Applications for New Awards; Opportunity Scholarship Program

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Published

April 23, 2025

Issuing agencies

Education Department

Abstract

The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for the District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP).

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 77 (Wednesday, April 23, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 23, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17054-17057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-07024]

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Applications for New Awards; Opportunity Scholarship Program

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of
Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice
inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for the District of
Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP).

DATES:
Applications Available: April 28, 2025.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 7, 2025.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 5, 2025.
Note: For new potential grantees unfamiliar with grantmaking at the
Department, please consult our ``Getting Started with Discretionary
Grant Applications'' web page at <a href="http://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/apply-grant/getting-started-discretionary-grant-applications">www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/apply-grant/getting-started-discretionary-grant-applications</a>.

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an
application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to
Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the
Federal Register on December 23, 2024 (89 FR 104528) and available at
<a href="http://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/23/2024-30488/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs">http://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/23/2024-30488/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs</a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Yeh, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-5960.
Telephone: (202) 205-5798. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#99fbfcedf1b7e0fcf1d9fcfdb7fef6ef"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="553730213d7b2c303d1530317b323a23">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Program: The purpose of the OSP is to provide low-income
parents residing in the District of Columbia, particularly parents of
students who attend an elementary school or secondary school identified
as one of the lowest performing schools under the District of
Columbia's accountability system, with expanded opportunities for
enrolling their children in private schools in the District of
Columbia.
Assistance Listing Number: 84.370A.
OMB Control Number: 1810-0774.
Background: The OSP was established in 2004 under the DC School
Choice Incentive Act of 2003 (School Choice Incentive Act) (Title III
of Division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004; Pub. L.
108-199; 118 Stat. 126-118 Stat. 134 (2004)), and was most recently
reauthorized in 2017 (Division C of Pub. L. 112-10, as amended by Pub.
L. 115-31; DC Code 38-1853.01-.14).
For FY 2025, the Department will award one grant to an eligible
entity to administer the OSP in the form of a cooperative agreement
between the Department and the grantee.
The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025,
provided that up to $1,750,000 of the grant may be used for the
combination of administrative expenses, parental assistance, and
student academic assistance, notwithstanding the allowances specified
in the SOAR Act.
Definitions: The definitions of ``elementary school,'' ``parent,''
and ``secondary school'' are from section 3013 of the SOAR Act. The
definitions of ``continuous improvement'' and ``nonprofit'' are from 34
CFR 77.1.
Continuous improvement means using plans for collecting and
analyzing data about a project component's implementation and outcomes
(including the pace and extent to which project outcomes are being met)
to inform necessary changes throughout the project. These plans may
include strategies to gather ongoing feedback from participants and
stakeholders on the implementation of the project component.
Elementary school means an institutional day or residential school,
including a public elementary charter school, that provides elementary
education, as determined under District of Columbia law.
Nonprofit, as applied to an agency, organization, or institution,
means that it is owned and operated by one or more corporations or
associations whose net earnings do not benefit, and cannot lawfully
benefit, any private shareholder or entity.
Parent includes a legal guardian or other person standing in loco
parentis (such as a grandparent or stepparent with whom the child
lives, or a person who is legally responsible for the child's welfare).
Secondary school means an institutional day or residential school,
including a public secondary charter school, that provides secondary
education, as determined under District of Columbia law, except that
the term does not include any education beyond grade 12.

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Cooperative agreement.
Estimated Available Funds: $17,500,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months (five 12-month budget periods).
Under 34 CFR 75.117(b), applicants must submit a budget narrative
accompanied by a budget form prescribed by the Secretary that provides
budget information for each budget period of the proposed project
period. Therefore, we may reject any application that does not propose
a five-year project period as reflected on the applicant's ED 524 form,
Section A, and budget narrative form, submitted as a part of the
application.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: To be eligible for an OSP grant, an entity
must be either a nonprofit organization or a consortium of nonprofit
organizations.

[[Page 17055]]

Note: If you are a nonprofit organization, under 34 CFR 75.51, you
may demonstrate your nonprofit status by providing: (1) proof that the
Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an
organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a State
taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the
organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and
that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private
shareholder or individual; (3) a certified copy of the applicant's
certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly
establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4) any item
described above if that item applies to a State or national parent
organization, together with a statement by the State or parent
organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.
Note: A faith-based organization is eligible to apply for and
receive a grant under this program on the same basis as any other
private organization, consistent with appendix A to 34 CFR part 75.
2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require
cost sharing or matching. However, consistent with 34 CFR 75.700, which
requires an applicant to comply with its approved application, an
applicant that proposes non-Federal matching funds and is awarded a
grant must provide those funds for each year that the funds are
proposed.
b. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This program uses an
unrestricted indirect cost rate. For more information regarding
indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate, please
see <a href="https://www.ed.gov/about/ed-offices/ofo#Indirect-Cost-Division">https://www.ed.gov/about/ed-offices/ofo#Indirect-Cost-Division</a>.
c. Administrative Cost Limitation: Notwithstanding the allowance
specified in section 3007(b) and (c) of the SOAR Act, administrative
costs, including parental assistance and student academic assistance,
may be subject to Consolidated Appropriations Acts. For FY 2025, the
combined limit on such costs is $1,750,000. All administrative expenses
must be reasonable and necessary and conform to Cost Principles
described in subpart E of the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200
(Uniform Guidance).
3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award
subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities
described in its application.
b. Build America, Buy America Act: This program is not subject to
the Build America, Buy America Act (Pub. L. 117-58) domestic sourcing
requirements.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Application Submission Instructions: Applicants are required to
follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of
Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal
Register on December 23, 2024 (89 FR 104298) and available at <a href="http://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/23/2024-30488/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs">http://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/23/2024-30488/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs</a>, which contain requirements and information on how to
submit an application.
2. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of
projects that may be proposed in applications for OSP, your application
may include business information that you consider proprietary. In 34
CFR 5.11 we define ``business information'' and describe the process we
use in determining whether any of that information is proprietary and,
thus, protected from disclosure under Exemption 4 of the Freedom of
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552, as amended).
Because we plan to make successful applications available to the
public, you may wish to request confidentiality of business
information.
Consistent with Executive Order 12600 (Predisclosure of
Notification Procedures for Confidential Commercial Information),
please designate in your application any information that you believe
is exempt from disclosure under Exemption 4. In the appropriate
Appendix section of your application, under ``Other Attachments Form,''
please list the page number or numbers on which we can find this
information. For additional information please see 34 CFR 5.11(c).
3. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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
competition.
4. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
5. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative is where you,
the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to
evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the
application narrative to no more than 25 pages and (2) use the
following standards:
<bullet> A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
<bullet> 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. An application
will not be disqualified if it exceeds the recommended page limit.
6. Application Requirements:
The following requirements are from section 3005(b) of the SOAR Act
and apply to all applications submitted by eligible entities under this
competition.
(1) Each entity's application must include a detailed description
of--
(a) How the entity will address the priorities described in section
3006 of the SOAR Act;
(b) How the entity will ensure that if more eligible students seek
admission in the program of the entity than the program can
accommodate, eligible students are selected for admission through a
random selection process which gives weight to the priorities described
in section 3006 of the SOAR Act;
(c) How the entity will ensure that if more participating eligible
students seek admission to a participating school than the school can
accommodate, participating eligible students are selected for admission
through a random selection process;
(d) How the entity will notify parents of eligible students of the
expanded choice opportunities in order to allow the parents to make
informed decisions;
(e) The activities that the entity will carry out to provide
parents of eligible students with expanded choice opportunities through
the awarding of scholarships under section 3007(a) of the SOAR Act;
(f) How the entity will determine the amount that will be provided
to parents under section 3007(a)(2) of the SOAR

[[Page 17056]]

Act for the payment of tuition, fees, and transportation expenses, if
any;
(g) How the entity will seek out private elementary schools and
secondary schools in the District of Columbia to participate in the
program;
(h) How the entity will ensure that each participating school will
meet the reporting and other program requirements under the SOAR Act;
(i) How the entity will ensure that participating schools submit to
site visits by the entity as determined to be necessary by the entity;
(j) How the entity will ensure that participating schools are
financially responsible and will use the funds received under section
3007 of the SOAR Act effectively;
(k) How the entity will ensure the financial viability of
participating schools in which 85 percent or more of the total number
of students enrolled at the school are participating eligible students
that receive and use an opportunity scholarship;
(l) How the entity will address the renewal of scholarships to
participating eligible students, including continued eligibility;
(m) How the entity will ensure that a majority of its voting board
members or governing organization are residents of the District of
Columbia; and
(n) How the eligible entity will ensure that it utilizes internal
fiscal and quality controls and complies with applicable financial
reporting requirements; and
(2) An assurance that it will comply with all requests regarding
any evaluation carried out under section 3009(a) of the SOAR Act.
In addition to the statutory application requirements, we encourage
applicants to include a description of (1) how they will provide
information to parents regarding which provisions under the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) and Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794) do or do not apply when a
student with a disability is enrolled in a private school by their
parents, and (2) if applicable, how they intend to spend funds reserved
for administrative expenses, parental assistance and student academic
assistance.

V. Application Review Information

1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition
are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are as follows:
(a) Quality of project design (up to 35 points).
The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed
project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the extent to which the goals,
objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are
clearly specified, measurable, and ambitious yet achievable within the
project period, and aligned with the purposes of the grant program.
(b) Adequacy of resources (up to 25 points).
The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed
project. In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers:
(1) The adequacy of support for the project, including facilities,
equipment, supplies, and other resources, from the applicant or the
lead applicant organization (up to 15 points).
(2) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the
number of persons to be served, the depth and intensity of services,
and the anticipated results and benefits (up to 10 points).
(c) Quality of the management plan (up to 40 points).
The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the
proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for
the proposed project, the Secretary considers:
(1) The feasibility of the management plan to achieve project
objectives and goals on time and within budget, including clearly
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing
project tasks (up to 8 points).
(2) The adequacy of plans for ensuring the use of quantitative and
qualitative data, including meaningful community member and partner
input, to inform continuous improvement in the operation of the
proposed project (up to 8 points).
(3) 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
(up to 8 points).
(4) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality and
accessible products and services from the proposed project for the
target population (up to 8 points).
(5) The extent to which the project director or principal
investigator, when hired, has the qualifications required for the
project, including formal training or work experience in fields related
to the objectives of the project and experience in designing, managing,
or implementing similar projects for the target population to be served
by the project (up to 8 points).
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
requires various assurances, including those applicable to Federal
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department
(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.206, before awarding grants under this competition the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR
200.208, the Secretary may impose specific conditions and, under 2 CFR
3474.10, 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.
4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently
$250,000), under 2 CFR 200.206(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your
integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal
awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make
an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that
is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as
the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System
(FAPIIS)), accessible through the System for Award Management. You may
review and comment on any information about yourself that a Federal
agency previously entered and that is currently in FAPIIS.
Please note that, if the total value of your currently active
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2
CFR part 200, appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2
CFR

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part 200, appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal funds
you receive exceed $10,000,000.

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 also may notify you
informally.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. 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 of 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. Open Licensing Requirements: Unless an exception applies, if you
are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to
openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or in
part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists of
modifications to pre-existing works, the license extends only to those
modifications that can be separately identified and only to the extent
that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any licenses or
other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works.
Additionally, a grantee or subgrantee that is awarded competitive grant
funds must have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables.
This dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your
application has been reviewed and selected for funding. For additional
information on the open licensing requirements please refer to 2 CFR
3474.20.
4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition,
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170
should you receive funding under the competition. See the standards in
2 CFR 170.105 to determine whether you are covered by 2 CFR part 170.
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the
Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting,
please go to <a href="http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html">www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html</a>.
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, whether
the grantee has made substantial progress in achieving the performance
targets in the grantee's approved application.
In making a continuation award, the Secretary also considers
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. Other Information

Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities
can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an
accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an
accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF), text format
(txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, audiotape,
compact disc, or other accessible format.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of
Federal Regulations at <a href="http://www.govinfo.gov">www.govinfo.gov</a>. At this site, you can view this
document, as well as all other Department documents published in the
Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To use
PDF, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the
site. You may also access Department documents published in the Federal
Register by using the article search feature at
<a href="http://www.federalregister.gov">www.federalregister.gov</a>. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.

Hayley B. Sanon,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary,
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2025-07024 Filed 4-22-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P

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