[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 181 (Friday, September 18, 1998)]
[Corrections]
[Pages 50114-50121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25088]



[[Page 50113]]

_______________________________________________________________________

Part VI





Department of Education





9______________________________________________________________________



Special Education: Personnel Preparation to Improve Services and 
Results for Children with Disabilities and Technology and Media 
Services for Individuals with Disabilities; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 181, Friday, September 18, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[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