Generic Application Package for Discretionary Grant Program (SC)

See below Sec. 75.210 for EDGAR General Selection Criteria.

WAIS Document Retrieval

[Federal Register: March 6, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 44)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 10397-10406]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr06mr97-15]

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Part III

Department of Education

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34 CFR Part 75, et al.

Direct Grant Programs; Final Rule

Sec. 75.210 General selection criteria.

In determining the selection criteria to be used in each grant

competition, the Secretary may select one or more of the following

criteria and may select from among the list of optional factors under

each criterion. However, paragraphs (d)(2) and (e)(2) of this section

are mandatory factors under their respective criteria:

(a) Need for project. (1) The Secretary considers the need for the

proposed project.

(2) In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary

considers one or more of the following factors:

(i) The magnitude or severity of the problem to be addressed by the

proposed project.

(ii) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or

the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.

(iii) The extent to which the proposed project will provide

services or otherwise address the needs of students at risk of

educational failure.

(iv) The extent to which the proposed project will focus on serving

or otherwise addressing the needs of disadvantaged individuals.

(v) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services,

infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be

addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude

of those gaps or weaknesses.

(vi) The extent to which the proposed project will prepare

personnel for fields in which shortages have been demonstrated.

(b) Significance. (1) The Secretary considers the significance of

the proposed project.

(2) In determining the significance of the proposed project, the

Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:

(i) The national significance of the proposed project.

(ii) The significance of the problem or issue to be addressed by

the proposed project.

(iii) The potential contribution of the proposed project to

increased knowledge or understanding of educational problems, issues,

or effective strategies.

(iv) The potential contribution of the proposed project to

increased knowledge or understanding of rehabilitation problems,

issues, or effective strategies.

(v) The likelihood that the proposed project will result in system

change or improvement.

(vi) The potential contribution of the proposed project to the

development and advancement of theory, knowledge, and practices in the

field of study.

(vii) The potential for generalizing from the findings or results

of the proposed project.

(viii) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to yield

findings that may be utilized by other appropriate agencies and

organizations.

(ix) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build

local capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the

needs of the target population.

(x) The extent to which the proposed project involves the

development or demonstration of promising new strategies that build on,

or are alternatives to, existing strategies.

(xi) The likely utility of the products (such as information,

materials, processes, or techniques) that will result from the proposed

project, including the potential for their being used effectively in a

variety of other settings.

(xii) The extent to which the results of the proposed project are

to be disseminated in ways that will enable others to use the

information or strategies.

(xiii) The potential replicability of the proposed project or

strategies, including, as appropriate, the potential for implementation

in a variety of settings.

(xiv) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely

to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in

teaching and student achievement.

(xv) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely

to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in

employment, independent living services, or both, as appropriate.

(xvi) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely

to be attained by the proposed project.

(c) Quality of the project design. (1) The Secretary considers the

quality of the design of the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed

project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be

achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.

(ii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is

appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target

population or other identified needs.

(iii) The extent to which there is a conceptual framework

underlying the

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proposed research or demonstration activities and the quality of that

framework.

(iv) The extent to which the proposed activities constitute a

coherent, sustained program of research and development in the field,

including, as appropriate, a substantial addition to an ongoing line of

inquiry.

(v) The extent to which the proposed activities constitute a

coherent, sustained program of training in the field.

(vi) The extent to which the proposed project is based upon a

specific research design, and the quality and appropriateness of that

design, including the scientific rigor of the studies involved.

(vii) The extent to which the proposed research design includes a

thorough, high-quality review of the relevant literature, a high-

quality plan for research activities, and the use of appropriate

theoretical and methodological tools, including those of a variety of

disciplines, if appropriate.

(viii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project

includes a thorough, high-quality review of the relevant literature, a

high-quality plan for project implementation, and the use of

appropriate methodological tools to ensure successful achievement of

project objectives.

(ix) The quality of the proposed demonstration design and

procedures for documenting project activities and results.

(x) The extent to which the design for implementing and evaluating

the proposed project will result in information to guide possible

replication of project activities or strategies, including information

about the effectiveness of the approach or strategies employed by the

project.

(xi) The extent to which the proposed development efforts include

adequate quality controls and, as appropriate, repeated testing of

products.

(xii) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build

capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of

Federal financial assistance.

(xiii) The extent to which the design of the proposed project

reflects up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice.

(xiv) The extent to which the proposed project represents an

exceptional approach for meeting statutory purposes and requirements.

(xv) The extent to which the proposed project represents an

exceptional approach to the priority or priorities established for the

competition.

(xvi) The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated

with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community,

State, and Federal resources.

(xvii) The extent to which the proposed project will establish

linkages with other appropriate agencies and organizations providing

services to the target population.

(xviii) The extent to which the proposed project is part of a

comprehensive effort to improve teaching and learning and support

rigorous academic standards for students.

(xix) The extent to which the proposed project encourages parental

involvement.

(xx) The extent to which the proposed project encourages consumer

involvement.

(xxi) The extent to which performance feedback and continuous

improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project.

(xxii) The quality of the methodology to be employed in the

proposed project.

(xxiii) The extent to which fellowship recipients or other project

participants are to be selected on the basis of academic excellence.

(d) Quality of project services. (1) The Secretary considers the

quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by

the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and

sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for

eligible project participants who are members of groups that have

traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national

origin, gender, age, or disability.

(3) In addition, the Secretary considers one or more of the

following factors:

(i) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed

project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or

beneficiaries of those services.

(ii) The extent to which entities that are to be served by the

proposed technical assistance project demonstrate support for the

project.

(iii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the

proposed project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and

effective practice.

(iv) The likely impact of the services to be provided by the

proposed project on the intended recipients of those services.

(v) The extent to which the training or professional development

services to be provided by the proposed project are of sufficient

quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice

among the recipients of those services.

(vi) The extent to which the training or professional development

services to be provided by the proposed project are likely to alleviate

the personnel shortages that have been identified or are the focus of

the proposed project.

(vii) The likelihood that the services to be provided by the

proposed project will lead to improvements in the achievement of

students as measured against rigorous academic standards.

(viii) The likelihood that the services to be provided by the

proposed project will lead to improvements in the skills necessary to

gain employment or build capacity for independent living.

(ix) The extent to which the services to be provided by the

proposed project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for

maximizing the effectiveness of project services.

(x) The extent to which the technical assistance services to be

provided by the proposed project involve the use of efficient

strategies, including the use of technology, as appropriate, and the

leveraging of non-project resources.

(xi) The extent to which the services to be provided by the

proposed project are focused on those with greatest needs.

(xii) The quality of plans for providing an opportunity for

participation in the proposed project of students enrolled in private

schools.

(e) Quality of project personnel. (1) The Secretary considers the

quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary

considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for

employment from persons who are members of groups that have

traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national

origin, gender, age, or disability.

(3) In addition, the Secretary considers one or more of the

following factors:

(i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,

of the project director or principal investigator.

(ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and

experience, of key project personnel.

(iii) The qualifications, including relevant training and

experience, of project consultants or subcontractors.

(f) Adequacy of resources. (1) The Secretary considers the adequacy

of resources for the proposed project.

(2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed

project, the

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Secretary considers one or more of the following factors:

(i) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment,

supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the

lead applicant organization.

(ii) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in

the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project.

(iii) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the

proposed project.

(iv) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to

the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed

project.

(v) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the

number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and

benefits.

(vi) The potential for continued support of the project after

Federal funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated

commitment of appropriate entities to such support.

(vii) The potential for the incorporation of project purposes,

activities, or benefits into the ongoing program of the agency or

organization at the end of Federal funding.

(g) Quality of the management plan. (1) The Secretary considers the

quality of the management plan for the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the

proposed project, the Secretary considers one or more of the following

factors:

(i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives

of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly

defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing

project tasks.

(ii) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and

continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project.

(iii) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products

and services from the proposed project.

(iv) The extent to which the time commitments of the project

director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are

appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed

project.

(v) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives

are brought to bear in the operation of the proposed project, including

those of parents, teachers, the business community, a variety of

disciplinary and professional fields, recipients or beneficiaries of

services, or others, as appropriate.

(h) Quality of the project evaluation. (1) The Secretary considers

the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project.

(2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary

considers one or more of the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough,

feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the

proposed project.

(ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are appropriate

to the context within which the project operates.

(iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for

examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies.

(iv) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use

of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the

intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and

qualitative data to the extent possible.

(v) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide

timely guidance for quality assurance.

(vi) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide

performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward

achieving intended outcomes.

(vii) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance

about effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other

settings.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control

number 1875-0102)

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3 and 3474)

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