[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 53 (Monday, March 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11086-11088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6304]




[[Page 11085]]

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Part II





Department of Education





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Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Postsecondary 
Education Programs for Individuals With Disabilities; Notices

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 53 / Monday, March 18, 1996 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 
Postsecondary Education Programs for Individuals With Disabilities

Agency: Department of Education.

Action: Notice of proposed priority.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes to establish an absolute priority for 
four Regional Centers on Postsecondary Education for Individuals who 
are Deaf, a program administered by the Office of Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) under the Individuals with Disabilities 
Education Act. The Secretary may use this priority in Fiscal Year 1996 
and subsequent years. The Secretary takes this action to focus Federal 
assistance on identified needs to improve educational opportunities and 
outcomes for postsecondary students who are deaf. The proposed priority 
is intended to ensure wide and effective use of program funds. The 
Secretary also proposes selection criteria that will be applied in 
evaluating applications submitted for this competition.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 17, 1996.

ADDRESSES: All comments concerning the proposed priority should be 
addressed to Ramon Rodriguez, U.S. Department of Education, 600 
Independence Avenue SW., Switzer Building, Room 3125, Washington, D.C. 
20202-2524.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ramon Rodriguez, U.S. Department of 
Education, 600 Independence Avenue SW., Switzer Building, Room 3125, 
Washington, D.C. 20202-2524. Telephone: (202) 205-8555. Fax: (202) 205-
9252. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the TDD number at (202) 206-9156. Internet: 
Ramon.__R[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains information on the 
Regional Centers on Postsecondary Education for Individuals who are 
Deaf under the Postsecondary Education Programs for Individuals with 
Disabilities, a program authorized by section 625 of the Individuals 
with Disabilities Education Act. The purpose of this program is to 
provide assistance for the development, operation, and dissemination of 
specially designed model programs of postsecondary, academic, 
vocational, technical, continuing, or adult education for individuals 
with disabilities.
    This proposed priority would support the National Education Goal of 
every adult American being literate and possessing the knowledge and 
skills necessary to compete in a global economy by helping students who 
are deaf to reach higher levels of academic achievement.
    The Secretary will announce the final priority in a notice in the 
Federal Register. The final priority will be determined by responses to 
this notice, available funds, and other considerations of the 
Department. Funding of particular projects depend on the availability 
of funds, the content of the final priority, and the quality of the 
applications received. Further, the activities of the projects funded 
under this priority could be affected by the enactment of legislation 
reauthorizing the program. The publication of the proposed priority 
does not preclude the Secretary from proposing additional priorities, 
nor does it limit the Secretary to funding only this priority, subject 
to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.

    Note: This notice of proposed priority does not solicit 
applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition 
will be published in the Federal Register concurrent with or 
following publication of the notice of final priority.

Priority

    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) the Secretary proposes to give an 
absolute preference to applications that meet this priority. The 
Secretary proposes to fund under this competition only applications 
that meet the priority.

Proposed Absolute Priority--Regional Centers on Postsecondary Education 
for Individuals Who Are Deaf

Purpose

    The purpose of this proposed priority is to support projects that 
assist educational institutions to implement proven models, components 
of models, and other exemplary practices, including innovative 
technology, to increase and improve postsecondary opportunities for 
individuals who are deaf.

Background

    This priority would support four regional centers on postsecondary 
education for individuals who are deaf that will provide technical 
assistance to a range of postsecondary institutions, including 
academic, vocational, technical, continuing, and adult education 
programs, to expand the array of educational opportunities within the 
region that are available to students who are deaf. The centers must 
provide technical assistance to institutions currently not serving 
students who are deaf to assist them to develop services and to 
institutions currently serving students who are deaf to assist them to 
improve existing programs. In carrying out the objectives of this 
priority, projects must distribute technical assistance services and 
resources equitably, taking into account population and geographic 
size, within each State in its targeted geographic region.
    Each regional center must:
    (a) Conduct assessments of the technical assistance needs of 
postsecondary education institutions related to recruiting; enrolling; 
addressing the varying communication needs of and methods used by 
individuals who are deaf; and, otherwise effectively serving students 
who are deaf;
    (b) Provide consultation, in-service training, and planning and 
development assistance to postsecondary education institutions and 
their staff to enhance the access of individuals who are deaf to 
postsecondary education and training;
    (c) Provide technical assistance on the responsibilities of 
postsecondary education institutions under Federal statutes, including 
section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with 
Disabilities Act;
    (d) Develop outreach strategies and disseminate information to 
individuals who are deaf to enhance their awareness of available 
postsecondary educational opportunities;
    (e) Disseminate information about financial and other resources 
available to students and to postsecondary institutions to help them 
accommodate these students;
    (f) Develop training materials and disseminate information on 
proven models, components of models, and other exemplary practices, 
including innovative technology, among postsecondary educational 
programs to assist them in implementing effective and cost-efficient 
service delivery systems that foster integration of students who are 
deaf with other students;
    (g) Encourage the use of consortia of postsecondary education 
institutions and other cooperative arrangements to provide services and 
assistance to students who are deaf, including coordination of 
postsecondary education options with existing public and private 
community services that may address the educational, remedial, support 
service, transitional, independent living, and employment needs of 
individuals who are deaf;
    (h) Coordinate technical assistance and dissemination activities 
with

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relevant information clearinghouses and organizations such as the 
National Clearinghouse on Postsecondary Education for Individuals with 
Disabilities (HEATH), National Information Center for Children and 
Youth with Disabilities, National Transition Alliance, and Association 
of Higher Education and Disability;
    (i) Coordinate material development, technical assistance, 
outreach, and information dissemination activities with each other to 
ensure that activities are not duplicative; that individuals who are 
deaf have information on postsecondary programs throughout the country 
that provide accommodations; and that information on proven models, 
components of models, and other exemplary practices, including 
innovative technology, are equally available in each of the four 
regions. This coordination must include carrying out collaborative 
activities and cross-regional initiatives, where appropriate; and
    (j) Evaluate the impact, effectiveness, and results of 
postsecondary institutions within the region in accommodating students 
who are deaf.
    The Secretary anticipates funding four cooperative agreements, each 
for a project period of up to 60 months, subject to the requirements of 
34 CFR 75.253(a) for continuation awards. In determining whether to 
continue a center for the fourth and fifth years of the project period, 
in addition to applying the requirements of 34 CFR 75.253(a), the 
Secretary will consider the recommendations of a review team consisting 
of three experts selected by the Secretary. The services of the review 
team, including a two-day visit to the center, are to be performed 
during the last half of the center's second year and must be included 
in that year's evaluation required under 34 CFR 75.590. Funds to cover 
the costs of the review team must be included in the center's budget 
for year two. These costs are estimated to be approximately $4,000.
    To ensure that all States benefit from these projects, the 
Secretary intends to support four projects which will be required to 
serve each State within one of the following geographic regions:
    Northeast Region--Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, 
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
    Southern Region--Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, 
Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, 
Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Virgin Islands, and West Virginia.
    Midwest Region--Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Ohio, Michigan, 
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and 
Wisconsin.
    Western Region--Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, 
Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Northern Marianas Islands, Montana, 
Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Selection Criteria for Evaluating Applications

    The Secretary proposes to use the following weighted criteria to 
evaluate an application under the Regional Centers on Postsecondary 
Education for Individuals who are Deaf competition.
    The maximum score for all the criteria is 100 points.
    (a) Plan of operation. (20 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality 
of the plan of operation for the project.
    (2) The Secretary considers--
    (i) The extent to which the management plan will ensure proper and 
efficient administration of the project;
    (ii) The quality of the activities proposed to accomplish the goals 
and objectives;
    (iii) The adequacy of proposed timelines for accomplishing those 
activities; and
    (iv) Effectiveness in the ways in which the applicant plans to use 
the resources and personnel to accomplish the program's goals and 
objectives.
    (3) How the applicant will ensure that project participants who are 
otherwise eligible to participate are selected without regard to race, 
color, national origin, gender, age, or disability.
    (b) Quality of key personnel. (15 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the 
qualifications of the key personnel the applicant plans to use.
    (2) The Secretary considers--
    (i) The qualifications of the project director and project 
coordinator (if one is used);
    (ii) The qualifications of each of the other key project personnel;
    (iii) The time that each person referred to in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) 
and (ii) plans to commit to the project; and
    (iv) How the applicant will ensure that personnel are selected for 
employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, 
or disability.
    (3) To determine personnel qualifications under (b)(2)(i) and (ii), 
the Secretary considers--
    (i) Experience and training in fields related to the objectives of 
the project; and
    (ii) Any other qualifications that pertain to the quality of the 
project.
    (c) Budget and cost effectiveness. (10 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine if the 
project has an adequate budget and is cost effective.
    (2) The Secretary considers the extent to which--
    (i) The budget for the project is adequate to support project 
activities; and
    (ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the 
project.
    (d) Evaluation plan. (10 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality 
of the evaluation plan for the project.
    (2) The Secretary considers--
    (i) The extent to which the applicant's methods of evaluation are 
appropriate to the project; and
    (ii) To the degree possible, the extent to which the applicant's 
methods of evaluation are objective and produce data that are 
quantifiable.
    (e) Adequacy of resources. (5 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine if the 
applicant plans to devote adequate resources to the project.
    (2) The Secretary considers the adequacy of the facilities and the 
technology, equipment, and supplies the applicant plans to use.
    (f) Project design. (40 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application to evaluate the quality 
of the proposed technical assistance project design.
    (2) The Secretary determines the extent to which--
    (i) The technical assistance objectives are designed to meet the 
purpose of the priority and are clearly defined, measurable, and 
achievable; and
    (ii) The proposed technical assistance addresses the needs of a 
range of postsecondary institutions, including academic, vocational, 
technical, continuing, and adult education programs.
    (3) The Secretary determines the extent to which each application 
provides for--
    (i) Use of current research findings and information on model 
practices;
    (ii) Methods for linking postsecondary institutions in need of 
technical assistance;
    (iii) Innovative procedures for disseminating information and 
imparting skills to postsecondary institutions, staff of these 
institutions, and postsecondary students and

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potential postsecondary students who are deaf; and
    (iv) Innovative procedures for collaborating and coordinating with 
other entities that are involved with broader technical assistance 
efforts.

Intergovernmental Review

    This notice 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 the proposed priority.
    All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available 
for public inspection, during and after the comment period, in Room 
3125, 330 C Street SW., 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.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1424a.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: Regional 
Postsecondary Centers for Individuals Who are Deaf, 84.078A)

    Dated: March 8, 1996.
Howard R. Moses,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services.
[FR Doc. 96-6304 Filed 3-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P