Personnel Development To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities-Preparation of Early Intervention and Special Education Personnel Serving Children With Disabilities Who Have High-Intensity Needs, 81493-81502 [2024-23033]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81493-81502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23033]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Personnel Development To Improve Services and Results for 
Children With Disabilities--Preparation of Early Intervention and 
Special Education Personnel Serving Children With Disabilities Who Have 
High-Intensity Needs

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 
Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice 
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for 
Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with 
Disabilities--Preparation of Early Intervention and Special Education 
Personnel Serving Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity 
Needs.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: October 8, 2024.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: December 3, 2024.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: February 5, 2025.
    Pre-Application Webinar Information: No later than October 15, 
2024, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services will 
post details on pre-recorded informational webinars designed to provide 
technical assistance to interested applicants. Links to the webinars 
may be found at www.ed.gov/about/ed-offices/osers/osep/new-osep-grant-competitions.

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 December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at 
www.federalregister.gov/documents/

[[Page 81494]]

2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-
of-education-discretionary-grant-programs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sunyoung Ahn, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 4A10, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: 202-987-0141. Email: 
[email protected].
    If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and 
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 personnel preparation in early 
intervention, special education, related services, and regular 
education to work with children, including infants, toddlers, and youth 
with disabilities; and (2) ensure that those personnel have the 
necessary skills and knowledge, derived from practices that have been 
determined through scientifically based research, to be successful in 
serving those children.
    Assistance Listing Number (ALN): 84.325K.
    OMB Control Number: 1820-0028.
    Priorities: This competition includes one absolute priority and one 
competitive preference priority. In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(v), the absolute priority is from allowable activities 
specified in the statute (see sections 662 and 681 of the Individuals 
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (20 U.S.C. 1462 and 1481)). The 
competitive preference priority is from the Administrative Priorities 
for Discretionary Grants Programs published in the Federal Register on 
March 9, 2020 (85 FR 13640) (Administrative Priorities).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2025 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:
    Preparation of Early Intervention and Special Education Personnel 
Serving Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity Needs.
    Background:
    The purpose of this priority is to prepare scholars who are fully 
credentialed to serve children, including infants, toddlers, and youth 
with disabilities (children with disabilities) who have high-intensity 
needs.\1\ The Department is committed to promoting equity for children 
with disabilities to access educational resources and opportunities. A 
priority for the Department is to increase the number of personnel, 
including increasing the number of multilingual personnel and personnel 
from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, who provide services 
to children with disabilities. To support these goals, under this 
absolute priority, the Department will fund high-quality projects that 
prepare personnel in early intervention (EI), early childhood special 
education (ECSE), blindness and visual impairments (BVI), deafness and 
hard of hearing (DHH), deaf-blindness (DB), and adapted physical 
education (APE) at the bachelor's degree, certification, master's 
degree, or educational specialist degree levels for professional 
practice in a variety of education settings, including natural 
environments (the home and community settings in which infants and 
toddlers with and without disabilities participate), early childhood 
programs, classrooms, schools, and distance learning environments; 
including increasing the number of multilingual personnel and personnel 
from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Projects will also 
prepare such personnel to support each child with a disability who has 
high-intensity needs in meeting high expectations and to have 
meaningful and effective collaborations with other providers, families, 
and administrators.
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    \1\ For the purposes of this priority, ``high-intensity needs'' 
refers to a complex array of disabilities or the needs of children 
with these disabilities requiring intensive, individualized 
intervention(s) (i.e., that are specifically designed to address 
persistent learning or behavior difficulties, implemented with 
greater frequency and for an extended duration than is commonly 
available in a typical classroom or early intervention setting, or 
which require personnel to have knowledge and skills in identifying 
and implementing multiple evidence-based interventions).
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    For decades, State demand for fully credentialed early intervention 
and special education personnel to serve children with disabilities has 
persistently exceeded the available supply (Mason-Williams et al., 
2020). The shortages were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and 
public schools report that special education positions are most 
difficult to fill (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2022). 
The need for personnel with the knowledge and skills to serve children 
with disabilities who have high-intensity needs is even greater in the 
fields of EI, ECSE, BVI, DHH, DB, and APE.
    EI and ECSE are critical services to support young children with 
disabilities' development and learning, so they can reach their full 
potential at later ages, including in the school years. According to a 
recent report (Early Childhood Personnel Center, 2022), EI and ECSE 
personnel shortages are at a crisis point across States, resulting in 
inadequate child find activities and waitlists for evaluations and 
services (Fauth et al., 2023). In addition to widespread challenges 
related to recruitment and retention of personnel working in EI and 
ECSE, survey respondents also reported a decline in higher education 
offerings in EI and ECSE as a serious concern (Early Childhood 
Personnel Center, 2022).
    The shortages of teachers in positions that require highly 
specialized skills and knowledge, such as teachers of students with 
BVI, teachers of DHH, and APE teachers, are reported in research and 
are also well known in the field (American Association for Employment 
in Education, 2023; Barnett & Huang, 2024; Luft et al., 2022; Ondrasek 
et al., 2020). Many universities are struggling to maintain their 
special education preparation programs and the reduced numbers of 
applicants and budget constraints appear to have more adverse effects 
on programs that prepare the workforce to serve children with 
disabilities who have high-intensity needs (Ondrasek et al., 2020).
    To effectively serve children with disabilities who have high-
intensity needs, personnel require specialized or advanced skills and 
knowledge to work within a multidisciplinary team, collaboratively 
design and deliver evidence-based instruction and intensive 
individualized interventions, and provide instruction and interventions 
in person and through distance learning technologies in natural 
environments, classrooms, and schools that address the needs of these 
individuals (Boe et al., 2013; Browder et al., 2014; McLeskey & 
Brownell, 2015). Personnel also need leadership skills to strengthen 
professional practice and cultural and linguistic competencies to 
effectively deliver services and education for children with 
disabilities who have high-intensity needs, including children who are 
multilingual and children who are from racially and ethnically diverse 
backgrounds.
    To enable personnel to provide efficient, high-quality, integrated, 
and equitable services, both in person and through distance learning 
technologies, personnel preparation programs need to embed content, 
practices, and extensive field or clinical experiences that are 
evidence-based and culturally and

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linguistically responsive into preservice training in early 
intervention settings, early childhood programs, and schools. 
Therefore, this priority aims to fund high-quality projects that 
prepare scholars in EI, ECSE, DHH, BVI, DB, or APE at the bachelor's 
degree, certification, master's degree, or educational specialist 
degree levels, including multilingual scholars and scholars from 
racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, who are fully credentialed 
to enter the field and serve children with disabilities who have high-
intensity needs.
    Priority:
    The purpose of this priority is to increase the number and improve 
the quality of personnel, including multilingual personnel and 
personnel from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, who are 
fully credentialed to serve children who have high-intensity needs \2\ 
in the fields of EI, ECSE, DHH, BVI, DB, or APE. The priority will fund 
high-quality projects that prepare scholars \3\ in EI, ECSE, DHH, BVI, 
DB, or APE at the bachelor's degree, certification,\4\ master's degree, 
or educational specialist degree levels for professional practice in 
natural environments, early childhood programs, classrooms, school 
settings, and in distance learning environments serving children with 
disabilities who have high-intensity needs. Projects can propose to 
prepare scholars in one or more of the allowable fields of EI, ECSE, 
DHH, BVI, DB, and APE.
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    \2\ For the purposes of this priority, ``high-intensity needs'' 
refers to a complex array of disabilities or the needs of children 
with these disabilities requiring intensive, individualized 
intervention(s) (i.e., that are specifically designed to address 
persistent learning or behavior difficulties, implemented with 
greater frequency and for an extended duration than is commonly 
available in a typical classroom or early intervention setting, or 
which require personnel to have knowledge and skills in identifying 
and implementing multiple evidence-based interventions).
    \3\ For the purposes of this priority, ``scholar'' means an 
individual who: (a) is pursuing a bachelor's, certification, 
master's, or educational specialist degree in early intervention or 
special education; (b) receives scholarship assistance as authorized 
under section 662 of IDEA (34 CFR 304.3(g)); (c) will be eligible 
for a license, endorsement, or certification from a State or 
national credentialing authority following completion of the degree 
program identified in the application; and (d) will be able to be 
employed in a position that serves children with disabilities for a 
minimum of 51 percent of their time or case load. Individuals 
pursuing degrees in general education or early childhood education 
do not qualify as ``scholars'' eligible for scholarship assistance.
    \4\ For the purposes of this priority, ``certification'' refers 
to programs of study that lead to State licensure, endorsement, or 
certification that qualifies graduates to teach or provide services 
to children with disabilities. Programs of study that lead to a 
certificate of completion from the institution of higher education, 
but do not lead to State licensure, endorsement, or certification, 
do not qualify.
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    Note: Projects may include individuals who are not funded as 
scholars, but are in degree programs (e.g., general education, early 
childhood education, administration) that are cooperating with the 
grantee's project. These individuals may participate in the coursework, 
assignments, field or clinical experiences, and other opportunities 
required of scholars' program of study (e.g., speaker series, monthly 
seminars) if doing so does not diminish the benefit for project-funded 
scholars (e.g., by reducing funds available for scholar support or 
limiting opportunities for scholars to participate in project 
activities).
    Note: Projects that partner with related services \5\ programs to 
prepare scholars in EI, ECSE, DHH, BVI, DB, or APE can qualify under 
this priority. In such situations, scholars in the partnering related 
services degree program (e.g., bachelor's, master's, or clinical 
doctorate degree) may receive scholar support to complete their related 
services degree. Degree programs across more than one institution of 
higher education (IHE) may partner together within a project. Personnel 
preparation degree programs that prepare all scholars to be dually 
certified, including dually certified in special education and a 
related service, can qualify under this priority.
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    \5\ For the purposes of this priority, ``related services'' 
includes: speech-language pathology and audiology services; 
interpreting services; psychological services; applied behavior 
analysis; physical therapy and occupational therapy; recreation, 
including therapeutic recreation; social work services; counseling 
services, including rehabilitation counseling; and orientation and 
mobility services.
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    Note: Applicants under this priority may not submit the same 
proposal under Personnel Preparation of Special Education, Early 
Intervention, and Related Services Personnel at Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and 
Universities, and Other Minority Serving Institutions, ALN 84.325M. 
Applicants may submit substantively different proposals under ALN 
84.325K and ALN 84.325M. OSEP will not fund similar personnel 
preparation projects within the same IHE across the ALN 84.325K and 
84.325M competitions.
    Prior to enrolling scholars, applicants may use up to $100,000 of 
funds in the first budget period and up to the first 12 months of the 
performance period for project planning, including enhancing an 
existing program. If an applicant chooses to use up to the first 12 
months for project planning, then the applicant must provide a 
comprehensive justification for the need for project planning and 
include the goals, objectives, and intended outcomes of the planning; a 
description of the proposed activities; and a timeline for the work. 
The plan may include activities such as--
    (1) Developing new and updating current coursework, assignments, or 
extensive and coordinated field or clinical experiences needed to 
support preparation for personnel in EI, ECSE, DHH, BVI, DB, or APE, 
including personnel from groups that are underrepresented in the field, 
including personnel with disabilities, multilingual personnel, and 
personnel from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, serving 
children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs;
    (2) Building capacity (e.g., hiring a field supervisor, providing 
professional development for faculty and field supervisors) of the 
personnel to prepare scholars, including scholars from groups that are 
underrepresented in the field, including scholars with disabilities, 
multilingual scholars, and scholars from racially and ethnically 
diverse backgrounds, to serve children with disabilities with high-
intensity needs and their families;
    (3) Purchasing needed resources (e.g., additional teaching supplies 
or specialized equipment to enhance instruction); and
    (4) Establishing relationships with early intervention and early 
childhood programs or schools to serve as sites for field or clinical 
experiences needed to support the project. These sites may include 
high-need local educational agencies (LEAs),\6\ high-poverty 
schools,\7\ schools identified for comprehensive support and 
improvement,\8\ and schools

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implementing a targeted support and improvement plan \9\ for children 
with disabilities; early childhood and early intervention programs 
located within the geographic boundaries of a high-need LEA; and early 
childhood and early intervention programs located within the 
geographical boundaries of an LEA serving the highest percentage of 
schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement or 
implementing targeted support and improvement plans in the State.
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    \6\ For the purposes of this priority, ``high-need LEA'' means 
an LEA (a) that serves not fewer than 10,000 children from families 
with incomes below the poverty line; or (b) for which not less than 
20 percent of the children are from families with incomes below the 
poverty line.
    \7\ For the purposes of this priority, ``high-poverty school'' 
means a school in which at least 50 percent of students are from 
low-income families as determined using one of the measures of 
poverty specified in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). For middle and 
high schools, eligibility may be calculated on the basis of 
comparable data from feeder schools. Eligibility as a high-poverty 
school under this definition is determined on the basis of the most 
currently available data.
    \8\ For the purposes of this priority, ``school implementing a 
comprehensive support and improvement plan'' means a school 
identified for comprehensive support and improvement by a State 
under section 1111(c)(4)(D) of the ESEA that includes (a) not less 
than the lowest performing 5 percent of all schools in the State 
receiving funds under title I, part A of the ESEA; (b) all public 
high schools in the State failing to graduate one third or more of 
their students; and (c) public schools in the State described in 
section 1111(d)(3)(A)(i)(II) of the ESEA.
    \9\ For the purposes of this priority, ``school implementing a 
targeted support and improvement plan'' means a school identified 
for targeted support and improvement by a State that has developed 
and is implementing a school-level targeted support and improvement 
plan to improve student outcomes based on the indicators in the 
statewide accountability system defined in section 1111(d)(2) of the 
ESEA.
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    Federal funds may also be used for scholar support and other grant 
activities occurring in year one of the project, provided that the 
total request for year one does not exceed the maximum award available 
for one budget period of 12 months (i.e., $350,000).
    Note: Applicants proposing projects to develop, expand, or add a 
new area of emphasis to EI, ECSE, DHH, BVI, DB, or APE programs must 
provide, in their applications, information on how these new areas will 
be sustained once Federal funding ends.
    Note: Project periods under this priority may be up to 60 months. 
Projects should be designed to ensure that all proposed scholars 
successfully complete the program within 60 months from the start of 
the project. The Secretary may reduce continuation awards for any 
project in which scholar recruitment is not on track or scholars are 
not on track to complete the program within the project period. The 
Department intends to closely monitor unobligated balances and 
substantial progress under this program and may reduce or discontinue 
funding accordingly consistent with its authority in 34 CFR 75.253.
    To be considered for funding under this absolute priority, all 
program applicants must meet the requirements contained in this 
priority.
    To meet the requirements of this priority an applicant must--
    (a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Significance,'' how--
    (1) The proposed project will address the need in the proposed 
preparation area to prepare personnel who are fully qualified to serve 
children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs;
    (2) The proposed project will increase the number of personnel in 
the proposed preparation area who demonstrate the competencies \10\ 
needed to--
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    \10\ For the purposes of this priority, ``competencies'' means 
what a person knows and can do--the knowledge, skills, and 
dispositions necessary to effectively function in a role (National 
Professional Development Center on Inclusion, 2011).
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    (i) Promote high expectations and improve outcomes for children 
with disabilities who have high-intensity needs;
    (ii) Differentiate curriculum and instruction;
    (iii) Provide intensive, evidence-based \11\ individualized 
instruction and interventions in person and through distance learning 
technologies in a variety of early intervention, early childhood, and 
school settings (e.g., natural environments; public schools, including 
charter schools; private schools; and other nonpublic education 
settings, including home education);
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    \11\ For the purposes of this priority, ``evidence-based'' 
means, at a minimum, evidence that demonstrates a rationale (as 
defined in 34 CFR 77.1), where a key project component (as defined 
in 34 CFR 77.1) included in the project's logic model (as defined in 
34 CFR 77.1) is informed by research or evaluation findings that 
suggest the project component is likely to improve relevant outcomes 
(as defined in 34 CFR 77.1).
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    (iv) Provide culturally and linguistically responsive instruction 
and services;
    (v) Collaborate with diverse partners, including multilingual 
individuals, individuals and families from racially and ethnically 
diverse backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities, using a 
multidisciplinary team approach to address the individualized 
developmental, learning, and academic needs of children with 
disabilities who have high-intensity needs, and support their 
successful transitions from early childhood to elementary, elementary 
to secondary, or transition to postsecondary education and the 
workforce; and
    (vi) Exercise leadership to improve professional practice and 
services and education for children with disabilities who have high-
intensity needs; and
    (3) The applicant has successfully graduated students in their 
program, including students with disabilities, multilingual students, 
and students who are from racially, and ethnically diverse backgrounds, 
including data disaggregated by disability status, race, national 
origin and primary language(s), and the number of students who have 
graduated in the last five years.
    (b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of project services,'' how--
    (1) The project will conduct its planning activities, if the 
applicant will use any of the allowable first 12 months of the project 
period for planning;
    (2) The project will recruit and retain scholars. To meet this 
requirement, the applicant must describe--
    (i) The selection criteria the project will use to identify 
applicants for admission in the program;
    (ii) The specific recruitment strategies the project will use to 
attract applicants, including from groups that are underrepresented in 
the field, including applicants with disabilities, multilingual 
applicants, and applicants from racially and ethnically diverse 
backgrounds, to ensure a diverse pool of applicants; and
    Note: Applicants should engage in focused outreach and recruitment 
to increase the number of applicants from groups that are traditionally 
underrepresented in the field, including applicants with disabilities, 
multilingual applicants, and applicants from racially and ethnically 
diverse backgrounds, but the selection criteria the applicant intends 
to use must ensure equal access and treatment of all applicants seeking 
admission to the program and must be consistent with applicable law, 
including Federal civil rights law.
    (iii) The approach that will be used to mentor and support all 
scholars, and any specific approaches to supporting scholars from 
groups that are underrepresented in the field, including individuals 
with disabilities, multilingual scholars, and scholars from racially 
and ethnically diverse backgrounds, for retention and completion of the 
program within the project period and preparing them for careers in 
early intervention or special education; and
    (3) The project will be designed to promote the acquisition of the 
competencies needed by EI, ECSE, DHH, BVI, DB, or APE personnel to 
support improved outcomes for children with disabilities with high-
intensity needs. To address this requirement, the applicant must--
    (i) Describe how the proposed components, such as coursework, field 
or clinical experiences in EI, ECSE, DHH, BVI, DB, or APE, work-based 
experiences, or other opportunities provided to scholars, and sequence 
of the project components will enable the scholars to acquire the 
competencies needed by personnel working with

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children with disabilities with high-intensity needs;
    (ii) Describe how the proposed project will reflect current 
evidence-based practices (EBPs) to prepare scholars to provide 
effective and equitable evidence-based culturally and linguistically 
responsive instruction, interventions, and services that improve 
outcomes for children with disabilities with high-intensity needs, in a 
variety of educational or early childhood and early intervention 
settings, including in-person and remote settings; and
    (iii) Describe how the proposed project will engage partners, 
including multilingual individuals and individuals and families from 
racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds; public or private 
partnering agencies, schools, or programs; centers or organizations 
that provide services to children with disabilities and their families; 
and individuals with disabilities and their families, to inform and 
support project components.
    (c) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of the project personnel and management plan,'' how--
    (1) The project director and other key project personnel are 
qualified to prepare scholars in the project's preparation area;
    (2) The project director and other key project personnel will 
manage the components of the project; and
    (3) The time commitments of the project director and other key 
project personnel are adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed 
project.
    (d) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Adequacy of resources,'' how--
    (1) Information regarding the types of accommodations and resources 
available to fully support scholars' well-being and a work-life balance 
(e.g., university and community mental health supports, counseling 
services, health resources, housing resources, child care) will be 
disseminated and how the project will support scholars to access those 
accommodations and resources in a timely basis, if needed, while the 
scholar is in the program;
    (2) The types of accommodations and resources provided to support 
scholars' well-being and a work-life balance will be individualized 
based on scholars' cultural, academic, health, logistical, financial, 
and social emotional needs with the goal of supporting them to complete 
the program; and
    (3) The budget is adequate for meeting the project objectives and 
mitigating financial burden to scholars in completing the program of 
study.
    Note: Scholar support does not need to be uniform for all scholars 
and should be customized for individual scholars based on scholars' 
financial needs, including consideration of all costs associated with 
the cost of attendance, even if that means enrolling fewer scholars. 
Scholar support can include support for cost of attendance (i.e., 
tuition and fees; university student health insurance; an allowance for 
books, materials, and supplies; an allowance for miscellaneous personal 
expenses; an allowance for dependent care, such as child care; an 
allowance for transportation; and/or an allowance for room and board), 
travel in conjunction with training assignments including conference 
registration, and stipends to support scholars' completion of the 
program and professional development. Projections for scholar support 
should consider tuition increases and cost of living increases over the 
project period. Projects that prepare personnel at the bachelor's 
degree level cannot provide scholar support during the first two years 
(e.g., freshman and sophomore years) of the degree program to ensure 
that scholar support can lead to service obligation fulfillment.
    (e) Describe, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of the project evaluation,'' how the applicant will--
    (1) Evaluate how well the goals or objectives of the proposed 
project have been met. To meet this requirement, the applicant must 
describe--
    (i) The outcomes to be measured for both the project and the 
scholars, particularly the acquisition of scholars' competencies; and
    (ii) The evaluation methodologies, data collection methods, and 
data analyses that will be used; and
    (2) Collect, analyze, and use data on scholars supported by the 
project to inform the project on an ongoing basis.
    (f) Demonstrate, in the appendices or narrative under ``Required 
project assurances'' as directed, that the following requirements are 
met. The applicant must--
    (1) Include in Appendix A of the application--
    (i) Charts, tables, figures, graphs, screen shots, and visuals that 
provide information directly relating to the application requirements 
for the narrative. Appendix A should not be used for supplementary 
information. Please note that charts, tables, figures, graphs, and 
screen shots can be single-spaced when placed in Appendix A; and
    (ii) A letter of support from a public or private partnering 
agency, school, or program, that states it will provide scholars with a 
field or clinical experience in a high-need LEA, a high-poverty school, 
a school implementing a comprehensive support and improvement plan, a 
school implementing a targeted support and improvement plan for 
children with disabilities, a State educational agency, an early 
childhood and early intervention program located within the 
geographical boundaries of a high-need LEA, or an early childhood and 
early intervention program located within the geographical boundaries 
of an LEA serving the highest percentage of schools identified for 
comprehensive support and improvement or implementing targeted support 
and improvement plans in the State;
    (2) Include in Appendix B of the application--
    (i) A table that lists the project's required coursework and 
includes the course title, brief description, learning goals, and 
relevant State or national professional organization personnel 
standards for each course; and
    (ii) Four exemplar course syllabi required by the degree program 
that reflect EBPs across the areas of assessment; social, emotional, 
and behavior development and learning; inclusive practices; 
instructional strategies; and literacy, as appropriate;
    (3) Include in the application budget attendance by the project 
director at a three-day project directors' meeting in Washington, DC, 
during each year of the project; and
    (4) Provide an assurance that--
    (i) The project will meet the requirements in 34 CFR 304.23, 
particularly those related to (A) informing all scholarship recipients 
of their service obligation commitment; and (B) disbursing 
scholarships. Failure by a grantee to properly meet these requirements 
is a violation of the grant award that may result in the grantee being 
liable for returning any misused funds to the Department;
    (ii) The project will meet the statutory requirements in section 
662(e) through (h) of IDEA;
    (iii) The project will be operated in a manner consistent with 
nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal civil rights laws;
    (iv) All the syllabi for the project's required coursework will be 
provided if requested by OSEP;
    (v) At least 65 percent of the total award over the project period 
(i.e., up to 5 years) will be used for scholar support;
    (vi) Scholar support provided by the project is not based on the 
condition

[[Page 81498]]

that the scholar work for the grantee (e.g., personnel at the IHE);
    (vii) The project director, key personnel, and scholars will 
actively participate in learning opportunities (e.g., webinars, 
briefings) supported by OSEP and intended to promote opportunities for 
participants to understand reporting requirements, share resources, and 
generate new knowledge by addressing topics of common interest to 
participants across projects, including Department priorities and needs 
in the field;
    (viii) The project website, if applicable, will be of high quality, 
with an easy-to-navigate design that meets government or industry-
recognized standards for accessibility;
    (ix) Scholar accomplishments (e.g., public service, awards, 
publications, conference presentations) will be reported in annual and 
final performance reports; and
    (x) Annual data will be submitted on each scholar who receives 
grant support (OMB Control Number 1820-0686). The primary purposes of 
the data collection are to track the service obligation fulfillment of 
scholars who receive funds from OSEP grants and to collect data for 
program performance measure reporting under 34 CFR 75.110. Data 
collection includes the submission of a signed, completed pre-
scholarship agreement and exit certification for each scholar funded 
under an OSEP grant (see paragraph (f)(4)(i) of this priority). 
Applicants are encouraged to visit the Personnel Development Program 
Data Collection System website at https://pdp.ed.gov/osep for further 
information about this data collection requirement.
    Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2025 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications 
from this competition, this priority is a competitive preference 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an additional 5 points 
to an application that meets the competitive preference priority. 
Applicants should indicate in the abstract if they are addressing the 
competitive preference priority.
    The competitive preference priority is:
    Applications from New Potential Grantees (0 or 5 points).
    (a) Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the 
applicant (e.g., the IHE) has not had an active discretionary grant 
under the ALN 84.325K, 84.325M, or 84.325R, including through 
membership in a group application submitted in accordance with 24 CFR 
75.127-75.129 in the last five years before the deadline date for 
submission of applications under this program (ALN 84.325K).
    (b) For the purpose of this priority, a grant is active until the 
end of the grant's project or funding period, including any extensions 
of those periods that extend the grantee's authority to obligate funds.

References

American Association for Employment in Education. (2023). 2022-2023 
Educator Supply and Demand Report. https://specialedshortages.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022-2023-AAEE-Educator-Supply-and-Demand-Report.pdf.
Barnett, E., & Huang, T. (2024). Increasing teacher retention and 
supporting students with low-incidence disabilities through 
university partnership. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 43(1), 
44-57. https://doi.org/10.1177/87568705241232388.
Boe, E.E., deBettencourt, L., Dewey, J.F., Rosenberg, M.S., 
Sindelar, P.T., & Leko, C.D. (2013). Variability in demand for 
special education teachers: Indicators, explanations, and impacts. 
Exceptionality, 21(2), 103-125. https://doi.org/10.1080/09362835.2013.771563.
Browder, D.M., Wood, L., Thompson, J., & Ribuffo, C. (2014). 
Evidence-based practices for students with severe disabilities 
(Document No. IC-3). https://ceedar.education.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/IC-3_FINAL_03-03-15.pdf.
Early Childhood Personnel Center. (2022). ECPC Part C and Part B/619 
personnel recruitment and retention survey. https://ecpcta-org.media.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2810/2023/11/Recruitment-and-Retention-Survey-Report-2022.pdf.
Fauth, R.C., Kotake, C., Manning, S.E., Goldberg, J.L., 
Easterbrooks, M.A., Buxton, B., & Downs, K. (2023). Timeliness of 
early identification and referral of infants with social and 
environmental risks. Prevention Science, 24(1), 126-136. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-022-01453-6.
Luft, P., Fischgrund, J.E., Eardley, A., Tanner, C., & Reusser, J. 
(2022). Identifying well-prepared teachers of deaf and hard of 
hearing students: Federal legislation versus inconsistent State 
requirements. American Annals of the Deaf, 167(2), 101-122. https://doi.org/10.1353/aad.2022.0024.
Mason-Williams, L., Bettini, E., Peyton, D., Harvey, A., Rosenberg, 
M., & Sindelar, P.T. (2020). Rethinking shortages in special 
education: Making good on the promise of an equal opportunity for 
students with disabilities. Teacher Education and Special Education, 
43(1), 45-62. https://doi.org/10.1177/0888406419880352.
McLeskey, J., & Brownell, M. (2015). High-leverage practices and 
teacher preparation in special education (Document No. PR-1). CEEDAR 
Center. https://ceedar.education.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/High-Leverage-Practices-and-Teacher-Preparation-in-Special-Education.pdf.
National Center for Educational Statistics. (March, 2022). U.S. 
Schools Report Increased Teacher Vacancies Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, 
New NCES Data Show. https://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/press_releases/3_3_2022.asp.
National Professional Development Center on Inclusion. (August, 
2011). Competencies for early childhood educators in the context of 
inclusion: Issues and guidance for States. The University of North 
Carolina, FPG Child Development Institute. https://fpg.unc.edu/sites/fpg.unc.edu/files/resources/reports-and-policy-briefs/FPG_NPDCI_Competencies_2011.pdf.
Ondrasek, N., Carver-Thomas, D., Scott, C., & Darling-Hammond, L. 
(2020). California's special education teacher shortage (policy 
report). Policy Analysis for California Education. Learning Policy 
Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/media/395/download?inline&file=PACE_Special_Education_Teacher_Shortage_REPORT.pdf.

    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. Section 
681(d) of IDEA, however, makes the public comment requirements of the 
APA inapplicable to the absolute priority in this notice.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1462 and 1481.
    Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner 
consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal 
civil rights laws.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 
97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
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 Guidance for 
Federal Financial Assistance in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended 
as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The 
regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 304. (e) The Administrative 
Priorities.
    Note: The Department will implement the changes included in the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) final rule, OMB Guidance for 
Federal Financial Assistance (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/22/2024-07496/guidance-for-federal-financial-assistance), formerly called, Office of Management and

[[Page 81499]]

Budget Guidance for Grants and Agreements, which amends 2 CFR part 200, 
on October 1, 2024. Grant applicants who anticipate a performance 
period start date on or after October 1, 2024, should follow the 
provisions stated in the updated 2 CFR part 200, when preparing an 
application. For more information about these updated regulations 
please visit: https://www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/guid/uniform-guidance/. The Department will continue to provide more resources on 
our web page as they become available.
    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration requested 
$125,000,000 for the Personnel Development to Improve Services and 
Results for Children with Disabilities program for FY 2025, of which we 
intend to use an estimated $3,000,000 for this 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.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2026 from the list of 
unfunded applications from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000-$350,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $275,000 per year.
    Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $1,250,000 per 
project for a project period of 60 months or an award that exceeds 
$350,000 for a single budget period of 12 months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 12.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants are IHEs and private 
nonprofit organizations that have legal authority to enter into grants 
and cooperative agreements with the Federal government on behalf of an 
IHE.
    Note: If you are a nonprofit organization, under 34 CFR 75.51, you 
may demonstrate your nonprofit status by providing: (1) proof that the 
Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an 
organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a State 
taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the 
organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and 
that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private 
shareholder or individual; (3) a certified copy of the applicant's 
certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly 
establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4) any item 
described above if that item applies to a State or national parent 
organization, together with a statement by the State or parent 
organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.
    2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing or matching is not 
required for this competition.
    b. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This program uses a training 
indirect cost rate. This limits indirect cost reimbursement to an 
entity's actual indirect costs, as determined in its negotiated 
indirect cost rate agreement, or eight percent of a modified total 
direct cost base, whichever amount is less. For more information 
regarding training indirect cost rates, see 34 CFR 75.562. For more 
information regarding indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated 
indirect cost rate, please see www.ed.gov/about/ed-offices/ofo#Indirect-Cost-Division.
    c. Administrative Cost Limitation: This program does not include 
any program-specific limitation on administrative expenses. All 
administrative expenses must be reasonable and necessary and conform to 
Cost Principles described in 2 CFR part 200 subpart E of the Guidance 
for Federal Financial Assistance.
    3. Subgrantees: Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c), a grantee under 
this competition may award subgrants--to directly carry out project 
activities described in its application--to the following types of 
entities: IHEs, nonprofit organizations suitable to carry out the 
activities proposed in the application, and public agencies. The 
grantee may award subgrants to entities it has identified in an 
approved application or that it selects through a competition under 
procedures established by the grantee, consistent with 34 CFR 
75.708(b)(2).
    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 December 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at 
www.federalregister.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-12-07/pdf/2022-26554.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. 
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under 
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this 
competition.
    3. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative 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 40 pages; (2) limit the whole 
application to no more than 100 pages; and (3) 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 the cover sheet; the 
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; 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,

[[Page 81500]]

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 34 CFR 75.210 and are as follows:
    (a) Significance (10 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed 
project.
    (2) In determining the significance of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the proposed project will prepare personnel 
for fields in which shortages have been demonstrated; and
    (ii) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in 
teaching and student achievement.
    (b) Quality of project services (35 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be 
provided by the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by 
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and 
sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for 
eligible project participants who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability.
    (3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective 
practice;
    (ii) The extent to which the training or professional development 
services to be provided by the proposed project are of sufficient 
quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice 
among the recipients of those services;
    (iii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the 
proposed project involve the collaboration of appropriate partners for 
maximizing the effectiveness of project services; and
    (iv) The extent to which the proposed activities constitute a 
coherent, sustained program of training in the field.
    (c) Quality of project personnel and quality of the management plan 
(20 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the project personnel 
and the quality of the management plan.
    (2) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability.
    (3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel;
    (ii) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks; and
    (iii) The extent to which the time commitments of the project 
director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are 
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed 
project.
    (d) Adequacy of resources (20 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources of the 
proposed project.
    (2) In determining the adequacy of resources of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, 
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the 
lead applicant organization; and
    (ii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to 
the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed 
project.
    (e) Quality of the project evaluation (15 points).
    (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; and
    (ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes.
    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).
    In the event there are two or more applications with the same final 
score, and there are insufficient funds to fully support each of these 
applications, the scores under selection criterion (b) Quality of 
project services will be used as a tiebreaker. If the scores remain 
tied, then the scores under selection criterion (d) Adequacy of 
resources will be used to break the tie.
    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 
200.206, before awarding grants under this competition, the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
200.208, the Secretary may impose specific conditions, and under 2 CFR 
3474.10, 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

[[Page 81501]]

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 200.206(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.
    6. In General: In accordance with the Office of Management and 
Budget's guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal 
laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department will review and 
consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice inviting 
applications in accordance with--
    (a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering 
results based on the program objectives through an objective process of 
evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
    (b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video 
surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) (2 CFR 
200.216);
    (c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to 
maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United 
States (2 CFR 200.322); and
    (d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest 
extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program 
goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).

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 also may 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. 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.
    (c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee 
with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. In 
this case the Secretary establishes a data collection period.
    5. Performance Measures: For the purposes of Department reporting 
under 34 CFR 75.110, the Department has established a set of 
performance measures, including long-term measures, that are designed 
to yield information on various aspects of the effectiveness and 
quality of the Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results 
for Children with Disabilities program. These measures include (1) the 
percentage of preparation programs that incorporate scientifically 
based practices or EBPs into their curricula; (2) the percentage of 
scholars completing the preparation program who are knowledgeable and 
skilled in EBPs that improve outcomes for children with disabilities; 
(3) the percentage of scholars who exit the preparation program prior 
to completion due to poor academic performance; (4) the percentage of 
scholars completing the preparation program who are working in the 
area(s) in which they were prepared upon program completion; (5) the 
Federal cost per scholar who completed the preparation program; (6) the 
percentage of scholars who completed the preparation program and are 
employed in high-need districts; and (7) the percentage of scholars who 
completed the preparation program and who are rated effective by their 
employers.
    In addition, the Department will gather information on the 
following outcome measures: the number and percentage of scholars 
proposed by the grantee in their application that were actually 
enrolled and making satisfactory academic progress in the current 
academic year; the number and percentage of enrolled scholars who are 
on track to complete the training program by the end of the project's 
original grant period; and the percentage of scholars who completed the 
preparation program and are employed in the field of special education 
for at least two years.
    Grantees may be asked to participate in assessing and providing 
information on these aspects of program quality.
    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

[[Page 81502]]

in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and 
budget; and, if the Secretary has established performance measurement 
requirements, whether the grantee has made substantial progress in 
achieving 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: On request to the program contact person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities 
can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an 
accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an 
accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text 
format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, 
audiotape, compact disc, or other accessible format.
    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 Department documents 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 Department documents 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.

Glenna Wright-Gallo,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2024-23033 Filed 10-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P