[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 34, Volume 1]

[Revised as of July 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 34CFR225.11]



[Page 561-562]

 

                           TITLE 34--EDUCATION

 

                  CHAPTER II--OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND

              SECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 

PART 225_CREDIT ENHANCEMENT FOR CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES PROGRAM--Table 

of Contents

 

             Subpart B_How Does the Secretary Award a Grant?

 

Sec.  225.11  What selection criteria does the Secretary use in 

evaluating an application for a Credit Enhancement for Charter 

School Facilities grant?



    The Secretary uses the following criteria to evaluate an application 

for a Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities grant:

    (a) Quality of project design and significance. (35 points) In 

determining the quality of project design and significance, the 

Secretary considers--

    (1) The extent to which the grant proposal would provide financing 

to charter schools at better rates and terms than they can receive 

absent assistance through the program;

    (2) The extent to which the project goals, objectives, and timeline 

are clearly specified, measurable, and appropriate for the purpose of 

the program;

    (3) The extent to which the project implementation plan and 

activities, including the partnerships established, are likely to 

achieve measurable objectives that further the purposes of the program;

    (4) The extent to which the project is likely to produce results 

that are replicable;

    (5) The extent to which the project will use appropriate criteria 

for selecting charter schools for assistance and for determining the 

type and amount of assistance to be given;

    (6) The extent to which the proposed activities will leverage 

private or public-sector funding and increase the number and variety of 

charter schools assisted in meeting their facilities needs more than 

would be accomplished absent the program;

    (7) The extent to which the project will serve charter schools in 

States with strong charter laws, consistent with the criteria for such 

laws in section 5202(e)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 

of 1965; and

    (8) The extent to which the requested grant amount and the project 

costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and 

potential significance of the project.

    (b) Quality of project services. (15 points) In determining the 

quality of the project services, the Secretary considers--

    (1) The extent to which the services to be provided by the project 

reflect the identified needs of the charter schools to be served;

    (2) The extent to which charter schools and chartering agencies were 

involved in the design of, and demonstrate support for, the project;

    (3) The extent to which the technical assistance and other services 

to be provided by the proposed grant project involve the use of cost-

effective strategies for increasing charter schools' access to 

facilities financing, including the reasonableness of fees and lending 

terms; and

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

grant project are focused on assisting charter schools with a likelihood 

of success and the greatest demonstrated need for assistance under the 

program.

    (c) Capacity. (35 points) In determining an applicant's business and 

organizational capacity to carry out the project, the Secretary 

considers--

    (1) The amount and quality of experience of the applicant in 

carrying out the activities it proposes to undertake in its application, 

such as enhancing the credit on debt issuances, guaranteeing leases, and 

facilitating financing;

    (2) The applicant's financial stability;

    (3) The ability of the applicant to protect against unwarranted risk 

in its loan underwriting, portfolio monitoring, and financial 

management;

    (4) The applicant's expertise in education to evaluate the 

likelihood of success of a charter school;

    (5) The ability of the applicant to prevent conflicts of interest, 

including conflicts of interest by employees and members of the board of 

directors in a decision-making role;

    (6) If the applicant has co-applicants (consortium members), 

partners, or other grant project participants, the specific resources to 

be contributed by each co-applicant (consortium member), partner, or 

other grant project participant to the implementation and success of the 

grant project;

    (7) For State governmental entities, the extent to which steps have 

been or will be taken to ensure that charter schools within the State 

receive the



[[Page 562]]



funding needed to obtain adequate facilities; and

    (8) For previous grantees under the charter school facilities 

programs, their performance in implementing these grants.

    (d) Quality of project personnel. (15 points) In determining the 

quality of project personnel, the Secretary considers--

    (1) The qualifications of project personnel, including relevant 

training and experience, of the project manager and other members of the 

project team, including consultants or subcontractors; and

    (2) The staffing plan for the grant project. (Approved by the Office 

of Management and Budget under control number 1855-0007)



(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7223; 1232)