§75.1. Programs to which part 75 applies. — Inbound Citations

(3) For specific regulations in this part that apply to the selection procedures and grant-making processes for direct formula grant programs, see §§ 75.215 and 75.230.

Note 1 to § 75.1: See 34 CFR part 76 for the general regulations that apply to programs that allocate funds by formula among eligible States.

Sections 75.216 through 75.222 describe the process the Secretary uses to select applications for new grants. All these sections apply to a discretionary grant program. However, only § 75.216 applies also to a formula grant program. (See § 75.1(b) Discretionary grant programs, § 75.1(c) Formula grant programs, and § 75.200, How applications for new discretionary grants and cooperative agreements are selected for funding; standards for use of cooperative agreements.)

(c) Unless a statute or regulation provides otherwise, the following definitions also apply to the regulations in subtitles A and B of this title:

Acquisition means taking ownership of property, receiving the property as a gift, entering into a lease-purchase arrangement, or leasing the property. The term includes processing, delivery, and installation of property.

Ambitious means promoting continued, meaningful improvement for program participants or for other individuals or entities affected by the grant, or representing a significant advancement in the field of education research, practices, or methodologies. When used to describe a performance target, whether a performance target is ambitious depends upon the context of the relevant performance measure and the baseline for that measure.

Applicant means a party applying for a grant or subgrant under a program of the Department.

Application means a request for a grant or subgrant under a program of the Department.

Award has the same meaning as “Grant” in this paragraph (c).

Baseline means the starting point from which performance is measured and targets are set.

Budget means a recipient's financial plan for carrying out the project or program.

Budget period means an interval of time into which a project period is divided for budgetary purposes.

Construction means the preparation of drawings and specifications for a facilities project; erecting, building, demolishing, acquiring, renovating, major remodeling of, or extending a facilities project; or inspecting and supervising the construction of a facilities project. Construction does not include minor remodeling.

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.

Demonstrates a rationale means that there is a key project component included in the project's logic model that is supported by citations of high-quality research or evaluation findings that suggest that the project component is likely to significantly improve relevant outcomes.

Department means the U.S. Department of Education.

Director of the Institute of Education Sciences means the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences or an officer or employee of the Institute of Education Sciences acting for the Director under a delegation of authority.

ED means the U.S. Department of Education.

EDGAR means the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (34 CFR parts 75, 76, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99).

Elementary school means a day or residential school that provides elementary education, as determined under State law.

Evaluation means an assessment using systematic data collection and analysis of one or more programs, policies, practices, and organizations intended to assess their implementation, outcomes, effectiveness, or efficiency.

Evidence-based, for the purposes of 34 CFR part 75 means the proposed project component is supported by one or more of strong evidence, moderate evidence, promising evidence, or evidence that demonstrates a rationale.

Evidence-building means a systematic plan for identifying and answering questions relevant to programs and policies through performance measurement, exploratory studies, or program evaluation.

Experimental study means a study that is designed to compare outcomes between two groups of individuals (such as students) that are otherwise equivalent except for their assignment to either a treatment group receiving a project component or a control group that does not. Randomized controlled trials, regression discontinuity design studies, and single-case design studies are the specific types of experimental studies that, depending on their design and implementation (e.g., sample attrition in randomized controlled trials and regression discontinuity design studies), can meet What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) standards without reservations as described in the WWC Handbooks:

Sections 75.216 through 75.222 describe the process the Secretary uses to select applications for new grants. All these sections apply to a discretionary grant program. However, only § 75.216 applies also to a formula grant program. (See § 75.1(b) Discretionary grant programs, § 75.1(c) Formula grant programs, and § 75.200, How applications for new discretionary grants and cooperative agreements are selected for funding; standards for use of cooperative agreements.)