Star Schools Program

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General Application Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. How do I notify the Department that I intend to apply for a technology grant?
  2. How do I apply for funding under the Star Schools, Ready-To-Learn, and Ready to Teach Programs?
  3. Must I complete the registration process at Grants.gov before I can download the application instructions?
  4. Can the application forms be obtained online?
  5. Is there a format specification for uploading my narrative in Grants.gov?
  6. Where can I call to find or request a D-U-N-S number?
  7. Is there a page limit?
  8. Should a budget be included for additional years at the time of application?
  9. What should be included in the budget narrative?
  10. What should be included in the appendix?
  11. Can I submit letters of support and other materials separately from the electronic submission?
  12. How do I request a waiver or exception to the electronic submission requirement?

1. How do I notify the Department that I intend to apply for a technology grant?

The Department strongly encourages applicants to notify the Department of their intent to submit an application for funding. This will enable us to develop a more efficient process for reviewing grant applications and selecting the number of reviewers needed. The e-mail should not include information regarding the content of the proposed application. Entities that fail to provide this e-mail notification are still eligible to apply for funding. We have facilitated several email addresses to register your intent to apply along with any questions and/or comments regarding the program application process. You should forward your response to the appropriate program as indicated below:

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2. How do I apply for funding under the Star Schools, Ready-To-Learn, and Ready to Teach Programs?

All applicants are required to apply electronically at http://www.grants.gov.

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3. Must I complete the registration process at Grants.gov before I can download the application instructions?

No, you need not wait until you reach the final steps of registration and receive your ID# before you download the application instructions. We encourage you to download the application instructions to begin work on the application so that you will stay within the time constraints of the application submittal date.

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4. Can the application forms be obtained online?

Yes, the application forms can be viewed and completed once you have downloaded the PureEdge viewer on your system. The download is located under the Apply for Grants - Step:1 on the Grants.gov site.

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5. Is there a format specification for uploading my narrative in Grants.gov?

Your narrative must be formatted in rich-text format (rtf.), Adobe Acrobat (pdf.), or MS Word (doc).

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6. Where can I call to find or request a D-U-N-S number?

Applicants should first check with their business office or accounting department. Applicants may also request or find D-U-N-S numbers by calling (800) 333-0505 or visiting the Internet at https://eupdate.dnb.com/requestOptions.html.

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7. Is there a page limit?

There is no formal page limit, but it is recommended that all applications be limited to 50 pages, which does not include the abstract, the budget ED Form 524, the budget narrative or the appendices. The narrative must be double-spaced.

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8. Should a budget be included for additional years at the time of application?

Yes, applicants must provide a complete budget summary on ED Form 524 (Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs) that represents each year of funding from FY 2005 through FY 2009. A narrative must be included that explains the line items included in the budget.

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9. What should be included in the budget narrative?

The budget narrative should document:

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10. What should be included in the appendix?

Supporting documentation to the narrative such as resumes of key personnel, job descriptions, budget tables and budget narrative may be included in the appendix. This material should be concise and pertinent to the competition.

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11. Can I submit letters of support and other materials separately from the electronic submission?

The Secretary considers only information contained in the application in ranking applications for funding consideration. Letters of support sent separately from the formal application package are not considered in the review by the technical review panels.

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12. How do I request a waiver or exception to the electronic submission requirement?

Applicants who are unable to submit an application through the Grants.gov system may apply for a waiver to the electronic submission requirement. Follow the explicit instructions in the Federal Register notice announcing the competition concerning exception to the electronic submission requirement as well as how to apply if a waiver is granted.

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Last Modified: 03/25/2005