)(i) Has completed five years of elementary education or is at least 11 years of age but not more than 27 years of age. (ii) However, an individual who is more than 27 years of age may participate in a Talent Search project if the individual cannot be appropriately served by an Educational Opportunity Center project under 34 CFR part 644 and if the individual’s participation would not dilute the Talent Search project’s services to individuals described in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section.

(3)(i) Is enrolled in or has dropped out of any grade from six through 12, or has graduated from secondary school, ; or (ii) Has undertaken, but is not presently enrolled in, a program of postsecondary education, (b) A veteran as defined in § 643.6(b), regardless of age, is eligible to participate in a Talent Search project if he or she satisfies the eligibility requirements in paragraph (a) of this section other than the age requirement in paragraph (a)(2). (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–11 and 1070a–12) [58 FR 59145, Nov. 5, 1993, as amended at 75 FR 65775, Oct. 26, 2010]

§ 643.4 What services does a project provide?

(a) A Talent Search project must provide the following services:

(1) Connections for participants to high quality academic tutoring services to enable the participants to complete secondary or postsecondary courses.

(2) Advice and assistance in secondary school course selection and, if applicable, initial postsecondary course selection.

(3) Assistance in preparing for college entrance examinations and completing college admission applications.

(4)(i) Information on the full range of Federal student financial aid programs and benefits including Federal Pell Grant awards and loan forgiveness) and on resources for locating public and private scholarships; and (ii) Assistance in completing financial aid applications, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

(5) Guidance on and assistance in— (i) Secondary school reentry; (ii) Alternative education programs for secondary school dropouts that lead to the receipt of a regular secondary school diploma; (iii) Entry into general educational development (GED) programs; or (iv) Entry into postsecondary education.

(6) Connections for participants to education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of the participants or the participants’ parents, including financial planning for postsecondary education.

(b) A Talent Search project may provide services such as the following:

(1) Academic tutoring, which may include instruction in reading, writing, study skills, mathematics, science, and other subjects.

(2) Personal and career counseling or activities.

(3) Information and activities designed to acquaint youth with the range of career options available to the youth.

(4) Exposure to the campuses of institutions of higher education, as well as to cultural events, academic programs, and other sites or activities not usually available to disadvantaged youth.

(5) Workshops and counseling for families of participants served.

(6) Mentoring programs involving elementary or secondary school teachers or counselors, faculty members at institutions of higher education, students, or any combination of these persons.

(7) Programs and activities as described in this section that are specially designed for participants who are limited English proficient, from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education, individuals with disabilities, homeless children and youths, foster care youth, or other disconnected participants.

(8) Other activities designed to meet the purposes of the Talent Search Program in § 643.1.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–12) [75 FR 65775, Oct. 26, 2010]

§ 643.5 How long is a project period?

A project period under the Talent Search program is five years. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–11) [75 FR 65775, Oct. 26, 2010]

§ 643.6 What regulations apply?

The following regulations apply to the Talent Search program:

(a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75 (except for §§ 75.215 through 75.221), 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

(b) The regulations in this part 643. (c)(1) 2 CFR part 180 (OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement)), as adopted at 2 CFR part 3485; and (2) 2 CFR part 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards), as adopted at 2 CFR part 3474. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–11 and 1070a–12) [58 FR 59145, Nov. 5, 1993, as amended at 75 FR 65775, Oct. 26, 2010; 79 FR 76102, Dec. 19, 2014]

§ 643.7 What definitions apply?

(a) General definitions. The following terms used in this part are defined in 2 CFR part 200, subpart A, or in 34 CFR 77.1:

Applicant

Application

Budget

Budget period

EDGAR

Equipment

Facilities

Fiscal year

Grant

Grantee

Private

Project

Project period

Public

Secretary

Supplies

(b) Other definitions.

The following definitions also apply to this part:

Different population means a group of individuals that an eligible entity desires to serve through an application for a grant under the Talent Search program and that— (1) Is separate and distinct from any other population that the entity has applied for a grant to serve; or (2) While sharing some of the same needs as another population that the eligible entity has applied for a grant to serve, has distinct needs for specialized services.

Financial and economic literacy means knowledge about personal financial decision- making, which may include but is not limited to knowledge about— (1) Personal and family budget planning; (2) Understanding credit building principles to meet long-term and short-term goals (e.g., loan to debt ratio, credit scoring, negative impacts on credit scores); (3) Cost planning for postsecondary or post baccalaureate education (e.g., spending, saving, personal budgeting); (4) College cost of attendance (e.g., public vs. private, tuition vs. fees, personal costs); (5) Financial assistance (e.g., searches, application processes, and differences between private and government loans, assistanceships); and (6) Assistance in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Foster care youth means youth who are in foster care or are aging out of the foster care system. HEA means the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

Homeless children and youth means persons defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a).

Individual with a disability means a person who has a disability, as that term is defined in section 12102 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).

Institution of higher education means an educational institution as defined in sections 101 and 102 of the HEA.

Low-income individual means an individual whose family’s taxable income did not exceed 150 percent of the poverty level amount in the calendar year preceding the year in which the individual initially participated in the project. The poverty level amount is determined by using criteria of poverty established by the Bureau of the Census of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Participant means an individual who— (1) Is determined to be eligible to participate in the project under § 643.3; and (2) Receives project services designed for his or her age or grade level.

Postsecondary education means education beyond the secondary school level.

Potential first-generation college student means— (1) An individual neither of whose natural or adoptive parents received a baccalaureate degree; (2) An individual who, prior to the age of 18, regularly resided with and received support from only one parent and whose supporting parent did not receive a baccalaureate degree; or (3) An individual who, prior to the age of 18, did not regularly reside with or receive support from a natural or an adoptive parent.

Regular secondary school diploma means a level attained by individuals who meet or exceed the coursework and performance standards for high school completion established by the individual’s State.

Rigorous secondary school program of study means a program of study that is— (1) Established by a state educational agency (SEA) or local educational agency (LEA) and recognized as a rigorous secondary school program of study by the Secretary through the process described in 34 CFR 691.16(a) through 691.16(c) for the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) Program; (2) An advanced or honors secondary school program established by States and in existence for the 2004–2005 school (3) Any secondary school program in which a student successfully completes at a minimum the following courses: (i) Four years of English.

(ii) Three years of mathematics, including algebra I and a higher-level class such as algebra II, geometry, or data analysis and statistics. (iii) Three years of science, including one year each of at least two of the following courses: Biology, chemistry, and physics. (iv) Three years of social studies. (v) One year of a language other than English; (4) A secondary school program identified by a State-level partnership that is recognized by the State Scholars Initiative of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), Boulder, Colorado; (5) Any secondary school program for a student who completes at least two courses from an International Baccalaureate Diploma Program sponsored by the International Baccalaureate Organization,

Geneva, Switzerland, and receives a score of a ‘‘4’’ or higher on the examinations for at least two of those courses; or (6) Any secondary school program for a student who completes at least two Advanced Placement courses and receives a score of ‘‘3’’ or higher on the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program Exams for at least two of those courses.

Secondary school means a school that provides secondary education as determined under State law, except that it does not include education beyond grade 12.

Target area means a geographic area served by a Talent Search project.

Target school means a school designated by the applicant as a focus of project services.

Veteran means a person who— (1) Served on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States for a period of more than 180 days and was discharged or released

under conditions other than dishonorable; (2) Served on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States and was discharged or released because of a service connected disability; (3) Was a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States and was called to active duty for a period of more than 30 days; or (4) Was a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States who served on active duty in support of a contingency operation (as that term is defined in section 101(a)(13) of title 10, United States Code) on or after September 11, 2001. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–11, 1070a–12 and 1141) [58 FR 59145, Nov. 5, 1993, as amended at 75 FR 65775, Oct. 26, 2010; 79 FR 76102, Dec. 19, 2014]

Subpart B—How Does One Apply for an Award?

§ 643.10 How many applications may an eligible applicant submit?

(a) An applicant may submit more than one application for Talent Search grants as long as each application describes a project that serves a different target area or target schools, or another designated different population. (b) For each grant competition, the Secretary designates, in the FEDERAL REGISTER notice inviting applications and the other published application materials for the competition, the different populations for which an eligible entity may submit a separate application. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–12; 1221e–3) [75 FR 65776, Oct. 26, 2010]

§ 643.11 What assurance must an applicant submit?

An applicant must submit, as part of its application, assurances that— (a) At least two-thirds of the individuals it serves under its proposed Talent Search project will be low-income individuals

who are potential first-generation college students; (b) The project will collaborate with other Federal TRIO projects, GEAR UP projects, or programs serving similar populations that are serving the same target schools or target area in order to minimize the duplication of services

and promote collaborations so that more students can be served. (c) The project will be located in a setting or settings accessible to the individuals proposed to be served by the project; and (d) If the applicant is an institution of higher education, it will not use the project as a part of its recruitment program. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–12) [58 FR 59145, Nov. 5, 1993.Redesignated and amended at 75 FR 65776, Oct. 26, 2010]

Subpart C—How Does the Secretary Make a Grant?

§ 643.20 How does the Secretary decide which new grants to make?

(a) The Secretary evaluates an application for a new grant as follows: (1)(i) The Secretary evaluates the application on the basis of the selection criteria in § 643.21. (ii) The maximum score for all the criteria in § 643.21 is 100 points. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses with the criterion. (2)(i) For an application for a new grant to continue to serve substantially the same populations and campuses that the applicant is serving under an expiring project, the Secretary evaluates the applicant’s prior experience of high quality service delivery under the expiring project on the basis of the outcome criteria in § 643.22. (ii) The maximum total score for all the criteria in § 643.22 is 15 points. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses with the criterion. (iii) The Secretary evaluates the PE of an applicant for each of the three project years that the Secretary designates in the FEDERAL REGISTER notice inviting applications and the other published application materials for the competition. (iv) An applicant may earn up to 15 PE points for each of the designated project years for which annual performance report data are available. (v) The final PE score is the average of the scores for the three project years assessed. (b) The Secretary makes new grants in rank order on the basis of the applications’ total scores under paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section. (c) If the total scores of two or more applications are the same and there are insufficient funds for these applications after the approval of higher ranked applications, the Secretary uses the remaining funds to serve geographic areas and eligible populations that have been underserved by the Talent Search program. (d) The Secretary does not make a new grant to an applicant if the applicant’s prior project involved the fraudulent use of program funds. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–11, 1070a–12, and 1144a(a)) [58 FR 59145, Nov. 5, 1993, as amended at 75 FR 65776, Oct. 26, 2010]

§ 643.21 What selection criteria does the Secretary use?

The Secretary uses the following criteria to evaluate an application for a new grant:

(a) Need for the project (24 points). The Secretary evaluates the need for a Talent Search project in the proposed target area on the basis of the extent to which the application contains clear evidence of the following: (1) (4 points) A high number or high percentage of the following— (i) Low-income families residing in the target area; or (ii) Students attending the target schools who are eligible for free or reduced priced lunch as described in sections 9(b)(1) and 17(c)(4) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. (2) (2 points) Low rates of high school persistence among individuals in the target schools as evidenced by the annual student persistence rates in the proposed target schools for the most recent year for which data are available. (3) (4 points) Low rates of students in the target school or schools who graduate high school with a regular secondary school diploma in the standard number of years for the most recent year for which data are available. (4) (6 points) Low postsecondary enrollment and completion rates among individuals in the target area and schools as evidenced by— (i) Low rates of enrollment in programs of postsecondary education by graduates of the target schools in the most recent year for which data are available; and (ii) A high number or high percentage of individuals residing in the target area with education completion levels below the baccalaureate degree level. (5) (2 points) The extent to which the target secondary schools do not offer their students the courses or academic support to complete a rigorous secondary school program of study or have low participation or low success by low-income or first generation students in such courses. (6) (6 points) Other indicators of need for a TS project, including low academic achievement and low standardized test scores of students enrolled in the target schools, a high ratio of students to school counselors in the target schools, and the presence of unaddressed academic or socio-economic problems of eligible individuals, including foster care youth and homeless children and youth in the target schools or the target area.

(b) Objectives (8 points). The Secretary evaluates the quality of the applicant’s objectives and proposed targets (percentages) in the following areas on the basis of the extent to which they are both ambitious, as related to the need data provided under paragraph (a) of this section, and attainable given the project’s plan of operation, budget, and other resources: (1) (2 points) Secondary school persistence. (2) (2 points) Secondary school graduation (regular secondary school diploma). (3) (1 point) Secondary school graduation (rigorous secondary school program of study). (4) (2 points) Postsecondary education enrollment. (5) (1 point) Postsecondary degree attainment.

(c) Plan of operation (30 points). The Secretary evaluates the quality of the applicant’s plan of operation on the basis of the following: (1) (3 points) The plan to inform the residents, schools, and community organizations in the target area of the purpose, objectives, and services of the project and the eligibility requirements for participation in the project. (2) (3 points) The plan to identify and select eligible project participants. (3) (10 points) The plan for providing the services delineated in § 643.4 as appropriate based on the project’s assessment of each participant’s need for services. (4) (6 points) The plan to work in a coordinated, collaborative, and cost-effective manner as part of an overarching college access strategy with the target schools or school system and other programs for disadvantaged students to provide participants with access to and assistance in completing a rigorous secondary school program of study. (5) (6 points) The plan, including timelines, personnel, and other resources, to ensure the proper and efficient administration of the project, including the project’s organizational structure; the time commitment of key project staff; and financial, personnel, and records management. (6) (2 points) The plan to follow former participants as they enter, continue in, and complete postsecondary education.

(d) Applicant and community support (16 points). The Secretary evaluates the applicant and community support for the proposed project on the basis of the extent to which the applicant has made provision for resources to supplement the grant and enhance the project’s services, including— (1) (8 points) Facilities, equipment, supplies, personnel, and other resources committed by the applicant; and (2) (8 points) Resources secured through written commitments from community partners. (i) An applicant that is an institution of higher education must include in its application commitments from the target schools and community organizations; (ii) An applicant that is a secondary school must include in its commitments from institutions of higher education, community organizations, and, as appropriate, other secondary schools and the school district; and (iii) An applicant that is a community organization must include in its application commitments from the target schools and institutions of higher education.

(e) Quality of personnel (9 points). (1) The Secretary evaluates the quality of the personnel the applicant plans to use in the project on the basis of the following: (i) The qualifications required of the project director. (ii) The qualifications required of each of the other personnel to be used in the project. (iii) The plan to employ personnel who have succeeded in overcoming the disadvantages of circumstances like those of the population of the target area. (2) In evaluating the qualifications of a person, the Secretary considers his or her experience and training in fields related to the objectives of the project.

(f) Budget (5 points). The Secretary evaluates the extent to which the project budget is reasonable, cost-effective, and adequate to support the project.

(g) Evaluation plan (8 points). The Secretary evaluates the quality of the evaluation plan for the project on the basis of the extent to which the applicant’s methods of evaluation— (1) Are appropriate to the project’s objectives; (2) Provide for the applicant to determine, using specific and quantifiable measures, the success of the project in— (i) Making progress toward achieving its objectives (a formative evaluation); and (ii) Achieving its objectives at the end of the project period (a summative evaluation); and (3) Provide for the disclosure of unanticipated project outcomes, using quantifiable measures if appropriate. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1840–0065) (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–12) [58 FR 59145, Nov. 5, 1993, as amended at 75 FR 65776, Oct. 26, 2010]

§ 643.22 How does the Secretary evaluate prior experience?

(a) In the case of an application described in § 643.20(a)(2)(i), the Secretary— (1) Evaluates the applicant’s performance under its expiring Talent Search project; (2) Uses the approved project objectives for the applicant’s expiring Talent Search grant and the information the applicant submitted in its annual performance reports (APRs) to determine the number of PE points; and

(3) May adjust a calculated PE score or decide not to award PE points if other information such as audit reports, site visit reports, and project evaluation reports indicates the APR data used to calculate PE are incorrect. (b) The Secretary does not award PE points for a given year to an applicant that does not serve at least 90 percent of the approved number of participants. For purposes of this section, the approved number of participants is the total number of participants the project would serve as agreed upon by the grantee and the Secretary. (c) The Secretary does not award any PE points for the criterion specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section (Number

of participants) if the applicant did not serve at least the approved number of participants. (d) For purposes of the evaluation of grants awarded after January 1, 2009, the Secretary evaluates the applicant’s PE on the basis of the following outcome criteria:

(1) (3 points) Number of participants. Whether the applicant provided services to no less than the approved number

of participants.

(2) (3 points) Secondary school persistence. Whether the applicant met or exceeded its objective regarding the continued secondary school enrollment of participants.

(3) (3 points) Secondary school graduation (regular secondary school diploma). Whether the applicant met or exceeded its objective regarding the graduation of participants served during

the project year from secondary school with a regular secondary school diploma in the standard number of years.

(4) (1.5 points) Secondary school graduation (rigorous secondary school program of study). whether the applicant met or exceeded its objective regarding the graduation of participants served during the project year who completed a rigorous secondary school program of study.

(5) (3 points) Postsecondary enrollment. Whether the applicant met or exceeded its objective regarding the participants expected to graduate from high school in the school year who enrolled in an institution of higher education within the time period specified in the approved objective.

(6) (1.5 points) Postsecondary completion. Whether the applicant met or exceeded its objective regarding project participants who enrolled in and completed a program of postsecondary education within the number of years specified in the approved objective. The applicant may determine success in meeting the objective by using a randomly selected sample of participants

in accordance with the parameters established by the Secretary in the FEDERAL REGISTER notice inviting applications or other published application materials for the competition. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1840—NEW7)

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–12) [75 FR 65777, Oct. 26, 2010]

§ 643.23 How does the Secretary set the amount of a grant?

(a) The Secretary sets the amount of a grant on the basis of— (1) 34 CFR 75.232 and 75.233, for new grants; and (2) 34 CFR 75.253, for the second and subsequent years of a project period.

(b) If the circumstances described in section 402A(b)(3) of the HEA exist, the Secretary uses the available funds to set the amount of the grant at the lesser of— (1) $200,000; or (2) The amount requested by the applicant. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1840–0549) (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–11) [58 FR 59145, Nov. 5, 1993, as amended at 75 FR 65778, Oct. 26, 2010]

§ 643.24 What is the review process for unsuccessful applicants?

(a) Technical or administrative error for applications not reviewed. (1) An applicant whose grant application was not evaluated during the competition may request that the Secretary review the

application if— (i) The applicant has met all application submission requirements included in the FEDERAL REGISTER notice inviting applications and the other published application materials for the competition; and (ii) The applicant provides evidence demonstrating that the Department or an agent of the Department made a technical or administrative error in the processing of the submitted application. (2) A technical or administrative error in the processing of an application

includes— (i) A problem with the system for the electronic submission of applications that was not addressed in accordance with the procedures included in the FEDERAL REGISTER notice inviting applications for the competition; (ii) An error in determining an applicant’s eligibility for funding consideration, which may include, but is not limited to— (A) An incorrect conclusion that the application was submitted by an ineligible applicant; (B) An incorrect conclusion that the application exceeded the published page limit; (C) An incorrect conclusion that the applicant requested funding greater than the published maximum award; or (D) An incorrect conclusion that the application was missing critical sections of the application; and

(iii) Any other mishandling of the application that resulted in an otherwise eligible application not being reviewed during the competition. (3)(i) If the Secretary determines that the Department or the Department’s agent made a technical or administrative error, the Secretary has the application evaluated and scored. (ii) If the total score assigned the application would have resulted in funding of the application during the competition and the program has funds available, the Secretary funds the application prior to the re-ranking of applications based on the second peer review of applications described in paragraph (c) of this section. (b) Administrative or scoring error for applications that were reviewed. (1) An applicant that was not selected for

funding during a competition may request that the Secretary conduct a second review of the application if— (i) The applicant provides evidence demonstrating that the Department, an agent of the Department, or a peer reviewer made an administrative or scoring error in the review of its application; and (ii) The final score assigned to the application is within the funding band described in paragraph (d) of this section. (2) An administrative error relates to either the PE points or the scores assigned to the application by the peer reviewers. (i) For PE points, an administrative error includes mathematical errors made by the Department or the Department’s

agent in the calculation of the PE points or a failure to correctly add the earned PE points to the peer reviewer score. (ii) For the peer review score, an administrative error is applying the wrong peer reviewer scores to an application. (3)(i) A scoring error relates only to the peer review process and includes errors caused by a reviewer who, in assigning points— (A) Uses criteria not required by the applicable law or program regulations, the FEDERAL REGISTER notice inviting applications, the other published application materials for the competition, or guidance provided to the peer reviewers by the Secretary; or (B) Does not consider relevant information

included in the appropriate section of the application. (ii) The term ‘‘scoring error’’ does not include— (A) A peer reviewer’s appropriate use of his or her professional judgment in evaluating and scoring an application; (B) Any situation in which the applicant did not include information needed to evaluate its response to a specific selection criterion in the appropriate

section of the application as stipulated in the FEDERAL REGISTER notice inviting applications or the other published application materials for the competition; or (C) Any error by the applicant. (c) Procedures for the second review. (1) To ensure the timely awarding of grants under the competition, the Secretary sets aside a percentage of the funds allotted for the competition to be awarded after the second review is completed. (2) After the competition, the Secretary makes new awards in rank order as described in § 643.20 based on the available funds for the competition minus the funds set aside for the second review. (3) After the Secretary issues a notification of grant award to successful applicants, the Secretary notifies each unsuccessful applicant in writing as to the status of its application and the funding band for the second review and provides copies of the peer reviewers’ evaluations of the applicant’s application and the applicant’s PE score, if applicable. (4) An applicant that was not selected

for funding following the competition as described in paragraph (c)(2) of this section and whose application received a score within the funding band as described in paragraph (d) of this section, may request a second review if the applicant demonstrates that the Department, the Department’s agent, or a peer reviewer made an administrative or scoring error as provided in paragraph (b) of this section. (5) An applicant whose application was not funded after the first review as described in paragraph (c)(2) of this section and whose application received a score within the funding band as described in paragraph (d) of this section has at least 15 calendar days after receiving notification that its application was not funded in which to submit a written request for a second review in accordance with the instructions and due date provided in the Secretary’s written notification. (6) An applicant’s written request for a second review must be received by the Department or submitted electronically to the designated e-mail or Web address by the due date and time established by the Secretary. (7) If the Secretary determines that the Department or the Department’s agent made an administrative error that relates to the PE points awarded, as described in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section, the Secretary adjusts the applicant’s PE score to reflect the correct number of PE points. If the adjusted score assigned to the application would have resulted in funding of the application during the competition and the program has funds available, the Secretary funds the application prior to the re-ranking of applications based on the second peer review of applications described in paragraph (c)(9) of this section. (8) If the Secretary determines that the Department, the Department’s agent or the peer reviewer made an administrative error that relates to the peer reviewers’ score(s), as described in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section, the Secretary adjusts the applicant’s peer reviewers’ score(s) to correct the error. If the adjusted score assigned to the application would have resulted in funding of the application during the competition and the program has funds available, the Secretary funds the application prior to the re-ranking of applications based on the second peer review of applications described in paragraph (c)(9) of this section. (9) If the Secretary determines that a

peer reviewer made a scoring error, as described in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, the Secretary convenes a second panel of peer reviewers in accordance with the requirements in section 402A(c)(8)(C)(iv)(III) of the HEA. (10) The average of the peer reviewers’ scores from the second peer review are used in the second ranking of applications. The average score obtained

from the second peer review panel is the final peer reviewer score for the application and will be used even if the second review results in a lower score for the application than that obtained

in the initial review. (11) For applications in the funding band, the Secretary funds these applications in rank order based on adjusted scores and the available funds that have been set aside for the second review of applications. (d) Process for establishing a funding band. (1) For each competition, the Secretary establishes a funding band for the second review of applications.

(2) The Secretary establishes the funding band for each competition based on the amount of funds the Secretary has set aside for the second review of applications. (3) The funding band is composed of those applications— (i) With a rank-order score before the second review that is below the lowest score of applications funded after the first review; and (ii) That would be funded if the Secretary had 150 percent of the funds that were set aside for the second review of

applications for the competition. (e) Final decision. (1) The Secretary’s determination of whether the applicant has met the requirements for a second review and the Secretary’s decision on

re-scoring of an application are final and not subject to further appeal or challenge. (2) An application that scored below the established funding band for the competition is not eligible for a second review. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1840–NEW2) (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–11) [75 FR 65778, Oct. 26, 2010]

Subpart D—What Conditions Must Be Met by a Grantee?

§ 643.30 What are allowable costs?

The cost principles that apply to the Talent Search program are in 2 CFR part 200, subpart E. Allowable costs include the following if they are reasonably related to the objectives of the project: (a) Transportation, meals, and, if necessary, lodging for participants and project staff for— (1) Visits to postsecondary educational institutions; (2) Participation in ‘‘College Day’’

activities; (3) Field trips for participants to observe and meet with persons who are employed in various career fields and who can act as role models for participants; and (4) Transportation to institutions of higher education, secondary schools not attended by the participants, or other locations at which the participant receives instruction that is part of a rigorous secondary school program of study. (b) Purchase of testing materials and test preparation programs for participants. (c) Fees required for admission applications for postsecondary education, college entrance examinations, or alternative education examinations if— (1) A waiver of the fee is unavailable; and (2) The fee is paid by the grantee to a third party on behalf of a participant. (d) In-service training of project staff. (e) Rental of space if— (1) Space is not available at the site

of the grantee; and (2) The rented space is not owned by the grantee. (f) Purchase, lease, or rental of computer hardware, software, and other equipment, service agreements for such equipment, and supplies that support the delivery of services to participants, including technology used by participants in a rigorous secondary school program of study. (g) Purchase, lease, service agreement, or rental of computer equipment and software needed for project administration and recordkeeping. (h) Tuition costs for a course that is part of a rigorous secondary school program of study if— (1) The course or a similar course is not offered at the secondary school that the participant attends or at another school within the school district; (2) The grantee demonstrates to the Secretary’s satisfaction that using grant funds is the most cost-effective way to deliver the course or courses necessary for the completion of a rigorous secondary school program of

study for program participants; (3) The course is taken through an accredited institution of higher education; (4) The course is comparable in content and rigor to courses that are part of a rigorous secondary school program of study as defined in § 643.7(b); (5) The secondary school accepts the course as meeting one or more of the course requirements for obtaining a regular secondary school diploma; (6) A waiver of the tuition costs is unavailable; (7) The tuition is paid with Talent Search grant funds to an institution of higher education on behalf of a participant; and

(8) The Talent Search project pays for no more than the equivalent of two courses for a participant each school year. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–11 and 1070a–12) [58 FR 59145, Nov. 5, 1993, as amended at 75 FR 65779, Oct. 26, 2010; 79 FR 76102, Dec. 19, 2014]

§ 643.31 What are unallowable costs?

Costs that are unallowable under the Talent Search program include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) Stipends and other forms of direct financial support for participants. (b) Application fees for financial aid. (c) Research not directly related to the evaluation or improvement of the project. (d) Construction, renovation, and remodeling of any facilities. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–11 and 1070a–12) [58 FR 59145, Nov. 5, 1993, as amended at 75 FR 65779, Oct. 26, 2010]

§ 643.32 What other requirements must a grantee meet?

(a) Eligibility of participants. (1) A grantee shall determine the eligibility of each participant in the project at the time that the individual is selected to participate. (2) A grantee shall determine the status of a low-income individual on the basis of the documentation described in section 402A(e) of the HEA.

(b) Number of Participants. For each year of the project period, a grantee must serve at least the number of participants that the Secretary identifies in the FEDERAL REGISTER notice inviting applications for a competition. Through this notice, the Secretary also

provides the minimum and maximum grant award amounts for the competition.

(c) Recordkeeping. For each participant, a grantee must maintain a record of—

(1) The basis for the grantee’s determination that the participant is eligible to participate in the project under § 643.3;

(2) The grantee’s needs assessment for the participant;

(3) The services that are provided to the participant;

(4) The specific educational progress made by the participant as a result of

the services; and

(5) To the extent practicable, any services the TS participant receives during the project year from another Federal TRIO program or another federally funded program that serves populations similar to those served under the TS program.

(d) Project director. (1) A grantee must employ a full-time project director unless—

(i) The director is also administering one or two additional programs for disadvantaged students operated by the sponsoring institution or agency; or

(ii) The Secretary grants a waiver of this requirement.

(2) The grantee must give the project director sufficient authority to administer the project effectively.

(3) The Secretary waives the requirements in paragraph (d)(1) of this section if the applicant demonstrates that the project director will be able to effectively administer more than three programs and that this arrangement would promote effective coordination between the TS program and other Federal TRIO Programs (sections 402B through 402F of the HEA) or similar programs funded through other sources. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1840–NEW2) (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–11 and 1070a–12) [58 FR 59145, Nov. 5, 1993, as amended at 75 FR 65779, Oct. 26, 2010]

Federal TRIO Programs
2020 Annual Low Income Levels

(Effective January 15, 2020 Until Further Notice)

Size of Family Unit	48 Contiguous States, D.C., and Outlying Jurisdictions	Alaska	Hawaii
1	$19,140	$23,925	$22,020
2	$25,860	$32,325	$29,745
3	$32,580	$40725	$37,470
4	$39,300	$49,125	$45,195
5	$46,020	$57,525	$52,920
6	$52,740	$65,925	$60,645
7	$59,460	$74,325	$68,370
8	$66,180	$82,725	$76,095

For family units with more than eight members, add the following amount for each additional family member: $6,720 for the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia and outlying jurisdictions; $8,400 for Alaska; and $7,725 for Hawaii.

The term "low-income individual" means an individual whose family's taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent of the poverty level amount.

The figures shown under family income represent amounts equal to 150 percent of the family income levels established by the Census Bureau for determining poverty status. The 2020 poverty guidelines were published in the Federal Register on January 15, 2020.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

EXECUTIVE ORDER 12372

This program falls under the rubric of Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs) and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive order is to strengthen federalism--or the distribution of responsibility between localities, States, and the Federal government--by fostering intergovernmental partnerships. This idea includes supporting processes that State or local governments have devised for coordinating and reviewing proposed Federal financial grant applications.

The process for doing this requires grant applicants to contact State Single Points of Contact for information on how this works. Multi-state applicants should follow procedures specific to each state.

Further information about the State Single Point of Contact process and a list of names by State can be found at:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/SPOC-Feb.-2018.pdf.

Absent specific State review programs, applicants may submit comments directly to the Department. All recommendations and comments must be mailed or hand-delivered by the date indicated in the actual application Notice to the following address: The Secretary, EO 12372-- CFDA# 84.044A, U.S. Department of Education, room 7E200, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202.

Proof of mailing will be determined on the same basis as applications (see 34 CFR §75.102). Recommendations or comments may be hand-delivered until 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the closing date indicated in this Notice.

Important note: The above address is not the same address as the one to which the applicant submits its completed applications. Do not send applications to the above address.

INTRODUCTION

TALENT SEARCH PROGRAM

AUTHORIZATION

Title IV, Part A, Subpart 2, Section 402B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA).

PROGRAM REGULATIONS

34 CFR part 643 Talent Search Program

PURPOSE

The purpose of the program is to identify qualified individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and encourage them to complete secondary school and enroll in a program of postsecondary education. The program encourages persons who have not completed secondary or postsecondary programs to enter or reenter and complete these programs. Talent Search (TS) projects provide connections to high quality academic tutoring services, connections to education or counseling services designed to improve the financial aid literacy and financial planning for postsecondary education for students and their parents, and provides activities and services specially designed for students who are limited English proficient, students from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education, students with disabilities, students who are homeless children and youth, students in foster care or are aging out of foster care, or other disconnected students. The goal of TS is to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete secondary school and enroll in a postsecondary institution.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following are eligible to apply for a grant to carry out a Talent Search Program project:

1. Institutions of higher education

2. Public and private agencies or organizations, including community-based

organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth

3. Secondary schools

4. Combinations of institutions of higher education, agencies or organizations, and secondary schools

ACTIVITIES FUNDED UNDER THIS PROGRAM

Required Services -- Any project assisted under this section shall provide—

(1) connections to high quality academic tutoring services, to enable students to complete secondary or postsecondary courses;

(2) advice and assistance in secondary course selection and, if applicable, initial postsecondary course selection;

(3) assistance in preparing for college entrance examinations and completing college admission applications;

(4) (A) information on the full range of Federal student financial aid programs and benefits (including Federal Pell Grant awards and loan forgiveness) and resources for locating public and private scholarships; and

(B) assistance in completing financial aid applications, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid described in section 483(a);

(5) guidance on and assistance in—

(A) secondary school reentry;

(B) alternative education programs for secondary school dropouts that lead to the receipt of a regular secondary school diploma;

(C) entry into general educational development (GED) programs; or

(D) postsecondary education; and

(6) connections to education or counseling services designed to improve the financial literacy and economic literacy of students or the students’ parents, including financial planning for postsecondary education.

PERMISSIBLE SERVICES —Any project assisted under this section may provide services such as—

(1) academic tutoring, which may include instruction in reading, writing, study skills, mathematics, science, and other subjects;

(2) personal and career counseling or activities;

(3) information and activities designed to acquaint youth with the range of career options available to the youth;

(4) exposure to the campuses of institutions of higher education, as well as cultural events, academic programs, and other sites or activities not usually available to disadvantaged youth;

(5) workshops and counseling for families of students served;

(6) mentoring programs involving elementary or secondary school teachers or counselors, faculty members at institutions of higher education, students, or any combination of such persons; and

(7) programs and activities as described in subsection (b) or paragraphs (1) through (6) of this subsection that are specially designed for students who are limited English proficient, students from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education, students with disabilities, students who are homeless children and youths (as such term is defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a)), students who are in foster care or are aging out of the foster care system, or other disconnected students.

TALENT SEARCH PROGRAM PROFILE

Instructions: All applicants must complete this page. The completed page must be attached to the Other Attachments Form in the application package in Grants.gov (as a .pdf document) in the application. DO NOT MODIFY OR AMEND THE CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE.

1. Applicants currently funded under the Talent Search Program (FY 2016-2021) must provide their current grant award number. This can be found in Block 5 of the Grant Award Notification.

New applicants should leave this item blank.

PR/Award Number (Current Grantees Only): P044A (16) (17) (18)____ ____ ____

Application designated to receive prior experience: Yes___ No ___

Application addresses Competitive Preference Priorities (check all that apply):

___ Competitive Preference Priority 1

___ Competitive Preference Priority 2

2. Institution/Agency/Organization/School (Legal Name): ___________________________________________________ __

3. All applicants must indicate the address where this project will be physically located.

Project Address: ________________________________________________________ __

City, State, Zip Code

4. Multiple applications submitted: No: Yes: How many?

5. List the target schools and estimated number of participants to be served at each school:

(1) (8)

(2) (9)

(3) (10)

(4) (11)

(5) (12)

(6) (13)

(7) (14)

Note: The project must be located in a setting accessible to the individuals the project proposes to serve. Add an additional page to list target schools, if needed.

6. Provide the total number of proposed participants to be served each year: ________

(Note: Projects are expected to serve the same number of participants, each year. Two-thirds of the participants served must be low-income, first-generation college students).

7. Program Objectives:

Please fill in the proposed percent for each objective.

Note: These are the same objectives that MUST be stated in Part III -- Project Narrative section of your application when addressing the Objectives and the Evaluation criteria.

A. Secondary School Persistence: ____% of non-senior participants served each project year will complete the current academic year and continue in school for the next academic year, at the next grade level.

B. Secondary School Graduation (regular secondary school diploma): ___% of seniors served during the project year will graduate during the project year with a regular secondary school diploma within the standard number of years.

C. Secondary School Graduation (rigorous secondary school program of study): ___% of seniors served during the project year will complete a rigorous secondary school program of study and will graduate during the project year with a regular secondary school diploma within the standard number of years.

D. Postsecondary Education Enrollment: ___% of participants, who have graduated with a regular secondary school diploma, during the project year, will enroll in an institution of higher education by the fall semester immediately following high school graduation or will have received notification, by the fall semester immediately following high school, from an institution of higher education, of acceptance but deferred enrollment until the next academic semester (e.g. spring semester).

E. Postsecondary Attainment: ___% of participants served during the project year, who enrolled in an institution of higher education, by the fall semester immediately following high school graduation or by the next academic semester (e.g. spring semester) as a result of acceptance but deferred enrollment will complete a program of postsecondary education within six years.

Please note the following definitions:

Graduation in a standard number of years: means the attainment of a regular secondary school diploma at the conclusion of, before the conclusion of, or during the summer immediately following a participant’s fourth year of high school, unless a high school begins after ninth grade, in which case the standard number of years is the number of grades in the school.

Enrolled: a participant who has completed the registration requirements (except for the payment of tuition and fees) at the institution that he or she is attending.

Acceptance but Deferred Enrollment: a participant has received an acceptance letter from the institution that he or she will attend, but cannot enroll in the fall semester immediately following high school graduation for reasons determined by the institution. The institution defers enrollment until the next semester.

Regular Secondary School Diploma: means a level attained by individuals who meet or exceed the coursework and performance standards for high school completion established by the individual’s state.

Rigorous Secondary School Program of Study: means a program of study that is--

(1) Established by a state educational agency (SEA) or local educational agency (LEA) and recognized as a rigorous secondary school program of study by the Secretary through the process described in 34 CFR 691.16(a) through 691.16(c) for the ACG Program; or

(2) An advanced or honors secondary school program established by States and in existence for the 2004-2005 school year or later school years; or

(3) Any secondary school program in which a student successfully completes at a minimum the following courses:

(i) Four years of English.

(ii) Three years of mathematics, including algebra I and a higher-level class such as algebra II, geometry, or data analysis and statistics.

(iii) Three years of science, including one year each of at least two of the following courses: biology, chemistry, and physics.

(iv) Three years of social studies.

(v) One year of a language other than English; or

(4) A secondary school program identified by a State-level partnership that is recognized by the State Scholars Initiative of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), Boulder, Colorado; or

(5) Any secondary school program for a student who completes at least two courses from an International Baccalaureate Diploma Program sponsored by the International Baccalaureate Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, and receives a score of a “4” or higher on the examinations for at least two of those courses; or

TS Program Profile continued

(6) Any secondary school program for a student who completes at least two Advanced Placement courses and receives a score of “3” or higher on the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program Exams for at least two of those courses.

Postsecondary Attainment: completion of a program of postsecondary education that has led to a certificate, associate or baccalaureate degree.

Institution of Higher Education: means an educational institution as defined in sections 101 and 102 of the HEA.

Program of Postsecondary Education: a formal instructional program whose curriculum is designed primarily for students who are beyond the compulsory age for high school. This includes programs whose purpose is academic or vocational, and excludes avocational and adult basic education.

A note concerning the Postsecondary Attainment Objective:

Section 402A(f)(3)(A)(vi) of the Higher Education Act, as amended in 2008 by section 403(a)(5) of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, requires the Department to use postsecondary education completion, if practicable, to assess the success of a TS project. To implement this statutory requirement, §643.22(d)(6) of the TS program regulations states that an “applicant may determine success in meeting the objective by using a randomly selected sample of participants in accordance with the parameters established by the Secretary in the Federal Register notice

inviting applications or other published application materials for the competition.”

The following guidelines provide the required parameters for establishing a random sample of participants. Applicants should consider these parameters as they establish performance targets for the postsecondary completion standardized objective and as they develop participant tracking systems for that objective. Note that the purpose of §643.22(d)(6) is to reduce, not increase, the burden on grantees. A grantee must follow the sampling guidelines discussed below or a grantee may choose to track all participants that complete secondary schools and enroll in postsecondary education.

Determining Sample Size

Currently, TS grantees are serving between 600 and 2,000 students. For the FY 2021 competitions, the minimum number of participants to be served will be 500. To help determine the sample size needed to provide reliable data on the postsecondary attainment of project participants, we have used performance report data from existing TS projects. The data has shown us that, typically, 20 percent of Talent Search Participants are considered “college ready,” and out of those 78 percent enroll in postsecondary education. To that end, we are using those statistics to determine the sample size that each TS project should use, based on number of participants served.

The table below breaks down how we are determining the proper sample size for each project. For example, if your project is serving 1400 students, we can assume that 280 of those students are considered “college ready” and out those, 218 will enroll in postsecondary education. So, we determine that our sample size should be 140 students.

Total Participants Served	20% College Ready	78% Enrolling in Postsecondary Education	Sample Size (95% Confidence Level)1
500	100	78	65
550	110	86	71
600	120	94	76
650	130	101	81
700	140	109	86
750	150	117	90
800	160	125	95
850	170	133	99
900	180	140	103
950	190	148	108
1000	200	156	112
1050	210	164	116
1100	220	172	120
1150	230	179	123
1200	240	187	126
1250	250	195	130
1300	260	203	134
1350	270	211	137
1400	280	218	140
1450	290	226	143
1500	300	234	146
1550	310	242	149
1600	320	250	152
1650	330	257	155
1700	340	265	158
1750	350	273	160
1800	360	281	163
1850	370	289	166
1900	380	296	168
1950	390	304	170
2000	400	312	173

Determining a Random Sample

Once a project has properly determined the sample size, the project needs to establish a process for randomly choosing the participants that make up the sample. As a reminder, we know that if we have a TS project of 1400 students, 218 will enroll in postsecondary education, which will give us a sample size of 140 students. So, we will in turn use the 218 students as the “pool” in which to choose the sample.

When establishing a random sample, each of the 218 students (in this case) has an equal chance of being chosen. We believe the best way to get a proper random sample is described below.

• The list you use to determine your sample size should be in random order. Your list should not be in alphabetical order, in order by gender, race or age.

• Once you have your list of students, you should assign each of them a random number. Please see example below.

ID Number	Last Name	First Name	Race	Gender
001	Jones	Mary	W	F
002	Frederick	Jonas	H	M
003	Henderson	Jacob	AA	M

• Once your list has been established and you have randomly assigned students ID numbers, use a random number generator – for example http://www.randomizer.org/form.htm

As you can see from the screenshot below, the first screenshot shows how the numbers are entered into the form to determine your sample. The most important numbers entered were the numbers per set – which is the number of our sample size, and the number range – which is the total number of students that are enrolled in college.

The second screenshot shows the results (example) of the numbers that were generated.

• These numbers generated determine the students that you will track from your Talent Search project.

Attach this Profile sheet to the “Other Attachments Form” in the Grants.gov application package.

Attention Applicants: Applicants must copy and paste this page into a separate document, or recreate the page exactly as it appears. Then, complete the page, save it to your computer and attach it to the “Other Attachments Form” as a .pdf document. Do not modify or amend the contents of the form in any way.

TALENT SEARCH PROGRAM ASSURANCES

Attach this Assurance Form to the “Other Attachments Form” in Grants.gov. Applicants must copy and paste this page into a separate document or recreate the page exactly as it appears. Then complete the page, save it to your computer and attach it to the “Other Attachments Form” as a .pdf document. Do not modify or amend the contents of the form in any way.

As the duly authorized representative of the applicant, I certify that the applicant will comply with the following statutory requirements:

1. The applicant assures that at least two-thirds (2/3) of the individuals it serves under its proposed Talent Search Program project will be low-income individuals who are potential first-generation college students;

2. The applicant assures that it will collaborate with other Federal TRIO projects, Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) projects, or programs serving similar populations that are serving the same target schools or target area in order to minimize the duplication of services and promote collaboration so that more students can be served.

3. The applicant assures that the project will be located in a setting or settings accessible to the individuals proposed to be served by the project; and

4. The applicant assures that if the applicant is an institution of higher education, it will not use the project as a part of its recruitment program.

___________________________________

Authorized Certifying Official’s Signature Printed Name of Authorized Certifying Official

___________________________________

Title of Authorized Certifying Official Name of Applicant Institution/Organization

___________________

Date Signed

Attach this Assurance Form to the “Other Attachments Form” in the Grants.gov application package.

Attention Applicants: Applicants must copy and paste this page into a separate document, or recreate the page exactly as it appears. Then, complete the page, save it to your computer and attach it to the “Other Attachments Form” as a .pdf document. Do not modify or amend the contents of the form in any way.

PRIOR EXPERIENCE

Prior Experience Objectives and Calculations for TS Projects Operating in Project Years: 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20

For the FY 2021 TS grant competition, the PE assessment years are 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20.  Achievement rates for each PE criterion are based on the outcome criteria outlined in 402A(f)(3)(A) of the HEA, as amended by section 403(A)(5) of the HEOA.

An entity submitting an application to continue to serve substantially the same target schools that it is serving under its expiring TS project is eligible to receive PE points based on the PE criteria in 34 CFR 643.22 of the program regulations in effect during the FY 2016 grant competition.

In cases in which an applicant proposes to split a grant funded in FY 2016 into multiple proposals in the FY 2021 competition, the applicant will be eligible to receive PE points for only one proposed new project.  The project for which the applicant is eligible for PE consideration is the one that proposes to serve the greatest number of currently-served target schools, with no new or additional target schools proposed to be served.  An applicant is responsible for indicating on the TS Program Profile document, in Item #1, if the application is eligible for PE points. 

If an applicant proposes to split a currently-funded grant evenly by target schools into multiple proposals for the FY 2021 competition, with no new or additional target schools proposed to be served, the applicant must decide which one new proposal should be considered for PE points by following the instructions above for marking Item #1 on the Program Profile document.

TS Prior Experience Criteria (34 CFR 643.22) and point allocations are as follows. A TS project may earn up to a total of 15 points for each year assessed; the final PE score is the average of the total scores for the three years assessed. A project that fails to serve at least 90 percent of its funded number for the project year will not receive any PE points.

1. Funded Number & 2/3rds Requirement (maximum of 3 points)

2. Secondary School Persistence (maximum of 3 points)

3. Secondary School Graduation (Regular) (maximum of 3 points)

4. Secondary School Graduation (Rigorous) (maximum of 1.5 points)

5. Post-Secondary Education Enrollment (maximum of 3 points)

6. *Postsecondary Attainment (maximum of 1.5 points)

Total (maximum of 15 points)

1. a. Funded Number (maximum 3 points) – Whether the applicant provided services to the number of participants required to be served under the approved application.

Calculation:

• The denominator is the number of participants the project was funded to serve in the project year.

• The numerator is the total number of participants the project actually served during the project year.

2. Secondary School Persistence (maximum 3 points) – The extent to which the applicant met or exceeded its objectives regarding the percentage of students in grades six through eleven who completed the current academic year and continued in school for the next academic year, at the next grade level.

Calculation:

• The denominator is the total number of middle school and non-senior high school participants served during the project period.

• The numerator is the number of middle school and non-senior high school participants who were promoted to the next grade level at the end of the academic school year.

3. Secondary School Graduation (Regular Diploma) (maximum 3 points) – The extent to which the applicant met or exceeded its objectives regarding the percentage of seniors served during the reporting year who received a regular secondary school diploma within the standard number of years, with or without completing a rigorous secondary school program of study.

Calculation:

• The denominator is the number of participants, at time of first service in the reporting period, who were senior minus participants who died during the reporting year.

• The numerator is the sum of number of participants in the denominator who graduated high school with regular secondary school diploma within the standard number of years, with or without completing a rigorous secondary school program of study.

4. Secondary School Graduation (Rigorous Program of Study) (maximum 1.5 points) – The extent to which the applicant met or exceeded its objectives regarding the percentage of high school seniors served during the reporting year who received a regular secondary school diploma within the standard number of years and completed a rigorous secondary school program of study.

Calculation:

• The denominator is the number of participants, at time of the first service in the reporting period, who were seniors minus participants who died during the reporting year.

• The numerator is the number of participants in the denominator who graduated high school with regular secondary school diploma and completed a rigorous program of study within the standard number of years.

5. Postsecondary Education Enrollment (maximum 3 points) –

The extent to which the applicant met or exceeded its objectives regarding the percentage of participants graduating with a regular secondary school diploma during the project year who enrolled in an institution of higher education by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or received notification from an institution of higher education by the fall term of acceptance but deferred enrollment until the next academic term (e.g., spring term). This includes both those who completed, and those who did not complete a rigorous program of study.

Calculation:

• The denominator is the number of participants that graduated high school with a regular secondary school diploma within the standard number of years, with or without completing a rigorous secondary school program of study minus former participants who died during the reporting year are excluded from the denominator.

• The numerator is those participants in the denominator who enrolled in postsecondary education or were notified of deferred enrollment.

6. * Postsecondary Attainment (SPECIAL NOTE) ─

• The first year of measurement for this objective will not take effect until the 2022-23 APR, or six years after 2016-17, in which high school graduates and their equivalents will enroll in postsecondary education. Consequently, the Department will not begin to calculate projects’ Prior Experience (PE) points for this objective until 2022-23. In 2022-23, the APR Record Structure will be amended to reflect the new data collection requirement for postsecondary attainment.

Prior Experience for Successful Applicants Under the FY 2021 Competition

The prior experience assessment for applicants successful under the FY 2021 competition will be based on the outcome criteria outlined in 402A(f)(3)(A) of the HEA, as amended by section 403(A)(5) of the HEOA. The revised outcome criteria that will be used for successful applicants awarded during the 2021 TS competition are captured in the standardized objectives included on the TS Program Profile document in this application package.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE APPLICATION PACKAGE

The TS application consists of the following four parts. These parts are organized in the same manner that the submitted application should be organized. The parts are as follows:

Part I: SF-424 Form

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF-424

*Notes:

• Applicants must complete the Standard Form (SF-424) form first because some of the information you provide here is automatically inserted into other sections of the Grants.gov application package.

• Please do not attach any narratives, supporting files, or application components to the SF-424. Although the form accepts attachments, the Department of Education will only review materials/files attached to the forms listed below.

Part II: ED Form 524

Department of Education Budget Summary Form - (ED Form 524), Sections A & B

(NOTE: Section C – Budget Narrative must be included as part of the Project Narrative Attachment Form, located in Part III.)

Part III: Attachments

ED Abstract Form

Project Narrative Attachment Form – includes a Table of Contents

Other Attachments Form – includes the Program Assurances page and the TS Program Profile form

The Department of Education Abstract Form is where you attach the one-page TS project abstract.

The Project Narrative Attachment Form is where you attach the responses addressing the program selection criteria that will be used to evaluate applications submitted for this competition. We recommend that you limit the application narrative to the equivalent of no more than 65 pages, excluding a Table of Contents and other items outlined in the Notice.

Please see the Notice for detailed information on recommended page limits and formatting requirements. You should include a Table of Contents for your application as the first page of this section. You must also include your budget narrative in this section as part of the selection criteria, which is counted as part of the 65-page limit. The budget should demonstrate and justify that all costs are reasonable and necessary to accomplish the proposed project activities.

The Other Attachments Form is where you attach the TS Program Profile form and the TS Program Assurances page.

*All attachments must be in PDF or Word format only. Other types of files will not be accepted.

Part IV: Assurances, Certifications, and Survey Forms

ED-GEPA Section 427 Requirement

Assurances – Non-Construction Programs (SF 424B)

Grants.gov Lobbying Form (formerly ED Form 80-0013)

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROJECT NARRATIVE

The following information supplements the information provided in the “Dear Applicant” letter, “Competition Highlights,” and the Notice.

The Project Narrative is to be attached to the Project Narrative Attachment Form in the Grants.gov application.

Before preparing the Project Narrative, applicants should review the “Dear Applicant” letter, Competition Highlights, Notice, program statute, and program regulations for specific guidance and requirements. Note that applications will be evaluated according to the specific selection criteria specified in the regulations which are included in this package.

The Secretary evaluates an application on the basis of the broad criteria in 34 CFR 643.21 of the TS Program regulations as identified in this application (see the Authorizing Legislation and Regulations). The Project Narrative should provide, in detail, the information that addresses the selection criteria. The maximum possible score for each category of selection criterion is indicated in parenthesis.

We recommend that you that you limit the application narrative to the equivalent of no more than 65 pages, double-space all text in the application narrative, and single-space titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs. Use an easily readable font such as Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial. Use a font that is either 12-point or larger and number the pages consecutively. The narrative should be written concisely. Only the required information should be submitted. Please refer to the notice (see Content and Form of Application Submission) for additional application submission requirements.

To facilitate the review of the application, provide responses to each of the following selection criteria in the following order:

1. PROJECT DESIGN

   1. Need (34 CFR 643.21(a)) (24 points)

   2. Objectives (34 CFR 643.21(b)) ( 8 points)

   3. Plan of Operation (34 CFR 643.21(c)) (30 points)

   4. Applicant and Community Support (34 CFR 643.21(d)) (16 points)

   5. Quality of Personnel (34 CFR 643.21(e)) ( 9 points)

   6. Budget (34 CFR 643.21(f) ) ( 5 points)

   7. Evaluation Plan (34 CFR 643.21(g)) ( 8 points)

_________

Total Maximum Score for Selection Criteria 100 points

2. COMPETITIVE PREFERENCE PRIORITIES

   1. Competitive Preference Priority #1 ( 3 points)

   2. Competitive Preference Priority #2 ( 3 points)

________

Total Maximum Score for Competitive Preference Priorities 6 points

Note: Please indicate if you will address the competitive preference priorities. Be advised, as stated in the Notice, the maximum competitive preference priority points an application can receive under this competition is 6.

Formatting

We recommend that you 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 all text in the application narrative, and single-space titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs. Use a 12-point font. Use an easily readable font such as Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial. Page numbers and an identifier may be within the 1" margin. Each page on which there is text or graphics will be counted as one full page.

The Application Narrative will include the discussion of the selection criteria. We recommend that you that you limit the application narrative to the equivalent of no more than 65 pages for the FY 2021 TS competition. The competitive preference priorities are limited to 8 pages total.

Applicants are encouraged to include an identifying header or footer that contains the applicant’s name and the page number. Applicants may use the one-inch (1”) margin at either the top or bottom of each page for this header or footer. The pages must be numbered in consecutive order.

The recommended page limit does not apply to:

• Application Face Sheet (Application for Federal Assistance Form – SF424)

• Table of Contents

• Project Abstract

• Budget Summary Form (ED Form 524)

• TS Program Profile

• TS Program Assurances and Certifications

• ED GEPA 427

The Notice contains specific instructions on page limits.

In the Project Narrative, the applicant should address the selection criteria in the order delineated earlier (A-G) because this is the order in which the Technical Review Form is organized: The Technical Review Form is used by the peer reviewers to evaluate applications.

The following guidance may assist you in addressing each of the selection criteria:

(A) Need: In responding to this criterion, applicants must provide the required data addressing each of the sub-criteria. The data must address the identified target area to be served by the project and/or each of the target schools identified in the application. Applicants are expected to discuss how the data supports the need for a TS project in the defined target area and target schools. In geographical areas in which target schools do not collect the required information, the applicant, to the extent appropriate, should use other data sources (such as state or census data) and describe how these data relate to the criteria and/or demonstrate a need for a TS project in the proposed target area and target schools. In selecting the target area and target schools, applicants are responsible for making the necessary judgments as to the need for a TS grant in the proposed target area. Data provided in the Need section will be used by the peer reviewers as baseline data to evaluate the appropriateness of the applicant’s proposed achievement rates for the objectives (see criterion B, below) and to assess the quality of the applicant’s plan of operation (see criterion C.).

(B) Objectives: All applicants will be responsible for the five standardized objectives cited on the Talent Search Program Profile. On the Profile page, you must fill in the blanks indicating the percentage level of achievement for each of these objectives.

In the Project Narrative, explain how the objectives are ambitious and attainable. These objectives may not be rewritten, restated or reworded. For each of the objectives, applicants should use comparative data to show why the proposed percentage is ambitious as documented in the baseline data and information provided in the “NEED” section of the Project Narrative and attainable based on information provided in the Plan of Operation and the resources available to the project (see criterion A). Applicants may propose additional objectives, but are not required to do so. Applicants will not receive additional points or penalties for proposing additional objectives.     

(C) Plan of Operation: This criterion contains six sub-criteria, and applicants must address all six sub-criteria. This part of the application should provide information on who, what, when and how the project will provide services to meet the goals and objectives and applicants should describe the services and activities to be provided as well as connections and collaborative efforts that the project will use for the delivery of services to the participants. Applicants must also, for the fifth sub-criterion provide information that addresses how the project will serve students at all proposed target schools and ensure that sufficient resources (including staff) are available to effectively and efficiently serve the proposed number of target schools. In addition, for the sixth sub-criteria, applicants must provide a plan for following former participants as they enter, continue in, and complete postsecondary education. Because TS projects serve relatively large numbers of participants, we recognize that it may be difficult for the project to track all participants through completion of postsecondary education. Therefore, a TS project may track a randomly selected sample of its participants. Further details on the required methodology that must be used for sampling are outlined as a Note Concerning the Postsecondary Attainment Objective on the Talent Search Profile Sheet.

As previously noted, the information provided in this section of the application will be assessed based on the quality of the applicant’s response for addressing the identified needs as related to the baseline data provided in the Need section. All of the proposed services and activities should be clearly aligned with the identified needs of the participants to be served in the targeted schools and in the proposed target area.

(D) Applicant and Community Support: There are two sub-criteria that must be addressed. Applicants should not submit floor plans or letters of support or commitment in the application—this information can be described or summarized as narrative, or in a list, or in a chart. Applicants must provide information on the tangible commitments and resources to be provided by the applicant and by community partners and should demonstrate in this section how the proposed commitments and support will enable the proposed project to carry out the proposed project plan in the most cost-effective manner possible.

(E) Quality of Personnel: Applicants must address each of the three sub-criteria in this section. The minimum qualifications must be identified for all project personnel positions. The minimum educational qualifications must include the type of degree required and the acceptable field(s) of study. The type and minimum amount of work-related experience must also be described for each position. Applicants are not required to submit resumes or job descriptions in the application—but, at a minimum; this information should be described or summarized. The “plan to employ personnel who have succeeded in overcoming barriers similar to the target population to be served” should be a specific plan -- the inclusion of an equal employment opportunity statement and/or a non-discriminatory employment practices policy alone is not an adequate response to this criterion.

(F) Budget: In response to this criterion, applicants must provide a detailed, itemized budget narrative for the first-year (2021-2022) budget period, only. The budget narrative is to be included in the Project Narrative (Part III) Attachment Form to be uploaded into the Grants.gov application. Additional guidance on the standard budget forms is cited in the instructions entitled “First Year Budget and Budget Summary Form (ED Form 524) Instructions” on the following pages.

Applicants should include costs that are related to the approved activities proposed in the Plan of Operation section, to the extent in which funds are available. All costs should be necessary to accomplish the proposed project activities, reasonable and allowable as discussed in the TS regulations in 34 CFR part 643.30. Applicants should include a description of the activities in the budget that respond to the announced Competitive Preference Priorities.

(G) Evaluation plan:  A strong evaluation plan should shape the development of the project from the beginning to the end of the grant period.  The evaluation plan should include benchmarks to monitor progress toward meeting specific project objectives and should include measures to assess the impact on college access and completion and other important outcomes for project participants. 

The evaluation plan should clearly indicate:  (1) what types of data will be collected; (2) when various types of data will be collected; (3) for which annual cohorts of student’s data will be collected; (4) what data collection methods will be used; (5) how the data will be analyzed; and (6) when reports and outcome data will be available.  The evaluation plan should indicate what information, provided on a weekly, monthly and annual basis will indicate if the project is developing in a manner that meets its goals and objectives. In addition, the plan should indicate who is responsible for making sure that information is available in a timely manner and is influencing the ongoing management of the project.

Applicants are encouraged to think carefully about evaluation approaches and seek cost-effective evaluation strategies. Applicants are also encouraged to explain how they will work with appropriate agencies to develop strategies for using State longitudinal data systems or other third-party verified data to track the extent to which students enroll in postsecondary education; persist in postsecondary education, and complete certificates, two-year and four-year degrees.

Finally, applicants are encouraged to examine and report on unanticipated outcomes, as well as effective strategies (which can be services, bundles of services, or specific ways of implementing allowable services) that increase college access and completion.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR STANDARD FORMS

● Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424)

● Department of Education Supplemental Form for the SF 424

● Department of Education Budget Summary Form (ED 524)

● Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)

● GEPA Statement

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SF-424

This is a standard form required for use as a cover sheet for submission of pre-applications and applications and related information under discretionary programs. Some of the items are required and some are optional at the discretion of the applicant or the federal agency (agency). Required fields on the form are identified with an asterisk (*) and are also specified as “Required” in the instructions below. In addition to these instructions, applicants must consult agency instructions to determine other specific requirements.

Item	Entry:		Item:	Entry:
1.	Type of Submission: (Required) Select one type of submission in accordance with agency instructions. • Pre-application • Application • Changed/Corrected Application – Check if this submission is to change or correct a previously submitted application. Unless requested by the agency, applicants may not use this form to submit changes after the closing date.		10.	Name of Federal Agency: (Required) Enter the name of the federal agency from which assistance is being requested with this application.
			11.	Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number/Title: Enter the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number and title of the program under which assistance is requested, as found in the program announcement, if applicable.
2.	Type of Application: (Required) Select one type of application in accordance with agency instructions. • New – An application that is being submitted to an agency for the first time. • Continuation - An extension for an additional funding/budget period for a project with a projected completion date. This can include renewals. • Revision - Any change in the federal government’s financial obligation or contingent liability from an existing obligation. If a revision, enter the appropriate letter(s). More than one may be selected. If "Other" is selected, please specify in text box provided. A. Increase Award D. Decrease Duration B. Decrease Award E. Other (specify) C. Increase Duration		12.	Funding Opportunity Number/Title: (Required) Enter the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) and title of the opportunity under which assistance is requested, as found in the program announcement.
			13.	Competition Identification Number/Title: Enter the competition identification number and title of the competition under which assistance is requested, if applicable.
			14.	Areas Affected By Project: This data element is intended for use only by programs for which the area(s) affected are likely to be different than the place(s) of performance reported on the SF-424 Project/Performance Site Location(s) Form. Add attachment to enter additional areas, if needed.
3.	Date Received: Leave this field blank. This date will be assigned by the Federal agency.		15.	Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project: (Required) Enter a brief descriptive title of the project. If appropriate, attach a map showing project location (e.g., construction or real property projects). For pre-applications, attach a summary description of the project.
4.	Applicant Identifier: Enter the entity identifier assigned buy by the Federal agency, if any, or the applicant’s control number if applicable.
5a.	Federal Entity Identifier: Enter the number assigned to your organization by the federal agency, if any.		16.	Congressional Districts Of: 16a. (Required) Enter the applicant’s congressional district. 16b. Enter all district(s) affected by the program or project. Enter in the format: 2 characters state abbreviation – 3 characters district number, e.g., CA-005 for California 5th district, CA-012 for California 12 district, NC-103 for North Carolina’s 103 district. If all congressional districts in a state are affected, enter “all” for the district number, e.g., MD-all for all congressional districts in Maryland. If nationwide, i.e. all districts within all states are affected, enter US-all. If the program/project is outside the US, enter 00-000. This optional data element is intended for use only by programs for which the area(s) affected are likely to be different than place(s) of performance reported on the SF-424 Project/Performance Site Location(s) Form. Attach an additional list of program/project congressional districts, if needed.
5b.	Federal Award Identifier: For new applications, enter NA. For a continuation or revision to an existing award, enter the previously assigned federal award identifier number. If a changed/corrected application, enter the federal identifier in accordance with agency instructions.
6.	Date Received by State: Leave this field blank. This date will be assigned by the state, if applicable.
7.	State Application Identifier: Leave this field blank. This identifier will be assigned by the state, if applicable.
8.	Applicant Information: Enter the following in accordance with agency instructions:
	a. Legal Name: (Required) Enter the legal name of applicant that will undertake the assistance activity. This is the organization that has registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). Information on registering with CCR may be obtained by visiting www.Grants.gov.		17.	Proposed Project Start and End Dates: (Required) Enter the proposed start date and end date of the project.
	b. Employer/Taxpayer Number (EIN/TIN): (Required) Enter the employer or taxpayer identification number (EIN or TIN) as assigned by the Internal Revenue Service. If your organization is not in the US, enter 44-4444444.		18.	Estimated Funding: (Required) Enter the amount requested, or to be contributed during the first funding/budget period by each contributor. Value of in-kind contributions should be included on appropriate lines, as applicable. If the action will result in a dollar change to an existing award, indicate only the amount of the change. For decreases, enclose the amounts in parentheses.
	c. Organizational DUNS: (Required) Enter the organization’s DUNS or DUNS+4 number received from Dun and Bradstreet. Information on obtaining a DUNS number may be obtained by visiting www.Grants.gov.		19.	Is Application Subject to Review by State Under Executive Order 12372 Process? (Required) Applicants should contact the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for Federal Executive Order 12372 to determine whether the application is subject to the State intergovernmental review process. Select the appropriate box. If “a.” is selected, enter the date the application was submitted to the State.
	d. Address: Enter address: Street 1 (Required); city (Required); County/Parish, State (Required if country is US), Province, Country (Required), 9-digit zip/postal code (Required if country US).		20.	Is the Applicant Delinquent on any Federal Debt? (Required) Select the appropriate box. This question applies to the applicant organization, not the person who signs as the authorized representative. Categories of federal debt include; but, may not be limited to: delinquent audit disallowances, loans and taxes. If yes, include an explanation in an attachment.
	e. Organizational Unit: Enter the name of the primary organizational unit, department or division that will undertake the assistance activity.		21.	Authorized Representative: To be signed and dated by the authorized representative of the applicant organization. Enter the first and last name (Required); prefix, middle name, suffix. Enter title, telephone number, email (Required); and fax number. A copy of the governing body’s authorization for you to sign this application as the official representative must be on file in the applicant’s office. (Certain federal agencies may require that this authorization be submitted as part of the application.)
	f. Name and contact information of person to be contacted on matters involving this application: Enter the first and last name (Required); prefix, middle name, suffix, title. Enter organizational affiliation if affiliated with an organization other than that in 7.a. Telephone number and email (Required); fax number.
9.	Type of Applicant: (Required) Select up to three applicant type(s) in accordance with agency instructions.
	A.     State Government B.     County Government C.     City or Township Government D.     Special District Government E.     Regional Organization F.     U.S. Territory or Possession G.    Independent School District H.     Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education I.      Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized) J.     Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized) K.     Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization L.     Public/Indian Housing Authority	M.    Nonprofit N.     Private Institution of Higher Education O.    Individual P.     For-Profit Organization (Other than Small Business) Q.    Small Business R.     Hispanic-serving Institution S.     Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) T.     Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.     Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions V.     Non-US Entity W.    Other (specify)

[U.S Department of Education note: As of spring, 2010, the FON discussed in Block 12 of the instructions can be found via the following URL: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsp.]

Instructions for U.S. Department of Education

Supplemental Information for the SF-424

1. Project Director. Name, address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address of the person to be contacted on matters involving this application. Items marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory.

2. Novice Applicant. Check “Yes” if you meet the definition for novice applicants specified in the regulations in 34 CFR 75.225 and included on the attached page entitled “Definitions for U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424”). By checking “Yes” the applicant certifies that it meets these novice applicant requirements. Check “No” if you do not meet the definition for novice applicants.

This novice applicant information will be used by ED to: 1) determine the amount and type of technical assistance that a novice might need, if funded, and 2) determine novice applicant eligibility in discretionary grant competitions that give special consideration to novice applications. Certain ED discretionary grant programs give special consideration to novice applications, either by establishing a special competition for novice applicants or by giving competitive preference to novice applicants under the procedures in 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2). If special consideration is being given to novice applications under a particular discretionary grant competition, the application notice for the competition published in the Federal Register will specify this information

3. Human Subjects Research. (See I. A. “Definitions” in attached page entitled “Definitions for U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424.”)

3a. If Not Human Subjects Research. Check “No” if research activities involving human subjects are not planned at any time during the proposed project period. The remaining parts of Item 3 are then not applicable.

3a. If Human Subjects Research. Check “Yes” if research activities involving human subjects are planned at any time during the proposed project period, either at the applicant organization or at any other performance site or collaborating institution. Check “Yes” even if the research is exempt from the regulations for the protection of human subjects. (See I. B. “Exemptions” in attached page entitled “Definitions for U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF-424.”)

3b. If Human Subjects Research is Exempt from the Human Subjects Regulations. Check “Yes” if all the research activities proposed are designated to be exempt from the regulations. Check the exemption number(s) corresponding to one or more of the six exemption categories listed in I. B. “Exemptions.” In addition, follow the instructions in II. A. “Exempt Research Narrative” in the attached page entitled “Definitions for U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424.”

3b. If Human Subjects Research is Not Exempt from Human Subjects Regulations. Check “No” if some or all of the planned research activities are covered (not exempt). In addition, follow the instructions in II. B. “Nonexempt Research Narrative” in the attached page entitled “Definitions for U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424.”

3b. Human Subjects Assurance Number. If the applicant has an approved Federal Wide Assurance (FWA) on file with the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, that covers the specific activity, insert the number in the space provided. (A list of current FWAs is available at:  http://ohrp.cit.nih.gov/search/search.aspx?styp=bsc) If the applicant does not have an approved assurance on file with OHRP, enter “None.” In this case, the applicant, by signature on the SF-424, is declaring that it will comply with 34 CFR 97 and proceed to obtain the human subjects assurance upon request by the designated ED official. If the application is recommended/selected for funding, the designated ED official will request that the applicant obtain the assurance within 30 days after the specific formal request.

3c. If applicable, please attach your “Exempt Research” or “Nonexempt Research” narrative to your submission of the U.S Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424 form as instructed in item II, “Instructions for Exempt and Nonexempt Human Subjects Research Narratives” in the attached page entitled “Definitions for U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424.”

Note about Institutional Review Board Approval. ED does not require certification of Institutional Review Board approval with the application. However, if an application that involves non-exempt human subjects research is recommended/selected for funding, the designated ED official will request that the applicant obtain and send the certification to ED within 30 days after the formal request.

No covered human subjects research can be conducted until the study has ED clearance for protection of human subjects in research.

Public Burden Statement:

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain benefit (20 USC 3474 General Education Provisions Act). Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20210-4537 or email [email protected] and reference the OMB Control Number 1894-0007. Note: Please do not return the completed ED SF 424 Supplemental Form to this address.

Definitions for U.S. Department of Education

Supplemental Information for the SF-424

Definitions:

Novice Applicant (See 34 CFR 75.225)

For discretionary grant programs, novice applicant means any applicant for a grant from ED that—

• Has never received a grant or subgrant under the program from which it seeks funding;

• Has never been a member of a group application, submitted in accordance with 34 CFR 75.127-75.129, that received a grant under the program from which it seeks funding; and

• Has not had an active discretionary grant from the Federal government in the five years before the deadline date for applications under the program. For the purposes of this requirement, a grant is active until the end of the grant’s project or funding period, including any extensions of those periods that extend the grantee’s authority to obligate funds.

In the case of a group application submitted in accordance with 34 CFR 75.127-75.129, a group includes only parties that meet the requirements listed above.

17. PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS IN RESEARCH

I. Definitions and Exemptions

A. Definitions.

A research activity involves human subjects if the activity is research, as defined in the Department’s regulations, and the research activity will involve use of human subjects, as defined in the regulations.

—Research

The ED Regulations for the Protection of Human Subjects, Title 34, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 97, define research as “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Activities which meet this definition constitute research whether or not they are conducted or supported under a program that is considered research for other purposes. For example, some demonstration and service programs may include research activities.

—Human Subject

The regulations define human subject as “a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research obtains (1) data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or (2) identifiable private information.” (1) If an activity involves obtaining information about a living person by manipulating that person or that person’s environment, as might occur when a new instructional technique is tested, or by communicating or interacting with the individual, as occurs with surveys and interviews, the definition of human subject is met. (2) If an activity involves obtaining private information about a living person in such a way that the information can be directly or indirectly linked to that individual), the definition of human subject is met [Private information includes information about behavior that occurs in a context in which an individual can reasonably expect that no observation or recording is taking place, and information which has been provided for specific purposes by an individual and which the individual can reasonably expect will not be made public (for example, a school health record).]

B. Exemptions.

Research activities in which the only involvement of human subjects will be in one or more of the following six categories of exemptions are not covered by the regulations:

(1) Research conducted in established or commonly accepted educational settings, involving normal educational practices, such as (a) research on regular and special education instructional strategies, or (b) research on the effectiveness of or the comparison among instructional techniques, curricula, or classroom management methods. If an educational practice is being introduced to the site and is not widely used for similar populations, it is not covered by this exemption.

(2) Research involving the use of educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement), survey procedures, interview procedures or observation of public behavior, unless: (a) information obtained is recorded in such a manner that human subjects can be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects; and (b) any disclosure of the human subjects’ responses outside the research could reasonably place the subjects at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the subjects’ financial standing, employability, or reputation. If the subjects are children, exemption 2 applies only to research involving educational tests and observations of public behavior when the investigator(s) do not participate in the activities being observed.

Exemption 2 does not apply if children are surveyed or interviewed or if the research involves observation of public behavior and the investigator(s) participate in the activities being observed. [Children are defined as persons who have not attained the legal age for consent to treatments or procedures involved in the research, under the applicable law or jurisdiction in which the research will be conducted.]

(3) Research involving the use of educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement), survey procedures, interview procedures or observation of public behavior that is not exempt under section (2) above, if the human subjects are elected or appointed public officials or candidates for public office; or federal statute(s) require(s) without exception that the confidentiality of the personally identifiable information will be maintained throughout the research and thereafter.

(4) Research involving the collection or study of existing data, documents, records, pathological specimens, or diagnostic specimens, if these sources are publicly available or if the information is recorded by the investigator in a manner that subjects cannot be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects. [This exemption applies only to retrospective studies using data collected before the initiation of the research.]

(5) Research and demonstration projects which are conducted by or subject to the approval of department or agency heads, and which are designed to study, evaluate, or otherwise examine: (a) public benefit or service programs; (b) procedures for obtaining benefits or services under those programs; (c) possible changes in or alternatives to those programs or procedures; or (d) possible changes in methods or levels of payment for benefits or services under those programs. [The standards of this exemption are rarely met because it was designed to apply only to specific research conducted by the Social Security Administration and some Federal welfare benefits programs.]

(6) Taste and food quality evaluation and consumer acceptance studies, (a) if wholesome foods without additives are consumed or (b) if a food is consumed that contains a food ingredient at or below the level and for a use found to be safe, or agricultural chemical or environmental contaminant at or below the level found to be safe, by the Food and Drug Administration or approved by the Environmental Protection Agency or the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

II. Instructions for Exempt and Nonexempt Human Subjects Research Narratives

If the applicant marked “Yes” for Item 3.b. of the U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF 424, the applicant must attach a human subjects “exempt research” or “nonexempt research” narrative to the U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424 form. If you have multiple projects and need to provide more than one narrative, be sure to label each set of responses as to the project they address.

A. Exempt Research Narrative.

If you marked “Yes” for item 3.b. and designated exemption numbers(s), attach the “exempt research” narrative to the U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424. The narrative must contain sufficient information about the involvement of human subjects in the proposed research to allow a determination by ED that the designated exemption(s) are appropriate. The narrative must be succinct.

B. Nonexempt Research Narrative.

If you marked “No” for item 3.b. you must attach the “nonexempt research” narrative to the U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424. The narrative must address the following seven points. Although no specific page limitation applies to this section of the application, be succinct.

(1) Human Subjects Involvement and Characteristics: Provide a detailed description of the proposed involvement of human subjects. Describe the characteristics of the subject population, including their anticipated number, age range, and health status. Identify the criteria for inclusion or exclusion of any subpopulation. Explain the rationale for the involvement of special classes of subjects, such as children, children with disabilities, adults with disabilities, persons with mental disabilities, pregnant women, prisoners, institutionalized individuals, or others who are likely to be vulnerable

(2) Sources of Materials: Identify the sources of research material obtained from individually identifiable living human subjects in the form of specimens, records, or data. Indicate whether the material or data will be obtained specifically for research purposes or whether use will be made of existing specimens, records, or data.

(3) Recruitment and Informed Consent: Describe plans for the recruitment of subjects and the consent procedures to be followed. Include the circumstances under which consent will be sought and obtained, who will seek it, the nature of the information to be provided to prospective subjects, and the method of documenting consent. State if the Institutional Review Board (IRB) has authorized a modification or waiver of the elements of consent or the requirement for documentation of consent.

(4) Potential Risks: Describe potential risks (physical, psychological, social, legal, or other) and assess their likelihood and seriousness. Where appropriate, describe alternative treatments and procedures that might be advantageous to the subjects.

(5) Protection Against Risk: Describe the procedures for protecting against or minimizing potential risks, including risks to confidentiality, and assess their likely effectiveness. Where appropriate, discuss provisions for ensuring necessary medical or professional intervention in the event of adverse effects to the subjects. Also, where appropriate, describe the provisions for monitoring the data collected to ensure the safety of the subjects.

(6) Importance of the Knowledge to be Gained: Discuss the importance of the knowledge gained or to be gained as a result of the proposed research. Discuss why the risks to subjects are reasonable in relation to the anticipated benefits to subjects and in relation to the importance of the knowledge that may reasonably be expected to result.

(7) Collaborating Site(s): If research involving human subjects will take place at collaborating site(s) or other performance site(s), name the sites and briefly describe their involvement or role in the research.

Copies of the Department of Education’s Regulations for the Protection of Human Subjects, 34 CFR Part 97 and other pertinent materials on the protection of human subjects in research are available from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4331, telephone: (202) 245-8090, and on the U.S. Department of Education’s Protection of Human Subjects in Research Web Site: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/humansub.html

NOTE: The State Applicant Identifier on the SF-424 is for State Use only. Please complete it on the SF-424 in the upper right corner of the form (if applicable).

Instructions for ED 524

General Instructions

This form is used to apply to individual U.S. Department of Education (ED) discretionary grant programs. Unless directed otherwise, provide the same budget information for each year of the multi-year funding request. Pay attention to applicable program specific instructions, if attached. You may access the Education Department General Administrative Regulations, 34 CFR 74 – 86 and 97-99, on ED’s website at:

http://www.ed.gov/policy/fund/reg/edgarReg/edgar.html

You must consult with your Business Office prior to submitting this form.

Section A - Budget Summary

U.S. Department of Education Funds

All applicants must complete Section A and provide a break-down by the applicable budget categories shown in lines 1-11.

Lines 1-11, columns (a)-(e): For each project year for which funding is requested, show the total amount requested for each applicable budget category.

Lines 1-11, column (f): Show the multi-year total for each budget category. If funding is requested for only one project year, leave this column blank.

Line 12, columns (a)-(e): Show the total budget request for each project year for which funding is requested.

Line 12, column (f): Show the total amount requested for all project years. If funding is requested for only one year, leave this space blank.

Indirect Cost Information: If you are requesting reimbursement for indirect costs on line 10, this information is to be completed by your Business Office. (1): Indicate whether or not your organization has an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement that was approved by the Federal government.

If you checked “no,” ED generally will authorize grantees to use a temporary rate of 10 percent of budgeted salaries and wages subject to the following limitations:

(a) The grantee must submit an indirect cost proposal to its cognizant agency within 90 days after ED issues a grant award notification; and

(b) If after the 90-day period, the grantee has not submitted an indirect cost proposal to its cognizant agency, the grantee may not charge its grant for indirect costs until it has negotiated an indirect cost rate agreement with its cognizant agency.

(2): If you checked “yes” in (1), indicate in (2) the beginning and ending dates covered by the Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. In addition, indicate whether ED, another Federal agency (Other) or State agency issued the approved agreement. If you check “Other,” specify the name of the Federal or other agency that issued the approved agreement.

(3): If you are applying for a grant under a Restricted Rate Program (34 CFR 75.563 or 76.563), indicate whether you are using a restricted indirect cost rate that is included on your approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement or whether you are using a restricted indirect cost rate that complies with 34 CFR 76.564(c)(2). Note: State or Local government agencies may not use the provision for a restricted indirect cost rate specified in 34

Section B - Budget Summary

Non-Federal Funds

If you are required to provide or volunteer to provide cost-sharing or matching funds or other non-Federal resources to the project, these should be shown for each applicable budget category on lines 1‑11 of Section B.

Lines 1-11, columns (a)-(e): For each project year, for which matching funds or other contributions are provided, show the total contribution for each applicable budget category.

Lines 1-11, column (f): Show the multi-year total for each budget category. If non-Federal contributions are provided for only one year, leave this column blank.

Line 12, columns (a)-(e): Show the total matching or other contribution for each project year.

Line 12, column (f): Show the total amount to be contributed for all years of the multi-year project. If non-Federal contributions are provided for only one year, leave this space blank.

Section C - Budget Narrative [Attach separate sheet(s)]

Pay attention to applicable program specific instructions,
if attached.

1. Provide an itemized budget breakdown, and justification by project year, for each budget category listed in Sections A and B. For grant projects that will be divided into two or more separately budgeted major activities or sub-projects, show for each budget category of a project year the breakdown of the specific expenses attributable to each sub-project or activity.

2. For non-Federal funds or resources listed in Section B that are used to meet a cost-sharing or matching requirement or provided as a voluntary cost-sharing or matching commitment, you must include:

a. The specific costs or contributions by budget category;

b. The source of the costs or contributions; and

c. In the case of third-party in-kind contributions, a description of how the value was determined for the donated or contributed goods or services.

[Please review ED’s general cost sharing and matching regulations, which include specific limitations, in 34 CFR 74.23, applicable to non-governmental entities, and 80.24, applicable to governments, and the applicable Office of Management and Budget (OMB) cost principles for your entity type regarding donations, capital assets, depreciation and use allowances. OMB cost principle circulars are available on OMB’s website at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/index.html]

3. If applicable to this program, provide the rate and base on which fringe benefits are calculated.

4. If you are requesting reimbursement for indirect costs on line 10, this information is to be completed by your Business Office. Specify the estimated amount of the base to which the indirect cost rate is applied and the total indirect expense. Depending on the grant program to which you are applying and/or your approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, some direct cost budget categories in your grant application budget may not be included in the base and multiplied by your indirect cost rate. For example, you must multiply the indirect cost rates of “Training grants" (34 CFR 75.562) and grants under programs with “Supplement not Supplant” requirements ("Restricted Rate" programs) by a “modified total direct cost” (MTDC) base (34 CFR 75.563 or 76.563). Please indicate which costs are included and which costs are excluded from the base to which the indirect cost rate is applied.

When calculating indirect costs (line 10) for "Training grants" or grants under "Restricted Rate" programs, you must refer to the information and examples on ED’s website at: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.

You may also contact (202) 377-3838 for additional information regarding calculating indirect cost rates or general indirect cost rate information.

5. Provide other explanations or comments you deem necessary.

Paperwork Burden Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1894-0008. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to vary from 13 to 22 hours per response, with an average of 17.5 hours per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data sources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4537. If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to (insert program office), U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION OF SF-LLL, DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES

This disclosure form shall be completed by the reporting entity, whether subawardee or prime Federal recipient, at the initiation or receipt of a covered Federal action, or a material change to a previous filing, pursuant to title 31 U.S.C. section 1352. The filing of a form is required for each payment or agreement to make payment to any lobbying entity for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with a covered Federal action. Complete all items that apply for both the initial filing and material change report. Refer to the implementing guidance published by the Office of Management and Budget for additional information.

1. Identify the type of covered Federal action for which lobbying activity is and/or has been secured to influence the outcome of a covered Federal action.

2. Identify the status of the covered Federal action.

3. Identify the appropriate classification of this report. If this is a follow up report caused by a material change to the information previously reported, enter the year and quarter in which the change occurred. Enter the date of the last previously submitted report by this reporting entity for this covered Federal action.

4. Enter the full name, address, city, State and zip code of the reporting entity. Include Congressional District, if known. Check the appropriate classification of the reporting entity that designates if it is, or expects to be, a prime or subaward recipient. Identify the tier of the subawardee, e.g., the first subawardee of the prime is the 1st tier. Subawards include but are not limited to subcontracts, subgrants and contract awards under grants.

5. If the organization filing the report in item 4 checks “Subawardee,” then enter the full name, address, city, State and zip code of the prime Federal recipient. Include Congressional District, if known.

6. Enter the name of the federal agency making the award or loan commitment. Include at least one organizational level below agency name, if known. For example, Department of Transportation, United States Coast Guard.

7. Enter the Federal program name or description for the covered Federal action (item 1). If known, enter the full Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for grants, cooperative agreements, loans, and loan commitments.

8. Enter the most appropriate Federal identifying number available for the Federal action identified in item 1 (e.g., Request for Proposal (RFP) number; Invitations for Bid (IFB) number; grant announcement number; the contract, grant, or loan award number; the application/proposal control number assigned by the Federal agency). Included prefixes, e.g., “RFP-DE-90-001.”

9. For a covered Federal action where there has been an award or loan commitment by the Federal agency, enter the Federal amount of the award/loan commitment for the prime entity identified in item 4 or 5.

10. (a) Enter the full name, address, city, State and zip code of the lobbying registrant under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 engaged by the reporting entity identified in item 4 to influence the covered Federal action.

(b) Enter the full names of the individual(s) performing services, and include full address if different from 10(a). Enter Last Name, First Name, and Middle Initial (MI).

11. The certifying official shall sign and date the form, print his/her name, title, and telephone number.

OMB Control No. 1894-0005 (Exp. 06/30/2023)

NOTICE TO ALL APPLICANTS

The purpose of this enclosure is to inform you about a new provision in the Department of Education's General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) that applies to applicants for new grant awards under Department programs. This provision is Section 427 of GEPA, enacted as part of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (Public Law (P.L.) 103-382).

To Whom Does This Provision Apply?

Section 427 of GEPA affects applicants for new grant awards under this program. ALL APPLICANTS FOR NEW AWARDS MUST INCLUDE INFORMATION IN THEIR APPLICATIONS TO ADDRESS THIS NEW PROVISION IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FUNDING UNDER THIS PROGRAM.

(If this program is a State-formula grant program, a State needs to provide this description only for projects or activities that it carries out with funds reserved for State-level uses. In addition, local school districts or other eligible applicants that apply to the State for funding need to provide this description in their applications to the State for funding. The State would be responsible for ensuring that the school district or other local entity has submitted a sufficient section 427 statement as described below.)

What Does This Provision Require?

Section 427 requires each applicant for funds (other than an individual person) to include in its application a description of the steps the applicant proposes to take to ensure equitable access to, and participation in, its Federally-assisted program for students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries with special needs. This provision allows applicants discretion in developing the required description. The statute highlights six types of barriers that can impede equitable access or participation: gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age. Based on local circumstances, you should determine whether these or other barriers may prevent your students, teachers, etc. from such access or participation in, the Federally-funded project or activity. The description in your application of steps to be taken to overcome these barriers need not be lengthy; you may provide a clear and succinct description of how you plan to address those barriers that are applicable to your circumstances. In addition, the information may be provided in a single narrative, or, if appropriate, may be discussed in connection with related topics in the application.

Section 427 is not intended to duplicate the requirements of civil rights statutes, but rather to ensure that, in designing their projects, applicants for Federal funds address equity concerns that may affect the ability of certain potential beneficiaries to fully participate in the project and to achieve to high standards. Consistent with program requirements and its approved application, an applicant may use the Federal funds awarded to it to eliminate barriers it identifies.

What are Examples of How an Applicant Might Satisfy the Requirement of This Provision?

The following examples may help illustrate how an applicant may comply with Section 427.

(1) An applicant that proposes to carry out an adult literacy project serving, among others, adults with limited English proficiency, might describe in its application how it intends to distribute a brochure about the proposed project to such potential participants in their native language.

(2) An applicant that proposes to develop instructional materials for classroom use might describe how it will make the materials available on audio tape or in braille for students who are blind.

(3) An applicant that proposes to carry out a model science program for secondary students and is concerned that girls may be less likely than boys to enroll in the course, might indicate how it intends to conduct "outreach" efforts to girls, to encourage their enrollment.

(4) An applicant that proposes a project to increase school safety might describe the special efforts it will take to address concern of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students, and efforts to reach out to and involve the families of LGBT students

We recognize that many applicants may already be implementing effective steps to ensure equity of access and participation in their grant programs, and we appreciate your cooperation in responding to the requirements of this provision.

Estimated Burden Statement for GEPA Requirements

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.5 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain benefit (Public Law 103-382). Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20210-4537 or email [email protected] and reference the OMB Control Number 1894-0005.

GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND RESULTS ACT (GPRA)

What is GPRA?

The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) is a straightforward statute that requires all federal agencies to manage their activities with attention to the consequences of those activities. Each agency is to clearly state what it intends to accomplish, identify the resources required, and periodically report their progress to the Congress. In so doing, it is expected that the GPRA will contribute to improvements in accountability for the expenditures of public funds, improve Congressional decision-making through more objective information on the effectiveness of federal programs, and promote a new government focus on results, service delivery, and customer satisfaction.

How has the Department of Education Responded to the GPRA Requirements?

As required by GPRA, the Department of Education prepared a strategic plan for 2018-2022. This plan reflects the Department’s priorities and integrates them with its mission and program authorities and describes how the Department will work to improve education for all children and adults in the U.S. The Department’s goals, as listed in the plan, are:

Goal 1: Support state and local efforts to improve learning outcomes for all P-12 students in every community.

Goal 2: Expand postsecondary educational opportunities, improve outcomes to foster economic opportunity and promote an informed, thoughtful and productive citizenry.

Goal 3: Strengthen the quality, accessibility and use of education data through better management, increased privacy protections and transparency.

Goal 4: Reform the effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of the Department.

What are the performance indicators for the Talent Search Program?

The performance indicators for the Talent Search Program are part of the Department’s plan for meeting Goal 2. The TS Program is part of the Federal TRIO Programs. The overarching goal of the Federal TRIO Programs is “to increase the percentage of low-income and first generation college students who successfully pursue postsecondary education opportunities.”

The specific performance indicator for the Talent Search Program is as follows:

The success of the Talent Search Program will be measured by the postsecondary enrollment rates of TS participants. All TS grantees will be required to submit an annual performance report documenting the postsecondary enrollment. The Department of Education will aggregate the data provided in the annual performance reports from all grantees to determine the accomplishment level.

How does the Department of Education determine whether performance goals have been met?

An applicant that receives a grant award will be required to submit annual performance reports as a condition of the award. The reports will document the extent to which project goals and objectives are met.

The most recent version of this program’s annual performance report (APR) can be viewed at:

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/triotalent/performance.html.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE BUDGET SUMMARY

AND ITEMIZED LINE ITEM BUDGET

NOTE: Applicants must submit: (1) budget information that categorizes the requested funds (ED Form 524), AND (2) a detailed budget narrative for the first 12-month budget period.

The budget summary is to be included on the Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 524).

The budget narrative, for the first 12-month budget period only, is to be included in the Project Narrative (limited to 65 pages and attached to the Project Narrative Attachment Form) as part of the Budget selection criterion.

This section requests information on the applicant’s financial plan for carrying out the project.

The federal and any non-federal shares are to be included on the Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 524), and in the Budget selection criterion discussion in the Project Narrative.

The Department is requesting that you complete the Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 524) for ONLY the 2021-22 year. Please provide a comprehensive and detailed budget narrative for the first 12-month budget period, only.

It is not necessary to provide a budget summary for the total grant period requested. The funding level for the first year is stipulated based on the Maximum Award Section of the Notice, and the Department will determine the funding levels for the subsequent years of the grant award.

The Budget Information-Section A – Budget Summary – Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 524) and the Budget Narrative must include all costs that are allowable, reasonable and necessary for carrying out the objectives of the TS Program. Among the costs that may be supported with grant funds are:

1. Personnel: On line 1 (ED Form 524), enter only the project personnel salaries and wages. [Fees and expenses for consultants should be included on line 8.] The budget should include the total commitment of time and the total salary to be charged to the project for each key staff member. You should provide a breakdown of project personnel that includes: the position titles; the percent of time and number of months committed to the project for each key staff member; the salary for each key staff member; and the total salary costs to be charged to the grant.

2. Fringe Benefits: On line 2 (ED Form 524), enter the amount of fringe benefits. The institution or agency’s normal fringe benefit contribution may be charged to the program. Leave this blank if fringe benefits applicable to direct salaries and wages are treated as part of the indirect costs. In the budget, include an explanation and appropriate justification if the institution or agency’s normal fringe benefit contribution exceeds 20 percent of salaries.

3. Travel: On line 3 (ED Form 524), provide the costs for project personnel. [Consultants’ travel should be included on line 8.] In the budget, you should detail the proposed travel costs: for each trip explain the purpose and objective of the travel and provide the number of persons traveling. Transportation costs should not exceed tourist class airfare. For automobile mileage, the established institution or agency rate should be used. Reimbursement is allowed for taxicab, bus, train, or limousine transportation. Per diem at the established institution or agency rate is permitted when an individual is away from home overnight on official project business (see OMB Circular A-21, J.48.c - Commercial Air Travel). No foreign travel will be authorized under the grant.

The Federal TRIO Programs have developed the following guidelines for recommending approval of travel. All travel must be related to the project’s overall purpose and proposed activities.

• Project Director’s Travel – Per Year

1. One National Conference;

One Regional Meeting;

One State Meeting; and

2. Travel for participation in one professional staff development training opportunity under the TRIO Training Program.

• Full-time Professional Staff Travel – Per Year

1. One National, Regional, or State Meeting; and

2. Travel for participation in one professional staff development training opportunity under the TRIO Training Program.

4. Equipment: On line 4 (ED Form 524), indicate the cost of equipment -- non-expendable personal property, which has a usefulness of greater than one year and an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit. [Consistent with an applicant’s policy, a lower dollar amount may be used to define equipment.] In the budget, explain why the requested equipment is necessary to carry out project activities, and include a list of all equipment in the following format: item, quantity, cost per unit, and total cost.

5. Supplies: On line 5 (ED Form 524), include the costs of all tangible personal property that was not included as “equipment” on line 4. In the budget, provide an itemized list of the supplies.

6. Contractual: Not applicable. Leave blank.

7. Construction: Not applicable. Leave blank.

8. Other: On line 8 (ED Form 524), indicate all direct costs not covered on lines 1 through 5. The costs/fees for consultants and consultants’ travel should be included here. Examples of “other” costs are: equipment rental, required fees, communication costs, rental of space, utilities, custodial services, and printing costs. In the budget, provide a breakdown of all direct costs not clearly covered by other budget categories.

Consultants: If the project proposes to use consultants, identify the consultants who will work on the project, the scope of work to be performed by each consultant, and justify why project personnel cannot perform this work. Also, provide a detailed breakdown of the costs (daily fees to be paid, estimated number of days of services, and all travel expenses, including per diem). Cost allowances for consultant fees, honoraria, per diem, and travel should not exceed amounts permitted by comparable institutional or agency policies.

9. Total Direct Costs: On line 9 (ED Form 524), provide the total direct costs requested – the sum of lines 1 through 8.

10. Indirect Costs: On line 10 (ED Form 524), provide the amount of indirect costs that you propose to charge against the grant.

All grants awarded under the Talent Search Program (84.044A) are designated as training grants. The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) limit reimbursement to grantees for indirect costs they incur under training grants to the grantee’s actual indirect costs as determined by the grantee’s negotiated indirect cost agreement or a maximum of 8 percent of a modified total direct cost base, whichever is less. (NOTE: This limitation does not apply to State agencies, or local governments, or federally recognized Indian tribal governments. [§75.562(c) (2)])

A modified total direct cost base is defined as total direct costs less, training stipends, tuition and related fees, and capital expenditures of $5,000 or more per unit. Therefore, calculations of indirect costs may not include these costs.

Grantees charging indirect costs to a Department grant are required to have a negotiated rate with their cognizant agency (i.e., either the Federal agency from which it has received the most direct funding that is subject to indirect cost support, or a particular agency specifically assigned cognizance by the Office of Management and Budget). Although applicants are not required to submit with their application a copy of their indirect cost agreement to claim the 8 percent rate for funding received in this program, they are required to have documentation available for audit that shows that their negotiated indirect cost rate is at least 8 percent [§75.563(d)]. In the event that they receive an award under this program, applicants without a negotiated indirect cost rate with its cognizant agency should seek to identify that agency and contact it to obtain an approved rate as soon as possible after award notification.

Applicants should be aware that amounts representing the difference between the 8 percent rate and a greater indirect cost rate negotiated with a cognizant agency may not be charged to direct cost categories, used to satisfy matching or cost-sharing requirements, or charged to another Federal award. [§75.563(c) (3)]

10. Training Stipends: Not applicable. Leave blank.

12. Total Costs: On line 12 (ED Form 524), provide the total amount that you are

requesting – the sum of lines 9 and 10. Note: This amount should also be the

same as that shown in 18g on the application face sheet (SF 424) and on the

detailed budget narrative in Part III.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

Use This Checklist While Preparing Your Application Package: All items listed on this checklist are required.

 Part I - Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424)

 Part I - Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424

 Part II - Department of Education Budget Summary Information – Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 524) – Sections A & B

 Part III - Project Narrative (65-page limit addressing the selection criteria) – Attach this document to the Project Narrative Attachment Form in the Grants.gov application.

 Part III - Other Attachments – Talent Search Program Profile

Talent Search Program Assurances – Attach each of these two documents to the Other Attachments Form in the Grants.gov application.

Competitive Preference Priorities Narrative

 Part III - ED Abstract – one-page limit -- Attach this document to the ED Abstract Form in the Grants.gov application. This one-page abstract, which may be single-spaced, will not count against the 65 pages you are allowed for your response to the selection criteria.

 Part IV – Assurances and Certifications

 GEPA Section 427 Requirement

 Assurances – Non-Construction Programs (SF 424B)

 Certification Regarding Lobbying Form (ED Form 80-0013)
 Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF LLL)

NOTE: Please do not attach any narratives, supporting files, or application components to the Standard Form (SF 424). Although this form accepts attachments, the Department of Education will only review materials/files attached to the Grants.gov Attachment Forms listed above.

PAPERWORK BURDEN STATEMENT

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number.  The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1840-0818.  Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 35 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.  The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain benefit (Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended).  If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate, suggestions for improving this individual collection, or if you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual form, application or survey, please contact Antoinette Edwards, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-4536, [email protected] directly.

1 In the National Center for Education Statistics – Statistical Standard 5-1-3 – states that the criterion for judging statistical significance will be 0.95 for confidence intervals.

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