[Federal Register: June 25, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 122)]
[Notices]
[Page 42975-42980]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25jn02-123]
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Part VII
Department of Education
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Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Special
Education--Technical Assistance and Dissemination To Improve Services
and Results for Children With Disabilities Program; Notice
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[CFDA No.: 84.326X]
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Special
Education--Technical Assistance and Dissemination To Improve Services
and Results for Children With Disabilities Program
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year
(FY) 2002.
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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services invites applications for FY 2002 under the
Special Education--Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve
Services and Results for Children with Disabilities Program. This
program is authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA), as amended. This notice provides closing dates, a priority,
and other information regarding the transmittal of applications.
Please note that important fiscal information is listed in a table
at the end of this notice.
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 rulemaking procedures in
the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) inapplicable to the
priority in this notice.
Purpose of Program: This program provides technical assistance and
information that (1) support States and local entities in building
capacity to improve early intervention, educational, and transitional
services and results for children with disabilities and their families;
and (2) address goals and priorities for changing State systems that
provide early intervention, educational, and transitional services for
children with disabilities and their families.
Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs) of the 50
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
outlying areas and Freely Associated States that have not been awarded
grants under this competition (84.326X) in previous years. Eligible
applicants are listed in the chart at the end of this notice. Freely
Associated States are eligible to apply for funding to address system
needs of Part B of IDEA only because they do not receive funding under
Part C.
An entity eligible to apply for funding under section 661(b)(1) of
IDEA may apply on behalf of an SEA or a Freely Associated State, but
the entity must include a signed letter of endorsement from the
director of the SEA or the appropriate official of the Freely
Associated State.
The Assistant Secretary does not fund an application submitted by
two agencies or entities on behalf of a single State, but encourages a
joint application from an SEA and a State lead agency for Part C early
intervention services in a State in which the SEA is not the State lead
agency. An SEA may endorse the State lead agency as the State's
applicant under the conditions in the MAXIMUM AWARD section of this
notice.
Applications Available: June 26, 2002.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 29, 2002.
Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to the
requirements of Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR
part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive order is to foster an
intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism. The
Executive Order relies on processes developed by State and local
governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal financial
assistance.
This document provides early notification of our specific plans and
actions for this programs.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 26, 2002.
Estimated Available Funds: $8 million.
Estimated Range of Awards: The chart at the end of this Notice
lists the range for State basic grant awards for FY 2002.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $375,000.
Maximum Awards: The chart at the end of this notice lists the
amount of State basic grant awards for FY 2002. An applicant should
note that it may apply for awards of differing amounts based on whether
its application addresses (1) only the Part B program; or (2) both the
Parts B and C programs.
The amounts for a State basic grant are based on the Office of
Special Education Programs (OSEP) assessment that the minimal amounts
necessary to address only Part B program needs and both Parts B and C
program needs are $120,000 and $200,000 respectively. Calculation of
amounts above the minimum levels was based on the 85 percent population
rate and 15 percent poverty rate used in the calculation of Part B
formula grant awards.
Outlying areas are eligible to receive $80,000 for addressing only
Part B and $100,000 for addressing both Parts B and C. Because Freely
Associated States participate only in the Part B program, a level of
$80,000 has been established for addressing Part B only.
A State may not propose a budget in its application for the basic
grant award that exceeds the amounts in this notice.
We will reject any application that purposes a budget exceeding the
maximum amount listed on the chart for a single budget period of twelve
months. The Assistant Secretary may reduce the grant award levels based
on available funds.
Application for Enhancement Funds: OSEP may have additional funds
available to support enhancements to the activities described in the
projects approved for funding under this competition. A proposed
project wishing to apply for enhancement funds may add up to five
additional pages to Part III to describe activities that augment or
complement those presented in the narrative section of its proposal for
a basic grant. The applicant must place the additional pages in a
separate "Enhancement" section located in Part III.
Enhancement activities may be an expansion of activities already
described in the narrative or they may be new activities that would
improve the quality of the previously proposed tasks; for example,
additional staff training, the acquisition of expert technical
assistance, or the improved involvement of parties affected by the
project. In determining whether to fund enhancement activities, we base
our decision on whether these activities represent an exceptional
approach for meeting the priority.
If the proposed project applies for enhancement funds, we shall
evaluate that application material separately from the application for
the basic grant. We may award up to an additional 50 points to a
proposal for enhancement funds. In order for us to fund the enhancement
activities, application must receive: (1) A recommendation to fund the
basic grant; (2) a recommendation to fund the enhancement activities;
and (3) a score combining the basic grant points with the enhancement
activity points that places the application in the funding range. We
shall fund all approved basic grant applications before we fund any
enhancement activities.
An applicant must prepare and include in Part II of the application
a separate budget for the enhancement funds. This budget may not exceed
30 percent of the award amount listed for the basic grant (i.e., either
30 percent of the award for Part B only or 30 percent of the award for
Parts B and C, depending on whether the application addresses only Part
B or Parts B and C).
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Other Application Requirements
To be considered for a combined Parts B and C award, a proposed
project must describe in the application narrative (Part III): (1) how
the SEA and State lead agency participated in developing the
application; and (2) how the project will use the funding to address
the needs of both the Parts B and C programs.
If an SEA endorses the State lead agency as the State's applicant,
the proposed project must describe: (1) how the State lead agency and
SEA collaborated to develop the application; and (2) how the State lead
agency will use the award to address the needs of both the Parts B and
C programs (e.g., developing or enhancing a data system that tracks the
transition of toddlers from Part C to Part B services).
Estimated Number of Awards: 18.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: September 30, 2002--September 30, 2003
Page Limits: Part III of an application submitted under this
notice, the application narrative, is where an applicant addresses the
selection criteria that are used by reviewers in evaluating the
application.
If your proposed project addresses only Part B, you must limit to
the equivalent of no more than 20 pages for a basic grant and 25 pages
for a basic grant with enhancements. If your proposed project addresses
both Part B and Part C you must limit Part III to the equivalent of no
more than 30 pages for a basic grant and 35 pages for a basic grant
with enhancements. To determine the number of pages or the equivalent,
you must use the following standards will be used:
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.
Use a font that is either 12-point or larger and no
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II,
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the
resumes, the bibliography or references, or the letters of support.
However, you must include all of the application narrative in Part III.
We will reject 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.
Additional Requirements
(a) The projects funded under this competition must make positive
efforts to employ and advance in employment in project activities
qualified individuals with disabilities (see section 606 of IDEA).
(b) Applicants and grant recipients under this competition must
involve qualified 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 this competition must budget for a
two-day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, DC.
Instructions for Transmittal of Applications
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 on proposed regulations. 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.
Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications
In FY 2002, the U.S. Department of Education is continuing to
expand its pilot project of electronic submission of applications to
include additional formula grant programs and additional discretionary
grant competitions. The Special Education--Technical Assistance and
Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with
Disabilities Program is one of the programs included in the pilot
project. If you are an applicant under this 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.
Within three working days of submitting your electronic
application, fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal
Assistance (ED 424) to the Application Control Center 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 at (202) 260-1349.
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.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 85, 97, 98, and 99; (b) The selection criteria are drawn from
the general selection criteria in 34 CFR 75.210. The specific selection
criteria for this priority are included in the application package for
this competition.
Priority
Under section 685 of IDEA and 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only
applications that meet the following absolute priority:
Absolute Priority--IDEA General Supervision Enhancement Grant (84.326X)
Background
Over the past six years, the Office of Special Education Programs
(OSEP) has worked with interested parties to
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modify its monitoring system in a way that will improve results for
infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities, and their families.
The interested parties OSEP has worked with have included SEAs, local
educational agencies, parents and advocates. To ensure States'
compliance with IDEA, OSEP has implemented a Continuous Improvement
Monitoring Process (CIMP). An in-depth explanation of CIMP can be found
at: http://dssc.org/frc/monitor.htm. (Click on manual100.doc to view in
MS WORD or on manual100.pdf to view as a pdf file.)
Since the implementation of CIMP, SEAs and State lead agencies have
endorsed the concept. All of the States have been involved in some
phase of CIMP. Many States have begun the difficult processes of--
(1) Developing CIMP systems at the State level;
(2) Supporting the development of CIMP systems at the LEA level;
(3) Developing new data systems to support State and local CIMP
systems; and
(4) Developing or enhancing State systems to identify and
disseminate research-based promising practices in education and early
intervention.
Providing the States with some initial funds to support their
participation in CIMP, as well as to support unique State solutions and
strategies developed in response to State-specific challenges
identified through participation in CIMP, will reinforce OSEP's and the
States' commitment to CIMP.
Absolute Priority
To be funded under this priority, a project must address one or
more of the following four focus areas.
Focus 1: Developing or Enhancing a Process To Conduct a Self-Assessment
Background
SEAs and State lead agencies often require technical assistance to
participate in the self-assessment phase of CIMP. This focus supports
the development or enhancement of a process for statewide self-
assessment of eligible applicants.
Focus
A project must develop or enhance a self-assessment process that is
aligned with the self-assessment requirements of CIMP. The project is
encouraged to address such tasks as:
(a) Identifying and implementing fiscally efficient processes to
operate the CIMP Steering Committee;
(b) Identifying and obtaining data needed to evaluate the provision
of early intervention or special education and related services or
both;
(c) Identifying and using methods to determine data validity and
reliability;
(d) Identifying and using valid and reliable techniques to collect
data from parents, LEAs, advocates, service providers, and other
parties interested in early intervention and special education and
related services;
(e) Identifying and using valid and reliable techniques to analyze
data; and
(f) Identifying and using decision making processes, based on data
analysis, to determine whether IDEA regulatory requirements are: (1) In
compliance; (2) in need of improvement; (3) out of compliance; or (4)
exemplary.
Focus 2: Developing or Enhancing a Data System To Support the Needs of
a CIMP at the State or Local Level
Background
The collection and use of valid and reliable data are cornerstones
of CIMP. An analysis of State self-assessments has shown that many
States, as well as their LEAs and local Part C agencies, lack the
capacity to collect sufficient data to determine the impact of special
education and early intervention services.
Focus
This focus supports the development or enhancement of a data system
that is aligned with the data collection needs of CIMP and that will
provide information about one or more of the following:
(a) Appropriate early intervention services or special education
and related services or both.
(b) The effectiveness of the monitoring system of the SEA or State
lead agency or both.
(c) The effectiveness of interagency coordination.
(d) The effectiveness of the State's dispute resolution system.
(e) The effectiveness of the State's system to identify children's
eligibility for Part B or Part C services or both.
(f) Personnel shortages, including information related to the
retention of qualified teachers and service providers.
(g) The system for exercising the general supervisory authority of
the SEA or State lead agency or both.
(h) Efforts to address family needs and enhance families'
capacities to meet the developmental needs of their children.
(i) Early intervention services in the natural environment or
special education and related services in the least restrictive
environment or both.
(j) The transition from Part C to Part B services.
(k) The involvement of parents.
(l) Transition of youth with disabilities from school to work or
postsecondary education.
Focus 3: Developing or Enhancing a Process To Conduct Activities To
Plan Improvement Based on CIMP
Background
The process of developing improvement plans is a critical component
of CIMP. If done properly, improvement planning will result in improved
special education and related services and early intervention or both.
OSEP's analysis of State improvement plans in response to OSEP
monitoring reports has shown that many States lack a cohesive data-
based approach to developing their improvement plans. Many States have
had trouble identifying and addressing the systemic barriers or factors
that contributed to the practice that the State or OSEP has determined
needs improvement.
Focus
This focus supports the development or enhancement of a process for
planning improvement. The process must be aligned with the improvement
planning phase of CIMP and should result in solutions that, for
example--
(a) Identify systemic barriers to improved early intervention
services or special education and related services or both;
(b) Address the systemic barriers to improved early intervention
services or special education and related services or both;
(c) Include an evaluation component that demonstrates the positive
impact of early intervention services or special education and related
services or both;
(d) Include an evaluation component that demonstrates how changes
in staff practice improve the provision of special education and
related services or early intervention services or both;
(e) Are aligned or coordinated with the State's initiatives for
general education reform; and
(f) Are consistent with and responsive to the findings of OSEP
monitoring reports.
Focus 4: Developing or Enhancing State Systems To Identify,
Disseminate, and Implement Promising Educational or Early Intervention
Practices Based on Research
Background
OSEP has found that, to be fully effective, many improvement plans
require a State technical assistance and dissemination structure to
identify, disseminate, and implement promising
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educational or early intervention practices based on research. In many
States this structure is either nonexistent or lacks sufficient
resources to be effective.
Focus
This focus supports the development or enhancement of a process for
planning improvement. The process must be aligned with the improvement
planning phase of CIMP and should result in solutions that, for
example--
(a) Providing information about intervention and instructional
practices based on research;
(b) Supporting the use of research-based approaches in instruction
and the delivery of service in local schools and agencies;
(c) Serving as a conduit for the dissemination of research-based
information among SEAs, State lead agencies, LEAs and Part C agencies,
and national technical assistance centers; and
(d) Improving the efficiency of disseminating information by
existing State technical assistance centers.
For Applications Contact: Education Publications Center (ED Pubs),
PO Box 1398, Jessup, Maryland 20794-1398. Telephone (toll free): 1-877-
4ED-Pubs (1-877-433-7827). FAX: 301-470-1244. If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) you may call (toll free):
1-877-576-7734.
You may also contact ED Pubs at its Web site: http://www.ed.gov/
pubs/edpubs.html.
You may contact ED Pubs at its e-mail address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov
If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify
this competition as follows: CFDA 84.326X.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Grants and Contracts Services Team,
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3317,
Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 205-8207.
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 listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application
package in an alternative format by contacting that contact. However,
the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternative format the
standard forms included in the application package.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
[Application Notice for Fiscal Year 2002]
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Maximum award for basic grants
(per year)
CFDA No., name of program and eligible -------------------------------
applicants IDEA Part B IDEA Parts B
Only &C
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84.326X IDEA General Supervision
Enhancement Grant:
Arizona............................. $258,821 $361,440
California.......................... 926,237 1,152,935
Delaware............................ 138,704 221,862
Florida............................. 469,206 602,580
Georgia............................. 336,846 451,135
Illinois............................ 430,483 561,756
Indiana............................. 239,673 342,256
Iowa................................ 187,919 278,063
Kansas.............................. 186,718 277,324
Kentucky............................ 215,486 310,537
Louisiana........................... 253,489 352,447
Maine............................... 145,677 229,734
Michigan............................ 374,285 493,318
Mississippi......................... 195,787 288,317
Missouri............................ 250,159 351,199
Montana............................. 141,279 225,078
Nevada.............................. 167,928 255,694
New Hampshire....................... 147,833 231,870
New York............................ 604,333 754,403
North Carolina...................... 313,145 424,495
North Dakota........................ 135,800 218,133
Ohio................................ 392,013 515,946
Oklahoma............................ 214,467 309,872
South Dakota........................ 139,508 222,346
Tennessee........................... 264,990 366,900
Texas............................... 726,539 905,713
Vermont............................. 135,453 217,610
Washington.......................... 259,434 363,345
West Virginia....................... 161,412 247,552
Wisconsin........................... 251,631 350,701
Wyoming............................. 132,763 214,523
Guam................................ 80,000 100,000
Northern Marianas................... 80,000 100,000
Virgin Islands...................... 80,000 100,000
Federated States of Micronesia...... 80,000 NA
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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
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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. 1485.
Dated: June 19, 2002.
Robert H. Pasternack,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 02-16028 Filed 6-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P