AUTHORIZATION:

Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended, Executive Order Title V, Part B, Subpart 3.

OBJECTIVES:

To support efforts to establish or expand intra-district, inter-district, and open enrollment public school choice programs to provide parents, particularly parents whose children attend low-performing public schools, with expanded education options and with greater choice for their children's education.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

An eligible entity that receives a grant under this subpart may use the grant funds for:

(1) planning or designing a program (for not more than 1 year);

(2) the cost of making tuition transfer payments to public elementary schools or secondary schools to which students transfer under the program;

(3) the cost of capacity-enhancing activities that enable high-demand public elementary schools or secondary schools to accommodate transfer requests under the program;

(4) the cost of carrying out public education campaigns to inform students and parents about the program; and

(5) other costs reasonably necessary to implement the program. An eligible entity that receives a grant under this subpart may not use the grant funds for school construction. The eligible entity may use not more than 5 percent of the funds made available through the grant for any fiscal year for administrative expenses.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   State educational agencies (SEAs); local educational agencies (LEAs); or a partnership of either 1(a)one or more SEAs; (b) one or more LEAs or other public, for-profit, or nonprofit entities; and 2(a) one or more LEAs and (b) one or more public, for-profit, or nonprofit entities may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  

Public school students.

Credentials/Documentation:   No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Pre-application Coordination:   Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure:   This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Applications must be prepared and submitted in accordance with a notice published in the Federal Register. By the due date, eligible applicants must submit to the Department of Education a complete application that addresses the purposes of the program, the selection criteria, and any priorities included in the application notice, and includes all required assurances and signatures.

Award Procedure:   The Department of Education awards these grants on a competitive basis. The program office notifies successful applicants of awards, negotiates final budgets, and awards grants. Contact the program office for more information.

Deadlines:   Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   

The range of approval/disapproval time is approximately 60 to 120 days following the application deadline.

Appeals:   

The General Education Provisions Act hearing procedures regarding recovery of funds are applicable to this program.

Renewals:   

Continuation awards are subject to the availability of appropriations.

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ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   

Awards may be made for up to 5 years. Continuation awards are subject to the availability of appropriations. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   As part of the continuation funding process, grantees must submit performance reports annually. Final performance reports must be submitted within 190 days of the end of the grant award period. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits:   This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. The financial records of each eligible entity receiving a grant under this subpart shall be maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and shall be subject to an annual audit by an independent public accountant.

Records:   In accordance with the General Education Provisions Act and the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), certain records must be retained for three years after the end of the grant.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:  

91-0204-0-1-501.

Obligations:   (Project Grants) FY 08 $25,819,000; FY 09 est $25,819,000; FY 10 est $25,819,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  

Range of awards: $720,000-$2,640,000.

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