[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19194-19197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9540]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year 
(FY) 2003.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services invites applications for FY 2003 under the 
Special Education--Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve 
Services and Results for Children with Disabilities Program. This 
program is authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
Act (IDEA), as amended. This notice provides closing dates, a priority, 
and other information regarding the transmittal of applications.
    Please note that important fiscal information is listed in a table 
at the end of this notice.

Waiver of Rulemaking

    It is generally our practice to offer interested parties the 
opportunity to comment on proposed priorities. However, section 
661(e)(2) of IDEA makes the public comment requirements in the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) inapplicable to the 
priority in this notice.
    Purpose of Program: This program provides technical assistance and 
information that (1) support States and local entities in building 
capacity to improve early intervention, educational, and transitional 
services and results for children with disabilities and their families; 
and (2) address goals and priorities for changing State systems that 
provide early intervention, educational, and transitional services for 
children with disabilities and their families.
    Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs) of the 50 
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
outlying areas and Freely Associated States that have not been awarded 
grants under this competition (84.326X) in previous years. Eligible 
applicants are listed in the chart at the end of this notice.
    An entity eligible to apply for funding under section 661(b)(1) of 
IDEA may apply on behalf of an SEA, but the entity must include a 
signed letter of endorsement from the director of the SEA.
    The Assistant Secretary does not fund an application submitted by 
two agencies or entities on behalf of a single State, but encourages a 
joint application from an SEA and a State lead agency for part C early 
intervention services in a State in which the SEA is not the State lead 
agency. An SEA may endorse the State lead agency as the State's 
applicant under the conditions in the Maximum Awards section of this 
notice.
    Applications Available: April 18, 2003.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 2, 2003.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 1, 2003.
    Estimated Available Funds: $7 million.
    Estimated Range of Awards: The chart at the end of this notice 
lists the range for State basic grant awards for FY 2003.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $465,000.
    Maximum Awards: The chart at the end of this notice lists the 
amount of State basic grant awards for FY 2003. An applicant should 
note that it may apply for awards of differing amounts based on whether 
its application addresses (1) only the part B program; or (2) both the 
parts B and C programs.
    The amounts for a State basic grant are based on the Office of 
Special Education Programs (OSEP) assessment that the minimal amounts 
necessary for a State to address only part B program needs and both 
parts B and C program needs are $120,000 and $200,000 respectively. 
Calculation of amounts above the minimum levels was based on the 85 
percent population rate and 15 percent poverty rate used in the 
calculation of part B formula grant awards.
    Outlying areas are eligible to receive $104,000 for addressing only 
part B and $130,000 for addressing both parts B and C.
    A State may not propose a budget in its application for the basic 
grant award that exceeds the amounts in this notice.
    We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the 
maximum amount listed on the chart. The Assistant Secretary may reduce 
the grant award levels based on available funds.

Other Application Requirements

    To be considered for a combined parts B and C award, a proposed 
project must describe in the application narrative (part III): (1) How 
the SEA and State lead agency participated in developing the 
application; and (2) how the project will use the funding to address 
the needs of both the parts B and C programs.
    If an SEA endorses the State lead agency as the State's applicant, 
the proposed project must describe: (1) How the State lead agency and 
SEA collaborated to develop the application; and (2) how the State lead 
agency will use the award to address the needs of both the parts B and 
C programs (e.g., developing or enhancing a data system that tracks the 
transition of toddlers from part C to part B services).

[[Page 19195]]

    Estimated Number of Awards: 15.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.

    Project Period: September 30, 2003--September 30, 2004.
    Page Limits: If you are an applicant, part III of an application 
submitted under this notice, the application narrative, is where an 
applicant addresses the selection criteria that are used by reviewers 
in evaluating the application.
    If your proposed project addresses only part B, you must limit part 
III to the equivalent of no more than 20 pages for a basic grant. If 
your proposed project addresses both part B and part C you must limit 
part III to the equivalent of no more than 30 pages. To determine the 
number of pages or the equivalent, you must use the following 
standards:
    [sbull] A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'' (on one side only) with one-inch 
margins (top, bottom, and sides).
    [sbull] Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, and captions, as well as all text in charts, 
tables, figures, and graphs.
    [sbull] Use a font that is either 12-point or larger and no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per 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, the 
resumes, the bibliography or references, or the letters of support. 
However, you must include all of the application narrative in part III.
    We will reject any application if--
    [sbull] You apply these standards and exceed the page limit; or
    [sbull] You apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the 
page limit.

Additional Requirements

    (a) The projects funded under this competition must make positive 
efforts to employ and advance in employment in project activities 
qualified individuals with disabilities (see section 606 of IDEA).
    (b) Applicants and grant recipients under this competition must 
involve qualified 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) The projects funded under this competition must budget for a 
two-day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, DC during each year 
of the project.

Application Procedures

    Note: Some of the procedures in these instructions for 
transmitting applications differ from those in the Education 
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) (34 CFR 
75.102). Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the 
Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to 
comment on proposed regulations. However, these amendments make 
procedural changes only and do not establish new substantive policy. 
Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), the Secretary has determined 
that proposed rulemaking is not required.

Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications

    In FY 2003, the U.S. Department of Education is continuing to 
expand its pilot project of electronic submission of applications to 
include additional formula grant programs and additional discretionary 
grant competitions. The Special Education--Technical Assistance and 
Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with 
Disabilities Program--CFDA 84.326X is one of the programs 
included in the pilot project. If you are an applicant under this 
program, you may submit your application to us in either electronic or 
paper format.
    The pilot project involves the use of the Electronic Grant 
Application System (e-Application) portion of the Grant Administration 
and Payment System (GAPS). Users of e-Application will be entering data 
on-line while completing their applications. You may not e-mail a soft 
copy of a grant application to us. If you participate in this voluntary 
pilot project by submitting an application electronically, the data you 
enter on-line will be saved into a database. We request your 
participation in e-Application. We shall continue to evaluate its 
success and solicit suggestions for improvement.
    If you participate in this e-Application pilot, please note the 
following:
    [sbull] Your participation is voluntary.
    [sbull] You will not receive any additional point value because you 
submit a grant application in electronic format, nor will we penalize 
you if you submit an application in paper format. When you enter the e-
Application system, you will find information about its hours of 
operation.
    [sbull] You may submit all documents electronically, including the 
Application for Federal Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and 
certifications.
    [sbull] After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgement, which will include a PR/Award 
number (an identifying number unique to your application).
    [sbull] Within three working days of submitting your electronic 
application, fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal 
Assistance (ED 424) to the Application Control Center after following 
these steps:
    (1) Print ED 424 from the e-Application system.
    (2) The institution's Authorizing Representative must sign this 
form.
    (3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the 
hard copy signature page of the ED 424.
    (4) Fax the signed ED 424 to the Application Control Center at 
(202) 260-1349.
    [sbull] We may request that you give us original signatures on all 
other forms at a later date.
    [sbull] Closing Date Extension in Case of System Unavailability: If 
you elect to participate in the e-Application pilot for The Special 
Education--Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services 
and Results for Children with Disabilities Program and you are 
prevented from submitting your application on the closing date because 
the e-Application system is unavailable, we will grant you an extension 
of one business day in order to transmit your application 
electronically, by mail or hand delivery. For us to grant this 
extension--
    (1) You must be a registered user of e-Application, and have 
initiated an e-Application for this competition; and
    (2)(a) The e-Application system must be unavailable for 60 minutes 
or more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC 
time, on the deadline date; or
    (b) The e-Application system must be unavailable for any period of 
time during the last hour of operation (that is, for any period of time 
between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time) on the deadline 
date.
    The Department must acknowledge and confirm these periods of 
unavailability before granting you an extension.
    To request this extension you must contact either (1) the person 
listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
or (2) the e-GRANTS help desk at 1-888-336-8930.
    You may access the electronic grant application for The Special 
Education--Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services 
and Results for Children with Disabilities Program at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

[[Page 19196]]

    We have included additional information about the e-Application 
pilot project (see Parity Guidelines between Paper and Electronic 
Applications) in the application package.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99; (b) The selection criteria are drawn 
from the general selection criteria in 34 CFR 75.210. The specific 
selection criteria for this priority are included in the application 
package for this competition.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.


    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only.

Priority

    Under section 685 of IDEA and 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only 
applications that meet the following absolute priority:

Absolute Priority--IDEA General Supervision Enhancement Grant (84.326X)

Background

    Over the past seven years, OSEP has worked with interested parties 
to modify its monitoring system in a way that will improve results for 
infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities, and their families. 
The interested parties OSEP has worked with have included SEAs, local 
educational agencies, parents and advocates. To ensure States' 
compliance with IDEA, OSEP has implemented a Continuous Improvement 
Focused Monitoring System (CIFMS). An in-depth explanation of CIFMS can 
be found at: http://dssc.org/frc/monitor.htm.
    Since the implementation of CIFMS, SEAs and State lead agencies 
have endorsed the concept. All of the States have been involved in some 
phase of CIFMS. Many States have begun the difficult process of--
    (1) Developing CIFMS systems at the State level;
    (2) Supporting the development of CIFMS systems at the LEA level;
    (3) Developing new data systems to support State and local CIFMS 
systems; and
    (4) Developing or enhancing State systems to identify and 
disseminate research-based promising practices in education and early 
intervention.
    Providing the States with some initial funds to support their 
participation in CIFMS, as well as to support unique State solutions 
and strategies developed in response to State-specific challenges 
identified through participation in CIFMS will reinforce OSEP's and the 
States' commitment to CIFMS.

Absolute Priority

    To be funded under this priority, a project must address one or 
more of the following three focus areas.

Focus 1: Developing or Enhancing a Data System To Support the Needs of 
a CIFMS at the State or Local Level

Background

    The collection and use of valid and reliable data are cornerstones 
of CIFMS. An analysis of State self-assessments has shown that many 
States, as well as their LEAs and local Part C agencies, lack the 
capacity to collect sufficient data to determine the impact of special 
education and early intervention services.

Focus

    This focus supports the development or enhancement of a data system 
that is aligned with the data collection needs of CIFMS and that will 
provide information about one or more of the following:
    (a) Appropriate early intervention services or special education 
and related services or both.
    (b) The effectiveness of the monitoring system of the SEA or State 
lead agency or both.
    (c) The effectiveness of interagency coordination.
    (d) The effectiveness of the State's dispute resolution system.
    (e) The effectiveness of the State's system to identify children's 
eligibility for part B or part C services or both.
    (f) Personnel shortages, including information related to the 
retention of qualified teachers and service providers.
    (g) The system for exercising the general supervisory authority of 
the SEA or State lead agency or both.
    (h) Efforts to address family needs and enhance families' 
capacities to meet the developmental needs of their children.
    (i) Early intervention services in the natural environment or 
special education and related services in the least restrictive 
environment or both.
    (j) The transition from part C to part B services.
    (k) The involvement of parents.
    (l) Transition of youth with disabilities from school to work or 
postsecondary education, including graduation.
    (m) Student achievement and participation and performance on 
assessments of students with disabilities.

Focus 2: Developing or Enhancing a Process to Conduct Activities To 
Plan Improvement Based on CIFMS

Background

    The process of developing improvement plans is a critical component 
of CIFMS. If done properly, improvement planning will result in 
improved special education and related services and early intervention 
or both. OSEP's analysis of State improvement plans in response to OSEP 
monitoring reports has shown that many States lack a cohesive data-
based approach to developing their improvement plans. Many States have 
had trouble identifying and addressing the systemic barriers, root 
causes or factors that contributed to the practice that the State or 
OSEP has determined needs improvement.

Focus

    This focus supports the development or enhancement of a process for 
planning improvement. The process must be aligned with the improvement 
planning phase of CIFMS and should result in solutions that, for 
example --
    (a) Identify underlying causes and/or systemic barriers to improved 
early intervention services or special education and related services 
or both;
    (b) Address the root causes and/or systemic barriers to improved 
early intervention services or special education and related services 
or both;
    (c) Include an evaluation component that assesses the impact of 
early intervention services or special education and related services 
or both;
    (d) Include an evaluation component that assesses how changes in 
staff practice affect the provision of special education and related 
services or early intervention services or both;
    (e) Are aligned or coordinated with the State's initiatives for 
general education reform; and
    (f) Are consistent with and responsive to the findings of OSEP 
monitoring reports.

Focus 3: Developing or Enhancing State Systems To Identify, 
Disseminate, and Implement Promising Educational or Early Intervention 
Practices Based on Research

Background

    OSEP has found that, to be fully effective, many improvement plans 
require a State technical assistance and dissemination structure to 
identify, disseminate, and implement promising educational or early 
intervention practices based on research. In many States this structure 
is either

[[Page 19197]]

nonexistent or lacks sufficient resources to be effective.

Focus

    This focus supports the development or enhancement of a statewide 
technical assistance system that is consistent with CIFMS that is 
aligned with the process for planning improvement and that addresses 
such areas as--
    (a) Providing information about intervention and instructional 
practices based on research;
    (b) Supporting the use of research-based approaches in instruction 
and the delivery of service in local schools and agencies;
    (c) Serving as a conduit for the dissemination of research-based 
information among SEAs, State lead agencies, LEAs and Part C agencies, 
and national technical assistance centers; and
    (d) Improving the efficiency of disseminating information by 
existing State technical assistance centers.
    For Applications Contact: Education Publications Center (ED Pubs), 
P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, Maryland 20794-1398. Telephone (toll free): 1-
877-4ED-Pubs (1-877-433-7827). FAX: 301-470-1244. If you use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) you may call (toll free): 
1-877-576-7734.
    You may also contact ED Pubs at its Web site: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html, or you may contact ED Pubs at its e-mail address: 
[email protected].
    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this competition as follows: CFDA 84.326X.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Grants and Contracts Services 
Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 
3317, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 
205-8207.
    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 Grants and Contracts Services Team under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. However, the Department is not able to 
reproduce in an alternative format the standard forms included in the 
application package.

Intergovernmental Review

    The program in this notice is subject to the requirements of 
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 this program.

   Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Application Notice for
                            Fiscal Year 2003
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   CFDA number, name of program and eligible     Maximum award for basic
                  applicants                       grants  (per year)
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                                                IDEA part B   IDEA parts
 84.326X IDEA General Supervision Enhancement       only        B & C
                     Grant                       (dollars)    (dollars)
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California....................................    1,204,108    1,498,815
Delaware......................................      180,315      288,420
Georgia.......................................      437,899      586,475
Indiana.......................................      311,574      444,932
Kentucky......................................      280,131      403,698
Louisiana.....................................      329,535      458,181
Michigan......................................      486,570      641,313
Mississippi...................................      254,523      374,812
Missouri......................................      325,206      456,558
Nevada........................................      218,306      332,402
North Carolina................................      407,088      551,843
North Dakota..................................      176,540      283,572
South Dakota..................................      181,360      289,049
Tennessee.....................................      344,487      476,970
Texas.........................................      944,500    1,177,426
Washington....................................      337,264      472,348
West Virginia.................................      209,835      321,817
Wisconsin.....................................      327,120      455,911
Wyoming.......................................      172,591      278,879
Virgin Islands................................      104,000      130,000
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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 the following site: 
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister.
    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at this site. 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/nara/index.html.


    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1485.

    Dated: April 14, 2003.
Robert H. Pasternack,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 03-9540 Filed 4-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P