[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: 34CFR263.6]



[Page 574-576]

 

                           TITLE 34--EDUCATION

 

                  CHAPTER II--OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND

              SECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 

PART 263_INDIAN EDUCATION DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAMS--Table of Contents

 

               Subpart A_Professional Development Program

 

Sec.  263.6  How does the Secretary evaluate applications for the 

Professional Development program?



    The following criteria, with the total number of points available in 

parenthesis, are used to evaluate an application for a new award:

    (a) Need for project (5) points. In determining the need for the 

proposed project, the Secretary considers the following:

    (1) The extent to which the proposed project will prepare personnel 

in specific fields in which shortages have been demonstrated; and

    (2) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in local 

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

of the community or region have been identified and will be addressed by 

the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude of those gaps 

or weaknesses.

    (b) Significance (10) points. In determining the significance of the 

proposed project, the Secretary considers the following:

    (1) The potential contribution of the proposed project to increase 

effective strategies for teaching and student achievement;

    (2) The likelihood that the proposed project will build local 

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

of the target population; and

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

change or improvement.

    (c) Quality of the project design (15) points. The Secretary 

considers the following factors in determining the quality of the design 

of the proposed project:

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

achieved



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by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable;

    (2) The extent to which the design of the proposed project reflects 

up-to-date knowledge from scientifically-based research and effective 

practices on how to improve teaching and learning to support student 

proficiency in meeting rigorous academic standards;

    (3) The extent to which performance feedback and continuous 

improvement of participant performance are integral to the design of the 

proposed project; and

    (4) The extent to which the proposed project will establish linkages 

with other appropriate agencies and organizations providing educational 

services to the population of students to be served by the participants.

    (d) Quality of project services (15) points. The Secretary considers 

the following factors:

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

project reflect up-to-date knowledge of scientifically-based research 

and effective practice;

    (2) 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 the 

achievement of students as measured against rigorous academic standards; 

and

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

project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for maximizing 

the effectiveness of the training and project services provided.

    (e) Quality of project personnel (15) points. The Secretary 

considers the following factors when determining the quality of the 

personnel who will carry out the proposed project:

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

of the project director;

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

of key project personnel; and

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

of project consultants or subcontractors.

    (f) Adequacy of resources (10) points. In determining the adequacy 

of support for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the 

following factors:

    (1) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in the 

proposed project to the implementation and success of the project;

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

design of the program, program objectives, number of persons to be 

served, and the anticipated results and benefits; and

    (3) 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 (15) points. In determining the 

quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the Secretary 

considers the following factors:

    (1) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous 

improvement in the performance of program participants in meeting the 

needs of the population they are to serve;

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

the proposed project during the award period, including clearly defined 

responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project 

tasks; and

    (3) The extent to which the time commitments of the project director 

and other key personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet the 

objectives of the proposed project.

    (h) Quality of the project evaluation (15) points. In determining 

the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers the following 

factors:

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

feasible, and appropriate to the context within which the project 

operates and the effectiveness of project implementation strategies;

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

performance feedback on participants and permit periodic assessment of 

progress toward achieving the intended outcomes; and

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

objective output measures that are directly related to the intended 

outcomes of the



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project and will produce both quantitative and qualitative data to the 

extent possible.



(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 

1810-0580)



(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7442)