[Federal Register: May 18, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 97)]
[Notices]
[Page 27801-27806]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18my01-111]
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Part III
Department of Education
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Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Special
Education--Technology and Media Services for Individuals With
Disabilities Program; Notice
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Special
Education--Technology and Media Services for Individuals With
Disabilities Program
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year
(FY) 2001.
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SUMMARY: This notice provides closing dates and other information
regarding the transmittal of applications for two FY 2001 competitions
under one program authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA), as amended: Special Education--Technology and
Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities.
National Education Goals
The eight National Education Goals focus the Nation's education
reform efforts and provide a framework for improving teaching and
learning.
This priority addresses the National Education Goals that promote
new partnerships to strengthen schools and expand the Department's
capacities for helping communities to exchange ideas and obtain
information needed to achieve the goals.
These priorities would address the National Education Goals by
helping to improve results for children with disabilities.
Waiver of Rulemaking
It is generally our practice to offer interested parties the
opportunity to comment on proposed priorities. However, section
661(e)(2) of IDEA makes the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553)
inapplicable to the priorities in this notice.
General Requirements
(a) The projects funded under this notice must make positive
efforts to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with
disabilities in project activities (see section 606 of IDEA).
(b) Applicants and grant recipients funded under this notice must
involve individuals with disabilities or parents of individuals with
disabilities in planning, implementing, and evaluating the projects
(see section 661(f)(1)(A) of IDEA).
(c) The projects funded under these priorities must budget for a
two-day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, DC during each year
of the project.
(d) In a single application, an applicant must address only one
absolute priority in this notice.
(e) Part III of each application submitted under a priority in this
notice, the application narrative, is where an applicant addresses the
selection criteria that are used by reviewers in evaluating the
application. You must limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than
the number of pages listed in the table at the end of this notice for
each applicable priority, using the following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5" x 11" (on one side only) with one-
inch margins (top, bottom, and sides).
Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, and captions, as well as all text in charts,
tables, figures, and graphs.
If using a proportional computer font, use no smaller than
a 12-point font, and an average character density no greater than 18
characters per inch. If using a nonproportional font or a typewriter,
do not use more than 12 characters per inch.
The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II,
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the
resumes, the bibliography or references, or the letters of support.
However, you must include all of the application narrative in Part III.
We will reject without consideration or evaluation any application
if--
You apply these standards and exceed the page limit; or
You apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the
page limit.
Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications
The U.S. Department of Education is expanding its pilot project of
electronic submission of applications. The program in this announcement
is included in the pilot project. If you are an applicant for a grant
under this 2 program, you may submit your application to us in either
electronic or paper format.
The pilot project involves the use of the Electronic Grant
Application System (e-APPLICATION, formerly e-GAPS) portion of the
Grant Administration and Payment System (GAPS). We request your
participation in this pilot project. We shall continue to evaluate its
success and solicit suggestions for improvement.
If you participate in this e-APPLICATION pilot, please note the
following:
Your participation is voluntary.
You will not receive any additional point value or penalty
because you submit a grant application in electronic or paper format.
You can submit all documents electronically, including the
Application for Federal Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and
certifications.
Fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal
Assistance (ED 424) after following these steps:
1. Print ED 424 from the e-APPLICATION system.
2. Make sure that the institution's Authorizing Representative
signs this form.
3. Before faxing this form, submit your electronic application via
the e-APPLICATION system. You will receive an automatic
acknowledgement, which will include a PR/Award number (an identifying
number unique to your application).
4. Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of ED
424.
5. Fax ED 424 to the Application Control Center within three
working days of submitting your electronic application. We will
indicate a fax number in e-APPLICATION at the time of your submission.
We may request that you give us original signatures on all
other forms at a later date.
You may access the electronic grant application for the program at:
http://e-grants.ed.gov
We have included additional information about the e-APPLICATION
pilot project (see Parity Guidelines between Paper and Electronic
Applications) in the application package.
Note: Some of the procedures in these instructions for
transmitting applications differ from those in the Education
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) (34 CFR
75.102). Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the
Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to
comment. However, these amendments make procedural changes only and
do not establish new substantive policy. Therefore, under 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(A), the Secretary has determined that proposed rulemaking is
not required.
Technology and Media Services for Individuals With Disabilities (CFDA
84.327)
Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to promote the
development, demonstration, and utilization of technology and to
support educational media activities designed to be of educational
value to children with disabilities. This program also provides support
for some captioning, video description, and cultural activities.
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Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99; (b) The selection criteria for the
priorities under this program are drawn from the EDGAR general
selection criteria menu. The specific selection criteria for each
priority are included in the funding application packet for the
applicable competition.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education only.
Eligible Applicants: State and local educational agencies;
institutions of higher education; other public agencies; private
nonprofit organizations; outlying areas; freely associated States;
Indian tribes or tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations.
Priority
Under section 687 of IDEA and 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only
applications that meet the following priorities:
Absolute Priority 1--Cultural Experiences for Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Individuals (84.327T)
Background
Past projects funded under this priority supported a variety of
activities, including: theatrical experiences in which cast members
included deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing performers; theater and set
design, directing, dance, and storytelling; cultural experiences
focusing on Native American art and culture; hands-on theatre
experience involving persons from minority groups; a touring ``instant
theater;'' producing videos of performances and documentaries of
performances; and drama workshops.
Priority
This priority supports a variety of cultural activities designed to
enrich the lives of deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, children, or
adults. These activities must use an approach that integrates deaf or
hard-of-hearing individuals with those who can hear, while conducting
cultural experiences that will increase public awareness and
understanding of deafness, deaf culture, and of the artistic and
intellectual achievements of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.
A grantee may not use funds under this priority for passive
activities, such as viewing a play or video or passively watching a
storyteller or artist at work.
To be considered for funding under this priority, a project must--
(a) Use an integrated approach that mixes children or adults who
are deaf or hard-of-hearing with those who are hearing in carrying out
project activities; and
(b) Develop and implement strategies that will increase public
awareness and understanding of deafness, deaf culture, and of the
artistic and intellectual achievements of deaf and hard-of-hearing
individuals. Outreach activities such as promoting the project to
schools, community organizations, news media, and relevant national
organizations are encouraged.
Invitational Priority
Within this absolute priority, the Secretary is particularly
interested in applications that meet the following invitational
priority. However, pursuant to 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), an application that
meets this invitational priority does not receive competitive or
absolute preference over applications that do not meet this priority:
Projects that include people from a variety of cultural, racial, or
ethnic backgrounds.
Competitive Preference
Within this absolute priority, we will give the following
competitive preference points under section 606 of IDEA and 34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(i), to applications that are otherwise eligible for
funding under this priority:
Up to ten (10) points based on the effectiveness of the applicant's
strategies for employing and advancing in employment qualified
individuals with disabilities in project activities as required under
paragraph (a) of the ``General Requirements'' section of this notice.
In determining the effectiveness of those strategies, we may consider
the applicant's past success in pursuit of this goal.
Therefore, for purposes of this competitive preference, applicants
can be awarded up to a total of 10 points in addition to those awarded
under the published selection criteria for this priority. That is, an
applicant meeting this competitive preference could earn a maximum
total of 110 points.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.
Maximum Award: The maximum award amount is $110,000 per year.
Consistent with EDGAR 34 CFR 75.104(b), we will reject any application
that proposes a project funding level for any year that exceeds the
stated maximum award amount for that year.
Page Limits: The maximum page limit for this priority is 50 double-
spaced pages.
Note: Applications must meet the required page limit standards
that are described in the ``General Requirements'' section of this
notice.
Absolute Priority 2--Center to Support Technology Innovation for
Students With Disabilities (84.327Z) Background
Technology can dramatically improve early intervention and
educational results for infants, toddlers, and children with
disabilities, whether it is designed specifically for use by
individuals with disabilities, or for a general population and is
accessible for individuals with disabilities.
The Federal government has a number of programs that may augment
the benefits of technology for infants, toddlers, and children with
disabilities. For example, programs in the Office of Special Education
Programs (OSEP) and in the National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) support a range of technology
innovation and implementation efforts focused on the needs of
individuals with disabilities. Other Federal programs have the
potential to provide support in this area as well. These include, but
are not limited to:
(a) Technology research and innovation programs offered in other
offices in the Department of Education (e.g., Small Business Innovation
Research);
(b) The Access Board and the Federal Information Technology
Accessibility Initiative (FITAI) that promote technology accessibility;
and
(c) Technology research, development, and transfer programs
operated by other Federal agencies (e.g., National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, Department of Defense, National Science
Foundation).
Technology benefits can also be enhanced by federally-supported
technical assistance and dissemination projects sponsored by OSEP
(e.g., Regional and Federal Resource Centers, Partnership Projects, and
the Center to Link Urban Schools (LINK US)), and other projects in the
Department of Education (e.g., Regional Educational Laboratories,
ABLEDATA Database Program).
Non-Federal resources and efforts can affect the benefits that
infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities derive from
technology. These include, but are not limited to:
(a) State and local policies (e.g., technology acquisition
standards, policies for program access);
(b) State and local programs and resources (e.g., technology
programs and personnel, including numerous innovative technology
efforts);
(c) Teacher training and professional development programs offered
by State
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and local educational agencies and institutions of higher education;
(d) Efforts by professional groups and trade associations (e.g.,
the Technology and Media Division of the Council for Exceptional
Children, the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT)
Consortium, the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) sponsored by
the Software and Information Industry Association);
(e) Technology products that are commercially developed and
distributed; and
(f) Public-private partnerships focusing on technology (e.g., the
IMS Global Learning Consortium and the federally-funded Specifications
for Accessible Learning Technologies (SALT) Partnership, the Center for
Innovative Learning Technologies (CILT)).
In addition, general trends and developments in technology and
instruction affect the benefits derived from technology. These include,
but are not limited to:
(a) The development of faster, smaller, and cheaper computers;
(b) Increased use of wireless communications;
(c) Increased speed and capacity of the internet;
(d) Use of new information models (e.g., extensible markup language
(XML));
(e) Increased use of special-purpose and ``ubiquitous'' computers
(e.g., computers in appliances, TVs, and telephones); and
(f) New technology-based instructional approaches (e.g., distance
learning, simulations).
Clearly, the benefits that infants, toddlers, and children with
disabilities can derive from technology are influenced by a number of
programs, policies, resources, professional activities, trends, and
other factors. It would be useful if all of these factors collectively
contributed to maximizing the benefits of technology for this
population of children.
However, such an outcome cannot be assumed. Technology innovations
will not result in widespread benefits unless they are disseminated
effectively. Commercially developed products may not benefit infants,
toddlers, and children with disabilities unless they are designed to
meet their needs. Special education researchers and technology
developers cannot draw upon technology innovations and trends of which
they are unaware.
Priority
This priority will support a Center to improve the use of
technology to achieve better early intervention and educational results
for infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities by: (a)
Cultivating a collaborative network; (b) analyzing, synthesizing, and
disseminating research-based and best practice information; (c)
promoting the distribution and use as appropriate of technology-related
products and approaches with potential to improve results, including
products and approaches developed with OSEP funding; and (d) analyzing
needs, issues, trends, and promising approaches.
(a) The Center's activities for cultivating a collaborative network
must include, but are not limited to:
(1) Developing and updating on a regular basis a database of
projects (including OSEP-funded projects), agencies, professional and
trade associations, commercial companies, and other organizations and
entities as discussed in the background section that may contribute to
the Center's efforts to improve the use of technology to achieve better
results. This database is to be posted on the web site.
(2) Forming an advisory board of eight to ten representatives with
various perspectives, and maintaining communication with this board,
including convening an annual meeting in Washington, DC. The purpose of
this board is to review and comment at least annually on the Center's
plans and evaluation findings, and to provide additional advisory
support as needed. Perspectives to be represented on the advisory board
must include, but are not limited to: technology developers, technology
researchers, Federal agencies and programs, commercial vendors,
technical assistance providers, personnel preparation programs,
teachers and other service providers, persons with disabilities who use
technology, and parents of children with disabilities.
(3) Developing and implementing procedures to collect information
on relevant activities of the entities identified in paragraph (1).
(4) Distributing a quarterly e-mail newsletter (with links to the
web site) describing the activities of the Center and of other members
of the network, including the activities of OSEP-funded projects, in
improving the use of technology to achieve better results.
(b) The Center's activities for analyzing, synthesizing, and
disseminating research-based and best practice information must be
targeted to audiences of practitioners, administrators, policymakers,
parents, children, and other audiences as appropriate. These activities
must include, but are not limited to:
(1) Completing and disseminating one to four syntheses of research
and best practice knowledge per year on topics related to the effective
use of technology to achieve better results. The results of these
syntheses must be packaged in formats suitable for the target
audiences, as well as technology researchers and developers. Products
must include a series of research briefs announced in the newsletter
and posted on the web site.
(2) Completing and disseminating at least one video package per
year designed for use in teacher training, staff development, program
improvement, and similar efforts presenting research-based, and best-
practice information on the use of technology to achieve better
results. Each package must include one 15 to 20 minute video and
supporting materials intended for target audiences as previously
described.
(3) Conducting technical assistance, dissemination or training
activities for target audiences. The Center must conduct at least two
of these activities in the first year and at least four in each
subsequent year. These activities must be conducted in collaboration
with other members of the network. The activities may draw upon OSEP-
sponsored projects and other sources, including the materials developed
by the Center. The activities must be designed to disseminate research-
based and best practice information on using technology to achieve
better results.
(c) The Center's activities for promoting the distribution and use
as appropriate of technology-related products and approaches with
potential to improve results, including products and approaches
developed with OSEP funding, must include, but are not limited to:
(1) Maintaining a listing of commercial and noncommercial resources
for disseminating findings and products of technology projects, and
including these resources in the network.
(2) Providing technical assistance and training for developers of
technology-related products and approaches on developing high quality
and marketable products, and finding dissemination or marketing
resources. This technical assistance and training may be delivered in
conjunction with the annual meeting on technology and infants, toddlers
and children with disabilities described in this priority.
(3) Including information about technology-related products and
approaches with potential to improve
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results in the newsletter, and providing follow-up information to
potential dissemination or marketing resources.
(d) The Center's activities for analyzing needs, issues, trends,
and promising approaches must include, but are not limited to:
(1) Annually convening from one to four consensus panels of experts
to focus on specific needs, issues, trends, and promising approaches,
and produce documents describing implications for using technology to
achieve better results. Consensus panels may involve preparation of
background papers prior to meetings. The Center must post all
background papers and the products of consensus panels on the web site.
(2) Maintaining ongoing collection of information on developments
in government, private industry, early intervention, education, and
similar arenas relevant to needs, issues, trends, and promising
approaches. This information must be reported in the newsletter and on
the web site.
In addition to, and supportive of the activities listed previously,
the Center must do all of the following:
(a) Maintain a web site that includes: The network database, on-
line documents and products of the Center activities, on-line
descriptions of products developed by OSERS-funded projects, links to
web resources (including all web sites maintained by OSERS-funded
projects involved in technology innovation), articles linked to the
newsletter, and discussion groups. This web site must conform to all
relevant standards regarding accessibility.
(b) Conduct an annual meeting in Washington DC on technology and
infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities. This meeting must
include approximately 110 directors of OSEP-sponsored projects involved
in technology innovations, and 20 other local participants representing
Federal agencies, professional groups, etc. The Center must pay for
travel and lodging for an estimate of 85 project directors (the
remaining participants are local or will pay for their travel with
their own project funds). The conference must include a demonstration
event of OSEP-supported technologies.
(c) Meet with OSEP staff during the first month of each project
year to discuss and obtain approval for plans for the year.
(d) Conduct project evaluation activities to ascertain the quality
of the Center's activities and products, and to determine the Center's
progress toward improving the use of technology to achieve better
results.
(e) Submit quarterly reports describing and documenting Center
activities, including results of the evaluation activities described in
the previous paragraph.
Accessibility: All products developed by the Center must conform to
relevant standards of accessibility, including captioning all videos
and providing alternative formats for written materials.
Competitive Preferences
Within this absolute priority, we will award the following
competitive preference points under section 606 of IDEA and 34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(i), to applications that are otherwise eligible for
funding under this priority:
Up to ten (10) points based on the effectiveness of the applicant's
strategies for employing and advancing in employment qualified
individuals with disabilities in project activities as required under
paragraph (a) of the ``General Requirements'' section of this notice.
In determining the effectiveness of those strategies, we may consider
the applicant's past success in pursuit of this goal.
Therefore, for purposes of this competitive preference, applicants
can be awarded up to a total of 10 points in addition to those awarded
under the published selection criteria for this priority. That is, an
applicant meeting this competitive preference could earn a maximum
total of 110 points.
Project Period: Under this priority, we will make one award for a
cooperative agreement for a project period of up to 60 months subject
to the requirements of 34 CFR 75.253(a) for continuation awards. In
deciding whether to continue the Center for the fourth and fifth years,
we will consider the requirements of 34 CFR 75.253(a), and in
addition--
(a) The recommendation of a review team consisting of experts
selected by the Secretary, which review will be conducted during the
last half of the project's second year in Washington DC. Projects must
budget for travel associated with this review;
(b) The timeliness and effectiveness with which all requirements of
the negotiated cooperative agreement have been or are being met by the
Center; and
(c) The degree to which the Center is making a positive
contribution to improving the use of technology to achieve better
results for infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities.
Maximum Award: The maximum award amount is $750,000 for the first
budget period of 12 months and $1,000,000 for subsequent budget periods
of 12 months. Consistent with EDGAR 34 CFR 75.104(b), we will reject
any application that proposes a budget funding level for any year that
exceeds the stated maximum award amount for that year.
Page Limits: The maximum page limit for this priority is 60 double-
spaced pages.
Note: Applications must meet the required page limit standards
that are described in the ``General Requirements'' section of this
notice.
For Applications Contact: Education Publications Center (ED Pubs),
P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, Maryland 20794-1398. Telephone (toll free): 1-
877-4ED-Pubs (1-877-433-7827). FAX: 301-470-1244. Individuals who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call (toll free) 1-
877-576-7734.
You may also contact Ed Pubs via its Web site (http://www.ed.gov/
pubs/edpubs.html) or its E-mail address (edpubs@inet.ed.gov).
If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify
these competitions as follows: CFDA 84.327T and CFDA 84.327Z.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Grants and Contracts Services Team,
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., room 3317,
Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 260-
9182.
If you use a TDD you may call the Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact persons listed in the preceding
paragraph.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application
package in an alternative format by contacting the Department as listed
above. However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an
alternative format the standard forms included in the application
package.
Intergovernmental Review
This notice is subject to the requirements of Executive Order 12372
and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. The objective of the Executive
order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened
federalism by relying on processes developed by State and local
governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal financial
assistance.
In accordance with the order, we intend this document to provide
early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for
those programs.
[[Page 27806]]
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Application Notice for Fiscal Year 2001
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Deadline for Estimated
CFDA No. and name Applications Application Intergovernmental Maximum award Project period Page number of
available deadline date review (per year)\*\ limit\**\ awards
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84.327T Cultural Experiences for 05/25/01 07/09/01 09/10/01 $110,000 Up to 36 mos............. 50 5
Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Individuals.
84.327Z Center to Support 05/25/01 07/20/01 09/20/01 .............. Up to 60 mos............. 60 1
Technology Innovation for
Students with Disabilities.
First twelve-month funding .............. .............. ................. 750,000 ......................... ......... ...........
period.
Subsequent twelve-month .............. .............. ................. 1,000,000 ......................... ......... ...........
funding periods.
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\*\ Consistent with EDGAR 34 CFR 75.104(b), we will reject any application that proposes a project funding level for any year that exceeds the stated
maximum award amount for that year.
\**\ Applicants must limit the Application Narrative, Part III of the Application, to the page limits noted above. Please refer to the ``Page Limit''
requirements included under each priority description and the page limit standards described in the ``General Requirements'' section. We will reject
and will not consider an application that does not adhere to this requirement.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or
portable document format (PDF) on the internet at the following site:
www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at the previous site. If you have questions about using PDF, call
the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-
6498; or in the Washington, DC., area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo/
nara/index.html
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1487.
Dated: May 14, 2001.
Francis V. Corrigan,
Deputy Director, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research.
[FR Doc. 01-12519 Filed 5-17-01; 8:45 am]
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