[Federal Register: June 25, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 122)]
[Notices]               
[Page 42975-42980]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25jn02-123]                         


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Part VII





Department of Education





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Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Special 
Education--Technical Assistance and Dissemination To Improve Services 
and Results for Children With Disabilities Program; Notice


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.326X]

 
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Special 
Education--Technical Assistance and Dissemination To Improve Services 
and Results for Children With Disabilities Program

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year 
(FY) 2002.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services invites applications for FY 2002 under the 
Special Education--Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve 
Services and Results for Children with Disabilities Program. This 
program is authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
Act (IDEA), as amended. This notice provides closing dates, a priority, 
and other information regarding the transmittal of applications.
    Please note that important fiscal information is listed in a table 
at the end of this notice.

Waiver of Rulemaking

    It is generally our practice to offer interested parties the 
opportunity to comment on proposed priorities.
    However, section 661(e)(2) of IDEA makes rulemaking procedures in 
the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) inapplicable to the 
priority in this notice.
    Purpose of Program: This program provides technical assistance and 
information that (1) support States and local entities in building 
capacity to improve early intervention, educational, and transitional 
services and results for children with disabilities and their families; 
and (2) address goals and priorities for changing State systems that 
provide early intervention, educational, and transitional services for 
children with disabilities and their families.
    Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs) of the 50 
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
outlying areas and Freely Associated States that have not been awarded 
grants under this competition (84.326X) in previous years. Eligible 
applicants are listed in the chart at the end of this notice. Freely 
Associated States are eligible to apply for funding to address system 
needs of Part B of IDEA only because they do not receive funding under 
Part C.
    An entity eligible to apply for funding under section 661(b)(1) of 
IDEA may apply on behalf of an SEA or a Freely Associated State, but 
the entity must include a signed letter of endorsement from the 
director of the SEA or the appropriate official of the Freely 
Associated State.
    The Assistant Secretary does not fund an application submitted by 
two agencies or entities on behalf of a single State, but encourages a 
joint application from an SEA and a State lead agency for Part C early 
intervention services in a State in which the SEA is not the State lead 
agency. An SEA may endorse the State lead agency as the State's 
applicant under the conditions in the MAXIMUM AWARD section of this 
notice.
    Applications Available: June 26, 2002.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 29, 2002.
    Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to the 
requirements of Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR 
part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive order is to foster an 
intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism. The 
Executive Order relies on processes developed by State and local 
governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal financial 
assistance.
    This document provides early notification of our specific plans and 
actions for this programs.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 26, 2002.
    Estimated Available Funds: $8 million.
    Estimated Range of Awards: The chart at the end of this Notice 
lists the range for State basic grant awards for FY 2002.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $375,000.
    Maximum Awards: The chart at the end of this notice lists the 
amount of State basic grant awards for FY 2002. An applicant should 
note that it may apply for awards of differing amounts based on whether 
its application addresses (1) only the Part B program; or (2) both the 
Parts B and C programs.
    The amounts for a State basic grant are based on the Office of 
Special Education Programs (OSEP) assessment that the minimal amounts 
necessary to address only Part B program needs and both Parts B and C 
program needs are $120,000 and $200,000 respectively. Calculation of 
amounts above the minimum levels was based on the 85 percent population 
rate and 15 percent poverty rate used in the calculation of Part B 
formula grant awards.
    Outlying areas are eligible to receive $80,000 for addressing only 
Part B and $100,000 for addressing both Parts B and C. Because Freely 
Associated States participate only in the Part B program, a level of 
$80,000 has been established for addressing Part B only.
    A State may not propose a budget in its application for the basic 
grant award that exceeds the amounts in this notice.
    We will reject any application that purposes a budget exceeding the 
maximum amount listed on the chart for a single budget period of twelve 
months. The Assistant Secretary may reduce the grant award levels based 
on available funds.
    Application for Enhancement Funds: OSEP may have additional funds 
available to support enhancements to the activities described in the 
projects approved for funding under this competition. A proposed 
project wishing to apply for enhancement funds may add up to five 
additional pages to Part III to describe activities that augment or 
complement those presented in the narrative section of its proposal for 
a basic grant. The applicant must place the additional pages in a 
separate ``Enhancement'' section located in Part III.
    Enhancement activities may be an expansion of activities already 
described in the narrative or they may be new activities that would 
improve the quality of the previously proposed tasks; for example, 
additional staff training, the acquisition of expert technical 
assistance, or the improved involvement of parties affected by the 
project. In determining whether to fund enhancement activities, we base 
our decision on whether these activities represent an exceptional 
approach for meeting the priority.
    If the proposed project applies for enhancement funds, we shall 
evaluate that application material separately from the application for 
the basic grant. We may award up to an additional 50 points to a 
proposal for enhancement funds. In order for us to fund the enhancement 
activities, application must receive: (1) A recommendation to fund the 
basic grant; (2) a recommendation to fund the enhancement activities; 
and (3) a score combining the basic grant points with the enhancement 
activity points that places the application in the funding range. We 
shall fund all approved basic grant applications before we fund any 
enhancement activities.
    An applicant must prepare and include in Part II of the application 
a separate budget for the enhancement funds. This budget may not exceed 
30 percent of the award amount listed for the basic grant (i.e., either 
30 percent of the award for Part B only or 30 percent of the award for 
Parts B and C, depending on whether the application addresses only Part 
B or Parts B and C).

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Other Application Requirements

    To be considered for a combined Parts B and C award, a proposed 
project must describe in the application narrative (Part III): (1) how 
the SEA and State lead agency participated in developing the 
application; and (2) how the project will use the funding to address 
the needs of both the Parts B and C programs.
    If an SEA endorses the State lead agency as the State's applicant, 
the proposed project must describe: (1) how the State lead agency and 
SEA collaborated to develop the application; and (2) how the State lead 
agency will use the award to address the needs of both the Parts B and 
C programs (e.g., developing or enhancing a data system that tracks the 
transition of toddlers from Part C to Part B services).
    Estimated Number of Awards: 18.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.

    Project Period: September 30, 2002--September 30, 2003
    Page Limits: Part III of an application submitted under this 
notice, the application narrative, is where an applicant addresses the 
selection criteria that are used by reviewers in evaluating the 
application.
    If your proposed project addresses only Part B, you must limit to 
the equivalent of no more than 20 pages for a basic grant and 25 pages 
for a basic grant with enhancements. If your proposed project addresses 
both Part B and Part C you must limit Part III to the equivalent of no 
more than 30 pages for a basic grant and 35 pages for a basic grant 
with enhancements. To determine the number of pages or the equivalent, 
you must use the following standards will be used:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'' (on one side only) with one-
inch margins (top, bottom, and sides).
     Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, and captions, as well as all text in charts, 
tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12-point or larger and no 
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, 
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part 
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the 
resumes, the bibliography or references, or the letters of support. 
However, you must include all of the application narrative in Part III.
    We will reject any application if--
     You apply these standards and exceed the page limit; or
     You apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the 
page limit.

Additional Requirements

    (a) The projects funded under this competition must make positive 
efforts to employ and advance in employment in project activities 
qualified individuals with disabilities (see section 606 of IDEA).
    (b) Applicants and grant recipients under this competition must 
involve qualified individuals with disabilities or parents of 
individuals with disabilities in planning, implementing, and evaluating 
the projects (see section 661(f)(1)(A) of IDEA).
    (c) The projects funded under this competition must budget for a 
two-day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, DC.

Instructions for Transmittal of Applications

    Note: Some of the procedures in these instructions for 
transmitting applications differ from those in the Education 
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) (34 CFR 
75.102). Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the 
Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to 
comment on proposed regulations. However, these amendments make 
procedural changes only and do not establish new substantive policy. 
Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), the Secretary has determined 
that proposed rulemaking is not required.

Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications

    In FY 2002, the U.S. Department of Education is continuing to 
expand its pilot project of electronic submission of applications to 
include additional formula grant programs and additional discretionary 
grant competitions. The Special Education--Technical Assistance and 
Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with 
Disabilities Program is one of the programs included in the pilot 
project. If you are an applicant under this program, you may submit 
your application to us in either electronic or paper format.
    The pilot project involves the use of the Electronic Grant 
Application System (e-APPLICATION, formerly e-GAPS) portion of the 
Grant Administration and Payment System (GAPS). We request your 
participation in this pilot project. We shall continue to evaluate its 
success and solicit suggestions for improvement.
    If you participate in this e-APPLICATION pilot, please note the 
following:
     Your participation is voluntary.
     You will not receive any additional point value or penalty 
because you submit a grant application in electronic or paper format.
     You can submit all documents electronically, including the 
Application for Federal Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and 
certifications.
     Within three working days of submitting your electronic 
application, fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal 
Assistance (ED 424) to the Application Control Center after following 
these steps:
    1. Print ED 424 from the e-APPLICATION system.
    2. Make sure that the institution's Authorizing Representative 
signs this form.
    3. Before faxing this form, submit your electronic application via 
the e-APPLICATION system. You will receive an automatic 
acknowledgement, which will include a PR/Award number (an identifying 
number unique to your application).
    4. Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of ED 
424.
    5. Fax ED 424 to the Application Control Center at (202) 260-1349.
     We may request that you give us original signatures on all 
other forms at a later date.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the program at: 
http://e-grants.ed.gov
    We have included additional information about the e-APPLICATION 
pilot project (see Parity Guidelines between Paper and Electronic 
Applications) in the application package.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 85, 97, 98, and 99; (b) The selection criteria are drawn from 
the general selection criteria in 34 CFR 75.210. The specific selection 
criteria for this priority are included in the application package for 
this competition.
Priority
    Under section 685 of IDEA and 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only 
applications that meet the following absolute priority:

Absolute Priority--IDEA General Supervision Enhancement Grant (84.326X)

Background
    Over the past six years, the Office of Special Education Programs 
(OSEP) has worked with interested parties to

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modify its monitoring system in a way that will improve results for 
infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities, and their families. 
The interested parties OSEP has worked with have included SEAs, local 
educational agencies, parents and advocates. To ensure States' 
compliance with IDEA, OSEP has implemented a Continuous Improvement 
Monitoring Process (CIMP). An in-depth explanation of CIMP can be found 
at: http://dssc.org/frc/monitor.htm. (Click on manual100.doc to view in 
MS WORD or on manual100.pdf to view as a pdf file.)
    Since the implementation of CIMP, SEAs and State lead agencies have 
endorsed the concept. All of the States have been involved in some 
phase of CIMP. Many States have begun the difficult processes of--
    (1) Developing CIMP systems at the State level;
    (2) Supporting the development of CIMP systems at the LEA level;
    (3) Developing new data systems to support State and local CIMP 
systems; and
    (4) Developing or enhancing State systems to identify and 
disseminate research-based promising practices in education and early 
intervention.
    Providing the States with some initial funds to support their 
participation in CIMP, as well as to support unique State solutions and 
strategies developed in response to State-specific challenges 
identified through participation in CIMP, will reinforce OSEP's and the 
States' commitment to CIMP.
Absolute Priority
    To be funded under this priority, a project must address one or 
more of the following four focus areas.

Focus 1: Developing or Enhancing a Process To Conduct a Self-Assessment

Background
    SEAs and State lead agencies often require technical assistance to 
participate in the self-assessment phase of CIMP. This focus supports 
the development or enhancement of a process for statewide self-
assessment of eligible applicants.
Focus
    A project must develop or enhance a self-assessment process that is 
aligned with the self-assessment requirements of CIMP. The project is 
encouraged to address such tasks as:
    (a) Identifying and implementing fiscally efficient processes to 
operate the CIMP Steering Committee;
    (b) Identifying and obtaining data needed to evaluate the provision 
of early intervention or special education and related services or 
both;
    (c) Identifying and using methods to determine data validity and 
reliability;
    (d) Identifying and using valid and reliable techniques to collect 
data from parents, LEAs, advocates, service providers, and other 
parties interested in early intervention and special education and 
related services;
    (e) Identifying and using valid and reliable techniques to analyze 
data; and
    (f) Identifying and using decision making processes, based on data 
analysis, to determine whether IDEA regulatory requirements are: (1) In 
compliance; (2) in need of improvement; (3) out of compliance; or (4) 
exemplary.

Focus 2: Developing or Enhancing a Data System To Support the Needs of 
a CIMP at the State or Local Level

Background
    The collection and use of valid and reliable data are cornerstones 
of CIMP. An analysis of State self-assessments has shown that many 
States, as well as their LEAs and local Part C agencies, lack the 
capacity to collect sufficient data to determine the impact of special 
education and early intervention services.
Focus
    This focus supports the development or enhancement of a data system 
that is aligned with the data collection needs of CIMP and that will 
provide information about one or more of the following:
    (a) Appropriate early intervention services or special education 
and related services or both.
    (b) The effectiveness of the monitoring system of the SEA or State 
lead agency or both.
    (c) The effectiveness of interagency coordination.
    (d) The effectiveness of the State's dispute resolution system.
    (e) The effectiveness of the State's system to identify children's 
eligibility for Part B or Part C services or both.
    (f) Personnel shortages, including information related to the 
retention of qualified teachers and service providers.
    (g) The system for exercising the general supervisory authority of 
the SEA or State lead agency or both.
    (h) Efforts to address family needs and enhance families' 
capacities to meet the developmental needs of their children.
    (i) Early intervention services in the natural environment or 
special education and related services in the least restrictive 
environment or both.
    (j) The transition from Part C to Part B services.
    (k) The involvement of parents.
    (l) Transition of youth with disabilities from school to work or 
postsecondary education.

Focus 3: Developing or Enhancing a Process To Conduct Activities To 
Plan Improvement Based on CIMP

Background
    The process of developing improvement plans is a critical component 
of CIMP. If done properly, improvement planning will result in improved 
special education and related services and early intervention or both. 
OSEP's analysis of State improvement plans in response to OSEP 
monitoring reports has shown that many States lack a cohesive data-
based approach to developing their improvement plans. Many States have 
had trouble identifying and addressing the systemic barriers or factors 
that contributed to the practice that the State or OSEP has determined 
needs improvement.
Focus
    This focus supports the development or enhancement of a process for 
planning improvement. The process must be aligned with the improvement 
planning phase of CIMP and should result in solutions that, for 
example--
    (a) Identify systemic barriers to improved early intervention 
services or special education and related services or both;
    (b) Address the systemic barriers to improved early intervention 
services or special education and related services or both;
    (c) Include an evaluation component that demonstrates the positive 
impact of early intervention services or special education and related 
services or both;
    (d) Include an evaluation component that demonstrates how changes 
in staff practice improve the provision of special education and 
related services or early intervention services or both;
    (e) Are aligned or coordinated with the State's initiatives for 
general education reform; and
    (f) Are consistent with and responsive to the findings of OSEP 
monitoring reports.

Focus 4: Developing or Enhancing State Systems To Identify, 
Disseminate, and Implement Promising Educational or Early Intervention 
Practices Based on Research

Background
    OSEP has found that, to be fully effective, many improvement plans 
require a State technical assistance and dissemination structure to 
identify, disseminate, and implement promising

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educational or early intervention practices based on research. In many 
States this structure is either nonexistent or lacks sufficient 
resources to be effective.
Focus
    This focus supports the development or enhancement of a process for 
planning improvement. The process must be aligned with the improvement 
planning phase of CIMP and should result in solutions that, for 
example--
    (a) Providing information about intervention and instructional 
practices based on research;
    (b) Supporting the use of research-based approaches in instruction 
and the delivery of service in local schools and agencies;
    (c) Serving as a conduit for the dissemination of research-based 
information among SEAs, State lead agencies, LEAs and Part C agencies, 
and national technical assistance centers; and
    (d) Improving the efficiency of disseminating information by 
existing State technical assistance centers.
    For Applications Contact: Education Publications Center (ED Pubs), 
PO Box 1398, Jessup, Maryland 20794-1398. Telephone (toll free): 1-877-
4ED-Pubs (1-877-433-7827). FAX: 301-470-1244. If you use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) you may call (toll free): 
1-877-576-7734.
    You may also contact ED Pubs at its Web site: http://www.ed.gov/
pubs/edpubs.html.
    You may contact ED Pubs at its e-mail address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov
    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this competition as follows: CFDA 84.326X.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Grants and Contracts Services Team, 
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3317, 
Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 205-8207.
    If you use a TDD you may call the Federal Information Relay Service 
(FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format by contacting that contact. However, 
the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternative format the 
standard forms included in the application package.

               Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
                [Application Notice for Fiscal Year 2002]
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                                          Maximum award for basic grants
                                                    (per year)
 CFDA No., name of program and eligible  -------------------------------
               applicants                   IDEA Part B    IDEA Parts B
                                               Only             &C
------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.326X IDEA General Supervision
 Enhancement Grant:
    Arizona.............................        $258,821        $361,440
    California..........................         926,237       1,152,935
    Delaware............................         138,704         221,862
    Florida.............................         469,206         602,580
    Georgia.............................         336,846         451,135
    Illinois............................         430,483         561,756
    Indiana.............................         239,673         342,256
    Iowa................................         187,919         278,063
    Kansas..............................         186,718         277,324
    Kentucky............................         215,486         310,537
    Louisiana...........................         253,489         352,447
    Maine...............................         145,677         229,734
    Michigan............................         374,285         493,318
    Mississippi.........................         195,787         288,317
    Missouri............................         250,159         351,199
    Montana.............................         141,279         225,078
    Nevada..............................         167,928         255,694
    New Hampshire.......................         147,833         231,870
    New York............................         604,333         754,403
    North Carolina......................         313,145         424,495
    North Dakota........................         135,800         218,133
    Ohio................................         392,013         515,946
    Oklahoma............................         214,467         309,872
    South Dakota........................         139,508         222,346
    Tennessee...........................         264,990         366,900
    Texas...............................         726,539         905,713
    Vermont.............................         135,453         217,610
    Washington..........................         259,434         363,345
    West Virginia.......................         161,412         247,552
    Wisconsin...........................         251,631         350,701
    Wyoming.............................         132,763         214,523
    Guam................................          80,000         100,000
    Northern Marianas...................          80,000         100,000
    Virgin Islands......................          80,000         100,000
    Federated States of Micronesia......          80,000              NA
------------------------------------------------------------------------


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Electronic Access to This Document

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Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or 
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    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
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nara/index.html.


    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1485.

    Dated: June 19, 2002.
Robert H. Pasternack,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 02-16028 Filed 6-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P