with paragraph (d) of the section, based on the criteria in §411.21. (c) Subject to paragraph (d) of this section, the maximum possible score for each criterion is 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 § 411.21. (e) The Secretary awards five points to applications submitted by public or private postsecondary institutions. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2402) § 411.21 What selection criteria does the Secretary use? The Secretary uses the following criteria to evaluate an application: (a) National need. (20 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the project would make a contribution of national significance, as measured by such factors as (1) The need for the project in relation to any program priority announced in the FEDERAL REGISTER; and (2) The likelihood that the project will make an important contribution to vocational education. (b) Plan of operation. (25 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the plan of operation for the project, including (1) High quality in the design of the project; (2) An effective plan of management that ensures proper and efficient administration of the project; (3) A clear description of how the objectives of the project relate to the purposes of the program; (4) The quality of the applicant's plans to use its resources and personnel to achieve each objective; and (5) How the applicant will ensure that project participants who are otherwise eligible to participate are selected without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (c) Key personnel. (15 Points) (1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of key personnel the applicant plans to use on the project, including— (i) The qualifications of the project director; (ii) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be used in the project; (iii) The appropriateness of the time that each one of the key personnel, including the project director, will commit to the project; and (iv) How the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (2) To determine personnel qualifications under paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section, the Secretary consid ers (i) Experience and training in fields related to the objectives of the project; (ii) Experience and training in project management; and (iii) Any other qualifications that pertain to the quality of the project. (d) Budget and cost effectiveness. (10 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which (1) The budget for the project is adequate to support the project activities; and (2) Costs are reasonable and necessary in relation to the objectives of the project. (e) Evaluation plan. (5 Points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the evaluation plan for the project, including the extent to which the applicant's methods of evaluation (1) Are clearly explained and appropriate to the project; (2) To the extent possible, are objective and produce data that are quantifiable; (3) Includes activities during the formative stages of the project to help guide and improve the project, as well as a summative evaluation that includes recommendations for replicating project activities and results; (4) If appropriate, identifies expected outcomes of the project participants and how those outcomes will be measured; (5) If appropriate, will provide a comparison between intended and observed results, and lead to the demonstration of a clear link between the observed results and the specific treatment of project participants; and (6) To the extent possible, include a third party evaluation. (f) Adequacy of resources. (5 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the adequacy of the resources that the applicant plans to devote to the project, including facilities, equipment, and supplies. (g) Dissemination plan. (5 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the dissemination plan for the project, including— (1) The extent to which the project is designed to yield outcomes that can be readily disseminated; (2) A clear description of the project outcomes; and (3) A detailed description of how information and materials will be dis5seminated, including— (i) Provisions for publicizing the project at the local, State, and national levels by conducting or delivering presentations at conferences, workshops, and other professional meetings and by preparing materials for journals articles, newsletters, and brochures; (ii) Provisions for demonstrating the methods and techniques used by the project to others interested in replicating these methods and techniques; and (iii) Provisions for assisting others to adopt and successfully implement the project or methods and techniques used by the project. (Approved by the Office of Management and §411.22 What additional factors may the Secretary consider? After evaluating the applications according to the criteria in §411.21 the Secretary may select other than the most highly rated applications for funding if doing so would (a) Improve the geographical distribution of projects funded under this program; or (b) Contribute to the funding of a variety of approaches for carrying out the activities under this part. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2401 and 2402) § 411.23 How does the Secretary evaluate unsolicited applications? (a) At any time during a fiscal year, the Secretary may accept and consider for funding an unsolicited application that has not been submitted under a competition announced in the FEDERAL REGISTER for that fiscal year, if the project proposes activities described in § 411.3. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of 34 CFR 75.100, the Secretary may fund an unsolicited application without publishing an application notice in the FEDERAL REGISTER. (c) The Secretary may select an unsolicited application for funding in accordance with the procedures in §§ 411.20(e) and 411.24. (d) The Secretary assigns the 15 points reserved under §411.20(b) as follows: (1) Ten points to the selection criterion in § 411.21(a)—national need. (2) Five points to the selection criterion in § 411.21(b)—plan of operation. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2402) § 411.24 How does the Secretary select an unsolicited application for funding? (a) After evaluating an unsolicited research application on the basis of the criteria in §411.21, the Secretary compares that application to other unsolicited research applications the Secretary has received. (b) The Secretary may fund an unsolicited research application at any time during the fiscal year. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2402) Subpart A-General $412.1 What is the National Network for Curriculum Coordination in Vocational and Technical Education? The National Network for Curriculum Coordination in Vocational and Technical Education (Network) is a system of six curriculum coordination centers that disseminate information resulting from research and development activities carried out under the Act, in order to ensure broad access at the State and local levels to the information being disseminated. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2402(c)) § 412.2 Who is eligible for an award? State and local educational agencies, postsecondary educational institutions, and other public and private agencies, organizations, and institutions are eligible for an award under this program. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2402(c)) § 412.3 What activities may the Secretary fund? (a) The Secretary provides grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to six regional curriculum coordination centers (CCCs). (b) Each CCC must-(1) Provide for national dissemination of information on effective vocational and technical education programs and materials. with particular attention to regional programs; (2) Be accessible by electronic means; (3) Provide leadership and technical assistance in the design, development, and dissemination of curricula for vocational education; (4) Coordinate the sharing of information among the States with respect to vocational and technical education curricula; (5) Reduce duplication of effort in State activities for the development of vocational and technical education curricula; and (6) Promote the use of research findings with respect to vocational education curricula. (c) The six regional CCCs assisted with funds under this program must serve States according to the Department of Education's regional alignment as follows: (1) The Northeast Curriculum Coordination Center serves Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the Virgin Islands. (2) The Southeast Curriculum Coordination Center serves Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Ten nessee. (3) The East Central Curriculum Coordination Center serves Delaware, the District of Columbia, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. (4) The Midwest Curriculum Coordination Center serves Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. (5) The Northwest Curriculum Coordination Center serves Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. (6) The Western Curriculum Coordination Center serves American Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau until the Compact of Free Association with Palau takes effect. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2402(c)) §412.4 What is the National Network of Directors Council? (a) The National Network of Directors Council (Council) enhances the effectiveness of the Network by (1) Planning for inter-center coordination, dissemination, and diffusion activities; (2) Providing leadership to ensure cohesiveness for overall Network functions; (3) Promoting the adoption and adaptation of curriculum materials; (4) Maintaining liaison with dissemination systems described in §412.32; (5) Convening at least twice a year; and (6) Planning for and participating in an annual meeting of CCCS that includes activities such as displays of current curriculum materials from each CCC, inservice training sessions, and hands-on experience with technologies in vocational and technical education. This meeting must be held in a different region each year. new Subpart B-(Reserved) Subpart C-How Does the § 412.20 How does the Secretary evaluate an application? (a) The Secretary evaluates an application for a grant or cooperative agreement on the basis of the criteria in § 412.21. (b) The Secretary may award up to 100 points, including 15 points to be distributed in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section, based on the criteria in § 412.21. (c) Subject to paragraph (d) of this section, the maximum possible score for each criterion is 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 § 412.21. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2402(c)) § 412.21 What selection criteria does the Secretary use? The Secretary uses the following criteria to evaluate an application: (a) Regional need. (30 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the applicant's understanding of and responsiveness to the needs of the region, including the extent to which the applicant (1) Demonstrates an understanding of the leadership responsibilities associated with serving as a resource center and facilitator for States in a region, including the region's need for inservice training, holding regional meetings, providing technical assistance, coordinating with State directors of vocational education, maintaining a lending library, and disseminating information regularly; (2) Proposes adequate mechanisms and procedures for reporting the results of curriculum networking services and activities of the 50 States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Outlying Areas; (3) Demonstrates the capacity to disseminate information on effective vo cational education materials, including curriculum materials; (4) Demonstrates an understanding of the operation of the Vocational Education Curriculum Materials and ADVOCNET Systems and the need for establishing a Tech-Prep education clearinghouse; and (5) Demonstrates the capacity to undertake the responsibilities associated with participation as a member of the Network Directors Council described in § 412.4. (b) Plan of operation. (25 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the plan of operation for the project, including (1) The quality of the design of the project; (2) The extent to which the management plan ensures proper and efficient administration of the project; (3) How well the objectives of the project relate to the purpose of the program; (4) The quality of the applicant's plan to use its resources and personnel to achieve each objective; and (5) How the applicant will ensure that project participants who are otherwise eligible to participate are selected without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (c) Key personnel. (10 points) (1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of key personnel the applicant plans to use on the proposed project, including (i) The qualifications of the project director; (ii) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be used in the project; (iii) The appropriateness of the time that each person referred to in paragraphs (c)(1) (i) and (ii) of this section will commit to the project; and (iv) How the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. (2) To determine the personnel qualifications under paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section, the Secretary considers (i) The experience and training of key personnel in project management and in the fields related to the objectives of the project; and (ii) Any other qualifications of key personnel that pertain to the quality of the project. (d) Institutional commitment. (10 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the applicant (1) Has experience with vocational education curriculum and dissemination; (2) Will initiate and maintain liaison functions with regional States; and (3) Will provide adequate facilities, equipment, and supplies. (e) Budget and cost effectiveness. (5 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which (1) The budget is cost effective and adequate to support the project activities; and (2) The budget contains costs that are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the project. (f) Evaluation plan. (5 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the project's evaluation plan, including the extent to which the plan (1) Is clearly explained and is appropriate to the project; and (2) Identifies expected outcomes of the services provided and how those services will be measured. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under Control No. 1830-0013) (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2402(c)) Subpart D-What Conditions Must Be Met After An Award? § 412.30 What additional activities must be carried out by Curriculum Coordination Centers? In carrying out the activities described in §412.3, each CCC must perform the following activities: (a) Assist States in the development, adaptation, adoption, dissemination, and use of curriculum materials and services and other information resulting from research and development activities carried out under the Act, including performing these activities during at least two regional meetings |