[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 72 (Friday, April 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 19152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9195]




[[Page 19151]]

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Part III





Department of Education





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Training Personnel for the Education of Individuals With Disabilities; 
Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 72 / Friday, April 14, 1995 / 
Notices   
[[Page 19152]] 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Training Personnel for the Education of Individuals With 
Disabilities

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of proposed waiver.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes to waive the requirements in EDGAR at 
34 CFR 75.261(a) that generally prohibit project extensions that 
involve the additional obligation of Federal funds. The Secretary 
proposes to waive this EDGAR requirement for the National Center for 
Minority Special Education Research and Outreach, and the Outreach 
Alliance 2000 Project. The Secretary proposes to issue continuation 
awards to both Centers in order to ensure the most efficient use of 
Federal funds.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 15, 1995.

ADDRESSES: All comments concerning this proposed waiver should be 
addressed to Linda Glidewell or Victoria Ware, U.S. Department of 
Education, 600 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20202-2641.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Glidewell, telephone: (202) 205-
9099, or Victoria Ware, telephone: (202) 205-8687. Individuals who use 
a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 19, 1991, the Department issued a 
Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards under the Training 
Personnel for the Education of Individuals with Disabilities for Fiscal 
Year 1991. In this notice, the Department announced that it would make 
two awards for up to 48 months pursuant to section 610(j)(2)(C) of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which directed the 
Secretary to develop and implement a plan for providing outreach 
services to minority entities and underrepresented populations to 
assist them in participating more fully in the discretionary grant 
programs authorized in Parts C through G of IDEA.
    Specifically, the Secretary advised that the Department would fund 
two Centers, one to provide technical assistance to the agencies, 
institutions, organizations, and populations identified by Congress 
seeking grant support for personnel preparation (Part D of the Act). 
The other Center was designed to provide technical assistance to the 
targeted entities and populations seeking support for research and the 
other activities authorized in Parts C, E, F, and G of the Act. The 
EDGAR selection criteria were used in making the selection.
    The grant periods have ended for the two Centers, which are 
currently expending the balance of their fiscal year 1994 funds to 
carry out approved project activities. In order to conduct the section 
610(j)(2)(C) plan activities with fiscal year 1995 support, it is 
necessary to either recompete the projects for one year or to issue 
continuation awards to the existing grantees.
    Based upon following the factors, the Department believes it makes 
the most programmatic sense and is the most efficient use of Federal 
funds to issue continuation awards. However, to do so, the Department 
must waive the requirements in EDGAR at 34 CFR 75.261(a) that generally 
prohibit project extensions that involve the additional obligation of 
Federal funds. The Department is therefore soliciting public comment on 
the proposed waiver.

Reasons

    If the Department had to recompete these multi-year outreach 
Centers this year, the Department would wastefully expend resources for 
a program that might not be reauthorized. If the program is 
reauthorized, it may contain substantially different programmatic 
requirements. Such changes would require the Department to recompete 
the projects one year later based on the new statute.
    Therefore, the Department proposes to issue continuation awards to 
the current grantees for one year, with a maximum of two years, to take 
into account the possibility of a delayed reauthorization cycle.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

    The Secretary certifies that this proposed waiver would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    The small entities that would be affected by this proposed waiver 
are the two Centers currently receiving Federal funds. However, the 
waiver would not have a significant economic impact on the Centers 
because the waiver would not impose excessive regulatory burdens or 
require unnecessary Federal supervision. The waiver would impose 
minimal requirements to ensure the proper expenditure of program 
funds--requirements that are those standard to continuation awards.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980

    This proposed waiver has been examined under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1980 and has been found to contain no information 
collection requirements.

Intergovernmental Review

    This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order 
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. The objective of the 
Executive order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a 
strengthened federalism by relying on processes developed by State and 
local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal 
financial assistance.
    In accordance with the order, this document is intended to provide 
early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for 
this program.

Invitation to Comment

    Interested persons are invited to submit comments and 
recommendations regarding this proposed waiver.
    All comments submitted in response to this proposed waiver will be 
available for public inspection, during and after the comment period, 
in room 3521, 300 ``C'' Street, S.W., Washington, D.C., between the 
hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week 
except Federal holidays.
    To assist the department in complying with the specific 
requirements of Executive Order 12291 and the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1980 and their overall requirement of reducing regulatory burden, 
the Secretary invites comment on whether there may be further 
opportunities to reduce any regulatory burdens found in this proposed 
waiver.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.029, Training 
Personnel for the Education of Individuals with Disabilities)

    Dated: April 10, 1995.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 95-9195 Filed 4-13-95; 8:45 am]
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