[Federal Register: September 18, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 181)]
[Page 50113-50121]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18se98-118]
[[Page 50113]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part VI
Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________
Special Education: Personnel Preparation to Improve Services and
Results for Children with Disabilities and Technology and Media
Services for Individuals with Disabilities; Notice
[[Page 50114]]
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Special Education--Personnel Preparation to Improve Services and
Results for Children with Disabilities; and Special Education--
Technology and Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities
ACTION: Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year
1999.
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SUMMARY: On June 4, 1997, the President signed into law Public Law 105-
17, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997,
amending the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
This notice provides closing dates and other information regarding
the transmittal of applications for fiscal year 1999 competitions under
two programs authorized by IDEA, as amended. The two programs are: (1)
Special Education--Personnel Preparation to Improve Services and
Results for Children with Disabilities (five priorities); and (2)
Special Education-- Technology and Media Services for Individuals with
Disabilities (one priority).
This notice supports the National Education Goals by helping to
improve results for children with disabilities.
Waiver of Rulemaking
It is generally the practice of the Secretary 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. In order to
make awards on a timely basis, the Secretary has decided to publish
these priorities in final under the authority of section 661(e)(2).
General Requirements
(a) 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) Projects funded under these priorities must budget for a two-
day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, D.C. during each year of
the project; and
(d) In a single application, an applicant is required to address
only one absolute priority in this notice.
Note: The Department of Education is not bound by any estimates
in this notice.
Special Education--Personnel Preparation To Improve Services and
Results for Children With Disabilities [CFDA 84.325]
Purpose of Program
The purposes of this program are to: (1) Help address State-
identified needs for qualified personnel in special education, related
services, early intervention, and regular education, to work with
children with disabilities; and (2) to ensure that those personnel have
the skills and knowledge, derived from practices that have been
determined through research and experience to be successful, that are
needed to serve those children.
Eligible Applicants
Institutions of higher education are eligible applicants for
Absolute Priorities 1-4 under this program. Eligible applicants for
Absolute Priority 5, Projects of National Significance, are: State and
local educational agencies; institutions of higher education; other
public agencies; private nonprofit organizations; outlying areas;
freely associated States; and Indian tribes or tribal organizations.
Applicable Regulations
(a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations
(EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86; (b) The
selection criteria for Absolute Priorities 1-4 will be drawn from the
EDGAR menu--TRAINING program area; and (c) The selection criteria for
Absolute Priority 5 will be drawn from the EDGAR menu--MODEL
DEMONSTRATION AND PROJECTS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE program area.
Information collection resulting from this notice has been submitted to
OMB for review under the Paperwork Reduction Act and has been approved
under control number 1820-0028, expiration date July 31, 2000.
General Requirement For All Personnel Preparation Program Priorities
Student financial assistance is authorized only for the preservice
preparation of special education, related services, early intervention,
and leadership personnel to serve children ages 3 through 21, and early
intervention personnel who serve infants and toddlers.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education only.
Priority: Under section 673 of the Act and 34 CFR 75.105 (c)(3),
the Secretary gives an absolute preference to applications that meet
one of the following priorities. The Secretary funds under this
competition only those applications that meet these absolute
priorities:
Absolute Priority 1--Preparation of Special Education, Related
Services, and Early Intervention Personnel to Serve Infants, Toddlers,
and Children with Low-Incidence Disabilities (84.325A).
Background: The national demand for educational, related services,
and early intervention personnel to serve infants, toddlers, and
children with low-incidence disabilities exceeds available supply.
However, because of the small number of these personnel needed in each
State, institutions of higher education and individual States are
reluctant to support the needed professional development programs. Of
the programs that are available, not all are producing graduates with
the prerequisite skills needed to meet the needs of the low-incidence
disability population. Federal support is required to ensure an
adequate supply of personnel to serve children with low-incidence
disabilities and to improve the quality of appropriate training
programs so that graduates possess necessary prerequisite skills.
Priority: The Secretary establishes an absolute priority to support
projects that increase the number and quality of personnel to serve
children with low-incidence disabilities. This priority supports
projects that provide preservice preparation of special educators,
early intervention personnel, and related services personnel at the
associate, baccalaureate, master's, or specialist level.
A preservice program is defined as one that leads toward a degree,
certification, or professional licence or standard, and may be
supported at the associate, baccalaureate, master's or specialist
level. A preservice program may include the preparation of currently
employed personnel who are seeking additional degrees, certifications,
endorsements, or licences.
The term ``low-incidence disability'' means a visual or hearing
impairment, or simultaneous visual and hearing impairments, a
significant cognitive impairment, or any impairment for which a small
number of personnel with highly specialized skills and knowledge are
needed in order for children with that impairment to receive early
intervention services or a free appropriate public education.
[[Page 50115]]
Applicants may propose to prepare one or more of the following
types of personnel:
(1) Special educators including early childhood, speech and
language, adapted physical education, and assistive technology
personnel;
(2) Related services personnel who provide developmental,
corrective, and other support services that assist children with low-
incidence disabilities to benefit from special education. Both
comprehensive programs, and specialty components within a broader
discipline, that prepare personnel for work with the low-incidence
population may be supported; or,
(3) Early intervention personnel who serve children birth through
age 2 with low-incidence disabilities and their families. For the
purpose of this priority, all children who require early intervention
services are considered low-incidence. Early intervention personnel
include persons who train, or serve as consultants to, service
providers and case managers.
The Secretary particularly encourages projects that address the
needs of more than one State, provide multi-disciplinary training, and
include collaboration among several institutions and between training
institutions and public schools. In addition, projects that foster
successful coordination between special education and regular education
professional development programs to meet the needs of children with
low-incidence disabilities in inclusive settings are encouraged.
Each project funded under this absolute priority must--
(a) Prepare personnel to address the specialized needs of children
with low-incidence disabilities from different cultural and language
backgrounds;
(b) Incorporate best practices in the design of the program and the
curricula;
(c) Incorporate curricula that focus on improving results for
children with low-incidence disabilities;
(d) Promote high expectations for students with low-incidence
disabilities and foster access to the general curriculum in the regular
classroom, wherever appropriate; and
(e) Develop linkages with Education Department technical assistance
providers to communicate information on program models used and program
effectiveness; and
(f) If the project prepares personnel to provide services to
visually impaired or blind children that can be appropriately provided
in Braille, prepare those individuals to provide those services in
Braille;
To be considered for an award, an applicant must satisfy the
following requirements contained in Section 673(f)-(h) of the Act--
(a) Demonstrate, with letters from one or more States that the
project proposes to serve, that States need personnel in the area or
areas in which the applicant proposes to provide preparation, as
identified in the States' comprehensive systems of personnel
development (CSPD) under Parts B and C of the Act;
(b) Demonstrate that it has engaged in a cooperative effort with
one or more State educational agencies or, if appropriate, lead
agencies for providing early intervention services, to plan, carry out,
and monitor the project;
(c) Provide letters from one or more States stating that they
intend to accept successful completion of the proposed personnel
preparation program as meeting State personnel standards for serving
children with disabilities or serving infants and toddlers with
disabilities;
(d) Meet State and professionally-recognized standards for the
preparation of special education, related services, or early
intervention personnel; and
(e) Ensure that individuals who receive financial assistance under
the proposed project will subsequently provide, special education and
related services to children with disabilities, or early intervention
services to infants and toddlers with disabilities, for a period of two
years for every year for which assistance was received or repay all or
part of the cost of that assistance. Applicants must describe how they
will notify scholarship recipients of this work or repay requirement,
which is specified under section 673(h)(1) of the Act (20 U.S.C.
1473(h)(1)). The requirement must be implemented consistently with
section 673(h)(1) of the Act and with applicable regulations in effect
prior to the awarding of grants under this priority.
Under this absolute priority, the Secretary plans to award
approximately:
* 50 percent of the available funds for projects that
support careers in special education, including early childhood
educators;
* 15 percent of the available funds for projects that
support careers in educational interpreter services for hearing
impaired individuals;
* 20 percent of the available funds for projects that
support careers in related services, other than educational interpreter
services; and
* 15 percent of the available funds for projects that
support careers in early intervention.
Competitive priority: Within this absolute priority, the Secretary
under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii), and Section 673(g)(3)(B) of the Act will
give preference to applications from an institution of higher education
that is successfully recruiting and preparing individuals with
disabilities and individuals from groups that are underrepresented in
the profession for which they are preparing individuals over an
application of comparable merit that does not meet the priority.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.
Maximum Award: The Secretary rejects and does not consider an
application that proposes a budget exceeding $300,000 for any single
budget period of 12 months. However, because of budgetary
considerations contingent upon congressional action, the Secretary may
change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal
Register.
Page Limits: Part III of the application, the application
narrative, is where an applicant addresses the selection criteria that
are used by reviewers in evaluating the application. An applicant must
limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 40 double-spaced
pages, using the following standards: (1) A ``page'' is 8\1/2\'' x
11'' (on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides).
(2) All text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs, must be double-spaced (no more
than 3 lines per vertical inch). 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 to the 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,
resumes, bibliography, and letters of support. However, all of the
application narrative must be included in Part III. If an application
narrative uses a smaller print size, spacing, or margin that would make
the narrative exceed the equivalent of the page limit, the application
will not be considered for funding.
Absolute Priority 2--Preparation of Leadership Personnel (84.325D)
This priority supports projects that conducts leadership personnel
activities such as: (a) preparing personnel at the advanced graduate,
doctoral, and postdoctoral levels of training to administer, enhance,
or provide services for children with disabilities; and (b) providing
interdisciplinary training for various types of leadership personnel,
[[Page 50116]]
including teacher preparation faculty, administrators, researchers,
supervisors, principals, and other persons whose work affects early
intervention, educational, and transitional services for children with
disabilities.
To be considered for an award, an applicant must satisfy the
following requirements contained in Section 673(f)-(h) of the Act--
(a) Demonstrate, with letters from one or more States that the
project proposes to serve, that States need personnel in the area or
areas in which the applicant proposes to provide preparation, as
identified in the States' comprehensive systems of personnel
development under Parts B and C of the Act;
(b) Demonstrate that it has engaged in a cooperative effort with
one or more State educational agencies or, if appropriate, lead
agencies for providing early intervention services, to plan, carry out,
and monitor the project;
(c) Meet State and professionally-recognized standards for the
preparation of leadership personnel in special education, related
services or early intervention fields, if the purpose of the project is
to assist personnel in obtaining degrees; and
(d) Ensure that individuals who receive financial assistance under
the proposed project will subsequently perform work related to their
preparation for a period of two years for every year for which
assistance was received or repay all or part of the cost of that
assistance. Applicants must describe how they will notify scholarship
recipients of this work or repay requirement, which is specified under
section 673(h)(2) of the Act (20 U.S.C. 1473(h)(2)). The requirement
must be implemented consistently with section 673(h)(2) of the Act and
with applicable regulations in effect prior to the awarding of grants
under this priority.
The Secretary intends to make approximately seven awards to
projects that prepare students for careers in administration in which
they provide leadership in addressing the needs of children with
disabilities.
Invitational priorities: Within Absolute Priority 2, the Secretary
is particularly interested in applications that meet one or more of the
following invitational priorities. However, pursuant to 34 CFR
75.105(c)(1), an application that meets one or more of these
invitational priorities does not receive competitive or absolute
preference over other applications:
(a) Projects designed to foster successful coordination among
administrators, special education and regular education teachers,
related services personnel, infant intervention specialists, and
parents.
(b) Projects that coordinate professional development programs for
regular and special education leadership personnel.
(c) Projects that include recruitment of leadership personnel from
groups that are underrepresented, including individuals with
disabilities.
Project Period: Up to 48 months.
Maximum Award: The Secretary rejects and does not consider an
application that proposes a budget exceeding $200,000 for any single
budget period of 12 months. However, because of budgetary
considerations contingent upon congressional action, the Secretary may
change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal
Register.
Page Limits: Part III of the application, the application
narrative, is where an applicant addresses the selection criteria that
are used by reviewers in evaluating the application. An applicant must
limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 40 double-spaced
pages, using the following standards: (1) A ``page'' is 8\1/2\'' x 11''
(on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides). (2)
All text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs, must be double-spaced (no more
than 3 lines per vertical inch). 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 to the 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,
resumes, bibliography, and letters of support. However, all of the
application narrative must be included in Part III. If an application
narrative uses a smaller print size, spacing, or margin that would make
the narrative exceed the equivalent of the page limit, the application
will not be considered for funding.
Absolute Priority 3--Preparation of Personnel in Minority Institutions
(84.325E).
This priority supports awards to institutions of higher education
with minority student enrollments of at least 25 percent, including
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, for the purpose of
preparing personnel to work with children with disabilities. Awards
must be made consistent with the objectives in section 673(a) of the
Act.
To be considered for an award, an applicant must satisfy the
following requirements contained in Section 673(f)-(h) of the Act--
(a) Demonstrate, with letters from one or more States that the
project proposes to serve, that States need personnel in the area or
areas in which the applicant proposes to provide preparation, as
identified in the States' comprehensive system of personnel development
under Parts B and C of the Act.
(b) Demonstrate that it has engaged in a cooperative effort with
one or more State educational agencies or, if appropriate, lead
agencies for providing early intervention services, to plan, carry out,
and monitor the project;
(c) Provide letters from one or more States stating that they
intend to accept successful completion of the proposed personnel
preparation program as meeting State personnel standards for serving
children with disabilities or serving infants and toddlers with
disabilities;
(d) Meet State and professionally-recognized standards for the
preparation of special education, related services, or early
intervention personnel, if the purpose of the project is to assist
personnel in obtaining degrees; and
(e) Ensure that individuals who receive financial assistance under
the proposed project will subsequently provide special education and
related services to children with disabilities, or early intervention
services for infants and toddlers, for a period of two years for every
year for which assistance was received or repay all or part of the cost
of that assistance. Applicants must describe how they will notify
scholarship recipients of this work or repay requirement, which is
specified under section 673(h)(1) of the Act (20 U.S.C. 1473(h)(1)).
The requirement must be implemented consistently with section 673(h)(1)
of the Act and with applicable regulations in effect prior to the
awarding of grants under this priority.
Competitive preference: Within this absolute priority, the
Secretary under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2), will give a competitive preference
to applicant institutions that are otherwise eligible for funding under
this priority, and which have not received an FY 1998 or FY 1999 award
under the IDEA personnel preparation program.
Applicants who fulfill the requirements of the competitive
preference will be awarded a total of 20 points in addition to those
awarded under the published selection criteria for this priority. That
is, an applicant
[[Page 50117]]
meeting the competitive preference could earn a maximum total of 120
points.
Project Period: Up to 48 months.
Maximum Award: The Secretary rejects and does not consider an
application that proposes a budget exceeding $200,000 for any single
budget period of 12 months. However, because of budgetary
considerations contingent upon congressional action, the Secretary may
change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal
Register.
Page Limits: Part III of the application, the application
narrative, is where an applicant addresses the selection criteria that
are used by reviewers in evaluating the application. An applicant must
limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 40 double-spaced
pages, using the following standards: (1) A ``page'' is 8\1/2\'' x 11''
(on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides). (2)
All text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs, must be double-spaced (no more
than 3 lines per vertical inch). 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 to the 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,
resumes, bibliography, and letters of support. However, all of the
application narrative must be included in Part III. If an application
narrative uses a smaller print size, spacing, or margin that would make
the narrative exceed the equivalent of the page limit, the application
will not be considered for funding.
Absolute Priority 4--Improving the Preparation of Personnel to Serve
Children with High-Incidence Disabilities (84.325H)
Background: State agencies, university training programs, local
schools, and other community-based agencies and organizations confirm
both the importance and the challenge of improving training programs
for personnel to serve children with high-incidence disabilities and of
meeting the staffing needs of localities experiencing chronic shortages
of these personnel.
This priority is intended to improve personnel preparation programs
throughout the Nation and help meet shortages in particular areas. The
project requirements, in conjunction with the identified competitive
priorities, also reflect a number of important factors that are common
to effective personnel preparation programs. These factors are:
(a) Collaboration among governmental, educational and community-
based organizations on the Federal, State, and local levels in meeting
personnel needs;
(b) Field-based training opportunities for students to use acquired
knowledge and skills in schools reflecting wide contextual and student
diversity, including high poverty schools;
(c) Multi-disciplinary training of teachers, including regular and
special education teachers, and related services personnel;
(d) Coordinating personnel preparation programs aimed at addressing
chronic personnel shortages with State practices for addressing such
needs;
(e) Addressing shortages of teachers in particular geographic and
content areas;
(f) Integration of research based curriculum and pedagogical
knowledge and practices; and
(g) Meeting the needs of trainees, and of children with
disabilities, from diverse backgrounds.
Priority: Consistent with section 673(e) of the Act, the purpose of
this priority is to develop or improve, and implement, programs that
provide preservice preparation for special and regular education
teachers and related services personnel in order to meet the diverse
needs of children with high incidence disabilities and to enhance the
supply of well-trained personnel to serve these children in areas of
chronic shortage. The term ``high-incidence disabilities'' includes
disabilities such as mild or moderate mental retardation, speech or
language impairments, emotional disturbance, or specific learning
disability. Training of para-professionals to serve children with high-
incidence disabilities is authorized under this priority. (Training of
early intervention personnel is addressed under the preparation of
personnel to serve children with low-incidence disabilities, and
therefore, is not included as part of this priority).
A preservice program is defined as one that leads toward a degree,
certification, or professional licence or standard, and may be
supported at the associate, baccalaureate, master's or specialist
level. A preservice program may include the preparation of currently
employed personnel who are seeking additional degrees, certifications,
endorsements, or licences.
Projects funded under this priority must --
(a) Develop or improve, and implement, partnerships that are
mutually beneficial to grantees and LEAs in order to promote continuous
improvement of preparation programs;
(b) Use research-based curriculum and pedagogy to prepare personnel
able to assist students with disabilities in achieving under the
general education curricula and able to improve student outcomes;
(c) Develop or improve, and implement, strategies for instructing
students on how special education, related services, and regular
education personnel can collaborate to improve results for children
with disabilities; and
(d) Include field-based training opportunities for students in
schools reflecting wide contextual and student diversity, including
high poverty schools.
An applicant must satisfy the following requirements contained in
Section 673(f)-(h) of the Act:
(a) Demonstrate, with letters from one or more States that the
project proposes to serve, that States need personnel in the area or
areas in which the applicant proposes to provide preparation, as
identified in the States' comprehensive systems of personnel
development (CSPD) under Part B of the Act;
(b) Demonstrate that it has engaged in a cooperative effort with
one or more State educational agencies to plan, carry out, and monitor
the project;
(c) Provide letters from one or more States stating that they
intend to accept successful completion of the proposed personnel
preparation program as meeting State personnel standards for serving
children with disabilities;
(d) Meet State and professionally-recognized standards for the
preparation of special education and related services personnel; and
(e) Ensure that individuals who receive financial assistance under
the proposed project will subsequently provide special education and
related services to children with disabilities, for a period of two
years for every year for which assistance was received or repay all or
part of the cost of that assistance. Applicants must describe how they
will notify scholarship recipients of this work or repay requirement,
which is specified under section 673(h)(1) of the Act (20 U.S.C.
1473(h)(1)). The requirement must be implemented consistently with
section 673(h)(1) of the Act and with applicable regulations in effect
prior to the awarding of grants under this priority.
[[Page 50118]]
Competitive preferences: Within this absolute priority the
Secretary under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2), will give a competitive preference
to applications that are otherwise eligible for funding under this
priority, and that meet the following competitive preferences:
(a) Up to ten (10) points based on the extent to which an
application includes effective strategies for recruiting students from
underrepresented populations, including students with disabilities.
(b) Up to ten (10) points based on the extent to which an
application demonstrates that the majority of the graduates of its
program consistently enter jobs in which they serve children with
disabilities in high poverty rural or inner city areas.
Under the competitive preferences applicants can be awarded up to a
total of 20 points in addition to those awarded under the published
selection criteria for this priority. That is, an applicant meeting
both of these competitive preferences could earn a maximum total of 120
points.
Project Period: The maximum funding period for awards is 36 months.
Maximum Award: The Secretary rejects and does not consider an
application that proposes a budget exceeding $200,000 in Federal
funding for any single budget period of twelve months.
Page Limit Requirements: Part III of the application, the
application narrative, is where an applicant addresses the selection
criteria that are used by reviewers in evaluating the application. An
applicant must limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 40
double-spaced pages, using the following standards: (1) A ``page'' is
8\1/2\'' x 11'' (on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom,
and sides). (2) All text in the application narrative, including
titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as
well as all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs, must be
double-spaced (no more than 3 lines per vertical inch). 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 to the 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,
resumes, bibliography, and letters of support. However, all of the
application narrative must be included in Part III. If an application
narrative uses a smaller print size, spacing, or margin that would make
the narrative exceed the equivalent of the page limit, the application
will not be considered for funding.
Absolute Priority 5--Projects of National Significance (84.325N)
The Secretary establishes an absolute priority to support projects
that address issues of national significance and have broad
applicability. Projects supported under this priority must develop,
implement, and evaluate innovative models that will serve as blueprints
for improving the recruitment, preparation, retention and ongoing
development of early intervention personnel, general and special
education teachers, administrators, related service personnel, and
paraprofessionals who have responsibility for ensuring that children
with disabilities achieve to high standards and become independent,
productive citizens.
Priority: A project of national significance must:
(a) Include a detailed description of a personnel preparation
model, including descriptions of: the population(s) that the model is
designed to serve; the content and expected outcomes of the model; the
processes for, and costs involved with, implementation and ongoing
evaluation; and the organizational and contextual factors that may
either facilitate or impede implementation of the model. The model must
--
(1) Be guided by a conceptual framework that integrates all
proposed model components; and
(2) Incorporate relevant, research-based curricular content and
pedagogical practice;
(b) Provide substantial evidence that the proposed model will serve
a broad-based need;
(c) Establish an advisory panel of relevant stakeholders and
potential users to provide guidance that will help to assure that the
model developed has broad applicability;
(d) Conduct ongoing formative evaluations of project activities,
and a final evaluation to assess the success of the model in enhancing
the skills, knowledge, and practices of professional personnel that
will lead to improved results for children with disabilities;
(e) Produce a model ``blueprint'' or case study that would permit
others to replicate the model and includes comprehensive information
related to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this priority, and comprehensive
outcomes of the final evaluation required under paragraph (d) of this
priority; and
(f) In addition to the annual two day Project Directors' meeting in
Washington, D.C. mentioned in the General Requirements section of this
notice, budget for another annual two-day trip to Washington, D.C. to
collaborate with the Federal project officer and other projects funded
under this priority by sharing information and discussing model
development, implementation, evaluation and dissemination issues,
including the carrying out of cross-project dissemination activities.
To be considered for an award, an applicant must satisfy the
following requirements contained in Section 673(f)-(h) of the Act--
(a) Demonstrate that it has engaged in a cooperative effort with
one or more State educational agencies or, if appropriate, lead
agencies for providing early intervention services to plan, carry out,
and monitor the project; and
(b) Meet State and professionally-recognized standards for the
preparation of special education, related services, or early
intervention personnel, if the purpose of the project is to assist
personnel in obtaining degrees; and
(c) Ensure that individuals who receive financial assistance under
the proposed project will subsequently provide special education and
related services to children with disabilities, or early intervention
services for infants and toddlers, for a period of two years for every
year for which assistance was received or repay all or part of the cost
of that assistance. Applicants must describe how they will notify
scholarship recipients of this work or repay requirement, which is
specified under section 673(h)(1) of the Act (20 U.S.C. 1473(h)(1)).
The requirement must be implemented consistently with section 673(h)(1)
of the Act and with applicable regulations in effect prior to the
awarding of grants under this priority.
Invitational Priorities: Within this absolute priority, the
Secretary is particularly interested in applications that meet one of
the following invitational priorities. However, under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(1) an application that meets one or more of these
invitational priorities does not receive competitive or absolute
preference over other applications:
(a) Projects that improve the ability of school principals and
other local educational agency administrators to provide leadership in
meeting the needs of children with disabilities through:
(1) Model preservice programs for the training and certification of
school administrators (including principals and other instructional
leaders) that
[[Page 50119]]
incorporate relevant special education content and provide for trainees
to apply special education knowledge in field-based practice
opportunities.
(2) Model projects that provide ongoing training for practicing
school principals, LEA administrators, local school board members, and
other local decision makers in order to improve the ability of such
individuals to make informed instructional and policy-related decisions
regarding the provision of appropriate, beneficial services and
supports for children with disabilities.
(b) Projects that improve the training of paraprofessionals to meet
the needs of children, K through age 21, with high- or low-incidence
disabilities, in general education classrooms through:
(1) Model preservice programs for the training and certification of
paraprofessionals that incorporate relevant special and regular
education content and provide opportunities for trainees to apply their
knowledge and skills in field-based practice.
(2) Model inservice programs for current paraprofessionals to
improve their knowledge, skills, and practices.
(3) Model pre- or inservice programs that incorporate content for
teachers to supervise and work more effectively with paraprofessionals.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.
Maximum Award: The Secretary rejects and does not consider an
application that proposes a budget exceeding $200,000 for any single
budget period of 12 months. The Secretary may change the maximum amount
through a notice published in the Federal Register.
Page Limits: Part III of the application, the application
narrative, is where an applicant addresses the selection criteria that
are used by reviewers in evaluating the application. An applicant must
limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 40 double-spaced
pages, using the following standards: (1) A ``page'' is 8\1/2\'' x 11''
(on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides). (2)
All text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs, must be double-spaced (no more
than 3 lines per vertical inch). 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 to the 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,
resumes, bibliography, and letters of support. However, all of the
application narrative must be included in Part III. If an application
narrative uses a smaller print size, spacing, or margin that would make
the narrative exceed the equivalent of the page limit, the application
will not be considered for funding.
Special Education--Technology and Media Services for Individuals with
Disabilities [CFDA No. 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.
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.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 85, and 86; and (b) The selection criteria for the Closed
Captioned Television Programs will be drawn from the EDGAR menu--DIRECT
SERVICES program area.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education only.
Priority: Under section 687 of the Act and 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), the
Secretary gives an absolute preference to applications that meet the
following priority. The Secretary funds under this competition only
those applications that meet this absolute priority:
Absolute Priority--Closed Captioned Television Programs (84.327U)
Background: This priority supports cooperative agreements to
provide closed captioning of television programs in a variety of areas:
(1) national news and public information programs; (2) children's
programs; and (3) syndicated television programs.
National News and Public Information. This activity will continue
and expand closed captioned national news, public information programs,
and emergency programming, so that persons with hearing impairments can
have access to up-to-date national morning, evening, and weekend news,
as well as information concerning current events and other significant
public information, including, emergency programming. Funds provided
under this category may be used to support no more than 50 percent of
the captioning costs.
Children's Programs. This activity will provide closed captioning
of children's programs shown on national commercial and public
broadcast networks, as well as syndicated and basic cable programs
shown nationally, so that children who are deaf or hard of hearing will
have access to popular children's programs. In making awards the
Secretary will consider the extent to which children's programs on each
major national commercial and public broadcast network, syndicated
children's programs, and basic cable children's programs continue to be
captioned.
Syndicated Television Programming. This activity will provide for
closed captioning of syndicated television programs, thereby making a
variety of programs available at different times, depending on local
distribution. Syndicated programming will be limited to off-network or
evergreen programming (popular previously-broadcast programs or
series). In making awards the Secretary considers the anticipated
shelf-life and the range of distribution of the captioned programs
possible without further costs to the project beyond the initial
captioning costs.
Priority: Under this competition, the Secretary intends to make one
or more awards in each of the four areas of activity identified above.
Each application may address only one of the areas of activity.
Projects must--
(a) Include procedures and criteria for selecting programs for
captioning that take into account the preference of consumers for
particular programs, the diversity of programming available, and the
contribution of programs to the general educational, and cultural
experiences of individuals with hearing impairments;
(b) Provide a flexible plan to assure closed captioning of
television programs without interruption, while accommodating last-
minute program substitutions and new programs;
(c) Identify the total number of hours and the projected cost per
hour for each of the programs to be captioned;
(d) Identify for each proposed program to be captioned the source
of private or other public support and the projected dollar amount of
that support;
(e) Identify the methods of captioning to be used for each
program--indicating
[[Page 50120]]
whether captioning is provided in real-time, live display, offline, or
reformatted--and the projected cost per hour for each method used;
(f) Provide and maintain back-up systems that will ensure
successful, timely captioning service, despite national or regional
emergency situations;
(g) Demonstrate the willingness of each major network or providers
of syndicated programs included in the project to permit captioning of
their programs;
(h) Implement procedures for monitoring the extent to which full
and accurate captioning is provided and use this information to make
refinements in captioning operations; and
(i) Identify the anticipated shelf-life, and the range of
distribution of syndicated programs captioned without further costs to
the project beyond the initial captioning costs.
Captions produced under these awards may be reformatted or
otherwise adapted by owners or rights holders of programming, including
networks and syndicators, for future airings or other distributions.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.
Maximum award: The Secretary rejects and does not consider an
application that proposes a budget exceeding $500,000 for National News
and Public Information; $250,000 for Children's Programs; and $350,000
for Syndicated Television Programming, for any single budget period of
12 months. The Secretary rejects and does not consider an application
that proposes a budget exceeding these maximum amounts. The Secretary
may change the maximum amounts through a notice published in the
Federal Register.
Page Limits: Part III of the application, the application
narrative, is where an applicant addresses the selection criteria that
are used by reviewers in evaluating the application. An applicant must
limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 40 double-spaced
pages, using the following standards: (1) A ``page'' is 8\1/2\'' x 11''
(on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides). (2)
All text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs, must be double-spaced (no more
than 3 lines per vertical inch). 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 to the 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,
resumes, bibliography, and letters of support. However, all of the
application narrative must be included in Part III. If an application
narrative uses a smaller print size, spacing, or margin that would make
the narrative exceed the equivalent of the page limit, the application
will not be considered for funding.
For Applications and General information contact: Requests for
applications and general information should be addressed to the Grants
and Contracts Services Team, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., room 3317,
Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2641. The preferred method for
requesting information is to FAX your request to: (202) 205-8717.
Telephone: (202) 260-9182.
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD)
may call the TDD number: (202) 205-8953.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of this notice or
the application packages referred to in this notice in an alternate
format (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by
contacting the Department as listed above. However, the Department is
not able to reproduce in an alternate format the standard forms
included in the application package.
Intergovernmental Review
All programs in this notice are 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 inter-governmental
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, this document is intended to provide
early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for
those programs.
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Application Notice for Fiscal Year 1999
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application Deadline for Maximum Estimated
CFDA Number and name Applications deadline intergovernmental award (per Page number of
available date review year)* Limit** awards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.325A Preparation of Special Education, Related Services, and
Early Intervention Personnel to Serve Infants, Toddlers, and
Children with Low-Incidence Disabilities.......................... 09/28/98 11/09/98 01/08/99 $300,000 40 26
84.325D Preparation of Leadership Personnel....................... 09/28/98 11/16/98 01/15/99 $200,000 40 18
84.325E Preparation of Personnel in Minority Institutions......... 09/28/98 02/01/99 04/02/99 $200,000 40 15
84.325H Improving the Preparation of Personnel to Serve Children
with High-Incidence Disabilities.................................. 09/28/98 12/07/98 02/05/99 $200,000 40 32
84.325N Projects of National Significance......................... 09/28/98 11/30/98 01/29/99 $200,000 40 12
84.327U Closed Captioned Television Programs...................... ............ ........... ................. ........... ........... ...........
National News & Public Information........................... 09/28/98 11/23/98 01/22/99 $500,000 40 15
Children's Programs.......................................... ............ ........... ................. $250,000 ........... ...........
Syndicated Television Programming............................ ............ ........... ................. $350,000 ........... ...........
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*The Secretary rejects and does not consider an application that proposes a budget exceeding the amount listed for each priority for any single budget
period of 12 months.
** 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 and competition description in this notice. The Secretary rejects and does not consider an application that
does not adhere to this requirement.
[[Page 50121]]
Electronic Access to This Document
Anyone 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 World Wide Web at either of the
following sites:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html
To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with
Search, which is available free at either of the previous sites. If you
have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government Printing
Office at (202) 512-1530 or, toll free at 1-888-293-6498.
Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an
electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511
or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option
G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins, and Press Releases.
Note: The official version of a document is the document
published in the Federal Register.
Dated: August 20, 1998.
Curtis L. Richards,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 98-25088 Filed 9-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P