Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Overview Information; Personnel Development To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities-Preparation of Leadership Personnel; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007, 46205-46209 [E6-13194]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 155 / Friday, August 11, 2006 / Notices
process for this appeal, the Department
has determined that it would not be
practical or in the public interest to
continue this proceeding. Rather, under
the authority in 20 U.S.C. 1234a(j), the
Department has determined that
compromise of this claim for a refund of
$78,965 is appropriate. The public is
invited to comment on the Department’s
intent to compromise this claim.
Additional information may be obtained
by calling or writing to John R. Mason,
Esq. at the telephone number listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT or the address listed under
ADDRESSES.
Electronic Access to This Document:
You may view this document, as well as
all other documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in
text or Adobe Portable Document
Format (PDF) on the Internet at the
following site: https://www.ed.gov/news/
fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe
Acrobat Reader, which is available free
at this site. If you have questions about
using PDF, call the U.S. Government
Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1–
888–293–6498; or in the Washington,
DC area at (202) 512–1530.
Estimated Available Funds: The
Administration has requested
$90,626,000 for the Personnel
Development to Improve Services and
Results for Children with Disabilities
program for FY 2007, of which we
intend to use an estimated $4,800,000
for the Preparation of Leadership
Personnel competition. The actual level
of funding, if any, depends on final
congressional action. However, we are
inviting applications to allow enough
time to complete the grant process if
Congress appropriates funds for this
program.
Estimated Range of Awards:
$171,969—200,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$196,200.
Maximum Award: We will reject any
application that proposes a budget
exceeding $200,000 for a single budget
period of 12 months. The Assistant
Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services may change the
maximum amount through a notice
published in the Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 24.
Note: The official version of this document
is the document published in the Federal
Register. Free Internet access to the official
edition of the Federal Register and the Code
of Federal Regulations is available on GPO
Access at: www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/
index.html.
Full Text of Announcement
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 48 months.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.325D.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purposes of
this program are to (1) help address
State-identified needs for highly
qualified personnel—in special
education, related services, early
intervention, and regular education—to
work with infants or toddlers with
disabilities, or children with
disabilities; and (2) ensure that those
personnel have the skills and
knowledge—derived from practices that
have been determined through research
and experience to be successful—that
are needed to serve those children.
Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority is from
allowable activities specified in the
statute (see sections 662(d) and 681(d)
of the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA)).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2007 this
priority is an absolute priority. Under 34
CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only
applications that meet this priority.
This priority is:
Dates: Applications Available: August
11, 2006.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: October 10, 2006.
Deadline for Intergovernmental
Review: December 11, 2006.
Eligible Applicants: Institutions of
higher education (IHEs).
Preparation of Leadership Personnel
This priority supports and is limited
to projects that train personnel at the
preservice doctoral or postdoctoral level
in early intervention, special education
or related services and at the advanced
graduate level (masters and specialists)
in special education administration/
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1234a(j).
Dated: August 9, 2006.
Lawrence A. Warder,
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 06–6887 Filed 8–10–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
hsrobinson on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES1
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services Overview
Information; Personnel Development
To Improve Services and Results for
Children With Disabilities—Preparation
of Leadership Personnel; Notice
Inviting Applications for New Awards
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007
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46205
supervision. In order to be eligible
under this priority, programs must
provide training and support for
scholars to complete their training
within the performance period of the
grant.
Therefore, only the following types of
programs of study will meet the
requirements of this priority:
1. A major in special education,
related services or early intervention at
the doctoral or post-doctoral level; and
2. Training at the advanced graduate
level (masters and specialists programs)
in special education administration/
supervision.
Note: Training that leads to a Doctor of
Audiology (D Aud) degree is not included as
part of this priority because training
programs that lead to a D Aud degree are
eligible to apply for funding under the
Combined Priority for Personnel Preparation
competition (CFDA 84.325K) announced in a
notice inviting applications published
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
Register.
Projects funded under this absolute
priority must—
(a) Demonstrate, in the narrative
section of the application under
‘‘Quality of Project Services,’’ how—
(1) The program prepares personnel to
address the specialized needs of
children with disabilities from diverse
cultural and language backgrounds,
including limited English proficient
children with disabilities, by—
(i) Identifying the competencies
needed by leadership personnel to
understand and work with culturally
and linguistically diverse populations
(the competencies identified should
reflect the current knowledge base); and
(ii) Preparing personnel to use those
competencies through early
intervention, special education, and
related services training programs;
(2) All relevant coursework for the
proposed program reflects current
research and pedagogy on—
(i) Participation and achievement in
the general education curriculum and
improved outcomes for children with
disabilities; and
(ii) The provision of coordinated
services in natural environments to
improve outcomes for infants and
toddlers with disabilities and their
families;
(3) The program offers integrated
training and practice opportunities that
will enhance the collaborative
competencies of all personnel who
share responsibility for providing
effective services for children with
disabilities;
(4) For programs that train personnel
in early intervention, special education
or related services, the program ensures
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that scholars are knowledgeable about:
(i) The provisions of the No Child Left
Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB); (ii) the
IDEA and NCLB requirement that
teachers be highly qualified; and (iii) the
need to foster collaboration between
regular and special education teachers;
(5) The proposed training program is
aligned with State academic content
standards for children, if applicable;
(b) Submit annual data on each
scholar who receives grant support.
Projects funded under this priority must
submit this scholar data electronically
within 60 days after the end of each
grant budget year. Applicants are
encouraged to visit the Personnel Prep
Data (PPD) Web site at https://
www.osepppd.org for further
information. This data collection is in
addition to and does not supplant the
annual grant performance report
required of each grantee for
continuation funding (see 34 CFR
75.590);
(c) Budget for a three-day Project
Director’s meeting in Washington, DC,
during each year of the project;
(d) If the project maintains a Web site,
include relevant information and
documents in a format that meets a
government or industry-recognized
standard for accessibility;
(e) Provide a detailed description of
the program, including the sequence of
the courses offered in the program that
describes the comprehensive
curriculum designed to meet program
goals and obtain mastery of the
following required professional
domains:
(1) Research methodology.
(2) Personnel preparation.
(3) Policy/advocacy or professional
practice;
(f) Include, in the application
narrative under ‘‘Quality of Project
Evaluation’’, a clear and effective plan
for evaluating the extent to which
graduates of the training program have
the knowledge and competencies
necessary to provide research-based
instruction and services that result in
improved outcomes for children with
disabilities;
(g) Communicate the results of the
evaluation conducted in accordance
with paragraph (f) of this priority to the
Office of Special Education Programs
(OSEP) in required annual performance
reports for continuation funding and the
project final performance report;
(h) Certify that all scholars will be
recruited into the program with the
intention of graduating from the
program during the performance period
of the grant;
(i) Certify that the institution will not
require scholars recruited into the
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program to work as a condition of
receiving a scholarship, e.g., as graduate
assistants, unless the work is required to
complete their training program;
(j) If the program is addressing
national or regional needs, demonstrate
the existence of the needs through
appropriate research data; and
(k) Designate at least 65 percent of the
total requested budget for scholarship
support or provide justification for any
designation less than 65 percent.
Examples of sufficient justification for
proposing less than 65 percent of the
budget for scholarship support might
include:
• A project servicing rural areas that
provides long distance training, and that
may require Web Masters, adjunct
professors, or mentors to operate
effectively.
• A project that is expanding or
adding a new emphasis area to the
program, and as a result of this
expansion, may need additional faculty
or other resources such as expert
consultants, additional training
supplies, or equipment that would
enhance the program.
Please note that projects funded to
develop, expand, or add a new area of
emphasis to special education or related
services programs must provide
information on how these new areas
will be sustained once Federal funding
ends.
Statutory Requirements: To be
considered for an award, an applicant
must also satisfy the following
requirements contained in section
662(e) through (h) of IDEA—
(a) Demonstrate that the activities
described in the application will
address needs identified by the State or
States the applicant proposes to serve
and that the State or States intend to
accept successful completion of the
proposed personnel preparation
program as meeting State personnel
standards or other requirements in State
law or regulation for serving children
with disabilities or serving infants and
toddlers with disabilities (see sections
662(e)(2)(A) and 662(f)(2) of IDEA).
Letters from the State or States that the
project proposes to serve could be one
method for addressing this requirement;
(b) Demonstrate that the applicant
will cooperate with one or more State
educational agencies—or, if appropriate,
State appointed lead agencies
responsible for providing early
intervention services—or local
educational agencies in carrying out and
monitoring the proposed project (see
section 662(e)(2)(B) of IDEA);
(c) Meet State and professionally
recognized standards for the preparation
of leadership personnel in special
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education, related services, or early
intervention fields (see section 662(f)(2)
of IDEA); and
(d) Ensure that individuals who
receive financial assistance under the
project agree to pay all or part of the
amount of the scholarship, in
accordance with section 662(h)(1) of
IDEA and 34 CFR part 304. Applicants
must describe how they will inform
scholarship recipients of this service
obligation requirement.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking:
Under the Administrative Procedure Act
(APA) (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department
generally offers interested parties the
opportunity to comment on proposed
priorities and requirements. Section
681(d) of the IDEA makes the public
comment requirements of the APA
inapplicable to the priority in this
notice.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1462
and 1481.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in
34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82,
84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The
regulations for this program in 34 CFR
part 304.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The
Administration has requested
$90,626,000 for the Personnel
Development to Improve Services and
Results for Children with Disabilities
program for FY 2007, of which we
intend to use an estimated $4,800,000
for the Preparation of Leadership
Personnel competition. The actual level
of funding, if any, depends on final
congressional action. However, we are
inviting applications to allow enough
time to complete the grant process if
Congress appropriates funds for this
program.
Estimated Range of Awards:
$171,969–$200,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$196,200.
Maximum Award: We will reject any
application that proposes a budget
exceeding $200,000 for a single budget
period of 12 months. The Assistant
Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services may change the
maximum amount through a notice
published in the Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 24.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 48 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs.
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2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
program does not involve cost sharing
or matching.
3. Other: General Requirements—(a)
The projects funded under this
competition must make positive efforts
to employ and advance in employment
qualified individuals with disabilities
(see section 606 of IDEA).
(b) Applicants and grant recipients
funded under this competition must
involve individuals with disabilities or
parents of individuals with disabilities
ages birth through 26 in planning,
implementing, and evaluating the
projects (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of
IDEA).
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IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address to Request Application
Package: Education Publications Center
(ED Pubs), P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD
20794–1398. Telephone (toll free): 1–
877–433–7827. FAX: (301) 470–1244. If
you use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD), you may call (toll
free): 1–877–576–7734.
You may also contact ED Pubs at its
Web site: https://www.ed.gov/pubs/
edpubs.html or you may contact ED
Pubs at its e-mail address:
edpubs@inet.ed.gov
If you request an application from ED
Pubs, be sure to identify this
competition as follows: CFDA Number
84.325D.
Individuals with disabilities may
obtain a copy of the application package
in an alternative format (e.g., Braille,
large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) by contacting the Grants and
Contracts Services Team listed under
For Further Information Contact in
section VII of this notice.
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission: Requirements concerning
the content of an application, together
with the forms you must submit, are in
the application package for this
competition.
Page Limit: The application narrative
(Part III of the application) is where you,
the applicant, address the selection
criteria that reviewers use to evaluate
your application. You must limit Part III
to the equivalent of no more than 50
pages, using the following standards:
• A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side
only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom,
and both sides.
• Double space (no more than three
lines per vertical inch) all text in the
application narrative, including titles,
headings, footnotes, quotations,
references, and captions, as well as all
text in charts, tables, figures, and
graphs.
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• Use a font that is either 12 point or
larger or no smaller than 10 pitch
(characters per inch).
The page limit does not apply to Part
I, the cover sheet; Part II, the budget
section, including the narrative budget
justification; Part IV, the assurances and
certifications; or the one-page abstract,
the resumes, the bibliography, the
references, or the letters of support.
However, you must include all of the
application narrative in Part III.
We will reject your application if—
• You apply these standards and
exceed the page limit; or
• You apply other standards and
exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: August 11,
2006.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: October 10, 2006.
Applications for grants under this
competition may be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov
Apply site (Grants.gov), or in paper
format by mail or hand delivery. For
information (including dates and times)
about how to submit your application
electronically, or by mail or hand
delivery, please refer to section IV. 6.
Other Submission Requirements in this
notice.
We do not consider an application
that does not comply with the deadline
requirements. Deadline for
Intergovernmental Review: December
11, 2006.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This
program is subject to Executive Order
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR
part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs under Executive Order 12372
is in the application package for this
competition.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference
regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements:
Applications for grants under this
competition may be submitted
electronically or in paper format by mail
or hand delivery.
a. Electronic Submission of
Applications. We have been accepting
applications electronically through the
Department’s e-Application system
since FY 2000. In order to expand on
those efforts and comply with the
President’s Management Agenda, we are
continuing to participate as a partner in
the new governmentwide Grants.gov
Apply site in FY 2007. Preparation of
Leadership Personnel—CFDA Number
84.325D is one of the competitions
included in this project. We request
your participation in Grants.gov.
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If you choose to submit your
application electronically, you must use
the Grants.gov Apply site at https://
www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you
will be able to download a copy of the
application package, complete it offline,
and then upload and submit your
application. You may not e-mail an
electronic copy of a grant application to
us.
You may access the electronic grant
application for the Preparation of
Leadership Personnel competition—
CFDA Number 84.325D at: https://
www.grants.gov. You must search for
the downloadable application package
for this program by the CFDA number.
Do not include the CFDA number’s
alpha suffix in your search.
Please note the following:
• Your participation in Grants.gov is
voluntary.
• When you enter the Grants.gov site,
you will find information about
submitting an application electronically
through the site, as well as the hours of
operation.
• Applications received by
Grants.gov are time and date stamped.
Your application must be fully
uploaded and submitted, and must be
date/time stamped by the Grants.gov
system no later than 4:30 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date. Except as
otherwise noted in this section, we will
not consider your application if it is
date/time stamped by the Grants.gov
system later than 4:30 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date. When we
retrieve your application from
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are
rejecting your application because it
was date/time stamped by the
Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date.
• The amount of time it can take to
upload an application will vary
depending on a variety of factors
including the size of the application and
the speed of your Internet connection.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that
you do not wait until the application
deadline date to begin the application
process through Grants.gov.
• You should review and follow the
Education Submission Procedures for
submitting an application through
Grants.gov that are included in the
application package for this competition
to ensure that you submit your
application in a timely manner to the
Grants.gov system. You can also find the
Education Submission Procedures
pertaining to Grants.gov at https://
e-Grants.ed.gov/help/
GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
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• To submit your application via
Grants.gov, you must complete all of the
steps in the Grants.gov registration
process (see https://www.grants.gov/
applicants/get_registered.jsp). These
steps include (1) registering your
organization, (2) registering yourself as
an Authorized Organization
Representative (AOR), and (3) getting
authorized as an AOR by your
organization. Details on these steps are
outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step
Registration Guide (see https://
www.grants.gov/section910/
Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf).
You also must provide on your
application the same D-U-N-S Number
used with this registration. Please note
that the registration process may take
five or more business days to complete,
and you must have completed all
registration steps to allow you to
successfully submit an application via
Grants.gov.
• You will not receive additional
point value because you submit your
application in electronic format, nor
will we penalize you if you submit your
application in paper format.
• You may submit all documents
electronically, including all information
typically included on the Application
for Federal Education Assistance (ED
424), Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs (ED 524), and all
necessary assurances and certifications.
If you choose to submit your application
electronically, you must attach any
narrative sections of your application as
files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich
text) or .PDF (Portable Document)
format. If you upload a file type other
than the three file types specified above
or submit a password protected file, we
will not review that material.
• Your electronic application must
comply with any page limit
requirements described in this notice.
• After you electronically submit
your application, you will receive an
automatic acknowledgment from
Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov
tracking number. The Department will
retrieve your application from
Grants.gov and send you a second
confirmation by e-mail that will include
a PR/Award number (an ED-specified
identifying number unique to your
application).
• We may request that you provide us
original signatures on forms at a later
date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in
Case of System Unavailability
If you are prevented from
electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline
date because of technical problems with
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the Grants.gov system, we will grant you
an extension until 4:30 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, the following
business day to enable you to transmit
your application electronically, or by
hand delivery. You also may mail your
application by following the mailing
instructions as described elsewhere in
this notice. If you submit an application
after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on
the deadline date, please contact the
person listed elsewhere in this notice
under For Further Information Contact,
and provide an explanation of the
technical problem you experienced with
Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov
Support Desk Case Number (if
available). We will accept your
application if we can confirm that a
technical problem occurred with the
Grants.gov system and that that problem
affected your ability to submit your
application by 4:30 p.m., Washington,
DC time, on the application deadline
date. The Department will contact you
after a determination is made on
whether your application will be
accepted.
Note: Extensions referred to in this section
apply only to the unavailability of or
technical problems with the Grants.gov
system. We will not grant you an extension
if you failed to fully register to submit your
application to Grants.gov before the deadline
date and time or if the technical problem you
experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov
system.
b. Submission of Paper Applications
by Mail.
If you submit your application in
paper format by mail (through the U.S.
Postal Service or a commercial carrier),
you must mail the original and two
copies of your application, on or before
the application deadline date, to the
Department at the applicable following
address:
By mail through the U.S. Postal
Service: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.325D), 400 Maryland
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202–
4260 or
By mail through a commercial carrier:
U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center—Stop 4260,
Attention: (CFDA Number 84.325D),
7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD
20785–1506.
Regardless of which address you use,
you must show proof of mailing
consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service
postmark,
(2) A legible mail receipt with the
date of mailing stamped by the U.S.
Postal Service,
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or
receipt from a commercial carrier, or
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(4) Any other proof of mailing
acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Education.
If you mail your application through
the U.S. Postal Service, we do not
accept either of the following as proof
of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark, or
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by
the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after
the application deadline date, we will
not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not
uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before
relying on this method, you should check
with your local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications
by Hand Delivery.
If you submit your application in
paper format by hand delivery, you (or
a courier service) must deliver the
original and two copies of your
application by hand, on or before the
application deadline date, to the
Department at the following address:
US Department of Education,
Application Control Center,
Attention: (CFDA Number 84.325D),
550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041,
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington,
DC 20202–4260.
The Application Control Center accepts
hand deliveries daily between 8 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time,
except Saturdays, Sundays and Federal
holidays.
Note: Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of
Paper Applications:
If you mail or hand deliver your
application to the Department:
(1) You must indicate on the envelope
and—if not provided by the Department—in
Item 4 of ED 424 the CFDA number—and
suffix letter, if any—of the competition under
which you are submitting your application.
(2) The Application Control Center will
mail a grant application receipt
acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive
the grant application receipt
acknowledgment within 15 business days
from the application deadline date, you
should call the U.S. Department of Education
Application Control Center at (202) 245–
6288.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection
criteria for this competition are from 34
CFR 75.210 and are listed in the
application package.
2. Treating a Priority as Two Separate
Competitions: In the past, there have
been problems in finding peer reviewers
without conflicts of interest for
competitions in which many entities
throughout the country submit
applications. The Standing Panel
requirements under IDEA also have
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hsrobinson on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES1
placed additional constraints on the
availability of reviewers. Therefore, the
Department has determined that, for
some discretionary competitions,
applications may be separated into two
or more groups and ranked and selected
for funding within the specific group.
This procedure will ensure the
availability of a much larger group of
reviewers without conflicts of interest. It
also will increase the quality,
independence and fairness of the review
process and permit panel members to
review applications under discretionary
competitions for which they have also
submitted applications. However, if the
Department decides to select for funding
an equal number of applications in each
group, this may result in different cutoff points for fundable applications in
each group.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application
is successful, we notify your U.S.
Representative and U.S. Senators and
send you a Grant Award Notification
(GAN). We may also notify you
informally.
If your application is not evaluated or
not selected for funding, we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy
requirements in the application package
and reference these and other
requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining
the terms and conditions of an award in
the Applicable Regulations section of
this notice and include these and other
specific conditions in the GAN. The
GAN also incorporates your approved
application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: At the end of your
project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial
information, as directed by the
Secretary. If you receive a multi-year
award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the
most current performance and financial
expenditure information as specified by
the Secretary in 34 CFR 75.118. In
addition, to satisfy the requirements of
the priority in this notice, you must
submit annual data on each scholar who
receives grant support through this
program.
4. Performance Measures: Under the
Government Performance and Results
Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has
established a set of performance
measures that are designed to yield
information on the effectiveness of the
Personnel Development program. These
measures include: (1) The percentage of
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:41 Aug 10, 2006
Jkt 208001
projects that incorporate scientificallyor evidence-based practices; (2) the
percentage of scholars who exit training
programs prior to completion due to
poor academic performance; (3) the
percentage of degree or certification
recipients employed upon program
completion who are working in the
area(s) for which they were trained; and
(4) the percentage of degree or
certification recipients employed upon
program completion who are working in
the area(s) for which they were trained
and are fully qualified under IDEA.
Grantees will be required to collect
and report data on grant-supported
scholars through the PPD Web site at
https://www.oespppd.org (see paragraph
(b) under the Absolute Priority section
of this notice).
The Department also has developed
long-term measures that are designed to
yield information on various aspects of
program quality. These measures
include: (1) The percentage of scholars
completing IDEA-funded training
programs who are knowledgeable and
skilled in scientifically-or evidencebased practices for infants, toddlers,
children and youth with disabilities;
and (2) the percentage of program
graduates who maintain employment for
three or more years in the area(s) for
which they were trained). Grantees may
be asked to participate in assessing and
providing information on such longterm aspects of program quality.
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact:
Robert Gilmore Ph.D., U.S. Department
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue,
SW., room 4083, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202–2600.
Telephone: (202) 245–7354.
If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD), you may call
the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–
800–877–8339.
Individuals with disabilities may
obtain this document in an alternative
format (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, or computer diskette) on
request by contacting the following
office: The Grants and Contracts
Services Team, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC
20202–2550. Telephone: (202) 245–
7363.
VIII. Other Information
Electronic Access to This Document:
You may view this document, as well as
all other documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in
text or Adobe Portable Document
Format (PDF) on the Internet at the
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
46209
following site: https://www.ed.gov/news/
fedregister
To use PDF you must have Adobe
Acrobat Reader, which is available free
at this site. If you have questions about
using PDF, call the U.S. Government
Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1–
888–293–6498; or in the Washington,
DC, area at (202) 512–1530.
Note: The official version of this document
is the document published in the Federal
Register. Free Internet access to the official
edition of the Federal Register and the Code
of Federal Regulations is available on GPO
Access at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/
index.html
Dated: August 8, 2006.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E6–13194 Filed 8–10–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services Overview
Information; Personnel Development
To Improve Services and Results for
Children With Disabilities—Combined
Priority for Personnel Preparation;
Notice Inviting Applications for New
Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.325K.
Note: This notice includes one absolute
priority with four focus areas, and funding
information for each focus area of the
competition.
Dates: Applications Available: August
11, 2006.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: October 10, 2006.
Deadline for Intergovernmental
Review: December 11, 2006.
Eligible Applicants: Institutions of
higher education (IHEs).
Estimated Available Funds: The
Administration has requested
$90,626,000 for the Personnel
Development to Improve Services and
Results for Children with Disabilities
program for FY 2007, of which we
intend to use an estimated $11,692,000
for the Combined Priority for Personnel
Preparation competition. The actual
level of funding, if any, depends on
final congressional action. However, we
are inviting applications to allow
enough time to complete the grant
process if Congress appropriates funds
for this program.
For funding information regarding
each of the specific focus areas of the
absolute priority, see the chart in the
Award Information section of this
notice.
E:\FR\FM\11AUN1.SGM
11AUN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 155 (Friday, August 11, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46205-46209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13194]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Overview
Information; Personnel Development To Improve Services and Results for
Children With Disabilities--Preparation of Leadership Personnel; Notice
Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.325D.
Dates: Applications Available: August 11, 2006.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: October 10, 2006.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: December 11, 2006.
Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education (IHEs).
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$90,626,000 for the Personnel Development to Improve Services and
Results for Children with Disabilities program for FY 2007, of which we
intend to use an estimated $4,800,000 for the Preparation of Leadership
Personnel competition. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on
final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to
allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress
appropriates funds for this program.
Estimated Range of Awards: $171,969--200,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $196,200.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $200,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal
Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 24.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 48 months.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purposes of this program are to (1) help
address State-identified needs for highly qualified personnel--in
special education, related services, early intervention, and regular
education--to work with infants or toddlers with disabilities, or
children with disabilities; and (2) ensure that those personnel have
the skills and knowledge--derived from practices that have been
determined through research and experience to be successful--that are
needed to serve those children.
Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority
is from allowable activities specified in the statute (see sections
662(d) and 681(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA)).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2007 this priority is an absolute
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that
meet this priority.
This priority is:
Preparation of Leadership Personnel
This priority supports and is limited to projects that train
personnel at the preservice doctoral or postdoctoral level in early
intervention, special education or related services and at the advanced
graduate level (masters and specialists) in special education
administration/ supervision. In order to be eligible under this
priority, programs must provide training and support for scholars to
complete their training within the performance period of the grant.
Therefore, only the following types of programs of study will meet
the requirements of this priority:
1. A major in special education, related services or early
intervention at the doctoral or post-doctoral level; and
2. Training at the advanced graduate level (masters and specialists
programs) in special education administration/supervision.
Note: Training that leads to a Doctor of Audiology (D Aud)
degree is not included as part of this priority because training
programs that lead to a D Aud degree are eligible to apply for
funding under the Combined Priority for Personnel Preparation
competition (CFDA 84.325K) announced in a notice inviting
applications published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
Register.
Projects funded under this absolute priority must--
(a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under
``Quality of Project Services,'' how--
(1) The program prepares personnel to address the specialized needs
of children with disabilities from diverse cultural and language
backgrounds, including limited English proficient children with
disabilities, by--
(i) Identifying the competencies needed by leadership personnel to
understand and work with culturally and linguistically diverse
populations (the competencies identified should reflect the current
knowledge base); and
(ii) Preparing personnel to use those competencies through early
intervention, special education, and related services training
programs;
(2) All relevant coursework for the proposed program reflects
current research and pedagogy on--
(i) Participation and achievement in the general education
curriculum and improved outcomes for children with disabilities; and
(ii) The provision of coordinated services in natural environments
to improve outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities and
their families;
(3) The program offers integrated training and practice
opportunities that will enhance the collaborative competencies of all
personnel who share responsibility for providing effective services for
children with disabilities;
(4) For programs that train personnel in early intervention,
special education or related services, the program ensures
[[Page 46206]]
that scholars are knowledgeable about: (i) The provisions of the No
Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB); (ii) the IDEA and NCLB
requirement that teachers be highly qualified; and (iii) the need to
foster collaboration between regular and special education teachers;
(5) The proposed training program is aligned with State academic
content standards for children, if applicable;
(b) Submit annual data on each scholar who receives grant support.
Projects funded under this priority must submit this scholar data
electronically within 60 days after the end of each grant budget year.
Applicants are encouraged to visit the Personnel Prep Data (PPD) Web
site at https://www.osepppd.org for further information. This data
collection is in addition to and does not supplant the annual grant
performance report required of each grantee for continuation funding
(see 34 CFR 75.590);
(c) Budget for a three-day Project Director's meeting in
Washington, DC, during each year of the project;
(d) If the project maintains a Web site, include relevant
information and documents in a format that meets a government or
industry-recognized standard for accessibility;
(e) Provide a detailed description of the program, including the
sequence of the courses offered in the program that describes the
comprehensive curriculum designed to meet program goals and obtain
mastery of the following required professional domains:
(1) Research methodology.
(2) Personnel preparation.
(3) Policy/advocacy or professional practice;
(f) Include, in the application narrative under ``Quality of
Project Evaluation'', a clear and effective plan for evaluating the
extent to which graduates of the training program have the knowledge
and competencies necessary to provide research-based instruction and
services that result in improved outcomes for children with
disabilities;
(g) Communicate the results of the evaluation conducted in
accordance with paragraph (f) of this priority to the Office of Special
Education Programs (OSEP) in required annual performance reports for
continuation funding and the project final performance report;
(h) Certify that all scholars will be recruited into the program
with the intention of graduating from the program during the
performance period of the grant;
(i) Certify that the institution will not require scholars
recruited into the program to work as a condition of receiving a
scholarship, e.g., as graduate assistants, unless the work is required
to complete their training program;
(j) If the program is addressing national or regional needs,
demonstrate the existence of the needs through appropriate research
data; and
(k) Designate at least 65 percent of the total requested budget for
scholarship support or provide justification for any designation less
than 65 percent. Examples of sufficient justification for proposing
less than 65 percent of the budget for scholarship support might
include:
A project servicing rural areas that provides long
distance training, and that may require Web Masters, adjunct
professors, or mentors to operate effectively.
A project that is expanding or adding a new emphasis area
to the program, and as a result of this expansion, may need additional
faculty or other resources such as expert consultants, additional
training supplies, or equipment that would enhance the program.
Please note that projects funded to develop, expand, or add a new
area of emphasis to special education or related services programs must
provide information on how these new areas will be sustained once
Federal funding ends.
Statutory Requirements: To be considered for an award, an applicant
must also satisfy the following requirements contained in section
662(e) through (h) of IDEA--
(a) Demonstrate that the activities described in the application
will address needs identified by the State or States the applicant
proposes to serve and that the State or States intend to accept
successful completion of the proposed personnel preparation program as
meeting State personnel standards or other requirements in State law or
regulation for serving children with disabilities or serving infants
and toddlers with disabilities (see sections 662(e)(2)(A) and 662(f)(2)
of IDEA). Letters from the State or States that the project proposes to
serve could be one method for addressing this requirement;
(b) Demonstrate that the applicant will cooperate with one or more
State educational agencies--or, if appropriate, State appointed lead
agencies responsible for providing early intervention services--or
local educational agencies in carrying out and monitoring the proposed
project (see section 662(e)(2)(B) of IDEA);
(c) Meet State and professionally recognized standards for the
preparation of leadership personnel in special education, related
services, or early intervention fields (see section 662(f)(2) of IDEA);
and
(d) Ensure that individuals who receive financial assistance under
the project agree to pay all or part of the amount of the scholarship,
in accordance with section 662(h)(1) of IDEA and 34 CFR part 304.
Applicants must describe how they will inform scholarship recipients of
this service obligation requirement.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure
Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally offers interested
parties the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities and
requirements. Section 681(d) of the IDEA makes the public comment
requirements of the APA inapplicable to the priority in this notice.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1462 and 1481.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The regulations for this
program in 34 CFR part 304.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$90,626,000 for the Personnel Development to Improve Services and
Results for Children with Disabilities program for FY 2007, of which we
intend to use an estimated $4,800,000 for the Preparation of Leadership
Personnel competition. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on
final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to
allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress
appropriates funds for this program.
Estimated Range of Awards: $171,969-$200,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $196,200.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $200,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal
Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 24.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 48 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs.
[[Page 46207]]
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost
sharing or matching.
3. Other: General Requirements--(a) The projects funded under this
competition must make positive efforts to employ and advance in
employment qualified individuals with disabilities (see section 606 of
IDEA).
(b) Applicants and grant recipients funded under this competition
must involve individuals with disabilities or parents of individuals
with disabilities ages birth through 26 in planning, implementing, and
evaluating the projects (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of IDEA).
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: Education Publications
Center (ED Pubs), P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll
free): 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (301) 470-1244. If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call (toll free):
1-877-576-7734.
You may also contact ED Pubs at its Web site: https://www.ed.gov/
pubs/edpubs.html or you may contact ED Pubs at its e-mail address:
edpubs@inet.ed.gov
If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify
this competition as follows: CFDA Number 84.325D.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the Grants and Contracts
Services Team listed under For Further Information Contact in section
VII of this notice.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application)
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit Part III to
the equivalent of no more than 50 pages, using the following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II,
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the
resumes, the bibliography, the references, or the letters of support.
However, you must include all of the application narrative in Part III.
We will reject your application if--
You apply these standards and exceed the page limit; or
You apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the
page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: August 11, 2006.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: October 10, 2006.
Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov), or in
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or by
mail or hand delivery, please refer to section IV. 6. Other Submission
Requirements in this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: December
11, 2006.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order
12372 is in the application package for this competition.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this competition may be submitted electronically or in paper format by
mail or hand delivery.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications. We have been accepting
applications electronically through the Department's e-Application
system since FY 2000. In order to expand on those efforts and comply
with the President's Management Agenda, we are continuing to
participate as a partner in the new governmentwide Grants.gov Apply
site in FY 2007. Preparation of Leadership Personnel--CFDA Number
84.325D is one of the competitions included in this project. We request
your participation in Grants.gov.
If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must
use the Grants.gov Apply site at https://www.Grants.gov. Through this
site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package,
complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You
may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
You may access the electronic grant application for the Preparation
of Leadership Personnel competition--CFDA Number 84.325D at: https://
www.grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application
package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA
number's alpha suffix in your search.
Please note the following:
Your participation in Grants.gov is voluntary.
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation.
Applications received by Grants.gov are time and date
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted, and
must be date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as
otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application
if it is date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. When we
retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are
rejecting your application because it was date/time stamped by the
Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date.
The amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline
date to begin the application process through Grants.gov.
You should review and follow the Education Submission
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures
pertaining to Grants.gov at https:// e-Grants.ed.gov/help/
GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
[[Page 46208]]
To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must
complete all of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see
https://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp). These steps
include (1) registering your organization, (2) registering yourself as
an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR), and (3) getting
authorized as an AOR by your organization. Details on these steps are
outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see https://
www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf). You also
must provide on your application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this
registration. Please note that the registration process may take five
or more business days to complete, and you must have completed all
registration steps to allow you to successfully submit an application
via Grants.gov.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you submit your application in paper format.
You may submit all documents electronically, including all
information typically included on the Application for Federal Education
Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED
524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. If you choose to
submit your application electronically, you must attach any narrative
sections of your application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich
text) or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type
other than the three file types specified above or submit a password
protected file, we will not review that material.
Your electronic application must comply with any page
limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive an automatic acknowledgment from Grants.gov that contains a
Grants.gov tracking number. The Department will retrieve your
application from Grants.gov and send you a second confirmation by e-
mail that will include a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying
number unique to your application).
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System Unavailability
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline date because of technical
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension
until 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to
enable you to transmit your application electronically, or by hand
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing
instructions as described elsewhere in this notice. If you submit an
application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the deadline date,
please contact the person listed elsewhere in this notice under For
Further Information Contact, and provide an explanation of the
technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number (if available). We will accept your
application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with
the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your ability to
submit your application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date. The Department will contact you after a
determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.
Note: Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the
unavailability of or technical problems with the Grants.gov system.
We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register
to submit your application to Grants.gov before the deadline date
and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to
the Grants.gov system.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the
U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), you must mail the
original and two copies of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the applicable
following address:
By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number
84.325D), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260 or
By mail through a commercial carrier: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center--Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number
84.325D), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.
Regardless of which address you use, you must show proof of mailing
consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark,
(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
U.S. Postal Service,
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier, or
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark, or
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your
local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you submit your application in paper format by hand delivery,
you (or a courier service) must deliver the original and two copies of
your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date,
to the Department at the following address:
US Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.325D), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays and
Federal holidays.
Note: Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications:
If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department:
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by
the Department--in Item 4 of ED 424 the CFDA number--and suffix
letter, if any--of the competition under which you are submitting
your application.
(2) The Application Control Center will mail a grant application
receipt acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the grant
application receipt acknowledgment within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition
are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application package.
2. Treating a Priority as Two Separate Competitions: In the past,
there have been problems in finding peer reviewers without conflicts of
interest for competitions in which many entities throughout the country
submit applications. The Standing Panel requirements under IDEA also
have
[[Page 46209]]
placed additional constraints on the availability of reviewers.
Therefore, the Department has determined that, for some discretionary
competitions, applications may be separated into two or more groups and
ranked and selected for funding within the specific group. This
procedure will ensure the availability of a much larger group of
reviewers without conflicts of interest. It also will increase the
quality, independence and fairness of the review process and permit
panel members to review applications under discretionary competitions
for which they have also submitted applications. However, if the
Department decides to select for funding an equal number of
applications in each group, this may result in different cut-off points
for fundable applications in each group.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a
final performance report, including financial information, as directed
by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an
annual performance report that provides the most current performance
and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in
34 CFR 75.118. In addition, to satisfy the requirements of the priority
in this notice, you must submit annual data on each scholar who
receives grant support through this program.
4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has established a set of
performance measures that are designed to yield information on the
effectiveness of the Personnel Development program. These measures
include: (1) The percentage of projects that incorporate
scientifically-or evidence-based practices; (2) the percentage of
scholars who exit training programs prior to completion due to poor
academic performance; (3) the percentage of degree or certification
recipients employed upon program completion who are working in the
area(s) for which they were trained; and (4) the percentage of degree
or certification recipients employed upon program completion who are
working in the area(s) for which they were trained and are fully
qualified under IDEA.
Grantees will be required to collect and report data on grant-
supported scholars through the PPD Web site at https://www.oespppd.org
(see paragraph (b) under the Absolute Priority section of this notice).
The Department also has developed long-term measures that are
designed to yield information on various aspects of program quality.
These measures include: (1) The percentage of scholars completing IDEA-
funded training programs who are knowledgeable and skilled in
scientifically-or evidence-based practices for infants, toddlers,
children and youth with disabilities; and (2) the percentage of program
graduates who maintain employment for three or more years in the
area(s) for which they were trained). Grantees may be asked to
participate in assessing and providing information on such long-term
aspects of program quality.
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact: Robert Gilmore Ph.D., U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4083, Potomac
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2600. Telephone: (202) 245-7354.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request by contacting the following office: The Grants and
Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue, SW., Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2550.
Telephone: (202) 245-7363.
VIII. Other Information
Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the
Internet at the following site: https://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/
nara/
Dated: August 8, 2006.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E6-13194 Filed 8-10-06; 8:45 am]
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