[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 226 (Wednesday, November 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70408-70409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29817]



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Part III





Department of Education





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Notice of Final Competitive Preferences for Fiscal Year 2001 and 
Subsequent Fiscal Years; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 226 / Wednesday, November 22, 2000 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Notice of Final Competitive Preference for Fiscal Year 2001 and 
Subsequent Fiscal Years

AGENCY: Department of Education.

SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education 
and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) announces the addition of a 
competitive preference to certain grant competitions for fiscal year 
2001 and subsequent fiscal years. This notice contains and describes 
the additional competitive preference and lists the programs to which 
it applies.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This competitive preference takes effect on December 
22, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Queen, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3317, Switzer Building, 
Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 205-8285 or via Internet: 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (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 person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains language for adding a 
final competitive preference to competitions under the following 11 
programs, which are authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as 
amended. 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 Programs (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).
    On September 7, 2000 the Assistant Secretary for OSERS published a 
notice of proposed competitive preference for these programs in the 
Federal Register (65 FR 54394). Except for minor editorial and 
technical revisions, there are no differences between the notice of 
proposed competitive preference and this notice of final competitive 
preference.

Analysis of Comments and Changes

    In response to our invitation in the notice of proposed competitive 
preference, two parties submitted comments on the proposed additional 
competitive preference. An analysis of the comments follows.
    Comment: One commenter supported the proposed competitive 
preference.
    Discussion: None.
    Change: None.
    Comment: The other commenter noted that it may be difficult to 
substantiate information on people with disabilities serving as project 
staff. Some people with disabilities prefer not to disclose those 
disabilities.
    Discussion: Based upon experience with current and former grantees, 
the Assistant Secretary believes that substantiation will be a minor 
issue.
    Change: None.

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

Competitive Preference

    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) the Assistant Secretary adds a 
competitive preference to applications that are otherwise eligible for 
funding under the ll 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.

Goals 2000: Educate America Act

    The Goals 2000: Educate America Act (Goals 2000) focuses the 
Nation's education reform efforts on the eight National Education Goals 
and provides a framework for meeting them. Goals 2000 promotes new 
partnerships to strengthen schools and expands the Department's 
capacities for helping communities to exchange ideas and obtain 
information needed to achieve the goals.
    This competitive preference supports the National Education Goal 
that calls for every American to possess the skills necessary to 
compete in a global economy.

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.

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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

    To use 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 Program; 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: November 16, 2000.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 00-29817 Filed 11-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U