Event Details

End: July 30, 2021
Contact: OESE.AmericanHistoryandCivics@ed.gov

Applications Due July 30, 2021

The U.S. Department of Education (Department), Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Effective Educator Development (EED) Division is seeking peer reviewers for the upcoming grant competition for American History and Civics Education-National Activities (AHC-NA) and American History and Civics Academies competitions.  We are seeking peer reviewers with backgrounds in American history, civics education, professional development and/or program evaluation to independently read, score, and provide timely, well written comments for the FY 21 grant applications submitted to the Department.  

The review panels will be comprised of 6-7 applications each.  Applicants must address the prescribed selection criteria and may address the optional competitive preference priorities which will be reviewed and scored by the peer reviewers. We will review applications using panels composed of three non-federal reviewers.

Please note that the FY 21 panel review process will run on a truncated schedule  so that the Department can make awards by September 30, 2021.  As such, reviewers will be expected to be available for three full business days for panel calls--no exceptions. Peer reviewers will be paid $300 per application reviewed. The truncated review schedule is listed below.  Please carefully consider your availability before committing to this review. 

EED Peer Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers selected for this competition must agree to the following guidelines: 

1. Participate in the required peer reviewer orientation.

2. Review and score independently all applications assigned to them and evaluate each application based solely on the selection criteria and if applicable the competitive preference priorities. 

3. Provide constructive and clearly written comments that support the scores awarded to each application. 

4. Participate in all scheduled panel discussions as part of the truncated scheduled listed above; and make necessary changes to comments and scores immediately after the panel discussions. 

5. Reviewers must commit to the meeting the truncated schedule above. Please consider your current workload carefully before committing to this review.

6. Reviewers must complete final scores and constructive comments on the prescribed Technical Review Form. 

7. Enter final scores and comments into the G5 system by the prescribed deadline.

8. The reviewer must identify conflicts of interest with 48 hours of receipt of applications. The logistics contractor will resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the start of panel calls. 

9. Respect the confidentiality of applications and take necessary steps to maintain that confidentiality. 

10. Do not discuss applications, the review process, or other information about the peer review with anyone at any time outside of when it is necessary to fulfill their official capacity as a reviewer.

11. Destroy and do not disseminate any applications once the peer review is complete.

If you would like to be considered to become a reviewer for these competitions and can accommodate the truncated schedule, please email us at OESE.AmericanHistoryandCivics@ed.gov  no later than Friday, July 30, 2021, and provide us with a resume or an abbreviated CV.   After July 30 will review resumes and CVs and our logistics contractor will follow up with you if you are selected to serve as a reviewer.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact us at the above email address. Thank you for your interest in the American History and Civics Education grant competitions.