Well-Rounded Education Through Student Centered Funding Application

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Office of School Support and Accountability

Washington, D.C. 20202-6200

Fiscal Year 2020

Application for New Grants Under the Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants Program

CFDA 84.424E

Dated Material - Open Immediately

Closing Date: [DATE]

Approved OMB Number: 1894-0006

Expiration Date: 1/31/2021

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: 1894-0006. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 60 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data resources, 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 benefits under the Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants, authorized under Title IV, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). 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 the Office of School Support and Accountability, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW,

Washington, DC 20202-6200, WeightedFundingPilot@ed.gov directly.

If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this application, please contact:

Leslie Poynter

Office of School Support and Accountability

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 3W248

Washington, DC 20202-6200

Note: Please do not return the completed application to this address.

Table of Contents

Dear Colleague Letter 4

I. Program Background Information 6

Program Overview 6
Application Requirements and Priorities 6

Frequently Asked Questions 6

Applicant Guide 6
Selection Criteria 7
Definitions 7

Technical Assistance for Prospective Applicants 7

II. Application Submission Procedures 8

Application Transmittal Instructions 8

Grants.gov Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants 9

Electronic Application Submission Checklist 11

Part 1: Preliminary Documents 12

Part 2: Budget Information 19

Part 3: ED Abstract Form 22

Part 4: Project Narrative Attachment Form 24

Part 5: Budget Narrative 25

Important Information Regarding Indirect Costs 28

Part 6: Other Attachment Form 29

Part 7: Assurances and Certifications 30

Part 8: Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs (Executive Order 12372) 32

III. Reporting and Accountability 33
Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Measures 33

IV. Legal and Regulatory Information 34

Notice Inviting Applications 34

Program Statute 34

United States Department of Education

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

office of school support and Accountability

Dear Colleague:

Thank you for your interest in the Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants program, administered by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education (Department). This document includes information for applicants seeking funding for new grant projects in Fiscal Year 2020 under the Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants, authorized under Title IV, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). The purpose of the Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants program is to provide competitive grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to demonstrate model programs for providing well-rounded education opportunities through the development and implementation of student-centered funding (SCF) systems based on weighted per-pupil allocations under section 1501 of the ESEA.

Please take the time to review the applicable priorities, selection criteria, and all the application instructions thoroughly. An application will not be evaluated for funding if the applicant does not comply with all the procedural rules that govern the submission of the application or the application does not contain the information required under the program (EDGAR §75.216 (b) and (c)).

For this competition please use the government-wide website, http://www.grants.gov, to apply. We strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with Grants.gov and strongly recommend that you register and submit early. 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 System for Award Management (SAM) (www.sam.gov). If you do not enter the same DUNS number on your application as the DUNS you registered with, Grants.gov will reject your application. Please note, Grants.gov has relaxed the requirement for applicants to have an active registration in SAM in order to apply for funding. In the event a registration expires before an award is issued, the Department will relax the active registration requirement, and not delay funds due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Applications submitted to Grants.gov for the Department of Education will be posted using Adobe forms. Therefore, applicants will need to download a compatible version of Adobe reader if they wish to view successful applicants. Please review the Submitting Applications with Adobe Reader Software and Education Submission Procedures and Tips for Applicants forms found within this package for further information and guidance related to this requirement.

Using FY 2019 funds, the Department expects to award approximately $3,000,000 for new grants under this competition. We will award discretionary grants on a competitive basis for a project period of up to 60 months. Grants are expected to be awarded in September 2020.

Please visit our program website at https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/school-support-and-accountability/student-centered-funding-pilot/ for further information. The program website includes helpful information, frequently asked questions, dates of future webinars, and clarifications. If you have any technical questions about the program after reviewing the application package, please contact Leslie Poynter by telephone at 202-453-6041 or via e-mail at WeightedFundingPilot@ed.gov.

Sincerely,

Patrick Rooney

Director, School Support and Accountability

I. Program Background Information

Program Overview
The purpose of the Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants program is to provide competitive grants to LEAs to demonstrate model programs for providing well-rounded education opportunities through the development and implementation of SCF systems based on weighted per-pupil allocations under section 1501 of the ESEA. This program is being established with funds from the two percent reservation for technical assistance and capacity building under section 4103(a)(3) of the ESEA, which is designed to support States and LEAs in carrying out activities authorized under the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants program in title IV, part A of the ESEA, including activities that support access to a well-rounded education. Grants are available to LEAs committed to applying for an SCF flexibility agreement under ESEA section 1501 to assist them in developing, preparing, and implementing an SCF system that enhances and expands the provision of well-rounded education opportunities to educationally disadvantaged students.

Application Requirements and Priorities

There are application requirements for this FY 2020 grant competition and any subsequent year in which awards are made from the list of unfunded applications from this competition. Grant competitions may include “Absolute Priorities,” which must be clearly met in order for an application to be considered, and also “Competitive Preference” or “Invitational Priorities,” which are not required to be met but may increase the likelihood of receiving an award.

To read a list of Absolute Priorities and Competitive Preference/Invitational Priorities for this grant competition, please reference the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for this competition on the Federal Register.

[LINK TO NIA]

Frequently Asked Questions

Current information on this program can be found at https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/school-support-and-accountability/student-centered-funding-pilot/.

Applicant Guide

A completed application will include a program narrative. The program narrative is the section of the application that directly responds to the selection criteria. The program narrative should follow the order of the selection criteria. Applicants should describe, in detail, activities planned for each of the funding periods of the grant. The program office suggests that applicants limit the program narrative to 40 pages. Typically, applications are entered into the Grants.gov system. E-mailed applications are not acceptable. Narrative attachments must be submitted as files in a read-only, flattened Portable Document Format (PDF) or Word document. If applicants upload a different file type or submit a password-protected file, we will not review that material.

A minimum of 3 peer reviewers will evaluate each proposal. Reviewers will be asked to review the applicants’ responses to each criterion and score each of their assigned proposals. Not responding to a specific criterion could negatively impact the score.

The Notice Inviting Applications for this competition provides the selection criteria, application requirements, eligibility, definitions, and explanations on how each criterion and requirement will be applied during the review process.

[LINK TO NIA]

Selection Criteria

In general, the selection criteria for this program are from 34 CFR 75.210. One selection criterion is based on applicable program statute in accordance with 34 CFR 75.209. The maximum score for all the selection criteria and the maximum possible score for addressing each selection criterion (indicated in parentheses) is detailed in the Notice Inviting Applications for this grant competition. Each criterion also includes the factors that reviewers will consider in determining the extent to which an applicant meets the criterion. The selection criteria for this competition can be found in the Notice Inviting Applications for this grant competition.

[LINK TO NIA]

Program Authority: Section 4103(a)(3) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7113).

Definitions

Definitions for this program are from Sections 1501 and 8101 of the ESEA. In addition, the Department established two definitions in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA). These definitions apply to the FY 2020 grant competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition. Definitions can be found in the Notice Inviting Applications for this grant competition.

[LINK TO NIA]

Technical Assistance for Prospective Applicants

One technical assistance webinar for prospective applicants will be scheduled. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the program website. Once the date and time of the webinar is confirmed, the information will be posted on the program website.

https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/school-support-and-accountability/student-centered-funding-pilot/

II. Application Submission Procedures

The deadline for submission of Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants program applications through Grants.gov is 11:59:59 PM EST on [DATE].

Application Transmittal Instructions

Attention Electronic Applicants: This program requires the electronic submission of applications--specific requirements and instructions can be found in the Federal Register notice. Please note that you must follow the Application Procedures as described in the Federal Register notice announcing the grant competition.

Applicants are required to follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768) and available at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf, which contain requirements and information on how to submit an application.

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.

NOTE: Grants.gov has relaxed the requirement for applicants to have an active registration in SAM in order to apply for funding. In the event a registration expires before an award is issued, the Department will relax the active registration requirement, and not delay funds due to the COVID-19 crisis.

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, login 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 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 at: support@grants.gov or access the Grants.gov Self-Service Knowledge Base web portal at:
https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants

Helpful Hints When Working with Grants.gov

Please note, once you download an application from Grants.gov, you will be working offline and saving data on your computer. Please be sure to note where you are saving the Grants.gov file on your computer. You will need to logon to Grants.gov to upload and submit the application. You must provide the DUNS number on your application that was used when you registered as an AOR on Grants.gov.

Please go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html for help with Grants.gov, or access the Grants.gov user guide at: https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm#t=GetStarted%2FGetStarted.htm. 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

Attaching Files – Additional Tips

Please note the following tips related to attaching files to your application, especially the requirement that applicants only include read-only, flattened .PDF files or Microsoft Word documents in their application:

• Ensure that you attach .PDF files only or Microsoft Word files for any attachments to your application, and any PDFs must be in a read-only, flattened format (meaning any fillable documents must be saved and submitted as non-fillable PDF files). PDF files and Microsoft Word files are the only Education approved file type accepted as detailed in the common instructions. Applicants must submit individual .PDF files only when attaching files to their application. Specifically, the Department will not accept any attachments that contain files within a file, such as PDF Portfolio files, or an interactive or fillable .PDF file. Any attachments uploaded that are not .PDF files or are password protected files will not be read.

• 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.

Electronic Application Submission Checklist

It is recommended that your electronic application be organized in the following manner and include the following parts in order to expedite the review process. Instructions for all parts and forms of the application are found either on the following pages of the application package or individually for each form on Grants.gov.

Review your electronic application to ensure you have completed the following forms and sections:

Part 1: Preliminary Documents

• Application for Federal Assistance (Form SF 424)

• ED Supplemental Information for SF 424

Part 2: Budget Information

• ED Budget Information Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 524)

Part 3: ED Abstract Form

• Project Abstract

Part 4: Project Narrative Attachment Form

• Application Narrative

Part 5: Budget Narrative Attachment Form

• Budget Narrative
  
  

Part 6: Other Attachments Form

• Individual Resumes for Project Directors & Key Personnel

• Copy of Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

• Letters of Support

Part 7: Assurances and Certifications

• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL)

• Grants.Gov Lobbying Form – “Certification Regarding Lobbying” (ED 80-013 Form)

• General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) Requirements – Section 427
  (ED GEPA427 form)

Part 8: Intergovernmental Review (Executive Order 12372)

• State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) List

Part 1: Preliminary Documents

• Application for Federal Assistance (Form SF 424)

• ED Supplemental Information for SF 424

These forms require basic identifying information about the applicant and the application. Please provide all requested applicant information (including name, address, e-mail address and DUNS number).

When applying electronically via Grants.gov, you will need to ensure that the DUNS number you enter on your application is the same as the DUNS number your organization used when it registered with the System for Award Management.

Applicants are advised to complete the Application for Federal Assistance (Form SF 424) first. Grants.gov will automatically insert the correct CFDA and program name automatically wherever needed on other forms.

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 in accordance with the instructions provided within this application.

Part 2: Budget Information

Note: Funds under this program may be used only for costs related to developing or preparing to implement an SCF system through an SCF flexibility agreement under ESEA section 1501. Once implementing an SCF flexibility agreement under ESEA section 1501, funds under this program may be used only for implementing and continuously improving an SCF system, using an SCF system to provide enhanced and expanded well-rounded education opportunities to educationally disadvantaged students, and disseminating information on the project.

ED Budget Information Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 524)

This part of your application contains information about the Federal funding you are requesting. Remember that you must provide all requested budget information for each year of the project and the total column in order to be considered for Federal funding. Specific instructions for completing the budget forms are provided within this application package.

Instructions for completing ED Form 524 Section A:

Name of Institution/Organization: Enter the name of the applicant in the space provided.

Personnel (line 1): Enter project personnel salaries and wages only. Include fees and expenses for consultants on line 6.

Fringe Benefits (line 2): The institution’s normal fringe benefits contribution may be charged to the program. Leave this line blank if fringe benefits applicable to direct salaries and wages are treated as part of the indirect cost.

Travel (line 3): Indicate the travel costs of employees and participants only. Include travel of persons such as consultants on line 6.

Equipment (line 4): Indicate the cost of tangible, non-expendable personal property that has a usefulness greater than one year and acquisition costs that are the lesser of the capitalization level established by the applicant entity for financial statement purposes or $5,000 per article. Lower limits may be established to maintain consistency with the applicant’s policy.

Supplies (line 5): Show all tangible, expendable personal property. Direct supplies and materials differ from equipment in that they are consumable, expendable, and of a relatively low unit cost. Supplies purchased with grant funds should directly benefit the grant project and be necessary for achieving the goals of the project.

Contractual (line 6): The contractual category should include all costs specifically incurred with actions that the applicant takes in conjunction with an established internal procurement system. Include consultant fees, expenses, and travel costs in this category if the consultant’s services are obtained through a written binding agreement or contract.

Construction (line 7): Not applicable.

Other (line 8): Indicate all direct costs not covered on lines 1-6. For example, include costs such as space rental, required fees, honoraria and travel (where a contract is not in place for services), training, and communication and printing costs. Do not include costs that are included in the indirect cost rate.

Total Direct Costs (line 9): The sum of lines 1-8.

Indirect Costs (line 10): Indicate the applicant’s approved indirect cost rate, per sections 75.560 – 75.564 of EDGAR. If an applicant does not have an approved indirect cost rate agreement with a cognizant Federal agency, the applicant must apply to the Department for a temporary indirect cost rate if it wishes to charge indirect costs to the grant. For more information, go to the Department's website at: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/fipao/icgindex.html.

Training Stipends (line 11): This line item is not applicable to this program. The training stipend line item only pertains to costs associated with long term training programs and college or university coursework, not workshops or short-term training supported by this program.

Note: Salary stipends paid to teachers and other school personnel for participating in short-term professional development should be reported in Personnel (line 1).

Total Cost (line 12): This should equal to sum of lines 9-11 (total direct costs + indirect + stipends). The sum for column one, labeled Project Year 1 (a), should also be equal to item 15a on the application cover sheet (SF Form 424).

Part 3: ED Abstract Form

This section should be attached as a single document to the ED Abstract Form in accordance with the instructions found on Grants.gov and should be organized in the following manner and include the following parts in order to expedite the review process.

Ensure that you only attach the Education approved file types detailed in the Federal Register application notice. Also, do not upload any password-protected files to your application.

Please note that Grants.gov cannot process an application that includes two or more files that have the same name within a grant submission.

When attaching files, applicants should limit the size of their file names. Lengthy file names could result in difficulties with opening and processing your application. We recommend your file names be less than 50 characters.

• Project Abstract

The project abstract should not exceed two double spaced pages and should include a concise description of the following information:

• Project objectives and activities

• Proposed project outcomes

• Number of participants to be served

• Number and location of proposed sites

• How the absolute priority is addressed by the project

Note: Grants.gov may include a note that indicates that the project abstract may not exceed one page; however, an abstract of more than one page may be uploaded.

Part 4: Project Narrative Attachment Form

This section should be attached as a single document to the Project Narrative Attachment Form in accordance with the instructions found on Grants.gov and should be organized in the following manner and include the following parts in order to expedite the review process.

Ensure that you only attach the Education approved file types detailed in the common instructions. Also, do not upload any password-protected files to your application.

When attaching files, applicants should limit the size of their file names. Lengthy file names could result in difficulties with opening and processing your application. We recommend your file names be less than 50 characters.

• Table of Contents

The Table of Contents shows where and how the important sections of your proposal are organized and should not exceed one double spaced page.

• Application Narrative

The application narrative responds to the selection criteria found in this application package and should follow the order of the selection criteria.

We encourage applicants to limit this section of the application to the equivalent of no more than 40 pages and adhere to the following guidelines:

• A “page” is 8.5" x 11", on one side only, with 1" margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.

• Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.

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

• Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial.

The recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the assurances and certifications; or the abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the application narrative.

Selection Criteria for Program Narrative

In general, the selection criteria for this program are from 34 CFR 75.210. One selection criterion is based on applicable program statute in accordance with 34 CFR 75.209. Each criterion includes the factors that reviewers will consider in determining the extent to which an applicant meets the criterion. The selection criteria for this competition can be found in the Notice Inviting Applications for this grant competition.

[LINK TO NIA]

Part 5: Budget Narrative

This section should be attached as a single document to the Budget Narrative Attachment Form in accordance with the instructions found on Grants.gov. It should be organized in the following manner and include the following parts in order to expedite the review process.

Ensure that you only attach the Education approved file types detailed in the common instructions. Also, do not upload any password-protected files to your application.

When attaching files, applicants should limit the size of their file names. Lengthy file names could result in difficulties with opening and processing your application. We recommend your file names be less than 50 characters.

Each application must also provide a Budget Narrative (which serves to meet the requirements of ED Form 524, Section C) for requested Federal funds. The Budget Narrative for requested Federal funds should provide a justification of how the money requested for each budget item will be spent.

This section requires an itemized budget breakdown for each project year and the basis for estimating the costs of personnel salaries, benefits, project staff travel, materials and supplies, consultants and subcontracts, indirect costs and any other projected expenditures. Be sure to complete an itemized budget breakdown and narrative for each year of the proposed project.

The Budget Narrative provides an opportunity for the applicant to identify the nature and amount of the proposed expenditures. The applicant should provide sufficient detail to enable reviewers and project staff to understand how requested funds will be used, how much will be expended, and the relationship between the requested funds and project activities and outcomes.

In accordance with 34 CFR 75.232, Department of Education staff perform a cost analysis of each recommended project to ensure that costs relate to the activities and objectives of the project, are reasonable, allowable and allocable. We may delete or reduce costs from the budget during this review.

Important Notes

Applicants are encouraged to review the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations Uniform Guidance, Cost Principles in preparing their budget and budget narrative.

The Uniform Guidance may be found at the following link:

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl

Suggested Guidelines for the Budget Narrative

To facilitate the review of your Budget Narrative, we encourage each applicant to include the following information for each year of the project:

1. Personnel

• Provide the title and duties of each position to be compensated under this project.

• Provide the salary for each position under this project.

• Provide the amounts of time, such as hours or percentage of time to be expended by each position under this project.

• Explain the importance of each position to the success of the project.

• Provide the basis for cost estimates or computations.

2. Fringe Benefits

• Give the fringe benefit percentages of all personnel included under Personnel.

• Provide the rate and base on which fringe benefits are calculated.

3. Travel

• Explain the purpose of the travel, how it relates to project success, how it aligns with the project goals and objectives and which program participants or staff will participate.

• Submit an estimate for the number of trips, points of origin and destination, and purpose of travel.

• Submit an itemized estimate of transportation and/or subsistence costs for each trip.

• Provide the basis for cost estimates or computations.

4. Equipment

• Indicate the estimated unit cost for each item to be purchased.

• Identify each type of equipment.

• Provide adequate justification of the need for items of equipment to be purchased.

• Explain the purpose of the equipment, and how it relates to project success.

• Provide the basis for cost estimates or computations.

5. Supplies

• Provide an itemized estimate of materials and supplies by nature of expense or general category (e.g., instructional materials, office supplies, etc.).

• Explain the purpose of the supplies and how they relate to project success.

• Provide the basis for cost estimates or computations.

6. Contractual

• Provide the purpose and relation to project success.

• Describe the products to be acquired, and/or the professional services to be provided.

• Provide a brief justification for the use of the contractors selected.

• Identify the name(s) of the contracting party, including consultants, if available.

• Provide the cost per contractor.

• Provide the amount of time that the project will be working with the contractor(s).

• For professional services contracts, provide the amounts of time to be devoted to the project, including the costs to be charged to this proposed grant award.

• Provide a brief statement that you have followed the procedures for procurement under:
  2 CFR 200.317-200.326.

• Provide the basis for cost estimates or computations.

7. Construction

• Not applicable.

8. Other

• List and identify items by major type or category (e.g., communications, printing, postage, equipment rental, etc.).

• Provide the cost per item (printing = $500, postage = $750).

• Provide the purpose for the expenditures and relation to project success.

• Provide the basis for cost estimates or computations.

9. Total Direct Costs

• The amount that is the sum of expenditures, per budget category, of lines 1-8.

10. Indirect Costs

• Identify indirect cost rate (if the applicant will charge indirect costs to the grant)

• Note: remember to provide a copy of the most recent approved indirect cost agreement in the Other Attachments form section of the application.

11. Training Stipends

• Not applicable.

12. Total Costs

• Sum of direct costs, indirect costs, and stipends.

• Please provide total costs for each year of the project as well as grand total cost for the entire project.

Important Information Regarding Indirect Costs

The Department reimburses a grantee for part of its indirect costs incurred in projects funded by the Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants program (CFDA 84.424E).

For this grant competition, you may charge indirect costs using the restricted negotiated rate with your cognizant federal agency (e.g., Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of the Interior). Be sure to include evidence of a federally negotiated indirect cost rate.

Note: Applicants should use the appropriate program or operations rate specified in their

institution’s federally approved indirect cost rate agreement in their proposed project budgets. Individuals who apply for any grant competition through the Department are not allowed to budget for an indirect cost rate. If you budget for contractual services, please note that indirect costs may be applied only to the first $25,000 of each subcontract for each year of the project.

You are encouraged to give priority to developing and implementing and SCF system by limiting the indirect costs charged to the project. You will not be penalized for failure to reduce indirect costs nor will you gain competitive advantage if you do.

If you claim indirect costs in the budget for your proposed project and do not have a negotiated

rate with the federal government, the Department will establish a temporary indirect cost rate for your project (i.e., 10 percent of the direct salaries and wages included in the budget for the project). Grantees will be allowed to draw at the temporary rate during the first 90 days after the Department made the grant, as determined by the date of the Grant Award Notification. If a grantee does not submit an indirect cost rate proposal to its cognizant agency within that first 90 days, the grantee will not be allowed to draw any more funds for indirect costs until it obtains a federally recognized indirect cost rate from its cognizant agency. For more information about indirect cost rates, visit http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html.

Part 6: Other Attachment Form

Attach one or more documents to the Other Attachments Form in accordance with the instructions found on Grants.gov. You may provide all of the required information in a single document, or in multiple documents.

Ensure that you only attach the Education approved file types detailed in the common instructions. Also, do not upload any password-protected files to your application.

Please note that Grants.gov cannot process an application that includes two or more files that have the same name within a grant submission.

When attaching files, applicants should limit the size of their file names. Lengthy file names could result in difficulties with opening and processing your application. We recommend your file names be less than 50 characters.

• Individual Resumes for Project Directors and Key Personnel: Provide brief resumes or job descriptions that describe personnel qualifications for the responsibilities they will carry out under the project.

• Copy of Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

• Letters of Support

Part 7: Assurances and Certifications

Be certain to complete all required assurances and certifications in Grants.gov, and include all required information in the appropriate place on each form. The assurances and certifications required for this application are:

• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF LLL Form)

• Grants.Gov Lobbying Form – “Certification Regarding Lobbying” (ED 80-013 Form)

• General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) Requirements – Section 427

Part 8: 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# [commenter must insert number--including suffix letter, if any], 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.

III. Reporting and Accountability

Successful Applicants with multi-year grants must submit an annual performance report demonstrating their progress in meeting approved project objectives. Grantees must also provide the most current financial and performance measure data for each year of the project.

At the end of the project period, applicants will also be required to submit a final performance report.

Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Measures

Under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), the following performance indicators have been established to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants program. The GPRA Indicators can be found in the Notice Inviting Applications for this program.

• The total student enrollment in each participating LEA.

• The total funds that the participating LEA received for schools from any source (i.e., Federal, State, and local funds).

• The total funds that the participating LEA received for schools from any source (i.e., Federal, State, and local funds) and expended using an SCF system.

• The ratio of the total amount of per-pupil funding from any source expended in high-poverty schools (as defined in this notice) as compared with the total amount of per-pupil funding expended in schools that are not high-poverty schools in each participating LEA.

For specific requirements on grantee reporting, please go to the ED Performance Report Form 524B at http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.

IV. Legal and Regulatory Information

Notice Inviting Applications

[LINK TO NIA]

Program Statute

https://legcounsel.house.gov/Comps/Elementary%20And%20Secondary%20Education%20Act%20Of%201965.pdf 

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P.L. 89-10; Title IV, Part A of the ESEA; Section 4103(a)(3) of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7113(a)(3)).