(b) The Secretary may award up to 100 points, including a reserved 15 points to be distributed in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section, based on the criteria in § 431.31.

(c) Subject to paragraph (d) of this section, the maximum possible points for each criterion are indicated in parentheses after the heading for each criterion.

(d) For each competition, as announced through a notice published in the FEDERAL REGISTER, the Secretary may assign the reserved points among the criteria in § 431.31.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.)

§ 431.31 What selection criteria does the Secretary use?

The Secretary uses the following criteria in evaluating each application: (a) Plan of operation. (20 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the quality of the plan of operation for the project.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows

(i) High quality in the design of the project;

(ii) An effective plan of management that ensures proper and efficient administration of the project;

(iii) A clear description of how the objectives of the project relate to the purpose of the program;

(iv) The way the application plans to use its resources and personnel to achieve each objective;

(v) A clear description of how the applicant will provide equal access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, such as

(A) Members of racial or ethnic minority groups;

(B) Women;

(C) Handicapped persons; and (D) The elderly.

(b) Quality of key personnel. (15 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the qualifications of the key personnel the applicant plans to use on the project.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows

(i) The qualifications of the project director (if one is to be used);

(ii) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be used in the project;

(iii) The time each person referred to in paragraphs (b)(2) (i) and (ii) of this section will commit to the project; and

(iv) The extent to which the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, such as—

(A) Member of racial or ethnic minority groups;

(B) Women;

(C) Handicapped persons; and (D) The elderly.

(3) To determine personnel qualifications, the Secretary considers experience and training, in fields related to the objectives of the subject, as well as other information that the applicant provides.

(c) Budget and cost effectiveness. (10 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows that the project has an adequate budget and is cost effective.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows

(i) The budget for the project is adequate to support the project activities; and

(ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the project.

(d) Evaluation plan. (5 points) (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the quality of the evaluation plan for the project.

CROSS REFERENCE. See 34 CFR 75.590 (Evaluation by grantee).

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows methods of evaluation that are appropriate for the project and, to the extent possible, are objective and produce data that are quantifiable.

(e) Adequacy of resources. (5 points) (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows that the applicant plans to devote adequate resources to the project.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows

(i) The facilities that the applicant plans to use are adequate; and

(ii) The equipment and supplies that the applicant plans to use are adequate.

(f) National need. (20 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine how it addresses a national need in adult education. (2) The Secretary looks for information that describes

(i) The need in terms of the problem rather than the symptom of the problem;

(ii) Who or what will be helped by the project;

(iii) How the project will improve and expand adult education; and

(iv) The extent to which the project involves creative or innovative techniques and concepts.

(g) Dissemination plan. (10 points)

(1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the quality of the dissemination plan for the project.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows

(i) The extent to which the project is designed to yield outcomes that can be readily disseminated;

(ii) A clear description of the project outcomes; and

(iii) A detailed description of how information and materials will be disseminated.

(Authority: Sec. 309; 20 U.S.C. 1207a)

§ 431.32 How does the Secretary select an application for funding?

(a) After evaluating the applications according to the criteria contained in § 431.31, the Secretary may determine whether the most highly rated applications are broadly and equitably distributed throughout the Nation.

(b) The Secretary may select other applications for funding on the basis of geographic distribution if doing so would contribute to achieving the purposes of this discretionary program.

(c) The Secretary may decline to fund any project that is eligible for funding under a different competition of Department of Education program. (Authority: Sec. 309; 20 U.S.C. 1207a)

§§ 431.33-431.39 [Reserved]

Subpart E-What Condition Must Be Met by a Recipient?

§ 431.40 What condition must be met under this program?

A recipient shall not charge participants for their participation in the projects assisted under this program.

(Authority: Sec. 309(a)(2); (20 U.S.C. 1207a(a)(2))

§§ 431.41-431.49 [Reserved]

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 3231(a) (1), (2), and (3))

(b) Programs of Academic Excellence (34 CFR Part 524).

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 3231(a)(4))

(c) Family English Literacy Program (34 CFR Part 525).

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 3231(a)(5))

(d) Special Populations Program (34 CFR Part 526).

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 3231(a)(6))

(e) Program for the Development of Instructional Materials (34 CFR Part

537).

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 3231(a)(7))

(f) State Educational Agency Program (34 CFR Part 548).

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 3242)

(g) Evaluation Assistance Centers Program (34 CFR Part 549). (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 3244)

(h) Educational Personnel Training Program (34 CFR Part 561).

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 3251(a)(1))

(i) Fellowship Program (34 CFR Part 562).

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 3251(a)(2), 3253)

(j) Training Development and Improvement Program (34 CFR Part 573).

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 3251(a)(3))

(k) Short-Term Training Program (34 CFR Part 574).

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 3251(a)(4))

(1) Multifunctional Resource Centers (34 CFR Part 575).

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 3251(a)(5), 3252)

§ 500.2 [Reserved]

§ 500.3 What regulations apply to these programs?

(a) Except as described in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the following regulations apply to programs authorized under the Act listed in § 500.1:

(1) The regulations in this Part 500.