[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 174 (Thursday, September 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54394-54395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22953]



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Part III





Department of Education





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Competitive Preference to Certain Grant Competitions for Fiscal Year 
2001 and Subsequent Fiscal Years; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 174 / Thursday, September 7, 2000 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Competitive Preference to Certain Grant Competitions for Fiscal 
Year 2001 and Subsequent Fiscal Years

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of proposed competitive preference for fiscal year 2001 
and subsequent fiscal years.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education 
and Rehabilitative Services proposes adding a competitive preference to 
certain grant competitions for fiscal year 2001 and subsequent fiscal 
years. This notice describes the proposed competitive preference, lists 
the programs to which it would apply, and requests comments on it.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before October 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Address your comments about the proposed competitive 
preference to Ann Queen, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland 
Avenue, SW., room 3317, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2550. If 
you prefer to send your comments through the Internet, use the 
following address: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Queen. Telephone: (202) 205-8285. 
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339. You may 
also request further information through the Internet at the following 
address: [email protected].
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding 
paragraph.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Invitation To Comment

    We invite you to submit comments regarding this proposed 
competitive preference. We also invite you to assist us in complying 
with the specific requirements of Executive Order 12866 and its overall 
requirement of reducing regulatory burden that might result from this 
proposed competitive preference. Please let us know of any further 
opportunities that we should take to reduce potential costs or increase 
potential benefits while preserving the effective and efficient 
administration of the programs.
    During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public 
comments about this proposed competitive preference in room 3317, 
Switzer Building, 330 C Street SW., Washington, DC, between the hours 
of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday of each 
week except Federal holidays.

Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities in Reviewing the 
Rulemaking Record

    On request, we will supply an appropriate aid, such as a reader or 
print magnifier, to an individual with a disability who needs 
assistance to review the comments or other documents in the public 
rulemaking record for the proposed competitive preference. If you want 
to schedule an appointment for this type of aid, you may call (202) 
205-8207. If you use a TDD, you may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service at 1-800-877-8339.
    This proposed competitive preference supports the National 
Education Goal that calls for every American to possess the skills 
necessary to compete in a global economy.


    Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in 
which the Assistant Secretary chooses to use this competitive 
preference, we will invite applications through a notice in the 
Federal Register.


    This notice contains proposed language for adding a competitive 
preference to competitions under 11 programs. Information on how we 
evaluate applications for each of these programs follows in 
parentheses:

84.128G--Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers Program (34 CFR 75.200).
84.128J--Recreational Program (34 CFR 75.200).
84.132--Centers for Independent Living (34 CFR 366.26).
84.133A--Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers 
Program (34 CFR 350.53).
84.133B--Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (34 CFR 350.53).
84.133D--Knowledge Dissemination and Utilization (34 CFR 350.53).
84.133E--Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (34 CFR 350.53).
84.133N--Special Projects and Demonstrations for Spinal Cord Injuries 
(34 CFR 359.30).
84.234--Projects With Industry (34 CFR 379.30).
84.235--Special Demonstration Programs (34 CFR 75.200).
84.250--Vocational Rehabilitation Service Projects for American Indians 
with Disabilities (34 CFR 75.200).

Proposed Competitive Preference

    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) the Assistant Secretary proposes to 
add a competitive preference to applications that are otherwise 
eligible for funding under the 11 previously mentioned programs.
    The maximum score under the selection criteria for each of these 
programs is 100 points; however, we will also use the following 
competitive preference so that up to an additional 10 points may be 
earned by an applicant for a total possible score of 110 points.
    Up to 10 points may be earned based on the extent to which an 
application includes effective strategies for employing and advancing 
in employment qualified individuals with disabilities as project 
employees in projects awarded under these programs. In determining the 
effectiveness of those strategies, we will consider the applicant's 
prior success, as described in the application, in employing and 
advancing in employment qualified individuals with disabilities.
    Therefore, within this competitive preference, applicants can be 
awarded up to a total of 10 points in addition to those awarded under 
the published selection criteria noted previously in parentheses after 
each program. That is, an applicant meeting this competitive preference 
could earn a maximum total of 110 points.
    We will publish a notice of final competitive preference in the 
Federal Register after considering responses to this notice and other 
information available to the Department. This notice does not preclude 
us from proposing or funding additional priorities, subject to meeting 
applicable rulemaking requirements.

Intergovernmental Review

    These programs are subject to 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 these programs.

Electronic Access to This Document

    You may view this document, as well as all other Department of 
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe 
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at either of the 
following sites:

http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html


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    To use the PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is 
available free at either of the preceding sites. If you have questions 
about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll 
free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-
1530.


    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the 
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal 
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html


    Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR parts 350, 359, 366, 371, 
and 379.

    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 709(c), 741, 764, 773, 774, 775, 
795 and 796f-796f-5;

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers: 84.128G--Migrant 
and Seasonal Farmworkers Program; 84.128J--Recreational Programs; 
84.132--Centers for Independent Living; 84.133A--Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program; 84.133B--
Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers; 84.133D--Knowledge 
Dissemination and Utilization; 84.133E--Rehabilitation Engineering 
Research Centers; 84.133N--Special Projects and Demonstrations for 
Spinal Cord Injuries; 84.234--Projects With Industry; 84.235--
Special Demonstration Programs; and 84.250--Vocational 
Rehabilitation Service Projects for American Indians with 
Disabilities.)

    Dated: September 1, 2000.
Curtis L. Richards,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services.
[FR Doc. 00-22953 Filed 9-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U