263.21—What priority is given to certain projects and applicants?
(a)
The Secretary awards a total of 5 competitive preference priority points to an application that presents a plan for combining two or more of the activities described in section 7121(c) of the Act over a period of more than one year.
(b)
The Secretary awards a total of 5 competitive preference priority points to an application submitted by an Indian tribe, Indian organization, or Indian institution of higher education that is eligible to participate in the Demonstration Grants for Indian Children program. A consortium of eligible entities that meets the requirements of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 of EDGAR and includes an Indian tribe, Indian organization, or Indian institution of higher education will be considered eligible to receive the five (5) priority points. The consortium agreement, signed by all parties, must be submitted with the application in order to be considered as a consortium application. These competitive preference points are in addition to the 5 competitive preference points that may be given under paragraph (a) of this section.
(c)
The Secretary may give absolute preference reserving all or a portion of the funds available for new awards under the Demonstration Grants for Indian Children program, to only those applications that meet one or more of the following priorities selected for a fiscal year. The Secretary announces the absolute priority selected in the annual application notice published in the Federal Register.
(1)
School readiness projects that provide age appropriate educational programs and language skills to three- and four-year-old Indian students to prepare them for successful entry into school at the kindergarten school level.
(2)
Early childhood and kindergarten programs, including family-based preschool programs, emphasizing school readiness and parental skills.
(3)
College preparatory programs for secondary school students designed to increase competency and skills in challenging subject matters, including math and science, to enable Indian students to successfully transition to postsecondary education.