[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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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