Applications for New Awards; Technical Assistance and Dissemination To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities and Demonstration and Training Programs-The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Paperwork Reduction Planning and Implementation Program, 47763-47769 [2020-17218]
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information as directed by the Secretary
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary
may also require more frequent
performance reports under 34 CFR
75.720(c). For specific requirements on
reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/
fund/grant/apply/appforms/
appforms.html.
5. Performance Measures: The goal of
this grant is to provide training and
technical assistance designed to
improve the operation and performance
of programs and services for older
individuals who are blind resulting in
their enhanced independence and selfsufficiency.
The cooperative agreement will
specify the measures that will be used
to assess the grantee’s performance
against the goals and objectives of the
project, including outcome measures
and measures that reflect the quality,
relevance, and usefulness of the training
and technical assistance products
developed by the Center. Such measures
will include, at a minimum, (1) the
improved administration, operation,
and performance of the DSAs or other
service providers as measured through
the attainment of goals established in
the intensive training and technical
assistance agreements; and (2) the
number and percentage of DSAs or other
service providers receiving intensive
training and technical assistance that
report that the training and technical
assistance they received was of high
quality, relevant, and useful.
Other specific measures related to the
priority areas for training and technical
assistance will be determined on an
annual basis and specified in the
cooperative agreement.
In its annual and final performance
reports to the Department, the grantee
will be expected to report the data
outlined in the cooperative agreement
that is needed to assess its performance.
The annual performance reports must
include both quantitative and
qualitative information necessary to
assess the Center’s performance on the
outcome measures established in the
cooperative agreement. The data used
must be valid and verifiable.
The annual performance reports must
provide, at a minimum, specific
information on the number of training
and technical assistance activities, the
topics of such activities, the type of
training and technical assistance
provided (i.e., intensive, targeted,
universal), the number and types of
participants served (i.e., DSAs or other
providers of services under the OIB
program), and summary data from
participant evaluations.
6. Continuation Awards: In making a
continuation award under 34 CFR
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75.253, the Secretary considers, among
other things: Whether a grantee has
made substantial progress in achieving
the goals and objectives of the project;
whether the grantee has expended funds
in a manner that is consistent with its
approved application and budget; and,
if the Secretary has established
performance measurement
requirements, the performance targets in
the grantee’s approved application.
In making a continuation award, the
Secretary also considers whether the
grantee is operating in compliance with
the assurances in its approved
application, including those applicable
to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit
discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance
from the Department (34 CFR 100.4,
104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document
and a copy of the application package in
an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
print, audiotape, or compact disc) on
request to the program contact person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Electronic Access to This Document:
The official version of this document is
the document published in the Federal
Register. You may access the official
edition of the Federal Register and the
Code of Federal Regulations at
www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can
view this document, as well as all other
documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in
text or Portable Document Format
(PDF). To use PDF you must have
Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the
Department published in the Federal
Register by using the article search
feature at www.federalregister.gov.
Specifically, through the advanced
search feature at this site, you can limit
your search to documents published by
the Department.
Mark Schultz,
Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services
Administration, Delegated the Authority to
Perform the Functions and Duties of the
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2020–17216 Filed 8–4–20; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
PO 00000
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards;
Technical Assistance and
Dissemination To Improve Services
and Results for Children With
Disabilities and Demonstration and
Training Programs—The Individuals
With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Paperwork Reduction Planning and
Implementation Program
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice.
The Department of Education
(Department) is issuing a notice inviting
applications for new awards for fiscal
year (FY) 2020 for the IDEA Paperwork
Reduction Planning and
Implementation Program, Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
number 84.326F, to assist States in
identifying excessive paperwork and
noninstructional time burdens on
special education teachers, related
services providers, and State and local
administrators that do not assist in
improving educational and functional
results for children with disabilities.
The funds will support developing and,
if appropriate, implementing
comprehensive plans to reduce the
burden. This notice relates to the
approved information collection under
OMB control number 1820–0028.
SUMMARY:
Applications Available: August
6, 2020.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: September 11, 2020.
DATES:
For the addresses for
obtaining and submitting an
application, please refer to our Common
Instructions for Applicants to
Department of Education Discretionary
Grant Programs, published in the
Federal Register on February 13, 2019
(84 FR 3768) and available at
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-201902-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Egnor, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW,
Room 5163, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202–5076.
Telephone: (202) 245–7334. Email:
David.Egnor@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877–
8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Programs: The purpose of
the Technical Assistance and
Dissemination to Improve Services and
Results for Children with Disabilities
Program is to promote academic
achievement and to improve results for
children with disabilities by providing
technical assistance (TA), supporting
model demonstration projects,
disseminating useful information, and
implementing activities that are
supported by scientifically based
research.
The purpose of the IDEA Paperwork
Reduction Planning and
Implementation Program is to provide
competitive grants, including
cooperative agreements, to SEAs to
assist States in their work to reduce
paperwork burden associated with the
requirements of IDEA Part B while
preserving the rights of children with
disabilities and promoting academic
achievement.
Priority: These priorities are from the
notice of final priorities, requirements,
and selection criteria (NFP) for this
program published elsewhere in this
issue of the Federal Register.
Background:
The Secretary believes that all
students should be given the
opportunity to succeed and that their
success should be the primary focus of
everyone in the educational system.
When teachers, related services
providers, and administrators who serve
children with disabilities spend time
completing unnecessary paperwork,
their ability to prioritize and focus on
improving outcomes for children with
disabilities is hampered.
In the 2004 reauthorization of IDEA,
Congress recognized that some Federal
IDEA Part B requirements could create
excessive paperwork and
noninstructional time burdens on
special education teachers, related
services providers, and State and local
administrators, thus diverting time and
resources away from instruction and
other activities that would improve
educational and functional results for
children with disabilities.
As such, under section 609 of IDEA,
Congress gave the Department limited
authority to grant waivers of certain
requirements of IDEA Part B. Waivers
may be granted to not more than 15
States and for a period not to exceed
four years. Further, the Secretary may
not waive any statutory or regulatory
provisions relating to applicable civil
rights requirements or procedural
safeguards under section 615 of IDEA,
and waivers may not adversely affect
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the right of a child with a disability to
receive a free appropriate public
education (FAPE) under IDEA Part B. In
short, States’ waiver proposals must
preserve the fundamental rights of
children with disabilities under IDEA.1
In addition, States have always had the
authority, within the constraints of State
law, to change or waive State
requirements that exceed IDEA statutory
and regulatory requirements in order to
reduce administrative burden.
Under section 609 of IDEA, the
waivers must be based upon proposals
submitted by States. In a Notice of
Proposed Requirements that was
published in the Federal Register on
June 5, 2020 (85 FR 34554), the
Department proposed requirements for
States to obtain waivers under section
609 of IDEA (the IDEA Paperwork
Reduction Waivers). We invited the
public to review that document in
conjunction with a notice of proposed
priority and requirements (NPP) for this
program published in the Federal
Register on May 29, 2020 (85 FR 32317)
and identify any potential
inconsistencies or implementation
issues that may arise.
The Department also recognizes that
the implementation and evaluation of
waivers granted under section 609 of
IDEA may require additional Federal
support. As such, the Department is
making funding available to plan for,
and then implement, waivers of
requirements under section 609 of IDEA
to reduce excessive paperwork and noninstructional time burdens and thus
improve educational and functional
results for children with disabilities.
States may apply for a planning grant
under Absolute Priority 1, an
implementation grant under Absolute
Priority 2, or both.
Absolute Priority 1: For FY 2020 and
any subsequent year in which we make
awards from the list of unfunded
applications from this competition, this
priority is an absolute priority. Under 34
CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only
applications that meet this priority.
This priority is:
The Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA) Paperwork
Reduction Planning and
1 For any State that receives a waiver of Federal
IDEA Part B requirements, the Secretary will
terminate the waiver if the Secretary determines
that the State failed to appropriately implement its
waiver, or the Secretary determines the State needs
assistance in implementing IDEA requirements and
the waiver has contributed to or caused such need
for assistance. The Secretary will also terminate the
waiver if the Secretary determines the State needs
intervention in implementing IDEA requirements,
or needs substantial intervention in implementing
IDEA requirements.
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Implementation Program—Planning
Grants.
Priority:
The Department seeks to make awards
to State educational agencies (SEAs) to
assist them in identifying excessive
paperwork and noninstructional time
burdens on special education teachers,
related services providers, and State and
local administrators that do not assist in
improving educational and functional
results for children with disabilities
(hereafter in the priority,
‘‘administrative burdens’’) and
developing comprehensive plans to
reduce them. These activities include
conducting a comprehensive review of
local, State, and Federal IDEA Part B
requirements that lead to administrative
burdens, as well as, at the discretion of
the State, preparing IDEA Paperwork
Reduction Waivers for submission to the
Department.
Planning projects funded by the
Department must achieve, at a
minimum, the following expected
outcomes:
• Identification of the particular
sources and effects of administrative
burdens on special education and other
teachers, related services providers, and
State and local administrators under
IDEA Part B; and
• A plan to reduce these
administrative burdens.
Under this priority, applicants must
propose projects that meet the following
programmatic requirements:
(a) The project must meaningfully
consult a diverse group of stakeholders
on an ongoing basis to support the goals
and objectives of the project. Such a
group must include, at a minimum,
representatives of the following groups:
(i) Special education teachers and
related services providers;
(ii) Local special education
administrators;
(iii) Individuals with disabilities;
(iv) Parents of children with
disabilities, as defined in IDEA section
602(23), including representation of
Parent Training and Information Centers
(PTIs) and (if applicable) Community
Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs); and
(v) The State Advisory Panel.
(b) The project must prepare a plan
that—
(i) Identifies the State and local
statutory and regulatory requirements or
policies, procedures, and practices that
exceed IDEA Part B statutory and
regulatory requirements and were
considered for revision;
(ii) Describes the range of options
available to the State in reducing
administrative burdens, including any
limitations on those options (e.g.,
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statutory or regulatory requirements,
judicial precedent);
(iii) Establishes clear and achievable
timelines for reducing administrative
burdens;
(iv) Identifies the anticipated benefits
of any potential reforms, including
likely beneficiaries, and the magnitude
and scope of anticipated benefits, such
as reductions in administrative burden
hours and potential increases in the
time and resources available for
instruction and other activities intended
to improve educational and functional
results for children with disabilities;
(v) Identifies any Federal IDEA Part B
statutory or regulatory requirements for
which a waiver may be sought under
section 609 of IDEA; and
(vi) Describes the procedures the State
will use to ensure that any waiver that
may be sought in accordance with
section 609 of IDEA will not—
(A) Waive any statutory requirements
of, or regulatory requirements relating
to, applicable civil rights requirements
or procedural safeguards under section
615 of IDEA; and
(B) Affect the right of a child with a
disability to receive FAPE under IDEA
Part B.
To be considered for funding under
this priority, applicants must also meet
the following application requirements.
Each applicant must—
(a) Demonstrate, in the narrative
portion of the application under ‘‘Need
for the project,’’ how the proposed
project will identify administrative
burdens. To meet this requirement, the
applicant must describe what it believes
to be—
(1) The approximate current
magnitude and scope of the
administrative burdens to be addressed;
(2) The approximate current number
of special education teachers, related
services providers, and State and local
administrators affected by those burdens
and the number of children with
disabilities that they serve; and
(3) The approximate current costs and
benefits of those burdens on special
education teachers, related services
providers, State and local
administrators, and children with
disabilities (e.g., teacher retention,
planning time, transparency for
families);
(b) Demonstrate, in the narrative
portion of the application under
‘‘Significance’’ how the proposed
planning project will—
(1) Develop a plan to reduce
administrative burdens and produce
meaningful and sustained change at the
State or local level; and
(2) Develop proposals for changes to,
or waivers of, specific requirements,
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policies, procedures, or practices that
will reduce administrative burdens in
order to increase the time and resources
available for instruction and other
activities aimed at improving
educational and functional results for
children with disabilities.
(c) Demonstrate, in the narrative
section of the application under
‘‘Quality of the project design,’’ how the
proposed project will—
(1) Meet the consultation
requirements in paragraph (a) of the
programmatic requirements of this
priority, including, but not limited to, a
proposed timeline for the consultation
process, including a description of the
methods of consultation (e.g., in-person
meetings, conference calls, emails);
(2) Identify local, State, or Federal
IDEA Part B requirements, policies,
procedures, or practices that may
generate administrative burdens and
may be reviewed by the project,
including any proposed criteria for that
review (e.g., frequency, complexity,
number of staff affected, number of
families affected);
(3) Assess the extent to which specific
sources of administrative burdens may
affect educational and functional results
for children with disabilities; and
(4) Produce and make publicly
available a plan that meets the
requirements in paragraph (b) of the
programmatic requirements of this
priority and providing an opportunity
for stakeholders enumerated in
paragraph (a) of the programmatic
requirements of this priority to
comment on the plan.
(d) Demonstrate, in the narrative
section of the application under
‘‘Quality of the management plan,’’
how—
(1) The proposed management plan
will ensure that the project’s intended
outcomes will be achieved on time and
within budget. To address this
requirement, the applicant must
describe—
(i) Clearly defined responsibilities for
key project personnel, consultants, and
subcontractors, as applicable; and
(ii) Timelines and milestones for
accomplishing the project tasks,
including the publication of the final
plan on the State’s website within three
months of the close of the project
period;
(2) Key project personnel and any
consultants and subcontractors will be
allocated and how these allocations are
appropriate and adequate to achieve the
project’s intended outcomes; and
(3) The proposed project will benefit
from a diversity of perspectives,
including those of families, educators,
TA providers, researchers, and
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policymakers, among others, in its
development and operation.
Absolute Priority 2: For FY 2020 and
any subsequent year in which we make
awards from the list of unfunded
applications from this competition, this
priority is an absolute priority. Under 34
CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only
applications that meet this priority.
This priority is:
The Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA) Paperwork
Reduction Planning and
Implementation Program—
Implementation Grants.
Implementation grants provide funds
for States to implement comprehensive
plans to reduce administrative burdens
submitted by the State and approved by
the Secretary under section 609 of IDEA.
This includes costs associated with
developing products or materials that
are part of comprehensive plans, such as
creating information technology systems
to automate paperwork, or creating new,
streamlined paperwork to replace more
time-consuming paperwork.
To be considered for funding under
this priority, an applicant must meet the
following application requirements.2
Each applicant must—
(a) Demonstrate, in the narrative
section of the application under
‘‘Quality of the project design,’’ how the
proposed project will—
(1) Disseminate information about
changes in processes, practices, and
procedures necessary to reduce
administrative burdens to all special
education teachers, related services
providers, and State and local
administrators affected by the State’s
waiver under section 609 of IDEA
(hereafter ‘‘affected staff’’), including—
(i) The modes of communication the
project will use;
(ii) The frequency of communication;
and
(iii) The content of such
communications; and
(2) Support the training of all affected
staff regarding changes in processes,
practices, and procedures necessary to
reduce administrative burdens,
including a description of the project’s
intended means of providing this
training.
(b) Demonstrate, in the narrative
section of the application under
2 For any State that receives a waiver of Federal
IDEA Part B requirements, the Secretary will
terminate the waiver if the Secretary determines
that the State failed to appropriately implement its
waiver, or the Secretary determines the State needs
assistance in implementing IDEA requirements and
the waiver has contributed to or caused such need
for assistance. The Secretary will also terminate the
waiver if the Secretary determines the State needs
intervention in implementing IDEA requirements,
or needs substantial intervention in implementing
IDEA requirements.
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‘‘Quality of the management plan,’’
how—
(1) The proposed management plan
will ensure that the project’s intended
outcomes will be achieved on time and
within budget. To address this
requirement, the applicant must
describe—
(i) Clearly defined responsibilities for
key project personnel, consultants, and
subcontractors, as applicable; and
(ii) Timelines and milestones for
accomplishing the project tasks;
(2) Key project personnel and any
consultants and subcontractors will be
allocated and how these allocations are
appropriate and adequate to achieve the
project’s intended outcomes; and
(3) The proposed project will benefit
from a diversity of perspectives,
including those of families, educators,
TA providers, researchers, and
policymakers, among others, in its
development and operation.
(c) Include, in the narrative section of
the application under ‘‘Quality of the
project evaluation,’’ an evaluation plan
for the implementation project. The
evaluation plan must—
(1) Articulate formative and
summative evaluation questions for
evaluating important processes and
outcomes, including whether, and how
effectively, the waiver—
(i) Reduces paperwork burden on
teachers, principals, administrators, and
related services providers;
(ii) Reduces non-instructional time
spent by teachers in complying with
IDEA Part B;
(iii) Enhances longer-term educational
planning;
(iv) Improves positive outcomes,
including educational and functional
results, for children with disabilities;
(v) Promotes collaboration between
individualized education program (IEP)
Team members, including the parents of
the child; and
(vi) Ensures satisfaction of family
members of children with disabilities
and teachers, principals, administrators,
and related service providers;
(2) Describe how progress in, and
fidelity of, implementation, as well as
project outcomes, will be measured to
answer the evaluation questions; specify
the measures and associated
instruments or sources for data
appropriate to the evaluation questions;
and include information regarding
reliability and validity of measures
where appropriate;
(3) Describe strategies for analyzing
data and how data collected as part of
this plan will be used to inform and
improve service delivery over the course
of the project and to refine the proposed
implementation project and evaluation
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plan, including subsequent data
collection;
(4) Provide a timeline for conducting
the evaluation and include staff
assignments for completing the
evaluation; and
(5) Dedicate sufficient funds in each
budget year to cover the costs of
developing, refining, and implementing
the evaluation plan.
Requirements: These requirements are
from the notice of final priorities,
requirements, and selection criteria
(NFP) for this program published
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
Register.
Funding Eligibility Requirements:
(a) In order to receive funding for an
implementation grant an applicant must
already have a waiver under section 609
of IDEA approved by the Secretary.
(b) For an applicant that receives a
grant under Absolute Priority 1—
(1) That does not submit a waiver
proposal to the Secretary under section
609 of the IDEA within 12 months of the
start of the project period, the grant will
end after 12 months without
opportunity for extension;
(2) That submits a waiver proposal to
the Secretary under section 609 of the
IDEA within 12 months of the start of
the project period, the project period
will be automatically extended for a
period, not to exceed 6 months, during
which the Secretary will consider the
proposal;
(i) While a State’s waiver proposal is
under review, grantees may continue to
access available remaining funds to
conduct one or more of the following
planning grant activities:
(A) Responding to possible questions
from the Department regarding the
State’s proposal to obtain a waiver
under section 609 of IDEA and the IDEA
Paperwork Reduction Waivers; and
(B) Continuing to develop, or
implement, planned activities to reduce
administrative burdens.
(ii) If the Secretary approves the
State’s IDEA paperwork reduction
waiver under section 609 of IDEA and
(A) The grantee received a grant under
Priorities 1 and 2, the grantee may use
remaining funds and additional funding
obligated by the Department under this
program to carry out activities under
Priority 2.
(B) The grantee only received a grant
under Priority 1, the grantee may
continue to access available remaining
funds to ensure continuity of the project
while applying for an implementation
award under Absolute Priority 2. The
project period for the grant under
Priority 2 must end no later than 45
days after an award is made under
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Priority 2 without opportunity for
extension.
(iii) If the Secretary denies the State
an IDEA paperwork reduction waiver
under section 609 of IDEA, the project
period will end no more than 30 days
after the State’s receipt of the Secretary’s
decision, without opportunity for
extension.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1408
and 1463.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR
parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 97, 98, and
99. (b) The Office of Management and
Budget Guidelines to Agencies on
Governmentwide Debarment and
Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR
part 180, as adopted and amended as
regulations of the Department in 2 CFR
part 3485. (c) The Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for
Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as
adopted and amended as regulations of
the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d)
The NFP.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79
apply to all applicants except federally
recognized Indian Tribes.
Note: Projects must be awarded and
operated in a manner consistent with the
nondiscrimination requirements contained in
the U.S. Constitution and the Federal civil
rights laws and consistent with the specific
requirements of section 609 of the IDEA.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative
agreements.
Estimated Available Funds:
$3,750,000.
Note: Applicants must submit a separate
ED Form 524 and budget narrative for each
absolute priority.
Contingent upon the availability of
funds and the quality of applications,
we may make additional awards in FY
2021 from the list of unfunded
applications from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards:
$150,000-$400,000 (Priority 1); and
$250,000-$750,000 (Priority 2).
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$500,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 7.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
program does not require cost sharing or
matching.
3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this
competition may not award subgrants to
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entities to directly carry out project
activities described in its application.
Under 34 CFR 75.708(e), a grantee may
contract for supplies, equipment, and
other services in accordance with 2 CFR
part 200.
4. Other General Requirements:
(a) Recipients of funding under this
competition must make positive efforts
to employ and advance in employment
qualified individuals with disabilities
(see section 606 of IDEA).
(b) Applicants for, and recipients of,
funding must, with respect to the
aspects of their proposed project
relating to the absolute priority, involve
individuals with disabilities, or parents
of individuals with disabilities ages
birth through 26, in planning,
implementing, and evaluating the
project (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of
IDEA).
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IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Application Submission
Instructions: Applicants are required to
follow the Common Instructions for
Applicants to Department of Education
Discretionary Grant Programs,
published in the Federal Register on
February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and
available at www.govinfo.gov/content/
pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf,
which contain requirements and
information on how to submit an
application.
2. Intergovernmental Review: This
competition is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34
CFR part 79. However, under 34 CFR
79.8(a), we waive intergovernmental
review in order to make an award by the
end of FY 2020.
3. Funding Restrictions: We reference
regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
4. Recommended 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. We recommend that you (1)
limit the application narrative to no
more than 70 pages and (2) use 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,
reference citations, and captions, as well
as all text in charts, tables, figures,
graphs, and screen shots.
• Use a font that is 12 point or larger.
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• Use one of the following fonts:
Times New Roman, Courier, Courier
New, or Arial.
The recommended 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
abstract (follow the guidance provided
in the application package for
completing the abstract), the table of
contents, the list of priority
requirements, the resumes, the reference
list, the letters of support, or the
appendices. However, the
recommended page limit does apply to
all of the application narrative,
including all text in charts, tables,
figures, graphs, and screen shots.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection
criteria for this competition are from the
notice of final priorities, requirements,
and selection criteria (NFP) for this
program published elsewhere in this
issue of the Federal Register and 34
CFR 74.210 and are as follows:
(a) Need for the project (20 points)
(Priority 1 only).
(1) The Secretary considers the need
for the proposed project.
(2) In determining the need for the
proposed project, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(i) The magnitude or severity of the
problem to be addressed by the
proposed project. (34 CFR 75.210)
(ii) The extent to which specific gaps
or weaknesses in services,
infrastructure, or opportunities have
been identified and will be addressed by
the proposed project, including the
nature and magnitude of those gaps or
weaknesses. (34 CFR 75.210)
(b) Significance (25 points) (Priorities
1 and 2).
(1) The Secretary considers the
significance of the proposed project.
(2) In determining the significance of
the proposed project, the Secretary
considers the likelihood that the
proposed project will reduce
administrative burdens and increase the
time and resources available for
instruction and other activities aimed at
improving educational and functional
results for children with disabilities.
(NFP)
(c) Quality of the project design (30
points) (Priorities 1 and 2).
(1) The Secretary considers the
quality of the design of the proposed
project.
(2) In determining the quality of the
design of the proposed project, the
Secretary considers the following
factors:
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(i) The extent to which the design of
the proposed project will successfully
reduce administrative burdens and
increase the time and resources
available for instruction and other
activities aimed at improving
educational and functional results for
children with disabilities. (NFP)
(ii) The extent to which the proposed
project encourages and is responsive to
consumer involvement, including
parental involvement. (NFP)
(iii) The extent to which the goals,
objectives, and outcomes to be achieved
by the proposed project are clearly
specified and measurable. (NFP)
(iv) The extent to which the design for
implementing and evaluating the
proposed project will result in
information to guide possible
replication of project activities or
strategies, including information about
the effectiveness of the approach or
strategies employed by the project.
(NFP)
(d) Quality of the management plan
(25 points) (Priorities 1 and 2).
(1) The Secretary considers the
quality of the management plan for the
proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the
management plan for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers how the
applicant will ensure that a diversity of
perspectives is brought to bear in the
operation of the proposed project,
including those of parents, teachers,
related services providers, school
administrators, and others, as
appropriate. (NFP)
(e) Quality of the project evaluation
(20 points) (Priority 2 only).
(1) The Secretary considers the
quality of the evaluation to be
conducted of the proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the
evaluation, the Secretary considers the
following factors:
(i) The extent to which the methods
of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and
appropriate to the goals, objectives, and
outcomes of the proposed project. (34
CFR 75.210)
(ii) The extent to which the methods
of evaluation provide for examining the
effectiveness of project implementation
strategies. (34 CFR 75.210)
(iii) The extent to which the methods
of evaluation will provide performance
feedback and permit periodic
assessment of progress toward achieving
intended outcomes. (34 CFR 75.210)
(iv) The extent to which the methods
of evaluation include the use of
objective performance measures that are
clearly related to the intended outcomes
of the project and will produce
quantitative and qualitative data to the
extent possible. (34 CFR 75.210)
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2. Review and Selection Process: We
remind potential applicants that in
reviewing applications in any
discretionary grant competition, the
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR
75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the
applicant in carrying out a previous
award, such as the applicant’s use of
funds, achievement of project
objectives, and compliance with grant
conditions. The Secretary may also
consider whether the applicant failed to
submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable
quality.
In addition, in making a competitive
grant award, the Secretary requires
various assurances, including those
applicable to Federal civil rights laws
that prohibit discrimination in programs
or activities receiving Federal financial
assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
3. Additional Review and Selection
Process Factors: In the past, the
Department has had difficulty finding
peer reviewers for certain competitions
because so many individuals who are
eligible to serve as peer reviewers have
conflicts of interest. The standing panel
requirements under section 682(b) of
IDEA also have placed additional
constraints on the availability of
reviewers. Therefore, the Department
has determined that for some
discretionary grant competitions,
applications may be separated into two
or more groups and ranked and selected
for funding within specific groups. This
procedure will make it easier for the
Department to find peer reviewers by
ensuring that greater numbers of
individuals who are eligible to serve as
reviewers for any particular group of
applicants will not have conflicts of
interest. It also will increase the quality,
independence, and fairness of the
review process, while permitting panel
members to review applications under
discretionary grant competitions for
which they also have submitted
applications.
4. Risk Assessment and Specific
Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.205, before awarding grants under
this competition the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by
applicants. Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the
Secretary may impose specific
conditions and, in appropriate
circumstances, high-risk conditions on a
grant if the applicant or grantee is not
financially stable; has a history of
unsatisfactory performance; has a
financial or other management system
that does not meet the standards in 2
CFR part 200, subpart D; has not
fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant;
or is otherwise not responsible.
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5. Integrity and Performance System:
If you are selected under this
competition to receive an award that
over the course of the project period
may exceed the simplified acquisition
threshold (currently $250,000), under 2
CFR 200.205(a)(2) we must make a
judgment about your integrity, business
ethics, and record of performance under
Federal awards—that is, the risk posed
by you as an applicant—before we make
an award. In doing so, we must consider
any information about you that is in the
integrity and performance system
(currently referred to as the Federal
Awardee Performance and Integrity
Information System (FAPIIS)),
accessible through the System for
Award Management. You may review
and comment on any information about
yourself that a Federal agency
previously entered and that is currently
in FAPIIS.
Please note that, if the total value of
your currently active grants, cooperative
agreements, and procurement contracts
from the Federal Government exceeds
$10,000,000, the reporting requirements
in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII,
require you to report certain integrity
information to FAPIIS semiannually.
Please review the requirements in 2 CFR
part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant
plus all the other Federal funds you
receive exceed $10,000,000.
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); or we may send you an email
containing a link to access an electronic
version of your GAN. We may notify
you informally, also.
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. Open Licensing Requirements:
Unless an exception applies, if you are
awarded a grant under this competition,
you will be required to openly license
to the public grant deliverables created
in whole, or in part, with Department
grant funds. When the deliverable
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consists of modifications to pre-existing
works, the license extends only to those
modifications that can be separately
identified and only to the extent that
open licensing is permitted under the
terms of any licenses or other legal
restrictions on the use of pre-existing
works. Additionally, a grantee that is
awarded competitive grant funds must
have a plan to disseminate these public
grant deliverables. This dissemination
plan can be developed and submitted
after your application has been
reviewed and selected for funding. For
additional information on the open
licensing requirements please refer to 2
CFR 3474.20.
4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a
grant under this competition, you must
ensure that you have in place the
necessary processes and systems to
comply with the reporting requirements
in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive
funding under the competition. This
does not apply if you have an exception
under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) 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 multiyear award, you must
submit an annual performance report
that provides the most current
performance and financial expenditure
information as directed by the Secretary
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary
may also require more frequent
performance reports under 34 CFR
75.720(c). For specific requirements on
reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/
fund/grant/apply/appforms/
appforms.html.
5. Performance Measures: Under the
Government Performance Results
Modernization Act of 2010, the
Department has established a set of
performance measures that are designed
to yield information on various aspects
of the effectiveness and quality of the
Technical Assistance and Dissemination
to Improve Services and Results for
Children With Disabilities program.
These measures are:
• Program Performance Measure 1:
The number of administrative burdens
identified for reduction.
• Program Performance Measure 2:
The number of special education
teachers, related services providers, and
administrators impacted by the
proposed burden reduction.
• Program Performance Measure 3:
The estimated change in hours spent by
teachers, related services providers and
administrators on compliance with
administrative burdens as a result of the
proposed burden reduction.
The measures apply to projects
funded under this competition, and
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grantees are required to submit data on
these measures as directed by the Office
of Special Education Programs (OSEP).
Grantees will be required to report
information on their project’s
performance in annual and final
performance reports to the Department
(34 CFR 75.590).
The Department will also closely
monitor the extent to which the
products and services provided by the
Center meet the needs identified by
stakeholders and may require the Center
to report on such alignment in their
annual and final performance reports.
6. Continuation Awards: In making a
continuation award under 34 CFR
75.253, the Secretary considers, among
other things: Whether a grantee has
made substantial progress in achieving
the goals and objectives of the project;
whether the grantee has expended funds
in a manner that is consistent with its
approved application and budget; and,
if the Secretary has established
performance measurement
requirements, the performance targets in
the grantee’s approved application.
In making a continuation award, the
Secretary also considers whether the
grantee is operating in compliance with
the assurances in its approved
application, including those applicable
to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit
discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance
from the Department (34 CFR 100.4,
104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
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VII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document
and a copy of the application package in
an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
print, audiotape, or compact disc) on
request to the program contact person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Electronic Access to This Document:
The official version of this document is
the document published in the Federal
Register. You may access the official
edition of the Federal Register and the
Code of Federal Regulations at
www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can
view this document, as well as all other
documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in
text or Portable Document Format
(PDF). To use PDF you must have
Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the
Department published in the Federal
Register by using the article search
feature at www.federalregister.gov.
Specifically, through the advanced
search feature at this site, you can limit
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your search to documents published by
the Department.
Mark Schultz,
Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services
Administration. Delegated the authority to
perform the functions and duties of the
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2020–17218 Filed 8–4–20; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
Application Forms and Instructions for
the National Resource Centers
(84.015A) and Foreign Language and
Area Studies Fellowships (84.015B)
Programs
Department of Education (ED).
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is
proposing an extension of an existing
information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before
September 8, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for proposed
information collection requests should
be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/
do/PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection request by
selecting ‘‘Department of Education’’
under ‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ then
check ‘‘Only Show ICR for Public
Comment’’ checkbox.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
specific questions related to collection
activities, please contact Sarah Beaton,
202–453–7221.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Department of Education (ED), in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
public and Federal agencies with an
opportunity to comment on proposed,
revised, and continuing collections of
information. This helps the Department
assess the impact of its information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. It also
helps the public understand the
Department’s information collection
requirements and provide the requested
data in the desired format. ED is
soliciting comments on the proposed
information collection request (ICR) that
is described below. The Department of
SUMMARY:
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47769
Education is especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Department; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the Department enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology. Please note
that written comments received in
response to this notice will be
considered public records.
Title of Collection: Application Forms
and Instructions for the National
Resource Centers (84.015A) and Foreign
Language and Area Studies Fellowships
(84.015B) Programs.
OMB Control Number: 1840–0807.
Type of Review: An extension of an
existing information collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Private
Sector.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 165.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 17,325.
Abstract: This information collection
(OMB 1840–0807) includes application
instructions and forms for the National
Resource Centers (NRC) Program (CFDA
Number 84.015A) and the Foreign
Language and Area Studies (FLAS)
Fellowships Program (CFDA Number
84.015B), authorized under Title VI of
the Higher Education Act of 1965, as
amended (20 U.S.C. Section 1122). The
type of collection is an extension of a
previously-approved information
collection (application).
The NRC Program provides grants to
institutions of higher education (IHE) or
consortia of IHEs to establish,
strengthen, and operate comprehensive
and undergraduate foreign language and
area or international studies centers.
These centers serve as centers of
excellence for world language training
and teaching, research, and instruction
in fields needed to provide full
understanding of areas, regions, or
countries where the languages are
commonly used. The FLAS Fellowship
Program awards allocations of
fellowships, through institutions of
higher education, to meritorious
students enrolled in programs that offer
performance-based instruction in world
languages in combination with area
studies, international studies, or the
international aspects of professional
studies.
Together, these programs respond to
the ongoing national need for
individuals with expertise and
E:\FR\FM\06AUN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 152 (Thursday, August 6, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47763-47769]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17218]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Technical Assistance and
Dissemination To Improve Services and Results for Children With
Disabilities and Demonstration and Training Programs--The Individuals
With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Paperwork Reduction Planning and
Implementation Program
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2020 for the
IDEA Paperwork Reduction Planning and Implementation Program, Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.326F, to assist States
in identifying excessive paperwork and noninstructional time burdens on
special education teachers, related services providers, and State and
local administrators that do not assist in improving educational and
functional results for children with disabilities. The funds will
support developing and, if appropriate, implementing comprehensive
plans to reduce the burden. This notice relates to the approved
information collection under OMB control number 1820-0028.
DATES: Applications Available: August 6, 2020.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 11, 2020.
ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an
application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to
Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the
Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768) and available at
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Egnor, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5163, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-5076. Telephone: (202) 245-7334. Email:
[email protected].
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 47764]]
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Programs: The purpose of the Technical Assistance and
Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with
Disabilities Program is to promote academic achievement and to improve
results for children with disabilities by providing technical
assistance (TA), supporting model demonstration projects, disseminating
useful information, and implementing activities that are supported by
scientifically based research.
The purpose of the IDEA Paperwork Reduction Planning and
Implementation Program is to provide competitive grants, including
cooperative agreements, to SEAs to assist States in their work to
reduce paperwork burden associated with the requirements of IDEA Part B
while preserving the rights of children with disabilities and promoting
academic achievement.
Priority: These priorities are from the notice of final priorities,
requirements, and selection criteria (NFP) for this program published
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
Background:
The Secretary believes that all students should be given the
opportunity to succeed and that their success should be the primary
focus of everyone in the educational system. When teachers, related
services providers, and administrators who serve children with
disabilities spend time completing unnecessary paperwork, their ability
to prioritize and focus on improving outcomes for children with
disabilities is hampered.
In the 2004 reauthorization of IDEA, Congress recognized that some
Federal IDEA Part B requirements could create excessive paperwork and
noninstructional time burdens on special education teachers, related
services providers, and State and local administrators, thus diverting
time and resources away from instruction and other activities that
would improve educational and functional results for children with
disabilities.
As such, under section 609 of IDEA, Congress gave the Department
limited authority to grant waivers of certain requirements of IDEA Part
B. Waivers may be granted to not more than 15 States and for a period
not to exceed four years. Further, the Secretary may not waive any
statutory or regulatory provisions relating to applicable civil rights
requirements or procedural safeguards under section 615 of IDEA, and
waivers may not adversely affect the right of a child with a disability
to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) under IDEA Part
B. In short, States' waiver proposals must preserve the fundamental
rights of children with disabilities under IDEA.\1\ In addition, States
have always had the authority, within the constraints of State law, to
change or waive State requirements that exceed IDEA statutory and
regulatory requirements in order to reduce administrative burden.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For any State that receives a waiver of Federal IDEA Part B
requirements, the Secretary will terminate the waiver if the
Secretary determines that the State failed to appropriately
implement its waiver, or the Secretary determines the State needs
assistance in implementing IDEA requirements and the waiver has
contributed to or caused such need for assistance. The Secretary
will also terminate the waiver if the Secretary determines the State
needs intervention in implementing IDEA requirements, or needs
substantial intervention in implementing IDEA requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under section 609 of IDEA, the waivers must be based upon proposals
submitted by States. In a Notice of Proposed Requirements that was
published in the Federal Register on June 5, 2020 (85 FR 34554), the
Department proposed requirements for States to obtain waivers under
section 609 of IDEA (the IDEA Paperwork Reduction Waivers). We invited
the public to review that document in conjunction with a notice of
proposed priority and requirements (NPP) for this program published in
the Federal Register on May 29, 2020 (85 FR 32317) and identify any
potential inconsistencies or implementation issues that may arise.
The Department also recognizes that the implementation and
evaluation of waivers granted under section 609 of IDEA may require
additional Federal support. As such, the Department is making funding
available to plan for, and then implement, waivers of requirements
under section 609 of IDEA to reduce excessive paperwork and non-
instructional time burdens and thus improve educational and functional
results for children with disabilities.
States may apply for a planning grant under Absolute Priority 1, an
implementation grant under Absolute Priority 2, or both.
Absolute Priority 1: For FY 2020 and any subsequent year in which
we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.
This priority is:
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Paperwork
Reduction Planning and Implementation Program--Planning Grants.
Priority:
The Department seeks to make awards to State educational agencies
(SEAs) to assist them in identifying excessive paperwork and
noninstructional time burdens on special education teachers, related
services providers, and State and local administrators that do not
assist in improving educational and functional results for children
with disabilities (hereafter in the priority, ``administrative
burdens'') and developing comprehensive plans to reduce them. These
activities include conducting a comprehensive review of local, State,
and Federal IDEA Part B requirements that lead to administrative
burdens, as well as, at the discretion of the State, preparing IDEA
Paperwork Reduction Waivers for submission to the Department.
Planning projects funded by the Department must achieve, at a
minimum, the following expected outcomes:
Identification of the particular sources and effects of
administrative burdens on special education and other teachers, related
services providers, and State and local administrators under IDEA Part
B; and
A plan to reduce these administrative burdens.
Under this priority, applicants must propose projects that meet the
following programmatic requirements:
(a) The project must meaningfully consult a diverse group of
stakeholders on an ongoing basis to support the goals and objectives of
the project. Such a group must include, at a minimum, representatives
of the following groups:
(i) Special education teachers and related services providers;
(ii) Local special education administrators;
(iii) Individuals with disabilities;
(iv) Parents of children with disabilities, as defined in IDEA
section 602(23), including representation of Parent Training and
Information Centers (PTIs) and (if applicable) Community Parent
Resource Centers (CPRCs); and
(v) The State Advisory Panel.
(b) The project must prepare a plan that--
(i) Identifies the State and local statutory and regulatory
requirements or policies, procedures, and practices that exceed IDEA
Part B statutory and regulatory requirements and were considered for
revision;
(ii) Describes the range of options available to the State in
reducing administrative burdens, including any limitations on those
options (e.g.,
[[Page 47765]]
statutory or regulatory requirements, judicial precedent);
(iii) Establishes clear and achievable timelines for reducing
administrative burdens;
(iv) Identifies the anticipated benefits of any potential reforms,
including likely beneficiaries, and the magnitude and scope of
anticipated benefits, such as reductions in administrative burden hours
and potential increases in the time and resources available for
instruction and other activities intended to improve educational and
functional results for children with disabilities;
(v) Identifies any Federal IDEA Part B statutory or regulatory
requirements for which a waiver may be sought under section 609 of
IDEA; and
(vi) Describes the procedures the State will use to ensure that any
waiver that may be sought in accordance with section 609 of IDEA will
not--
(A) Waive any statutory requirements of, or regulatory requirements
relating to, applicable civil rights requirements or procedural
safeguards under section 615 of IDEA; and
(B) Affect the right of a child with a disability to receive FAPE
under IDEA Part B.
To be considered for funding under this priority, applicants must
also meet the following application requirements. Each applicant must--
(a) Demonstrate, in the narrative portion of the application under
``Need for the project,'' how the proposed project will identify
administrative burdens. To meet this requirement, the applicant must
describe what it believes to be--
(1) The approximate current magnitude and scope of the
administrative burdens to be addressed;
(2) The approximate current number of special education teachers,
related services providers, and State and local administrators affected
by those burdens and the number of children with disabilities that they
serve; and
(3) The approximate current costs and benefits of those burdens on
special education teachers, related services providers, State and local
administrators, and children with disabilities (e.g., teacher
retention, planning time, transparency for families);
(b) Demonstrate, in the narrative portion of the application under
``Significance'' how the proposed planning project will--
(1) Develop a plan to reduce administrative burdens and produce
meaningful and sustained change at the State or local level; and
(2) Develop proposals for changes to, or waivers of, specific
requirements, policies, procedures, or practices that will reduce
administrative burdens in order to increase the time and resources
available for instruction and other activities aimed at improving
educational and functional results for children with disabilities.
(c) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under
``Quality of the project design,'' how the proposed project will--
(1) Meet the consultation requirements in paragraph (a) of the
programmatic requirements of this priority, including, but not limited
to, a proposed timeline for the consultation process, including a
description of the methods of consultation (e.g., in-person meetings,
conference calls, emails);
(2) Identify local, State, or Federal IDEA Part B requirements,
policies, procedures, or practices that may generate administrative
burdens and may be reviewed by the project, including any proposed
criteria for that review (e.g., frequency, complexity, number of staff
affected, number of families affected);
(3) Assess the extent to which specific sources of administrative
burdens may affect educational and functional results for children with
disabilities; and
(4) Produce and make publicly available a plan that meets the
requirements in paragraph (b) of the programmatic requirements of this
priority and providing an opportunity for stakeholders enumerated in
paragraph (a) of the programmatic requirements of this priority to
comment on the plan.
(d) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under
``Quality of the management plan,'' how--
(1) The proposed management plan will ensure that the project's
intended outcomes will be achieved on time and within budget. To
address this requirement, the applicant must describe--
(i) Clearly defined responsibilities for key project personnel,
consultants, and subcontractors, as applicable; and
(ii) Timelines and milestones for accomplishing the project tasks,
including the publication of the final plan on the State's website
within three months of the close of the project period;
(2) Key project personnel and any consultants and subcontractors
will be allocated and how these allocations are appropriate and
adequate to achieve the project's intended outcomes; and
(3) The proposed project will benefit from a diversity of
perspectives, including those of families, educators, TA providers,
researchers, and policymakers, among others, in its development and
operation.
Absolute Priority 2: For FY 2020 and any subsequent year in which
we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.
This priority is:
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Paperwork
Reduction Planning and Implementation Program--Implementation Grants.
Implementation grants provide funds for States to implement
comprehensive plans to reduce administrative burdens submitted by the
State and approved by the Secretary under section 609 of IDEA. This
includes costs associated with developing products or materials that
are part of comprehensive plans, such as creating information
technology systems to automate paperwork, or creating new, streamlined
paperwork to replace more time-consuming paperwork.
To be considered for funding under this priority, an applicant must
meet the following application requirements.\2\ Each applicant must--
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\2\ For any State that receives a waiver of Federal IDEA Part B
requirements, the Secretary will terminate the waiver if the
Secretary determines that the State failed to appropriately
implement its waiver, or the Secretary determines the State needs
assistance in implementing IDEA requirements and the waiver has
contributed to or caused such need for assistance. The Secretary
will also terminate the waiver if the Secretary determines the State
needs intervention in implementing IDEA requirements, or needs
substantial intervention in implementing IDEA requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under
``Quality of the project design,'' how the proposed project will--
(1) Disseminate information about changes in processes, practices,
and procedures necessary to reduce administrative burdens to all
special education teachers, related services providers, and State and
local administrators affected by the State's waiver under section 609
of IDEA (hereafter ``affected staff''), including--
(i) The modes of communication the project will use;
(ii) The frequency of communication; and
(iii) The content of such communications; and
(2) Support the training of all affected staff regarding changes in
processes, practices, and procedures necessary to reduce administrative
burdens, including a description of the project's intended means of
providing this training.
(b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under
[[Page 47766]]
``Quality of the management plan,'' how--
(1) The proposed management plan will ensure that the project's
intended outcomes will be achieved on time and within budget. To
address this requirement, the applicant must describe--
(i) Clearly defined responsibilities for key project personnel,
consultants, and subcontractors, as applicable; and
(ii) Timelines and milestones for accomplishing the project tasks;
(2) Key project personnel and any consultants and subcontractors
will be allocated and how these allocations are appropriate and
adequate to achieve the project's intended outcomes; and
(3) The proposed project will benefit from a diversity of
perspectives, including those of families, educators, TA providers,
researchers, and policymakers, among others, in its development and
operation.
(c) Include, in the narrative section of the application under
``Quality of the project evaluation,'' an evaluation plan for the
implementation project. The evaluation plan must--
(1) Articulate formative and summative evaluation questions for
evaluating important processes and outcomes, including whether, and how
effectively, the waiver--
(i) Reduces paperwork burden on teachers, principals,
administrators, and related services providers;
(ii) Reduces non-instructional time spent by teachers in complying
with IDEA Part B;
(iii) Enhances longer-term educational planning;
(iv) Improves positive outcomes, including educational and
functional results, for children with disabilities;
(v) Promotes collaboration between individualized education program
(IEP) Team members, including the parents of the child; and
(vi) Ensures satisfaction of family members of children with
disabilities and teachers, principals, administrators, and related
service providers;
(2) Describe how progress in, and fidelity of, implementation, as
well as project outcomes, will be measured to answer the evaluation
questions; specify the measures and associated instruments or sources
for data appropriate to the evaluation questions; and include
information regarding reliability and validity of measures where
appropriate;
(3) Describe strategies for analyzing data and how data collected
as part of this plan will be used to inform and improve service
delivery over the course of the project and to refine the proposed
implementation project and evaluation plan, including subsequent data
collection;
(4) Provide a timeline for conducting the evaluation and include
staff assignments for completing the evaluation; and
(5) Dedicate sufficient funds in each budget year to cover the
costs of developing, refining, and implementing the evaluation plan.
Requirements: These requirements are from the notice of final
priorities, requirements, and selection criteria (NFP) for this program
published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
Funding Eligibility Requirements:
(a) In order to receive funding for an implementation grant an
applicant must already have a waiver under section 609 of IDEA approved
by the Secretary.
(b) For an applicant that receives a grant under Absolute Priority
1--
(1) That does not submit a waiver proposal to the Secretary under
section 609 of the IDEA within 12 months of the start of the project
period, the grant will end after 12 months without opportunity for
extension;
(2) That submits a waiver proposal to the Secretary under section
609 of the IDEA within 12 months of the start of the project period,
the project period will be automatically extended for a period, not to
exceed 6 months, during which the Secretary will consider the proposal;
(i) While a State's waiver proposal is under review, grantees may
continue to access available remaining funds to conduct one or more of
the following planning grant activities:
(A) Responding to possible questions from the Department regarding
the State's proposal to obtain a waiver under section 609 of IDEA and
the IDEA Paperwork Reduction Waivers; and
(B) Continuing to develop, or implement, planned activities to
reduce administrative burdens.
(ii) If the Secretary approves the State's IDEA paperwork reduction
waiver under section 609 of IDEA and
(A) The grantee received a grant under Priorities 1 and 2, the
grantee may use remaining funds and additional funding obligated by the
Department under this program to carry out activities under Priority 2.
(B) The grantee only received a grant under Priority 1, the grantee
may continue to access available remaining funds to ensure continuity
of the project while applying for an implementation award under
Absolute Priority 2. The project period for the grant under Priority 2
must end no later than 45 days after an award is made under Priority 2
without opportunity for extension.
(iii) If the Secretary denies the State an IDEA paperwork reduction
waiver under section 609 of IDEA, the project period will end no more
than 30 days after the State's receipt of the Secretary's decision,
without opportunity for extension.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1408 and 1463.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 97,
98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in
2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR
part 3474. (d) The NFP.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants
except federally recognized Indian Tribes.
Note: Projects must be awarded and operated in a manner
consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in the
U.S. Constitution and the Federal civil rights laws and consistent
with the specific requirements of section 609 of the IDEA.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative agreements.
Estimated Available Funds: $3,750,000.
Note: Applicants must submit a separate ED Form 524 and budget
narrative for each absolute priority.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2021 from the list of
unfunded applications from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $150,000-$400,000 (Priority 1); and
$250,000-$750,000 (Priority 2).
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $500,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 7.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award
subgrants to
[[Page 47767]]
entities to directly carry out project activities described in its
application. Under 34 CFR 75.708(e), a grantee may contract for
supplies, equipment, and other services in accordance with 2 CFR part
200.
4. Other General Requirements:
(a) Recipients of funding under this competition must make positive
efforts to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with
disabilities (see section 606 of IDEA).
(b) Applicants for, and recipients of, funding must, with respect
to the aspects of their proposed project relating to the absolute
priority, involve individuals with disabilities, or parents of
individuals with disabilities ages birth through 26, in planning,
implementing, and evaluating the project (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of
IDEA).
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Application Submission Instructions: Applicants are required to
follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of
Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal
Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf, which
contain requirements and information on how to submit an application.
2. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. However,
under 34 CFR 79.8(a), we waive intergovernmental review in order to
make an award by the end of FY 2020.
3. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
4. Recommended 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. We recommend
that you (1) limit the application narrative to no more than 70 pages
and (2) use 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, reference citations, and captions, as well as
all text in charts, tables, figures, graphs, and screen shots.
Use a font that is 12 point or larger.
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial.
The recommended 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
abstract (follow the guidance provided in the application package for
completing the abstract), the table of contents, the list of priority
requirements, the resumes, the reference list, the letters of support,
or the appendices. However, the recommended page limit does apply to
all of the application narrative, including all text in charts, tables,
figures, graphs, and screen shots.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition
are from the notice of final priorities, requirements, and selection
criteria (NFP) for this program published elsewhere in this issue of
the Federal Register and 34 CFR 74.210 and are as follows:
(a) Need for the project (20 points) (Priority 1 only).
(1) The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project.
(2) In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(i) The magnitude or severity of the problem to be addressed by the
proposed project. (34 CFR 75.210)
(ii) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services,
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude
of those gaps or weaknesses. (34 CFR 75.210)
(b) Significance (25 points) (Priorities 1 and 2).
(1) The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed
project.
(2) In determining the significance of the proposed project, the
Secretary considers the likelihood that the proposed project will
reduce administrative burdens and increase the time and resources
available for instruction and other activities aimed at improving
educational and functional results for children with disabilities.
(NFP)
(c) Quality of the project design (30 points) (Priorities 1 and 2).
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the
proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the design of the proposed project will
successfully reduce administrative burdens and increase the time and
resources available for instruction and other activities aimed at
improving educational and functional results for children with
disabilities. (NFP)
(ii) The extent to which the proposed project encourages and is
responsive to consumer involvement, including parental involvement.
(NFP)
(iii) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
(NFP)
(iv) The extent to which the design for implementing and evaluating
the proposed project will result in information to guide possible
replication of project activities or strategies, including information
about the effectiveness of the approach or strategies employed by the
project. (NFP)
(d) Quality of the management plan (25 points) (Priorities 1 and
2).
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for
the proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the
proposed project, the Secretary considers how the applicant will ensure
that a diversity of perspectives is brought to bear in the operation of
the proposed project, including those of parents, teachers, related
services providers, school administrators, and others, as appropriate.
(NFP)
(e) Quality of the project evaluation (20 points) (Priority 2
only).
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be
conducted of the proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough,
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the
proposed project. (34 CFR 75.210)
(ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for
examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies. (34
CFR 75.210)
(iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward
achieving intended outcomes. (34 CFR 75.210)
(iv) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and
qualitative data to the extent possible. (34 CFR 75.210)
[[Page 47768]]
2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition,
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary
requires various assurances, including those applicable to Federal
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department
(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
3. Additional Review and Selection Process Factors: In the past,
the Department has had difficulty finding peer reviewers for certain
competitions because so many individuals who are eligible to serve as
peer reviewers have conflicts of interest. The standing panel
requirements under section 682(b) of IDEA also have placed additional
constraints on the availability of reviewers. Therefore, the Department
has determined that for some discretionary grant competitions,
applications may be separated into two or more groups and ranked and
selected for funding within specific groups. This procedure will make
it easier for the Department to find peer reviewers by ensuring that
greater numbers of individuals who are eligible to serve as reviewers
for any particular group of applicants will not have conflicts of
interest. It also will increase the quality, independence, and fairness
of the review process, while permitting panel members to review
applications under discretionary grant competitions for which they also
have submitted applications.
4. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.205, before awarding grants under this competition the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR
3474.10, the Secretary may impose specific conditions and, in
appropriate circumstances, high-risk conditions on a grant if the
applicant or grantee is not financially stable; has a history of
unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or other management system
that does not meet the standards in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not
fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not
responsible.
5. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently
$250,000), under 2 CFR 200.205(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your
integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal
awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make
an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that
is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as
the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System
(FAPIIS)), accessible through the System for Award Management. You may
review and comment on any information about yourself that a Federal
agency previously entered and that is currently in FAPIIS.
Please note that, if the total value of your currently active
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal
funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.
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); or we may send you an email containing a link to
access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally,
also.
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. Open Licensing Requirements: Unless an exception applies, if you
are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to
openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or in
part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists of
modifications to pre-existing works, the license extends only to those
modifications that can be separately identified and only to the extent
that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any licenses or
other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works.
Additionally, a grantee that is awarded competitive grant funds must
have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables. This
dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your
application has been reviewed and selected for funding. For additional
information on the open licensing requirements please refer to 2 CFR
3474.20.
4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition,
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) 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 multiyear award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting,
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
5. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance Results
Modernization Act of 2010, the Department has established a set of
performance measures that are designed to yield information on various
aspects of the effectiveness and quality of the Technical Assistance
and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children With
Disabilities program. These measures are:
Program Performance Measure 1: The number of
administrative burdens identified for reduction.
Program Performance Measure 2: The number of special
education teachers, related services providers, and administrators
impacted by the proposed burden reduction.
Program Performance Measure 3: The estimated change in
hours spent by teachers, related services providers and administrators
on compliance with administrative burdens as a result of the proposed
burden reduction.
The measures apply to projects funded under this competition, and
[[Page 47769]]
grantees are required to submit data on these measures as directed by
the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).
Grantees will be required to report information on their project's
performance in annual and final performance reports to the Department
(34 CFR 75.590).
The Department will also closely monitor the extent to which the
products and services provided by the Center meet the needs identified
by stakeholders and may require the Center to report on such alignment
in their annual and final performance reports.
6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: Whether a grantee
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the
Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the
performance targets in the grantee's approved application.
In making a continuation award, the Secretary also considers
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to
the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of
Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this
document, as well as all other documents of this Department published
in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at
the site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Mark Schultz,
Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration. Delegated the
authority to perform the functions and duties of the Assistant
Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 2020-17218 Filed 8-4-20; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
